5 Things You Wish There Were More Prints Of (Lolita Blog Carnival)

Ah, yes--prints. Prints have become the cornerstone of Lolita fashion as it expanded--and it's no wonder. While it's impossible to deny the classic allure of solid dresses with impeccable tailored details such as ruffles, pintucks, and lace, there's simply so much more freedom when you allow a dress to become a canvas for artwork on top of that.

And with such freedom comes a terrible problem: No one has made the print you want; or, if they have, it's been simply lost in the sea of print releases every year.

So, what are my gripes? What are prints I'd love to see--or at least see more of?

1. Shakespeare Prints

Haenulie's "For Juliette" print is based off of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet"

This is one of those themes that I simply don't understand why we don't see more often. Shakespeare's plays are some of the most widely-spread and loved literary works of all time--and yet we rarely see them in prints! And even when they are, they tend to be more abstract than feature the actual characters (or simply use the name, a la Alice and the Pirate's "Midsummer Night's Dream" print).

I'd especially love to see prints featuring Hamlet and MacBeth; They're two of my favorite plays by him, and would lend themselves to absolutely gorgeous Gothic prints Hamlet's "to be or not to be" soliloquy, in particular, would be a great scene to depict--as would Lady MacBeth's infamous "out, damned spot!" scene.

2. Tarot Card Prints

Alice and the Pirates' Tarot Card print, JSK II cut in black (2010)

Another print I'd love to see more of would be Tarot Cards. They're such a great theme! They've got the right amount of mysticism and romanticism surrounding them that they could be the basis for some amazing prints. In particular, I'd love to see larger border prints depicting the Major Arcana around the hem. Tarot cards tend to have very graceful, elegant, and detailed drawings--which lends them very well to being featured on a Lolita print!

While Alice and the Pirates released a Tarot Card print in 2010 (pictured above), and a handful of other dresses featuring the theme are out there, I can't help but hope that the theme is revisited. I think that Innocent World could take a lovely approach on it with a more weathered or antique look, while Alice and the Pirates' detailed line work could make the revisit worthwhile.

3. Pagan Prints

Moi-Meme-Moitie's Stained Glass Print OP (2012)

Religious imagery is EVERYWHERE in Lolita. Crosses, stained glass, reproductions of religious paintings--hell, Juliette et Justine's L'Eclat de Croix series actually features Jesus on the cross. Noticing the beginning of a trend here? Christian iconography was one of the leading inspirations of Western art for quite a long time--from medieval manuscripts of the Bible with beautiful illustrations to Renaissance masterpieces from Da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raphael (to make a long story short, the church had the money, and commissioned a lot of the art; and when it didn't have the money, nobles who did have the money liked to look pious and would commission art on behalf of their church).

So enter one of my guilty pleasures: Pagan iconography. There are a plethora of myths to depict, and plenty of modern-day inspiration to draw from. How beautiful would a Gothic print inspired by Hades and Persephone be? How lush and beautiful would the story of Apollo and Daphne (a la Bernini) be? Could you imagine a painting print based off of the story of Eros and Psyche? Mythological prints are conversation pieces. Or take a nod from common, modern pagan religions. Pentagrams, pentacles, altars, runes, and so much more are out there--and I'd love to see more variety in prints like this.

4. Prints Based on Gothic Literature & art

The indie brand Lady Sloth has used Caspar David Friedrich's

"Klosterfriedhof im Schnee (Cloister Cemetery in the Snow)" for a print.

While it doesn't date from the usually accepted Gothic period,

it depicts many classic Gothic literature tropes.

Ah, yes. Gothic Literature. Is there anyplace else you can go for your fill of romance, adventure, mystery and suspense? There are dozens of beautiful, famous Gothic novels to choose from--from the classic Dracula and Frankenstein novels to Wuthering Heights and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde. These novels have inspired countless artists, and it would certainly be interesting to see takes on it within Lolita fashion. But perhaps that's my English-major Bibliophile coming out a little.

I'd actually adore to see Carmilla adapted into a print--a vampire story that predates Dracula, with heavy lesbian undertones. And if the oldies don't do it for you--couldn't the newer "Gothic" novels be just as appealing? I don't know about you, but I would certainly jump for joy for "Interview with the Vampire" or "The Woman in Black" prints.

