When it comes to being a Lifestyle Lolita, I'm honestly not sure where I personally stand. On one hand, I do think that a lot of the Lolita aesthetic and stereotypical hobbies do line up quite nicely with what I enjoy. I love antique styled furniture, especially things with a Rococo or Baroque inspiration or twist. I love a variety of different crafts, from sewing to embroidery. and I absolutely adore books, with an especially noticeable weakness for Gothic novels.
In short, I just happen to fit the idea of what a "Lifestyle Lolita" might be like (albeit with more bats and black crepe than Rilakkuma plushes and pink chiffon). But I don't necessarily think of myself as a "Lifestyle Lolita".
For one, I wear other fashions besides Lolita, despite my love for it. I find wearing Dark Mori Kei-influenced clothes to be a lot easier at work and in day-to-day life than wearing a cupcake shaped petticoat that might inhibit movement. Free flowing skirts and layers are a bit more business appropriate.
So I think I consider myself something of a "Part Timer". My aesthetics and personality mesh well with Lolita, but real world practicality has to rear its ugly head and take away all of my fun! At least, for the moment being. I like to think that I'll someday have a job position that will allow me to wear Lolita to work a few days a week. And maybe, someday, that will actually happen.
But, for the moment, my Lifestyler choices are limited to my private life--in how I choose to dress in my free time (part Lolita, part Western Goth, park Dark Mori Kei, and part"screw it I'm just wearing Jack Skellington PJ pants") and how I decorate (equal parts "this-was-cheap-at-IKEA" and "I'm trying to repurpose this stuff I've had for ages by gothing it up a little", with the dream of one day being a Rococo Princess surrounded by wrought iron and carved wood). My hobbies are stereotypically Lolita, sure; but the thing is, I picked up these hobbies before I had any clue what Lolita even was, and liked them before; so I don't really consider them to be signs of me being a Lifestyler.
So, in short: While I don't consider myself a Lolita Lifestyler, I have a lot of things in common with them--and certainly would love to be friends with one! Maybe someday I'll feel like I can life up to the Lifestyler moniker, but until then--I'm more than happy with my "Goth" Lifestyle tag.
The post above was a response to the Lolita 52 Week Challenge made by the ever so delightful Caro over at FYeahLolita.
Monday, July 13, 2015
Monday, July 6, 2015
My Best Deal (52 Lolita Challenge)
When it comes to Lolita, I really try not to spend too much. As a result, I tend to be a "bargain hunter". I've bought most of my brand second-hand, and I try to get deals whenever I can while buying things. I'll wait for sales to buy things from Bodyline and FanPlusFriend, which are already considered "budget" Lolita brands in the first place.
Saving money is something I've always liked to do. My mom refers to me as "cheap", as if it's a compliment. (I'm not sure she realizes how expensive the hobbies I have are, exactly; Lolita, games, and anime? Very expensive hobbies, if you ask me!) Every little bit adds up, if you ask me--and I've done an entire blog post about the subject on my Tumblr, which I'm planning to sometime update and post about here.
The point is, I don't believe that you have to spend an arm and a leg in order to do anything--and wearing Lolita is definitely one of those things! I wear a lot of offbrand items, and I would consider most of these things to be a "deal". But for the title of my best "deal", I'm going to have to go with one item in particular...
Shirring Princess JSK by Baby the Stars Shine Bright
- It is easily one of the cheapest main brand items in my closet. This beautiful piece of ~burando~ cost only $70 before shopping services and shipping. This is the usual start for an offbrand/indie brand dress, so I was stoked to get it so cheaply--and in such good condition!
- I get a lot of wear out of it. My mom has this rule of thumb she taught me ages ago: the more you use something, the better the investment. So spend a lot on something you'll use frequently. And while she told me that to convince me to buy quality walking shoes for work, I've applied it to most other things, as well.
- I had a special deal. While this doesn't usually happen--at all--I actually didn't even have to pay for SS fees on this dress! So that meant all I had to worry about was the dress and shipping. Score!
What about you? What's the best deal you've gotten on an item? How has the cost of Lolita affected how often you purchase items for it, or what items you buy? I'd love to hear about your experiences 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.
Monday, June 29, 2015
What I Thought When I Got my First Piece of Real Lolita (52 Lolita Challenge)
I feel like this question is a bit of a two-parter for me, personally. When I think about how I grew my Lolita collection, I remember buying a lot of offbrand at first, even considering owning only indie/offbrand for a while. But then I got my first piece of brand, and.... well. It's been a downward slope ever since.
