Lolita Charm: November 2010

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Marie Outfit Post!

I went to the NYC Disney Tangled meetup this Saturday! The theme was to come in a Disney-inspired lolita coordinate, so I decided to go as Marie, the white kitten from the Aristocats :)

Mostly because I had the pochette and some cute white ears from Halloween...

Marie time!

I snagged a mirror shot at the new Times Square Disney store! This is in their Disney Princess section, which looks like Cinderella's Castle. I'm so pleased this picture came out, I was sure it wouldn't! I'm never good with mirror shots -_-;;

What I wore...

Jumperskirt: Angelic Pretty's blue Princess in Love JSK - I couldn't wait to wear my new dress! I had to have the zipper replaced. I am so tired of brands using invisible zippers that get stuck between the skirt and bodice, where there's a lot of fullness.
Strawberry Milk Doc Martens - sooo comfortable! I knew we'd be doing a lot of walking, and I think they add a unique pop to this otherwise princess-y outfit.
Marie Disney Pochette: Chinatown
Split Pink and Blonde Wig: MintyMix! See the review here.
Blouse: Angelic Pretty
Capelet: Innocent World
Bow: Angelic Pretty
Pink balloon purse: Fireworks
Fluffy heart clip: Chocomint

A few people asked about the Innocent World cape & coat set I purchased! They are lovely warm and soft. I saw that a few coats had cashmere this winter and I chose the Innocent World set purposely for its 40% cashmere. The cape I especially love, but the coat is a little classic for my wardrobe... I might end up selling it, though I don't think I'd be able to get a different one in time. If you have a very otome, classic, or Milk-type wardrobe, this would be a great coat for you. It's beautifully elegant with cute heart buttons, but still suitable if you want something to wear over your work clothes or daily clothing.

I hope all of you in America had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! I had the drama of rescuing my pink glittery tweed Baby skirt (and blouse, and petticoat...) from an attack of a completely full glass of red wine! BUT I'm actually salvaging the skirt as we speak (the blouse, thankfully, is ok now)! More as this develops!

Labels: meetup, outfit post

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Alice's Tea Cup Giveaway!

Alice's Tea Cup (read my previous article here!) is exactly what a tearoom should be: whimsical, with a wide menu of scones, and full of people that know exactly the difference between Earl Grey and orange pekoe, and would love to tell you. Lolitas will be perfectly at home in the Alice murals, glittery walls, and endless tiered displays of desserts and sandwiches. But what if you're not from New York City? Never fear - Alice's Tea Cup has finally released their new cookbook, with all the magical recipes to create your own wonderland for tea-time.

I'm not very well-versed in cookbooks, let alone the modern cookbooks - the kind of thing one imagines foodies have on an altar somewhere, full of glossy photos and long explanations on where to find obscure spices for even more obscure glazes and marinades. My 'foodie' staple is usually a well-worn copy of the Joy of Cooking - or perhaps an online recipes for the more unusual. I wasn't sure what to expect from Alice's Tea Cup - but when I opened to the first chapter, entitled 'The Answer to "How much glitter?" is "Yes."', I knew this would finally be a cookbook I could relate to.

beautiful photo from the book of various teas

The book has a very fairy-tale approach, beginning their story, like all the best stories, as once upon a time... in New York City. After a short history and ode to the sister duo who dreamed up Alice's, the book launches into a deeply comprehensive, easy-to-follow, meaty-as-shepherd's-pie cookbook. They said they've only written a fraction of their menu (limiting themselves, with difficulty, to only nineteen scone recipes), but this book has everything: their famous scones, brunch options, a raft of soups, sandwiches and salads, a legion of cupcakes, and even their much-loved mar-tea-nis (tea-infused cocktails). Nearly every recipe is infused with a flavor of tea, from bold blacks to the delicately floral and perfumed whites. The recipes range from easy-for-beginners such as Alice's Croque-Monsieur to the advanced, such as Alice's S'mores, which require a kitchen torch (I'd bake more if I got to use a flamethrower! I mean, uh, kitchen torch.)

these cookies! ah!

My favorites? I can't wait to make a host of Alice-themed cookies, such as the pink-and-white chessboard cookies (an adorable twist on the classic chocolate-and-vanilla checkerboard cookie, but and with a unique rose melange tea flavor!) and the linzer card cookies (powdered sugared cookies that reveal a heart-shaped window onto glistening raspberry jam). They also have a recipe to a scrumptious-looking French toast bread pudding made with fruit coulis and creme anglais!

This book also has a tea glossary, instructions on tea-dying in a variety of shades, and the exact art of throwing a tea party!

Alice's Tea Cup Cookbook Giveaway!

And for one lucky reader Lolita Charm is giving away a copy of Alice's Tea Cup! All you have to do to enter is leave a comment with your favorite Alice in Wonderland character and why! Feel free to repost, retweet, or share this giveaway anywhere you like! The winner will be chosen at random. Last day to enter is November 30th! One entry per person.

