Breaking the Mold

In the recent 'State of Lolita' address given by valkyrie_chan on egl, one common cry was for more original coordinates. Fresher ideas, more pioneering. A sense of unrest has long been prevalent among some Lolitas that Lolita, once an original and off-beat style, was becoming more... canned. Pink coordinates with pink bows and pink socks. Everything matchy-matchy, everything smacking of each other. Faceless as a batch of cupcakes, some were beginning to worry that Lolitas were looking the same. All the same. The guidelines were quickly evolving into regiments.

Let's agree - Lolita should be original. Not all Lolitas should look the same. But, let's keep the guidelines - like modesty and quality. It's like a coloring book. You should stay in the lines, but feel free to make the sky orange and the ponies pink. It's still Lolita - but not cookie-cutter. But what is the big secret to wearing unusual or inspiring coordinates?

Maybe you are the kind of person who buys the entire coordinated brand collection - the dress, socks, hairbow, purse, and necklace (Angelic Pretty, I am looking at you). Or maybe you've decide to pick one color and stick with it - and nothing else, so help you God, will cross the threshold of your closet. Do you prefer to buy your entire wardrobe from the same brand? Or are you completely against brand, preferring to make or find your clothes?

None of these approaches are wrong! But, you can easily feel like you're wearing the same thing all the time. Maybe you're wearing pink - again - for the fifth time this week. Or maybe your Magic Whip coordinate is the last thing you want to look at by the time its fourth meetup rolls around. So what do you do?

If you look carefully at the above methods, you'll notice they all have something in common. They're all about unity. The key to variegating your coordinates is variation. Mixing and matching, adding different accent colors, and - this is most important! - taking chances with things that catch your fancy.

Let's start with the 'all-coordinated' outfits. So you have everything ever made for Magical Etoile - does this mean they only go together? Nope! Try wearing your Magical Etoile socks with Baby's Paris printed dress (you'll notice they both have Eiffel Towers!), or carry the handbag with a similarly-colored dress. Because they're all made to go together, we sometimes forget that they're also separates. And when you start to add them into different combinations, you find fresh coordinates - which means more bang for your buck!

Do you have a whole closet of black, or maybe a whole closet of pink? (I bring up pink again because some girls really do!) Try to bring in some accent colors. Maybe pink and black looks cute, or pink and blue. You don't need to build a complete other wardrobe of your new color - maybe just one or two new pieces will add the kick you're looking for. And in some cases, don't be afraid to mix different colors of lace! I know, lace color is usually a key unifier - but in small doses, it can shake up a coordinate. A black lacy bolero with a fluttery pale blue dress? Genius! Just make sure to tie the color in elsewhere with shoes, socks, or hairpieces.

If you're all about the brand - or all about burning the brand - try to go a little bit out of your extreme. Brandwhores, see what you can find at your local Claires for a funky jolt; anti-branders, maybe a pair of Alice and the Pirates socks won't kill you.

An example! A little outfit I whipped up:

-BABY pink JSK
-pink & purple glitter leopard print headband (my favorite piece! It's not Lolita by itself, but I really like it - so I chose that and then based my other pieces around it.)
-HK purple & pink glitter short socks
-white tea party shoes
-a few glittery pink & purple jewelry pieces, like my strawberry ring and a HK necklace
-pink Tenshi Neko bag

Ta-da! It's not your typical style, but it's still obviously Lolita. The unusual accessories work together to wake up an otherwise average jumperskirt.

So, fly free! Experiment a little - color your ponies pink!

Labels: shopping

posted by Victoria Suzanne @ 1:46 PM 4 Comments

Review: Gothic & Lolita Bible Vol. 29

While at CTcon I purchased (all right, asked my brother to pick up for me!) a copy of G&LB Vol. 29 (Japanese). A brief overview is in order!

Highlights:

-a complete ton of patterns and basic how-tos, including Mille Fleurs bloomers, Visible dress, and Maxicimam items
-in-depth hair style and nail close-ups
-how to decorate your cellphone in various styles, including sweets, Gothic, and punky
-making your own crazy candy-fruit-birthday parfaits
-using an item for multiple coordinates article

Also includes a manga, a collection of stickers, and of course beautiful photoshoots!

All in all, I found it both chock-full of information and inspiration. It has plenty of style for every kind of Lolita, and may even broaden yours a little by mixing new ideas.

