My Childhood Love

When I first started out as a Lolita, some three years ago (and about age 16, whew! I feel old ;-;) I looked more on the classic side of life. I thought sweet was cute, but left an aftertaste in my mouth. Too much sugar. Stomach ache. I think at one time I even denounced Angelic Pretty! Gasp!

I wanted something sweet without a huge dose of insanity. This is how my very first brand items - two pairs of socks, and two hairbows - came to be.

Innocent World was my haven. I loved their delicate blouses, their soft skirts and muted pinks only they can produce. But alas, they required a shopping service and as a young Lolita - and even now, as a lazy one - I wasn't going out of my way to purchase something from them. So I felt my heart rekindle our long lost flame when I heard that finally, Innocent World was opening its door to foreign customers at last.

Innocent World will be officially providing to its overseas clientele on May 7th, although you can already view and perhaps use the order form on their website. It works with a similiar method to Baby the Stars Shine Bright - fill out this list of categories, but not in an email - in an order form on their website. This reminds me of using Fairy-Angel, actually. They accept only Paypal in Japanese yen.

Now that Innocent World has become more accessible, I predict there will be a rise in classic lolita. Girls tend to buy what is accessible, which is why Baby clothes tend to be a dime a dozen. And I also think that sweet lolita, run by the machinations of the ever-wilder Angelic Pretty, may have begun to run its course. The sweets jewelry craze isn't as... well, crazy - as it one was; I haven't seen cake hats worn in a while. Especially in this economy, where one can't afford to have two wardrobes, the mutable style of Innocent World might be the new It Dress (or bolero, or socks, or hairbow...) Innocent World is adorable and soft, probably taking its cues from the designer's imaginary view of Victorian England or Victorian America. Innocent World gladly goes to summer weddings, or to work in smart brown kitten heels. Innocent World loves lolita picnics and nights at the Nutcracker ballet in winter. Its accessories range from the giant head-eating bows lolita love to the bow elastics that can be added to any outfit for an instant dose of femininity. Innocent World brings us both the practicality of tiny bow-shaped jewelry and the impractical cuteness of huge, conical bonnets. Innocent World combines our love of elegance, like embroidered net lace, with the youthful styles of dresses patterned with kittens.

Angelic Pretty and Baby's sweeter style have their place in lolita, just like Moi-Meme-Moitie and H.Naoto do too. It wouldn't be the same to cut out any of the substyles. Each contributes to the lolita culture and image in its own way. If Gothic is the oldest, and Sweet the youngest, then Classic has always been the oft-overlooked, quiet and beautiful middle child. Classic lolita, the middle sister, might finally get her own fairytale.

Labels: shopping

posted by Victoria Suzanne @ 9:34 AM