Want your copy of Alice's Tea Cup now? Buy it here on Amazon.com!

Labels: contest, giveaway, review

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

What Are You Doing for ILD?

whaaa...? no, not yet!

I can't believe it's almost time for ILD again (I suppose that's what happens when you have a holiday twice a year instead of once!). ILD, or International Lolita Day, is a holiday celebrated on the first Saturday of June and December, for all things lolita! Whether you are gothic, classic, sweet, punk, fairy, hime, country, or sailor, this is the day everything is about lolita! Lolita Day always sneaks up on me, but this year I'm going to be prepared! Last year I went to a sumptuous ILD party in NYC, but this year I don't have the room in my schedule :( Here are a few ideas if you want to celebrate and there's no gala near you!

First: get dressed to the absolute hilt. Every rose, rhinestone, bow, pearl and teddy bear in your arsenal. Wear your most sumptuous dress, your most cakely shoes, and put on your biggest, curliest wig (or style your own hair into huge, teased masses of pigtails). Your stickiest lipgloss, your brightest blush, and a healthy coating of glitter finish off the look until you feel like a walking strawberry cream parfait. Everybody likes parfaits, right?

If You're The Only Rufflebutt in the Whole, Wide, World (Or So It May Seem)...

Go out to your favorite cafe with a GLB, an iPod full of your favorite lolita music (Tchaikovsky? Kanon Wakeshima?) and ordered the most decadent dessert on the menu.
Set your self-timer and take a ton of photos. Spend the rest of the day covering them with sparkles, or use Puricute to.... well, spend the rest of the day covering them with sparkles.
Dress up any unwilling participant, like your best friend, dog, boyfriend, or hamster.
Make an absolutely huge wishlist of every single item you wish you could buy. Resolve to own at least one by the next ILD!
Get some felt or fake silicone cream and make yourself an honorary cake hat for the day. It doesn't have to be perfect - it's only for celebrating ILD! Cover it with strawberries, clay cookies, roses, or anything else you like.
If you collect dolls or stuffed animals, set them up for an old-fashioned tea party and take a cute photoshoot.
Pick out a lolita pattern from the GLB or other online source and spend your day puzzling it out! For beginners, try bloomers, a hairbow, or tote bag with cute felt appliques; for the more advanced, consider making berets, pochettes, or a simple skirt.
If you have the time, plan yourself a 'princess day.' In the novel Kamikaze Girls, Momoko describes the day of the typical Rococo lady - wake up leisurely, play with cute toy breed puppies, eat an adorable breakfast... you get the deal! This idea is actually from a Japanese lolita forum a long time ago, where the original lolita said 'simply spoil your princess self'! I couldn't put it any better!
Find a Japanese bookstore and sit for hours among the shelves, reading through every Kera and GLB they have in stock!

For One Or More Lolitas...

Get together a friend and a room full of nostalgia cuteness for a super-special anything-goes photoshoot. Learn how with this cute guide from PinkSugarIchigo! A few theme ideas: everything Sanrio, a single color theme (cough...pink? or perhaps... cough, black?), or just wallpaper the place with every brand bag you own between you for that 'runway snapshot' feel.
If you have any purikura places near you, pile into the green screen and take a memorandum! Bonus: see how many adorable stamps you can use in under 30 seconds.
Whip up a few platters of your favorite tea-time snacks and have a tiny tea party at home! While huge parties at fancy tea restaurants are wonderful, sometimes a steamy pot of tea, a little lolita gossip and a small parlor are all you need to celebrate the day!
Choose a new lolita recipe to make together! Icing gingerbread girls into pretty lolita clothes and curls is a favorite for a winter ILD!
Take a tea etiquette class at a local tea salon or fancy hotel - bring a cute notebook for notes and dress in your hostess-y best!

What are your plans for ILD? If you could do anything for ILD, what would you do? Do you have a secret 'fantasy ILD' celebration, like a huge gala with tiers of macarons or a shopping trip to Japan or San Francisco?

Labels: holiday, international lolita day

Sunday, November 21, 2010

A Lolita's Temptation

I've never been quite sure where I stand on lolita replicas. I own a few Bodyline knockoffs, such as Innocent World's puppy jumperskirt. All of my lolita-specific shoes are some kind of copy - I've never bought brand shoes before. Even my wonderful new boots (which I haven't taken off since! agh, so comfortable!) are really Chinese replicas of the infamous Doc Martens. But I always drew the line at bigger things, like replicas dresses and skirts, especially prints. Lately however, my resolve is wavering.

For one, replicas used to be lower in quality. Thin fabric, cheap lace and odd print placement were rampant. Some of the first Angelic Pretty skirt replicas were cute enough, but tacked with long strands of scratchy, 99-cent lace. Newer replicas have netlace that, while not being quite as delicately embroidered and logo-covered as the real thing, is soft and has a similar effect. Replica producers are even using leftoer fabrics and ribbons directly from the brand - it's not uncommon to see replicas that still bear the name of their ancestor, Angelic Pretty. These replicas wristcuffs even say Angelic Pretty, just like the real thing.

