Lolita Challenge 6: 10 things you can't live without in Lolita!

Hello once again everyone! I'm finally back with more of my Lolita challenge. I'm really looking forward to getting back into this, even though I haven't really been wearing Lolita all that much lately or purchasing anything other than accessories (damn you wallet for not having enough funds when Castle Mirage came out T_T ). 

It was actually kind of hard to make a list of ten things I can't live without-- some were more obvious than others!

1. Just gonna throw it out there that I think the petticoat is the number one item I probably couldn't live without when it comes to Lolita. The poofier the dress, the more confident and princess-y I feel. I have been known to layer them to create the desired effect. 

2. Some sweet-ass shoes. No Lolita outfit is complete without a pair (or twelve pairs) of great shoes that complete the entire ensemble. Always a sucker for shoes, this is high on my list. And as we all know, Lolita brands and other Japanese brands have put out some greatttt shoes.

4. Another Lolita staple most of us couldn't live without? The Purse. I love purses and have quite a few, and its kind of nice because some of my Loli purses can also be used for everyday, simpler Otome co-ords, or more dressy Hime style. Lolita fashion has so many stunning bags that I've lost count, and every co-ord I put together, I try to match with one of my purses. Even if you only have one special purse that can go with a few of your Lolita co-ords, its just so important to have.

Some of my bags!

5.  Tea Parties! I love high tea and tea parties so muchhhh. Whenever the local comm does a high tea get together,  I try my best to be there. The tea, the snacks, the atmosphere- it's just one of  my favorite parts of Lolita.

6. The Photos. We take tons of photos at our meets, but even daily co-ord photos from friends or other Lolitas worldwide are a wonderful source of inspiration everyday. Documentation of all of our fun times and all of our super Derplita photos are the best thing.

7. Definitely can't live without the Hunt. I love nothing more than searching and scouring the Internet for that one item I suddenly get an obsession with. Its fun to get in on it with other Lolitas as well, like when there's a particular release from AP or, like lately with a lot of other Lolitas I know, the Automatic Honey releases. 

8. Magazines and Mooks, such as the Gothic Lolita Bible. 

9. I couldn't do much without all the Inspiration from other Lolitas. Instagram, blogs, and daily Lolita co-ord posts on Facebook groups are wonderful. 

10. Money, sweet money. How could I buy all the burando without it? 

                                  

Well, thats it for now! Currently watching a bunch of creepy movies tonight 0_0

Bai bai!

Lolita Challenge 3- 10 Things I Hate in Lolita!

Hello everyone! Today its all about ten things that I hate in Lolita. While that is a hard topic, there are a few things that I can say I "dislike", more than actually hate.

Let's get to it!

1. I really dislike Lolita dresses that are Empire-waist style. I have nothing against other Lolitas who wear the style, some pull it off so well, but it just gives me the overall appearance of looking super pregnant. It has never looked good to me, and even though I unfortunately own a couple of dresses in that style, you usually won't find me wearing it.

NO.

2. I actually don't like knee socks, especially with my legs. I love the prints on knee socks, and think they look super cute with most co-ords, but I just can't wear them. My legs are a little longer and I hate how they make my knees look really knobby. They also tend to give the illusion that my dress is actually shorter on me than it is, so I mostly stick to OTK's (over-the-knee socks) or light tights.

3. The odd sizing in Lolita. It's probably just because I'm a tall dorky Anglo-saxon kind of girl, but I always find sizing wonky on the dresses. Aside from Mary Magdalene, the dresses in other brands will have sleeves that are too short, bust circumferences that are too tight, lengths that are too short, and even neck closures that are too tight. 

4. The negativity and the "costume" aspect. I realize a lot of people have never seen Lolita fashion before, but like with any alternative fashion, theres always the negative comments from people and other people who think you are wearing some sort of costume or playing dress up. I've heard "It's not Halloween you know" quite often from random people, as well as "Why do you want to wear puffy little girl dresses?" and other negative comments. Also, "I love your costume, are you Alice in Wonderland?/in a play/going to a party/a performer?" 

um

5. Prints selling out so fast!! I can't believe how hard it is to get one of the new dresses once its popularity catches like wildfire, such as the new AP Crystal Dream Carnival series. I just troll the sales sites everyday hoping someone will decide they didn't like the dress after they bought it and sell it, but with some dresses the seller will capitalize on the fact that the dress is a much- sought after piece and try to sell it for ridiculous amounts that no Lolita can pay.

6.People thinking that Lolita fashion has to do with the book of the same name by Vladimir Nabokov.  IT DOES NOT.

However, as soon as someone asks you what type of fashion you are wearing, or you are trying to explain the fashion/lifestyle to someone who has never heard of it before, once they hear the word "Lolita" they seem to just stop listening, or the famous words come out:

"Oh....like the book...."