Some things I loved:

-a photo montage of four Lolitas in the grass, with beautiful wigs!
-the giant full-page image of the Alice and the Pirates model, wearing circle lens and with beautiful nautical nails!
-the blonde braids hairstyle
-the ghoul messenger bag! I have a notion to make this and then sweeten it with some pink & bows :)

Labels: review

posted by Victoria Suzanne @ 11:45 PM 1 Comments

Those Perfect Doll Eyes

For every girl who's every seen a Lolita fashion model, a manga shoujo heroine, or even a brilliantly pixilated videogame girl - there is now the ingrained notion about large eyes. And it's not even just something we've picked up from Japan. Look at your old Barbies, or My Little Ponies. Their eyes, besides being huge - are probably composed of six or more candy pastels and a generous helping of stars, hearts, or moons. Large, dewy, shiny, twinkly, eyes, that come in a plethora of rainbow colors. They take prominent feature on the face, expressing emotion and drawing in the viewer's gaze. And secretly - we all want them.

Lolita makeup focuses around making the eyes larger and more attention-seeking. Tips like a darker shade of mascara, a certain winging of liquid liner, or even trying to look up through your lashes in a special way - have all be prevalent. But the real secret to those great eyes that somehow all the Japanese girls seem to have?

Contact lenses.

Yes, contact lenses! Long loved by the gyaru community, and dabbled with among the Lolitas, are these special contact lenses. A lot like the usual colored lenses sold in America, they're printed with an extra band of color around the edge. This gives your eyes the optical illusion of looking bigger and darker - or accented. Admittedly, they're not usually for sale in the US - but with some creativity and shopping you can find a pair you like. All you need to know is your eye size - an optometrist can find your fitting - and if necessary, your prescription. I personally wear contact lenses anyway, so I can just take the measurements and prescription right off the box.

Try Lensalot.com, or Starlet's Barbie Eyes.

Here's another few of my favorite styles - accented with pretty lilac stars and butterflies!

Labels: cosmetics

posted by Victoria Suzanne @ 1:44 PM 3 Comments

Budget Lolita: How To Flesh Your Wardrobe

Update: Read this post in Spanish! Translation courtesy of Ana.

I know that when I first started, I bought whatever struck my fancy. It’s the fun of indulging yourself, right? A skirt here, a cute hairbow, don’t you just love to snap things up? But then one morning, you go to get dressed and somehow – you don’t have an outfit. And all of your money has been spent.

Well, no matter how much or how little money you have, you can still have a great, functional wardrobe – as long as you plan ahead. We’ll do this as an exercise so you can get the general idea.

The first question you should ask yourself is: what does your wardrobe need to function? Like the vital organs of the body, you won’t get too far without them. If you don’t have a pair of shoes, or a blouse, you could definitely be at a loss – especially if you’ve just bought your dream brand skirt and now have nothing to wear it with. So first, write down anything you think you need to make your wardrobe function. Now, rank the items in levels of importance – most important at the top. A petticoat, for example, might be your prime item, but bloomers can wait. If you find yourself with a very long list of essentials, you might want to focus solely on wardrobe building for a while and not wardrobe fleshing.

Next, find the items in your closet that you bought on a whim. Do they go with anything you already own? It might turn out that the pink hair ties happen to match that bag perfectly – or you’ve got a blue hairbow that doesn’t match a thing (guilty as charged)! See how many coordinates you can put together. You might find something you never thought of! I found a Gothic outfit lurking in my wardrobe from various impulses I’d gathered. If it can be put into an outfit, or at least matches one other item, then you can keep it. If it’s a lone soldier, clear it out – perhaps it has a resell value, or maybe even can be modified into something that works.

So, at this point, you have decided some things still work – and some things don’t. You should hav a clear picture of what you need to flesh your wardrobe out into something more functional. Your list might look like this, say:

White blouse, long sleeved;

Pink skirt;

JSK to replace the one you just sold as it didn’t match the rest of your items.

The next step is to decide just how much you have in the way of funds. It’s probably best to break this into units, of either four weeks or two weeks. Let’s say that you have $xxx biweekly. You can then put yourself on a schedule, calculating how long (on current track) it will take you to afford each item. In this way, depending on your patience, you can even afford the fabulous brand pieces you previously thought you couldn’t. If you’d like the speed up the process, you can hunt out cheaper items – either on egl_comm_sales, or secondhand sites like Closet Child.

Now that you have your budgeted wardrobe plan for, I’d recommend, a time period of one to three months, don’t stray from it! Avoid impulse buying (which is what got you here in the first place!). If you absolutely must impulse buy, remember the three C’s:

Coordinate

Try to make sure your impulse buy matches at least two of your other outfits or items. That way it’s sure to be useful.

Cost

Keep your impulse buy under a certain number. Impulse buying a three-dollar ring is one thing; impulse buying the new Angelic Pretty onepiece with all the bells and whistles is another.

