Lolita Charm: January 2010

Sunday, January 31, 2010

Angelic Pretty Happy Pack!

So, after watching too much Sex and the City and still up at 2 a.m., I see the note on my friends' list - Angelic Pretty has new happy packs for sale on the English web page! I'm staring at the pink, impulse-buy goodness that could bring me untold value - but at the price of being an unplanned purchase. Should I? Shouldn't I? The endless debate.

Lolita shopping has an entire extra dimension that regular shopping mostly forgoes - the urgency and sense of a ticking clock. When I'm shopping at the regular mall, I might spot a top. I might look at the price tag, hem, haw, and then put it back. Three weeks later I'm back in the shop and hemming. Enough so that I think, 'Damn girl, just buy the shirt!' That's my preferred shopping method. But between the lolitas basic shopping options: online postings at 3 a.m., auctions, private sale, and the fact that quantities are limited or even one of a kind - the pressure is on. I feel like a girl on a game show, hand on the buzzer. Can I call a friend?

And as usual, there's a lightening round. Are you receiving an error message? Is there the possibility that there are twelve lucky packs hiding out in your shopping card, setting you up for unknown dollars of debt? It's like survival of the fittest - and by fit we mean both lucky and with funds. Will you be left packless and perusing the sales community, or will you be one of the blessed who can join in on the mass, virtual opening party?

Lucky Packs. They're just endless fun, aren't they?

I ordered my Angelic Pretty Happy Pack this season, but with a twist - I used the international/English website, a new experience for me. Almost all of my Angelic Pretty is bought secondhand or from other venues, like Starry Candybox. Here are my impressions:

The actual shopping process was decent. You used as drop-down menu and cart, and then checked out (other girls got error messages or various shopping problems, but as I didn't, I can't comment on that in this review). It's when it was time to pay that things got interesting.

The international webpage uses a third party shopping system called JapanStores. You'll need to make an account with them if you don't have one already, and they select both your username and password (which are just nonsense characters, so it's important that you save the email they send you and just copy & paste it to log in). After they confirm that your happy pack is in stock, you get an email saying that you have a JapanStores message. You must then log in to your JapanStores account (use your email, remember) and view the message. It gives you a total, Paypal address, and an account number. You send them a direct transfer with your Paypal, and must include the invoice and account number in the 'comments section' or else you've just sent them money for nothing. I'm slightly put out by the lack of invoice and the direct transfers. Confused yet?

After that, you wait with baited breath for the next week while Angelic Pretty mails your package to JapanStores' warehouse. When the warehouse receives it, they send you another special JapanStores message, telling you how much to directly send them for shipping costs. This really hit me for a loop. I paid $66 USD for shipping, which seems to be some sort of mafia-worthy crime. Then you are sent a tracking number when the package actually ships. I ended up with some kind of error and therefore had no idea when my package would arrive. But, it arrived less than three days after paying for shipping!

In my opinion, it is a very complex shopping system that charges extra fees for being a third party. I am definitely discouraged from using the international website again - hiring a personal shopper or shopping service is probably the same or cheaper, and without the run-around or insecurity of direct payments. The only upside was the very fast shipping, but that was offput by the amount of money I paid for it.

Here's the contents of my Happy Pack. It is a pink jumperskirt with net lace, a net lace detachable sleeves blouse, a pink cardigan with crystal buttons, pink socks, and a pink hairbow. It also came with this prototype Angelic Pretty bear plushie, who has some kind of product code embroidered on her foot! I named her Moko :)

And everything came in a giant, zippable eco-bag with the Angelic Pretty dotted-bow logo - perfect for me to take on overnights and on the plane, as it packs up and then could expand as an extra carry-on. Is it very odd that I'm just as excited about the packaging as I am the contents?!

I'm very happy with it. I desperately needed a new white blouse, and a new cardigan, and a new pink jumperskirt. It's hard for me to believe I didn't have any pink dresses for the past few months! The only thing I'm not found of is the matching bow - it's a head-eater, and doesn't sit quite straight.

Here's the result, by the way...

Have a happy Happy Pack time! ♥

Labels: review, shopping

Monday, January 25, 2010

In Defense of Princesses

I read an article in this morning's local paper where the usual weekly columnist (middle-aged, married with kids, finds Twitter to be fabulously novel) lamented and consoled on the topic of her 24-month-old's sudden infatuation with Disney princesses (or any not trademarked, for that matter). Her little girl's fascination seems to be limited to proclaiming 'I pwincess' whenever possible, and the writer remarks flippantly that it's all about gender identity, which conjures up disconcerting memories from the pink sets of But I'm a Cheerleader. She then closes with a joke, such as that it's only time to worry when your child doesn't let go of princesses at the ripe old age of eight.

I raised an eyebrow over my teacup.

What about when your kid is twenty?

Like many lolitas I know, I have an interest in princesses and fairytales. I've got a collection of tiaras, a Cinderella make-up bag, and there's a glittering crown decorating my pink netbook. Other girls might turn to himelolita or himegyaru, or simply delight in crown motifs. Lolita, a demographic ranged from young teens to as far as mid or late twenties (or beyond), is far outside of that typical, pre-tweenager market. And is that considered unhealthy?

