DIY: BonBon Charm Bracelet!: Make this adorable, delicate charm bracelet yourself as a sweet weekend craft.

Need a little inexpensive addition to your poof? DreamV is selling a simple petticoat (meant to go under their himegyaru-inspired short yukata) for only 980 yen!

IFB reminds us that blogging isn't just text - Why Beautiful Imagery Is Important for Fashion Blogger Success.

If you've been craving a taste of vintage manga and lolita style, try these scans of the legendary Candy Candy! (Found from Tea-Tray in the Sky, thanks! Make sure to check out this super cute blog!)

Best BB Creams For Summer: Prettyandcute.com shows off their refreshing Water Drop BB creams, just right for the upcoming warm weather!

How to Make a Mini-Pixel: Twinkle-Bear's quick-and-easy guide to making those adorable glittery tiny pixels!

Ich Danketsu from Megapeng.net: Save Japan with your playlist - download this cute compilation of songs (from such musicians as Sisen, Toxic Lipstick, Broken Doll) and  & donate to the earthquake & tsunami relief fund. My personal favorites are Merrypony's Sweet Melody and Kitty Kawaii's Keep Da Peach!

DIY: Easy Hello Kitty Sandwich Molds from Free Pretty Things for You: The perfect edition to your bento box or just an ordinary afternoon snack, or make a whole fleet of them to share at your next picnic meetup! This super-easy mold uses cocoa powder (or powdered sugar if you use dark bread like pumpernickel) to make a perfect Hello Kitty face every time. And to go with it... perhaps heart-shaped eggs?

30 Day Lolita Challenge from Millions of Bows: Not sure what to blog about? Need a quick mental break from finals? Try this new meme, the 30 Day Lolita Challenge! Show off your wishlist, pet peeves, and more!

Simple Crepes from Cloud9Food: Crepes never got easier - just throw these ingredients in a blender, and pour.

Blogging Commandments from Brunette Blogging and Things I Know For Sure from Consider Me Lovely: Both great articles on what blogging should be. A great idea of for an article if you've hit blogger's block: what are your personal rules on blogging?

The Totally Non-Fiction Life of a Lolita: Oli's adorable new webcomic features 90% true life stories of a lolita's encounters in the real world. Pastels and hilarity ensues in these cute one-panel comics.

To end this week's We Heart of the Week, here's a great confidence-booster quote from actress Gabourey Sidibe:

It's been evident in the Japanese fashion world for some time now. Whether you get your fashion fix on Tumblr, reading Kera, Alice Deco, or even the old staple Gothic and Lolita Bible, you've probably seen evidence that lolita, while still a strong backbone to the Japanese feminine fashion world, is not alone any longer. In the last year or two, lolita fashion has been joined by its new sisters in the cute culture: pop-kei, mori-girl, otome, dolly-kei, and various pop-loving forms of gyaru. While some styles are new on the scene, and some are old hands (the gyaru movement being one of the many big sisters of Japanese fashion, paving the way back in the day), there is one fundamental difference to our current fashion evolution: for the first time, it seems like the cute fashions of Japan are starting to blend.

Lolita fashion is well-known for not only its unique look, but also its unique spectrum of styles beneath the lolita banner: styles ranging as diversely from classic lolita in subtle browns and bordeaux to sugary pink sweet style and the crazy world of punk lolita. The many re-interpretations of lolita style meant that although the fashion is structured, there was 'something for everyone', so long as you could pick a flavor (or two), and according to the great gods of lolita, Kept Them Separate. Why? We're not sure exactly. For being rather open-minded people, lolitas tend to love labels. And names. And subcategories. And sub-subcategories. (Does anyone remember the term 'bitter-sweet lolita?' Sub-sub-sub!) I suppose it's simply part of our perfectionist nature rearing its head.

But recently that all began to change. In a chicken-or-the-egg scenario, lolita fashion finally started coming out to play with its sister styles. It's hard to say if this began with outside styles or blends within the substyle of lolita - whether the fairy-lolita came first, or the sweet-classic lolita, etc. I like to think that in Japan, girls simply pick out whatever things they love and find adorable and slap them into an outfit, without much thought for a label - though this might be fanciful thinking on my part. If you're in love with, say, punk studded belts and Angelic Pretty's newest pastel creation, and you can give them a twist so they work together, why not give it a go? Pairing odd combinations and themes and un-like things into one whole concept is the true recipe for pioneering fashion.

