Monday, April 27, 2015

Three Trends I Thought I Loved, But Now I'm Not Keen On (Lolita 52 Challenge)

Before we get into this list, I want to make something of a little disclaimer. These are trends that I personally don't really like. We all have our own opinions--and just because I don't like a trend doesn't mean that you aren't allowed to like it! As I said last week, we can share both our likes and our dislikes without feeling like we're being personally attacked for them. With that little disclaimer out of the way, onto my three items that I should, in theory, love, but I'm not too keen on!

1. Skeleton Tights



Skeleton tights from Hot Topic

I'm not sure if it's a case of the sour grapes (I never did manage to find a pair of skeleton tights for plus size figures, though I found a plethora of leggings), or whether I just actually dislike them--but I used to love the idea of skeleton tights in a coord. But now, I realize that they just doesn't seem to fit many outfits. It doesn't help that the trend has caught on, and now super-cheap and relatively crappy-looking versions are widely available. The biggest issue I've had with skeleton tights, however, is that I've seen so many coordinates that have kind of forced the tights into it, even though they don't match it at all--for example, a super-sweet coordinate with them. Skeleton tights might work with creepy cute, but sweet? Overall, I don't think they're horrible, but I would definitely say that they are overrated.

2. Bittersweet Lolita



Whether or not you consider "bittersweet" Lolita to be a thing (or if it's just sweet in dark colorways), when the term started to pop up more often around 2012 to 2013, I kind of liked it! Given that my style is quite a bit darker than even bittersweet Lolita, this feels very bizzare to me now. Why did I ever think that I would enjoy wearing bittersweet Lolita when the motifs of sweet Lolita made me cringe? Why did I fall in love with the Whimsical Vanilla-chan print when literally the only thing I really loved about it was the fact that it had cats on it? I'm just glad I never put any money into sweet prints before figuring out that the trend was most definitely not for me.

3. Nun Lolita



Nameless Poem OP from Ista Mori

Here, I think I'm bending the rules just a little bit--but it's a trend that came to mind when I saw this prompt. Nun Lolita is one of those things that I should, in theory, love. It's a decidedly more Gothic trend than what's been popular lately, and it has old school roots. Even Mana has donned dresses that are decidedly "Nun Lolita"-esque. But here's the issue: I can't wear it myself. As a former student of a Catholic university, and a member of the Pagan community, I simply don't find myself comfortable wearing a "nun" inspired coordinate. However--I love looking at them. So maybe it's one of those trends that I'm not keen on for myself--but love witnessing.

So those are the top three trends I thought I loved, but found that I wasn't actually all that keen on! What about you? Do you have any trends that became a love gone sour? Or a trend you just never understood? I'd love to hear about it in the comments! Until next week, then--stay frilly!

The post above was a response to the Lolita 52 Week Challenge made by the ever so delightful Caro over at FYeahLolita.

Monday, April 20, 2015

Three Trends I Thought I Would Never Get Into, But I Now Love! (Lolita 52 Challenge)

Before we get into this list, I want to make something of a little disclaimer: These are trends that I just never really thought I could get into, and changed my mind for some reason or another. We all have our own opinions--and that's totally okay! We're all allowed to have our likes and dislikes. We can share both our likes and our dislikes without feeling like we're being personally attacked for them. With that little disclaimer out of the way, onto my top three items that I thought I disliked, but slowly fell in love with!

1. Head Bows



Rose Frill Grosgrain Head Bow from Alice and the Pirates

I have to admit, I was one of those people that just couldn't stand the idea of headbows. It wasn't that I hated others for wearing them--they could look adorable in coordinates, and I always thought they were kind of cute. But the thought of putting them on my head always made me feel--well, a bit silly. I think most of that stems from my short hair, which limits the size of head bow that I can actually wear. Head-eating bows are most definitely not for me! At least, not with my natural hair.

