Lolita Charm: April 2010

Friday, April 30, 2010

Lolita Meetup Debriefing: For Your +1

So you've decided to attend a lolita meetup. Doesn't seem unusual, does it? You may have been to plenty and even hosted a few. But you've decided to throw in a monkey-wrench - bringing your boyfriend, girlfriend, best friend, or newly interested pal. How do you prep them for meeting a big gang of lolitas for the first time? Just make sure to cover these topics:

+1, Please. Make sure to talk to your meetup coordinator/host before you bring your +1. Showing up with an unmentioned extra is rude, especially if there are reservations involved. And for the love of God, don't bring a crowd - especially an unannounced crowd. The meetup coordinator needs to know the final head count for things like reservations, group prices, pre-bought tickets, and just to make sure how many people are there. Usually one friend is enough to accompany you. If you really must, I would say two is the maximum - and again, be clear on that to the hostess.

What to wear? Is your friend going to need to be dressed up, down, or just smart casual? If you're introducing a new friend to the lolita scene, you might want to provide her with something to wear while she gets a feel for the fashion and as of yet has no wardrobe. If you're bringing your boyfriend/girlfriend and they're not looking to dress up, make sure they are smartly turned out - button-down shirts, slacks, and nice shoes for men; baby-shower worthy attire for females (simple dresses and skirts, nice slacks, etc). If you think you'll be dressing your signifigant other in future, ask other guests where they got their things or what they'd recommend. That way, you have a jumping off point for next time.

Hopefully I don't have to mention this but: hygiene. This is a nice event and many of these little ladies spent several hours getting ready. For guys, this means washed hair and shaved neckbeard. For girls, this means something more than an unstyled ponytail. And of course both genders should be using deodorant, etc.

What to say? Give your signifigant other a basic rundown of things that should/shouldn't be said to the other lolitas. Nice costume, however well-meant by your friend, won't go over well. If you haven't talked about lolita culture and etiquette with your friend, do it before you go! Don't find out the hard way that your boyfriend thinks Chii is a great example of a lolita. If you don't have a gang of local lolitas that your friend is already used to, try a smaller meetup or just having a lolita friend or two round to 'socialize' your friend with. They'll be quick to correct him on the typical mistakes of interacting with lolitas, like the costume comment, and he can ask questions and learn in a low-pressure environment. If your friend is already comfortable around other lolitas, just make sure to give him the rundown of people you know and what to expect.

Two is company... It's easy to pair off with your friend and go into your own relationship. Remember that you are at the meet to socialize, mingle, and meet other people - so don't limit yourself to each other. But also make sure not to drop your friend like a hot potato as soon as some frills prance into sight. It has to be an equal partnership between the two of you. Encourage your friend to stay close, but also mingle and chat with the other lolitas. If your +1 is polite, social, and interested, they will be happily invited back.

For the Lovebirds: If you're bringing your boyfriend/girlfriend with whom you are romantically involved, limit PDA to anything you wouldn't do in front of your grandma. Nobody wants to see you sloppily make out while everyone else is having tea. Acceptable are: kisses on the cheek, holding hands, hugs. Anything past that shouldn't be done at a public event, especially one where you may not know many or any people, and some may be signifigantly younger. Keep it PG please - if it wouldn't be suitable in a Disney movie, it's not suitable for a meetup.

Don't forget other meetup etiquette. Make sure to be on time as possible (I say as possible because time is a funny thing and I myself tend to be perpetually 10 minutes late;), and call your meetup host if you're going to be much later or are not showing all together. Don't skip out on the bill, behave well, and mingle - etc.

If you follow this checklist, you're sure to have another great meetup - this time, with your signifigant other by your side. Who knows? You may have even made a new initiate!

image by Welles Photo of Flickr.

Labels: boys, etiquette, meetup

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Ballet Fairytales in Central Park!

Last Sunday, the lovely lavender Crystal of Pretty Wonderland hosted the fourth annual storybook photoshoot meetup in New York City's own Central Park. This year's theme was ballet stories like Sleeping Beauty, Midsummer Night's Dream, The Nutcracker, and my favorite - Coppelia.

I read Coppelia growing up - it's one of my favorite Russian fairytales, even if it's a little bittersweet. So that's the character I chose to portray at the shoot. To sum, Coppelia is a lifelike doll who comes to life and dances - or so it seems! (Read the full story of Coppelia here!) Because of her marionette flavor, I chose to wear my Starry Night Theatre.