Corral

Keep track of how many little buys you make! Even cheap things can add up, and you may suddenly notice your funds are dry, delaying your budgeted plans.

So, using this model - which is really a budgeting plan tailored specifically to the Lolita style - you can afford the things you thought you couldn't. Everyone can own their dream dress!

And a small shameless plug! If you're interested, I have a plaid BABY, the Stars Shine Bright JSK, Flying Fish shiro OP, and a black and white Metamorphose temps de Fille poodle skirt for sale here!

Labels: budget-loli

posted by Victoria Suzanne @ 2:00 PM 1 Comments

The Art of Western Tea Ceremony

A few people may be confused by the title of this piece. Western tea ceremony? What in God's name is that? There's Japanese tea ceremony, but that's something different. I'm talking about what I have dubbed 'Western tea ceremony' - or, the taking of British teatime.

Is it an art? I think so. It may be a subtle art if you've been raised with it, but it is definitely a practiced exercise and collection of knowledge. And there are definitely some people who don't know it! A good cup of tea is not something to be taken for granted. Just like some clueless restaurants dole out non-dairy creamers alongside your cup - a major faux pas when it comes to drinking black tea - there are some skilled and knowledgeable ladies who always provide 2% milk. I have been to places were tea isn't even worth ordering - most mainstream restaurants in America, for example, and almost all restaurants excepting salons de the in France. The absolute best place to have a cup of tea is any British-run establishment. While staying in the French countryside this year around Autreche, we had the best tea - from a British-run bed and breakfast!

First, we'll detail the correct way to brew and serve black tea. Black tea, a fermented tea, should be made with very hot, fresh water. Fresh is important! If the water has been already boiled or has been sitting, the oxygen has left it. This will give it a flat taste. Use new water, and then heat until boiling. If you have a kettle that whistles, so much the better. Pour the tea into the cup or pot immediately, and add your favorite kind of loose or bagged tea. I am partial to an Earl Grey myself - Celestial Seasonings makes a very light one. When brewed, add a small dollop of milk - not cream, which overwhelms and fattens the flavor - until it is the right color. A soft tan is usually best, and thus we get the color called 'milk tea.' Sugar may be added if desired - usually one spoonful at most. This can either be in lumped sugar, white, or natural (non-bleached). They also make cute shapes for sugar, if you're interested!

Other ways to prepare tea are with either lemon or honey or both. In these cases, no milk should be added. A slice of lemon is particularly good on a hot day for cooling down. A leaf of mint may also be added, for either hot days or to settle the stomach.

Interested in something with a little flair? Try mixing teas if you have a large teapot. My favorite is what I call Tokyo Alice. This can be made with loose or bagged teas.

Tokyo Alice Recipe

1 part English Breakfast
1 part Chinese green, or alternate try a white tea like Jasmine or White Pear
3 parts Earl Grey, Red Rose brand

Try other combinations!

Western tea ceremony has a lot of very tiny nuances that I won't go into, so try reading this webpage - or buying this book, Children's Tea Etiquette, from Amazon.com.

Labels: cooking

posted by Victoria Suzanne @ 12:36 PM 6 Comments

Manners: How For & Why For

I recently read a thread from the CTcon forums about Lolita. The debate? How to act in Lolita. Do you curtsy to everyone you meet, should you flip off the postman who brings your packages? Does being a Lolita require tea, or is it perfectly acceptable for you to slurp your favorite soda?

The thing to remember is that Lolita should not be restrictive. It should be fun to do, fun to wear, and give you a bit of a mental boost. Most people say they wear Lolita because it makes them feel beautiful. You should never feel boxed in or trapped inside your subculture or style. If the definition starts to feel tight around the edges, then you need to redefine who you are and how you see yourself.

The problem is the misconceptions people have about 'behaving like a Lolita.' Even seasoned Lolitas, lifestyle or not, can get fuzzy in this area. They rebel against what they think they are 'supposed' to do, when really no one is molding them into anything. It is true that Lolitas try to follow some basic guidelines, but these are things polite people should do period. Politeness, courtesy, and being well-behaved - classy - is important, no matter what you wear. And this is what they're talking about in the Lolita Handbook (important! please read if you haven't!).

Acting a certain way because you 'should' isn't the reason behind Lolita manners. Lolita manners, however trite they may seem in the modern world, have stayed alive because they serve a purpose. Just in the same way that Lolita fashion makes you feel beautiful and raises your attention to your appearance - say, carefully detailing your outfit versus throwing on a t-shirt - manners make us pay attention to how we act. What we say, how we interact with others, are all important things. In a world where apathy is on the rise, drawing our attention back to small things is almost meditative.

