Lolita Challenges

Hey everyone~

As summer comes to an end and the temperatures cool in my hemisphere, I have come to realize that it's been over three months since I've worn lolita at all. Though I have wanted to, I have not put together a coordinate and gone out since the day of my wedding--and frankly, I miss it loads! So much time on hiatus got me thinking about the different reasons why people take a break from lolita fashion, and I came up with a list of seven challenges that get in the way of dressing up as much as we'd like.

The following obstacles I thought of are not listed in any particular order:

1) Weather
It's been super hot lately up where I live. The mugginess and high temperatures make wearing lolita out and about not only uncomfortable but dangerous. If you're not careful enough, you can dehydrate or get heatstroke! Some people brave even hotter temperatures somehow, and I have no idea how they do it. They have my utmost respect! I am too concerned about sweating all over my things or feeling like I'm going to pass out to try it.

2) Time
Getting ready in lolita can be pretty time consuming. For a more toned down coordinate, it still takes me about half hour to forty five minutes to get dressed, put makeup on, do my hair, etc. Sometimes you just don't have that kind of time, specially when you work far away or have to get up early. Or sometimes it's the time to take off lolita that is scarce. It happens to me often that I might have a good hour to spare before an event but it might be scheduled too close together with something else for which lolita is not appropriate or would not be comfortable. Bad timing, I guess.

3) Motivation
Even when the temperatures are balmy and there is leisure time to spare, it is all for naught if you lack the motivation to dress up. You might be feeling lazy, having a bad day, or want to feel comfortable for the day-- heck, you might even be fighting your own demons and be exhausted from that. Either way, sometimes we just don't feel up to taking part in the ritual that is putting on and donning lolita through the day or even just an event.

4) Income
Maybe you are in a wardrobe rut and need just the right accessory to get your creative juices flowing. A pair of shoes? A cardigan? Maybe something basic like a petticoat or a blouse. If you don't have the money to purchase items for your coordinates, it can be a bit challenging to bring yourself to wear old things, rework older outfits, or build your second coordinate if you are a beginner. Lolita fashion is expensive, so money can always be a limiting factor for participation.

5) Having an occasion
I used to wear lolita to class and to my internship sometimes, but I find that, since graduating, I haven't been going out much. I've spent most of my days inside the house cleaning and getting things unpacked after my recent move, so I haven't really had occasion to don my frilly clothes. Sometimes, in particularly busy months, we might forget to make time for our hobby and, before we know it, it's been forever since we have worn anything!

6) Dedication to the aesthetic despite rules
Let's be real: Lolita can be pretty demanding in comparison to other fashions. There has to be a certain balance and attention to detail that make it both fun and challenging. But sometimes you just aren't feeling it. Sometimes it's just easier to toss on a comfortable fairy-kei outfit that's still colorful but doesn't necessarily require as much involvement. Maybe you love the cozy feeling of mori-kei on particular autumn afternoons and would rather layer yourself up in neutral, natural colors than be a puffy cupcake. Some days the rigidity of lolita can be repelling, even if we love it and come back to it in the end.

7) That time of the month
This one is a reason to not want to wear anything fancy for me. A lot of people struggle with irregular or excessive periods, and it affects the time they feel comfortable wearing any sort of special clothing, be it because they fear it might get ruined, or because they don't feel physically well enough to wear many layers or constrictive clothes. For all my peeps out there dealing with periods, best of luck and may you not stain anything you love~

Are any of these challenges common in your lolita life? Are there any I didn't mention that you contend with often? How do you get around them to practice this hobby you love? Let me know below and we can compare notes~

Keiko out~

Lolita Art - Featuring Storm Neverland (Pretty Pictures~!)

Hey hey everyone!
It's Keiko here, and today I want to introduce you all to another lolita artist: Storm Neverland!

Still taking stories for comic strips!

Storm Neverland is an Italian artist based in London. I first ran into their art in instagram, where they were looking for Lolita stories to illustrate. The comic strips that came as a result are excellent, from their beautiful, vibrant colors to their delicate attention to print detail. My favorite part, however, is their light-hearted depiction of the day-to-day realities of dressing in the fashion--directly from the mouth of lolitas themselves. If you would like to see the strips, you can find them in Storm Neverland's facebook and Tapastic pages.