The author of the article says that an interest in princesses is a child deciding that she fits into the female category and that as such, her role is the princess. But I disagree that it's so Freudian or base to delegate princesses as just the standard female role. Lolita fashion, after all, is styled to be ultra-feminine. From pastel colors to lace, soft fabric, and pearls, lolita brings all of the feminine elements together. So if this is merely a gender issue, why would princesses continue to be popular?

Princesses, in fairytales and literature, have been romanticized from their feudal origins as bartering power into the heroines of their own stories. The princess is helped along by fairies, braves dungeons or deep gorges, and is destined for a happy ending. The word 'princess' is like a trigger to the reader: this character is special. She's destined for great things, and she lives up to those great things. And what girl doesn't want to believe that, at the end of the day, she too is destined for great things? That she is worthy of those great things, and should act the part? It's a kind of self-esteem promised to yourself. No wonder so many older girls just can't let go of the idea of princesses. We still want to think, as we sit at carved-up school desks or in shabby apartments, that we're meant for great things some day.

Let's switch gears from Victorian fairytales back to the modern day princesses - the animated ones with franchises. Many feminists delcare that today's pop culture princesses degrade women down into boy-crazy girls with an appetite for designer jeans, but that's not what I see from the Disney princesses. Their uniting theme is yearning for something beyond their current lives. Cinderella is the most interested in finding man, but she's just as fascinated with moving out of her stepmother's home and finding a new life. Later princesses like Belle, Ariel and Jasmine have dreams of seeing the world and meeting new people. Disney's newest princess, Tiana, goes so far as to aspire to a career and running her own business.

My favorite notion of princesses, however, comes from Frances Hodgson Burnett's novel, A Little Princess. Sara, a rich little girl who has been treated 'just like a little princess' finds herself suddenly orphaned and pennyless. But she decides to be a princess anyway, to herself - which she defines as being kind, brave, and strong in the face of adversity. Though she is mocked for her ideas of princesses, the other characters, including her wicked headmistress, can't help but be impressed by her noble behavior.

Today's world is full of unusual princesses, both in real life and in literature or films. There are the mori girls, strange princesses of the forest; there are princesses who are really bait girls from Louisiana. There are the First Daughters of the White House, and the frivilous fancy princesses of childrens' storybooks. There are princesses in ancient castles and in New York City penthouses. Princesses have long since stopped being just girls of royal blood, or girls with money to burn on beautiful dresses, or girls who can marry the prince. The word princess has become synonymous with heroine. And that is what I believe lolita does for girls: they discover, or perhaps decide, that they are going to be the heroines of their own stories.

And if a little girl is twenty and believes she is her own heroine, or if she is ninety and believes she is her own heroine, then I don't see anything wrong with princesses.

Labels: culture, discussion

Friday, January 22, 2010

Curls & Bows Vlog

I mentioned that I was going to do a tutorial on a bow-shaped pillow for another part of the It's Your Castle Series, and since I finished mine the other night, I made a quick little vlog about it. I hope to be doing more vlogs this year! If you'd like to see a tutorial for the bow pillow (with pictures and written instructions, etc), or a video tutorial for the giant ringlet pigtails, let me know in the comments, either here or on Youtube!

Labels: charm channel

Monday, January 18, 2010

Rose Lamp Tutorial

As part of the It's Your Castle series (yes, still ongoing!) I'm slowly beautifying every little corner of my room. On my nightstand is a Rococo frame with photos of my lovely girls, Miss Lumpy and Miss Julia, with purikura from San Francisco tucked in; a Hello Kitty alarm clock; and two of my journals, one for personal things and another for my blogging. But my lamp struck me as a little plain. So I set out to do something about it!

Roses are some of my favorite flowers and because of Valentine's Day coming up, the craft stores are having sales on faux roses. It was just the thing I needed for my project.

Here's what you'll need:

scissors
hot glue gun
smooth lampshade, preferably with a lip on the bottom
two bunches of roses, mine where $1 a bunch from Michael's
ribbon of your choice

First, use some masking tape and take all of the lint and dust off of your lampshade. Then take your bunch of roses and your scissors and start beheading them, with as little stem as possible. Next, use your hot glue gun to glue down roses along the rim of the shade. It's best if you lay them down on an angle instead of sticking straight up. It's a sturdier model and you see more of the elegance of the shape. Here's the first section of my lampshade finished.

Note: in this photo, the roses are not slanted to an angle. I found out the hard way and had to reposition them, softening the glue with a heat gun. Trust me, it wasn't easy! So angle them to begin with. But if you do mess up, use a hair dryer or heat gun to make the hot glue more malleable.

Go entirely around the lamp shade. Be careful not to burn your fingers on the hot glue.