For another, it seems like brand competition is getting stiffer. Angelic Pretty's Twinkle Star bag sold out so fast I don't know a single person who got their hands on it. But to everyone's relief, replicas will be out soon from Chinese producers. Not only are they more affordable, but there's just more of them. Angelic Pretty and other brands have long focused on being 'exclusive' by, so it seems, undersupplying demand, causing sky-rocketing aftermarkets. There's even talk now of replicating the infamous Sugary Carnival, a print dress that still sells for aroud $400 - $500 dollars.

A few samples of the replica Twinkle Star pochettes. This replica does look a little off to me.

You can now get plenty of 'replica lolita' including:

skirts
dresses (jumperskirt and onepiece)
shoes
hairbows
wristcuffs
coats
purses

If you're on a fixed budget, or a new girl in love with brand but out of love with brand prices, this could be your best option. I consider replicas useful to my wardrobe especially if the original is sold out or no longer available. I also like to wear lolita fashion as much as possible, and lower-priced clothing or replicas are a great way for me to pad my wardrobe with pretty things, while saving money. The average brand lolita skirt, new, will probably cost about $180 or more depending on the current status of the yen. To have enough skirts to keep up a day-to-day wardrobe can be a wallet-breaking expense for many girls.

Several of my friends noted that replica brands will often make their items in 'bespoke' which means to your measurements. Brand again pulls the exclusivity card by selling one-size-fits-all... unless, of course, it doesn't fit you. Another friend mentioned that she'd rather by the real thing in the face of 'replica stigma', where you're looked down on for purchasing the knock-off and supposedly disrespecting the original brand name and designers.

While I was writing this article I ran across this video on the nature of fashion and copyright. I'm a business major eyeing the notion of eventually working in the fashion industry (marketing and sales, not design) and I gotta say this kind of thing fascinates me. It answers a lot of the questions lolitas have puzzled over as we look at first the original, then the replica, and back again.

I was amazed to see that replicas, what the speaker calls 'fast fashion' or part of the trickle-down fashion effect, are actually what starts trends. For something to be a trend, someone has to take a hefty amount of inspiration from someone else - something we often calls copying. And replicas lead to what we're seeing very commonly in lolita fashion - the 'democritzation' of fashion. If anything, the replica has helped spread the Angelic Pretty version of lolita over a further economic demographic, over further reaches, making them ever more the face of sweet lolita. The idea of Angelic Pretty's lolita - is that something we should consider a closed circuit, or should it be allowed to grow and expand? The idea of lolita originally came from the streets; much Japanese fashion still does, as we can see the forerunners of fairy-kei having their ideas produced into boutiques like Nile Perch and Spank!.

It all comes down to individual choice. But it is fascinating to see exactly how fashion circulates. Do replicas deserve their 'stigmas' if copying and inspiration are the powerhouses behind the fashion world to begin with? Is exclusivity something we should cultivate, or is it better to open up the world of lolita fashion to anyone who wants to enjoy the designs and beauty? Is copyright even going to be a lasting notion in a world increasingly based on free exchange of knowledge and ideas?

By the way - I've changed the commenting system to Disqus and it's being a glitchy right now. Even when it says 0 comments, they're just not registering on my Blogger template. So don't be afraid to leave comments! Hopefully they'll be working soon.

Labels: culture, discussion, shopping

Thursday, November 18, 2010

MintyMix Split Wig Review!

I was so excited when MintyMix came out with their split wig collection! Keeping my hair half pink and half blonde was adorable, but a hassle... it's much easier to just slather the whole thing in pink icing dye than to have to worry about staining the blonde side or bleaching the pink. So this wig makes me really nostalgic for my summer hair... but I can have that look whenever I want now! I'm super-fascinated by wigs lately, I have a huge list of new ones that I like and want to buy. They really can completely change or pull together an outfit, and I think they're a vital part of any lolita wardrobe. Here's my photo:

Service/Ease of Ordering: I ordered my pinkxblonde wig through the MintyMix website, got a confirmation, and received it a few days later in the mail! The service was great, absolutely no hiccups or glitches whatsoever. And for all you Paypal lovers, yes, they take Paypal!

Quality: This is honestly my most beautiful and top-quality wig to date. It is perfectly soft and has just the right kind of curl - not too wavy and not too sausage-curly. It has two clip-on falls, one in each color. Sometimes I alternate them for a different look (pink on the blonde side, blonde on the pink side). I love that the pink is really that soft, crystalline pure pink that looks best with wigs, not peachy or reddish or purplish at all. The blonde is also a just-right pale blonde, without being too white or fake looking. And the blended bangs in the front have a very subtle, multiple shine transition effect. The wig is also plenty full (so it can be worn without falls... I love the falls-pigtail look, but sometimes I'd like to wear a bonnet and they don't fit!) and has a secure seamless mesh scalp.

here's the Minty Mix stock photo.

This wig is also available in black/lilac, black/pink, and white/blue :D

And the trial run! Here I am in the wig!