Skirt: Angelic Pretty

Blouse: Angelic Pretty

Bodice: Baby the Stars Shine Bright

Socks: Angelic Pretty

Bonnet: Alice & The Pirates

Shoes: Montreal

This photo also shows my hair after having pincurled it! I'll be doing a tutorial soon on how to wake up with no-heat curls every morning - a real life-saver for time crunches or daily-curled hair.

For fun I made a 'music box' themed photomanipulation ♥ The background is an older creation by Angelic Pretty (I think?) that I had floating around on my hard drive, so it seemd to be just the right thing to use. My favorite part is the music notes in their signature style :)

It was so great meeting everyone who came and dressing all up to theme! I can't wait to meet up with the great lolitas of New York City again! And of course, thank you Crystal for organizing a beautiful lolita meetup :)

photography credits to Bob Nittoli Photography

Labels: meetup, outfit post

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Price Of Beauty: Tokyo Edition

I had seen a few episodes of Jessica Simpson's Price of Beauty and been intruiged with her mission to share world-wide beauty ideals. I even had high hopes for the Tokyo episode, where she heads to Harajuku to check out street fashion.

Unfortunately, my hopes were dashed by this episode.

To begin with, Jessica and her friends Ken and CaCee jumped right into the stereotype of loud, crude, and culturally insensitive Americans. They screeched and hollered about Japanese spa procedures, much to the consternantion of their fellow patrons; they made fun of geisha by lolling around lewdly and thoroughly embarassing two Japanese businessmen. While the fashion was present, their lack of knowledge and childish, disrespectful ways were more like that of teenager congoers than that of legitimate ambassadors to Japanese culture.

The show does not focus entirely on Japanese street fashion, but as this is Lolita Charm, I'll bypass the discussions on eyelid surgery, geisha, and the like. To begin with, while they often mentioned the Gwen Stefani term 'harajuku girls', they did not actually talk about any other Harajuku fashions besides lolita. I saw a glimpse of a gal, but no spank, dolly-kei, punk, decora, or anything else associated with the very broad spectrum of Japanese street fashion, especially in Tokyo. Like many outsiders intent on doing a slap-dash presentation of Japanese street fashion, it seems that no one did any fact-checking: they claim knowledge of 'Goth, Lolita, Babydoll, Punk, and others'. I am not sure if Babydoll is their idea of lolita fetishism or a half-hearted stab at mentioning dolly-kei, but either way the term has no current, relevant meaning to Japanese fashion that I am aware of.

They then were assigned some sort of English-speakin guide to the lolita world, but it was clear that she was chosen for her ability in English and not her ability to dress lolita - she wore an oddly-coordinated outfit in screaming black and pink, without makeup or styled hair. I am a firm believer that if one wants to do any kind of expose, networking, reality, drama, or documentary about lolitas (or any subculture really) one needs to hire a legitimate lolita from inside the community to act as liason. Hiring an outsider to inform you on a subculture is like asking someone from San Diego to instruct you on the ways of the Inuits, for example. I would much have preferred they use a shopgirl or even a designer with an English translator instead of going for the unexperienced girl who spoke better English.

The short blurb on Harajuku girls seemed to sum up that they wear unusual clothes as a direct rebellion to their subordinate, otherwise crushing roles as quiet and repressed Japanese women. I find this not only offensive to assume that all Japanese girls are quiet and repressed, but what does this say about us as Western lolitas? Would you gladly lump us in as well, with the quiet and repressed, lashing out with frills? The attitude the show adopts is that while we are such free and liberated American women, the rest of the world's women are not so lucky. They deny the problems of American women and their relationship to beauty, just as easily as many people say that sexism no longer exists. This American egocentrism and superiority complex is insulting to the foreign fashionistas they visit as well as the real American girls whose needs are swept under the rug.

Cut to the end, Jessica Simpson is dressed by Maki and Asuka in a complete Angelic Pretty coordinate (who, by the way, are simply referrred to as more 'Harajuku girls', like handmaidens - there is no mention that they are actually celebrity designers and key figureheads to the highly successful sweet lolita brand). I am not sure if she was made up by actual lolitas or Angelic Pretty staff, or if her look was 'modified' based on what American producers believed the viewers at home wanted to see. To sum: Her makeup was very much a sexualized and fetished style, or essentially a Western interpretation of a 'little girl' look - bright red lipstick, bright red rouge, and none of the usual makeup styles to make the eye appear rounder, larger, and more doll-like. Instead she has the typical winged eyeliner favored by Western magazines, which is meant to elongate the eye and make it look smaller and heavier. Instead of suppling her with a quality and pre-styled wig like most lolita models wear, they styled her own hair into a giant blonde beehive which was not flattering to her or the style.