But what about 'the book'? What about the nay-sayers who may look at a coordinate and say with disgust, "Well, you can wear it if you like it, but just know it's 'not lolita'."? I recently had this conversation with a reader who felt the urge to tell me, nice try on ________ article, sweetie, but really, you've gotten this whole fashion wrong. When it comes to x style, you're just 'doing it wrong'. Well...


I grew up in the 'lolita era' (2006! I feel old...) heavily influenced by the notion of 'doing it wrong'. When I was a young lolita, the general lolita communities had set me up with a puritanical fear of the lolita version of the fashion 'stocks' so to speak, known back then simply as 'lolita_fucks'. Girls were instructed with this community, bent on criticizing fashion don'ts (for those unaware, consider the Neighborhood Watch crossed with the fashion police), as well as the handbook and a series of instructive articles. Lolita fashion was something to be studied, and mastered, and a good by-the-book, community-approved outfit was graduation.

The notion behind this approach was purity of the style - the general fear was that lolita, a delicate flower, was an endangered species in need of preservation, particularly as we removed it to the reaches of the West. It seems rather an odd fear now, as lolita begins to expand and mix with its fashion relatives. What were we so afraid of? The sparse, once-in-a-blue-moon Hot Topic dress that looked like a bad gawth anime explosion? That lolita might become too 'westernized' if we let our socks slip an inch or two?  Lil Mama, Katy Perry, and Lady Gaga have all sampled the pink Koolaid, and the world did not end. Lolita, ever more resilient than we give it credit for, did not die out. In fact, I would say that lolita fashion's travels, expansions, and shoulder-rubbing with other styles have not weakened it, but made it stronger. Foreign lolitas, be they from Chile, or Sweden, or California, or Toronto, breathed new life into lolita than if it had stayed put in Japan. There is stronger love for the old style of lolita, and lolita has found stronger love in its new acolytes who are charmed with kitten-patterned tights from SPANK! and antique carpet bags from Grimoire.

Fashion is interpretative. Fashion is based on a concept, which each individual forms and interprets into something visual. Lolita fashion, for example, is based around the concept of a delicate, princess-like doll or maiden, with a fantasy bend. Mori-girl is based around the concept of a maiden living comfortably in the forest, with a rather whimsical, antique sense of wonderland. Pop-kei is based on the concept of LSD (I kid, I kid.) Fashion is a creative process, and like anything creative, cannot truly be standardized. We can set up guidelines and boundaries. If we choose, lolita can be no more than a coloring book - a route paint-by-number. But I think lolita fashion, and we, who love it, don't need to be content with that kind of self-imposed glass ceiling. Let's give lolita fashion credit for its resilience, its ability to grow and adapt and keep the same heart. But let's also give ourselves some credit - credit to our creativity, to trust ourselves and make great leaps of fashion faith.

Here's the truth about fashion (and blogging, and life, and everything else you'll ever need to do, really)... Great fashion requires balls. I'd like to be poetic and princess-ly and rephrase that, but there's no other way to say it. Julien at inoveryourhead.net said it best:

Your fashion choices, your words, your decisions – all need more BALLS. 

You worry what people think about you because they won’t like you, or they’ll talk behind your back. But really, they’ll admire your courage and adjust just fine. 

You’ll question yourself at the last minute, maybe think you’re crazy, but sometimes, you need to be uncomfortable and make mistakes. Jumping this far will give you the strength to jump further next time. 

Sometimes, I like to think about all the people who almost made the right decision. They got to the edge and then just… stopped. These are the almost-Steve-Jobs, the almost-Vivienne-Westwoods, and the almost-MLKs. They all had very good reasons. There are millions of them, and you know none of their names. 

Where are you right now? What is the worst case scenario? How likely is it? What about the best? 

Either way, you’re going to be dead soon. You might as well do something fun, in the meantime. 

At worst, you’ll laugh about it later. At best… well, you know.

Still on the topic of balls, here is a little more encouragement from Evbogue.com's 27 Reasons Why Your Blog Doesn't Deserve to Exist (about blogs, still applicable to fashion in this case):

Guess what, there are 1,971+ million people on the Internet. 

Someone is going to hate what you’re saying in that mix. You’re going to get a lot of emails saying “why would you EVER do that amazing thing that I don’t have the balls to do?” [ ... ]  

Instead, you’re trying to make all 1,971+ million people (including your mom) on the Internet happy, aren’t you?

