52 Weeks: Purses That I Love

This week's "52 Weeks" challenge is a very "chill" one, and though quite appropriate, as spring is approaching here in the northern hemisphere. To a lot of Lolitas, that means spring cleaning! Spring cleaning of their closets, that is. What better way to celebrate that than to browse the interwebs for new items for this years Lolita collections?

As the owner of a sad little collection of no more than 3 purses, this topic is one that I've been starving for.

Personally, I have a weakness for purses that do not look like purses, so that's what I'll be hunting for. I'm gonna put the links to the stuff I find throughout the post!

To me, it adds a lot to the feel of a coordinate, if the bag is like a prop to the story your outfit is telling. Giant candy or biscuit bags, like the one above from taobao, gives an "Alice in Wonderland" or "Strawberry Shortcake" feel. As if you were a tiny princess in a land of giant sweets!

The same goes for treasure chests, crowns, or bags camouflaged as books! They're not "just" a purse. 

One of the famous Alice and the Pirates book purses!
Someday you will be mine. Just wait.

The newest bag in my collection is a purse made from a book. It was made by NovelCreations on Etsy! She goes out and purchases old books, and turns them into purses. If you want, you can get the pages that she removed as well. I wanted the "Jane Eyre" purse that she listed in her shop, but you can also request to have a specific book turned into a purse for you!

Another cute find from Taobao!

I also have a bit of a weakness for bags that look like musical instruments. It adds a bunch of elegance to a classic or gothic coord, IMO. I already have a violin bag, but it only kind of looks like a violin, and it's really worn. It just doesn't look good anymore. I need a new one!

So many bags I need. So little money! Well, I guess it just needs to go on my "To-Buy" List. Whether we like it or not, a good bag completes a coord, even more than a nice parasol does.

I hope this post inspired you girls a little bit, when it comes to what your closet needs this coming spring!

52 Weeks: The Ways in Which I Do Not Fit the Cliché

This week's 52 Weeks Lolita Challenge is one that I was looking forward to, as I thought that "this is gonna be fun and interesting!" but, well, I actually found it to be a lot tougher than I thought it was gonna be. Of course I fart and burp like any normal person- even if the ladies' in us want to deny it.

But these are a couple of things that I, specifically, do or enjoy, that are not very "Lolita"-like.

1. My taste in games
According to the Lolita stereotype, as I see it, a "proper" Lolita is supposed to enjoy games like "Animal Crossing" or various japanese romantic RPG's. The Classic and Gothic Lolita are not as such known to be gamers, but more the 'bookish types'
I, personally, like games where you get to go on an adventure, or shape the story by your decision. Some of my favorites include Assassins Creed, Skyrim and, as of recently, "The Walking Dead"! All of these are games with a lot of killing. A bit of blood. And for the last one, a LOT of guts. Literally.

2. Looking Picture Perfect. At All Times.

I do not. I really, really do not. At least half the week, I go sans make-up. My hair is messy, my clothes tend to be whatever I find to be closest to me when I open the closet. There is only one reason for this: I bike to school every other day to stay in shape, which means biking 18 kilometers each way. To be able to do this, I have to get up pretty early, and I need to be comfortable along the way. And I value my sleep too much to get up even earlier to have the time to fix myself up when I get there! I don't need to impress anyone, and I'm comfortable. Why should I?

3. Constant Closet Renewal.
The "Perfect Lolita" always has something in the mail, both going out, but especially coming home. It doesn't have to be directly from a brand store; It can be a GIANT Taobao order (The cheaper, the more stuff!) or a couple or 5 pieces from Closetchild, the comm sales or Yahoo JP. I find this to be one of the most innacurate aspects of the Lolita stereotype, and seriously also one of those that could make new Lolitas feel sub-par. As if they're not commited enough to the fashion! To some people, constant purchasing is just not an option, even if you work your frilly butt off. As a student with a job, and a Lolita on a budget, my wardrobe grows very, very slowly. On average I acquire about 2 or so new pieces a year, and usually, my order consists of 1 dress and maybe a matching accessory, like 2-3 pairs of socks and a matching bonnet. It's not that I do not want to buy stuff, you know? I just dislike being broke. There's nothing as scary as an empty wallet when you have to support yourself! 


The Lifestyle Lolita ideal can be very scary and limiting to a lot of new Lolitas. Many Lolitas strive to free themselves from the unattainable ideals of mainstream society, but truth be told, the ideals of Lolita world are just as limiting and fake as the ones we see in mainstream magazines.

A skinny girl, 1,5 m. tall with the perfect Juliette and Justine measurements and a "Day Dream Carnival" wallet heavy with yen, who lives in a pink world of limited edition "Sailor Moon" merch and french pastries with a cherry on top?
Thank you, but no thank you! If that is you, that's just fine, and I hope you appreciate your luck! But not everyone has that, and not everybody would be happy like that.

