Lolita Pet Peeves

A few of the blogs I've been reading have been posting about their top 5 lolita pet peeves, and it sounded like fun, so I thought I'd do it too ^_^

If you want to know, Lolita in secret started the trend :)

My Pet Peeves:

1. Make-Up. I'm not much of a make-up person, and even just a tiny hint of the "wrong" sort of make-up will make me break out. Plus, it's annoying to have to spend so much time on dressing just because of make-up. (I still do it anyway ^^;;)
2. Lolis who are against cosplayers/anime-lovers/etc or think that all cosplayers are ita. I love anime, manga and cosplay as well, and I don't think my lolita coordinates and dressing are that bad! Could do with a little fixing here and there sometimes, but not that bad, right? ;___;
3. Once some girls put their lolita clothes on, they transform into a completely different person - usually a sugary sweet little girl. I absolutely HATE that. I can't stand people who would change their personalities for a pile of clothing! It's so shallow and somehow, I feel like there is an aura of fake-ness and false cameraderie around these sorts of people. But I'd very much rather hang out with these fake-nice people than someone else who turns to the complete opposite end of the spectrum - a loud, rude hussy who flings around cusses and just makes us all embarrassed to be lumped in the same category she is.
4. (May be a little TMI here) Boobs. For an Asian girl, I'm considered curvy, and that... isn't really suitable for lolita ^^; But with the help of a good bra and some bits of fashion trickery, it doesn't look as awful as it could XD;
5. Jeering people/crowds. My self esteem is low enough without them having a go at it!

What are your pet peeves? :)

New Wig!

My godbrother got married yesterday, and I decided to try on one of my new wigs from TaoBao for the celebration dinner.

It turned out pretty well, I think! Only those who knew me well could tell it's a fake, mostly because my hair is usually a completely different colour and style, and the wig hair is thicker than my natural hair XD;

I'm really happy with it! ^__^ I can't wait to use it with lolita, because it really looks like it suits loli well :)

Coordinate: Antique Rosy JSK in Brown Autumn Outfit

I was a little bored one evening, and feeling incredibly inspired to create loli outfits for this Autumn after discussing with my sister about this Autumn's "in-trend" look.

This is one of my favourite outfits that I've come up with so far! I don't really get to see brown much in lolita, and I think that pairing brown with antique white/cream, peach and dark red makes it look less old and more elegant. It certainly makes for a more mature lolita outfit! ^_^






Outfit Breakdown:
JSK: Antique Rosy by R-Series
Blouse: Random office blouse from my closet.
Tights: iSocks
Shoes: Bodyline
Bag: From my friend, but I know it's from TaoBao somewhere.
Rings and Necklace: Accessorize and TopShop
Parasol: Jusco
Hairband: Aldo
Accessories: Surface Spell

The main focus of this outfit is, of course, my Antique Rosy JSK by R-Series. It's actually made of a summerweight fabric, but since it's so hot in Malaysia, I don't mind that at all! To highlight the darker colours in the JSK and also to give the outfit a more Autumn-y look, I paired it with a brown blouse from my office clothes wardrobe.

I only recently managed to acquire the brown tights and Bodyline shoes as well, so those definitely were included in the outfit. I rather like that the tights are patterned - it somehow manages to make the outfit more "textured" and less one-colour sort of boring.

I rather think that the shoes I chose are a little light for this outfit, so maybe I'll dig out an old pair of dark brown loli-able shoes from last year and try it with this outfit. And while I'm at it, I might also bring out my dark brown cape to see how well it'll match loli outfit hurhurhur.

A friend of mine gave me this bag after I kept wheedling her about how much I liked it (sorry, JL!! ^^;;;)and it looks really great with this outfit. I added a cream rose to it for a bit of contrast in that area. The parasol is one that I'd bought during a sale that I thought would be pretty cute with my brown outfits.

For my jewellery, I preferred a more antique-looking sort of gold with the outfit to keep with the Autumn theme, so I added a necklace with a horse pendant on it. For some lighter colour, I also used a couple of ivory-coloured rose rings.

The hairband I chose is actually one that I spotted in a shop when my mum and sis were shoe-shopping. It looked like it would be perfect for a more casual loli outfit, so I bought it in three colours ^^; It seems a little flat for this outfit, though, so I added on a brown rose and a maroon rose just for colour once again.

How do you like this coordinate?

Change in Name

Just a notice that I've changed my blog's name :)

It was previously ~the solitary lolita~ because I was the only lolita in my usual social circles, but I've now met some lolita friends, so I'm not so lonely anymore ^^;

My new name, ~The Voice & The Flower~ is inspired by a Japanese shop name, "Koe to Iro", which means Voice and Colour. Something about it struck me as very pretty, and by changing the "colour" to "flower", it reminded me very much of fairytales, such as Sleeping Beauty and Little Mermaid.

:)

First Lolita Meet-up! May 2010

In May this year, I went to my first ever loli meet! Previously, I had absolutely no idea how to contact the Malaysian Lolita Club for their regular meet-ups - they weren't very active on the few forums and site that I found. Dumb little me didn't realise that they were all on Facebook ^^;;;

And so, after discussing with a friend (JL), the both of us went for our first loli meet (actually, our first loli outing in fact!) in Bangsar Village :)

I had abit of trouble with transport, so I got there about 2 hours ahead of the starting time. I hung out at the bookstore and met with JL and a couple of her friends later on.

It was very interesting to me! It was one of the few times that I'd ever been to a gathering of so many different backgrounds and ages, all united by one common love ^^ We took our time at the restaurant - Theobroma Chocolate Lounge, which has since closed down - and we had lunch, had icebreaking sessions, played games and had a photo-taking session.

