Lolita Charm

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Ice Cream Summer with Milk

In spring and summer, pastels reign supreme - even more than usual in the lolita fashion world. While we love our winter pinks and wines, the fresh pastels of the season just seem right. Sweets make their appearance everywhere - in carnival cotton candy, dripping ice creams on the boardwalk, and gooey pink donuts for breakfast. If you're craving that sweet pastel sugar too, there's no need to follow the crowd and snag yourself a Sugary Carnival jumperskirt - just check out Milk's spring and summer designs.

Milk is a long-standing (say circa 1970s!) Japanese brand that caters to the cute crowd. This brand is sometimes considered the early forerunner of lolita style, and grew up as a staple of Harajuku's fashion district. They don't follow a specific subset or fashion, like most lolita-loved brands, but any lover of girly stuff is welcome. Milk items can be spotted spangling lolita coordinates, pop-kei girls, or even more casual office lady styles, for girls who want to look both cute and professional. My favorite item from them so far is the above Pop Candy dress, swirled with rainbow pastels and rainbow unicorn's horn lollipops, like the kind you might find at the county fair or on the beach! A soft pink blouse and hairbow with perhaps a pair of Angelic Pretty's knee socks would make it suitably lolita, or lose the blouse and socks for a more casual, pop-kei inspired look.

This spring, you can look to MILK for perfect lolita-worthy or just cute casual staples. These dresses above, called simply Cafe OP, look adorable on their own, or coordinate into sweet-classic combos. I could see these dresses turned into pretty Alice tributes with striped stockings, or country adorable with straw hats, baskets and gingham-printed jewelry.

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!

Buy Milk here...

Milk Official Shop (shopping service)

Dobby (shopping service)
AS-House (shopping service)
Beverly Style (shopping service)
AMP e-mart (shopping service)
Closet Child (international, secondhand)
Fairy-Angel (international, secondhand)
Alice Fururun (international, secondhand)
Luke and Stella (international!)

Labels: shopping, summer

Monday, April 11, 2011

Gothic Lolita Wigs Review: The Hime Edition!

In one of my recent articles I discussed the fashion substyle, hime-lolita (princess inspired lolita - check out my full-length guide here!) and quelle coincidence, the wonderful wig company Gothic Lolita Wigs shortly afterwards debuted a new line of hime wigs! I just had to give it a shot.

First of all, let me dish the terms of princesshood. Sometimes this style of wig is listed as a 'himegyaru' wig or a 'hime lolita' wig. These are separate fashions both inspired by princess themes, and may have some overlap depending on who you talk to. There has been a lot of talk about which term you prefer to use, and hime lolita and himegyaru discussing who's right. Here's the answer: this wig can be worn in any style you choose, depending on how you style it. Fashion is interpretive, and therefore, even with structure, is up to you to interpret. You can choose this wig to represent lolita style, himegyaru style, or to dress up as Cinderella if you want. What makes the difference is how you decide to style and wear it. Even something as lolita-worthy as a petticoat or a big bow can be worn with different styles or flavors. Nothing is really inherently 'lolita' on its own except for a full dress, perhaps. So please keep this in mind when bandying terms, or even more likely, pointing out how others bandy their terms. Fashion can be structured, but like a unicorn, you can't exactly pin it down into a medical drawing or a dictionary definition.

So here I am in the new wig! I purchased the diamond blonde, going for a very princess look (they also have it in medium brown, bordeaux red, golden blonde mix, light brown, and black - but light pink and white will be available in a few weeks!). The diamond blonde is a slightly yellowish, warmer blonde, less ashen or white than the blonde of my split Minty Mix wig. The texture is very soft, with long easily manipulated curls. I wanted more length, so I simply finger-combed and tugged at mine a little, and it lengthened easily. For massively long princess hair, you could easily attach a long curly blonde weft or a few blonde clip-in extensions from other wigs.

