Lolita Charm: February 2009

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Poppin' Carousel!

Julia and I went out to buy embroidery thread for my work at GMP, so we took some cute pictures! You also get a small peek at my room (it's so messy! a creative mess :P)

Here's what I wore:

I call it Poppin' Carousel because the hairdo reminds me of 80s pop! I remember trying to emulate the 80s look of side ponytails and sweeping back all of your hair for that windswept, California-sunset kind of look. I guess I'll just always be a child of the 80s!

Bonus: a photo of my reorganized closet! This is the first half with my boxes, bags, skirts, and tops! The onepieces and jumperskirts are in the other half, you can sort of see my lilac onepiece from BABY there ;)

Labels: outfit post

The Imaginary Girls of Spring

Inspired by Miss Lumpy's imaginary girls and my own runaway daydreams today, here are a few darlings I'd like you to meet! {Remember to click to enlarge & for item details!}

Lilac Unicorns at Sugary Carnival - by VictoriaSuza on Polyvore.com

Carabelle had always been too scared to ride the merry-go-round as a child. It goes around and around and you never get off, she had told her father once. But this spring, when a traveling carnival came to town from some faraway Eastern European country, she was just too attracted to the beautiful lilac pony on the top floor. She gave her marshmallow rope to her father and rode for the first time - and she never wanted to get off.

Love Story - by VictoriaSuza on Polyvore.com

Benette never wanted to fall in love. She had seen all of her friends get boyfriends, get crazy, and get their hearts broken. Not something she wanted to emulate, she thought, as she drifted in and out of sleep under the willow trees some hot South Carolinan day. But still, she couldn't quit listening to this song on repeat...

The Unicorn Project - by VictoriaSuza on Polyvore.com

Juliana was walking home from her job at an accounting firm late one day, and decided to take a twilight shortcut through Central Park. She was thinking only of numbers and spreadsheets when she thought she saw a flash of something white and glittering. When she looked up, all she saw was a policewoman on a white horse - but ever after at dusk, she would bring a bottle of her favorite fruity alcohol and go looking for unicorns in the parks of New York City.

Alice in Strawberryland - by VictoriaSuza on Polyvore.com

Susan had always thought, through a small mishap at a berry stand in her youth - that she was allergic to strawberries. Her mother promised that they made her break out into hives. Imagine her surprise when one day she was routinely tested for allergies and it came back negative. After the appointment, she stopped at a retro soda fountain and indulged her long-lost desire, making sure to get the strawberry syrup all over her lips, and then lusciously licking it off.

Labels: polyvore, spring

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Will You, Won't You, Join the Dance?

Lilac Feeries at the Dance - by VictoriaSuza on Polyvore.com

Lately, I've been hoping to go to the Dances of Vice Sacre du Printemps - the Spring Equinox celebratory ball in New York City (where a dear friend of mine, Miss Lumpy, will be modeling!). Life may interfere, but it doesn't stop a girl from dreaming... This is the coordinate I came up with, using my BABY the Stars Shine Bright Lilac Rococo Onepiece!

The theme for the ball are two of my favorites: spring, naturally, which prompted my blue lilac style - and 'It is impossible to be overdressed!' My kind of people! It's sure to be quite a sight to see - plenty of beautiful costumes and interesting guests! Wish me luck - and if you're near NYC, consider coming!

[click the image to see full size & credits!]

Also - if you're my friend on Facebook, you can now enjoy automatic updates from LC directly to your Facebook account! Each new post will post on my Wall as a Note!

Labels: inspirational, polyvore, spring

Monday, February 23, 2009

Dear Diary: The Benefits of Lolita Journaling

This is my favorite little treasure right now! My aunt sent it to me, and I've been using it religiously. What for, you might ask? Don't I have tons of online journals already, where I can keep oodles of thoughts, ideas, and musings - at the touch of a button? What do I need another one of those for anyway?

I thought the same at first! Besides my online journal at Livejournal, I also have an 'art journal' which is mostly comprised of my strangest feelings; a gratitude journal, where I keep fortune cookie fortunes and lists of things I'm thankful for; and now my Lolita journal and of course, what you're currently reading, LC! But, my Lolita journal really helps keep me organized.