Here are pictures!

A few of me and my new loli friends ^_^










^^;;


Camwhore moment!


Documenting the camwhore moment :P


Heart!


The obligatory shoe shot XD


Group shot!




Hahaha just fooling around! XD So cute ♥


Outfit Breakdown!
JSK: Bodyline
Bolero: Bodyline
Petticoat: ITS A-line; random offbrand
Shoes: Bodyline
Bag: Bodyline
Necklace: Offbrand (don't remember anymore!)
Hairband: ITS
Falls: Fennel (Mid Valley 1st floor, for you Malaysians!)

It was really fun! Especially the lolita charades :P I could guess what other people were mimicking, but my own challenge - I couldn't mime it at all ^^;;; After all, how does one mime "brand"?? (I ended up pointing at all the AP and BtssB skirts and JSKs ^^;;;)

There was also a period in time when we voted for "best dressed" - I'm very shy but at the same time very proud to announce myself the winner ^^;;; I honestly hadn't expected to win - I would've thought that another girl sitting next to me (or the other one sitting across from me :P) would've won, but then again they were both wearing my favourite colour combination for clothes in general, so maybe I'm a little biased ^^;;

Sadly, I had plans for later that night, so I had to leave a little early. I think staying on would've been loads better use for my time than my plans for that evening ^^;; (Went to watch West Side Story, which sucked!)

That's it for now! Hopefully, I'll be posting about my 2nd lolita outing soon :)

Anna House Fashion~~

I couldn't resist the temptation and bought a couple of Anna House blouses in the end ^^;;; They've shipped it out today, and they should be here in a week or so....

Fingers crossed!

Anna House Fashion

I've always coveted some of Anna House's clothes, and I've been meaning to go to Hong Kong to take a look at their store.... But silly me, I'd forgotten that my sister's good friend lives there now. I'm so tempted to ask her to help me buy some things and send them home, but I really don't want to trouble her...

My brother's just left for Hong Kong tonight, and I really wish I'd thought of asking him to buy some stuff for me. But he seemed irritated when I suggested it, so maybe it's better not to XD

I really should've booked those tickets to Hong Kong when they were going for RM76... (That's about USD25)

All dolled up

On Saturday, I was pleasantly surprised by a newspaper article on my local lolita community. I just wanted to share the article ^_^

All dolled up

Enjoy! ^_^ I've kept the hard copy with me, and am thinking of laminating them haha.

Yet Another Lolita Meme~

Just as abit of a filler, while I'm still typing out that entry on my first lolita meet-up :)


1. Please tell us your Hand Name (name that’s used ONLY in internet.) and hometown.
shira, Malaysia

2. About how long is your history as a Lolita?
I've known about lolita since I was 14, so that'd make it 7 years. I've always liked it, but only started truly loving it about 3 years ago, and finally started wearing and following lolita more closely in October 2009.

3. What first motivated you to do Lolita fashion?
All those years ago, the lolita fashion I was introduced to was rather more elegant than the OTT sweet styles that are so popular today. I fell in love with the curvy but elegant lines, and the modest silhouette. But I shied away from trying on the clothes, as I felt my body shape wasn't suitable for lolita. However, last year, I found a place that sold cheap but decent lolita clothes in my local area, so I bought an outfit - and never looked back. I do owe my new courage to try out lolita to another hobby! That hobby taught me how to use various gadgets to turn my body into whatever shape I desired or needed for a certain style.

4. After knowing Lolita fashion, have you had any time-gap or resistance till you actually started to be Lolita?
See 2 :) There's a time gap of about 7 years.

5. Please define your Lolita style as much as possible. (eg. Gothic Lolita, sweet Lolita, white Lolita…. Etc).
I very much love Classic Lolita, Aristocrat, Gothic Lolita and Country Lolita, in that order. I haven't really dressed enough in Lolita to define my own style, but my tastes definitely run more towards the Classic style than anything else. But sometimes, some sweet styles just catch my attention too, especially if it's a sweet style in black, or a country style.

6. About how many Lolita friends do you have?
I used to have only 2 friends in real life who know about lolita and actually like lolita enough to try it out. But I recently went for my first lolita meet-up, so I now have a whole slew of them! ^__^

7. What is the best thing about doing Lolita?
The thrill of wearing something that is beautiful to my eyes. And the way I'm able to escape into my own little fantasy world as far as I can for those few precious moments.

8. Conversely, what's the worst thing?
Some people don't have a very good attitude towards lolita, whether they are lolitas or non-lolitas. I also don't like all the attention and staring - it makes me nervous, like someone's going to jump out and kill me or something. (Clearly, I've been watching too much Criminal Minds :P)

9. Which Lolita Brands do you like?
I like Victorian Maiden, Innocent World, Mary Magdalene, Alice and the Pirates and BTSSB, in no particular order :D Juliette et Justine is also a very pretty brand! At the moment, just from their recent prints, I think AatP is running for top spot in my list *___*

10. What was the first Lolita item that you’ve owned?
Eh.... A cheap replica dress from eBay ^^;;; It looks bad, yes, so I don't wear it out. I also use the petticoat that came with it to supplement my other petticoats and get that extra poof.

11. What is the “must have!” Lolita item?
Currently, I really want lacy gloves! I'd also like a white corset too... (Already placed an order for a black one that will hopefully be arriving soon yay!) I'd also like a proper black parasol.... I have a cream BtSSB one that I really love!

12. Do you wear drawers?
I have one pair of drawers, but I only wear them if I'm wearing knee socks or OTK socks. I find them too warm if I wear them on top of tights.