'When you stand up straight, you feel more energetic, and when you write a kind thank you note to someone, you'll actually feel like you've truly been able to express your gratitude.' -Lolita Handbook

I think this is the point behind special Lolita manners. Just as it's not necessary to wear these frilly, fairy-tale like dresses, it's not necessary to act like your notion of perfect Lolita. But it is fun to do, and in its own way, fulfilling! For example, I like to send my packages with little hand-written notes on Sanrio paper. Finishing the note and sliding it in, pink ink on pink paper, feels good - because you know you've done your best to add a little beauty to it. And that's the real secret to the Lolita lifestyle. Sew frills onto the hem of your heart!

Some Lolita Charm official business also!

I've provided a link to my Facebook which I believe is why I'm getting so many friend requests! Because I get so many, please add a comment to your request saying you read my blog. I get some requests from people I don't know and seem a little odd, so if you'd like to be added, please mention that :) And then of course I'll add you! I also take friends requests on my Livejournal in a similar fashion.

We've also been kindly given a syndicated Livejournal feed, so you can receive Lolita Charm posts directly from your friends list! To add Lolita Charm to your friends' list, go here!

Labels: lifestyle

posted by Victoria Suzanne @ 9:01 AM 2 Comments

Lolitas At Connecticon

Lolitas and anime conventions are a funny thing. If you really think about it - or perhaps have attended a few, in Lolita or not - it's not really something you normally think would mix. Between the pack of fourteen-year-olds running around with Naruto headbands to the collection of light sabers around (no pun intended! ;), it's not the kind of place you'd expect to find us. Especially considering the - shall we say - divided camps - on the subject of anime. But somehow we're part of all this madness because we too are Japanese subculture. So next to the guy dressed like a cat-eared samurai, you might see a frilly concoction of lace and pearls.

Connecticon, or CTcon, is no exception. It's significantly smaller than most other anime conventions. This means there are less fabulous cosplayers (I say less, not none - because we did see, for example, a beautiful Sailor Moon cosplay and a lovely Suigintou) and more... well, teenagers with Naruto headbands. Consider it, if you will, the Wild West of conventions. Untamed, unbridled, and untested. And they had definitely never heard of Lolita!

Arm your parasols, girls, we're going in.

Aly, Julia, and I (right to left in photo) put on an hour-long panel and fashion show for the uninitiated. Topics included for basic Lolita 101 were styles, influences, and a long list of dos and don'ts. When a few prices were rattled off, a couple people gasped. A hush fell over the room when it was suggested that cat ears were unacceptable and 'sub-human'. And admittedly, not everyone was keen on the idea.

But some people were. Some took notes, others asked thoughtful questions. I suppose it's the idea of diamonds in the rough? One girl said, with a touch of emotion, that she had quit Lolita because of the scene - and we had reminded her why she loved it.

So, final prognosis: Lolitas at conventions? Is it a clash? I don't think it's so bad as all that. Maybe some day there will be a bigger name of Lolita, a place in the Western world. But until then, Lolita needs to keep blossoming wherever it can. And if the anime conventions are good soil for future Lolitas to grow from, then more power to them.

As Aly says, let's cut the epic :P

My Coordinate: dress, BABY the Stars Shine Bright; socks, Innocent World; shoes, Montreal; bag, SWIMMER; watch, GUESS; everything else offbrand.

Labels: event

posted by Victoria Suzanne @ 5:24 PM 1 Comments

Super Sugar Finds!

Every Wednesday Lolita Charm is going to have a special article called Super Sugar Finds! This is a collection of interesting shops, trinkets, and jewelry that I've recently discovered on the web & want to share with you :)

Labels: super sugar finds

posted by Victoria Suzanne @ 2:39 PM 1 Comments

The 24/7 Lolita-chan

Update: Read this post in Spanish! Translation courtesy of Ana.

I recently started wearing Lolita more and more frequently, on a nearly day-to-day basis. I know a lot of girls wish they could dress up more, but find the process absolutely exhausting! Let's admit it: getting dressed in Lolita isn't nearly as easy as getting dressed in regular Western wear. It's one thing to sling on a pair of jeans, a t-shirt, and some flats - it's a complete other to put on your petticoat, bloomers, stockings, blouse, jumperskirt, bows, shoes, and jewelry! And then other practical problems set in, from how to fit in bathroom stalls to grocery shopping. The trick is getting Lolita - a fantasy style - to fit into your daily life, DAILY.

With all this in mind, I thought I'd write a little help article for everyone who wants to make the switch to full-time Lolita.