While these fashion choices may have been made at the call of uneducated American producers, this is still a blight on the reputation of the Western lolita - reaffirming the myth that only Japanese girls make good lolitas. I would like to find and present of the many, many beautiful Western lolitas to compare to Jessica Simpson in this episode, just to prove the point that Western girls can look beautiful in lolita fashion. Even Lady Gaga was able to pull off some modicum of the fashion - indeed, she was lightyears ahead of Jessica Simpson.

Even worse, her attitude on the runway appalled me. This was not a question of Parisian models versus Japanese models, this was not a question of mainstream modeling styles versus lolita modeling styles. This was a question of respect. She dashes down the runway, making sure to flash plenty of thigh and reveal to the audience her bloomers and petticoats, more like a cancan dancer than anything else.

To outsiders, lolita modesty seems over-the-top and a little silly. Bloomers? Petticoats? Who cares? It covers more than a thong or swimsuit, right? Besides, you're more covered than anyone else around! So why is that lolitas are uptight about their underpinnings showing?

Although lolita underpinnings may seem redundant and unneccessary to the outsider, it doesn't mean you should parade your lolita underwear. It is underwear and should be treated as such. If Jessica Simpson is trying to learn about and respect foreign culture's attitude to beauty, then I would like to see her respect the lolita subculture as well. I wear bloomers on an almost daily basis, including with casual lolita. They are part of my actual undergarments, just like bra and panties. Sure, your bra covers as much as a swimsuit, but that does not mean that you prance around in it, especially as a guest in a foreign country. Making fun of legitimate lolita underpinnings on a runway is the equivalent of mooning the audience. It was the final straw to this episode, which she concludes with 'It's all about doing whatever you want.'

And thus another inaccurate and disparaging report of lolitas enters the mainstream media.

What is your opinion of the episode? Did you think it was a legitimate resource or not?

Want to watch the full episode? Click here. (Edited to add: not available in all regions.)

screencap taken by me from VH1; second photo courtesy of tumblr.

Labels: film, review

Friday, April 16, 2010

Dos and Don't of Hitting on Lolitas

Picture it: you're at a crowded club/convention/subway/student center/concert/boutique. You see a girl in quite the lacy dress and big sparkly nails and - oh wow, such luscious and curly hair! And that bow - be still your heart! You walk towards your object of sudden affection and open with...

Don'ts (or, How to Avoid Being Slapped):

I bet I know what your favorite color is!
Hey Alice in Wonderland, check out my rabbit hole!
You look about eight. That's hot.
You look like an anime character!
Damn, girl, you workin' that pink!
Enjoying your costume? (eyebrow wiggles ensue)
I'll be your Candyman!
Do you ever... share guys? (for lolitas in groups of two or more)
Can I eat that off of you? (for girls in sweets patterned dresses)
Do you do bachelor parties?

(note: most of these are REAL pick-up lines my friends and I have experienced in lolita!)

Dos (Or, How to Talk To A Lolita)

Recently a male friend of mine asked how he should talk to a lolita, particularly if he was looking for one with the intent to date her. The lolitas around him (yes, we have quite a few!) all looked back and forth at each other. "Like a normal girl," said one, and then she stopped herself. "Well, that's not entirely true. Be polite. Don't treat her like she's doing anything different. Don't be snide. Don't call it a costume." Those are good guidelines, but here's an expansion: how do you chat up a lolita? Are there any ways to get her attention in a sea of people who bother her? How do you stand out?

Pay Attention to Detail!

Don't: "I like your dress."

Do: "I love the rose pattern, it's very sophisticated."

What's wrong with simply the ice-breaking compliment of 'I like your dress'? Well, it's just too bland. Everyone, from the postal worker to your grandma, has said they like her dress. Show her you're paying attention. By pointing out something smaller like the roses in the print or a specific accessory, you are showing your interest is more than surface-level. Then say what you like about it! Does it sparkle? Is it classy? It shows that you're genuine. (This will also mean that you're avoding the 'Nice shoes...' line. Ideally.)

It's Okay to Be a Little 'Stupid'

Don't: "Why are you dressed like that?"

Do: "Your style is unusual, I really like it. Can you explain it to me?"

She doesn't expect you to know everything about lolita, and it's best not to pretend you do. If you ask her about it, she's usually more than willing to tell you - after all, it's one of her favorite things to talk about! And approach with a sense of humility - lots of people ask her 'what's up with that outfit' and it's easy for her to end up being defensive. If you give her a 'soft ball' question that wants to know more without implying prejudice, she's more likely to talk to you.