I wanted good lighting even though it was a dark winter day... so I had to stand in front of my house's plastic siding (not cute!)... so enjoy some pixel hearts background instead!

I pinned it up into two ponytails as shown by in this tutorial by Angelic Pretty's Maki and Asuka! All you need are two falls and a matching base wig. It only takes a few seconds (can't beat that!) By the way, the wigs used in Maki and Asuka's tutorial are from zephyr.

You can also see the method by video from shelbycloud.

I really love her videos, she's so cute and they're so informative! I can't wait to see part 2 of her wig video :)

I was so excited to try this style, I haven't had a typical lolita wig before... I feel so dolly like and delicate! (Mostly cause... if I move my head too much I'm afraid I'll lose a ponytail...Yipe!) And it's a little heavy but... I think all lolita wigs are heavy once you add clip-on falls, a huge bow,star-shaped lollipops, My Little Ponies... I think you get the picture!

Wigs are my new fascination, I want so many! I'm in love how it can instantly and completely change your look and outfit!

By the way, I'm going to be selling my pink Miwako curls wig for anyone interested. I love it, it's so bouncy and poodle-y, but it's not quite the right pink for my skin :(

I can't wait to see what else Minty Mix comes out with! Which is your favorite split wig color?

Labels: cosmetics, review, shopping

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Heart-Shaped Cookies and Ribbons Like Butterflies

I am a lolita/my heart is made of heart shaped cookies and my lungs are made of balloons/my brain is filled with candy and my veins are stuffed with glitter/no matter what wrapper I might come in/whether it be Angelic Pretty, Baby the Stars Shine Bright or plain t-shirt and jeans, I am still me/still a lolita/ no matter what wrapper I might wear

~pinkjuicebox via tumblr

Quebec Lolita documentary in French with English substyles - the girls express some very beautiful sentiments, as well as being beautifully dressed. See the rest of the documentary here!

‎"I am a special maiden." It’s okay for you to think that, you know. Even if there are strangers who look away and snicker at you because your skirt is too puffy, or because the ribbon adorning your hair is too big, you don’t have to let it bother you.

– Arika Takarano; GLB 27

I thought that lolitas try to abide by that rule as well. Their big ribbons are a mimicry of a butterfly. And so they adapt to stuffed animals, and go about living while pretending they are incompetent dolls. That is because it's the sole way of receiving protection from the cruelty of this world.

-Novala Takemoto

I spend a good deal of my time online, looking for new things to write about and new topics that spark my interest. Recently I was serendipitously bombarded with a selection of beautiful lolita inspirations - not pictures or girls or clothing as usual, but quotes. The lolita community speaks many languages, and being such visual people as we are, tends to speak in photographs more than anything else. Text or literature has been a rarer form for lolita expression - except now, as lolita blogs begin to support mostly text-based content. But even that is missing something necessary of lolita - the fantasy and that unique, surreal, gothishly cute wonderland quality. So when I found a collection of quotes possessing that, I had to compile them here for anyone who wants to find that fantasy in lolita fashion. Sometimes it seems like between the Print of the Month Club, the eyeliner tips, and trying to find the exact ISO on your camera to take an outfit shot... we've lost a little of that fantasy. But these inspiring pieces reminded me of that fantasy, and why I became a lolita in the first place. Hopefully it does the same for you

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Lolita Charm Advertising Beta Signup is Now Open!

For a long time I've been considering adding sponsors to Lolita Charm. I love writing my blog and expressing my passion for lolita fashion, but I wanted it to be more than just pretty pictures and text. I've met so many great girls who run their own small businesses or lolita blogs or webzines - from dress designers like Strawberry Skies and Pink Macaroon, to retailers like Tokyo Rebel (who had their first spot on Lolita Charm!), and jewelry makers like Pretty Pop Designs (formerly Lolitas 'n' Cream). As much a brand lover that I am, I want to support small business, especially ones run by women, for women - and of course, especially ones run by lolitas, for lolitas. For this reason, I've decided to start adding sponsors to Lolita Charm in the form of adspace.

Currently I am running a one-month special beta list for anyone interested - whether you run a shop, company, website, community, or blog. The beta list is completely free with no obligation for the first month of adspace. You also get one free graphic for your adspace, which you can keep to use anywhere you like. Click here or the above banner for details. Space is limited so if you're interested, send in your application now!

Labels: announcement

Monday, November 15, 2010

Blooming Bloomers!

I'm an all-thumbs lolita - while I can make a few simple accessories or deco items, I'm terrible with a sewing machine. I'm really hoping to learn this winter, and if I can get better, maybe even get a new sewing machine! (Psst... I love the Hello Kitty sewing machine! It looks like something from a little dollhouse!)

This weekend I decided to use one of my own November style tips and whip up a pair of flannel bloomers! Supposedly they're a very easy project for an afternoon, so I felt emboldened. I used this very easy tutorial from ABC Lolita, one of my reader's blogs :) It was pretty easy to follow - here's my pair of very simple white bloomers! (She's also got another tutorial where the bloomers have an added ruffled hem!)