Petticoats & Other Underthings

If you're going to be wearing Lolita daily, you're going to need either one very good, extremely sturdy and poofy petticoat, or multiple petticoats that don't mind being layered. These petticoats are going to get squashed, rumpled, sat on, and attacked by humidity and cold. If you've got a petti you're terrified to sit on lest it die, then you need to start augmenting, STAT! I recommend the Candy Violet fluffy petticoat. It's definitely not going to back down easily! It has enough volume and fluff to withstand some serious sitting and mashing. It's also made out of soft chiffon, and lots of it, not tulle - which generally dies from not standing upright, whereas a petticoat with volume uses its bulk, not its shape. If you don't want to replace your petticoat all together, try getting a second or even third petticoat to wear under or over your existing one. I generally wear two petticoats: an In the Starlight petticoat, and an Angelic Pretty petticoat (Angelic Pretty on top, being more decorative). This can make sure you are full and fluffy no matter what comes your way.

On this note, let's talk about bloomers. If you're not wearing them, start! Livejournal user ugly_kitties wrote a great FAQ on the hows and whys of bloomers, so I won't cover it in this guide. Suffice to say, they are important! They make wearing Lolita a lot easier and hassle-free - all of the perks with pants, but with the look of skirts. Especially important for period time! (I don't think I need to explain this!)

Casual Lolita: Your New Friend

Casual Lolita is a great asset the the 24/7 Lolita. Wearing your absolute finest every day isn't recommended - not only do you want to avoid getting it dirty or worn, but you also want to preserve its specialness :) Just like the Victorians who had 'best dresses' and 'second-best dresses', you need pieces and outfit that can work multiple levels of fanciness. If you're just running out the post office or the market, you don't need to deck out in your best onepiece and tiara! A cute baby tee, a fluffy skirt, some knee-highs and cute, low-heeled Mary-Janes and a bow in you hair is an adorable and easy look. Not to say casual Lolita means you're going to dress like a slob or just sling anything on. Read this great article on casual Lolita. If you follow their guidelines you can look cute and still have a day-to-day look.

Beyond Your Day Dress

The typical Lolita wardrobe has some skirts, a few JSKs, a blouse or two, etc. But there are a few different pieces you'll need beyond the traditional categories if you want to wear Lolita 24/7.

Coats: a coat will practically pay for itself, seeing as it's a piece you'll wear daily for a long period of time, even across seasons (for multiple winters). New England, where I'm from, has a long winter - October, November, December, January, February, and March! The average brand Lolita coat costs 40,000 yen (some can cost as low as 20,000 yen, to as high as 60,000 yen - and Fanplusfriend makes good replicas for an area of around $100 - 150). If you break it down day by day, the average cost of your coat is $2.20 a day (approximately. I'm terrible at math, so don't quote me on this!) And of course, the real point is you'll need something warm and Lolita to keep you through the winter. Because it covers your entire outfit (sans socks, shoes, bag), it doesn't need to match everything you wear, so feel free to buy it in pink, blue, or mocha!

Nightgowns: If you want to put the 24 in 24/7, you'll also need some kind of sleepwear. Some Lolitas sleep in bloomers and camisoles or cute baby tees, a good option if you don't like nightgowns. Nightgowns are your second option. Baby the Stars Shine Bright makes quite a few, and there is also a good tutorial in the egl memories to sew your own - or you can copy a design from Gothic & Lolita scans at Avant Gauche.

Aprons: If you're the baking kind of Lolita, you'll need something to keep your brand from getting covered in confectioner's sugar! I recommend the Alice apron by In the Starlight - it covers the front and bottom of your dress, and because it's not brand, you won't mind getting it a little dirty.

Fans and Parasols: Now, a lot of Lolitas find fans to be extraneous - cute, but not vital. Having been in some very hot places this summer in Lolita, (Paris during a heatwave for one!), my lace fan has saved my life on multiple occasions. I recommend one in white for sweet styles or black for Gothic style (you know which colors you tend to have more of, I'm sure). Make sure the lace is good quality - nothing is worse than poor lace on a fan. Parasols aren't essential, per se, but I know of more than one occasion when I wish I had one and didn't! If it drizzles, snows, rains (not hard! no storms or hurricanes please!), or gets very sunny, you'll want one. Protecting yourself from the elements can swiftly become important if any of the above starts.

Other Ways To Stretch Your Wardrobe (No Shirring Necessary!)

Now that you're wearing Lolita daily, you may find what you previously had thought was plenty of clothes now seems lacking, provided you don't want to wear the same thing every day. JSKs and OPs are great, but unfortunately, they're not as versatile as one would like. Buying more two-piece outfits, such as skirts and blouses/cutsews, are a great way to get more coordinations per item.

