GosuRori 12 Review

It's probably a well-known fact by now that my sewing skills are marginal at best (if it's not, well then, you heard it here first folks!) I can do decent embroidered handwork but present me with the simplest machine project - say, making a ruffled skirt - and I quickly collapse into idiocy. (So perhaps this is less of a review and more of a lament, but make of it what you will).

And yet I possess one of the taunting articles to the poorly-skilled non-Japanese lolita: a GosuRori.

A GosuRori is a publication composed of patterns and a sewing instructions for a variety of outfits and clothing articles. If you had the skill, you'd probably be able to compile an entire wardrobe from one issue. This particular issue includes five patterns for varying styles of petticoats and panniers, several blouses and jackets, a good deal of gorgeously Gothic styles (along the lines of Mille Noir and Mille Fleurs - think beautifully old-school), a small tutorial on making your own sweets jewelry (who doesn't these days?), and even a few pages on greeting cards.

For the clumsy beginner such as myself, they have included a basic Putumayo skirt - this one done in a false-ruching overskirt style with large bows, as seen on the cover above - with step-by-step photographed instructions. Seeing as I read minimal Japanese, I pored over the pictures during the nine-hour car ride back from visiting my family's Virginia estate. And I may actually have an idea of how this all goes together! Keep a look out for updates on this project - I would love to try this skirt in a mint gingham for spring.

The other drool-inducing coordinate I fell in love with is the page 11 design by Katherine-san which features a long tiered skirt; angular-collared, sleeveless blouse; a split overskirt with a double-edged ruffle; and a frog-closed freestanding corset. The colors and patterns aren't really to my liking, in black and white stripes and checkerboard print, but a lovely blue or ivory Rococo style would lend itself well to the structure.

I would definitely recommend this mook if you have an interest in any of the following: unusual styles of lolita, sewing your own things, breaking away from the brand-induced haze, getting noticed, finding a new hobby, or simply ogling pretty pictures ;)

Labels: review

posted by Victoria Suzanne @ 12:19 PM 0 Comments

thank you!

Labels: thank you

posted by Victoria Suzanne @ 2:59 PM 2 Comments

Wig Review

I promised a review of my new pink wig from KiraKira Wigs when it arrived, so here it is! I'm no wig expert - this is my first crack at entirely fake hair - but I do own the product so here is my humble opinion on it.

Shipping and customers service were excellent: Within less than a week of ordering my product, I received it! That's incredibly fast, especially since I believe it came from Korea. I was amazed to get my package that Saturday, since even after it came from Korea it had to traipse from California to Connecticut!

The wig is a bright pink candy-sugar color, perfect to coordinate with Angelic Pretty. The curls are very springy and keep their shape well. In the photo above you can see that it forms two wide curls, which I did simply by twirling the hair around my finger. It also separates into a multitude of smaller curls, so it can really be worn either way.

The bangs arrive uncut, which you are supposed to trim yourself. I tried it on immediately and ended up sweeping them to the side instead of cutting them, and sometimes I use a clip or hairpin. (The wig conveniently arrived with a free gift of two pink bunny-shaped hair clips!) If you want to you can trim them into a blunt cut however, wherever you would like them to fall.

To wear it they have provided a wig cap as well, which is excellent as I didn't have one! Had they not, you could also use the toe of a stocking. I simply twist my hair up in the back and put the wig cap on, back to front, then tuck in my hime sides and natural bangs until everything is covered. I usually use a comb to smooth the tops and bangs on the wig as well, though I prefer not to brush the curls for fear of removing them or getting the wig tangled.

The wig is also comfortable to wear. I have no problem popping it on and wearing it all day. It stays in place without constricting my brain, and won't be slipping off any time soon. Due to the open-bar construction I didn't find it hot, either.

My only complaint is that the wig is a little thin, especially in the back. Now as said I don't have much in the way of comparison, but if you part the hair you will see the netting construction in the back. I also don't recommend it if you want to wear it up in pigtails, as you will be able to see the wig base.

Considering that I only paid $45 plus shipping, however, I think this wig is a decent deal. It's not a very natural wig (it is, after all, BUBBLEGUM PINK) but for an over-the-top Lolita coordinate it is perfect for meetups and photoshoots. I'm not sure I'll be wearing it to the grocery any time soon though!