Some girls like guns, brains and look like a catfish when they wake up in the morning. 
That's life, and thank god for that!

52 Weeks: Bloomers or no Bloomers?

Let's pretend it's still Sunday, as I put up this week's Lolita Blog Challenge post, OK? Just play along, for my sake. Real life and all, ya know.. *cough*
This week's theme I just hadn't seen coming, so I really grinned when I read what was next to number 28 on my list of themes. 

But that also says a lot about how overlooked bloomers actually are, as a part of Lolita fashion!

Personally, I am a huge fan of bloomers, for multiple reasons. Many people prefer to wear bloomers, simply for practical reasons. In a fashion that is mainly based on skirts with a lot of.. open space underneath, that is kept in place by luxuriously flowy layers of light fabrics, you're bound to get into situations where the skirt will say "Shoosh!" and suddenly a gust of air turned your skirt upside down, so you look like a walking icecream cone instead of a cute little bell, and granted everybody the sight of your underwear. In such a situation, bloomers can save your dignity in a pinch.

The simple task of walking up a flight of stairs gets slightly uncomfortable as well, if you aren't at least wearing a pair of shorts underneath. 

And admittedly, bloomers are just about 20 times cuter.

I wear shorts for the reasons stated above, but even if shorts make a nice enough substitute, a pair of proper bloomers are somewhere near the top of my "To-Buy list". 

But why would I spend money on something that I really don't NEED? I have something that works in it's place, and bloomers are not really part of the RULES or anything. They're not even visible, most of the times!

Here's why!
I think bloomers are a very interesting aspect of Lolita fashion as, as far as I'm concerned, Lolita is the only subculture that has developed in such a way, that it even has appropriate and characteristic underwear! It's kind of symbolic, in a sense. Bloomers are not meant to be seen by anyone, except on accident. Well, some bloomers are made long on purpose so that you will be able to see just a little bit of the lace sticking out beneath the hem of your skirt. It adds a bit of extra charm. 

But most bloomers are made short enough today, that it's clear that they're really just meant to be known by you, and only you. 

It goes to show, that Lolita is something that you are. It's not just about what other people see. 

It's something that you identify as.

I just feel a lot more "Lolita" when I'm wearing bloomers. It makes me feel good, to be Lolita from the inside and out, if that makes sense. 

Bloomers are adorable, frilly, and just for you to enjoy! Also, they make the very best lounge wear!

52 Weeks: How Long it Took Me to Build a Complete Wardrobe

This week's 52 Weeks Lolita Blog Challenge is to write a post about how long it took me to build a complete wardrobe. As this topic could really just be answered with a number, I'm gonna reflect upon my wardrobe's current state.

In short, I'd say that I do not, at all, have a complete Lolita wardrobe. What a "complete" Lolita wardrobe is to me, is a wardrobe that has reached it's "final size"- The Lolita feels like (s)he doesn't need to add any more pieces, but instead sells off a little to buy new pieces once in a while. It's more a matter of renewal than growth.
I haven't quite reached that point yet. I still feel like I need to add a bunch more stuff! I need more blouses, more shoes, more bags and accessories! And of course, more dresses, whenever I get the funds to add something in that department. 

I know that many Lolitas define a "complete" wardrobe in a different way than I do. They instead consider a wardrobe complete, when you have enough stuff that you can wear a new outfit every day for a week, or two weeks, or a month. I could, without trouble, wear a new outfit every day for a very long period of time. It took me about 2 years or so, to get to that point, and of course my wardrobe has been slowly growing just a little bit ever since. I would love to purchase a new dress every month or every 2 months, but as it is now, that is not an option. I'm very cheap, in the sense that even if I love to purchase new things, I hate to spend money. That means that I'm practically never broke, but also that I'm probably not gonna be a "MC Melody Doll" until I'm 30. 

Sewing is not cheap, either. I sew because I like it, not to save money. Fabric is pricey, even if it's not as expensive as brand. I feel a little less guilty when purchasing fabric because I can tell myself it's a hobby that'll help me better myself.

In short, I haven't yet! It's taken me years to get to where I am, but I still have a long road ahead of me! My wardrobe is all over the place, with Gothic, Sweet and Classic pieces, due to my slow transition through the hues, and my dream is to add to all of these genres (though I think I'm slowly drifting away from Gothic).

Be quiet, wallet! You and I are going on adventures, like it or not!

52 Weeks: The Ways in Which I Fit the Cliché

This week's topic of the weekly Lolita blog challenge has been decided by destiny (aka. Random.org) and is numbler 42! I'm gonna talk about the ways in which I fit the both dreaded and loved Lolita cliché!

Despite Lolita being sort of an "umbrella-term" that covers so many different substyles and aesthetics, some of which are almost polar opposites, there is a general cliché as to what the ideal "Lifestyle Lolita" likes and should be. This sweet, polite maiden of class, who enjoys a good tea party, survives on nothing but cake and oxygen, and does nothing if there's the risk of getting her wig in a tangle.