And, when you buy an item, make sure it can fit in at least two other outfits. For example, those mint shoes are cute, but can you wear them with anything besides mint? Whenever buying a new piece, try to see how it fits into your wardrobe. Not only will this ensure that your piece gets a lot more use, but you'll have to buy fewer things.

And, if you're a style fluctuator or mixer, like I am (sweet and classic!), it's good to get base pieces that either a) fit into both categories; or b) swing wildly towards one or the other. I know this sounds contradictory, but here's the theory:

If you buy a skirt that could feasibly go either way, then it can fill out, Venn-diagram-style, both slots in your wardrobe. A skirt that looks both classical and sweet depending on how you coordinate can go a long way. I have a Fanplusfriend skirt in red corduroy that fits the bill. The material and cut is classical, but the color and trim is sweet. Depending on your other pieces, you can create very different looks.

On the other end of the spectrum, there is the style-mixing component. Try buying a base piece that's very distinctive. For example, a super-frilly Angelic Pretty blouse is a well-needed injection of sweet into a classical jumperskirt - and a classical sweater or bolero tempers the sugariness of a sweet OP.

Congratulations!

If you've followed these tips closely, you've probably compiled the right things you need to wear Lolita twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week! The trick to continuing it is to think ahead and use your imagination. If, for example, you foresee a beach party coming up, think about what you'd need to survive the day - and then think of the Lolita equivalent. Normally think you'd need a swimsuit, cap, and flip-flops? Find a swimsuit with a cute Lolita print, a broad-brimmed, decorated straw hat, and a pair of sweet sandals. All it takes is a little creativity!

Labels: lifestyle

posted by Victoria Suzanne @ 10:30 PM 3 Comments

Winterizing Your Summer Wardrobe

Update: You can now read this post in Spanish! Translation courtesy of Ana.

So - you've bought a cute collection of spring and summer clothes in the last few months. But suddenly autumn is creeping up fast, and the outfits you wore in May aren't going to cut it. For all your careful shopping, somehow now that the colder seasons have rolled around, you've nothing to wear! Don't worry, Lolita-chan - you don't need to buy a whole new set of jumperskirts, onepieces, and skirts! You can use what you've got and still carry on through winter.

♥ Step One: Layers

You'll need some good pieces to put the winter into your wardrobe. I recommend, if you don't have them already:

♥ a light bolero or sweater, preferably in your base color or a color that matches at least 75% of your wardrobe (if your wardrobe is mostly pink or can be coordinated with pink, for example, that's ok - otherwise, white or black)
♥ a capelet, made of some wool or fleece. If you have G&LB English Vol. 1, try using that pattern from some nice fleece or wool. Again, choose a good base color.
♥ a long-sleeve or removable sleeve blouse in your base color, if you don't have one already
♥ optional/replaces the capelet: a light jacket or suit jacket, such as BABY makes, or the plaid ones released by Metamorphose this season (current as of Autumn 2008).

So, here's the theory: Each of the above pieces functions to warm up your dresses through various levels of warmth. The bolero/sweater is good for the end of September and the beginning of October (the beginning/middle of September where I live being absolutely the hottest part of the year!) The capelet is more for October/November - it's made of a sturdier fabric, but it only covers so much of you, depending on how short it is. The blouses are obvious - if you spent the summer going without them or in short-sleeves, you'll need one. The jackets are the same idea as the capelet, but they're a more tailored look. As the year gets colder you may also wear them inside, especially for smart parties, whereas a furry capelet is more outside wear.

Another note on layers: Don't be afraid to layer your layers! :P Wear the sweater and the capelet, for example - or, more traditionally, the blouse and the jacket. Or if you get a funny Indian summer like we do, try a JSK blouseless, but with a light lacey bolero.

Color is important, too. As you've chosen them in your base color, they should go with every dress, jumperskirt, and blouse/skirt combination you possess. All of your outfits should match the piece, so whereas you previously had, say, four coordinates - you now have eight, one each with and without the new piece.

♥ Step Two: Color

The main difference between Lolita seasons isn't the style - after all, one of the main features uniting Lolita fashion is the silhouette. It's the color. For spring and summer, let's say you bought into all the cute summer styles - fruits, ginghams, ice-cream cones, mermaids. They seem out of place set against snow and autumn leaves, don't they? Well, here's the trick: pull out the darker colors to accessorize with.

A list of darker colors used in winter:

♥ dark red/red
♥ white (full season)
♥ black (full season)
♥ dark blue
♥ dark green
♥ pink (all season, but in varying shades)
♥ cream (all season)

Let's use this JSK for an example.