So I want to split this up between my two "first pieces" of real lolita: my first brand item, and my first quality Lolita item. This post required me to go through my old Livejournal, and boy howdy was that a little embarrassing.
My first true piece of Lolita (that is, something that wasn't ordered off of eBay) was from the now-closed indie brand English Charm--which, to this day, is one of my favorite brands. I ordered this relatively plain black jumperskirt (a custom job, given the original jumperskirt on their site was made with a Classic floral print), and a few blouses. And when they arrived, I absolutely fell head over heels all over again. I hadn't had a "Lolita" dress that was this nice before, despite the fact that I'd paid approximately the same price. And it solidified not only my adoration for the English Charm brand, but it really made me want to go out and seek other "indie brands" that catered to plus sized clients. And that kicked off most of Lolita purchases to date, honestly!
Even if the dress is "plain" by my standards now, I feel like it was a really good choice for me as a beginner, because it let me figure out how balancing out a Lolita coordinate actually worked without overloading my circuits right off the bat. I've since sold this jumperskirt, but I still think of it fondly, and hope the girl that I sold it to loves it as much as I do.
The post above was a response to the Lolita 52 Week Challenge made by the ever so delightful Caro over at FYeahLolita.
So I want to split this up between my two "first pieces" of real lolita: my first brand item, and my first quality Lolita item. This post required me to go through my old Livejournal, and boy howdy was that a little embarrassing.
Item 1: First Indie Piece
My first true piece of Lolita (that is, something that wasn't ordered off of eBay) was from the now-closed indie brand English Charm--which, to this day, is one of my favorite brands. I ordered this relatively plain black jumperskirt (a custom job, given the original jumperskirt on their site was made with a Classic floral print), and a few blouses. And when they arrived, I absolutely fell head over heels all over again. I hadn't had a "Lolita" dress that was this nice before, despite the fact that I'd paid approximately the same price. And it solidified not only my adoration for the English Charm brand, but it really made me want to go out and seek other "indie brands" that catered to plus sized clients. And that kicked off most of Lolita purchases to date, honestly!
Even if the dress is "plain" by my standards now, I feel like it was a really good choice for me as a beginner, because it let me figure out how balancing out a Lolita coordinate actually worked without overloading my circuits right off the bat. I've since sold this jumperskirt, but I still think of it fondly, and hope the girl that I sold it to loves it as much as I do.
Item 2: First Brand Piece
My first piece of brand was a parasol from Metamorphose, all the way back in 2011 (Gosh, it doesn't feel like it was that long ago...). I'd always loved the idea of parasols, but never actually went and got one for myself. That is, of course, until I found out that Lolita brands put them out on a regular basis. Why wouldn't I take advantage of the fact that brands released an item I'd been secretly pining over for years? And so I put in an order, and waited.
And it was completely worth it. At the time, I was kind of shocked by how much the parasol had actually cost (though as far as brand parasols go, it was a positive steal). But I was also so excited to finally get my first piece of brand that I forgot any reservations rather quickly. Holding that first brand item in my hands was amazing. I'll admit that it felt something like a status symbol. Sure, I wore indie brand stuff because of my size; but here was proof that I could own stuff from a real Lolita brand, and that was just enormous for me. I was so excited! To this day, I feel like brand items hold a special place in my heart, even though I adore my indie brand items as well. I think it's just the amount of detail and quality that I really love, because any offbrand item with as much work as a brand item usually ends up on my "favorite pieces" list for a while, at the very least.
What about you? What was your experience getting your first piece of Lolita clothing? Were you nervous about something going wrong? Or excited? Did everything go without a hitch, or was it harder than you thought? 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.
Monday, June 22, 2015
My First Meetup (Lolita 52 Challenge)
My first meetup was something of an anomaly. I'd been involved with my local Comm via Facebook for quite a while at that point (and was actually made a mod only a few months later). We decided to have a swap meet, in order to get some new pieces for the new girls and to help do a bit of closet cleaning sans trips to the post office for some of the other girls.
And, in the end, the actual swapping part of the swap meet was a complete and utter flop! Less than half of the girls who had RSVPed ended up attending (mostly due to travel issues, since we held the meet outside the main city in our state), and it was simply a bit of a small get-together to really constitute a true swap meet (though my friend sheep-prince picked up some awesome wardrobe additions, and I really enjoy seeing them). Despite the less-than-stellar turnout, we decided to make lemonade out of lemons, and went out for a nice dinner afterwards to chat and have some fun.