I'm not organized by nature at all! I'm the kind of person who likes to keep things in decorative heaps, and doesn't mind collections of water/juice/teacups, and has made a mess of all the tags in my personal journal! But when I found myself forgetting things, losing great ideas, or making impulse purchases (!) I knew I had to step it up. Here's what I keep in my Lolita journal:

WTB, DS, Recent purchases, etc: This is probably the most important section. If I think to myself, oh, I really need to replace my pink shoes, or, I love that print in that color! - I write it down in my Want-To-Buy list. I update this regularly - probably I write a new one every few days. If the same item keeps showing up on my list, it means I really like it and it has more buying interest. If I only write, say, piano-shaped purse once, it was a passing fancy and not worth my money. Direct-Sale, or DS, is anything I have posted for sale or would consider selling. Recent purchases means, obviously, I have bought this item, it should be arriving in the mail/it needs to be or has been paid for. The date helps me keep track of potential scams - if I ordered it two months ago and it's not here, red flag! And I can keep track of what goes in and out of my closet. Consider it immigration for my clothes!
Potential coordinates: If I suddenly dream up a great coordinate, I write down the components and what would need to be purchased and from where if I want that outfit to be a reality. Usually I'll also name the outfit and give it a 'theme' - a tip I picked up from various street snaps. So if my theme is my new bunny scarf, I'll name it SNOW BUNNY PRINCESS, or something equally cute, to keep it on track ;)
Reminders: These are just notes to myself, like - handwash your new socks! Or, fix the scuff on your tea party shoes! Useful!

LC ideas: All of my ideas about Lolita Charm are kept in this book! The layout, graphics, ads, new articles, brain storms - yup, all inside! It's a huge help.

Doodles! In my art journal I keep drawings, but these are full-scale doodles - little chibi Lolitas with big hair, or leopard-printed hearts, anything like that!

Other things you could keep in your Lolita journal!

Inspirational quotes; designs for new sewing projects, jewelry, or embroidery; meetup ideas; recipes; daily outfit records; hairstyle ideas; nailart designs; poems; short stories; photoshoot ideas; facial and hair treatments; music lyrics; pressed flowers; room decorating ideas; lists of beautiful names; daydreams; secret spells!

I really recommend you give it a go! It's a fun way to document all of the little floral fairytales you keep for yourself - the daydreams that keep the spirit of Lolita alive inside of you.

(Bonus! A photo of my new BABY the Stars Shine Bright underbust bodice underneath! Isn't it very princess-y? It reminds me of Lady Lovely Locks! See the full photo at my Poupee Girl!)

Labels: lifestyle

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Let Them Eat Cake: Part II

Are these the real thing... or not?

In my last article in the Let Them Eat Cake series, I started discussing the recession and how it is (or isn't) affecting the international Lolita community. This next piece is called 'Evolution'.

Yes, some Lolitas are continuing with their usual ways, and still supporting the brand houses. But I think we are seeing a rising instance of something once considered the realm of the newbie and the ita: replicas.

Replicas are becoming more common - or perhaps, more accessible - to the international Lolita community. Previous replica experience was mostly limited to shoes, which has always been at the forefront. I myself have only ever owned replica shoes, and find them to be just as wearable and long-lasting as brand shoes - with only a third of the price.

This also began to shine through when Bodyline began producing their recently famous Angelic Pretty Fruits Parlor replica skirts and onepieces (and yes, I've caved - one of the pink Fruits Parlor skirts is on its way to me!) They went like hotcakes. As the economy dips, the mid-range Lolita - dedicated, but without the resources of the upper ring - replicas have been doing a bang-up business. New shopping services fresh from Hong Kong and Taiwan and China and even Japan are sprouting up. There are more options than ever for non-brand Lolita clothing.

In the earlier days of Lolita, the only way to buy any Lolita was through the few brands big enough to venture overseas. Lolitas in Japan have the added advantage of being able to wander into smaller shops, find offbrand items, and locate things that have trickled into other genres. The Lolita outside of Japan had a limited palette to work from, which consisted of only the largest and most couture brands (who could afford to expand past their small store fronts). I think this is what has inspired such brand loyalty among Western Lolitas that you don't see to quite the same degree of in Japanese Lolitas.

Now, however, with the downturn in the economy, Lolitas are hunting for more affordable alternatives. If there is a choice between no longer dressing Lolita or swallowing one's inner brandwhore and trying something a bit less known, then the realm of the offbrand and the replica is the way to go.

