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