In the end, I left with a couple purchases, snatched up a couple sewing projects for a friend, and got to know my Comm members in person for the first time--so even if it didn't turn out the way we planned, it was a whole lot of fun!
What about you? What did you do on your first meet? When did you first help organize a meet? Do you prefer to plan meetups in meticulous detail, or just provide a loose framework and have fun with it? Please share down in the comments. 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.
And, in the end, the actual swapping part of the swap meet was a complete and utter flop! Less than half of the girls who had RSVPed ended up attending (mostly due to travel issues, since we held the meet outside the main city in our state), and it was simply a bit of a small get-together to really constitute a true swap meet (though my friend sheep-prince picked up some awesome wardrobe additions, and I really enjoy seeing them). Despite the less-than-stellar turnout, we decided to make lemonade out of lemons, and went out for a nice dinner afterwards to chat and have some fun.
In the end, I left with a couple purchases, snatched up a couple sewing projects for a friend, and got to know my Comm members in person for the first time--so even if it didn't turn out the way we planned, it was a whole lot of fun!
Though not my first meetup, this picture is from the second meetup I attended with my Comm--and the second that I helped to organize.
What about you? What did you do on your first meet? When did you first help organize a meet? Do you prefer to plan meetups in meticulous detail, or just provide a loose framework and have fun with it? Please share down in the comments. 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.
Monday, June 15, 2015
Wardrobe Blunders! Things I Bought that I Ended up Regretting (52 Lolita Challenge)
When it comes to "blunders" in my wardrobe, I find that I thankfully don't make them very often. I plan out everything I buy (more or less, with the occasional impulse buy, though they usually end up paying off). So I usually don't think there's much room for me to truly regret buying something.
Except, of course, on the rare occasional that a piece just doesn't fit right, and I can't get it to fit right. Case in point: my Abandoned Night skirt by the indie brand Baroque.
Gorgeous, isn't it? Yes, I adore this print, and the entire series behind it (I even went ahead and bought the matching blouse for the skirt, since I liked it so much). And with the photoshoot that promoted it, how could I not fall in love? This was when I was still building up my basic wardrobe, and at the time, it was probably the most expensive main item (skirt/jumperskirt/OP) that I owned. I just loved the print, and I wanted a stained glass print so badly that it practically hurt.
Baroque was offering custom sizing for this release, and I decided to jump at the chance to get it. Something about the print spoke to me (and still does). The vivid colors might be a bit much in others' opinions, but I just happened to really love it. And then, after months of waiting for the release (and multiple delays on the part of Baroque, though it wasn't exactly their fault and they even sent me a headdress with my order as an apology for the lateness), I finally had it in my hands.
And it was a bit too tight.
It isn't that the skirt is unwearable; when I wear a corset, I can just barely put it on. But it was disappointing in a major way for me. For a skirt that I waited so long for, and put so much hope into... The sizing, despite the elastic, isn't very flexible at all. I found that when I'd given them my measurements, rather than making my waist measurement comfortably in the middle, their tailors had made my 105 cm waist the absolute max for the skirt. And it was, to be honest, a little heartbreaking, because I loved this series so much, but I couldn't really afford to return the skirt in order to get a new one (since shipping was outrageous).
But I'm nothing if not stubborn, and the piece has stayed in my closet. I break it out on the occasions I can wear a corset for the day (which is sadly not very often), and I'm hoping that after I've safely lost some weight and gotten healthier that it'll fit me a bit better.
So I suppose that while I don't regret buying the piece, I do regret how it ended up fitting and turning out in the end... So hopefully I'll be able to give it the love it deserves soon.
What about you? Do you have any Lolita purchases you ended up regretting? Or do you find that your impulse buys tend to work out in the end? I'd love to hear about them 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.
Except, of course, on the rare occasional that a piece just doesn't fit right, and I can't get it to fit right. Case in point: my Abandoned Night skirt by the indie brand Baroque.
Gorgeous, isn't it? Yes, I adore this print, and the entire series behind it (I even went ahead and bought the matching blouse for the skirt, since I liked it so much). And with the photoshoot that promoted it, how could I not fall in love? This was when I was still building up my basic wardrobe, and at the time, it was probably the most expensive main item (skirt/jumperskirt/OP) that I owned. I just loved the print, and I wanted a stained glass print so badly that it practically hurt.