One wonders if this will signal an independence from brands - or at least, less clutched hands around their wares. The brands have been wonderful in developing the Lolita scene outside of Japan. They have given us a solid base to form around, a no-questions-needed key to coordination and the correct look. But has this been stifling the more creative side of Lolita fashion? When one can find five girls in a row wearing the same dress, or when a girl vigilantly copies every detail of the model in her magazine, has the support gone too far? Is it time for the brands to cut the apron strings, so to speak?

The replica, of course, is still the same design and style. One can't really say, 'I reject brand!' if you're wearing the latest knock-off. But it is rejecting the power of the brand houses - the name necessary to make the same skirt that was $65 into a $165 skirt. In the Lolita world, you'll often be asked who made what - and you might as well own up to the replica, because someone is bound to notice. The name still holds a lot of sway - are they Angelic Pretty tea parties or Secret Shop? (Mine are Secret Shop! Or as Julia calls it, Fangelic Pretty ;) Maybe there will come a day when your outfit doesn't need a 'pedigree' to get every drop of the love it deserves, without any bias. Nobody will even think to ask.

Could the economy drive us from the expensive safety of brand name? Is there a line between freedom and safety in the land of Lolita experimentation? There is nothing wrong with brand; there is nothing wrong with offbrand. Perhaps we may finally reach a happy medium between the two?

Stay tuned for Part III: Changes in Our Micro-economy

Labels: budget-loli, discussion

The Beach in Winter

a picture of myself with Arianna of Baking Life Sweeter!

On Monday, the Connecticut Lolitas spent a little Valentine's time together! We began with photos as the beach, and then progressed to sharing delicious Indian desserts like rose-flavored ice cream and a special rice pudding called kheer. Then we rounded off the evening with Apples to Apples, a silly card game made sillier by Lolita players!

Unfortunately, there are no photos of my full outfit without my coat on, because the beach was very cold as the sun went down! We stayed until it was nearly dark, and used the floodlights of cars when the light went!

A headshot taken later that evening as we relaxed around the dining table and heart-shaped vegan cheesecakes and a box of Valentine's chocolates! My favorites, molasses and fruit chews!

What did you do to celebrate Valentine's Day?

Labels: meetup

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Happy Valentine's Day From Lolita Charm!

I wish you all a splendid Valentine's Day, be you single, attached, or 'it's complicated'!

Valentine's Day '09 Coordinate

Theme: Strawberry Banana Split!
Skirt: handmade by me, pattern in the English Bible Vol. 2
Socks, hairclips: Target!
Shoes: Montreal
Sock toppers: BABY the Stars Shine Bright
Pochette: My Melody by Sanrio
Blouse: Angelic Pretty
Bow: BABY the Stars Shine Bright

Something a little less brand-whoring than usual!I'm really interested in soft yellow lately, call it banana, lemon, buttercup, buttercream, or just yaller ;P I'm also EATING a lot of banana products, from banana Belgian waffles to strawberry-banana smoothies! They are very good for you, chock-full of potassium!

Labels: holiday

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Now Presenting: A Brief Overview of the Spring 09 Lines

Admit it. You want one, even as they fade in resolution.

I've decided to cut some of the epic running around LC lately and just babble on about the new lines and coming trends for spring. Mostly I was tipped off by BABY's littlest cutie, the Mini-mini Bunnybear bag!

I think the marketing slogan for BABY and the bunnybear bag would be: A BUNNYBEAR IN EVERY HOME, with a sweet, belipsticked Lolita holding up her bear like a 50s housewife with a post-war vacuum. Or what they have actually named the file at BtssB headquarters: How to Get Every Lolita to Buy One - Make it cheaper and smaller! Well, the 20,000 yen version sold like crazy, but then even more so for the 9,000 yen version, and now we top out with the 3,000 yen version! ~~Because secretly we've implanted them all with microchips to track your every move and form a secret army!~~ Or buy all three and take adorable poses like the one shown above! Yes all of these exclamation points are necessary!

Well, you know that I just gotta have one. Even if I just keep it on my bed. Because it can only hold your cellphone, sans charms, I'm sure.

