Lolita Charm

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Brand Spotlight: Jane Marple

Being mostly familiar with this brand previously through secondhand sites and consignment sites, I was pleasantly surprised when I came across the advertisement's for Jane Marple's 2011 Spring/Summer line. The usual concepts for lolita summer trends are present (indeed, trends that pop up throughout cute culture fashion, especially around summer time), but with an adorable kitschy twist that isn't quite classic lolita, sweet lolita, or even mori-girl.

Jane Marple, like its other old-timer comrade Milk, is a brand that creates its own answer to the eternal 'what-is-cute' philosophical question. While some items, such as the sailor blouse below and accompanying straw hat, seem to ooze lolita flavor, other items such as the ruffled shorts, follow a beat all their own.

My personal favorite is this banner ad, which besides sporting sweet nautical sailor styles for daily wear, also features a fantastic British crown overgrown with wild cherries and strawberries. You can even find a stripy cutsew with the design, but I have half a mind to see if I could copy it onto a handkerchief for embroidering!

This simple Jane Marple cutsew cries out to be DIY'd! Its only feature besides being simple jersey is this grosgrain-studded neckline, but the price tops out at ¥10,290 ($129 USD)! All you need is a plain, soft tee and a matching length of grosgrain ribbon: tie a set of bows, seal edges with a lighter to prevent fraying, and hand-stitch to the collar. This item could be cute for casual lolita, mori girl, or simply ordinary cute style with heart-patterned shorts or under a simple jumperskirt. It has the added bonus of adding some Jane-Marple cute to your wardrobe, despite Jane Marple beingnotoriously difficult to get your hands on.

In a fit of inspirational and fashionable obsession, here's a few more samplings of Jane Marple's work:

Vintage wrapped candies make an appearance on stick pins, perfect for lapels and berets.

Beautiful cobwebby teapot-and-teacup shaped lace.

Jane Marple has only just opened their official online shop early this June (2011), but don't forget that you'll need a shopping service if you'd like to order from outside of Japan. And so far it seems like the catalogue is quite limited - you may still prefer a personal shopper.

Labels: fashion, summer

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

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Seaside Carousel

I took the day to go visit a friend for her birthday in the pretty little beach town of Watch Hill, R.I. Besides having a lovely boardwalk with an antique popcorn machine, a pink candy shop called the Candy Box, and numerous little jewelry boutiques, it also proudly features the Flying Horse Carousel, made in 1879. Set in sea-pebble stone with real horsehair ponies, children can still catch the brass ring as they ride along the outside, hoping to win a free ride. Watch Hill was a family getaway since I was small, and I couldn't resist taking my outfit shot in front of the National Landmark I had loved for many years.

Dress, bangle, blue heart ring: Angelic Pretty

Hairbow: Metamorphose

Bracelet: The Stone Flower

Blouse: Forever 21

(note - feet are removed because I wore little cheapie flip-flops to walk on the beach!)

(carousel photo by Panoramio)

Labels: outfit post, summer

Friday, July 9, 2010

Victoria Suzanne's Strawberry Lemonade Recipe

This Fourth of July (American Independance Day, for those overseas!) was a low-key affair with family & friends at my place in the Connecticut countryside. I was excited to make something cute and a little different to contribute to our dinner, and had found a recipe for making your own strawberry lemonade

But this recipe was about making yours with scratch, squeezing lemons and boiling sugar. Without a juicer, this was going to be a long and arm-sore process. So in the way of all great Food Networkers before me, I decided to cheat a little. The end result? Tart & delicious!