Baroque was offering custom sizing for this release, and I decided to jump at the chance to get it. Something about the print spoke to me (and still does). The vivid colors might be a bit much in others' opinions, but I just happened to really love it. And then, after months of waiting for the release (and multiple delays on the part of Baroque, though it wasn't exactly their fault and they even sent me a headdress with my order as an apology for the lateness), I finally had it in my hands.
And it was a bit too tight.
It isn't that the skirt is unwearable; when I wear a corset, I can just barely put it on. But it was disappointing in a major way for me. For a skirt that I waited so long for, and put so much hope into... The sizing, despite the elastic, isn't very flexible at all. I found that when I'd given them my measurements, rather than making my waist measurement comfortably in the middle, their tailors had made my 105 cm waist the absolute max for the skirt. And it was, to be honest, a little heartbreaking, because I loved this series so much, but I couldn't really afford to return the skirt in order to get a new one (since shipping was outrageous).
But I'm nothing if not stubborn, and the piece has stayed in my closet. I break it out on the occasions I can wear a corset for the day (which is sadly not very often), and I'm hoping that after I've safely lost some weight and gotten healthier that it'll fit me a bit better.
So I suppose that while I don't regret buying the piece, I do regret how it ended up fitting and turning out in the end... So hopefully I'll be able to give it the love it deserves soon.
What about you? Do you have any Lolita purchases you ended up regretting? Or do you find that your impulse buys tend to work out in the end? I'd love to hear about them 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.
Monday, June 8, 2015
Three Ways in Which I Don't Fit the Cliche (52 Lolita Challenge)
Last week, I tackled three ways in which I totally fit the Lolita cliche. And this week, I'm going to go in the exact opposite direction--three ways in which I completely and utterly go against the grain of what is generally accepted as the Lolita cliche. While some of these aren't really all that uncommon (at least from what I can tell), they certainly do go against what's expected when you say "I wear frilly clothes for fun".
I don't know if it's just me, but I swear that I see a lot of posts on Tumblr discussing how ladylike Lolitas must be, if they dress in the clothes they do. I heartily laugh at this notion. While I am more than capable of acting the part--and often will, for the ease of things in public--I
I'm planning on doing an entire post about this topic at a later date about why I, personally, don't really care for him--but I just don't. I enjoy the Kamikaze Girls movie a hundred times more than I enjoyed the book, and even then, there are Lolita movies that I like much better. So even though Novala Takemoto has been called the "Lolita's Bard", I think I'll stick to other writers, for my part.
It isn't that I hate Sweet Lolita in general. It's that I hate it on me. I've only ever worn a Sweet Lolita dress once, and... Well. Let's just say it definitely isn't for me. I've always felt more comfortable in darker colors than in lighter ones. Even a Gothic coordinate with a white base is a bit "light" for me (not to mention I'd be too paranoid about staining it to actually enjoy wearing it). I'll admire sweet from afar, rather than going after it myself, and stick to what I know I enjoy!
What about you? Do you break out of the Lolita box in a certain way? Or do you find that you stick to the Lolita stereotype consistently? What are some of your favorite/least favorite Stereotypes, and do you follow them or go against them? I'd love to hear about them down in the comments. Until next week, stay frilly!
The post above was a response to the Lolita 52 Week Challenge made by the ever so delightful Caro over at FYeahLolita.
1. I swear. Like, a lot. F*** being a lady.
I don't know if it's just me, but I swear that I see a lot of posts on Tumblr discussing how ladylike Lolitas must be, if they dress in the clothes they do. I heartily laugh at this notion. While I am more than capable of acting the part--and often will, for the ease of things in public--I
2. I actually don't really like Novala Takemoto all that much.
I'm planning on doing an entire post about this topic at a later date about why I, personally, don't really care for him--but I just don't. I enjoy the Kamikaze Girls movie a hundred times more than I enjoyed the book, and even then, there are Lolita movies that I like much better. So even though Novala Takemoto has been called the "Lolita's Bard", I think I'll stick to other writers, for my part.