Interested in the headband in my hair? Not only does it lend a sense of legitimacy to my crazy wig, it's also super-cute! My friend Lindsay makes them for her brand Lolitas 'n' Cream. You might have seen her booth at last year's Otakon. This headband is composed of a clear base, non-toxic silicone, pink pearls, a polymer clay cookie, pink plastic bunnies and - my favorite! - Swarovski crystals! The crystals really catch the light and it seems to be more like a tiara than a headband! Here's a close-up:

Labels: review

posted by Victoria Suzanne @ 1:16 PM 5 Comments

Photoshoot Teaser

The Connecticut lolitas had a royalty-themed photoshoot this Monday! There are a lot of pictures, so here is an individual shot of me to tide you over until the big set goes up! What do you think?

ETA: The full set is now up here!

Labels: photopost

posted by Victoria Suzanne @ 3:04 PM 1 Comments

Alice Deco A La Mode

Having recently downloaded a copy of Alice Deco A La Mode, courtesy of thevisual_beast, I feel compelled to voice my thoughts on it in a mini-review.

Maybe I'm ingesting too much of the standard Gothic and Lolita Bible fare, but I thought that Alice Deco A La Mode was a breath of fresh air into the Lolita style. I'm always looking for a little something else that pushes the envelope when it comes to Lolita. If you want the ultimate in trendy and in-the-moment style, then yes, the Gothic and Lolita Bible is definitely the way to go. But if you want something a little offbeat, a little more - sweet and sour rather than sweet - then this magazine is the thing for new ideas.

The best feature, I feel, is that it isn't a slew of indie brands. Indie brands are fascinating and unique, often breaking away from the pack to do something completely different than the usual styles of the season - Triple Fortune or KiraKira Shouten come to mind. But the problem with them is that to the world outside of Japan - or anyone who can't swing by Tokyo and take a browse through the hidden and thrifted stores of Harajuku - is that they're next to impossible to get a hold of. Alice Deco A La Mode features easily recognizable brands, and beyond that, this season's styles. These are the items girls are most likely to own or be able to buy. Hunting down a dress from five seasons ago can be just as difficult as locating that rare diamond-in-the-rough item at an independent brand. This means that these looks are infinitely more wearable than the usual 'outside the box' coordinates.

What really struck me about the magazine, however, were the colors! The usual soft colors of Lolita got a hit of flavor resembling a Sour Patch Kid with a new palette of colors for spring - citrusy apricot, pear green, bright teal, orchid, flamingo. Next to a soft pink typical of Angelic Pretty, a melon orange is an amazing pop. The colors are almost reminiscent of Spank! style or fairy-kei. The coordinates aren't afraid to not only pick up the colors used in a dress, as usual, but to pick a complimentary color and add it in with accessories. One of my favorite coordinates from this magazine, shown above, is Baby's new Garden Alice print, which is mint, paired with a vibrant spring green with only the help of a beret and fluffy bows on the shoes.

Unusual or vintage accessories are also a big hit in this magazine - like on the above photo, where a braided white vintage belt tops off a pink Sugary Carnival skirt from Angelic Pretty. Slouchy brown boots, hot pink eyeglasses, motorcycle jackets, and even something resembling a romper suit come into play. The look is artfully mismatched and slightly 'I raided my grandma's closet after she left for Florida' but with enough lace, parasols, and curls to keep the look decidedly Lolita.

Hairstyles also get a mention, and unlike my most recently-read edition of The Bible, their method isn't entirely tease-curl-insert. Short hair finally gets its moment in the sun with some shaped bobs, tousled cropped cuts, and casually curled side-ponies. Again, these seem much more wearable than the beehive-inspired 'dos most magazine Lolita models seem to be sporting these days.

I really recommend this magazine if you are a seasoned Lolita looking to kick it up a notch and don't mind a teensy bit of coloring outside the lines. If you are a younger Lolita still learning the ropes, go slowly when trying to blend this style into your outfits - like liquid eyeliner, it's easy to make a false move and have a big mess! Perseverance and careful observation, however, can turn an ordinary outfit into extraordinary! I hope this has inspired you to try some new things with your wardrobe!