-Storebought pink lemonade (I like Minute Maid, which is sweeter, but Newman's Own is sourer and claims to be all-natural, so whatever your style)
-one carton of strawberries
-one cup of water
-one cup of sugar
-one litre club soda or unflavored seltzer
-SKYY raspberry infused vodka (optional, if you want the 21+ version)

Start with a pitcher and fill halfway with pink lemonade. Fill the rest of the way with club soda, which will give it a pretty frothy pink head of foam. Wash and remove the caps from the strawberries, then pop them in the blender or food processor until they're the consistency of a slushy. Add to pitcher. While they're flavoring the lemonade, start cooking your sugar and water into a simple syrup to sweeten the lemonade as desired (If you don't use your simple syrup or have a lot left over, use it to sweeten your iced coffee - no undisolved sugary grit!). Strain off the strawberries into a collander, then add the syrup to taste and if desired, the vodka to your liking. The lemonade should be mildly fizzy, tartly strawberry-flavored, and with a creamy foam on top. It's exactly the thing for a summer picnic!

The finished product should look something like this! The white froth and bright red berries actually remind me a lot of Milky Berry!

psst - what do you think of the emoji? aren't those little gifs cute?! I can't resist anything bouncing and pixelated ;)

Labels: cooking, summer

Saturday, July 3, 2010

July Style Tips

For a cute summer and seaside motif, I love saltwater taffy. Eat it, watch it being made, and yes - accessorize with it. Q-pot's summer fair series has pretty little jewel-toned taffy rings that would make a cute statement.

If you're looking for a summer photoshoot or just simple daytrip getaway, head to your nearest seaside resort town and its penny candy tourist stop. In New England you can find little pink shops along the sea selling fudge, old-fashioned candy sticks, and yes, more saltwater taffy. My two favorites are in Provencetown on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and Watch Hill in Rhode Island.

Buy yourself one 'throw on' JSK or onepiece for casual beach and vacation wear. It should be a lightweight cotton with a simple print, that you can wear without a blouse or a ton of accessories. You can wear it to an early breakfast out or barefoot on the beach, maybe over a swimsuit. Mine is my mint tulip-collared dress from Metamorphose, but I've always wanted Metamorphose's marine-and-seashells dress for the same reason.

If you're not located near the ocean, check out other far-afield locations in your lolita best. Lots of little trainstop towns have caboose or train-inspired restaurants, or visit a Victorian bed and breakfast.

If you're a fan of iced chai like I am, make your own chai syrup (concentrate) to add to milk over coffee. LiterariTea posted a great recipe, which I can't wait to try. It's just the thing for a hot day.

Find some pretty pastel polishes in unusual ice cream colors like lilac, mint, and lemon. I can never find the ones I like in drugstores, so I searched online and found quite a few: China Glaze's Re-freshmint, Essie's Neo-Whimsical, and Model's Own Lemon Meringue. China Glaze even has the perfect summer line of pastels and brights called Up and Away, reminiscent of balloons and blue skies.

Labels: style tips, summer

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

June Style Tips

In my family, holidays mean one thing: explosives. Summer is a great time to set off some fireworks - I love the idea of lolitas silhouetted by fireworks in the night summer sky. Sparklers could make for cute photos, too - but like all fireworks, please be careful and follow your local laws. (Or don't get caught, but you didn't hear that from me :P)

For a safer option, catch fireflies. Get a few large Mason jars and head to a spot where they're known to be plentiful, then go after the little glowing things. You can display them for a few hours in a pretty bell-jar; just make sure to let them go!

Switch up your usual lolita get-togethers with a nighttime bistro style tea party. In your garden or patio, string up fairy lights or paper lanterns and lay out your laces and good china in the evening. Drink more unusual, light teas like lavender, raspberry, or white pear.

Head to your local water feature for pretty summer photos. Water gardens can cater to a royal style, or get all sailor or mermaid themed to go to the beach. Anchor motifs, strings of pearls, and seashells are all watery ideas for ocean shoots - faux water lilies or even frogs (frog princess?!) motifs could make a cute pond shoot.

This month's prettiest beverage is pink lemonade! Originally it was associated with the cirucs, where it was served - and can be tinted pink with cinnamon drop candies or grenadine. If you want to pick some up at the store, I'm in love with Simply Lemonade made with raspberry (for pinkness and hint of flavor). Or make it by hand in the original southern way using grenadine and like in this recipe here.