The height is amazing! I didn't have to do a thing to this wig to make it huge. It soars above my head in a way Dolly Parton would be proud of. The bangs, I was cautioned, are thin - this, unfortunately, is true. The bangs are a little thin and wispy, which I solved by brushing them to the side. Another buyer has discussed using hair from the crown to trim in more thickness to the bangs, but I'm not sure I'm up to such surgery personally. The other structural issue with this wig is the shortness of the bangs - the 'hime bump' leaves little room for large bows or large decoration. Thinning the volume could help here, or adding a weft or clip-on bangs. I made it work out of the box with a small tiara and comb, but my big chiffon bow was out. Still, I think the intense volume and height of this wig beckons for other decorations, such as faux roses or possibly a large sweet-styled bonnet.

I think this wig is a great style for upcoming spring events, like your local cherry blossom festival (you are going to your cherry blossom festival, right?!

) It's light enough to be worn in warmer weather, with plenty of oomph and swing as a backdrop to cheerful spring and summer coordinates. That being said, for all you girls in the southern hemisphere, it'd look lovely with a winter coat and some fuzzy pink earmuffs!

As usual, customer service with Gothic Lolita Wigs is excellent, and shipping and packaging are fast and high-quality. I received my wig in a matter of days after ordering - I think only three! If you're looking for fast, quality wigs, this is definitely your shop! As a special extra, their hime line has a great introductory price of only $46 - knocked down from the usual $52!

Check out their hime wig line here!

Outfit: Dress, Angelic Pretty; tiara, Chocomint; bow, Chocomint; gloves, made for me by Michelle/osea_chelleo; ring, Betsey Johnson

xoxo,

Labels: cosmetics, review, shopping

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Guide to Ordering from Yumetenbo and Other Rakuten Shops

The Long-Awaited & Much-Asked-After Guide:

Ordering from Yumetenbo and Other Rakuten shops

My go-to place for cute fashion for spring is definitely Rakuten! Rakuten is an online shopping 'mall' that puts all of your favorite Japanese stores in one place, often providing international shipping where otherwise there would be none. Using their umbrella account, you can shop at many cute boutiques and fashion companies. My current favorite is Yumetenbo, which sells a collection of gyaru styles includes hime-kei (princess style), glamour (more mainstream), kirei or elegant style (good for girls who need to look professional), and girly style (for typical femininity), as well as a kids' section. Most lolitas are fond of princess style, but look through the other categories - you may find just the thing to complete your outfit. This shop has everything you need from bags and accessories to coats and full dresses, even some wigs and false nails. Other shops can also have many cute items such as accessories, or items for casual wear.

You can use these tips to any online foreign shopping, but I recommend you have them before getting started with Rakuten - it will make your shopping experience much easier.

Google Chrome Auto-Translate: If you have Google Chrome for a browser, there is an extension that will translate your webpages automatically. When you visit a Japanese page for the first time, click the option to always translate. The whenever you load any Japanese page, it will translate into your chosen language. Click here to get it. However some of these pages do not auto-translate, and they will not translate emails, so have your Google Translate open in a tab as well.

Google Chrome Currency Coverter Add-On: Great for shopping online with Japanese stores, taobao, places in Europe, etc. This download will give you a live, in-window converter that remembers your last currency option. I use this all the time since I got it; much better than making a guesstimate about how much yen you're really dropping. Click here to get it.

Also, please note that you must have a credit card to order from Yumetenbo. They do not take Paypal.

Part I: Registering a Rakuten Account

Go to the Yumetenbo site and start from nearly any page. I chose this one right here. Click on the key icon in the upper right corner that says 'myRakuten'. (Highlighted here in pink, with the big arrow.)

Click the 'register' button.

Fill out the required information (marked in red). This is in English; if not click the tab up top and it will switch to English. (I didn't take a cap of the rest of it for this reason; if you really need a cap, let me know & I will make it.)

If you are not in Japan, choose your prefecture as Other and set your postal code to 000-0000. For 'ward' I put in my USA state as well as town. Here's a sample of your 'finalize this information' showing what I mean by location. Then click the 'agree to terms and conditions' button, which will take you to finalize your info.