13. Do you have any favourite Japanese music?
Hmmmm whatever strikes my fancy or things that bring back memories. I mostly like anime and game soundtracks for that reason. Uematsu Nobuo is a GENIUS! He's my absolute favourite. I also like traditional music very much, and koto + piano is one of my favourite combinations.

14. Where do you particularly visit as Lolita?
I've only worn lolita out of the house once, so I don't really have a defined favourite meeting spot ^^;

15. About how many times per week do you dress as Lolita?
Eh not so often. Maybe once every 10 weeks on average? Depends on when I have the time and space.

16. Please tell us about one embarrassing episode from the time when you were just beginning Lolita.
How much I was an ita? ^^; Cheap black fabric and cheap white lace coordinate, badly matching shoes, corset, rectangle headdress... I had it all :P And anyway, I'm still a beginning Lolita - just that I know better now than to wear BxW in such a blatantly ita way!

17. What's hairstyle and color that you think Lolita would suit the most?
I like natural hair colours, preferably in the black or brown range, but for anything in black, I rather like platinum blonde or a nice reddish russet. For hairstyles, I really like swept-aside fringes with loose, elegant curls.

18. Have you ever thought of stopping Lolita? The reason?
Not really seriously, because of all the money I've put into it. But sometimes I feel very disheartened when I see brand stuff that I like but can't fit into.

19. Please tell us your heart's bible as a Lolita. (anything like a book, magazine, CD, idol...)
I follow the Gothic & Lolita Bible, but not very regularly, and I limit it to issues that I like. I also follow Gosurori, because while some items may be rather ita or cosplay, they do have good patterns in there. And of course, I absolutely love stalking brand webshops for their photos XD

20. Do you own a doll? Tell us your feelings about her intensely!
Noooooo ;__; I've wanted a Dream of Doll's Dream of Teenager Shall or Sha since forever, or even Dream of Idol Luke, but I find them far too expensive. Maybe someday in the future, when I have a decent amount in my savings account...

21. What kind of make-up do you wear when you wear Lolita clothes?
I'm not too into make up, and I don't put on make up for just dressing up in my room. The only thing I'd ever wear is foundation and lip gloss/balm/stick. Maybe a bit of blush if I'm going to be out at night.

22. Have you ever secretly changed clothes in a train station bathroom on Lolita day-out?
...... *imagines accidentally soaking petticoat in loo water* O_O EWWWWWW! But no. :P

23. Are you composed when doing Lolita all by yourself?
At my first meet-up, I did walk around the mall alone in lolita for over an hour. It was quite nerve-wracking and I hid in the bookstore most of the time ^^;;; But I think I was composed as I could get - I just had to summon up that kimono courage somewhere and turn it into loli-courage! I actually tripped in my shoes, and just walked on pretending nothing happened...

24. How much do you spend in your Lolita clothes& accessory monthly?
Ummmm I don't know.... Let's just say that about 35% of my disposable income per month goes into my loli closet.

25. What is the most expensive Lolita thing you've bought so far? How much was it?
I've recently placed an order for a shirt+skirt+corset outfit set... It cost about RM500.

26. So far about how much has the expense been for Lolita goods?
I'd rather not say ^^;;

27. Lolita outfit really costs money. How do you raise money to cover the cost of Lolita?
It comes out of my own pocket from my salary :) But I've been spending far too much recently, so I've cut down my spending. I don't spend my money on things like rent or travel, so I have more extra money to spend.

28. Have you ever bought from an online store? If so, please tell us its good and bad points and some advice for the future. If not, please tell us why not.
I've bought from Bodyline and In The Starlight. In The Starlight is really good, with friendly service and excellent sewing work. Sadly, it's closed down :( Bodyline had a great shipping time - I find that if I buy items on Friday, I receive them on Monday!! Quality of the shoes were good. The wig wasn't of a very good quality, though. Clothes were quite good quality too, but nowhere near brand quality items. I'm awaiting a box of items from a few TaoBao stores, so I'll have to review about those!

29. Even if you sort of want to keep it a secret, please clandestinely tell us about a private manufacturer that is the best.
I've yet to try having anything custom-made for me ^^; Nope, ITS doesn't count :) Cos they're closed now ;___;

30. Is there a brand and/or an item that you think, "I could never get it! But I unreasonably want it!"?
Just about everything from Mary Magdalene and Victorian Maiden! There are some things from Innocent World I could fit into, but there aren't many of them :/ Same with Btssb and Alice and the Pirates.

31. What do you think about people who only do Lolita at music-lives or cosplay?
I'm kind of one of them, soooo... they're okay, I guess ^^;;

32. From what age to what age is it acceptable to do Lolita? Do you think that there's a state in which someone must graduate from Lolita? (you can answer as ‘never graduate’)
Well.... I think that one should always dress according to how one looks. For example, if you look older, then dress in a more mature style. Dressing in an OTT sweet style with a mature-looking face just highlights your age-appearance. I think that it does look a little more disturbing once white hair and wrinkles start to pop out, so try to avoid them (dye your hair, take care of your skin, etc).

33. Is there a Lolita fashion or behavior that you think "I don't want Lolitas to do this!"?
I dislike girls who look down on others who don't wear brand. And then there are the girls who act very inelegant and rude while wearing lolita. I understand that everyone has a different personality, but that doesn't mean you can ignore basic courtesy. And umm I also hate girls who put on a sugary-sweet attitude that's very obviously fake.

34. Is there something you think "Lolita has to be this way!" about?
The only thing I believe in is that there should be basic courtesy for other people. I don't mean be all helpful and sweet, but at least don't be rude to them when others ask questions! Even offending questions can be handled more delicately, maturely and politely.