Next, get out your ribbon. If your ribbon was crinkled like mine, here's a quick tip: don't bust out the cumbersome iron. Instead, use a hair straightener to easily smooth out ribbons. Tie the ribbon into a few small bows and hot glue them evenly around the lampshade. I used mine to hilight the spokes of the lampshade.

And that's all! This project took me about twenty minutes to do and cost me about $2 in supplies, as I already had the ribbon, glue gun, and lamp.

For my next project, I'll be making a bow-shaped pillow to decorate your bed, sofa, or loveseat.

Labels: crafty loli, lolita living, tutorial

Spring Cleaning

It's the end of another fashion season. Even though where I live, Connecticut, still has plenty of snow on the ground, the fashion industry is already thinking spring lines. Every store you go into is having their semi-annual season switchover sale, and despite the cold and smell of anti-freeze, somebody is thinking florals. Or corals. Maybe both. Amazingly, as it always feels in New England, we may have survived another winter. I think it's a hold-over from our colonial days and mooching off Squanto. God, spring?! Are you serious, dude?

So now there's the huge question. If your stores are having their semi-annual sale, what are you supposed to do with a wardrobe packed to the gills with velvets, heavy sweaters, and plaids you thought would match well with autumn leaves? Or, if you're in the southern hemisphere, the time of strawberries and sun will be drawing to a close, and it's time to hunt out winter coats. It's time for the big turnover.

If you've never done a 'wardrobe cleaning' sale before, never fear! Here's an easy step-by-step guide so that when the seasons creep up, you'll be prepared.

Step One: Go through your entire closet.

Sort it into three piles:

I love it! Pile: These are pieces you would never sell. You couldn't image not having these pieces to fall back on, or they still feel beautiful to you, or maybe you've got a sentimental attachment to them.

I love it! - but it's the wrong season Pile: The same as above, but out of season. If you're going into spring, it's time to put away your furry bolero. If you're in the southern hemisphere and going into winter, your strappy platform sandals need to be packed away.

I don't wear this/It doesn't work for me (fit, flatter, match anything) Pile: The dresses you avoid or have forgotten about, the shoes that make your ankles look fat, or the skirt you always keep hoping will fit. If you can't put it on and summon an outfit around it, then it's not helping you and needs to go - however painful that might be, if you really like the piece.

Step Two: Take your entire 'Not Working Pile' and do a status check. Is everything in good condition, minimally damaged, or beyond sellable quality? I have some dresses that look brand new and a pair of shoes I've worn so long the entire lining has come out. It's pretty obvious which things are sellable and which aren't. Once you've decided what can be sold, break it down by brand and by category. Then assign everything a fair price. Items that are more worn or slightly damaged can be sold if marked down and damage is well documented. It helps if while doing this you are keeping some sort of list or notebook. I still use my Hello Kitty diary for any scheming or list making or even book-keeping that occurs in my lolita ideas. Tally down your total worth if everything sells, and then use that as ground basis for your new budget (but don't count your chickens before they hatch - not everything may sell, or right away).

Step Three: Take inventory. Now that you've decided who's staying, what are you missing or light on? Did you just get rid of all of your old jumperskirts, are are you down to one blouse? Count up how many you have of each big item. I broke mine down into tops, cardigans/light outerwear, jumperskirts, onepieces, and skirts. Usually you can see where the hole is. For me, I realized I'd half as many jumperskirts as anything else, and only two tops.

Step Four: Get creative. Decide where you want your spring style to go or what you want your spring season to be about. Flip through magazines, watch costume-loaded movies, or go through your Inspiration folder (you do have a folder of lolita images you love saved to your computer, right?!) Then make some notes on your piece of paper, or make a collage of photos in a photo editing program, with Polyvore, or just with paper and glue. In a transitional season like spring into summer, it also helps to organize your style by month. Every month, I consider what I'd most like to wear, so I know which items will go through the whole season and what is more of a passing fancy. After all, the style I have in mind for February can be very different than my ideas about June or July.

Step Five: Look at your list of what you need and then decide how this fits in with your season's 'personal trends'. For example, perhaps you've decided to go with a berry theme this season. If you're low on cardigans, then you should look for one that incorporates that berry theme - like a sweater with crocheted strawberries on the sleeves.

Step Six: Sell the items you are culling from your wardrobe. If your sale isn't successful right away, buy from your list only the items that are more important first, or just one at a time. A word about large wardrobe sales: you might want to split your sale into two separate lots, to make it easier to manage. Rather than going to your local post with eight packages, you can pace yourself by four one week and four the next. This will also make it easier to keep track of payments and comments.

All set? That's it! Now enjoy your new, fresh wardrobe!

Got advice on how you turn over a wardrobe? Leave a comment!

Labels: shopping, spring

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Paint It Gold... and Rhinestones

I'm a sucker for anything that sparkles, glitters, or shines. I've been known to chase silver gum wrappers on the pavement. I own Bodyline prints for the simple reason that they're edged with glitter. So is it any wonder that I've jumped into the world of deco?