On the second page, click the large white button at the bottom to finalize all of your information. (Make sure to uncheck the 'receive email updates' - they will send you a HOARD of emails, most of which are not informative to you.) It will take you to the third page, which means you did it! You will then receive a confirmation email.

Part I Accomplished!

Part II: How to Shop

Start by logging into myRakuten. If you have your auto-translator on, these next steps are fairly easy.

Here is a typical item page, this one is for the adorable BAMBI COAT!

Mine is pre-translated into English; if yours isn't, this what it's saying: color, quantity, add to cart. Click the appropriate color bubble and quantity, and add to cart. If you are buying multiple items in different colors, you will need to add multiple times. If you see an x where you would normally click a bubble, the item is sold out in that colorway.

Here's the screen you'll see after you add your item to the cart. They have a very handing 'image cart' which lets you see what you put in it. To remove an item, click the link in blue text on the same row. From here on out auto-translate fails us and there is no more English; bear with me...

Either keep shopping or click the big red button and go to checkout. This next part is where I originally had trouble; make sure to choose an option for every section, or else they will send you an email later saying ERROR with no explanation of where the error is, and then they will cancel your order. (That's what happened to me on my first try.)

In this part you need to agree to their terms and conditions again. I actually found out today in business law that this stops you being able to sue them for a Japanese product in the courts of your own country/state... basically waives your right to sue if you're injured by a hairbow or something. Anyway, agree and move on to step 2.

Here's your cart (above) and below, this box is for points club. Every time you shop with them you rack up points that can later be used for savings on your purchase. As a new account, you won't have any points. I've highlighted the 0 points section above.

Choose the bubble for 'credit card' and then fill out your info. This does not auto-translate so I've translated it for you above. If you know basic katakana you can get through a lot of this easier.

Scroll down to Part 2 and choose your shipping method - for international/overseas, you must choose EMS. It then explains shipping costs based on how much your total purchase is.

The next section is when you want your package delivered. Choose 'anytime'. You most likely don't have coupons; leave this area blank. Click the button on the bottom to continue.

The next page shows all of your information and total to finalize your payment. Click the large red button at the bottom to finalize. That's it!

Other Rakuten Shops For Cute Fashion

Here are some other Rakuten shops that sell cute style things or items that might go well with lolita fashion. I will update this list as needed.

Edit to add: Not all stores ship internationally despite using Rakuten. I can't verify which as I haven't shopped at all of them, so please be aware of this. Those marked with an asterisk (*) do not ship internationally.

Curvys - cute accessories shop

Candlly - cute casual style

Coquettish Tiara - cute purses for lolita & hime-kei

Wigland - sells Prisila wigs for hime-kei, pop-kei, mori

Zephyr Wigs - cosplay and lolita wigs

Roliane -pink made- - cute accessories, pouches, jewelry & deco'd items

Bijouxj - pre-deco'd items, some jewelry

SBY Happy Store* - popkei accessories

Presea - cute accessories & charms

Bodyline Rakuten - often has items sold out on English site!
Liz Lisa* - hime-kei and country cute
Cawaii - mori girl style
Chocomint - accessories for lolita, pop-kei, mori, and hime-kei
Armoire - mori girl style
Listen Flavor - pop-kei and punk style - great leggings & tights, often in Kera magazine
With Heart - princess homegoods
Lumiembre - parasols
Lady's Off - designer (Coach, Louis Vitton) and Jesus Diamante (hime-kei)
Maxicimam - sweet & punk lolita, with plus-sized line 'Lovely Size'
Juliette et Justine - classic/opulent lolita brand
Organ Fan - classic and mori style jewelry and accessories
Pastel Sweets - sweets deco supplies, books, and pre-deco'd items

Phew! Long article! Okay! I hope you all have a very happy shopping experience, please let me know if you have any questions/need anything clarified and I will do my best to help.

happy shopping,

Labels: guide, shopping, tutorial

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Roomwear: A Lolita's Day Off

The endless lolita debate, weighing and sacrificing: cute, or comfortable. In the morning you get up, get completely dressed - starched petticoats, tights, bloomers, blouse and jumperskirt. In the evening, after you've been through a long day, those once fresh-and-pressed clothes feel like prison. You want to climb out of them and into something soft and snuggly, to get down on the sofa or in bed with your laptop and kitty and a cup of tea. One problem: the only option, after a day of looking like an adorable princess or fairy, is to downgrade back into gray sweats. It's pretty disheartening.