35. While doing Lolita, has something changed from earlier than you did Lolita?
There's more frills and lace and OTT sweet that's in style now. I still love Classic the most, but other styles are growing on me. I used to absolutely hate pink and white lolita, but now I find it awfully cute!

36. Do you go to school/work as Lolita?
In my current job: no, never! That'd get my ass fired faster than you can say "unprofessional"! However, if I worked for, say, a lolita/loli-able store, then of course I would! :D My sister and I have been dreaming about opening a knit cafe, and if that really does happen someday in the far far distant future, I would wear lolita to work on some days~

37. Do you wear Lolita clothes as casual wear?
If I had the guts to do it, I would! ^^;;; But sometimes I really just want to relax in whatever, so even if I do wear casual loli, it probably won't be too often.

38. Do you have a boyfriend (or husband)? Do you understand each other?
Nahh, haven't been interested in getting a boyfriend for a while. I notice people, but I don't feel like getting into a relationship at the moment.

39. What do the people around you think of your doing Lolita? Do they accept it?
My friends are okay with it. My family teases me about it, but they're willing to support me so long as it makes me happy ^^ I think my dad is still weirded out by it, but I'm still working on that XD

40. What kind of Lolita has impressed you the most up until now?
Aristocrats and Classic lolis! They're just soooo elegant ^_^

41. Have you ever made your own Lolita clothing or/and accessories? If so, what was the best item that you’ve made?
Not yet. But I've designed a skirt and would love to start learning dressmaking so I can make it!

42. If you have an ideal Lolita outfit or coordination, please tell us.
Ummmm not yet! I've alot of ideal outfits and coordinations that I want swimming in my head, but none of them stand out as a THIS. IS. LOLITA! thing.

43. Is there a motif that you think “this is a simple of Lolita”?
I don't really get this question, so I'm skipping it ^^;;;

44. Would you want to dress your children as Lolita?
Eh not really. Children in lolita clothes would just be children wearing children's clothes ^^;; And it'd be weird dressing the same way my child is dressing!

45. What's your image of the ideal Lolita?
Someone who's kind, elegant and generally a nice person, but not overly so or faked. That would be the basis of their character. Other than that, I want their individuality to show! I'd like to be the kind of lolita who is quiet, demure and elegant, but with a sharp wit and quick, intelligent mind, but I would really love to be friends with lolitas who are fun to be around, who aren't afraid to run around and play, or tell odd stories that make me laugh. And of course, my ideal lolita should be perfectly groomed for an impeccable appearance she can wow the world with :D

That's all for this meme! But there are a few other memes I've seen around, so I may post more in the future haha ^_^ Ta for now!

TaoBao Order!~

Quite a few months ago, I started browsing through TaoBao after drooling over so many dresses in Qutieland. I found out just how much cheaper it is to buy from other TaoBao shopping services compared to Qutieland, so when a friend of mine asked if I wanted to do a group order, I immediately took the opportunity to try it out!

This, sadly, isn't one a review post, but just a post to show what I've bought. The items are actually on their way to my friend's house already, but because of our schedules, we won't be able to meet up for another month.

So, while I'm waiting, I thought I might as well post about the stuff I bought!

Here goes:

1) Infanta Susan JSK. I bought this JSK and the matching hairband.


2) R-Series Antique Rosy JSK. I've been wanting this for so long that I didn't even think twice about ordering this ^^;


3) R-Series Lace Bolero. I bought the white one because it matches the Antique Rosy JSK. If this one fits well, I might buy the black version too! :)


4) I really really like this set! So much so that I bought the shirt in wine red and off-white and the skirt in wine red, off-white and white ^^ I figured that they'd be so easy to mix and match, and I can use the skirts as underskirts for short dresses. Also, I think I can pair the shirt with a pencil skirt for the office. Yay!



5) I really love this set! I actually wanted to order it with the blouse, but I was dumb and didn't read the entire thing, so I only get the corset and skirt ^^;;; But it's ok, I can order the blouse separately.


I really can't wait till they arrive! But since they aren't going to get here for a while yet, I've been rather tempted to buy a few more things on Bodyline... XP" We'll see if I can resist shopping for more lolita clothes for another month! Hahaha~

Toodles and take care~

I'm Alive~~~

O_O It's been forever since I last posted!! >___<""" Sorry!!!

Anyway, just a quick update on what's been going on XD

1) Was busy with a conference, which explains my disappearance over February and March. April and half of May were purely the result of extreme laziness :P

2) Had a kimono meet-up. Just three of us girls walking around KLCC :)

3) My brother came home for Easter.... Then got stuck here because of the volcanic ash situation LOL. That was one hell of a week for us...

4) Went to Melaka and Johor for a working visit, then stopped by Singapore for the heck of it. Visited Black Alice but didn't buy anything. Bought lots and lots of yarn for my sister from Spotlight.

5) My sister and I were discussing a yarn cafe. Lots of interesting ideas! XD

6) Finally managed to go to a lolita meet-up!!!! :) *happiness* About 16 to 18 of us girls all dressed up!! XD

7) Watched West Side Story. Waste of time and money. Will be posting a review on my kimono blog soon-ish.

That's all the interesting stuff I can remember XD I don't have much of a life to actually blog about lol.

I'm be posting about that meet-up next! Took me forever to upload all the photos hahaha. Toodles!

Bodyline Shopping Spree

O_O I've just been on a Bodyline shopping spree. I've been toying around with the idea of buying a few things on Bodyline, as I really needed a couple of pairs of shoes and some bags, but kept putting it off, trying to decide what exactly it was that I wanted.

I recently saw someone in a Bodyline dress that looked far better in real life than in their stock photos, so I decided to take a chance and buy something.