It's very summery, isn't it? Light, pale pinks. However, the 'pulling out the colors' technique requires you to look closer. This JSK is also made with red flowers. Red is one of the darker colors acceptable for winter and autumn. So, use red and white (base color) accessories to winterize this look. Example ideas: a red rose hairpiece, a red bag, red shoes, white or red patterned socks, and one or two of the layering items above (preferably in white, base color). Other wintery items you could employ are earmuffs, gloves, mittens, or anything with furry pom-poms or snowflakes.

To pull a color, you need at least three items of that color in your accessories, preferably one for each section of your outfit. By this, I mean:

♥ (hairbows, flower clips, headdresses, etc.)
♥ midway, neck or hands, which could be a neck ribbon, a handbag, or even a pearled/bow chain, necklace or brooch
♥ bottom, socks or shoes

So if you wanted to go the cheapest route: a hair bow or flower (I make those VMesque floral combs myself); a ribbon tied round the blouse neck or throat; socks. In that case the most expensive item is the socks, especially if brand (estimate: $5 + $3 + $24 = $32). Most expensive route: elaborate BRAND (VM, Alice and the Pirates/BABY, Angelic Pretty) floral headpieces/veils, handbag, and shoes (10,000 - 14,000 yen + 10,000 - 20,000 yen + 14,000 - 22,000 yen = 34,000 yen - 56,000 yen). Or of course feel free to spring for one major ticket item and then supplement with the less expensive ones.

Other items that can pull color: jewelry (rings, necklace, earrings, bracelets, watches); parasols; fans; gloves; hats; scarves; earmuffs.

♥ Step Three: The New Lines (And The Old)

Ok, I know this is an article on using your summer clothes for winter ones. But, let's admit it - we all drool over what the brands come out with for the winter. And let's also admit that every so often, a piece is hopeless - that bright yellow gingham skirt patterned with lemon wedges and beach balls isn't going to work - period. So, with that in mind:

♥ Buy 1 JSK or OP from the new lines, preferably something that goes both up and down on the dressy level;
♥ Buy 1 skirt from the new lines.

The JSK and OP are for Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Year's, whatever your winter holidays of choice are (mine is Yule :P). Not only will you like having a new piece for these, but with the tips above, it can probably carry you through most of the major holidays (another great thing is usually you don't see the exact same people for every gathering - one side of the family for Christmas, say, and the other for New Year's). If it's mostly dressy, hopefully it has some removable frills. If it's less dressy, it can be dressed up by how luxe the accessories look. Example recommendation: a tall, multi-strand pearl bracelet looks royal (mine was $7.50 at Claires).

The skirt is the same idea, but with more of an eye towards day-to-day wear. It can be put with your other blouses, your new accessories, etc. Since you're only buying the one, there's no harm in getting one of the brand's signatures prints you like - as long as the color scheme matches the rest of your wardrobe. i.e., Don't buy the black skirt if the rest of your wardrobe is meant to go with white. Or, if you're going for cheap, pick something offbrand that goes with everything. My example for this is Fanplusfriend's corduroy skirt. I bought mine ages ago, in dark red corduroy, with white trim. Ergo, it goes with everything white, dark red, or pink (pink being an accompanying color).

As to old lines: at New Year's the brands do sales. If you missed it the first time around, feel free to snatch it. It's officially cheaper, and you can still wear it for January, February, and in some areas, like mine, March. Another tip: there's nothing that says you need to buy this season's winter items. If you shop egl_comm_sales, fairy-angel.com, closet-child.com, mbok, or Yahoo!Japan, you can buy last season's winter items at a cheaper price. Especially good for coats, because, let's admit it, they're expensive and pretty much look alike from one year to the other. It may be you wanted that piece last season anyway!

And, as an added bonus, once you've bought these pieces, they will still be ok to wear next year, and you'll only need to add marginally.

♥ That's It!

So, to recap:

♥ bolero/sweater, base color;
♥ jacket/capelet, base color;
♥ long or detachable sleeve blouse (hopefully you already have this)
♥ various accessories, your choice;
♥ new JSK/OP
♥ new skirt

As you can see, this is a fairly short list of things compared to what you needed to have amassed to wear Lolita daily. Four large items (excludes blouse, because this is hopefully, I repeat, already in your closet from wardrobe building), and various accessories, which if you shop around (I love Claires!) can be fairly cheap.

Congratulations, you've winterized your wardrobe!