I wanted them to have a very winter feel, so I chose heavier, textured materials. I hand-stitched on some white cluny lace I had in my sewing box and made some pink velvet bows out of ribbons I found at a church sale. I probably could have done this on the machine, but I actually find it fun to do the work by hand - it's very peaceful and relaxing for me. I'm really happy with them, I never thought I could make anything cute like that!

Since they're so plain I thought it'd be fun to do embroidery on them. I've decided to make a heart-shaped pocket and applique it on with a blanket stitch. I'm not sure what would be best for a center design - roses (my favorite flower!

) are my first thought, but maybe some whitework (white stitches on white fabric) would be more suitable for wintertime? Snowflakes are a favorite motif for this time of year, and since I'll only be wearing them in winter snowflakes are perfect :) If you're looking to learn embroidery or expand your knowledge of stitches, I recommend the Embroider's Handbook. The pictures are easy to follow and the book covers ribbon embroidery, cross-stitch or counted embroidery, cutwork and eyelet work, and even beading embroidery. I'm really interested in practicing my cast-on or Brazilian rose, which is a 3D rose made from 'casting on' stitches to the needle just like you would on a knitting needle. Here it is combined with a bullion knot or Porto Rico rose stitch. For those who want to try more ribbon embroidery, the hardest part can be finding the necessary silk ribbon. This website has an absolutely gorgeous range of ribbons, from the purely beautiful spectrum of solids to even variegated and hand-dyed lengths of silk.The easiest ribbon rose is the 'spiderweb rose', so named because the petals are fastened with a spiderweb of regular thread.

I also found this pattern from an online magazine scan (I'm not sure if this is Kera or GLB - by the way, click for larger) for a cutesy, double-ruffled bloomer pattern. I love the pink plaid and the candy applique reminds me very much of the Nutcracker, so I think this idea would also be cute for winter or Christmastime. Even better, if you get good at them they'd make very cute presents for your lolita friends this holiday season! Candy canes or present boxes would also be very easy and cute. I've seen cute popkei appliques on Nile Perch where the present-box square is covered with a thin tulle, and star-shaped sequins and rhinestones stitched and scattered inside.

Bloomers look super cute for hanging out around the house and keep your little rufflebutt warm in winter! They're really easy to make and you can do some very creative things with just a little trimming and appliques!

Labels: crafty loli, tutorial, winter

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Strawberry Milk Doc Martens!

I was only a little into punk in high school, so it's a little surprising to me that my new fascination is sweet punk. Part Alice Deco, part Nana Kitade, and part total experimentation... I love playing with the idea!

I love getting dressed really carefully with a very planned-out coordinate... but I also love just choosing one piece and seeing where it goes, trying on all of my bows and not sure what to do with my hair or if I even have matching socks! When I saw these boots on Taobao I knew I had to work them into my wardrobe.

(stock photo from the Grace Gift website)

They're based off the well-loved punk boot Doc Martens, a must-have for girls and guys alike in the punk scene. I wouldn't normally be that fascinated in that but... this color is amazing! They're the purest pink I have ever seen, with black accents and a tread that leaves all my other shoes in the dust. I look forward to wearing them in the snow this winter instead of my little mincing heels! I'm still breaking them in, since they're stiff, but so far they are so comfortable! I would even wear these to a meetup, so I can walk in them - even if they're not super lolita.

(click for larger)

shoes: Taobao's Grace Gift

Skirt, wristlets: Angelic Pretty

Bow: Forever 21

Socks: Innocent World

Black lace bloomers: Metamorphose

NEVERMIND shirt: unknown? I bought this secondhand from a girl in Germany I think... I really love unusual and romantic screenprints, I wish they were more popular in lolita fashion. This one shows Marie Antoinette with roses, a heart-shaped beauty mark, and the flag of England (uh... what? oh well, it looks cute!)

I also went for a punky asymmetrical hairstyle, using one of the pink clip-in falls from my new pink/blonde split Minty Mix wig! I have big plans for it, as you'll see! For now I'll just say that it is beautiful quality and it's currently my favorite, most elaborately princess-y wig. I just got my new Princess in Love Angelic Pretty JSK and I think they're going to be a perfect match! (Can you tell this is my new dream dress...? :P It's so much more beautiful in person, I'll post photos of it soon!)

So the clip down one side and curling my natural hair, then straightening the other like I've seen in a few Alice Deco magazines. It was really easy to do and I think brought the outfit together.

And the middle photo has my pup Misu, or Little Thing as she mostly common gets called. She's such a big girl now! 3.8 pounds... -_-;; But she's growing in a crop of reddish brown fur that will eventually become that huge, silky, Fabio-like Pomeranian coat. She sits snuggled in the covers of my bed while I get dressed :3

I've been working on a few projects lately to show you so stayed tuned! I can't wait to update Lolita Charm with new things this month :)

Labels: outfit post

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Here, My Card: Lolita Calling Cards

Lolita calling cards: a nebulous trend that needs to become reality. Why haven't they picked up? I think it's because most lolita interaction is still, unfortunately, over the Internet. It leaves us at a bit of loss when you can't just swap usernames or links in real life!