Amongst my new purchases was this pair of shoes. I actually need the black version far more, but they don't have anymore of it in size 23.5 or 24, so I thought I'd buy these in 24 and see how they fit.


I bought the pink version of this bag, simply because it's so cute! And it'll match whatever pink items I have in my loli-closet XD


I've spent a month drooling over this bag. Once I get that pair of all-black shoes I need, I can finally start dressing in a proper gothic lolita style!


I've been kind of hesitating over this dress since I first saw it months ago because of the black-and-white-can-be-ita thing. Don't know why I decided to buy it now, but at any rate, I think just snipping off some of those satin bows would make it look better.


I bought the pink version of this dress, but I'm also very taken with the yellow version. If this turns out looking nice, I think I'll buy a skirt with the yellow colourway of this print.


I can't wait for them to arrive!! When they do, I'll have at least 3 new outfits to try on straightaway~~ XD

Happy Chinese New Year~

This is coming rather late compared to my kimono blog, but..

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!!!

^_______^

It's been six days straight of pigging out, and I'm so bloated I feel like a lava lamp on a hot stove. (Why yes, I did recently watch that Mythbusters episode - how did you know?)

I wore out one of my In The Starlight skirts to a family reunion lunch on CNY eve! Of course, I didn't wear full-out loli, but the top I wore with the skirt gave me an interesting idea for a casual/qi loli hybrid. I'll have to dress up in it sometime and take pics! ^^;

I'm hoping to buy my first brand piece sometime soon. Wish me luck!!

A Coveted Item: Innocent World Bonnet

I haven't always been the biggest fan of bonnets, thinking they were a tad too childish for my liking. This was most likely because I'd only ever seen sweet lolita wearing bonnets, with pink frills or prints all over the place.

After seeing a few posts on Gothic Lolita coordinates by F*** Yeah Lolita, I found they could look wonderfully elegant enough for my tastes if they were made in the right sort of material, and worn with the right sort of clothing.

Of course, having first fallen in love with bonnets through an introduction to the Gothic Lolita style, I immediately wanted a black bonnet, which would go with just about everything in my loli closet, save two or three items.

I never really did go searching to the ends of the earth for a bonnet that I liked, but the one that kept popping up in my face, the one that really caught my eye was this Innocent World one.



I dream of having this. It would match so well with some of the outfits I have put together, combined with a few different accessories! It is especially tempting to buy this now, especially since it is currently on half-price offer. (Buyable here if you want to get me a nice surprise present :P Happy CNY?)

Should I get it?

FYI, Qutieland has a cheaper version of this bonnet.

Black Bunny JSK

I've received a parcel and have done a little lolita-shopping over the past few weeks, so I've been quite eager to dress up. Only thing is: I don't have the finishing pieces for a few outfits, and I haven't had the time to dress up lately either, having just returned from a 4-day working trip to Jakarta.

I thought I'd post something anyway! :P Here's a picture of my first JSK! It was a birthday present from my mum last year, along with the bag I'm carrying. It was also my second lolita outfit ever.





I love my mum :) Even though she doesn't see the point in lolita, she's willing to put up with it if it makes me happy :D She spoils me, really. Not so obviously as my dad does, but she still indulges in alot of my demands ><"

Anyway, the dress doesn't actually fit all that well :/ It's perfectly fine at the waist, but the bust is a bit of a tight squeeze. Even in these pictures, it actually isn't zipped fully! I can zip it up fully, but it's a little hard to breathe in it. *motivation to lose weight!!!*

I do realise this outfit has alot of ita elements in it ^^;; The black and white bit, the less than puffy skirt (I was wearing a petticoat, just not a good one), the white shoes: just about everything seems to scream ita at me. But I was so happy just wearing lolita, and that's all that mattered ^^; I'm hoping I'll be able to do this JSK justice next time!

Speaking of the JSK, I believe it's a modified knock-off of one of Angelic Pretty's JSKs. I don't know if I'm 100% comfortable with wearing knock-offs (never ever ask if the Prada bag I'm carrying is "real" - here's looking at you, Mel! :P) but the price tag on this one justified it... I guess o_O This one is nowhere near as well-made as the original anyway! Ahahaha.

Outfit rundown:
Everything is from iSocks, my local offbrand lolita store. I think the petticoat I'm wearing was the flat tailor-made one.

Lolita Level

^_^ I saw this on ~Lolita Life~ and thought to try it out. I love doing these!


LOLITA LEVEL START!