BABY has also issued another print - a sign that they are trying to stay afloat in a more and more predominately AP-print-world. It's a 'remake' of their old print Snow White which was so beloved form yesteryear. This boast new artwork but a similar feel and style, and of course baby (BABY?) deer and cute wildlife. I'm already humming 'Some Day My Prince Will Come'. The minty green is especially adorable a color - one they seem to have latched onto, if their Alice in Hedges print is an indication.

Of course I'm sure you also want to hear about the new Angelic Pretty lines, so I'll just jump into that. The three kicking around so far are: Sugary Carnival, the bunny/cherry print (name unknown?) and the Cake Appliqué on Gingham (not official name). I'm fond of all of these - bad news for my wallet - but it's been a bumpy road. Sugary Carnival sold out entirely in the few hours the East Coast was asleep, and now the mad scramble for the aftermarket has begun. It's part of my new obsession, unfortunately - unicorn, pony, and carousel pony prints.

Surprisingly, both yellow and lilac made their way into Angelic Pretty's summer line-up. Sugary Carnival comes in a pleasing lilac and the rumors suggest that lilac tea party shoes will be available for the first time. Yellow is also one of the prime colors in the bunnies/cherries line.

I'm a fan of both these colors - I own the lilac Roses and Angels Onepiece from BABY and the yellow Bloom Onepiece from Angelic Pretty. I love pink, but it's exciting to see something a little out of the ordinary when it comes to the typical Lolita colors. Lilac reminds me of lavender ice cream, which is creamy and a little spicy - and yellow reminds me of lemonade and lemon meringue pie!

Metamorphose has also broke their fail-streak (heart-shaped leopard spots, anyone?) by releasing a new line with roses and fairy-tale crowns. They've gone the opposite route by dropping spring colors in favor of blue/black and pink/black, or cream/pink. Even the pink isn't very sugary - it's definitely more of a defined, rose tone. You can read more about Metamorphose's new line at Doll Part, one of my fellow Lolita bloggers.

My personal fads for spring?

Long, decorative bloomers made to show under slightly-shorter skirts. This will graduate into summer days as completely scandalous bloomers-only - but only if no men will be present ;)
Easter bonnets kicked up a notch - both wide-brim hats and straw bonnets a la Jane Austen. Triple Fortune carries some of the most expensive, but I'd look around craft stores to see if there is anything worth altering.
Lace gloves! Angelic Pretty and Metamorphose have been releasing them and I am in love. I think they're so elegant at picnics and teas, but even more cute dangling from your hand as you try to climb trees with your fellow Lolitas in a fit of boyish tomfoolery.
Open-toed shoes of any kind - Lolita or himegyaru. I've even seen the models in the Bible wear them - with socks, believe it or not! I'm not sure about that - knowing me I'd rip a hole in the toe.
Instead of socks, as the days heat up, try wearing your sock-stoppers as a kind of lacey anklet. The fun of socks without the cloying fabric! I'll have to try it and bring back a report of my experiment.
Citrus-colored nails with faux fruit on them! Try Strapya for the cutest in tiny deco sweets, and then add them to your nails or falsies just the way you would rhinestones. I just set mine into the wet polish and then go over them with a coat or so of Sally Hansen's Diamond Finish.

Spring is coming, I promise! Enjoy!

Labels: shopping, spring

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Style Tips: Special Valentine's Day Edition!

image by εїз violentine εїз

Wear heart-shaped sunglasses, preferably in pink. Drive around town in them, or just peer over the tops.
Wear lace stockings.
Send Valentines to your family, coworkers, or friends. CVS-style punch outs with Disney Princesses, handmade ones from scraps of ribbon, or origami cranes with love notes written on the wings.
Send all of your notes with complicated emoticons or tiny pixelated emoji!
If you're feeling daring, add pink wefts of dyed human hair into your natural hair for the day. Bonus points if you curl them!
Give yourself pink nails or a French manicure! I'm wearing Timeless Rose by OPI. Copious rhinestones are a must!
Buy yourself flowers, even if other people will. Keep them in your room, beside your bed.
Mix heart-shaped cinnamon candies into fruit salad before serving.
Make a delicious treat, like pink cupcakes, Rice Krispy treats with heart-shaped sprinkles mixed in, or chocolate-coated anything!
Go to the drugstore by yourself and go on a candy shopping spree! Gummies that look like Cupid - check. As many heart-shaped boxes of chocolates as you can carry? Check. Wax bottle candy? Check.
Loop a cheesy Valentine's-themed men's tie around your neck.
Take pictures of yourself blowing kisses and making smoochie faces - heart and star-shaped balloons are extra fun. Send them to anybody who loves you - friends, SO, or family - or covertly post them on a social networking site where your exes are bound to see them and kick themselves for leaving you ;)