I submitted a story to her early on and was featured in a comic myself!

I decided to feature Storm Neverland's art because, not only do I love it, but I think it provides a great visual representation of lolita life for those who do not participate in the hobby. Aside from the comics, there are other illustrations that show the more relaxed, realistic side of wearing the fashion...

as well as just generally keeping it real.

There are gothic and classic versions of this! As well as pins!

All in all, I can easily say that I look forward to reading the strips as they come out and to see more of Storm's work in the future. If you are interested in their style or a little something for yourself, Storm is open for commissions right now! Feel free to reach out through their official facebook page.

Do you have a fun lolita story to share? Feel free to share it in the comments below, or even shoot Storm a message!

As always, thanks for reading and see you soon~

Keiko out~

Birthday Package Goodies (Pictures aplenty!)

Hello everyone~
It's Keiko here and I have (finally) returned!

I've been having a bit of a rough time the past month and found it hard to get inspired to write, so I was away for a good while...

But now I'm back! And I'm here to show you peeps what came in the mail for my birthday in August! I placed an order with Japonica Market Shopping Service for some goodies I found in Mercari Japan. They were pretty cheap-- the order in total (shipping, ss fees, items, etc) was $150 USD!

Here's what I got:

• AP's Moko Moko Socks in Black

I got these used for 500 yen. They have sparkly golden dots, but the lighting doesn't really bring them out orz...

• AP's A la Carte Tea Time Headbow in Black

I got this baby for 888 Yen. This might not seem like a big find, but I've been searching high and low for it for nearly two years! A la Carte Tea Time was part of a lucky pack a while ago, so it's often sold in sets that sellers are unwilling to break. I had managed to snag the JSK, socks, and barrette all in black separately over time, but I really wanted the headbow! I'm pretty obsessive about having matching headwear for certain pieces for some reason...

• AP's Musee du Chocolat Brooch in Ivory x Brown

I snagged this item for 1555 Yen. I used to own this item a long time ago, but then sold it and regretted it. I look forward to incorporating it in my coordinates, since a good portion of my wardrobe has ivory, brown, gold, or all three!

• Heart E Pink Beret

I love berets. They are some of my favorite headwear and I currently own some in brown, ivory, red, and black --naturally, I needed a pink one! I spotted this one in Yahoo Japan for 800 yen and I just had to get it.

• Baby, The Stars Shine Bright 2-way Heart Purse in BlackxBlack

This last item is probably what I consider to be my biggest steal! It was only 4000 yen (around $40 USD) when I've seen it selling between $100-140USD! It is used, obviously, but it is in great condition! I am really looking forward to incorporating it in coordinates, since it is so neutral and versatile.

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Have you made any purchases lately? If so, what kind of bargains have you found? Let me know all about it below :D!

Keiko out~

Where to Buy Lolita and Other New Pages

Hey there, everyone!

You might have noticed that there's been a couple additions to keep the 'home' button company in the top ribbon of the blog. That's right-- new pages have been added!

 

While they're a work in progress for the most part, I wanna call your attention to the 'Where to Buy Lolita' page. You can check that out here. It is basically an extensive list of places where you can get lolita clothing or accessories new, used, consigned, resold, etc. If you have any suggestions about places to add, please feel free to leave a comment or shoot me an email!

Keiko out~!

Lolita Trading Suggestions

Hey there, everybody!
Keiko here~

Today, I thought I'd talk about trading lolita items. Selling is mentioned a lot, but trading seems to be skipped often. I think it's because many people get nervous with even the mention of trading--and it's hard to blame them, as many things could go wrong when sending expensive items halfway across the country/continent/world. But that's exactly why I thought to write on this topic.

I have only traded twice myself. Though both of those times were within my own country, one trade was nerve-wracking and the other straightforward. As a result of these experiences, I feel like I've picked up some tips that might be useful for those considering a bit of change in their wardrobe.