Whenever I get the mental wail of 'but what will people think?!' playing on repeat in my head, I think about the above quote. Instead of doing something amazing, or what feels right, or what makes you happy, you're trying to people-please the entire world (basically, 1,971+ million people on the Internet, plus your mom for good measure). And suddenly, the idea of toeing the line and playing it safe seems ridiculous. And that's when I have the guts to pull on four rainbow petticoats, four-inch pink platforms, and top it all off with a miniature carousel on a headband.

And yes, some people may not like it. I'm not a huge fan of certain fashion styles myself. No one person is going to like everything. You're not required to like everything. But seeing as fashion is really an artistic process, and art is entirely subjective, there is no right or wrong. I'm not here to discuss the merits of petticoats versus not petticoats, or why we need to shun plasticky lace. We're not talking about bad cosplays gone wrong. We're talking about the freedom - and the evolution - to experiment with the fashion. To take liberties, and thus, perhaps, create something fresh and inspiring. So, here's your assignment: pretend you have no idea about labels and styles and subcategories. Take your inspiration and resources and clothing and accessories from absolutely anywhere and everywhere: the forest, or 80s cartoons, or Japanese claw machines, or your favorite vis-kei star, or wherever you find something that speaks to you. Blend well, and see what new flavors happen.

For all you girls (and guys) about to lace up your tea parties, or Doc Martens, or neon pink puffy hi-tops, walk out that door, and show the world what it means to be part of the street style movement, we salute you.




Announcement! Lolita Charm is in the process of moving house! Lolita Charm, at its Blogspot address, is moving to a new name and domain, powered by Wordpress. This move has been a long time in coming, and I will keep you updated on the specifics when the actual, final move occurs. This is why we've reverted to the native commenting system. The new site has a working commenting system, for any readers who know my struggle with that! - and is currently having all of Lolita Charm's old comments and articles completely transferred to the new site. When this is finished, I'll begin the process of changing over your subscriptions (through Google Friend Connect, if you're a Google follower), and I will be announcing the new site soon, perhaps within a week or so! So please bear with me and thank you very much for reading Lolita Charm! I very much hope you'll stay with the site as it turns to its newest incarnation!

Psst... if you found the new site already by accident (it's currently mirroring the articles), feel free to follow!

You Can't Bully Me Out of Skinny Jeans from Definatalie.com: A great blogger's response after being posted to an attack community for her daily outfit photos.

"Firstly, you know how I feel about body shame that is dressed up as fashion advice. It’s bogus. No one should be harassed, mocked or attacked for wearing clothes (or NOT wearing clothes)."

10 Reasons to Love Fashion Blogs: 10 ways fashion blogging has changed the ordinary woman's wardrobe - and her outlook on fashion. Proof that even something as small as a fashion blog can make a difference!

Q-Pot's Peace (of) Chocolate Band: Support Japan with these adorable chocolate-printed Livestrong-style bracelets, available in strawberry, chocolate, white chocolate, and mint! (Shopping service required).

Noteworthy: Japanese Craft Books at Puglypixel.com: Some favorite picks from your local Kinokuniya! This particular selection features Japanese scrapbook and clip art books.

When Dressing Becomes a Competitive Sport: Why do we feel the need to compete when it comes down to what we wear? Coco & Creme talks it out.

And to finish, a true princess story...

A Princess Found: "Any lonely girl would dream she's a princess." Not your usual royal - Sarah Culberson's search for her birth family reveals that's really an African princess from Sierra Leone. Hear her story and her continued efforts to help her newfound people rebuild their village after civil war.

If you love the look of Milk but don't want to shell out, try this easy replica idea: find yourself a soft, zip-up hoodie in the color of your choice (Milk has made this model in pale blue, black, pink, and cream, but I think lilac or mint would be adorable!) Starting from the seams of the armpits, use soft satin to stitch on a pair of wide, tapered sashes. When you wear the hoodie zipped up, simply tie the satin sash in a bow over the zipper - or leave it unzipped and only tie the sash. Perfect for cool nights on the beach! If you want more sugar, consider adding a heart or star-shaped charm to the tip of a sash - a tiny gold eyelet, found at most craft or scrapbook stores, will make it look extra-chic.

So, where can you go to get your hands on some Milk? Besides the official site, plenty of other webshops and consignment shops online sell Milk items as well! Check out the extensive list below!

Milk Official Shop (shopping service)