Avoid the Obvious

Don't: You like pink?

Do: (see section I)

She knows she likes pink. She is wearing a lot of pink, with pink nails, pink bag, pink hair, pink socks, and pink phone. Stating the obvious will not gain you any points. Head back to section I, Pay Attention to Detail. It may seem like an innocuous ice breaker, but it makes you look less than swift. Instead, ask her about the book in her lap, what music she is listening to, or how she got all those cookies and rhinestones on her phone. Showing an interest in not only her clothes but also any visible hobbies will get a conversation going much faster than asking about her favorite color.

Don't Mention Lolita At All!

Really want bonus points? Pretend you see girls like this all the time and bring up something that has nothing to do with her hair, crazy eyelashes, clothes, or blinged out phone. Ask about the weather, if that's all you can muster, but keep the topic off of how unusual she is. She'll be impressed that you're interested in her for something besides the way she's dressed!

Note: I wanted to include some good pick-up lines for lolitas. And then I realized there aren't any. Boys: pick-up lines are never a good idea. Try to be original, please.

Unless it's the fall from heaven line. I always go for that one! ;)

photo courtesy of tumblr

Labels: boys, humor

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Breaking Lifestyle Lolita Stereotypes

In case you missed my tribute to the first day of April, I made a little video to celebrate the holiday. What's the theme? Parodying lolita lifestyle stereotypes. In this video, lolitas actually eat pink ice cream for breakfast, spoil ill-bred toy dogs, and tack 'princess' onto every other word. I'll admit it - the video is completely ridiculous. And guess what? That was the point!

Paris Hilton-Strawberry-Shortcake-Princess in Bloomers

All of these stereotypes are entirely ridiculous because they are so far from the actual truth. Here's a sample statement you might hear about 'those crazy lifestylers': "They're just little girls who pretend to be pink fluffy princesses and prance around with Daddy's credit card. They throw frilly tea parties with their dolls and spend their time mincing around and being sickeningly sweet and polite to everyone."

What is a lifestyle lolita?

Lifestyle lolitas are, by my own definiton, lolitas who enjoy other hobbies that relate to lolita by emulating the feel of the fashion or the time periods they are drawn from. Some of these hobbies might be pressing flowers, decoing things in rhinestones, liking lolita themed music like Kokusyoko Sumire or Kanon Wakeshima, or dancing ballet. They seek to relate their lolita ideals and sense of style to the world around them by combining it with other interests not directly related to the fashion.

So here's the next big question: take a look back to the tyical stereotypes commonly overlaid onto lifestyle lolitas. Then think about the lolitas you meet in real life. How many of them have seemed like Disney princesses mixed with a big batch of delusion, living off of cake and too many nail polish fumes? Except for the odd duck or so, not that many come off as anything other than human. And how many do you think would classify themselves as lifestyle lolitas? 50%? 30%? Less? (Want to know? Answer the poll in the sidebar!) And apart from those who 'identify' as lifestyle, how many do you think fit the lifestyle lolita definition? I've met many girls who say, I love baking cute sweets, making acrylic nails, or reading up on Victorian lifestyles. But they'd never call themselves lifestyle lolitas because, like many other girls, they think that those girls are either nonexistant or delusional. And therein lies the rub. The mystery 'lifestyle lolita' so often talked about, but rarely actually seen - strikes again!

Mommy, Where Do Lifestyle Lolitas Come From?

Lifestyle lolitas are an odd breed. Most lifestyle lolitas begin as regular lolitas who eventually graduate, turn into, or more often than not, realize that they are lifestyle lolitas. Most lifestyle lolitas are naturally predisposed to be lolitas to begin with. These are the girls who loved princesses growing up, picking violets, finding starfish, making fairy houses, painting their rooms pink, reading fairytales and the Arabian nights, like Victorian architecture, sewing sachets, reading tea leaves, and reading palms. Note: I say girls. They were ordinary girls who liked all of these 'lolita' things before they ever heard of lolita, before they learned what lolitas are 'supposed' to look like or think like or listen to or read. Eventually these ordinary girls find lolita, realize how this is relevant to their interests, worldviews, and sense of aesthetics, and a lifestyle lolita is born.

One very common misconception is that lifestyle lolitas are trying to fit themselves into the mold of what they think lolitas are supposed to be, instead of being who they actually are. This would imply that all lifestyle lolitas are putting on act for other people/the Internet/other lolitas, and therefore essentially say that they are living their lives as cross between make-believe, dress-up, and a lie. On the opposite side of that, I believe that all lolitas (and everyone else in the world for that matter) is constantly trying to change themselves and be more like their ideal, whatever that may be for them. If this means to you being your idea of an 'ideal lolita', and to you this means cake and teatime, then I don't see anything wrong with trying to better yourself in whatever direction you find most attractive.