Then I saw the head bow above released by Alice and the Pirates in 2013. It was small enough to where it looked wearable--easily wearable! And it was asymmetrical, which was great for my asymmetrical hair cut (since I have comb-over bangs). All in all, I just felt like I'd finally found a head bow that I could actually wear! Fast forward a year, and I've snatched up this lovely thing and made it mine. Not to mention...


Merry Making in the Ghost Town Head Bow from Alice and the Pirates

...I have another head bow on my wishlist! Coming from me--the ever-adamant "I don't wear head bows" Lolita prior to this year--this is quite a feat. Not just one head bow, but two? How novel! I really like the asymmetrical, tilted head bows, I think, and I like the bows that aren't too overpowering. So this trend, which I originally hated, has somehow wormed its way into my heart, if only just a little bit.

2. Peignoirs


Vintage peignoir found on Etsy (link)


Peignoirs were one of those things that, for the longest time, I wasn't quite sure what to think of. They looked interesting sometimes, and depending on the peignoir, they can be stunning. When it comes to peignoirs in Lolita, however, I am extremely picky. As gorgeous as they are, I really, really dislike long peignoirs with Lolita. When the peignoir goes to your ankles, but your dress goes to your knees, it looks very surreal in my opinion--and not in a good way. So a tailored peignoir, roughly knee length, looks best to me. But, like overdresses (which are also included on my list of 5 things every Lolita wardrobe should have), peignoirs are able to bring together a coordinate into a cohesive unit, so long as they work well with it.

3. Old School/Classic Lolita


An ancient Victorian Maiden spread from a GLB

I'm lumping these two together, because I went into the fashion thinking I would never wear them. I thought that I would keep myself a ~*~strictly Gothic Lolita~*~, and live out my creepy doll fantasy life in peace. Of course, Lolita had other plans for me--and slowly, these other two styles crept into my heart--particularly Old School. Gothic is still my one and only love, but every once in a while, for a change of pace, I'll wear a more Classic coordinate (though my color palette is limited), or break out and old school black and white coordinate to show that old school is still alive and kicking.

The post above was a response to the Lolita 52 Week Challenge made by the ever so delightful Caro over at FYeahLolita.

Monday, April 13, 2015

Nails to Match my Favorite Looks (52 Lolita Challenge)

I will be the first person to admit that I have a very boring taste in nails. I've just never really meshed with the deco nail trend that's so popular in OTT Lolita and other J-fashions--or even in mainstream fashion, to a certain extent! Maybe it's the fact that I grew up with a mother who consistently has her acrylic nails filled. and knowing the upkeep that they require turned me off of the process because I am notoriously lazy about making appointments like that.

That doesn't mean, of course, that I can't appreciate deco nails, and that I haven't considered getting a pair of the "press on" variety. There are dozens of Etsy stores that sell ornate and gorgeous nails that have tempted me. But I also enjoy the use of my fingers for fine motor details with little to no warning, and I have this lasting phobia that I would get my nail caught in my waist tie bow or break one straight in half while typing, the way my mother has done on several occasions (because of her nails' length, she's typing with the tips of her nails rather than her fingertips; over a period of time at her programming job, she will occasionally wear them out).







Phobia aside, nails like these rose-themed ones are the kind I like the most. Because I wouldn't be the type to keep multiple sets of these, I would want something that could match multiple outfits--and a simpler set like these, in a monochromatic rose scheme, could be worked into just about any outfit that had black as a central color.


Nails like the above ones, however, would be a bit more themed. They definitely look more opulent, but they would almost certainly have to be worn in a coordinate that uses red in it, or else the nail gems would look decidedly out of place. The classic Gothic images in these, however, are really stunning--especially for nail art. Think about how small that canvas is--and look at just how much detail was actually put into them! The lace details on this set, in particular, is something I really like. But even so, it's still a bit too "dressed up" for my personal taste.