Frump no more, my darlings - join the growing 'roomwear' trend! 'Roomwear' is the Japanese term for loungewear, or items you wear just when you're at home in the evening or on the weekend. These items can range for cute-and-comfy or simple outfits, into something more like pajamas.

If you want a pajama feel...

The best way to get a pajama feel for roomwear is to go down to the basics, but cute: hoodies, soft roomy sweaters, fleece, etc. Many lolita brands have made cute 'hoodie'-like jackets that you can usually find under the 'parka' category. I love to wear these with bloomers or a simple skirt for a slow day at home. I finally replaced my ancient Baby hoodie with a new Angelic Pretty crown logo one! They're also great for wearing with a more casual or pop-kei lolita style.

above: Angelic Pretty's Teddy Bear Parka; Baby's Knit Pull-over; Angelic Pretty's Dreamy Dollhouse Parka

My favorite in this set is the crochet-edged turtleneck from Baby - just the thing to wear with a simple dress or even just a pair of bloomers for a day off.

If you want even comfier and more casual sweaters and fleece that won't set your wallet back 10,000 yen, try DreamV's roomwear collection! These styles below a sample of just some of the cute styles you'll find there. I haven't taken off my ruffled stripe set since I got it practically, and not only is it amazingly soft, it only cost me under 2,000 yen!

I call the white colorway my marshmallow pajamas!

If you want a casual dress feel...

If your day off includes more puttering in the garden or kitchen than staying inside on the sofa, you might do better to have a 'room dress'. Yuko Ueda says in her Lessons in Lolita:

For your "room dress", chose a simple one that you can wear on its own. Light cotton or soft blended fabrics are recommended. Pretty designs with hems that flare out or round puffy sleeves are ideal for the Lolita style. A decorative under-dress when worn at home can also become a beautiful room dress. Coordinate it with a gentle cardigan or shawl for a lady-like home style.

My idea of a room dress is a dress with a more sundress or natural feeling, that you can wear without a blouse or petticoat if necessary. Perfect for running to the mailbox or tending your garden or even spring cleaning!

Baby's Karami Triple Tiered JSK; Innocent World's Alphabet Rose JSK; Angelic Pretty's Sweet Story JSK

I chose Innocent World's Alphabet Rose JSK for its longer length; longer lengths on lolita dresses always feel more casual and innocent to me than knee-length styles, and it reminds me of Jane Austen. The other two dresses were chosen for their simple, clean style and soft textured fabric. Doing your hair in a pair of braids or uncurled pigtails with a simple bow or two will complete a clean, cute but comfortable look for staying home. Skip the petticoat, or if you must wear something underneath, a long vintage slip would add a touch of lace and extra layer.

Do you have a favorite dress or comfy outfit you can't wait to slip into when you get home? I still wear my Goodnight Miss Princess nightgown when I want to feel cute & comfy at home - it makes me feel like a sleepy princess!

wasn't this ages ago! I'm even blonde in it!

note: There have been many inquiries lately; Good Night Miss Princess is no longer in business.

with sweet dreams & good-night kisses for princess misses,

Labels: fashion, shopping

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Lolita Princess

Lately I've seen a lot of talk about old-school sweet and modern sweet, more commonly known as OTT (over-the-top) or kote-loli. As I was mooning over clothing on Taobao (the Chinese version of eBay), I ran into a unique take: Lolita Princess.