You've been to egl.
You've posted on egl, without an onslaught of 'USE THE MEMORIES' and likewise.
You've bought a lolita mook.
You've picked a favorite brand.
You've ordered your first item.
You've worn a full outfit.
You've worn a full outfit out in public.
You've worn a full outfit and posted photos of it on the Internet.
You know what JSK, OP, and cutsew all mean.
You've bought your first brand piece.
You know your measurements.
You know you shoe size - in American, European, and Japanese.
You know who Mr. Yan is.
You know who Mana is. (+1 points if you know his band. +2 points if you know his brand. +3 points if you know why he's featured in every GLB. +4 if you have a shrine to him in your closet.)
You know who Maki and Asuka are. (+2 if you've met Maki and Asuka).
You've watched Kamikaze Girls. (+1 if you know the real name of this movie. +2 if you know who wrote the book this was based on. +3 if you've also read the manga or novel. +4 if you love the author despite his criminal record).
You own a wig. (+1 if you own more than 2.)
You own a pair of falls.
You can identify lace on the spot.
You can identify an item's brand on the spot.
You can identify the year a dress was made by a specific brand on the spot.
You can name several different dresses or prints.
You answer stock photo requests.
You mod a lolita community.
You decorate your nails. (+1 if you wear fake nails. +2 if you make fake nails.)
You own a pair of a rocking horse shoes. (+1 if you know their abbreviation.)
You've made your own rose corsage.
You've made anything out of your brand dress's waist ties.
You've made anything out of a matching eco tote. (+3 if you were the first one to do it, you think).
You know how to apply false eyelashes.
You know how to pronounce shirring.
You know how to pronounce Moi-meme-moitie, or Metamorphose tempes de fille.
You know a reliable shopping service.
You bid on Yahoo!Japan or Mbok.
You've been to a meetup.
You've planned a meetup.
You've planned a meetup with catering or more than 20 attendees.
You've met up with lolitas while on vacation to foreign or faraway locales.
You've seen a lolita fashion show.
You've seen a brand fashion show.
You've modeled in a lolita fashion show.
You've modeled in a brand lolita fashion show.
You wear bloomers.
You know how to make bloomers.
You tell other people to wear bloomers.
You draw lolita art, write a lolita blog, or provide the community with some sort of creative services.
You've taken purikura in lolita.
You've decorated your room/house/apartment in lolita style.
You've listened to lolita music.
You've learned kana.
You've learned enough Japanese to read a magazine.
You wear or own circle lenses.
You've been called a princess by a young child.
You've dressed up a friend.
You've convert a friend.
You've been in media (television, newspaper, magazine). (+2 points if it's Japanese media.)
You've learned a handicraft, like jewelry making, embroidery, or sewing.
You've become a lolita mentor.
You've attended lolita events at an anime or multi-genre convention.
You’ve organized or presented lolita events at a convention.
You've visited a brand shop.
Trip to Japan!
You've dressed up and gone out alone.
You're prepared for inclement or colder weather in lolita (coat, parasol, boots, gloves, other climate-specific items.)
You've learned face contouring.
You've made a lolita valentine.
You've got a lolita pen pal or online lolita friends.
You have local lolita friends.
You know how to modify clothes that don't fit you.
You know how to dress for your body type.
You've been in a street snap.
You've been to multiple world locations of the same brand store (BABY Paris, BABY Tokyo, BABY San Francisco, etc.)
You've created a makeup/hair/sewing tutorial.
You've sold hand-created lolita goods.
You have your own lolita fashion line.
You've gotten a lolita haircut, style, or color.
You've mixed other street fashions with lolita.
You've thrown a lolita party/had a lolita wedding.
You've dressed your child/small children in lolita or kodona style.
You've successfully cross-dressed in lolita style at least once (boystyle for girls and girls' clothing for guys).
You've lolified or made sure all the contents of your purse are cute (wallet, lipgloss, keyring, etc.)
You have a lolita pet (small dogs, cats, rabbits, exotic birds, fancy fish) or have dressed/accessorized your pet (bows or pet clothes).
You've dressed your significant other or dated someone who dresses in J-fashion/alternative fashion.
You've read Alice in Wonderland. (+1 if you've seen the animated movie or other variations, +2 if you've seen more than one variation, +3 if you own more than one variation)
You've dressed as Alice or another Wonderland character in lolita style, or own Alice themed items.
You've made something from a Japanese pattern.
You've found, bought, or made lolita underwear (bras and panties).
You wear lolita daily, or have gone 7 days straight wearing only lolita.
You have lolita calling cards or business cards.
You play a lolita instrument (i.e., piano, violin, harp, French horn... well any instrument really.)
You can translate yen to your country's currency in your head. (+1 if you can convert other currencies you shop with as well. +2 if you read the news to know how the yen is doing.)
You've sold lolita clothing online (secondhand, egl_comm_sales).
Your article or entry has been put into the egl memories.
You take photos of your outfits/daily outfit photos.
You’ve posted to daily_lolita.
You own a petticoat. (+1 if you own more than one. +2 if you wear three or more at a time).
You’ve bought a lucky pack.
You keep a style diary or look-book.
You can put together an outfit made entirely from offbrand.
You’ve bought offbrand or non-Japanese brand.


Adorable Admirer (lvls 1 - 20) You've started studying or liking lolita but haven't taken that leap of faith yet. Good luck!

Resplendant Rufflebutt (lvls 21 - 40) At home within the land of the rufflebutts and spilling frills from every edge.

Victorian Maiden (lvls 41 - 60) A classy lolita of taste and experience, who knows her way around the lolita social set.

Starry Celebrity (lvls 61 - 80) On page six of the lolita world, you've risen to the ring of the upper crust.

Pretty Princess (lvls 81 - 100) Lolita royalty, truly versed in the ways of the lacey ones, the lolita princesses have achieved a special level of enlightenment.

Ultimate Lolita (Boss Fight!) (lvls 100+) Wow, you've gotten over 100 levels? You're the ultimate lolita with unlimited hitpoints. That's actually a little scary...


I scored a 52 :D I've actually only just graduated from being a Resplendent Rufflebutt! Hahaha. XD

Lolita Meme~

I saw this lolita meme in a few blogs and decided to do it too ^_^ It feels like ages since I last did one!



COLOURS

What colours can be found in your Lolita closet?
Mostly black and white, but it's sprinkled with a few pink, blue, red and brown items.

What is your favourite colour with Lolita?
Green and pink has always been my favourite colour combination! But I also like black and white very much.

What is your least favourite colour in Lolita?
Brightly coloured things. I really hate bright shades of purple with black.

Which uncommon colour do you want to try out?
Purple! Pastelly shades, darker shades: I really love purple and would LOVE to have it in my lolita closet!