Deco, short for the word decoration, is a Japanese fad of decorating your items with rhinestones, lace, plastic cakes, anything you can glue down really. Originally the item of choice to decorate was cell phones, giving us the term decoden (den being short for denwa, or phone). But since then the trend has expanded to just about anything that can withstand glue. Nintendo DS lites, computer mouses, iPods, makeup compacts... if you can think of it, you can probably glue rhinestones to it.

My phone is going to be upgraded in a few short months, so that project is on hold. In the meantime, I've started in on a few smaller projects. My end goal is to have my entire electronics set deco'd - my Mini Toshiba notebook, iPod, headphones, flash drive, and earbuds.

I've already finished my pillcase, which was previously just gold with an image of pansies. Now with a few flatback pearls and Light Colorado Topaz swarovskis...

It looks like this. (Also shown in this photo: incomplete pink business card case.)

In the works-in-progress rings (of which there are many occupants), there are currently the Swimmer headphones (pink with kitties, bound for a new lease on life with light rose Swarovskis), my silver USB flash (the jewel in the center came with it and flashes green when plugged in, and it is acceptably done simply, but hopefully that will be covered someday, in light Colorado topaz I believe?), and my business card case (rule: finish for con season! that seems to be when I need business cards the most).

My currently upcoming big project is my new Ipod Nano 5th generation, which is naturally bright pink. I'm waiting on my supplies to arrive in the mail as we speak!

So, do you want to get into the hobby of deco? Like any hobby there is a cost involved. Depending on what you want to deco and what materials you use, however, it can vary wildly. For example, if you're doing a small project versus a large project, or the quality of materials you use. Are you okay with acrylic (plastic), or are you dead set on Swarovski (glass) crystal?

Price wise, it's the Swarovskis that get you. I've used plastic/acrylic jewels on my old phone and they are decent if you want to do this about $20 cheaper, or even $30 or $40 cheaper depending on the size of your item. It's not water polo, but you could say that deco, normally populated by lolitas and gyaru, a group of big spenders, is a rich girl's craft. I can only assume eventually, like all crafts, you just amass supplies - enough rhinestones and cabochons that you can make things without feeling your wallet ache.

Anyway, I did use plastic on my current phone. It's not so much that I prefer Swarovski in that I disliked plastic. Swarovskis don't sparkle to death like they do in the package, but the plastic ones in my opinion just don't catch the light the way I want. If that means I do my projects piecemeal, so be it. I want to use this item for a long time, so I'm down with that. The other thing I will note from extended wear on my current phone, is that plastic, after being put in bags and on desks and used endlessly, the color or sheen wears off the crystal. Unfortunately it's the same with flatback pearls, as they're also plastic coated with a sheen. I'm going to experiment with extending its longevity by using a sealant.

So that's my experience with the rhinestone district of deco thus far. I'm hoping to make the dive into the silicone candy land of sweets deco when I replace my cellphone this spring, and then I'll add to my collection of deco articles.

Interested to know more about deco? Try going to decoden, a Livejournal community where girls post photos of their creations. Or look at Flickr, where you can see tons of inspiring deco crafts. For DIY advice, read Universal Doll's article series on deco basics like rhinestone patterns and where to buy supplies.

I'll also be showing the start-to-finish action on my iPod nano, so be on the look out!

Labels: crafty loli

Friday, January 15, 2010

Tell Us About Yourself

Normally I'm not a huge filler-inner of memes, I don't have the patience - but I thought this meme was particularly in-depth, so I decided to go for it. Repost, tumbl, or just reply in comments with your answers if you're interested.

COLOURS

What colours can be found in your Lolita closet?
White, black, pink, lilac, mint, yellow, and bordeaux... maybe a touch of light blue.

What is your favourite colour with Lolita?
Pink is a big staple for me, but I love mint. I think it's so soft and fresh.

What is your least favourite colour in Lolita?
Orange is very jarring. Or a straight up black and crimson.

Which uncommon colour do you want to try out?
I want to mix ice cream colors, like a pink dress with yellow and lilac accessories... something more out of the blue.

DESIGN
Are you more a Onepiece, Jumperskirt or a Skirt person?
I find JSKs to be the most comfortable, they just pop on over a blouse. But I have a weakness for buying skirts, and then don't like to wear them just with a blouse, so I put my bustier over it. Essentially making a jumperskirt I guess XD

Which cut do you like the best?
Square or sweetheart necklines, but they're rather rare...

Print or no Print?
I get sucked into prints. I love tiny details.

How does a dress/skirt have to look like that it will be a "must have" item for you?
Star motifs or a mix of mint, pink and lilac all in the set. Like my Merry Sweets Castle - bright lilac, bright pink, and mint.

STYLES
What is your favourite style in Lolita?
Sweet.

Which style do you wear regularly?
Sweet with a pop-kei edge, or an otome inspired casual.

Which style you want to try out?
I want to really pull off a hime-lolita, with my own hair styled into an amazing curly bouffant, delicate floral prints, and roses on shoes.

Which style you never want to try out/wear again?
Asian-style lolita, like wa or qi. I don't think I could pull it off. Or those brand yukata, I'm just not sure what I would do with them.