Labels: style tips

Let Them Eat Cake: Part 1

image by gossamercreations

Even before the recession hit the United States full-force, I was worried about one. I've read in my textbooks about the history flow that matches a recession: luxury goods go by the wayside. Art is lost in favor of food. Beauty is sacrificed to make way for its older stepsister, practicality. And what was Lolita if not the most in danger of a sudden drop-off in money? I apocalyptically daydreamed about days when no one would remember Lolita except its old princesses, who were now reduced among the cinders. On a slow day I would also tack a little backdrop of nuclear winter to the scene. What can I say, I'm a twisted sort of dreamer.

But now a recession has actually hit and the Lolitas seem to be weathering well so far. We can only hope that like the palm tree, the Lolita bends, rather than the stolid oak, which breaks.

There will probably be several articles around the recession + Lolita, as I see a lot of small effects branching throughout the culture and economic microcosm.

So, onwards to article #1!

I was reading my local paper today (The Waterbury Republican, if anyone in the area is curious!) when I stumbled across an article about recession meets fashion. The article slung around new buzz-words like 'recessionista', 'wealth shame' and 'covert shopping' - while they claimed that yes, the rich are still buying their toys, only sneakier. The ladies get their products in plain bags, instead of brand-blazoned ones that shout Louis Vuitton or Chanel. Or even more undercover-wise, they get their purchases shipped home, sometimes gift-wrapped, so that nobody knows they bought themselves a new ostrich-skin purse.

The rest of the article speaks of how the poor elite of our society have started flying commercial (*cough*firstclass), or renting jets instead of owning them. Other signs of the rich trying to rein in the spending include shopping without dressing to the nines, secretly taking Bahamas vacations instead of telling everyone they know, and getting rooms instead of suites at said Bahamas resorts.

How difficult for them.

Okay, so the chip on my shoulder is showing just a teensy bit, but let's move on and get to the point.

I don't know about you, but I certainly haven't seen the Lolitas doing any of these things. The It Dress and the It Print (Sugary Carnival!) are still popular as ever and the usual caucus race for these items - stay in the game long enough and everybody wins! - continues. The seasons move in and out, and despite the way the media continues to trumpet their chant of Rome is Falling, girls are still willing to drop around $800 on this winter's chandelier print.

But that's not too unusual, right? Even the mainstream rich are still buying. The question is, what about the hype? Is the fox hunt still as beloved as it was, or do we see more of girls trying to be modest about their funds?

Again, I believe the answer is a resounding 'nope'. The Lolita culture and denizens are being affected by the economy for sure, but the elite ring - those who hunt brand for sport, complete with hound-shaped purses - remain unaffected. Or if they are, they are steadfastly not letting it anywhere near their shining wardrobes.

As I wrote in my earlier post about status symbols in the Lolita community, Lolitas have a deep urge to show the others their items and prizes. To keep with our ladies'-hunting theme - the first half of the game is the hunt, but the second half is displaying its head on your wall and chuckling about it over cocktails at your next little dinner party. Let's say you bought [insert horribly expensive dress here], but never tell anyone you own it. You can love it, wear it, and keep it like a secret love to your heart. But if you never give it its debut, then its light will be like a lamp under a basket, to get rather old-school. I think that urge will fuel the elite in their quest to keep the upper ring of Lolita society alive. To participate in 'stealth wealth' would be defeating the purpose - and could even spell death for the Lolita way of life. The tradition begun by Marie Antoinette must be continued, if only has a collection of art. When the people cry for bread, they will eat cake. The mainstreamers may gobble their cake covertly, furtively; the Lolitas will slowly savor it.

I agree with them, myself. If one is to eat cake, eat it - without shame. Lick the frosting from your lips; steal the rose off of the top tier. Are the Lolitas shameless? Do they fly in the face of convention?

Why of course.

The upper Lolita ring perseveres to preserve the aristocratic culture, but in the middle and lower rings of Lolita, a strange and beautiful evolution is beginning to take place.