DESIGN

Are you more a Onepiece, Jumperskirt or a Skirt person?
Well, I haven't tried on a one-piece before, and I haven't got a jsk that's not ita and fits, so I just wear skirts. I do think I look nicer in skirts, but I also like how some jsks look.

Which cut do you like the best?
I like all of them! A-line, bell-shaped, pleated.. They all look so cute to me :3 But if I really had to pick one... I think A-line is my favourite.

Print or no Print?
I like no prints, but there are some prints, like classic floral, stripes, chandeliers and wrought-iron gates, that really catch my eye!

How does a dress/skirt have to look like that it will be a "must have" item for you?
Elegant prints, colours or cuts really do it for me. I like simple, un-OTT things with a clean cut and a few ruffles, but little lace. Of course sometimes I go completely nuts over sweet styles!


STYLES

What is your favourite style in Lolita?
Classic, aristocrat and (not OTT) sweet, in that order.

Which style do you wear regularly?
I haven't worn lolita enough to have a regular style :P But looking at my loli-closet, it looks like it'll probably be a cross between sweet and classic.

Which style you want to try out?
I'd like to try aristocrat and gothic lolita! I think both look sooo elegant... I do have a couple of items that could work in both styles, but I don't have anything else that would make the outfit look those styles.

Which style you never want to try out/wear again?
Wa Lolita. I wear kimono (proper kimono!! Not the kimono version of ita) and I just can't stand how wa-lolita looks. I love the simple straight lines of kimono, and seeing it with poofy skirts and lacy petticoats just turns me off. On the other hand, I wouldn't mind a proper kimono made in a lolita print! XD Or maybe a proper kimono/obi/hakama/etc accented with lace.


BRANDS

Brands yes or no and why?
I'm currently saving for my first brand clothing! :D I bought a pair of Btssb hair-ties when I visited their Paris shop, but I want clothes. I fell in love with just about everything ^^;; They all look so pretty, and the quality of the cloth felt different - better! - in my hands. Their socks are also waaaaay better than my $12 Bodyline ones. Not to diss my Bodyline socks - they're comfy and great for casual outfits :D I've recently discovered that I actually can fit into some of Innocent World's clothes, so I'm going to buy a skirt/blouse set when I have enough money!

Which brand is your favourite?
Innocent World, Mary Magdalene, Btssb and Victorian Maiden, in no particular order.

Which is your least favourite brand?
Eh, maybe h.Naoto. They aren't bad, and they do have some nice things, but I'm not too fond of the punk-loli look.

Ever had a good/bad experience with brand?
Mmm, well in Paris, I couldn't speak French, so I spoke to them in very soft, hesitant Japanese ^^;; I think I embarrassed myself, but at least I got the info that I wanted! They were very nice and pleasant, and the lolita attending the cash register was soooo cute! :D The only bad experience was that I couldn't fit alot of things! ;_;

Will this experience encourage/stop you from buying brand?
It doesn't stop me, but it doesn't really encourage me either. I like them, but I can't fit most of them, so for now, I'm content to just sit and watch and save money for whenever they come up with something I like and fit.


OTHER

Did you ever got surprised by a piece of Lolita?
I was really surprised that the Bodyline shoes I got fit perfectly and were really comfortable! In fact, I was so happy that a few days later, I ordered a few more items from them...

Did you ever got disappointed by a piece of Lolita?
I bought a bolero from Bodyline that said it could fit my bust size. Unfortunately, my arms are a little too big for the sleeves, and it looks really ugly on me! ;_;

In the same order, I also bought a "separate" from Bodyline. It's under one of those not-to-buy-it's-ita categories, and did look as bad as they say. Buuut.. it really does fit very nicely. I've made a few adjustments to the shirt, and it looks great! Once I took off the cheap-looking bits, or hid them with better ribbon, it looked very pretty. I haven't modified the JSK yet, but I'm currently thinking of a way to do it. Maybe this disappointment can be saved!

Things that you like about Lolita?
I once wrote a long list of why I like lolita, but the basic summary is this: it's versatile, it lets me escape into my own little world as far as I can, and it gives me such a thrill to be dressed so prettily. I'll have to make a post about it someday! :)

Things that you dislike on Lolita?
I dislike the cattiness on some online forums. I dislike how some people try to push their views of lolita onto you. I also dislike the attention I get from wearing it, as well as the weird looks, mocking laughter, rude comments and all, but I'll put up with it if it means that I get to go out with lolita friends! (Not that I have anyone I can meet up with at the moment...)

Do you have a Lolita fashion idol, if 'yes' who is it?
Uhhh.. as odd as it sounds, I don't have an idol ^^;

Does Lolita affect your every day life?
Yes! I'm always looking out for things to buy online, or pretty pictures and information I could use. When not at the com, I'm daydreaming of clothes I'd like to have, or coordinates to put together. Sometimes I sketch out clothes that I'd like to make once I learn how to sew properly. When I'm out, I try to navigate my way to fabric shops, and other jewellery shops to find for things I can use with lolita. Then of course, I flip through my books and magazines to stare at all the pretty pictures and to find "inspiration"... And, of course, I'm always trying to sneak lolita pieces into my everyday wardrobe :P So far the easiest are shoes and jewellery. I put them on to make my day feel extra special, or to cheer myself up on a bad day!

Do you buy Lolita related things, like cute looking furniture?
Not very often. Mostly bags and accessories. Lolita-esque furniture would've fit right in with my old room, but in its current decor theme, it'd just look plain silly. But I do look out for cute things, in case I ever suddenly get a house and need to decorate, or something XD

Do you read/buy the Gothic Lolita Bible?
Yep! I only have 2 copies, but I'm looking to get more the next time I go to Kinokuniya. I'm a bookworm, so it's actually really shocking that I only have two copies of the GLB!