Labels: review

posted by Victoria Suzanne @ 5:56 PM 6 Comments

Why Must My Public Be So Tiresome

A girl recently brought up the age-old question about wearing Lolita in public. 'My friend says people will laugh at me, they'll stare and point fingers and whisper,' to paraphrase her worries. 'Is this true? Do these things happen to you?' she asks the older Lolitas.

Yes, the public reacts when something outside of the norm is introduced to them. Something doesn't look the same - something has stopped them from sleepwalking through their day. How often do you see people who look different enough to notice when out in public? Maybe you think, those are nice shoes, or, those sunglasses are cute. But for the most part, people are dressed the same. I spend a lot of time in waiting rooms and you really get to see what people wear on a day-to-day basis. A lot of jeans. A lot of gray and black. A lot of hooded sweatshirts. Something as simple as a purse in a pop of lime can attract a viewer's interest - because everything else is so uniform.

Then there is the Lolita. She not only breaks the usual rules, she breaks all of the obscure ones, too. Sometimes just wearing bright colors like pink or mint or baby blue is enough to get you attention. I once brought stunned silence to an urban McDonald's restaurant on the simple matter of wearing a non-lolita pink coat. Compared to the black puffed jackets and gray bombers present, people felt uncomfortable. People feel uncomfortable when things do not go according to their expectations of the world; and when people feel uncomfortable, they would like to Do Something About It.

"Hey, Cinderella! It's not Halloween!"

See? That's his idea of Doing Something About It. It makes the cat-caller feel like they have voiced their problem, and tried to nudge the unusual thing out of their world experience. Maybe by belittling this thing, they think, it will go away and stop bothering me.

But then question is, does this bother you? Enough to stop wearing these things? If you're reading this blog, your answer is most likely, 'No'. There are people who say, 'I couldn't wear that,' when they pick up something unusual. 'Oh, it's so pretty, but I'm too old for this/people my age don't wear this things/I'm not the kind of person who wears this.' A friend of mine said recently, 'This is a gorgeous fur coat, but it's too much for me, I can't wear this. I'm not that kind of person, who can get away with wearing something so flashy.' I said to her impatiently, 'Why not? If you like it and wear it with confidence, who's to say you can't be flashy?' Where did this notion of, I'm not that kind of person, come from? Who told you that you can't be something?

Yes, it takes bravery. It takes confidence. But remember that you can be anything you want to be. I know, this gets said all the time, and people say, 'Oh, it must be easy for her. She just says it and it's true. Maybe she's delusional.' You can do it, too. That's really the way it is for anyone. If you want to be that mysterious girl in clouds of pink dresses with stars in her hair, you can be! If you believe it yourself, you will become it. If you want to rock a pair of huge fetish heels, or layers of My Little Pony colored hair, then do it. If you act like this is a gorgeous thing and business as usual, people will follow that. They take their cue from you. The attitude you project swings out like a huge beam of light, hits the walls, and bounces back to you. I find that I almost never receive negative attention while dressed in Lolita (as you know, I dress mostly every day, and mostly to the nines - not 'casual' or 'inspired'). If anything I get cooed over and made much of. Why is this? I can only assume it's because that's the air I give off - and that my happiness with my own style seeps around me like an aura.

I'll admit that this can be influenced by where you live or what audience is regularly exposed to your style. If you're in high school, for example, where kids are naturally cruel and looking for wounded-doe-type girls, you'll have a harder time. Their negative energy makes it harder for your positive energy to get through. The two forces are pushing on each other. I didn't learn these things until I was out of high school, myself. I wore all my clothes too big and tried to wear a lot of black and big boots to look 'tough' because I was sure people would find out that I was really more of a poofy princess, and then I'd be in trouble. I figured my real self - that liked glitter and fairies - was too vulnerable to be exposed to such a harsh environment. I spent a lot of time being angry or scared or both. Angry that I was being treated like that and scared of getting more ill-treatment (being beaten up, made fun of, having my car vandalized, sweared at). But trying to protect myself was doing two things: it wasn't making me happy; and it was making me even more vulnerable. People knew that I considered myself an easy target. Now, I just am happy living my own sense of self. That speaks much louder than what you have on.

So when you go out in Lolita, you may get cat calls, questions, or rude comments. You are, after all, disrupting their nap through life, and that makes people Cranky. But if you embrace the experience with strength and positive energy, you won't just make yourself happy. You might even make them see they'd like to be happy with themselves, too.