If you're a big pearls-and-gold fan, mimic the warm days and summer sunsets with pink pearls or rose gold. They're my two favorite jewelry staples year round, but they look especially sweet at summer garden parties.

For any easy updo, just curl all of your hair in any method you like, and then rumble or tousle the hair up off your neck, either top or both layers. Just clip with a big rose or bow and you're all set - instant casual cuteness. I just use my straightener and can scrape together a hairstyle in under 20 minutes.

Labels: style tips, summer

Monday, April 12, 2010

Faites Attention Au Hale!

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

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

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

Bonus: Parasol Care

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Labels: cosmetics, summer

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

She's a Country Girl

Being as I am from the farmland and fields of Connecticut (also known as: the boondocks) there is a special area in my heart for country lolita. Whenever the weather warms up and the brands start releasing strawberries and roses, I break out the country.

It's a fairly overlooked and old-school style - it was a lot more prevalent in the magazines about four or five years ago. Today it is very rarely seen, which is a pity, as it is such a beautiful style. From time to time the Bible will show a few mini straw hats, but mostly it is absorbed into the realm of Sweet Lolita style. I think it also works well with classic lolita. With summer on the brink, you might be interested in giving it a try! The best part is that country generally doesn't require you to buy new clothes - mostly accessories.

How to Pull It Off

Basket Purse or Picnic Basket: This is one of the most important pieces. A pretty picnic basket bought from a craft store or a basket you have modified with bows, ribbons, and lace is perfect. The brands generally come out with at least a few basket purses in the early summer. Last summer there was a rash of home-made ones that looked very fabulous. As for me, I've bought both of mine from Mother Garden, a Japanese store specializing in childrens' toys, homewares, and covering everything with strawberries. The one I just bought at the Palisades Mall (New York state) for only $13.50!

Full-size or Mini Straw Hat: I really am a big fan of lolita hats! I've altered my own department store hat and have another mini-hat in the works! You can usually find mini-hats in various sizes at your local craft store in the doll or bear department. You can decorate them with plastic fruit, felt strawberries or flowers, and of course ribbon and lace. Any of your favorite flowers can be country, but I find that daisies and roses and my favorite!

Other accessories: Floral corsages pinned to handbags or blouse throats; flower or fruit printed socks; antique-looking lockets for classic and large novelty strawberry jewelry for sweet. Ruffly or Victorian-style parasols add that out-in-the-sun look.

Hair: Hair can range through a variety of sweet styles, but a few specifically come to mind. Loose, almost frizzy curls; straight and braided; looped braids; curled pigtails; or simply worn long and natural.

Makeup: Makeup should concentrate on looking even more fresh and underdone than usual. This does not mean skipping makeup entirely; it means improving on nature in a very natural way. A soft powder and concealer, possibly with a few very light highlights of bronzer; softly stained lips or nude lips, both with or without a gloss. Generally eyeshadows should be kept light - I like a nice French vanilla color, but a sunshiney butter or pale pink are also great options. Add your usual color of mascara. I prefer to go one shade darker than my natural color as it makes the eyes look wider. Don't forget to curl your lashes for a wide-awake, open look. Some more daring colors to work with in your palette can be coral, a soft spring green, or even a very light touch of cherry.

The Dress: Popular styles for country generally include fruit and floral prints, and sometimes sweets (like Angelic Pretty's Sweet Jam line or Baby's previous line printed with tiny pies and jam jars). The dress can be either classical or sweet style. Gingham, polka dots, or cute animals like forest creatures or kittens can also work. As you've seen already, it is not really the dress that makes an outfit country style. You really can't just sling on any dress and call it country, even if it is gingham, say, or slathered with cherries. The look is comprised of many factors put together.

I think the trick to getting country right is to put together an 'image' that you feel fits the outfit. I like a sort of provincial France or cottage English look, but a Strawberry Shortcake atmosphere is also adorable. I really hope to see more country style around!