Be ready for Let Them Eat Cake: Part 2 - The Evolution!

Labels: budget-loli, discussion

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Poupee is the French Word For Doll

a screencap of my Poupeegirl!

Do you like to show off your new items?
Do you have the irresistible urge to collect tiny images of Lolita clothes?
Do you like to spend endless hours perusing other people's clothes?

Do you enjoy adding over-the-top, brightly colored pixellated emoticons to everything you write?!

If you answered YES to any of these questions, then come on down to PoupeeGirl, where you can enjoy all of these fine activities!

PoupeeGirl is a Japanese website built around the notion of posting pictures of EVERY SINGLE FASHION ITEM YOU OWN, and then tons of other girls proclaiming it adorable. To fuel this, are tiny little images of dolls, which you can dress up as you like - by buying them outfits with a monetary system called 'ribbons'. Every time you upload an image or comment on another person's image, you are given a certain amount of ribbons. Other activities are dressing up your doll, daily and monthly.

It's been a Lolita-loved site for a while, owing that:

You can show off your brand;
Images are easily available to sell your items or simply show them as references;
Lolitas like cute things to play with;

I had known about Poupee or as my friends call it, with tongue-in-cheek sentiment, Poopie - for some time, but figured I would always be one of the girls too lazy to actually photograph her entire wardrobe for a small pixel person. But I neglected to consider the huge amount of time I have on my hands during my recovery from surgery... and when my friends offered to start me off on my own account, I gave in. (See what happens when you leave me alone with them, Julia?!)

The big allure for me is that Valentine's Day is coming up (this week!). This means there is a Poupee event - special dress-up items released around the holiday theme. And Valentine's Day means Lolita clothes! I couldn't resist. My interest may wane substantially after V-Day, but for this week at least, I am addicted! I troll my Facebook account for photos of my clothes - with my head ungainly hacked off, to derail stalkers, per Poupee rules - and then upload, watching the ribbons total go up! I admit it: I'm not a good ribbons-saver. I'm more of an instant-gratification girl - which is why my doll still has no dress. She does wear a petticoat, however, in emulation of what Angelic Pretty calls their 'ballerina look' - something I could never pull off in real life!

Interested in trying it out? Sign up is free! And if you do, would you be my friend? ;)

You can now also follow me on Twitter, which mentions my general life and LC updates & news!

Labels: inspirational, lifestyle, review

Friday, February 6, 2009

Doll Complex

"You look like a doll!"

I hear those words at least three times a day as I go about my life - on errands, to the hospital (where as you might gather I make frequent visits), at restaurants, and on the street. The general reaction of the public - at least, in my experience - is to associate my Lolita style with dolls. I consider it one of the highest compliments that can be bestowed on a Lolita. It means I have done my job right and pulled off the image, to look like a doll.

I've never thought anything of it, until my mother asked me: 'Why do you want to look like a doll? That seems so counterintuitive to your personality and the emotions behind Lolita.'

So why do we want to look like dolls? What is it in the idea of dolls that we choose to emulate and idealize? The traits I associate with dolls range from light to dark. To compile a list of doll associations, I would say:

Dolls are perfect, especially physically. They don't have a single hair out of place, or an eyelash unpainted.
Dolls are meant to be played with, like in the song Barbie Girl by Aqua. They are subject to the volatile needs of their owner - loved one day and then thrown down the next. This doesn't seem to bother them.
Dolls do not do anything on their own, and have to be helped and manipulated.
Dolls are taken care of, assuming they are loved. I know Miko-chan is always taken care of - her hair styled, put into her pajamas for bed! :3
Dolls are representations of humans but are not actually human. They are not actually real or suffer from the realities humans do.
Dolls live in a fantasy world, which can be whatever they want it to be. Their lives are really very surreal and dreamlike - the taps and lights in a dollhouse don't work, for example.

What I have gathered from this list is that dolls are reflections of us, both positive and negative. The positive things - or more positive than others - is that dolls live like the things we strive to be like. They're physically beautiful, like works of art. Lolita is about turning yourself into a work of art as well. Every aspect must be carefully cultivated to create the full masterpiece - hair and nails and dress and accessories. The other way we emulate the dolls is their fantasy life. Perhaps we're unsatisfied with modern society, because it seems like Lolitas turn to the fashion in a desire for something more beautiful and fairytale-like. Escapism is also part of the fact that dolls do not suffer from the same human tragedies or human interactions gone awry - or if they do, they do not feel pain.