I recommend two articles by my favorite fashion fairy princess, Gala Darling (who says all of these things better than I can):

How To Be Confident
How To Avoid Creepers

Labels: culture, discussion, inspirational

posted by Victoria Suzanne @ 5:15 PM 9 Comments

Princess Hair Ornament Theme!

It was the first warm day in a while so I seized on the want to wear something light and springlike... But then of course it got gray and cool again :(

A close-up of my hair and makeup:



I've had some questions about my curls, so get ready for Victoria Suzanne's magical hair secret! ;) I'm going to do a longer in-depth post about hair in the future, BUT this is actually a short answer, so for your info!

My curls are actually falls. I bought them for $10 for two at Claire's, which is probably the cheapest you will ever find wearable fake hair. They aren't very high quality, admittedly, but for the price and amount I'll wear them it is worth it. They're already starting to look a little woebegone, but as I'll be coloring my hair in a few weeks (!) they'll soon be obsolete. When I purchase new falls to match my new color, I'll do a lengthier article on false hair for the Lolita, both falls and wigs.

So, these pieces are hair elastics with a bevy of shaped blonde curls looped around the elastic. To wear them, I put my hair up into either a flat bun or a ponytail not pulled through all the way on the last loop. Then I tie them around like any scrunchie, cover the nub of my hair as best I can, maybe shape the overall effect with my fingers, and adorn! They look more realistic when accessories are added, especially bonnets or large items that break up their direct comparison with the natural hair, which looks softer and less artificial. I've also heard that adding baby or talcum powder can reduce some of the fake shininess, but I've never tried it.

These are pretty well matched, lucky me, so generally people don't notice they're fake. If they do however - who cares? Fake hair is just as much a part of Lolita as petticoats, fake nails, and fake eyelashes. But that's for another post ;)

My magical hair secret isn't very secret after all now, but that's perfectly fine is you've learned a little something that helps you be a better Lolita!

x-posted to daily_lolita

Labels: cosmetics, outfit post

posted by Victoria Suzanne @ 10:53 PM 3 Comments

More Magic Please! A Collection of Pretty Things

Because I seem to be finding so many pretty little things lately, I thought I would share with the charmers of Lolita Charm! Being a Lolita is all about finding a fairytale-like beauty in an otherwise ordinary or even gritty world, isn't it? I hope these add some magic to your day!

[click image for large size]

1. Urban Fairies 2. babydeeer 3. loli_valentines 4. crappy_lovley 5. My polyvorin' profile! 6. CuteAbility 7. the Duchess of Devonshire's Gossip Blog 8. jr__nal 9. Angelic Pretty Tokyo blog 10. sozaiworld 11. Sucrerie Zine 12. Nice Girls 13. aforestwhisper

Labels: link carousel

posted by Victoria Suzanne @ 8:18 AM 2 Comments

To The Duchess, an Invitation from the Queen

I've been laid up with my most recent surgery, so I had the chance to veg out by watching the Duchess on DVD! I wrote a review when the Connecticut Lolitas and I saw it in theatres, but the ability to watch it slowly and with an eye to detail resulted in some interesting fashion notations! The Duchess of Devonshire is noted as 'The Empress of Fashion' and her announcer commented to her waiting admirers: 'What she is wearing tonight I expect you all to be wearing tomorrow!' Want to capture some of her glowing style for your Lolita wardrobe? Try some of these tips!

• Georgian socks. In the wedding night scene, we get a close-up view of Georgiana's fabulous socks - similar to the ones seen in Marie Antoinette's bedroom scene with Count Fersen. They are over-the-knee style with large silk bows to keep them up. I love over-the-knee socks myself, because they keep a little extra warmth and give a different look than regular knee socks. Since I foresee difficulties with merely tying ribbons around your socks - slipping and untying, for example - try this: Stitch a broad satin (or grosgrain, if you prefer a more austere or more Lolita look) around the mouth of plain socks, leaving enough tail to tie them into a large bow. If you have enough leeway, you could stitch the bow in place - if not, just tie them up whenever you go to wear them.
  