Links

My go at country style!
The Lolita Handbook's Guide to Country

Brands for Country Style

Innocent World
BABY the Stars Shine Bright
Angelic Pretty
Victorian Maiden
Mary Magdalene
VM Beth

Labels: guide, spring, summer

Monday, May 4, 2009

Summer Shoes: Secret Shop & Qcute Review

I had never had a pair of lolita open-toe shoes before, and when I saw another girl wearing the same pair, I knew I had to give them a whirl! I'll be reviewing both the actual shoes (from Secret Shop) and the shopping service I used to buy them, Qcute.

The Shoes!

Let's start with the pros. I'm a believer in good news first, right?

They are open-toed, which lends them to a whole new range of options not usually possible with your average lolita shoe. For one, it means showing off your cute toenail polish! I made sure to treat myself to a new bottle of bright 80s pink, called Fuschia Power, by Sally Hansen, but any color you like would look nice. Because they are open-toe, you can definitely get away without wearing knee-high socks, which can be a godsend in summer heat. I have seen the Japanese girls in the Bibles wear socks with open-toed shoes but I can't stomach it, myself. Maybe it's training that socks + sandals = tacky, or maybe it's the more practical reason that I am sure the toes of my socks would be goners, but I won't be wearing socks with these.
They are very adjustable. I have a long foot with long toes and a narrow heel and narrow ankle, so I always need a reliable strap. The front cross-straps are both adjustable, and so are the ballerina ties on top (all of these fasten with a hidden snap; the heart buckle is decorative). If you need them to be even smaller, like me, you can easily poke a new hole where you need it with the tip of a knife or Exacto-knife. But if you have wider ankles and calves, these will also fit you - they have plenty of strap to manipulate.
These are tall! If you don't want to be taller you might not like this, but I'm only 5'2" at best, and these finally put me on level with everyone else! They are on a wedge, and the heel itself is 2 and 1/2 inches high. Because they are on a wedge and not a heel, they are more comfortable to stand in. If you are not used to high heels they might take a little getting used to when walking in them, but if you're a rocking horse or stiletto veteran, you should have no trouble :)
Tiny heart cutouts and faux-lace. Need I say more?!

The cons. Yes, nothing is perfect, and these shoes have some of those.

I believe they are a knockoff of an older Angelic Pretty shoe line. I don't have any problem with this, but if you're against knockoffs in any form, they probably aren't for you. That's the end of that discussion! Moving on!
I got the shoes in the mail, tried them on, clomped around the house, etc. The next day I put them on with the intention of wearing them out. Uh-oh! The ballerina ties are kept in place by a small loop at the back of the heel (similar to tea party shoes, if you own these). The loop had come out of its pocket, where it had been probably glued into place. Using crazy glue, I was able to fix this. The pocket is small, so you my need to widen it a little with an Exacto-knife. So far the glue seems to have held well. If you want more security or the crazy glue does not work, try Gorilla Glue and maybe a few stitches of matching thread. Short of this, try a shoemaker. I'm betting Secret Shop is not going to be interested in a fault in their product. To continue the story: I wore them on Sunday, with the right shoe fixed, only to have the left shoe break in the same way. My tea parties (Secret Shop) have also had the same problem. It seems to be a common defect. But I am under the impression this would also happen with brand shoes, so you might as well get the knockoffs (I don't have direct experience with this, but I have heard that brand shoes are not much better quality and are sometimes made in the same factory! If you would like to comment on your brand vs. offbrand shoes, please do :)
These come with detachable bows. I am not big on detachable bows because I am always sure they will come off and get lost, so whenever I buy a shoe, I mentally remove the detachable bows - I won't be wearing them. They do have bows on the heel however, sewed in place, and I like them without the giant front bows anyway.
If you adjust your straps smaller, you may need to trim them or add extra holes.

QCute!