5. Prints Based on Dark Fairy Tales

An illustration of "Little Red Riding Hood" by Jessie Wilcox Smith (1863-1935)

We've seen quite a few cute fairy tale prints from Lolita brands before. The "Rated G for Everyone" versions of fairy tales are cute and widely popular--so it's really no surprise that a brand would put out a Sleeping Beauty or Cinderella inspired print. But here's the more interesting bit: most fairy tales aren't originally as sweet and happy as they've become. Some are more pessimistic, sad, and just downright dark. Exploring the more gothic or artistically-minded aspects of fairy tales could be a great way to have a fresh look on an old favorite.

In particular, I'd love to see an interpretation of the original version of The Little Mermaid where, spoiler alert, she does not gain the love of her prince and live happily ever after--but instead dies and turns into sea foam. Little Red Riding Hood would be another great option, as would any other Brother's Grimm fairy tale, to be honest. I'd also love to see a print based off of "The Little Match Girl" released around Christmas, though it isn't strictly a fairy tale and it's grim nature may be unappealing to some!

What about you? What are some prints you'd like to see in Lolita? Leave them down in the comments below, and be sure to check out the other Lolita Blog Carnival posts on this topic! Links are located down below.

Other LBC Entries this week

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Why do I Wear Lolita? (Lolita 52 Challenge)

I feel like most Lolitas have a very simple answer to this question, and it's usually somewhere along the lines of "because I want to". Which, in and of itself, is a fine answer! Who really needs a reason to dress up in clothes they like, other than because they like them?

But when I ask myself why I wear Lolita, I find it to be a difficult question, because I instantly let my mind flock to what drew me to Lolita in the first place. Why was it Lolita, in particular, that caught my fancy? Especially since I spent a majority of my middle and high school years in a perpetual state of tomboyish refusal to wear skirts.

And I always come back to the same answer: I just like it. The style is something I enjoy, and have always found adorable. It's a style I enjoyed from the sidelines for a long time, and finally managed to join when I built up enough money and courage to try it for myself.

This week's post is insanely short, incredibly boring, and honestly quite boring--but I feel like I'd be a little redundant since I've spoken about this topic before. (I also happen to be starting a new job as an editor this week, so it's been insanely busy--but I already enjoy my job very much!)

What about you? Why do you wear Lolita? Is it the style itself? Or the confidence boost you get when wearing it? I'd love to hear your stories in the comments below. Until next week!

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

Combining Other Fashions with Lolita (Lolita 52 Challenge)

I talked about this in my Wardrobe Slump post a few months ago, but I find a lot of inspiration from mixing other fashions with Lolita. Finding aspects from another J-fashion that I enjoy, and bringing it into my Lolita coordinates, is a fun way for me to vary up my coordinates, and keep myself from falling into a same-old, same-old pattern.

Not to say that combining fashions with Lolita is easy, exactly. It can be challenging, even impossible at times. Lolita has a very set silhouette and technique behind it that can inhibit it from "meshing" well with other, more flexible fashions. The "rules" (or "guidelines", if you prefer) of Lolita are very black and white when determining what "is" Lolita, and what "isn't", with very little gray area. In short: Lolita fashion doesn't play nice with the other fashions.

This can make combining Lolita with other fashions an intimidating choice for those trying it out for the first time. And that's just too bad, because combining Lolita (or a Lolita-like aesthetic) has created some of the most artistic and stunning outfits I've seen to date! Let's check out my three personal favorite fashions to mash in with my Lolita: Mori Girl, Shironuri, and "Geek Chic".

Mori Girl

A Mori Girl street snap; unknown model

Mori Girl (or Mori Kei) is a fashion that I've talked about in junction with Lolita before (check out my post on how I get out of a wardrobe slump if you're interested!). The name translates to "Forest" girl, and--as the name implies--the basic idea is to look like a girl who would be wandering around in the forest. Because of the vague description of the style, there are tons of different interpretations, and a huge emphasis on creativity, which makes Mori Girl a fun style to experiment with. Mori Girl tends to make use of a lot of layers, knits, and distressed clothing. It even has a more Gothic cousin, Dark Mori Girl (which is arguably related to Strega fashion [which makes use of a more 'witchy' look], depending on who you ask).

The best way to mix Mori Girl in with your Lolita is to adopt a few pieces from a Mori closet into your Lolita closet. Mix and match items, and see what works. It's probably a style best left to Classic Lolita (which would mesh well with Mori's use of layers and neutral tones), or Gothic (which meshes quite handsomely with Dark Mori's more witchy vibe). But Sweet Lolita could probably mesh the knits used frequently with Mori for a wintery look.