Without further ado, here are some tips on lolita trading:

When Making a WTT Post

- Keep market value of your item in mind: You can't really ask for rare pieces if you're putting a lucky pack item up for trade, but you also don't want to get something cheaper/more damaged in exchange for an item in good condition.
- Make what you are looking for clear on your WTT post: If you are looking to trade and have made a post about it, you should try to make sure you clarify what kind of items or what specific pieces you are looking to trade for. This will minimize the risk of people bothering you with irrelevant or unequal offers. Bonus points if you create a picture or collage of the items you are looking for vs. what you have!

When you've found someone interested in trading

- Look at feedback: Is this person trustworthy within the community? Have they sold items as well as buying? Trading with another experienced lolita tends to have less bumps in the road than with a newbie.
- Take and ask for lots of proof pictures: It goes without saying that proof pictures are essential. Ask for proof picture of the item's front and back, close-up of details or the print, etc. Bonus points for taking pictures of the item(s) next to a handwritten note with a message of your choice.

After accepting a trade offer

- Consider swapping money over paypal: While you are trading items and preferably don't want to spend money, some people exchange a set amount over paypal in case the deal goes south. You can open a paypal dispute that way if the item doesn't arrive or has undisclosed damages.
- Consider insuring the packages: If you don't want to spend the amount of money of a dress through paypal (or if you want to take an extra step), you can also insure the parcels up to a set amount of money. That way, if something happens in the mail, you will at least get some money back.
- Agree on a shipping method beforehand: This will save you a lot of hassle in the long run. It is easier to just pick a shipping method you both agree on so that you know about when to expect your parcel, if it has a tracking number or insurance, etc.
- Decide on a specific shipping date: Setting a date for both of you to ship on helps reduce the anxiety of trading a lot.
- Give each other proof of sending the parcel: Whether it's a picture of the receipt, a notification through paypal, and/or a tracking number, always make sure to update each other on when the parcel has left your hands and is en-route to the new owner.

Once the trade has been completed

- Notify of parcel arrival: It's the polite thing to do to notify the other party that the parcel has arrived safely. It lifts a weight off their shoulders just at it does for you when you know your things aren't lost in the mail!
- Leave feedback if appropriate: This includes ratings in lacemarket, facebook, a personal page or blog, etc.
- Enjoy your new acquisition!

Have you ever traded before? How did it go? Feel free to share your experiences, horror stories, and tips below~!

Keiko out~

Lolita Art - Featuring Coarsefur

Hey everyone!
Keiko here~

I was browsing tumblr a while ago and I ran across some stunning doodles from a blogger named coarsefur. I really loved their style, as I draw a lot in pencil/mechanical pencil myself rather than digitally and felt a bit closer to their work because of that.

Though coarsefur doesn't seem to publish their art much, they have great attention to detail. I specially enjoy how they draw eyes and mouths, as well as what they choose for the simple backgrounds of their portraits. The drawings all have a lot of personality to them!

One of coarsefur's lovely portraits

I look forward to seeing more of their work in the future, so I followed the blog. If you wanna see more of their artwork, you can do so here.

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Do you have a tumblr? What are some of your favorite lolita tumblr blogs? Let me know in the comments below~

Looking Back: 2 Year Loliversary (Picture Heavy)

Hello everyone!
Keiko here~

My loliversary AND birthday are tomorrow so I figured it was time to look back a little.

It's been two years now since I first joined the lolita community, but it feels like it was only yesterday when I welcomed my first lolita dress into my life. I had been intermittently following lolita fashion for a while, feeling like frilly life was only a dream reserved for people from another beautiful world, when my then boyfriend offered to split the price of an OP as a birthday present. This was how Milky Planet's first release OP in black came to be in my possession.

At the time, $250usd for an article of clothing seemed preposterous--I only came to learn much later that it hadn't been a bad deal for an OP and socks set of its popularity. It was my first piece of brand and my first piece of lolita and, though its pastel-colored, glittery aesthetic no longer suits my tastes, I remember it fondly. It serves as a reminder of how much I have changed since I started wearing lolita, and makes me wonder what the future holds for me.

Style Switch

My fashion sense evolution has been stark over the last two years. I have definitely come far from first dabbling in the colorful world of fairy kei and admiring the contrasting bittersweetness pastel prints on black colorways.. Though I love them dearly in their own right still and definitely still have pieces of them in my wardrobe, I tend to follow more muted tones in lolita.