BRANDS

Brands yes or no and why?
Mostly yes, brands have supported my taste and style since I was a young lolita just learning, and I owe them that. Plus the buttery fabric makes me melt, it's what I miss about Chinese label.

Which brand is your favourite?
Baby and Angelic Pretty are tied for me. Baby nurtured me from the ground up and continues to support my daily wardrobe, but Angelic Pretty is my pretty daydream and what I consider to be sweet lolita.

Which is your least favourite brand?
I'd have to say Metamorphose, although I do own a few pretty things from them. But they usually just freak me out and have higher prices than others. I love my Swan Lake and a few other choice prints, but tube tops?

Ever had a good/bad experience with brand?
I had a misunderstanding with Baby and got accidentally blacklisted, which they refuse to take back. But I always buy secondhand or from their shops in person, and the shops are good customer service.

Will this experience encourage/stop you from buying brand?
It's more for me about the item than the rigmarole I have to go through to get it, unfortunately, so I'm at their mercy ;)

OTHER
Did you ever got surprised by a piece of Lolita?
The pockets in dresses by Angelic Pretty are always so well hidden they take me by surprise. It's really great to discover them XD

Did you ever got disappointed by a piece of Lolita?
My Chinese brand Alice skirt's invisible zipper broke, I have to use a bobby pin to wear it now... and it's so big on me sometimes!

Things that you like about Lolita?
I love the feeling of being all dolled up. It's like being the heroine in a fairy story. I suppose you could say it makes you feel special, somehow, though I hesitate to use that because I don't mean it in a snowflake way. Special in that you're really showing the world who you are.

Things that you dislike on Lolita?
Sometimes it's easy to feel penned in by what people 'expect' to be lolita, like there is only one set look for style, propagated by magazines. Breaking out of that mold is the fun part, but you have to keep looking for little nooks and crannies and weak places to do it.

Do you have a Lolita fashion idol, if 'yes' who is it?
I'm not sure I have idols, but there are girls whose style I admire. I really like damare_kozou's style, and Nana Kitade's sweet punk ideas.

Does Lolita affect your every day life?
Right now my work is this blog, Lolita Charm, and the lolita fashion documentary, so yes, I'm always looking for new things to write about or shooting off emails. Keeping up with the culture could easily be a full-time job, but right now it's more part-time. Plus I keep my lolita things and themes close.

Do you buy Lolita related things, like cute looking furniture?
I'm a sucker for that kind of thing, I love decorated my room and reading Victoria magazine. Or things like cute lipsticks, charms, all that.

Do you read/buy the Gothic Lolita Bible?
I have plenty but I much prefer Alice Deco and Kera lately.

How to you describe your fashion style to others that don´t know about Lolita?
I'd say it's very feminine and romantic, with a retro or fairy-tale taste. I prefer to give them an idea of what the style is like and why I like it rather than a crash course if we're just talking casually.

Is there something you want to say to your fellow Lolitas?
Keep growing and keep evolving, keep being brave. You girls make me proud that I can consider myself one of you. And try to support each other. It's important to keeping our spirits alive.

Labels: meme

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Victoria Suzanne Does Goth... er... sort of!

Since my wonderful director of Loligirls, Kate, and our producer, Liz, came by for a little tea meeting today, I decided to wear my new dress, Putumayo's window print. This is certainly my gothiest dress, and I'm not very used to wearing black and white. Unfortunately this is as Gothic as I get:

Somehow I still end up looking like a 12-year-old cupcake!

Both the bow and deco-style bear cardigan are from Forever 21's feminine, Coco-Chanel-style line twenty one. I get all kinds of cute things there. This bow is one of the craziest, and I'm still not sure how I feel about it. It is absolutely giant and made of grey silk, giving it a loose and floppy appearance. It's very Victorian to me - there are photos with my grandmother as a child in a similar bow, and Sara Crewe and her friends wear more satellite bows in the 90s version of A Little Princess, a childhood favorite. I mean, this thing gets cable, seriously.

I bought this on my first trip to Tokyo Rebel in New York City's East Village a week or two ago. I'd just like to reiterate that Tokyo Rebel continues to amaze me with their fantastic customer service. When I mentioned in a retweet that I loved this dress, they offered to hold one for me. Good thing too - it was the last one when I arrived! While I was there, they even remembered what I had ordered on my last shopping service with them and asked how I liked it! I was then even more surprised to get a special package from them - a Gothic & Lolita Bible poster, free of charge! The lolita on it is wearing a huge blonde hair bow like Lady Gaga, my idol, very cool!

I really hope we see them continue to expand into a little jewel box of Lolita fashion for New York City. Though still small and fledgling, they have the opportunity to offer us a niche into Japanese brands and shopping that we may not have had before. From them I have had my first Victorian Maiden item as well as my first Putumayo item.

Here's a close-up of the print, by the way. I only noticed the crosses afterwards, something I usually avoid, but I think the kitties make up for it ;) I fell in love with it after I saw Misako Aoki modeling it!