Labels: winter

posted by Victoria Suzanne @ 12:56 PM 2 Comments

A Guide to Summer Hats

One of the tips people recommend for Lolita summer is hats. They protect the skin on your face from burning, your delicate eyes from squinting, and keep the sun off of your hair. They keep one cool, and looking great doing it.

But if you're like me your hunt for hats may have come up short. In the Lolita world, there are plenty of hats - miniature ones. Now I've nothing against the adorable little confections - but let's face it, they have none of the protective values previously listed, and they're not always easy to wear - they require pinning and tying. So, with that in mind, I've found some good summer hats for you lovely lolitas :)

Please let me know if I've missed anything, you have any questions, or tips!

Labels: summer

posted by Victoria Suzanne @ 4:45 PM 0 Comments

Gothic Summer

Update: You can now read this post in Spanish! Translation courtesy of Ana.

I've seen a lot of notes recently beseeching our lovely Lolitas to wear white or pale colors in the heat, and a few sobbing Gothic Lolitas who are distraught with the idea of giving up their precious black! So, with this in mind, I've decided to give some ideas for pale-colored Gothic Lolita!

White can be gothic too.

Take a look at Alice Auaa, H. naoto, etc., and you'll see plenty of ghostly, shroud-like whites and soft greys. I've posted some examples from Closet Child, though admittedly some of these are a little deconstructed/aristocratic.

http://www.closet-child.com/shop/list.php?no=658SK-2663s
http://www.closet-child.com/shop/list.php?no=664SK-2621h
http://www.closet-child.com/shop/list.php?no=666OP-3756s

Items to look for: batwing collar blouses in white, white or grey corsets and bustiers, long linen-esque white skirts.

Spiderweb Style

If you still can't give up on black, try making your fabric lighter. I have a light linen dress in black that could not be cooler - because it's very lightweight and breezy. Crocheted black lace, black eyelet fabric, and loosely crocheted black thread gives a spiderweb style that lets you breathe! So try to drop the heavy velvets and brocades for a while and wear some black cotton.

Accessorize me, baby.

Jewelry is one of the best ways to put the Gothic into these lighter wardrobe options. Suppurate System is a favourite of mine - a simple white or grey dress can look hauntingly beautiful if paired with some crosses, wilted roses in glass, and black-beaded rosaries. Slip in some black beads, skull motifs, and antiqued silver. A traditional white parasol, possibly with a pagoda shape, would be viciously pointy too :) If you're used to wearing huge black boots or love platforms, they make some great platform open-toed flip flops and sandals. I have a pair of black foam Demonias about four inches high that are great. Another option is black geta. Black lace fans? A veil to keep direct sunlight from your face? What else can you think of?

Hair & Makeup

If you're into a sort of period look, try an upsweep, Gibson Girl hairstyle, French twist, or classic bun. It will keep the hair off your neck and looks fairly classy. Black or white false roses could be gorgeous stuck in it - or perhaps some sweeping black feathers? See what you can find or try making your own. I'm a big fan of making my own floral corsages with an empty hair comb, hot glue and wire :) As for makeup, try a tinted moisturizer with SPF, a little vanilla eyeshadow, and a clear gloss. This keeps the look without a lot of garish color. If you like, try waterproof mascara.

Hope you enjoyed my tips for not giving up your Gothic Lolita when the heat comes sneaking along. If all else fails, try to only go out at night, when it's cooler ^_^

Labels: summer

posted by Victoria Suzanne @ 3:55 PM 0 Comments

Firstly, An Introduction

Hello, everyone! Welcome to Lolita Charm, a blog dedicated to the study, interest, and perfection of Lolita fashion. Here you'll find articles on how to improve your wardrobe, handle Lolita costs, and live a Lolita lifestyle. We'll cover everything from such topics as summer heat to where to buy the best low-priced accessories!

This blog is all about Lolita fashion, for the average Lolita. This is not Lolita 101. This is for the more seasoned Lolita, somewhere between grand princess and newbie. This girl, who we'll call Lolita-chan, has been in the fashion for a while. She knows not to show the edge of her petticoat; she has a few pieces of brand. But sometimes she gets stumped on more unusual questions - like how to flesh out her wardrobe, buy the perfect coat, or make her own accessories.



Who am I? My name is Victoria Suzanne, and I'm the author of this blog. I'm a Lolita of two years, a college student, and a writer. I like Sweet and Classical styles, with my favorite brands being Baby the Stars Shine Bright, Emily Temple Cute, and Innocent World. I'm a part of egl and ctonthefrills, a Connecticut Lolita community.

If you have any questions, suggestions, or comments, feel free to reach me at my Livejournal, palantiriell.

Labels: mission statement

posted by Victoria Suzanne @ 12:50 PM 1 Comments