3. I do not wear sweet, and will never wear sweet. Not even for a themed meetup.
It isn't that I hate Sweet Lolita in general. It's that I hate it on me. I've only ever worn a Sweet Lolita dress once, and... Well. Let's just say it definitely isn't for me. I've always felt more comfortable in darker colors than in lighter ones. Even a Gothic coordinate with a white base is a bit "light" for me (not to mention I'd be too paranoid about staining it to actually enjoy wearing it). I'll admire sweet from afar, rather than going after it myself, and stick to what I know I enjoy!
What about you? Do you break out of the Lolita box in a certain way? Or do you find that you stick to the Lolita stereotype consistently? What are some of your favorite/least favorite Stereotypes, and do you follow them or go against them? I'd love to hear about them down in the comments. Until next week, 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, June 1, 2015
Three Ways in Which I Fit the Cliche (52 Lolita Challenge)
Lolita cliches are one of those things that, on some level, exist for a reason. Many Lolitas tend to have very similar interests, and many additionally seek to "Lolita-fy" many other aspects of their lives, or come up with "Lolita" suitable hobbies and pastimes. And while you certainly don't need to fit any Lolita cliche at all if you don't want to (it's just clothes, after all!), I think that most people are able to find at least one part of themselves that fits the Lolita cliche in one way or another.
Sewing? Check. Embroidery? Check. Knitting and crochet? Check. Running a J-Fashion blog? Check. Baking overly complicated sweets? Triple check. Reading copious amounts of old "classic" literature and fairy tales? Check. It seems that many of the hobbies I liked before I even started Lolita are "Lolita-suitable", or at least fit the Lolita cliche to a T. Despite that, I think that I have my hobbies because I enjoy them, rather than because they're "Lolita-suitable" or not.
I have a very distinct taste when it comes to room decor and my personal aesthetic, and that is room decor straight out of a Gothic Lolita Bible circa 2001. Cheesy bat shaped room rug? Love it! Velvet-draped book shelves? Would totally do it. Seriously--when I have a place of my own, I'm going to have so much fun doing the decor for it and making it into that slightly-old-school, elegant little palace I've always wanted to live in.
While you certainly don't need to like anime (or any other Japanese media, for that matter) in order to be Lolita, I find that it's definitely a Lolita cliche to enjoy anime. And while I know plenty of Lolitas who don't care for it at all, I think it's also something that's expected of you when you mention wearing Lolita fashion. As a subset, lots of my favorite series are the series that reflect a lot of "Lolita-esque" aesthetics, such as Rozen Maiden and Black Butler.
What about you? What are some Lolita cliches out there that you've found you fit? Do you think that the cliches exist for a reason, or are more arbitrary? Next week, I plan on doing a post on the ways that I don't fit the cliche--so please keep an eye out for that! Until then, still frilly.
The post above was a response to the Lolita 52 Week Challenge made by the ever so delightful Caro over at FYeahLolita.
1. My hobbies
Sewing? Check. Embroidery? Check. Knitting and crochet? Check. Running a J-Fashion blog? Check. Baking overly complicated sweets? Triple check. Reading copious amounts of old "classic" literature and fairy tales? Check. It seems that many of the hobbies I liked before I even started Lolita are "Lolita-suitable", or at least fit the Lolita cliche to a T. Despite that, I think that I have my hobbies because I enjoy them, rather than because they're "Lolita-suitable" or not.
2. My aesthetic
A room decor spread from the Gothic Lolita Bible (Volume 5)
I have a very distinct taste when it comes to room decor and my personal aesthetic, and that is room decor straight out of a Gothic Lolita Bible circa 2001. Cheesy bat shaped room rug? Love it! Velvet-draped book shelves? Would totally do it. Seriously--when I have a place of my own, I'm going to have so much fun doing the decor for it and making it into that slightly-old-school, elegant little palace I've always wanted to live in.
3. I enjoy anime
While you certainly don't need to like anime (or any other Japanese media, for that matter) in order to be Lolita, I find that it's definitely a Lolita cliche to enjoy anime. And while I know plenty of Lolitas who don't care for it at all, I think it's also something that's expected of you when you mention wearing Lolita fashion. As a subset, lots of my favorite series are the series that reflect a lot of "Lolita-esque" aesthetics, such as Rozen Maiden and Black Butler.
What about you? What are some Lolita cliches out there that you've found you fit? Do you think that the cliches exist for a reason, or are more arbitrary? Next week, I plan on doing a post on the ways that I don't fit the cliche--so please keep an eye out for that! Until then, still frilly.
The post above was a response to the Lolita 52 Week Challenge made by the ever so delightful Caro over at FYeahLolita.
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