The first lolita calling card I ever got was from Crystal of Pretty Wonderland. It was sage green, dusty rose, and printed with a gilt crown. Below 'Princess Crystal' in script, there was an email and other online handles. I was absolutely touched. How cute! How personal! I loved knowing that she had designed it herself to reflect her personality and style, and I was even more pleased to know that she thought I should have one!

For ages I knew I should have a calling card. Meeting new lolitas at meetups, tea parties or conventions is great - losing touch with one who you only know by her first name or 'the girl in the blue Happy Garden skirt' is not. Scribbling on pads, keeping notebooks, fumbling for pens... how messy! Or whipping out cellphones to give and enter numbers, a slow process. Calling cards are the ideal item to bring to any event where you'll be meeting new people - or hope to do so! ;)

If you want to get your cards printed:

Design your card in an image program like Photoshop. It's best if you use a template first, either from a send-away company or from just a business card company in general. This is great for experimenting with different graphics, fonts, photos, pink backgrounds... anything you can design, you can create! I chose a template, designed mine in Photoshop, and then took the file to Staples where they quickly printed up a batch of them, ready for the next day! (Note: don't order too many at once, in case you'd like to change yours or something isn't right with the first batch. Somehow my pretty pink cards ended up purple! And I have 300 of them so...)

If you want to do it the old-fashioned way:

Victorian ladies made their own calling cards by hand using laces, calligraphy, pressed flowers, illustrations... No two were exactly the same and each was a small labor of love. Use good cardstock paper and some crafting supplies to make a set of calling cards next time you're stuck with a rainy day indoors. Decoupage them with magazine cuttings, use cute rubber stamps, or adorable stickers. A great option if you're meeting a new friend for the first time or attending small, personal meetups. (If you're attending a large meetup of twenty or more, do yourself a favor and get them printed! Don't be up the night before gluing pressed violets onto cards!)

Don't forget to include on your calling card:

Your name - to be called in person, not just your username! Usernames are rather impersonal... I can't imagine anyone saying, for example, xobubblesox in person! It doesn't have to be your full name if you prefer, just whatever name you go by for lolita or your other hobbies. Using your full name is also cute and princess-y - usually historical and fantasy princesses had many names, and adding your middle one is quaintly old-fashioned.
A contact - somewhere they can reach you. I think an email is best, but you can use a Livejournal name, Facebook address, or instant messenger screen name.
Your website - blog, tumblr, personal journal, anything!
A picture - a lot of people shy away from pictures on cards, perhaps they're worried about how it would look design-wise? But I think a picture is so important for people who need to match names and faces. A favorite face shot of you in your prettiest clothes would be just the thing - perhaps in a gilt frame or with a faded edge?
Graphics - these make your calling card especially cute. A strand of ribbons, a spray of roses as a watermark, or maybe printed paper can make your cards stand out from the pack.
Unique fonts - you can download tons of free fonts to your computer for making your own graphics or calling cards. Try dafont.com/en or just google free fonts - Hanako Lovely even has a collection of lolita-specific or cutesy fonts. My favorite lately is the Lolita Charm logo font - called Creampuff!
Optional - add something about yourself or a cute description. I added my substyles to my card in case they weren't obvious :P But a whimsical title would also be sweet, describing your style or personality. Meetup organizer? Shepherdess of rufflebutts. Super sweet fanatic? Angelic Pretty cult member. Be tongue-in-cheek about it! I think I'll start adding Powdered Sugar Princess to mine, just because it's so silly & cute!

For extra cuteness (and organization, a word I don't use much! :P) make sure you have a business card case to keep your calling cards in. This way they don't get crumbled in your purse or lost in your wallet.You can find one pre-made, or buy a plain one and deco it with rhinestones, sweets or even just cute stickers (I love puffy stickers especially!). It's very popular for gyaru and hostesses in Japan to have cute business card cases, and I think it's something lolitas should adopt!

Have you ever made calling cards or designed your own? I'd love to collect them from a meetup or event and save them, just like brand tags! It's like a collection of mementos from friends and good times

Labels: lifestyle, lolita living

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Blogging: The New 'Lifestyle' Requirement?

I read recently on a forum that lolita blogging or having a lolita blog is the new must-do for lifestyle lolitas. At the top of the ubiquitous list of 'what lifestylers do, those crazy pink princesses hopped up on Lucky Charms' was: write a lolita blog.

Is lolita blogging the new hot must-do for lifestylers? The blogosphere (the very tiny, frilly portion we lolitas have carved a niche into) has grown from its first tumultuous days, and new blogs pop up overnight. Girls are avidly taking outfit shots, talking about new prints, and puzzling apart the greater questions of our subculture. Some lolita blogs venture into realm of expressive photostories, or detailing their catalogs of Sanrio items. Whether blogs are personal or meant for a wider lolita audience at large, there's no doubt that they are currently changing the face of how lolitas communicate and network through the internet.