What would a Lolita wear for a night wandering around the forest? Finding that perfect blend of Lolita extravagance and Mori Girl elegance is, to me, something straight out of a fairy tale--and definitely a fun way to mix up your outfits.

Shironuri

Shironuri artist and model, Minori, posed with hydrangeas

Shironuri (which translates to "painted in white") is almost more of an artform than a fashion. The style was created by a Japanese fashionista named Minori, who wanted to find a fashion that meshed together the clothes she wanted to wear with Japanese history. Shironuri's distinctive white face paint originates, according to Minori, from the Heian period, when the white face paint was used by aristocrat families. (If you're interested in reading more about the origin of Minori's Shironuri style, check out this interview with her!)

Mixing Shironuri, an extravagant and distinctively artistic style, with Lolita is probably overkill for most events. Wearing it everyday may be a little too over-the-top; but for special events, photo shoots, or a wearing-it-around-the-house-just-because? It might be one of the funnest mash-ups! Of course, everything should be taken with a grain of salt; Shironuri is meant to be an ethereal and artistic style. The quality of your makeup is really reflective of how well you're doing in the style--and you may want to practice doing Shironuri makeup a few times before you attempt to mesh it with Lolita!

The biggest word of advice/warning I can give to those wanting to mix these styles: MAKE SURE TO TEST YOUR MAKEUP. You want to make sure that the makeup--whether cream, liquid, or powder--sets properly, and won't run onto your clothes. No one wants a mess of white makeup staining their expensive Lolita clothing! So please be sure to check that you set all of your makeup properly, and use quality makeup that won't smear.

If you're really interested in mixing Shironuri with Lolita, but have no idea where to start, this post over on F Yeah Lolita is one of the most detailed, beautiful things I've seen on the subject, and definitely worth the read!

Geek Chic

I can hear the complaints already: "Geek Chic? You're telling people to put their nerdy stuff in Lolita? You're inviting people to be Itas! There is no way any self-respecting Lolita would wear the "Geek Lolita" stuff that people put out!"

To these people, I ask: Who pissed in your corn flakes this morning?

Fashion is, first and foremost, about expressing yourself. Having fun. What's so bad about combining two things you love? Do you necessarily have to like the look, or wear it yourself? Of course not! But saying that everyone who wears a Dr. Who-inspired coordinate is an ita is the same as saying anyone who owns Sugary Carnival is an expert at coordinating Lolita outfits. Sure, there are a lot of not-so-great "Lolita" outfits at conventions based around the idea of Geek-dom. But there are a lot of not-so-great coordinates made out of nothing but brand, too. And at cons, there's also a good amount of outfits inspired by these same geeky hobbies that look great. Sometimes, you wouldn't even know they were fandom/geek-chic inspired unless you were told by the girl wearing it that "Oh, I got this coordinate idea from Dr. Who".

And Geeks are nothing if not committed to what they love. Take a look at some of these amazing Geeky Lolita items I've found:

Fanplusfriend's Time Lord Series is based off of the classic "Geeky" favorite, Dr. Who.

This JSK from Be My Full Moon features a border print of d20 dice--perfect for a Lolita off to a Dungeons and Dragons session!

And the plethora of character-inspired coordinates done by individuals archived on Lolita-Tips here!

While these items may not be everyone's style, you can't deny that these items do fit the Lolita "rules". They just express a theme that you aren't used to seeing in Lolita. I, personally, enjoy seeing "geek" Lolita done well and done right. If you don't like it, that's fine too! No one says you have to enjoy every trend or theme that someone else likes. But celebrating diversity is part of what makes Lolita so much fun!

What about you? What are your favorite fashions to mix and match with Lolita? What was a coordinate you saw that inspired you to mix and match? I'd love to hear about your experiences down in the comments below. Until next week, then!

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

Why Don't I Wear Lolita More Often? (Lolita 52 Challenge)

Wearing Lolita is one of those things that, in theory, is easy. In practice, however, it can be difficult. There are tons of reasons why wearing Lolita every day might not be for you. Maybe your job has a uniform, or you work in an environment with a strict dress code. Maybe you don't want to risk damaging your expensive items at work. Maybe the weather isn't cooperating with your plans to wear Lolita.