OPI Shatter used in a manicure

Enter OPI Shatter polish. This is a product that I can really get behind. Whenever I'm home, I tend to steal my mother's black Shatter for at least a while. Shatter, and similar copycat products, are an interesting way to jazz up your usual polish game. As the Shatter dries, it forms "shattered" chunks, revealing the original color underneath. I like to use either silver or a nice royal blue underneath my Shatter for a decidedly Moitie-esque colorscheme. I finish off with a topcoat for lasting wear and a bit of gloss, and I'm done! Nothing easier.

On a normal day to day basis, my nails will usually have either simple black, semi-gloss polish, or be kept natural. What about you guys? Do you go all-out when you wear Lolita? A middle of the road type? Or do you rock natural nails? I'd love to hear about your preferences down in the comments!

The post above was a response to the Lolita 52 Week Challenge made by the ever so delightful Caro over at FYeahLolita.

Friday, April 10, 2015

Make One Expensive Coord and One Inexpensive Coord From Your Wardrobe! (Lolita Blog Carnival)

So the prompt for this week's Lolita Blog Carnival was to make two coordinates from your wardrobe--one expensive coordinate, and the other inexpensive. I'm a firm believer in "Budget Lolita"--that offbrand options are a great investment in a wardrobe, and they're a perfectly acceptable alternative to brand name clothing. So quite a bit of my wardrobe is made up of "offbrand" options. But that doesn't mean I don't splurge every once in a while and get an expensive piece!

So here we have my "budget" coordinate!




~Rundown~

JSK: Bodyline - $35 (on sale, used yen trick)
Cutsew: Torrid(?) - $10 (secondhand)
Shoes: Bodyline - $8 (used yen trick)
Tights: Torrid - $5 (on sale)
Headbow: Heart.E - Free! (received as gift in trade)
Purse: Dysfunctional Doll - $30

Approximate total cost (before shipping): $88

And now for the coordinate worth ALL the money!





~Rundown~

JSK: Baby the Stars Shine Bright - $150 (secondhand)
Blouse: Dear Celine - $70
Tights: Torrid - $5
Headbow: Alice and the Pirates - $40
Bag: Baby the Stars Shine Bright - $100 (secondhand)
Parasol: Alice and the Pirates - $40
Shoes: Vivienne Westwood - $600 (secondhand)

Approximate total cost (before shipping): $1005

I had a lot of fun with this prompt! And it also made me realize that the most expensive items in my wardrobe are almost all shoes... I think I have a thing for shoes. (I can't help it! They're so pretty!) If you liked seeing what I came up with for a coordinate from my closet, check out the posts from the other Lolita Blog Carnival members down below. Still frilly, my friends!

Other LBC Entries this week:
ϿѺϾ Divine Cross ϿѺϾ
ϿѺϾ Oh Velveteena ϿѺϾ
ϿѺϾ Sweet Expedition ϿѺϾ
ϿѺϾ Courtly Dreams for Burgher ϿѺϾ
ϿѺϾ Vanilla Bear ϿѺϾ
ϿѺϾ Art du Noir ϿѺϾ
ϿѺϾ The Bloody Tea Party ϿѺϾ
ϿѺϾ Hello Batty ϿѺϾ

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Bloomers or No Bloomers? (52 Lolita Challenge)

Ah, yes--bloomers. Bloomers are one of those items often considered a "staple" in a Lolita closet, but they're so often overlooked, if for no other reason than you don't usually actually see them in your coordinate (at least, most of the time, anyways!). That's kind of the point of bloomers, really--they aren't meant to be seen, except in the case of some ero Lolita coordinates, and a few old school coordinates.


Cage Skirt coordinate from Atelier Pierrot

For example, in this coordinate, you can clearly see the bloomers because of the cage skirt. I would say that this outfit treads a strange line between Lolita and Ouji, as inspired by Ciel Phantomhive, and it can sometimes get a little bit muddy as to which style you're going for based solely on the clothes. But few would deny that the outfit has Lolita roots, despite the fact that it is technically missing a proper skirt. Pulling off the cage-skirt-showing-bloomers look can be really tricky, and some people dislike it, but I personally think it looks really interesting when done well.