Hers is in pink broad cloth I believe, but my mine is black velvet with a fully shirred bust white silk waist ties. It's actually a little big on me, making the cardigan slightly lumpy... But I love the velveteen bear and the kitties together!

Outfit credits:
Dress: Putumayo
Cardigan, bow: Forever21
Striped tights, shoes: Kohl's

Labels: outfit post

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Recessionlita: Saving on Style

I started reading the gal-oriented blog Universal Doll recently, and in one post she tallies up 'the cost of being gal' - hair, nails, tanning, and everything besides actual wardrobe and actual makeup. Granted they're much more zealous than we are, but it brought up an interesting point - what's the cost of lolita, and in this penny-pincher world, can you save money on it (while still looking like a million bucks)?

Hair. Let's talk about hair. A lot of lolitas color their hair, and have them cut, or worse yet, have bangs. Bangs need to be trimmed and color needs to be touched up.

Bangs. Trim your own or get someone do them for you. I've quit going to the hair dresser ever other week trying to maintain my hime cut or blunt cut bangs, simply by trimming my own. Use a fine-tooth comb and go slowly - it's easier to cut off more than stick it back. And err on the side of caution, because if they're too long a week later you can still trim them. Too-short bangs also reveal your eyebrows, which can be a different color than your real hair. Roots. I don't do my own roots, but if you can manage it, you'll save yourself a few months' worth of touchups. Or make peace with some regrowth. Sarah Jessica Parker had regrowth to death half the time on Sex and the City, and it didn't detract from her fashionableness. Wigs. If you don't have money to get your hair done the way you'd like, or the time, invest in at least one go-to wig. A good wig should run somewhere between $50 - $100, but as multi-use it quickly makes sense over the salon option. Shampoo. Well you already know my answer to this, stop using it and switch to baking soda. It's only 80 cents a box, compared to the up to $20 you can spend on a bottle, and it's better for your hair and color.

Nails. Nails might seem like a novelty but having chipped polish in full-on lolita is a big no - it looks like you forgot! And it detracts from your rings, which lolitas love to wear. If you want to have the fanciful nails of other lolitas, get a set of decorated false ones and apply them wit double-sided nail tape instead of glue. That way you can peel them off after meets and events and save them for next time. I've seen decorated nails on a scale of $20 - $55 a set, and would save you countless visits to the salon (which is roughly $20 - $45 a pop). A single pair can be a quick fix to chipping polish, though if you have the time a bottle of 99 cent polish and a package of rhinestones can go a long way to saving you some important do-re-mi.

Wardrobe rules. If you want something new for your wardrobe, something else must go. And not 'my thirty dollar bloomers must go to buy a $300 dress' but something equivalent. Lots of girls seem to have huge closets due to 'turn over' - selling one season to buy another. If keeps you fresh, and it keeps you roughly on budget. Especially know which pieces you'll be able to get your money back on and which ones you'll probably never find a buyer for, as they're sort of... well, a face only a mother could love, which just translates into your love their quirkiness. Other pieces will be quickly bought up, and therefore make sense to resell.

There are other ways to know 'what to buy' as well, typically things you can't reproduce yourself or buy offbrand. Jewelry, bloomers, petticoats, socks, hair accessories, and even some skirts and blouses make more sense to make or buy offbrand. Anything specific to a brand, or that you can't replicate yourself, or that has a lot of lace, buy. Or if you really want it to weather. I've bought the Bodyline AP boston bag knock-off and I've seen the real one down at Tokyo Rebel. The difference is that mine is made out of poly-something plastic, and the real one is canvas. Oh, and that mine cost $30. It might not have as much standing power, but I saved my money and I feel that justifies it. It still seems to be a pretty hardy, and as a bonus, wipes down instead of spot-removes like the canvas would.

Craft talk. If you want to make some money, get a skill and fufill a niche, and make something for the lolita world. If you knit, deco, crochet, make jewelry, sew - odds are, somebody wants it. If you spot an idea or an area that needs filling, you can actually make some decent money in the lolita market. You just have to have the ability to turn out a product at a reasonable rate and cost of supply/man labor versus profit to you. I know that sounds like business mumbo-jumbo, but it's not so bad. Watch other girls do it first - like Lolitas and Cream or Minty Mix.

Cheap meets! Host a cheap meet for lolitas in your area. An average day to the city for me with the New York lolitas can run me up in food, activities, and incidentals (like... magazines, cough), but there are also the options of cheaper meets, like meeting for pot-lucks or craft afternoons at someone's home. Be on the lookout for free local events, as well. You'd be surprised what can crop up. Our CT Daffodil Festival was a free event last spring!

Hopefully you can use these tips to look fabulous and frugal. Got ideas? Suggestions? Leave comments!

*also, goodness, how did I have a typo is the title? ooh, slipping! edited now*

Labels: budget-loli

Friday, January 8, 2010

January Style Tips: Welcome 2010!