I can honestly not say enough about how easy and pleasant it was to use QCute as a shopping service. I ordered the shoes with the intent of wearing them on my island vacation this May, and was worried about them getting here before my plane leaves. I mentioned this and I was assured they took 10 days from order to arrival, and they really did. I ordered them, paid the quickly-sent invoice, and 8 days later told my shoes had been shipped. I also received a tracking number, so I could watch them leave Shanghai and arrive at JFK Airport. They were well packaged and came with their Secret Shop eco-tote. They were also marked as 'GIFT' so as to avoid customs. I would definitely recommend them in you have an interest in their products. They sell many kinds of and different makers of shoes and are a courier few Hong Kong lolita brands like Momo Jia, Infanta, Rose Melody, Dear Celine, etc. It also appears they offer some custom sizing for their shoes, which is excellent if you're not an easy shoe size to find.

Love them!

Prognosis? I love them. They have the summery feeling I wanted, can be worn without other clothes outside of Lolita style, and have about the level of quality I expect for lolita shoes. The price was pretty decent as well: about $45 not including shipping. Interested in finding out more?

QCute

See them in action with my new Sugary Carnival jumperskirt!

I'll also be reviewing Starry Candy Box, the service I used to buy my Sugary Carnival jumperskirt, later this week - so stay tuned!

Labels: review, shopping, summer

Monday, March 2, 2009

Hats Off To You!

Every summer, I start to fret about hats. I have very fair skin and shouldn't be out in the sun, medically speaking, so I take the Victorian ideal of sun protection to heart. Last August I wrote 'A Guide to Summer Hats', which had a few links and examples of summer hats. At the bottom, I added a small word on DIY hats. Now that I need to be prepared for spring vacations (I have two retreats to the Southern countryside planned soon - one to a family plantation, another to Kiawah Island!) I got on that.

I found this hat while cleaning out my closet this morning. I wore this to my aunt and uncle's 60th anniversary party when I was nine, because I told my mother I wanted a 'Victorian steamboat' look! (Little Lolitas are precocious, huh?) This was the hat we found - for about $10 at a department store. It's actually pretty classical by itself, isn't it? But I'm more interested in the flashier side of Lolita these days, so I added that inspiration and a little himegyaru for good measure.

There is a rose comb I made from false, velour-like flowers. It hasn't been glued to the hat, just stuck in with the combs, so it's still separately wearable. Then using some self-adhesive round rhinestones, I added little rhinestone accents to the petals. They kind of look like pink dewdrops, don't they?

And then there is a bow that fell off a Claire's headband. The rhinestones are already added, so I just tacked it on with some hot glue. This whole endevor probably took me a whopping twenty minutes. Sticking on the rhinestones was the most time-consuming thing, really.

What do you think? Try it out for yourself!

Labels: crafty loli, summer

Sunday, August 3, 2008

A Guide to Summer Hats

One of the tips people recommend for Lolita summer is hats. They protect the skin on your face from burning, your delicate eyes from squinting, and keep the sun off of your hair. They keep one cool, and looking great doing it.

But if you're like me your hunt for hats may have come up short. In the Lolita world, there are plenty of hats - miniature ones. Now I've nothing against the adorable little confections - but let's face it, they have none of the protective values previously listed, and they're not always easy to wear - they require pinning and tying. So, with that in mind, I've found some good summer hats for you lovely lolitas :)

Sweet/Country

For sweet style, the obvious: BABY and Metamorphose are both carrying or have carried full-size hats. For about 15,000 yen, you can buy one of their straw hats with a signature-style bow, lace ribbon, or roses cluster. They're actually quite simple compared to other hats.

Classic

Innocent World is carrying a straw hat this summer also, in the range of about 7,900 yen. It's even simpler than the BABY hats, with just a few tiny bows. It does have the benefit of tying on with a ribbon however.