That being said, I don't think that it's how often you wear Lolita that really counts. You may only get a chance to wear Lolita once every couple days, maybe once or twice a month, or a couple times a year. You're still a Lolita, and you can still participate in the subculture. There's nothing wrong with enjoying something you love, even if you can't participate in it as often as you like!

Personally, I only wear Lolita a couple times a month at this point (and usually for date nights out). I don't have the time to wear it otherwise. My current position (working as a desk assistant at a hotel) requires a uniform. And though the job I'll be starting next week (at the editorial department of a local newspaper) may be a little more lenient with dress code (and I'm crossing my fingers for a Lolita-friendly position), dressing "professionally" is going to have to take precedent over dressing how I want.

But that's no reason to despair! I still manage to wear some of my Lolita items in non-Lolita ways; I'll wear a skirt without a petticoat (the chiffon ones, in particular, actually look quite pretty without them, but it goes on a case-by-case basis). I might choose to wear a Lolita blouse with a long skirt. Or maybe I'll wear one of my hair clips that I bought for Lolita as a statement/conversation piece (I always receive a lot of compliments on my skeleton hand barrettes, for example!).

So, if I had to narrow it down, my reasons for not wearing Lolita are as follows:

• Work dress code. As stupid as it is, jobs have dress codes. Sometimes, such as in kitchens or construction work, it's for safety. Other times, like in office settings, it's about the social construct of "professionalism" and our belief that "alternative" people can't be productive. Thankfully this is dying down, but it's still a reality, and something you occasionally just have to accept.
• Lack of time. There are only so many hours in the date, and so many days in the week. If I'm busy, I might just not have the time!
• Lack of a reason to dress up. While I'm all for "dressing up just because" (and I often wear Lolita just to sit around and sew for an afternoon), I usually prefer to have some kind of reason to dress cute. Even if that reason is as simple as a friend coming over to bake with me or something! If I need a pick-me-up, I might dress up for no reason; but otherwise, it seems like a lot of effort for me.
• Pure laziness. Lolita takes a LOT of work! Sometimes I'd rather just curl up in PJs and play video games instead of spend forty-five minutes doing my hair and makeup, and another half-hour getting dressed and making sure my butt bow is perfect!

What about you? Do you dress up in Lolita often enough for your tastes? What keeps you from wearing your frills? I'd love to hear your stories in the comments below. Until next week!

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

Most Versatile Lolita Item I Own (52 Lolita Challenge)

When I saw the prompt for this one, I knew exactly which piece I was going to talk about. It's one of my favorite main pieces I've gathered, and--surprisingly--was also one of the cheapest! I purchased this jumperskirt from Bodyline, before their major site rehaul. Using the Yen Trick and a sale that was going on, I ended up only paying about $40 (including shipping) for the dress. Given the quality and detail in it, I'm quite happy with it!

Bodyline L348 in Black (Picture by Bodyline)

Lots of people have a love/hate relationship with Bodyline. Some people adore it for its cheap pricing and easy availability. Others dislike Bodyline's business practices (like its frequent Model Contests and its less-than-savory CEO, the infamous Mr. Yan), or make the argument that their rising prices don't match the quality of the actual product. Whatever your opinion on Bodyline is, I feel you have a valid reason to shop (or not) with them. And this jumperskirt is one of the reasons I hold out the hope that Bodyline will continue to be an option in the future.

I love this dress enough that I own it in two colorways--the all-black version, as pictured above, and the black and white version, for when I'm feeling like I'm in more of an old school mood. The quality was worth buying it twice, in my opinion. The fabric is soft and thick, the lace a surprisingly good quality, and the ruffled skirt is adorable. When I wore the dress to a meetup, more than one of the girls in my Comm couldn't even believe that it was Bodyline. One even thought it was possibly an old solid Baby design.

Which brings me to why this piece is my most "versatile" piece. The thing I love about this dress is that I can mix and match it a dozen different ways. It's super hot out? Just wear the dress, toss on a lace shrug, and I'm good. Need an opulent outfit? Toss on a princess-sleeve blouse and lace tights. Casual outfit for playing board games with friends? Wear a cute cutsew underneath and some knee socks.

This piece has enough detail in the ruffles and lace to be interesting on its own, providing all the texture and interest that a monochrome black outfit often needs; and all that detail can be dressed up with a more detailed blouse to end up with an outfit that looks a lot more expensive than it actually is. Thus why, in my opinion, this humble Bodyline Jumperskirt is probably the most Versatile item in my Lolita closet.

