Lolita Charm: Lady's Lessons: Teddy Bears!

Friday, October 15, 2010

Lady's Lessons: Teddy Bears!

It seems like I've been surrounded by bears lately - teddy bears! I was never a huge teddy bear fan, preferring other stuffed animals like unicorns or bunnies. They're not as flashy as other motifs, like Milky Planet's ice cream world or the majestic, fantasy-driven carousel ponies of Sugary Carnival. But ever since I got my Angelic Pretty bear, I've felt a soft spot for them. I'm not sure what it is about them, but they do look listening and sweet, like soft-spoken friends. So I thought today's lesson could be about the unsung lolita hero, the teddy bear.

The teddy bear is a true Victorian motif. The first teddy bears are, a

ccording to popular myth, an American invention. During a forest hunt in Mississippi, the current American President Theodore 'Teddy' Roosevelt caught no game. His hosts, determined to give him a good time, caught a bear and tethered it to a tree. He refused to shoot a helpless animal. Several

cartoonists depicted the scene, but one showed the President with not a ferocious, growly grizzly, but a soft cuddly cub in the now-familiar upright sitting position. The resulting plush toys, originally made in New York City, were dubbed '

teddy bears' after the President's sparing of the animal. The original bears looked like the one to the right, with tapered paws, long front limbs, and a l

ong pointed muzzle. For a while they were also called 'Roosevelt' bears, and were fashionable for ladies to carry and children to have their portrait taken with. The President even used them as mascots for his re-election. Its popularity with current novelists and musicians of the time gave us the song Teddy Bear's Picnic, inspiring the many other works about teddy bears today.

The other bear evolution is from Europe in the German Steiff bear, which was produced at the same time but supposedly without any knowledge of the Roosevelt bears in New York City. The bear the right is a Steiff bear. The modern, rounder teddy bear we know today (the kind found on Valentine's Day and in Build-a-Bear shops) is made to look cuter and more baby-like instead of the classic teddy bear model, which was supposed to look more realistic.

Lolita fashion has used the teddy bear in every substyle and almost every brand, and they can be made to fit any season (fluffy, flowery teddies for spring and snuggly, wintery teddies for... uh, winter). They go well with sweets, apparently - perhaps it's the idea of a 'teddy bear's picnic' but they've been paired with pancakes, batter, and doughnuts.

seen above: Metamorphose's Honey Picnic (not their only bear print - they also made Teddy Patisserie, below - and here I am ages ago in the black version!), and Angelic Pretty's latest, Little Bear's Cafe.

Not only do teddy bears have an instant sugary feel, they also lend a feeling of innocence and the soft-spoken, vintage edge of the teddy bear. Innocent World's teddy motifs, far from being oversaturated, tend to feel nostalgic and perfect for autumn or winter. Baby's bears, notably their recent Friend Usakumya line, possess a very endearing innocence as well.

Innocent World's Night Bear print; Baby's Friend Usakumya plush bear cellphone strap

Bears are, obviously, also prone to being fuzzy, which is why I think they make great winter motifs. The best pieces for winter are all about texture - soft, nubbly, knitted, tweed, corduroy! Teddy bears are the tzars of texture. I'm currently in love with this soft ode to teddies from MintyMix:

The fabric looks deliciously soft, and the almond color and silky chocolate ribbon ties are to die for! It's open in the back to let tons of curls fall down, making it more of a glorified earmuff than a hat, with the added bonus of storing flat like a traditional headdress. I would jump on it except I'm not sure where to wear it - I'm not sure bear hats are good for college, even when it is snowy out! But it would go perfect with Innocent World's nubbly soft Night Bear coat.

What kind of bears do you prefer? Super sweet and round, or vintagely Victorian? Do you have a favorite teddy bear item? Who do you think would win in a fight - teddy bears or bunnies?!

Labels: lady's lessons

14 Comments:

At October 15, 2010 at 9:18 AM , Anonymous said...: i like bunnies more as teddy bear. ^^
At October 15, 2010 at 9:55 AM , Lou Graves said...: Teddy bears were invented in the Edwardian era.. so they're not a Victorian Motif, so much as just one of retro cuteness :3
Still a sweet post though (sorry I'm so fussy haha)
At October 15, 2010 at 11:33 AM , Martha said...: I'm in love with that MintyMix hat! ;o;
At October 15, 2010 at 12:13 PM , Unknown said...: It seems all i have is a plethora of seals. Hmmm.
At October 15, 2010 at 1:08 PM , PetiteTomoyo said...: I like Bunnies more than bears but the bears items from Angelic Pretty are to die for. ;^; ♥
At October 15, 2010 at 3:20 PM , VOODOO DOLL said...: As you I usually prefer bunnies, and mostly unicorns (they´re my favorites ^^)...I like a lot pandas but teddy bears never appeal to me so much...but the Baby the Stars Shine Bright Tonight pink bear and the mintymix hat are so lovely ^^.
At October 15, 2010 at 6:30 PM , Anonymous said...: I do like bunnies just not as a toy/plush, and I think that Teddy Bears are a perfect Classical looking Sweet Motif. Much more simple, warm and homely feeling
At October 15, 2010 at 7:04 PM , Mykki said...: I love teddy bears. I had so many growing up as a child....I really ought to restart my collection.
At October 15, 2010 at 8:19 PM , Sweetness Of Oz said...: X3 I'm going to a Teddy Bear Picnic tomorrow run by a children's hospital.
At October 15, 2010 at 11:27 PM , PinkJucie said...: i love bunnies but teddy bears make my heart melt i love love love them so cute very good for winter they can be cutesy or victorian
At October 16, 2010 at 3:46 AM , Alaric Moore said...: I love these posts on "Lady's Lessons", they are so inspiring.

Myself, I prefer pixies and unicorns, but this is the type of life I lead. Bears are welcome of course.

I like the Yogi bear from the Barbra Hanson Cartoons, he's so mischievous and always finding something new to get into. That type of dedication I can certainly admire. Then Poo Bear of Hans Christian Anderson's tales. He's the forest's friend, and our hero's friend as well. Trying to avoid the painful sting of life, and to bring the best out in the ones he is most familiar. I greatly appreciate this type of personality.

Thank you for reminding me of bear-ness. It makes me a bit homesick in fact (I'm from Colorado you see...), I would like nothing more now than to curl up under an ancient oak tree with my favourite quilt and hear a fairytale told by my grandmother.
At October 16, 2010 at 10:06 AM , Anonymous said...: I've never liked teddy bears that much but now I'm starting to change my mind. I prefer the sweet, un-realistic ones. I have a purple Share Bear (from the Care Bears collection) and Baby's teddy bear phone/key charm (Sophie-chan) and I love them dearly. ♥
At October 16, 2010 at 7:07 PM , Anonymous said...: I like teddy bears! I also have one of Steiff, and I can't sleep without it ^_^

I find classical teddy-prints pretty, but my problem is that it is a very childish motive, and I would feel strange if I wore a dress with teddy bears on it.
At October 19, 2010 at 11:41 PM , Nymph of the Archers said...: I personally like the more traditional Victoria Teddie over the contemporary one. I feel the contemporary one makes the cute thing look a tad dim-witted. I have a polar bear plush when I was young from Coca-Cola. I loved him to death and cried like nuts when my mom took him. I have a different teddie- more like a black bear- but I still my my polar bear. :(

This Page

Lolita Charm

Friday, October 15, 2010

Lady's Lessons: Teddy Bears!

14 Comments:

Post a Comment

About Me

Previous Posts