So right away they think its something sleazy and immoral, meant to attract older men, when in fact Lolita is mainly about modesty and elegance (for me at least).

7. Having to starve at times to buy dresses. It's happening right now, it will very likely happen again. I make myself broke because a new dress comes out, or more than one dream dress or dress from my wish list pop up on the sales sites at the same time. 

8. Really baby-infant prints. AP, what were you thinking when you did Dreamy Baby Room? I know many Lolitas, as well as myself, that shuddered inwardly. It was a sad day.

NONONONONONONONO

9. The elitism/bashing that can go on internally within the Lolita world. Enough said, its just really sad to see sometimes.

10. The amount of time it can take to get ready. I usually pride myself on being able to get ready fast, but sometimes it just takes way too long. All the little things that go into making one big, flawless co-ord can take forever to get on your body in just the right way. Sometimes hours!

Well, thats it for now, next time it will be ten foods I like! Can't wait for that one!

Hope you enjoyed!

...and I spent all of the money on all of the thingsssss

Hello everyone!

The other day I was browsing Lace Market and I noticed someone had listed a gorgeousness Triple Fortune bonnet. I have always loved the designs of 3F''s bonnets and hats, so I just couldn't resist (although my bank account was screaming. Actual screaming.) 

So in the next couple of days, this should be arriving in the mail so I can fawn all over it and place it on an altar somewhere in my house so it can be admired forever until those days that I wear it:

money well spent. 

Also, I put a down payment on the Sax colorway of the Day Dream Carnival tiered-JSK to start my collection of the entire series! I can't wait to pay it off next week and have it show up as well!

Could not be more happy with my purchases at the moment!

I'm currently trying to put together a fairy-tale inspired co-ord for the Royal de la Fee tea party event later this month in the city. I have a feeling the new 3F bonnet will be incorporated somehow...so keep an eye out for photos soon! Also, if you have any suggestions of what fairy-tale character I should base my outfit on or gain inspiration from, please let me know!

cya!

Lolita Challenge 2- 10 things you Love in Lolita!

This challenge is a lot harder than it would seem, since its really hard to pin down just a few things that I love about Lolita. I love it all!

1. I think the main thing I love about Lolita is the dresses themselves, and the way they make me feel once I'm wearing them. I always feel like a princess, and like I've completely escaped from the mundane, everyday life that I lead when I go to and from work. These are the kind of clothes I feel the most comfortable and elegant in, something I want to wear everyday because it feels like the real me. I've never felt comfortable in a t-shirt, and I won't go ten feet anywhere near a pair of jeans.

2. I really love hunting for/collecting prints and dream dresses. I've been a collector of things since I was little, and once I love something I will basically stop at nothing to have it in my possession (like spend all my food money for the month or sell all of my casual clothing haha). I just find it so thrilling and satisfying to nab one of those dresses or pieces you've been after for ages, especially if it happens to be at a good price. Certain prints will just stand out for me, especially things lately like carousels, strawberries, fawns, fairytales, and chocolate themes.

Still looking for this dream dress!

3. I love co-ordinating outfits, or creating an outfit based on the theme of a meet-up or a theme I've always wanted to portray. Whether it be twinning with someone else, or just creating an everyday look to go for tea, its so much fun to think up a wonderful outfit to wear!

4. The cute and fun lifestyle that comes with Lolita. 

5. The accessories and headwear. Oh goddddd the accessories. I'm such a ring addict to start with, but all the hats, bonnets, bracelets and other accessories that come with Lolita are some of the cutest/ most beautiful things I've ever seen. Anything adorned with bows, candy, crosses, bears, cats or bunnies literally has me draining my bank account on the spot. T_T

6. The anticipation of new prints coming out. Even if you love them or hate them, waiting to see the latest sets is exciting. 

7. The diversity of Lolita. There are so many sub-genres that you can have total freedom to find your own Lolita style, whether it be gothic, classic, sweet, or punk. I've gone through a number of different style changes when it comes to Lolita! Each style is completely gorgeous in it's own way.

8. The meet-ups and community! I honestly love going to meet ups whenever I can and seeing all the girls. Everyone is so nice and accepting, and this lifestyle wouldn't be the same without them. It's great to see everyone's outfits and go on crazy and fun adventures.

Super derping after the Angelic Pretty Tea Party

9. Seeing other Lolita's outfits and ideas at meet ups or online and getting super inspired. There's nothing like going to a meet-up or reading another Lolita's blog and seeing what they do and their co-ords. It really gets me excited about trying different outfits or new co-ords I hadn't thought about previously, or leads me to buy items or dresses I didn't know about. I also love it when I see other girls get inspired by seeing Lolita for the first time or from seeing other girl's outfits!

