Most people who know me would be surprised to know that I'm rather fond of modern gothic apparel. As someone tragically lacking in fashion sense and not prone to spending much on clothing, I don't exude much passion for it but I am particuarly fond of the Elegant Aristocrat style. It's been popularised in the west through most contemporary vampire fiction, and in the east through bands such as Malice Mizer and in anime along the lines of Trinity Blood.

It harkens to a somewhat imagined Victorian England, where the rapid development of industry and technology unveiled a world where anything was possible, a morbid but wistful world in which death and the new, cruel reality of commercialism weighed heavily on people's minds. So much so that this blend of the macabre, intricate and beautiful merged to form the infinitely complex gowns and dark but fanciful menswear that we associate with the style.

It is with this in mind that my inner geek is somewhat heartened to see that in the newest iteration of the Soul Calibur series (a game to be released on the PS3 and XBox 360) there is a very unique addition to the cast, one that's a nice change from the under-dressed stereotypical dolls that round out the female characters.

Behold Ashlotte!