While not all of their products are wonderful (careful, some of these verge on the side of too-anime-ish, and you may want to make small adjustments, such as removing the corsetting laces), their style is a refreshing, summer-in-love feeling. Both old-school and modern sweet tend to be heavy styles, with either thick layers and buttoned-up collars or oodles of petticoats and accessories. Whereas this easy, carefree style is simple and delicate. Their dresses are mostly composed of clean lines and semi-opaque chiffon, with rows upon rows of tiny cotton lace like meadow flowers. It almost reminds me of a cross between Liz Lisa, Victorian summer dresses, and himegyaru. Here's some of my favorites:

Like the dresses above, they're mostly meant to be worn alone. I think they'd be perfect for hot climes, and could transition easily from lolita to hime-style depending on your hair, makeup and accessories. They typically only come in four solid colors: white, pale pink, black, and cream (beige, milk tea, kinari, etc)

Here you can see one of their more unique items, the matching shawl. I think this is a adorable alternative to the bolero, for covering bare arms when wearing a JSK without a blouse, especially when the temperature can shift in spring and summer. The layers of chiffon ruffles form a beautiful cascading train over the skirts of a dress. They even use a dual-pin broach of pearls and chain for a regal look. The model shown in center of the three above (in cream) is also wearing the matching shawl.

Besides an array of dresses (no replicas - just their own designs), they've got a surprising collection of other products, such as fur collars, lolita-meets-himegyaru coats, and even roomwear. These lolita pajamas feature candy-cane pastel stripes, with a big bow-shaped kangaroo pocket:

I think this set would also look cute with pop-kei or fairy-lolita!

What do you think of this light, fresh-faced lolita style? The focus on natural hair color, bright skin and nude lips is a very different style from the heavy lashes and eyeliner of today's lolita. I think it would be a lovely style for a spring or summer picnic, especially paired with pale rose corsages or a delicate straw hat. Lace gloves would also be a great edition!

xoxo,

Labels: shopping

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Package from Fairy-Angel!

In my recent post, 5 Style-Icon-Worthy Places You're Not Shopping, I mentioned finding unique items secondhand. And... I might have said I found Fairy-Angel a little overpriced. But then I fell in love with this dress and ordered from them anyway. I plead the fifth.

This is my first-ever dress from MILK! I love MILK's cute, retro style, and it seems super wearable either as lolita or as a more casual otome style. It's made of a soft satin and printed with this beautiful print - black stars, subtle grey stars, a nautical rope, silver piping, and their 'initials' MK. It reminds me of constellations and the zodiac, but with a cute spin. In case it's not obvious, I'm completely in love.

Even better, they sent me a free Baby the Stars Shine Bright calendar as a gift! (I felt a little dumb when I realized they sent me a 2009 calendar... is that kind of lame?)

It's so cute though that I don't mind, I'll just decorate with them! Actually 2009 prints make me super nostalgic, since it's the year I 'debuted' onto the lolita scene you could say, I started going to meets and avidly building my wardrobe! I remember a local friend who wore the Longest Name JSK (where these puppies are from - its real name is the 'Most Adorable Dog in the World with the Most Delicious Desserts in the World' or something like that), and I even had the cutsew!

So I have fond memories of this print, and the Alice Fairgrounds print as well (shown in black). Having them as artwork makes up for not having the Alice print any more... it's super cute but doesn't fit my style now :(

For those of you interested in ordering from Fairy-Angel, here's the skinny: they have changed their shopping method! Previously you emailed them what you wanted, much like older Closet Child, and they eventually confirmed you, etc. Now however:

1. There are TWO websites: Fairy-angel.com, and Fairy-angel.net. If you are not located in Japan, you want Fairy-angel.net. This is their 'Worldwide' website, aka the one that ships internationally. This website has almost all the same products as the Japanese one, except for this one 4-pack I wanted and is not on the international one; I'm not sure if it's a glitch or what. Also, you must be a member to see prices on Fairy-angel.net. I found this inconvenient, but it's because they want you to...

2. Sign up for an account. You'll need to sign up for an account; the usual information. They DO TAKE PAYPAL; the site will redirect you to Paypal when it's time to pay (if you choose that option; there's also a credit card option). After signing up for an account, you ca add items to the cart just like a regular shopping website.