Lifestyle Lolitas - 2D Characters?

Lifestyle lolitas are often considered to be two-dimensional character, card board cutouts, filler personalities. 'I like lolita and tea and cake and puppies. I have no other interests or complexities whatsoever.' Because lolitas are actually girls in clothes, and because a lifestyle lolita is a girl in clothes with specific interests pertaining to her style and worldview, this is nonsense. Your average lifestyle lolita may have plenty of other interests that don't mesh with lolita. I'll raise my hand here: I am a lifestyle lolita. I am also the lifestyle lolita who listens to country music radio - LOUD! Yes, that's probably my subwoofer and tinny voice singing along to Redneck Woman. Surprised? Don't be! Lifestyle lolitas have interests pertainent to their fashion sense. That doesn't mean they feel the need to pigeon-hole themselves into a very small, static definition. To her, her lifestyle, interests and fashion are very natural to her. Some of these interests juxtapose or may not seem to go together, but they still both appeal to her and make up her world view - which impacts her lifestyle.

Lifestyle Lolitas Talk Show

Another misconception about lifestyle lolitas and even lolitas as a whole (which often make them point to the most frilly, rhinstoned lifestyler of them all and say, 'Not me. I'm not like her.') is that they talk solely about lolita and lolita-related things, like dolls, makeup, hair, or fashion. This makes both the lifestyle lolita and the lolita community appear vapid and appearance/material driven. I'll acquiescence on the second account - we can be appearance and material driven, I am not ashamed! ;) But why is that when lolitas get together, they talk so much about... well, lolita? It's because that's the main thing they have in common. It's their way of sharing a hobby, interest, or even tips and knowledge. Lolita is about having a highly specialized knowledge and a highly specialized sense of aesthetics, which we develop and learn by communicating with each other. Whether this be through media like magazines or image-sharing sites like tumblr, or through direct contact like real life meetups or online friends, we are constantly learning from and being influenced by each other. When first meeting another lolita, there is an exchange of information on what they are wearing, how, and why. They examine prints, lace, hair, makeup, wigs, eyelashes - and then get down to business of brands, media, magazines, and shopping. This is a cultural and social exchange of not only who we are and how we continue to thrive in the fashion, but of how we relate to other lolitas. To say that talking about makeup and hair is silly or 'too lifestyler' would be to deny our very fashion taste and culture.

So Who Are These Crazy Girls?

But where do these stereotypes come from? Are they cooked up by minds coked up on pink pixie stix? Like all stereotypes, they do have a basis in reality. When lolitas think 'crazy lifestyler', this girl's demographics usually include:

*very new to lolita
*sweet lolita
*young in age

These tend to be the most gung-ho and outspoken lifestyle lolitas, because they're so excited about the world they have discovered, and can't wait to share it with everyone. And because they're so new and young and fascinated, they love the idea of extremes - nothing but pink! Nothing but sugar! Nothing but lolita! And unfortunately they are considered the norm of lifestyle lolitas, because they're so willing to share their newfound interest. One of my friends once mentioned, 'I never thought I liked lifestyle lolitas until I met you, and realized they're not that crazy.' Most lifestyle lolitas aren't nearly so proselytizing about their lifestyle and hobbies, especially if they don't really consider themselves card-carrying lifestylers (again, due to the enforcement of the stereotype).

I would also like to note that 'young' is not necessary. There are plenty of young people who are very mature and cool-headed for their age, just like there are plenty of 20 and 30 year old women who still act like obnoxious teeny boppers. Typically age goes hand-in-hand with maturity, but often not. Therefore the 'young' here could mean immature, but I hesitate to slap that brush on every 'crazy lifestyler'.

How Much Cake Does This Actually Involve?

Many people consider lifestyle lolitas to be from the sweet subgenre. While sweet lifestyle is a popular genre, there are also classic lifestylers and gothic lifestylers. Classic lifestylers may be interested in old-fashioned embroidery, Victorian poetry like Tennyson, and cataloging pressed wildflowers. Gothic lolitas, on the other hand, may be interested in Edgar Alllen Poe, the history of gravestone styles, and Victorian divination like tea-leaf reading or tarot.

One great reference of a more gothic lolita lifestyler is the fabulous Caro-chan of F*Yeah Lolita. For classic lifestyle ideas, check out Victorian enthusiast shops and magazines. I can't say too much on the topic as a) they aren't as common or as sharing on their lifestyles; and b) I am not one, and I typically try to write from my experience, my point of view, what I know, etc.