• As shown in Marie Antoinette's Gossip Guide (a fabulous historical fashion blog!), drop-style earrings were very popular in the film. I especially like teardrop shaped pearls for a very elegant look. Some premade satin bows, the kind bought in packages at the fabric shop, would make lovely bases when glued onto earring-backs. Then added a jump-loop with a pearl drop for a cute earring style.
• Use of flowers was fairly prominent in the film as well. One large flower was fastened to the side of the neck on a thin ribbon as a choker. Others were woven into her giant curly hair for almost any occasion. I recommend trooping down to your local craft store and looking at some of the false flowers. For this style, I recommend anything that looks dried, or even the kind made out of soft paper. Muted mauves, soft pinks, and deep wines look best for that 'dusty' tone. It's very easy to glue a few to a hair barrette or comb, and then add a few strings of pearls or lengths of chain from the jewelry-making section.
• Lace caps - or, in the Lolita style, round headdresses - made quite a few appearances. They're mostly rounds done up in various styles of lace, perhaps with a center design of embroidery or flowers. She generally wears them as a centerpiece to her large curled wigs.
• Chokers were popular with the Duchess, and as spring is upon us, I think they would look very nice as a compliment to the blouseless jumperskirt style. Several styles of choker were showcased, including the above mentioned thin ribbon with large flower; a double strand of pearls; a large ribbon embroidered and decorated with a pearl drop at the center; and a choker decorated with ruffled chiffon, a strip of lace in the center, and a bow with jewels, in a very Angelic Pretty style.
  
• Of course I cannot get away without mentioning hats! She has quite a collection of hats in this film, some tall and adorned with foxes, others with shallow brims and large ties of chiffon. These are harder to add to your wardrobe unfortunately - but I can direct you to a lady much more knowledgeable to period hats than I!
• I'll also briefly mention her makeup. One of the things that struck me was the full brows - not the wispy lines of today. They are combed and clean-edged, possibly also trimmed with brow scissors - but not thin by any means. This is also generally a Lolita tip, because over-plucked brows look older, not younger. The makeup is mostly fresh-faced, featuring pale skin with a peachy or rose-toned blush. Eyes are done in soft beiges and vanillas, with a light stain on the lips. For a complete list of what was used on her face, try this article at Makeup 411.

You can also access the official The Duchess website for an overview of the clothing in the Costumes area, or this chat with one of the designers. And here is a lovely video with the actors and designers!

Since history has played quite a role in Lolita fashion - not only in the creation of it, but, I believe, the evolution - it's important to both study and take an interest in the historical fashions of the age. Besides the obvious eye candy factor, it can also add a sense of homage to our fashion ancestors - and a fresh breath into the Lolita style of the future.

Labels: film, style tips

posted by Victoria Suzanne @ 2:20 PM 2 Comments

Hats Off To You!

Every summer, I start to fret about hats. I have very fair skin and shouldn't be out in the sun, medically speaking, so I take the Victorian ideal of sun protection to heart. Last August I wrote 'A Guide to Summer Hats', which had a few links and examples of summer hats. At the bottom, I added a small word on DIY hats. Now that I need to be prepared for spring vacations (I have two retreats to the Southern countryside planned soon - one to a family plantation, another to Kiawah Island!) I got on that.

I found this hat while cleaning out my closet this morning. I wore this to my aunt and uncle's 60th anniversary party when I was nine, because I told my mother I wanted a 'Victorian steamboat' look! (Little Lolitas are precocious, huh?) This was the hat we found - for about $10 at a department store. It's actually pretty classical by itself, isn't it? But I'm more interested in the flashier side of Lolita these days, so I added that inspiration and a little himegyaru for good measure.

There is a rose comb I made from false, velour-like flowers. It hasn't been glued to the hat, just stuck in with the combs, so it's still separately wearable. Then using some self-adhesive round rhinestones, I added little rhinestone accents to the petals. They kind of look like pink dewdrops, don't they?

And then there is a bow that fell off a Claire's headband. The rhinestones are already added, so I just tacked it on with some hot glue. This whole endevor probably took me a whopping twenty minutes. Sticking on the rhinestones was the most time-consuming thing, really.

What do you think? Try it out for yourself!

Labels: crafty loli, summer

posted by Victoria Suzanne @ 1:11 PM 3 Comments

Casual Princess Puppy Style!

I went out to do a little shopping on Saturday, and here is what I wore!





x-posted to daily_lolita

Labels: outfit post

posted by Victoria Suzanne @ 3:32 PM 5 Comments