3. Points system! Just for signing up, I got 500 points. I decided to use mine and see what would happen - it took 500 yen off of my final price, or about $4. Not a huge amount, but if you save yours, you could end up with a decent discount. Or just use yours to save a bit on shipping, which is the typical steep 3,000 yen. But on the bright side, EMS shipping is fast & reliable and you'll receive your items in no time!

I hope you have a great time shopping with Fairy-Angel! They have everything from Angelic Pretty to MILK, Shirley Temple and Jesus Diamante. I can't wait to coordinate my new MILK dress! I'll be sure to post outfit photos soon!

xoxo,

Labels: guide, photopost, shopping

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Spotlight: Baby Ribbon

I've always been a die-hard brand cultist (you'd think there is a shrine to Maki and Asuka in my closet) but lately one of my goals has been to diversify my wardrobe. Creating a unique coordinate in a day of made-to-go-togethers isn't always easy, especially when it seems like the coolest stuff is unfairly out of reach, lurking in odd boutiques and no-name vintage stores in Japan. There are so many times I've been frustrated to see listed in teeny-tiny script below a rockin' coord: 'boots/gloves/beret/rainbow petticoat' is model's own'. I'm so sick of this that I'm actually on the prowl, digging up cute accessories that aren't your typical brand item. And for all of you who also want to dress outside the box, here's my latest little-known tip-off: Baby Ribbon!

Baby Ribbon is a vintage indie brand that carries not-quite lolita. Like MILK, their style is feminine and cute, but leans more the idea of otome (which means young maiden) or just plain girly style. I think their things would fit well with lolita, fairy-kei or maybe even gyaru. They like vintage style, popishly oversaturated colors, and simple designs and motifs like bows, pinstripes, or 50s retro characters. Here's a few of my favorite pieces from their webshop:

They have a large collection of hats (full-sized!), and for some reason an even huger collection of signature hatboxes?! If you're looking to decorate your room, their hatboxes might be just what you need to store all of your things. This mint-dot ribbon hat is my favorite - it would be so cute in a spring coordinate! Pistachio makes a very refreshing tone from the usual almost-aqua mint. If you don't want to shell out the 17,000 yen or so, this hat would be very easy to replicate at your local craft store.

This bright violet velvet ribbon has a veil of gorgeous French netting attached and a cute little bunny charm. I wish this color popped up more in lolita as it makes a great accent to the usual softer, pinkier lilacs. This could be another easy-to-replicate project for a winter afternoon.

Their blog, which hints at a much more extensive shop (in person only, I'm sure...

) has even more uniquely adorable offerings. This is their 'Cotton Candy bag', a creamsicle-colored confection which the site claims it made of 'Tibetan lamb fur':

And of course I'm in love the simple whimsy and adorability of this coordinate! A creamy-pink skirt, sprinkled with pale blue bows like snow? Another item I'd be tempted to make, in a soft chiffon or light crepe, with dozens of hand-sew tiny bows. The net-lace beret and soft scarf make this a perfect winter coordinate. It's such a refreshing lolita style - a delicate silhouette, with smooth lines and pastel details. In a way it reminds me of mori girl with its comfort, but with all the rich colors of popkei and the wearbility of otome style.

Other things Baby Ribbon sells: ice-cream cone shaped candles (the wick is the cherry stem!), polka-dotted cushions and candy gift baskets. Talk about variety! They're also affiliated with Ribbonholic's adorable plush animals, which you can find at Chocomint.com.

Baby Ribbon shop blog | Baby Ribbon webshop

I was hoping to find more backstory about Baby Ribbon, but so far not very much has come up! Rumors have affiliated them with Ribbonholic, Shirley Temple, and Emily Temple Cute. If anyone has any more knowledge about Baby Ribbon, feel free to comment!

I'm so curious XD

Labels: fashion, shopping

This Page

Lolita Charm

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Ice Cream Summer with Milk

Monday, April 11, 2011

Gothic Lolita Wigs Review: The Hime Edition!

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Guide to Ordering from Yumetenbo and Other Rakuten Shops

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Roomwear: A Lolita's Day Off

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Lolita Princess

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Package from Fairy-Angel!

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Spotlight: Baby Ribbon

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