That doesn't sound so strange, does it? Lolita blogs are like any blogs - cute photos, some text, a couple of links. They're even what used to be considered community or forum content, before such things were dropping out of the forefront. All hobbyists like to talk about their hobbies. So why is it suddenly the newest gem in the crazy lifestyler crown? It's true that many lolita blogs seem to be in favor of lifestyle lolita - is it because the blogosphere finally gives lifestyler a place of their own, to express lolita in any way they like? Blogs are like tiny countries devoted to a personal opinion or overview, each with a particular feel and theme, where the 'crazy lifestyler' can set up a postage stamp-sized realm for her supposedly backwards little kingdom.

Or perhaps it's considered lifestyle because only lifestylers would put so much mental energy and focus on a catalog of posts? Is it considered 'lifestyle' to meditate on the fashion and question it, or fantasize about it, or evolve it? So many girls answer the question of why they like lolita with simply, "It's cute," or "The clothes make me feel happy." Too much philosophy or introspection on the topic will you get pegged as another crazy lifestyler. I was appalled to see one girl even say that 'lolita lifestyler' was shorthand for a vapid lolita princess-y blog about the love in your heart and no actual knowledge of lolita clothing. A passion for lolita and a desire to express it is considered unacceptable, a but simplistic or blind acceptance is preferable?

I've never really considered my blog - or any lifestyle blog - to be one of the great testaments of the lolita lifestyle. My blog is a summation of my thoughts, ideas, and experiences of and inside the wonderland of lolita fashion. It's my personal starship's log, but also a time capsule letter to anyone out there in space, reading. But it's more than that. It's not just a timeline of my experiences in lolita fashion. It's a tribute to my love and vision of lolita. It could easily have been in anything else - in diaries or artwork or photos. But this is the media and skills given to me in this age. I don't write my blog to keep up the grand stage-scenery illusion of my supposed perfect princess life. I think that is the crux of where lifestylers and those who stereotype them disagree. We both drape ourselves in the same fantastical fashions, and take our inspiration from the same sources. But somewhere there is a divide. Despite all the proof otherwise, the girls around them who honestly believe in this worldview... They still cannot believe there are people really like that fantasy. Girls who are really like that? No, that can't be. They must all be pretending, lying... and the lolita blog, a window into their lives and thoughts, must be just another elaborately-constructed marionette stage to convince us, thin as paper. I suppose that's what really gets me about the lolita lifestyle stereotype. Everyone is perfectly welcome to believe as they wish, and to disagree at that. It's not even that people who perpetuate the stereotype consider it all a joke, a ridiculous joke girls play on themselves. It's that the idea of a lolita lifestyle - and by extension the lolita blog in general - is all about convincing the skeptical audience.

I've come across this idea many times. The head of my dance department has openly questioned me in class as to why I would bother taking ballet, as my pink hair clearly begs for attention and I would do best to take theatre instead, where that desperate need could be quenched. I've been told that dressing differently or looking differently must be because I want the attention of the strangers around me. It's all about them, they constantly say to me. What you do is all putting on a show, so that you can have just another inch more limelight for your sorry ego. I object. My lifestyle - the choices I make in my life - are for me. The color of my hair, the hobbies I choose, what I decide to wear, and even what I daydream about - is all produced for the one second when a stranger will see me and make his judgement. Whatever box I have been placed in - freak, teenybopper, attention-seeker, delusional, or lying 'kawaii sparkle princess' - it was all meant for that moment. How presumptuous! One person's life created solely for the split-second entertainment of the other, a cameo appearance. It's really the ultimate display of ignorance.

Dalin of La Vida Frills offers her opinion on the sterotype of lolita blogging:

My opinion as someone who blogs about Lolita on a weekly basis and considers it a lifestyle, I'm not one that feels its something to be defined as a sterotype. Granted, maybe sometimes people can seem to find similarities and find that the inspirations from others create trends within the blogs themselves, but not one of us is exactly the same. Do I do things because of this fashion and only because the fashion drives me to? No. But, Lolita lifestyle has given me the push and drive to bring about the things that people once told me otherwise I couldn't be. Being the way I am now because of blogging and Lolita has given myself a new-found confidence in being alive and feeling it to. I don't blog really for the people who read the blog, I do it for myself. I prove the confidence I have now, and [it] gives me a chance to speak my mind when doctors told my mother that I would never be able to [speak], and to tell the people in my life that doubted my opinions.

For every lolita that blogs, with their unique thoughts and opinions, their lives and hobbies, that they bravely dare to express to the world at large: keep blogging, ladies! The world needs your tiny kingdom of daydreams.

Write your own lolita blog? Link in the comments! I'd love to see what you're all writing & daydreaming about.... what is your lolita love letter?