I hope this has explained and dispelled some more myths on the ever-discussed 'lifestyle lolita'. If you're interested in learning more about lifestyle lolita, click the lifestyle tag in the tag cloud in the sidebar... or you could just click here ;)

If you're looking for some lifestyle lolita activities and ideas, try the 101 Lolita Lifestyle Ideas List. There's plenty to fuel your imagination from there! Or join up with the Livejournal community, vie_quaintrelle.

image care of Tumblr. I love her lip piercings!

Labels: lifestyle

Monday, April 12, 2010

Faites Attention Au Hale!

At least for us in the northern hemisphere, the days are getting longer and the sun is starting to heat up lolita petticoats and brows. Dealing with the actual heat is one thing, but what about taking care of your skin? Are you the kind of girl who burns, tans, or both? Even though I'm naturally super-pale, I also tan like the devil - I'm already starting to look like Momo from Peach Girl! Here's some basic tips on coping with the sun, your skin, and you:

Sunscreen. I can't emphasize sunscreen enough. Even though it's only April, the sun is making a big appearance. Actually, it's advise that you wear sunscreen all year round, even on overcast days. Pick up a bottle to stash in your bag, and apply it to any skin showing. Clothing doesn't even afford that much protection from the sun - about 5 SPF (sun protection factor). I like to use the mist-on kind rather than slather on a thick cream. So before you slap on your bloomers and petticoats, give yourself a light misting of sunscreen. Make sure that the label says it defends against UVA and UVB, which encourage the skin to age. Usually my sunscreen of choice is Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist, SPF 45. I've actually found and used suncreen up to SPF 75, but it's harder to find. The number of SPF, by the way, measure how much percentage of rays it wil protect from. 30 SPF, for example, covers 97% of sun rays, compared to 15 SPF, which only covers 93%. And remember, especially if you are bouncing around, or outside often, to reapply about every two hours. (And even you're coming up on winter in the southern hemisphere - don't forget sunscreen! Snow can reflect the light and still effect your skin!) By the way - even if you have an old bottle of sunscreen, get a new one - they're not meant to last forever!

Parasols. So I'm a huge supporter of the parasol. I know they seem superfluous at times, especially if you have to get yours shipped from Japan, but they really can help a girl out. Most of the brand parasols say they defend against UVA and UVB (though obviously not much study has been done on the matter, so you'll have to take their word for it). And essentially, you're making your own shade. Now that the sun is starting to show, I've been bringing one to campus every day. They keep the light out of your eyes and off your skin, and I still think that it's cooler under there. I don't know much about offbrand parasols and their sun-resistant abilities, but you can buy a collapsible brand parasol for about $30 - $40, and a full-size classic one from Victorian Maiden for as much as $140. They're also excellenting for hiding yourself from creepers, having secret trysts behind them, and propping them on the lawn as an instant sunshade. Personally I think they're just indispensable ;)

Bonus: Parasol Care

I opened the trunk of my car the other day to find the long-lost body of my favorite BABY Versailles parasol - unfortunately completely splattered with some kind of grungy, grayish yellow stain. At first I thought about throwing it out - but then I decided to give cleaning it up the old college try. The answer - dish detergent! I just took a little water, a paper towel, and a bottle of Dawn and was able to scrub out all of the stains. Where previously I had a gummy, gross parasol, I now had my new one back! It's amazing what little things can fix up an item instead of throwing it away.

Avoid the Hottest Hours of the Day. The hottest hours of the day are from 1pm to 3pm, and then of course at noon and nearly noon the sun is right overhead. If you can arrange to be elsewhere, then do so. No need to schedule your picnic for the hottest and brightest parts of the afternoon - why not go for a morning brunch picnic or an early evening one? And with any luck, you'll be more comfortable before the heat builds to a head or after it breaks. I have a health issue that requires I try to keep out of the sun, and usually my family and friends tell me to stay out of it around this time!

Water. This is always a biggie no matter the time of year, but especially so in the heat - both to replenish your skin and to keep from passing out. If possible, bring a bottle (hopefully reusable!) of water with you, that you can refill from water fountains or at restaurants. If you're really not into water, I'll be posting a green tea smoothie recipe soon, so look forward to it!

Save Face. Stock your makeup bag with a tinted moisturizer with SPF for the summer. It's lighter than heavy foundation and should afford you some protection from the sun and drying out. I haven't found my perfect tinted moisturizer yet, but this one from Benefit Cosmetics looks promising as it has added aloe. If anyone has suggestions for a tinted moisturizer, leave a comment!