10. The wait for a Lolita package of goodies. I basically turn into Scott Pilgrim when it comes to ordering anything Lolita. I will pretty much wait by the door the moment after I order something and will constantly check for package updates online. It's a good thing I live right across from the post office and also work at the Postal outlet down the road, because I have access to my things almost instantly :D

How I wait for packages 

Next time it will be 10 things that I hate in Lolita! See you soon!

Lolita Challenge Part 1- 10 things about your Lolita bubble!

So the first day in the 30 day Lolita challenge is to talk about 10 things that make up your "Lolita bubble". It was hard to know where to start, so I'll try and list what I think are the most important things, and see how it goes!

1. I started becoming interested in Lolita when I was about 14, but I didn't go to my first meet-up until I was about 20! I remember the first time I ever saw Lolita fashion, back when my best friend and I used to MSN each other back and forth (ah, the good old days of MSN). We were nerdy little Otaku girls who shared a mutual bond with our love of everything Japan, and one day she sent me a photo of this girl in the most amazing outfit I had ever seen in my entire life. She said it was this cool style she had just discovered, called Lolita. As Momoko says in Kamikaze girls, "The old me was slain"! Everything about the style embodied what I wanted to be, what I had ever dreamed of being. I immediately looked for stores online to buy Lolita clothing ( I died internally that day when I discovered how expensive it was), and of course stumbled across....Bodyline. My friend and I marvelled at what we thought was good quality, inexpensive Burando and both ordered something. 

Needless to say, we thought we were pretty cool when our items showed up. Looking back, the jacket I bought wasn't even Lolita at all hahaha

When I got a job a few years later, I finally managed to save up for actual brand, and haven't looked back since! I discovered the local Lolita community at 19 and shyly went to my first meet at 20. 

2. My favourite brand of all time is Mary Magdalene. I just love the perfect, elegant cuts and fabric of the dresses, which fit me probably the best out of all the brands I've ever tried/own. I can successfully say that I've liked every single dress they've ever put out, which is rare for me to say about most brand. Their stock photos are just the most perfect things ever too ._.; 

I also love Innocent World, Metamorphose and Angelic Pretty

3. At first, OTT Sweet Lolita was not my thing at all. I completely appreciated other girls who could pull it off, but it just wasn't for me. These days though, I am in love with some of the co-ords and dresses, and feel more open to doing this style, or a classical-sweet version. Lately, I've been sticking to classical themes, as well as pastel colours like pale pink, creams, and light blue. 

4. I was very heavily into Gothic Lolita at first, probably up until at least two years ago. I still love creating gothic co-ords whenever I can, but mostly leave it for the darker-themed meet-ups these days!

A gothic-inspired co-ord from last year's Halloween meet-up! 

5. I get the majority of my dresses, accessories, and other bits from the Comm Sales, Lace Market, or through the local Lolita community girls. I'm not so good at the Comm Sales, but I absolutely love Lace Market lately.

6. I tried making a few of my own Lolita pieces a while ago, back when I was more of an avid sewer. I just don't have the time anymore to whip up something majestic or cute, but in the past I have made skirts, over-skirts, lacy wrist cuffs, flower crowns, petticoats, and even bloomers! I really want to get back into making things, hopefully sometime this century ya'll.

7. I've slowed right down when it comes to buying dresses in the last two years- mainly because I rent my own little kawaii house and its expensive to do both sometimes -_-; But I still put aside Burando monies!!! Or starve for a couple weeks when I see a dress I want hahaha

8. My house is completely 100% branded kawaii. I have so many cute things I've hoarded since I was a teenager that there is very little room to sit or even move! My couches have been taken over by Hello Kitty and a pack of Alpacasso, and theres little toys, trinkets, plushies, mementos, and general cuteness everywhere. I'll actually post photos of this madness one day soon....when I have it contained.

9. I am accepting of everyone's Lolita fashion choices, and I really dislike any elitism or bullying that I see on some sites and other places. Lolita for me is about having fun with the style and creating a look for who you want to be. There is no age limit or hardcore rules that must be followed, as long as you love the style and are kind to others as well. 

10. I love the Vancouver/Seattle Lolita community! Everyone is so nice and I've always loved going to the meet-ups, even if I don't make it to all that many because I live away from Vancouver in a more secluded area, my job hours suck sometimes... No matter what we do, It's always a fun experience and I love meeting new friends, seeing all the amazing co-ords and taking time to catch up with all the talented people that come out to the meet-ups!

A shot of some of us at the Angelic Pretty Tea Party!

Hope you enjoy! I would also love to see anyone else's Lolita challenge so far if you've taken part!

Byebye!