Want more about lifestyle lolita? Click the lifestyle tag! For this post especially, I also recommend the article Breaking Lifestyle Lolita Stereotypes.

Labels: culture, discussion, lifestyle

Friday, November 5, 2010

Inspiration: Lady Lovelylocks!

Lately I just have the itch to dream up new coordinates, particularly themed ones. Since I have a few ideas in the works for the Tangled Disney meetup in November (New York City) that I have to keep secret 'til then, I thought this would tide me over ;)

Lady Lovelylocks is one of the cutest & unsung heroes of the 80s girls' generation franchises - little-remembered compared to Strawberry Shortcake or Rainbow Brite. Lady Lovelylocks (and the Pixietails) like most characters of the time actually began on greeting cards by the same company who would also create Strawberry Shortcake, Care Bears, and Popples. When people realized her popularity, she quickly got a doll line and her own TV show, along with other necessary paraphanelia like puzzles, coloring books, picture books, etc. Her entire 'theme' was cute hair, usually streaked with bright colors and the fluffy tails of squirrel-like animals called pixietails. In between such cute activities as riding her lilac pony, taking tea and picnicking with her friends with similarly voluptuous tresses, she handles the dastardly plots of Duchess Ravenwaves and the Comb Gnomes.

Maiden Curlycrown, left, and Maiden Fairhair, right, caught in a sudden rainshower!

The most prominent feature of her outfit is the collection of multi-colored ribbons running across the bodice of her gown. I'd love to see a lolita version of her dress recreated from scratch (can you imagine this design in a gorgeous Angelic Pretty dress?!)

Add Lady Lovelylocks flair to your lolita style! Here are a few ideas to take the soft, princessly yet countryish style of Lady Lovelylocks and her friends into your coordinates and daily life.

Simple flats with a jewel or bow on the toe are comfortable for ladylike days of watering the flowers, playing musical instruments or blowing bubbles.
Add unnaturally colored clip-in extensions to your hair or wigs. Or grab a bottle of dye and go for it! I had Lady Lovelylocks hair for a while myself :)
Puffy-sleeved peasant blouses with eyelet lace collars would make a countryish touch under a jumperskirt instead of the usual stiff tailored blouse.
Adorn the waist of a dress with a collection of long, trailing multi-colored ribbons as an accent.
Let your hair and bangs have their natural wave or curl - put the straightener or curler away and let your hair be happy!
Super poofy chiffon petticoats look like the best bet to be comfortable and keep that ladylike giant swathe of skirts! You can buy the fullest, softest one yet - the secret weapon Malco Modes 582 model - here in seventeen colors!
You can make Lady Lovelylocks your desktop wallpaper - there's 8 for free download here!

Want more Lady Lovelylocks? Go to ladylovelylocks.org to see more beautiful watercolors, clips from her 1980s cartoon show, and read her storybooks! My favorite is 'For the Love of Lady Lovelylocks' - with shimmery blue hair, an all-knowing magician, the love of a sorrowing prince in disguise!

You all may have noticed the new Lolita Charm layout! Here's a few new sections to the site:

brand new About, FAQ, and just-for-fun Wishlist pages!
a new Facebook Like widget for the Lolita Charm Facebook fanpage!
a list of the top five most ever-read articles on LC
and more on the way!

This is a very new template, so if you have any issues with the page, please drop me an email at lolita.charm@gmail.com & describe the nature of the problem and your browser/compatibility requirements. So far there are still a few kinks, such as the archive section. Hoping to get this fixed soon!

Labels: fashion, guide, idol study

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

November Style Tips

Everything Christmas is starting for the holidays! An open-air holiday shopping village like the one at Bryant Park is a great idea for a date or ladies' day out.
Gingerbread is perfect for this time of yeah - thick, moist, and hot, and smothered in whipped cream. Or if you'd like to make the most of what you already have, bread pudding is delicious as dessert or breakfast! I always make mine with the crusty leftovers of French bread, with a helping of dried cranberries or golden raisins (and the eggs are protein, too!). Here's a recipe for bread pudding if you don't have one.
Buy a half a yard or so of nice faux fur from the fabric store and go nuts making accessories - muffs, scarves, or even furry little bows or hats. I love the texture of fur on my skin when it's super cold out!
Choose a simple bloomer pattern and make a few new sets out of flannel or other soft, warm material. For the holidays consider adding appliques out of felt like gingerbread house appliques, hard candies or candy canes.
Make a centerpiece for your early-winter table with bare branches and perhaps a touch of German glass glitter.
Customize an ordinary sweater for lolita by adding a silky bow to the neck. The softer, the better! You can just tack it right over the top button with a little glue or a few stitches.
Hang paper snowflakes in your window! I find that seeing snowflakes anywhere - stickers, in photos, or as window clings - always seems to bring on the snow :)
Try chocolate fondue for a warm after-dinner treat. Warm chocolate is always great on chilly days! Fruit like strawberries, cherries, pineapple, banana slices, or even kiwi make great fondue dippers!

Labels: style tips

This Page

Lolita Charm