If you tend to sweat a night, some of that oil on your scalp or hair can get on your face and irritate it. If you know it's going to be a warm night, pin back your bangs or wear a cloth headband to keep the hair away from your skin. It's also important to change your pillowcase at least once a week to keep it from accumulating oil - more if it's really sticky at night where you live.

Hopefully some of these tips will help you handle the sunny days with sunny skin! Got any special summer skin tips? Feel free to add your own two cents!

psst - bonus question! Faites Attention Au Hale (the Japanese translated this as 'pay attention to your sunburn' but it more translates to 'pay attention to your tan!') was the name of a print back in the day. Can you guess which brand made a skirt with this saying and lots of cute parasols?

Labels: cosmetics, summer

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Momoko, Our Lady of Lolita

Miss Lumpy and I have shared much of our lolita journey together. We started dressing about the same time; we met soon after. But my favorite memory of us? Watching Kamikaze Girls, frozen under a down comforter borrowed from our hotel, trying not to repeat all the words together as we sat in the Peace Plaze, SF, with a cup of green tea and a shared Japanese crepe between us.

What is it that so enchants us about Kamikaze Girls (Shimotsuma Monogatari)? Miss Lumpy, in her recent companion piece Momoko Complex, says that she didn't consider herself a full lolita until she had watched it. And for me, it was my gateway drug into the person I am now - pinkhaired, lacy, and fully immersed into lolita and other feminine Japanese fashions.

Kamikaze Girls isn't just about lolita, though for many of us in the audience, lolita is the main reason we choose to watch it. It's our first experience with a 'real lolita' - or at least, much realer than a magazine shoot or a couple of street snaps, like many girls start out. The new lolita is hungrily looking for examples of how to live, for her own role model.

But almost everyone agrees that Momoko is not the ideal role model. For those of you who haven't seem the film yet, let's recap: on Momoko's rap sheet includes lying to her father to afford brand, disdaining everyone in her hometown, alienating herself from her classmates, and telling her mom to get a boob job. At the beginning of the movie, she's not exactly what you would call a pleasant person. And by the end, she's changed her priorities by laying it all on the line for her only friend, Ichigo. So yes, she has her transformation like a good dynamic character should. But even before she reveals herself to be a bat-wielding chick, we feel an affinity for her. Why is that?

For one, we identify with her lolita journey. We watch her blossom from an ordinary high schooler into a gorgeous sweet lifestyle lolita, swathed in her beaded bedroom and dreams of embroidery for Baby the Stars Shine Bright (she describes the process being similiar to being shot and then being reborn as a lolita). But more importantly, everyone can identify with her 'dark' side - the side that wants to be alone, the side that prefers to be a social misfit. The side that is selfish and gives herself her own happiness no matter what. As in the previous LC article 'Is Lolita Selfish?' we often cope with the fact that our frivolous hobby inconveniences the people we love either by money, our appearance, or our social constructs. Momoko embodies these things. And the viewer finds her to be endearing, perhaps not in spite of but because of these personality flaws. If we can see these flaws inside of us - the desire for only pretty things at any cost, to indulge in whatever we can to make ourselves happy and screw the rest, then perhaps we, like Momoko, can also find some modicum of redemption. I know there is disagreement on this topic, but I honestly believe that a desire to dress in lolita fashion is some innate, pyschological desire that we have yet to determine - not just 'clothes look pretty'. Many girls find the style cute, but don't want to dress in lolita - and still others aren't drawn to the style at all. Does our desire to dress in lolita clothes come from some kind of imaginary ideals about princess or ladylike purity, like Momoko's ideas of submerging herself in the fairytale-like world of Rococo and away from her broken home? Do we admire Momoko for her carefully built escape or for the fact that she had the courage to leave it?

Kamikaze Girls has always held a special place in my heart, from the cinematic style, to the coordinates, to the soundtrack. I recently ordered my first copy of the novel, so when I've finished it I'll post my thoughts about it. I've heard it's even better than the movie, so I'm excited!

By the way, if you want to watch the movie, you can watch it in parts on Youtube - or you can purchase a copy from Borders, Amazon.com, etc.