Secondly, we have our bloomers-peeking Old School look. This is a look I like to occasionally wear myself. You can see the lace from the bloomers beneath the skirt, adding just an extra hint of cute lace and dressing up the hem and petti area. Not everyone likes how this looks (I've heard the argument that it makes your dress look like it's too short for you, which I totally understand), but it was undeniably a thing in the Old School days. Your bloomers weren't only a more active part of your coordinate; they were also slightly more historically-accurate.


Basic Cotton Bloomers from Fanplusfriend

Bloomers are a historic undergarment, though they were worn for an entirely different reason than they are worn in Lolita. Historically, bloomers were mostly worn to protect the dress from getting dirty--and it wasn't until the 1870s that the crotch seam was even closed! In Lolita, however, bloomers are worn primarily for modesty's sake. Our skirts, of course, are much shorter than they were in the Victorian and Regency eras. So bloomers' primary function in Lolita is to prevent a panty-flash incident when bending over, if the wind blows up a skirt, or for any other skirt-related mishap that might happen during the day. And Lolitas have two main options when it comes to bloomers: the more historically-inspired bloomers, as shown above, or the shorter, more "modern" bloomers, as seen below.


Tiered Bustle Ruffle Bloomers from Fanplusfriend

Modern Lolita bloomers are usually cut much higher up the leg, to about the length that a pair of shorts would go (or a bit shorter). They're often embellished, with a bustle on the butt and pintucks or lace on the hem, but you can purchase them plain, as well. Bloomers of this variety work specifically in the "panty-flashing prevention" function, rather than allowing the wearer to peek their bloomer lace a la Old School. Which style of bloomer you choose is entirely a matter of personal preference!

Personally, I've made all of my bloomers, and they're my go-to Lolita undergarment for most events. Besides the aesthetic and panty-flash reasons to wear them (and I will speak candidly), I find that mine give the additional benefit of "chub-rub prevention" (especially in summer, when it is often paired with heat rash). Additionally, I don't usually have the issue of bloomers riding up, which I tend to have with Spanx and other shapewear/undergarments for regular skirts and dresses. Bloomers are an indispensible part of my wardrobe; and even if you don't personally like them, I'd recommend something in their place. But then, you might be left out with something that is undeniably Lolita--another item of clothing with which to drape yourself in lace and frills!

What about you? Are you a bloomer lover? Or are pajama shorts and Spanx your go-to? Do you like the more historical-looking long bloomers, or are you a modern, puffy-pant bloomer fan? Do you wear your bloomers as Lolita pajamas? I'd love to hear your thoughts on the subject in the comments below!

The post above was a response to the Lolita 52 Week Challenge made by the ever so delightful Caro over at FYeahLolita.

Friday, April 3, 2015

The Gothic Brands: Where to get Gothic Lolita

I've previously done a YouTube video about this topic, but I felt that it was worth reiterating here. Finding Gothic Lolita can sometimes seem like an arduous task, given that Gothic isn't exactly the most popular substyle at the moment (I would argue that place belongs to Classic now, usurping OTT Sweet's claim to the throne). But it is out there, and it is very accessible. Now, it's important to remember that black =/= Gothic in this--but remember, you can also find some items (blouses, wrist cuffs, socks, etc. as well as main pieces) from Sweet and Classic brands that will work for Gothic!

However, for the purposes of this post, I'm going to be focusing on the main Japanese-based brands that have Gothic Lolita as their focus. I'll likely do an Indie Brand follow-up at a later date, as well, so keep an eye out for that!

One more note: Just because a shop doesn't ship overseas doesn't mean you can't get ahold of their items! You always have the option of a shopping service to get an item you have your eye on. Without further ado, let's take a look at some of the beautiful brands we have at our disposal!