Start making your own fanciful coffee drinks at home. I recently purchased a powdered vanilla latte, which is added to hot water like cocoa. While it doesn't bear much resemblance to a latte, it is sweet and almost like a malt. Ginger liqueur adds an interesting kick.
Sick of fly-away, hard to manage hair? Buy yourself a pretty wig, in a style you love but would be terrified of for keeps. If your hair is long, how about a bob? Curly styles for straight-haired girls? I like Cutesy Shop's wigs on eBay.
If you have spare winter evenings, consider putting together a jigsaw puzzle in a pretty picture. Quiet contemplation exercises the mind and shuts out the anxious things that run through your head in a day's work. I like this one of Cinderella's castle.
Go to flea markets or thrift stores hunting up old frames. My favorite frame I found at a local church sale for only $1!
Cut up your old calendars for free, cheap art. I recently put up a framed black and white photo of Paris's oldest carousel and the Basilica - stolen from the March section of my '09 calendar.
Socks and leggings. It's been as cold as 13 degrees here not counting windchill at times, so a pair of leggings combined with over-the-knee socks is an extra layer that doesn't compress your toes like doubling up on tights can.
Take vlogs of your outings. Even my iPod can film now, so all of my footage is getting dumped onto the internet. Even better - make blooper reels. Those are even better. Most Microsoft computers at least come equipped with video editing, so you can add titles and music. They're great for watching with friends later.

Labels: style tips

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Winter Blog Party!

A 'blog party' is the term used for when a bunch of bloggers grab their laptops, a few lattes, and sit around blogging. Together. It's half a hair close to being a nerd-whispering session - where a group of people use their phones or laptops to talk to each other despite being in the same room.

The bloggers I know aren't interested in anything nearly so boring! Instead we grabbed some cameras and frills and headed on a winter adventure.

Miss Lumpy and I met up with Princess Crystal of Pretty Wonderland for a small loliday in the quiet Connecticut town of Middletown. Before the sun set, we visited the Wadsworth Mansion. The building itself was not open, but they had a lovely bit of woods and desolate, snowy gardens.

And yes I went hiking through the snow in five-inch heels. I am that hardcore.

Afterwards we traipsed back to Klokolo, a nearby coffee shop. The coffee was excellent (I had a Witch's Brew, which had chocolate and caramel in it) and the locale was very alternative - but not so alternative that everyone's jaw didn't drop when we walked in. If you're interested in a quick cup of coffee or a place with comfy chairs and free Wifi, it's not a bad gig - especially if you happen to have a boyfriend with gages and requisite gear. But don't try to bring a crowd of lolitas there - it's small and the atmosphere isn't especially conducive to frilly girls. Seeing as there were only three rufflebutts in the place, we had enough space to sit and talk away into the evening about all the usual interests.

Here's my outfit shot of the day:

Skirt, socks, bag: Bodyline (my Christmas presents! I love that the print is detailed with glitter, hello?!)

Headbow, cutsew: BABY the Stars Shine Bright

Shoes: Harajuku Lovers

Coat: Fanplusfriend

This alcove was actually around 12 feet off the ground on the outside of the building! What you don't see in this photo are Crystal and Miss Lumpy waiting to catch me, lest I fall and crack my skull open. Good friends will help you with insane photo ideas :)

Labels: event, outfit post

Friday, January 1, 2010

Lolita Level Up!

Ever met another lolita who seems to know it all? Fabulous hair, mincing steps, and some sort of savoir-faire that you're missing? Ever wanted to know how to 'level up'? You're not the only one. How do you jump from ita to lolita extraordinare? Well, you use this handy level-counter of course!

Each criteria is a level. Add up your total and then put yourself into a category. Repost this to your own blog, website, or journal, bolding the ones that apply to you, and then show your score/level at the bottom. The only rule is that you must add one lolita 'level' to the list!

*please note that this post is tagged as humor. satire only, dolls!

LOLITA LEVEL START!