Labels: discussion, kamikaze girls

Thursday, April 8, 2010

April Style Tips

Read up on which of your locally blooming flowers are edible and see how you can use them in salads, dishes or desserts. Violets are in season right now and their sugary, snap-pea-like flavor makes a great edition to any spring picnic!
Bust out your parasols! Usually people think of them as rain shields or as accessories, but I promise, it is about 10 degrees cooler under them. Don't be without one on a sunny day!
Switch your hot tea for iced tea. My favorite is to order from Starbucks - black tea with four pumps of raspberry syrup! Flavor your tea with something besides just honey or sugar - try jams, juices, or just agave nectar.
Hunt up light printed tee-shirts to casually stand in for the super lacey blouses. My newest favorite is my Metamorphose pale blue tee, which has the screenprint of a pink poodle on it!
Think outside the box (bouquet?) on floral accessories. Besides the usual roses and occasional daisy, what other flowers can you work into your coordinate? Daffodils? Pussy willow? Cherry blossoms? Violets (when you're not snacking on them)? Make a corsage or maybe even a wreath for a more mori-girl feel?
Start a list of lolita goals - not to things to buy, but to learn. Want to learn to a style the perfect wig, or line your waterline like a pro? Make a list of them and then give yourself a deadline, with the intent of breaking it down into smaller pieces like one goal every two weeks. Little by little, you'll learn the skills you always wished you knew.
Find yourself the perfect bronzer to wake up winter skin leaping into spring. Even if you prefer or have pale skin, a little hint of light - even a pale touch - can awaken your eyes and features. I love the looks of Aromaleigh's Peaches and Cream finishing powder!
Start pressing flowers in the pages of heavy books. They'll make cute craft supplies for cards, candles, or journals later.
Go without socks in favor of open-toe shoes with your lolita one of these nice days. It makes for a classy change and lets in fresh air!

beautiful photograph from The Blind Pig and the Acorn

Labels: style tips

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Lolita Deco Log: Part 2

I promised an update on my deco projects, so let's talk more about all that glitters, shines, and can be glued down to anything to moves! To begin with, here's the finished product of my iPod case -

Materials used: rose crystal chain; roughly 200+ swarovski crystals; flatback pearls; Diamond Glaze glue; one plastic clear iPod case (which interestingly enough has a cellphone strap hook!); two plastic cabochons (bunny and heart).

Other tools: tweezers, napkin or kleenex for excess glue, good lighting!

I started by framing the screen in the crystal chain - crystals in stone settings that are interconnected. They work really well for making straight lines, which can be yourself for defining borders. Since the crystal chain has large gaps in it, I filled these in with smaller rhinestones (4mm rose AB swarovskis). The click wheel is framed in a pattern of flatback pearls.

The back was a different story. First I glued down the large cabs - the bunny to start - and then outlined the shape in varying sizes of crystals and pearls. From there, you just keep fitting them together like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. This is for a 'mix' motif, which means that the crystals and pearls are not uniform.

I find deco to be a very relaxing hobby, much like embroidery, which is also close, delicate work which requires concentration. It hones your spacial skills as well as your sense of color and design.

I'm happy with my iPod, but it's not my first piece, and I've mostly been learning by doing. Which leads me to:

Deco Tips I Have Learned the Hard Way

Make sure that your base is the same color as your crystals or main components. My first item was a black-and-white business card case, which created jarring gaps between the bright pink stones. The affect is much better with the pink iPod peeking out between pink stones.

If you're going to deco something expensive or electronic like an iPod, DS, or cellphone, make sure you deco a case and not the object itself. Doing that will void your warrenty, and you can potentially break the item when it gets smeared with glue.

Deco items are like dye jobs - they need retouching and have a short lifespan. My iPod needed fixing up after five months of daily use, for example - it had lost some of the chain on top, and a few crystals. Make sure you have a few of your supplies left for touch-ups. Eventually your item will reach a point where it is used beyond repair - and that's when you'll be glad you have a case that you can throw it and start over, rather than a sad-looking electronic.

Think outside the box on items to deco! The usual things are pillboxes and electronic cases for phones and the like. But if it's solid, you can most likely deco it - the backs of hairbrushes, the edges of fans, the tops of bento boxes, headphones - even sunglasses or keycovers. Universal Doll even shows how she decoed her bicycle!

The best way to design your deco projects is to look at as many deco pictures and magazines as you can. Look on tumblr, Livejournal communities, or just search 'decoden' or 'dekoden'.

I haven't decided yet what my next project will be - it's a toss-up between a new phone case and a summer fan to carry! But that'll be my next deco-themed post :)

Favorite Deco Resources

artbeads.com - where I like to buy my swarovski crystals

Mimilolo - an etsy shop for cabochons and crystal chains

ToffeeHouse - another etsy shop for charms and cabochons, including plush princessy bears

Full Moon Nails - deco parts for nails as well as other items

Dekoden.com - now available in English!

Labels: crafty loli

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