But dolls are also powerless, whereas the Lolita is actually rebelling against a society she does not want a part in. The Lolitas gives herself power through juxtaposition. The Lolita is beautiful because she is placed in an ugly world. Photoshoots prove this point over and over: the Lolita is photographed against graffiti, or in dark castles or alleyways. When she is photographed against a like setting, such as a beautiful garden or pretty room, one is under the impression that this is her oasis, her world. Like a walled garden, it is her sanctuary carved out from a reality of city streets. The location is more an extension of her than it is two seperate things - almost as if she has colored herself into a drawing, or imagined the space. When she is photographed against her opposite, however, there is sense that she is a spot against the negativity. She's out of place, and that makes her more beautiful.

So the Lolita both identifies with an is the opposite of a doll. In some ways, they are very much alike. In other ways, they are like insects pretending not to be poisonous. If they act powerless, all the better way to have power. Their power is to make an impact upon society, in almost flash-mob street performance kind of style. Although we dress for ourselves, we do make a mark upon society whenever we go out, whether we like it or not.

Do we dress like dolls - and love to be identified as such - because we hope the correlation is purely physical? Or is there more psychology behind the idea?

The mind and reason behind Lolita, I think, is a very deep treasure trove of a new generation of girls' reactions and actions upon the world around them. In a culture that sometimes seems out of control and very far from anything fairytale, we have chosen to reverse gears - right back into this pink, glittery world we remember from being children. Even non-Lolitas seem to have a nostalgia for princesses and fairytales - for example, mainstream pop/country singers Taylor Swift {Love Story} and Carrie Underwood {Ever After}.

As a Lolita, I'm not even sure why we do these things. What emotional and psychological needs are driving us to follow this dream, to such lengths? Even if you say, this is only how I dress - other people don't do this, do they? There is something in the Lolita that even she doesn't understand, that connects to this part of her. Not everyone can be a Lolita. It's not for the faint of heart or the dabbler. There has to be a real need, a real desire to fulfill this something. If I wanted to be dramatic, I could almost call it the Lolita gene - something chemical and genetic and programmed. There's a secret that I'm trying to unearth in every Lolita. I hope you'll be there with me to find the why part of yourself and your frills, too.

Author's Note: The dolls in the image are part of a PullipxAngelic Pretty collaboration, available this August. I'm in love, aren't they sweet?!

Labels: culture, discussion

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Have you felt food?

image by bugsandfishes

I know I have!

In a sudden surge towards Valentine's Day, I was gripped by one of the strangest and most clutching urges of the Lolita: to wear cake on my head. It can happen without warning, without symptom. I had always been the kind of girl who said - that's a cake. It's on your head. What are you doing.

But one day I realized that cake on my head was the only way to truly celebrate a holiday like Valentine's Day - sugary, crazed, and sweet.

Project Cake Hat is a go.

After hunting around looking at various cake hats, I decided to make mine out of felt. A few sheets of 25-cent felt are both cheap and sturdy and easy to work with. For the base of the cake I chose pink, for a fondant look - then attached white scalloped cotton cluny lace to the top and bottom as decoration. After looking at other felt cake tutorials and images, I also figured out how to 'pipe' whipped topping around the edges.

Strawberries were easy. They're naturally made in bulk - each pattern yields two strawberries. The half-circle shapes are run through the sewing machine for a good seal, then turned inside out, stuffed, and gathered at the top. Rather than use seed stitches of embroidery, I hand-stitched on a multitude of pearl beads for seeds. Then I spent a few hours watching television and rearranging the strawberries on the commercials.

Of course, little did I know that I had slipped down the rabbit hole into a veritable world of felt food.

Cakes and berries were only the tip of the iceberg. From there I found felt cookies, truffles, bacon, eggs, sandwiches, fruits and vegetables... ice cream cones, banana slices - the list is endless. I even found and ordered a great book on the subject - My Favorite Felt Sweets, by Joie Staff. The book boasts patterns for a birthday cake, macarons, tarlets - up to 106 projects.

Final verdict? Felt food is not only adorable, but easy and fun to do. I hope to have enough for Valentine's Day!

Labels: crafty loli

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