If super-simplicity is not your thing but you still want a Victorian look, I recommend several Victorian nostalgia sites. Several I have found include:

http://www.blanchesplace.com/id36.html (some suitable for Gothic)
http://roses-and-teacups.com/hats-victorian-bridal.php (some hats also suitable for Sweet)
http://pearlys-charm.com/category_31/Hat-Makers-by-Appointment-.htm (also available in children's sizes and some hats bordering on miniature size; suitable for all types)
http://3-f.jp/ (Gothic & Classic; will require shopping service)

These hats range in price from 40USD to 80USD.

Gothic

If you're looking for something black and covered in veils, the above links have you covered as well - a lot of the hats are darker themed, as would befit an older Victorian lady or perhaps a lady in mourning. Black netting is especially popular, and I like the idea of a mysterious shadowed pattern across a Gothic Lolita's face on a bright day. And of course there are some similar, beautifully black rococo hats offered by BABY this season.

DIY

If you're handy in the crafts department, you can try to make your own hat. You can either buy a straw hat without decoration and then decorate it yourself with lace, broad ribbon, fabric sashes, false flowers, and false fruit; deconstruct another hat to use as a base for decorating (i.e, remove its ribbon to replace it, etc.); or you can find a millinery book and learn to make your own hats from top to bottom.

Please let me know if I've missed anything, you have any questions, or tips!

Labels: summer

Gothic Summer

Update: You can now read this post in Spanish! Translation courtesy of Ana.

I've seen a lot of notes recently beseeching our lovely Lolitas to wear white or pale colors in the heat, and a few sobbing Gothic Lolitas who are distraught with the idea of giving up their precious black! So, with this in mind, I've decided to give some ideas for pale-colored Gothic Lolita!

White can be gothic too.

Take a look at Alice Auaa, H. naoto, etc., and you'll see plenty of ghostly, shroud-like whites and soft greys. I've posted some examples from Closet Child, though admittedly some of these are a little deconstructed/aristocratic.

http://www.closet-child.com/shop/list.php?no=658SK-2663s
http://www.closet-child.com/shop/list.php?no=664SK-2621h
http://www.closet-child.com/shop/list.php?no=666OP-3756s

Items to look for: batwing collar blouses in white, white or grey corsets and bustiers, long linen-esque white skirts.

Spiderweb Style

If you still can't give up on black, try making your fabric lighter. I have a light linen dress in black that could not be cooler - because it's very lightweight and breezy. Crocheted black lace, black eyelet fabric, and loosely crocheted black thread gives a spiderweb style that lets you breathe! So try to drop the heavy velvets and brocades for a while and wear some black cotton.

Accessorize me, baby.

Jewelry is one of the best ways to put the Gothic into these lighter wardrobe options. Suppurate System is a favourite of mine - a simple white or grey dress can look hauntingly beautiful if paired with some crosses, wilted roses in glass, and black-beaded rosaries. Slip in some black beads, skull motifs, and antiqued silver. A traditional white parasol, possibly with a pagoda shape, would be viciously pointy too :) If you're used to wearing huge black boots or love platforms, they make some great platform open-toed flip flops and sandals. I have a pair of black foam Demonias about four inches high that are great. Another option is black geta. Black lace fans? A veil to keep direct sunlight from your face? What else can you think of?

Hair & Makeup

If you're into a sort of period look, try an upsweep, Gibson Girl hairstyle, French twist, or classic bun. It will keep the hair off your neck and looks fairly classy. Black or white false roses could be gorgeous stuck in it - or perhaps some sweeping black feathers? See what you can find or try making your own. I'm a big fan of making my own floral corsages with an empty hair comb, hot glue and wire :) As for makeup, try a tinted moisturizer with SPF, a little vanilla eyeshadow, and a clear gloss. This keeps the look without a lot of garish color. If you like, try waterproof mascara.

Hope you enjoyed my tips for not giving up your Gothic Lolita when the heat comes sneaking along. If all else fails, try to only go out at night, when it's cooler ^_^