I would say that my wishlist best reflects this change over time. For instance, the first time I actively wrote down pieces I was interested in --back when print names were a puzzle and all brands melded into one,- I had an obvious inclination for a 'bittersweet' lolita closet. Prints like French Cafe, Miracle Candy, Milky-chan the Fawn, and Sugary Carnival were constantly at the top.

I have outgrown this penchant somewhat, though A la Carte Tea Time and Little Bear's Cafe are leftover from this 'sweet and edgy' phase. Today, I look at other colors. My primary focus is to stick to a color palette including brown, ivory, pink, and black. Nearly all my main pieces have one or more of these colors, which simplifies accessorizing and helps keep the wardrobe (somewhat) cohesive overall. You can check my already hella outdated wardrobe post out here to see what I mean.

Coordinate Changes

Though there is always place for improvement, I am glad to say that my coordination skills have improved since I first donned Milky Planet. It is much easier to create outfits to wear now that I have more materials to work with. Still, I aspire to up my game much, much more to do justice to my favorite pieces. Here's a quick before and after:

Helpful Hindsight

I've thought about it some, and I figured that there are some things I wish I had known, done, or NOT done back then. I figured I'd list them in case there are some readers who might just be starting out or maybe just considering getting into lolita.

What do I wish I knew then that I know now?

• Prints come and go a lot. It might suck to miss or lose an auction for a piece you really, really want, but it will (most likely) come up again eventually.
• Building a good wardrobe takes time and patience. You don't need to try to get everything at once. In fact, it's probably better if you don't, since your tastes will change as you try things out and grow.
• Similar garments/accessories don't necessarily go well together. Evaluate the quality, themes, size, style, etc. of materials to make coordinates more interesting and cohesive.
• Shopping services are not nearly as scary as they look
• Yahoo Japan, Mercari, and Mbok are your very best friends for good deals. Also see above if you feel intimidated.

What I wish I hadn't done (and possible solutions)

• Buying/trading prints without price-checking first. I've lost some money on things because I thought they were pretty or popular and wanted them no matter what. 

Solution: Creating a specific wishlist with set parameters of cut/color/size/motif and sticking to it. Also checking the market for prices regularly and shopping around.

• Succumbed to popular tastes and bought an expensive dress because of it. I got holy lantern in black before the re-release and lost out on a LOT of money because I traded it away in a hurry for something half its value. 

Solution: Evaluate why you want to buy a dress (popularity, rarity, personal taste, etc). Sort out your priorities and stick to them when making decisions.

• Impulse buy. I did a fair amount of this in the beginning because I was eager to watch my closet grow. It led to me reselling many pieces later because I discovered 2010 OTT sweet wasn't really what I wanted to do. 

Solution: Plan out what you think you'd like your wardrobe to look like, considering both what you already wear, and how comfortable you are with the idea of changing the way you accessorize. Bonus points for thinking of cuts and colors that would suit you and some basic accessories to help you maximize the versatility of your first coordinates.

What I wish I had done

• Purchase solid basics first. I got a dress before I got a petticoat, and it consequently sat alone and unused until the first petticoat arrived.
• Get into Taobao sooner so I could bulk-order basic blouses, shoes, wigs, etc. instead of picking them up one-by-one
• Paced myself when buying and cataloguing new pieces. I wish I'd gotten into the habit of regulating and tracking my pieces more closely. I did a loooot of buying at the beginning and my resources drained fairly quickly because of it. Though I took some pictures of most things I bought, I wish I had kept a closer account via spreadsheet of all my purchases. Having a reference for the price bought/price sold/market price of each item I own would be useful when listing things for sale or trade, and it would give me a better sense of where I am at in terms of investing in lolita (doing it too much? Have I slowed down? Is it time for a break, or a haul?)

Concluding Considerations

The past two years have been trying personally. I have learned a lot about myself, my style, and the ever-changing nature of my goals. I have grown and improved through practice and a love for this fashion that is both structured and liberating at once. I look forward to many more years of having fun with lolita, and to discovering new things about myself through it.

Thank you so much for sticking with me in the most recent leg of this journey and through this incredibly long blog post. I hope you could gain something from my ramblings and wish you a great weekend!

Birthday-Girl out~!