How to you describe your fashion style to others that don´t know about Lolita?
Eh, I dunno... I haven't exactly had someone ask me before ^^;; My family just said that as long as I like it, and will make use of it, I'm free to wear whatever I want (and not in their presence in public :P)

Is there something you want to say to your fellow Lolitas?
Um.... Hi? ^^; Keep on going, girls! (and guys :D) You're all wonderful inspirations to me :) I hope I'll be able to learn lots from you!

Pink & Pearls Sweet Lolita Outfit

I got a new parcel of stuff from In The Starlight last week, and decided to try out one of my new skirts.

Pink and white is such a classic combination for sweet lolita. Of course, with the white polka dots and lace on the skirt, wearing white was a foregone choice.



The ITS petticoat I bought the last round wasn't actually enough poof for me, so I wore another petticoat underneath. The 2nd petticoat is actually a very thin, flimsy little thing, but underneath the ITS one, it worked wonders!

Just to show my bag. The frills are looking a little limp and sad there....


The blouse looks kind of rumpled here, but it has a laced up back. That, and my awkward pose, may have contributed to rumpliness :P



I decided to use pearl accessories to echo the faux pearl beads that decorate the skirt. If only I had a crown, then I could almost pass this off as a hime lolita outfit! Especially with that big big hair.... (New wig :P)

The blouse is also from In The Starlight, but is from an older purchase. I just haven't taken a photo of it till today ^_^ It fits well, and looks quite cute! Most importantly, it fits my arms and doesn't cut off the blood supply to my hands... :P


Outfit Statistics:
Blouse: ITS
Skirt: ITS
Hairbow: ITS
Petticoat #1: ITS
Petticoat #2: tailor-made
Socks: Bodyline
Shoes: Bodyline
Bag: Coast
Necklace: Top Shop
Bracelet: uhh.. my mum's drawer? ^^;

Brand?

I spent the weekend reading Lolita Secrets and EGL whenever I wasn't in class. After reading so many snipes about brand vs non-brand, I decided to visit some of the brand websites.

Now, I'm always a regular visitor on the brand websites, but I only go there to look at the clothes. I never thought of buying brand, simply because they were too expensive, and Japanese sizes are far too small for me.

But this time, I went to Innocent World and looked at the measurements for each item I liked. Lo and behold! for a number of things, I can actually fit the larger sizes! I was so excited about fitting brand that I started looking up everything that could fit me. And suddenly, that JPY20,000 price tag doesn't look so unreasonable...

I had to force myself to close all the windows and go to sleep.

But now I really really really want to buy a brand item. I'm considering buying that gorgeous skirt from Innocent World in their webshop, but I think I'll wait till I can go down to Singapore and have a look at Black Alice's stock.

I really want to get my first brand clothing!

P/S: Fear not! I doubt I will ever turn elitist. I love my ITS things to ever ditch them for brand :D

P/P/S: The only reason why I'm contemplating buying brand is that some of their designs are just so cute, and replicas aren't easily found. That, and I'm curious :P

Brown Gingham Outfit

This is the second outfit from my dress-up session a while ago.






I really like this brown gingham skirt, so I was very excited to get it. Of course, having heard that I would need a differently shaped petticoat for A-line skirts, I bought one from ITS.

I wasn't really in the mood to wear all white-and-brown with white blouse, white socks and brown shoes, so I paired it with my white GLP blouse with black neck-ribbon. I also gave it a slightly darker feel with black stockings, shoes and hairbow.

Uhhh the book was a random accessory I snatched up right before taking the pics, because my hands felt oddly empty and I haven't got the right bag for this outfit ^^;;; I feel like it makes this outfit look a little cosplay-ish, or too into the librarian fetish look, but oh well. I like it!

Oh, and ummm please excuse the skirt's unironed state ^^:;;;;

What do you think?

Outfit Statistics:
Blouse: GLP
Skirt: In The Starlight
Kachuusha: In The Starlight
Petticoat: In The Starlight
Stockings: Boots
Shoes: Marks & Spencer

Dark Roses Lolita Outfit

I recently received a huge parcel from In The Starlight bearing one skirt, two overskirts, a shirt and a petticoat. Unfortunately, I was rather busy, so I didn't have time to try on anything till yesterday, when I had a few free hours to myself.

Here is the first outfit I put together! I'm quite happy with how it turned out ^_^


Showing the poof of the skirt. It does look almost exactly as it did in the pictures, but somehow, I think it can go a little poofier. I blame the petticoat!


The back. HERE is where I think the petticoat can do better!


The overskirt is a little loose, but that's my fault - I gave them a slightly larger measurement than I actually needed, since my waistline fluctuates around an inch every few days.

What do you think? I heard that although black and white is very commonly seen, it isn't something that should be tackled by beginners since it's very high-contrast (highlights all the bad parts) and hard to do properly. But I think it looks decent.... Right? XD

Anyway, there's another outfit that I tried out, but I'll save that for another post some other time ^_^

Ta!


Outfit Statistics:
Blouse: iSocks (local offbrand)
Skirt: In The Starlight
Overskirt: In the Starlight
Kachuusha: In The Starlight
Petticoat: iSocks (local offbrand)
Stockings: Boots
Shoes: iSocks (local offbrand)
Bag: iSocks (local offbrand)

Happy New Year!

Just a quick one to say...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

My family and I went to Sage for New Year's Eve dinner, but we didn't stay for the countdown. Instead, we went to a friend's house, where we saw fireworks dangerously upclose. We're all sooty now! Haha.

Am tired. G'night people! Have a nice holiday :)