You've been to egl.
You've posted on egl, without an onslaught of 'USE THE MEMORIES' and likewise.
You've bought a lolita mook.
You've picked a favorite brand.
You've ordered your first item.
You've worn a full outfit.
You've worn a full outfit out in public.
You've worn a full outfit and posted photos of it on the Internet.
You know what JSK, OP, and cutsew all mean.
You've bought your first brand piece.
You know your measurements.
You know you shoe size - in American, European, and Japanese.
You know who Mr. Yan is.
You know who Mana is. (+1 points if you know his band. +2 points if you know his brand. +3 points if you know why he's featured in every GLB. +4 if you have a shrine to him in your closet.)
You know who Maki and Asuka are. (+2 if you've met Maki and Asuka).
You've watched Kamikaze Girls. (+1 if you know the real name of this movie. +2 if you know who wrote the book this was based on. +3 if you've also read the manga or novel. +4 if you love the author despite his criminal record).
You own a wig. (+1 if you own more than 2.)
You own a pair of falls.
You can identify lace on the spot.
You can identify an item's brand on the spot.
You can identify the year a dress was made by a specific brand on the spot.
You can name several different dresses or prints.
You answer stock photo requests.
You mod a lolita community.
You decorate your nails. (+1 if you wear fake nails. +2 if you make fake nails.)
You own a pair of a rocking horse shoes. (+1 if you know their abbreviation.)
You've made your own rose corsage.
You've made anything out of your brand dress's waist ties.
You've made anything out of a matching eco tote. (+3 if you were the first one to do it, you think).
You know how to apply false eyelashes.
You know how to pronounce shirring.
You know how to pronounce Moi-meme-moitie, or Metamorphose tempes de fille.
You know a reliable shopping service.
You bid on Yahoo!Japan or Mbok.
You've been to a meetup.
You've planned a meetup.
You've planned a meetup with catering or more than 20 attendees.
You've met up with lolitas while on vacation to foreign or faraway locales.
You've seen a lolita fashion show.
You've seen a brand fashion show.
You've modeled in a lolita fashion show.
You've modeled in a brand lolita fashion show.
You wear bloomers.
You know how to make bloomers.
You tell other people to wear bloomers.
You draw lolita art, write a lolita blog, or provide the community with some sort of creative services.
You've taken purikura in lolita.
You've decorated your room/house/apartment in lolita style.
You've listened to lolita music.
You've learned kana.
You've learned enough Japanese to read a magazine.
You wear or own circle lenses.
You've been called a princess by a young child.
You've dressed up a friend.
You've convert a friend.
You've been in media (television, newspaper, magazine). (+2 points if it's Japanese media.)
You've learned a handicraft, like jewelry making, embroidery, or sewing.
You've become a lolita mentor.
You've attended lolita events at an anime or multi-genre convention.
You’ve organized or presented lolita events at a convention.
You've visited a brand shop.
Trip to Japan!
You've dressed up and gone out alone.
You're prepared for inclement or colder weather in lolita (coat, parasol, boots, gloves, other climate-specific items.)
You've learned face contouring.
You've made a lolita valentine.
You've got a lolita pen pal or online lolita friends.
You have local lolita friends.
You know how to modify clothes that don't fit you.
You know how to dress for your body type.
You've been in a street snap.
You've been to multiple world locations of the same brand store (BABY Paris, BABY Tokyo, BABY San Francisco, etc.)
You've created a makeup/hair/sewing tutorial.
You've sold hand-created lolita goods.
You have your own lolita fashion line.
You've gotten a lolita haircut, style, or color.
You've mixed other street fashions with lolita.
You've thrown a lolita party/had a lolita wedding.
You've dressed your child/small children in lolita or kodona style.
You've successfully cross-dressed in lolita style at least once (boystyle for girls and girls' clothing for guys).
You've lolified or made sure all the contents of your purse are cute (wallet, lipgloss, keyring, etc.)
You have a lolita pet (small dogs, cats, rabbits, exotic birds, fancy fish) or have dressed/accessorized your pet (bows or pet clothes).
You've dressed your significant other or dated someone who dresses in J-fashion/alternative fashion.
You've read Alice in Wonderland. (+1 if you've seen the animated movie or other variations, +2 if you've seen more than one variation, +3 if you own more than one variation)
You've dressed as Alice or another Wonderland character in lolita style, or own Alice themed items.
You've made something from a Japanese pattern.
You've found, bought, or made lolita underwear (bras and panties).
You wear lolita daily, or have gone 7 days straight wearing only lolita.
You have lolita calling cards or business cards.
You play a lolita instrument (i.e., piano, violin, harp, French horn... well any instrument really.)
You can translate yen to your country's currency in your head. (+1 if you can convert other currencies you shop with as well. +2 if you read the news to know how the yen is doing.)
You've sold lolita clothing online (secondhand, egl_comm_sales).
Your article or entry has been put into the egl memories.
You take photos of your outfits/daily outfit photos.
You’ve posted to daily_lolita.
You own a petticoat. (+1 if you own more than one. +2 if you wear three or more at a time).
You’ve bought a lucky pack.
You keep a style diary or look-book.
You can put together an outfit made entirely from offbrand.
You’ve bought offbrand or non-Japanese brand.

Adorable Admirer (lvls 1 - 20) You've started studying or liking lolita but haven't taken that leap of faith yet. Good luck!

Resplendant Rufflebutt (lvls 21 - 40) At home within the land of the rufflebutts and spilling frills from every edge.

Victorian Maiden (lvls 41 - 60) A classy lolita of taste and experience, who knows her way around the lolita social set.

Starry Celebrity (lvls 61 - 80) On page six of the lolita world, you've risen to the ring of the upper crust.

Pretty Princess (lvls 81 - 100) Lolita royalty, truly versed in the ways of the lacey ones, the lolita princesses have achieved a special level of enlightenment.

Ultimate Lolita (Boss Fight!) (lvls 100+) Wow, you've gotten over 100 levels? You're the ultimate lolita with unlimited hitpoints. That's actually a little scary...

I'm a level 96 Pretty Princess... wow. Excuse me, I think I need to get some fresh air...

and maybe some other hobbies...

Labels: humor, meme

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