What about you? Do you have an item you can wear a thousand different ways? Or do your items seem to be more limited? I'd love to hear about some of your favorites down in the comments section below. Until next week!

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

Fondest Meetup Memory (52 Lolita Challenge)

When it comes to Meetup Memories, I honestly don't know if I'm truly qualified to choose whether or not I have a "favorite" one. Simply put? I don't have many to choose from. As of this moment, I've only ever been to three meetups (technically two, though one was broken up into two separate meets on the same day). So I don't think I have enough experience to pick a "favorite".

But I'll try to, anyways, because that's the prompt, and I have to have something that makes me nostalgic for when I lived less than seven hours from any meetup... Right?

Right.

And the first thing that came to mind was my first meet-up, which--while very few people actually showed up despite RSVP-ing and voting on the location--was probably one of my favorite meets. For one, it let me ease into the idea of a local Lolita community. I was quite used to being a Lone Lolita with a couple online friends (and even quite content being so). But meeting up with people in real life with the same interests? It was a little daunting.

But I did know one of the attendees, and it's actually not so much the meetup itself as seeing her that was a lovely memory that I chose for this. The first meet required my poor friend sheep-prince ("Sheepie") to drive hours, and they were going to simply crash at my place that night. And... well, honestly, that was probably the funnest part for me.

The ever-lovely Sheepie (picture from her tumblr)

I really only get to see Sheepie during cons; so seeing them for a meetup was nice, even if the visit was short! I'd love to be able to see them more often, so hopefully meetups that fit both of our schedules (or more cons) are in our future!

Personally, I tend to prefer meets that are very small... And I tend to prefer just going somewhere with friends who just happen to wear Lolita, rather than traditional meets. Both are fun, of course, but I think I enjoy sharing things I love with people I care about more than expanding my social circle. the curse of being an introvert, I suppose!

I think my ultimate dream meet up would be going to a concert or play with a few Lolita friends; Sheepie included! What about you? What's been your favorite meetup memory? And do you think it's prompted a dream meet-up at all? I'd love to hear about it in the comment section down below!

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

How Lolita has Changed Me (52 Lolita Challenge)

This is one of those posts that I actually found kind of difficult--not because I don't agree that something like fashion can change a person, because it completely can. Instead, I think the most difficult part was separating the changes caused by Lolita, and the changes caused by the usual process of growing up and becoming an adult.

But I think the biggest change Lolita has had on me was in one simple, but very important, thing: it taught me how to dress myself, and dress myself well. Though I'd always liked the structured, Victorian-esque Gothic look, I never quite figured out how to properly achieve the look. (At times, I'm still not sure I'm quite satisfied with where I am--I want to greatly improve my makeup skills, for example.)

Lolita encouraged me to get outside of my jeans-with-a-T-shirt-and-no-makeup comfort zone. I had a lot to learn, given that I never really learned much about makeup and clothes as a teenager. I needed to learn how to do my makeup properly (and even picked up how to put on false eyelashes properly--something I never would have attempted for fear of it being "too hard" before). I had to experiment until I learned how to balance colors in an outfit properly. I had to figure out how to combine items into a working outfit, to mix and match things, and how to identify clothing that I'd be able to wear a variety of ways.

I had a lot of things to learn when I started Lolita, and lots of these skills on "how to put together a Lolita coordinate" have helped me to pull together office- and work-related outfits more cohesively, as well. Lolita was a way to motivate me to learn how to dress myself in "regular" fashion, as well, because it provided me with a fun goal (a Lolita coordinate) to encourage me to gain mundane, if somewhat tedious, skills.

Other things about me has changed since I started wearing Lolita, of course, and plenty of them have been instrumental in me wearing Lolita. My sewing has improved by milestones; I've started a project (my blog) and consistently provided it with content, rather than letting it die after a week or two like most of my previous blogs; I've gained amazing followers and met new friends; I've gained confidence and the ability to stand up for myself, despite what others might think of me. But I don't think I want to contribute these solely to wearing Lolita. I feel like these sorts of things probably would have happened anyways--but were just helped out by having Lolita as a hobby!

I apologize for how short this week's post is; it was honestly quite difficult for me to think of much else that felt relevant! What about you? Have you noticed Lolita making any changes for you? Or do you feel like it hasn't changed much at all? I'd love to hear your stories in the comments below! Until next week.

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