Too good to be true, of course! But is there a chance that I share some common traits with this goddess of Lolita-dom? 

Guilty as charged- Tea parties are gold!

Tea parties are my favorite type of meet-up. Even better, if they're at somebody's house, and everybody bring homemade cakes and fingerfoods! Tea parties are the perfect way to catch up, gossip or get to know each other. The atmosphere is a lot more intimate than going to the movies or to the museum. Also, you don't have to worry about money or being able to reserve a table! 

There are really no cons, I think. Especially if everybody helps with the clean-up afterwards.

I love baking- Especially macarons!

Lolita fashion is crazy about macarons. You could probably spot the little french pastry in more prints than you could fluffy kittens, and even in prints where they make no sense. While I might not be as skilled a pastry maker as little miss Lifestyle Lolita, I love baking! I use almost any excuse I can get to whip out some type of cake, and the more creative I can get with the recipe, the better. When I choose to stick to the recipe, however, I love making macarons. Also because they're quite challenging to get right!

Bram Stoker, Jane Austen, Edgar Allan Poe.. I love my oldies!

I enjoy the classics, like a real lady (haha!). "Dracula" is a beautiful piece of literature with a touch of action, "Pride and Prejudice" is hilarious but romantic, and the works of Edgar Allan Poe makes you consider things you'd never thought of before. The man might have been.. complicated company, but reading him is complicated in the way I enjoy. 

If you're not easily bored by difficult, old-fashioned language, there is something for everyone on the classic bookshelf.

 I'm still looking to get a copy of "Jane Eyre", too. The movie was awesome!

Needle and thread? Well..
I have recently started making my own stuff, so I guess I can kind of/sort of put that one on my list. Apart from that, I've always been a creative soul. I love drawing, and my style range from the Tim Burton-esque to "Sailor Senshi! Kawaii!" stuff. 

Skillwise, these are the ways that I'd say that I fit the bill. I may add, that I have watched Kamikaze Girls and bought the book, I decorate my house with antiques, etc. and etc. 

The rest of the cliché is more a matter of personality. The way I get the cliché Lolita, she's always sweet and polite, and if we are to trust the forementioned "Kamikaze Girls" story, she's a loner who hangs around nobody, except maybe her immense collection of teddybears and porcelain dolls.
Though I do like porcelain dolls and oldfashioned teddybears, and I thrive in my own company most of the time, I think the "polite" and "sweet" part is something that everybody should strive for.

The Lolita community is kind of split up on the "Lolita's should be sweet and polite!" stereotype. Some people seem to have a hard time with people 'telling them what to do' and complain loudly and obnoxiously whenever it is mentioned, and then they try as much as they can to show how tough and non-sugary they are (usually by cursing like sailors and talking about how much alcohol they consume and how hard they party). 

They forget that being polite is not the same thing as being a doormat.

No, people shouldn't tell other people what to do. But I'm gonna do it anyway, with this one.
I'm pretty sure I'm both sweet and polite, at least most of the time. 

And everybody should stive to be so, Lolita or not.

This post turned into a bit of a ramble in the end, but I hope you get what I'm saying.

In which way do you fit the Lolita cliché?
I can't wait to get to talk about the opposite- How I don't! Haha!

PS. I have a really exciting post coming up! A small hint: It's a new Indie Brand interview! So keep checking back for the good stuff!

52 Weeks: Favorite Hairstyle

This week's 52 Weeks Lolita Challenge is to talk about my favorite hairstyle! 

Sadly, I'll be talking about a way too rare one. It's pretty much extinct, actually.
My Favorite Lolita hairstyle is- Ringlets!

And I'm talking real ringlets, not the "Hollyweed Ringlets" that more resemble heavy wavey-hair.

Ringlets are the classic princess hairstyle, and the most preferred 'do for antique dolls. I suspect that as Lolita has slowly moved away from the "antique doll" ideal, they have at the same time cast-out this elegant, oldfashioned perm. 

Many people may consider ringlets to be "extreme". They're not as natural as the long, wavey hairstyles that are favored by most Lolitas today (even the Sweet-oriented ones!), but I think they fit the aesthetic and is able to add a little bit of cute, opulent spice to most coordinates! As Lolita has been gradually moving towards a more natural look the past years, I hope we get to see ringlets and other Old-School elements resurface.

Ringlets are also a pretty versatile hairstyle. They ARE a little like more extreme curls, in that matter. Below I'm gonna post a couple of inspirational photos to show how ringlets can be worn, apart from letting them hang loose like in the wig-photo above.

Old-School Pigtails

Awesome late-60's Updo! I think this could look pretty badass in a hime-coord

Pinned back with a long ponytail!

I myself would wear ringlets, if my hair wasn't so stubborn! It refuses to stay curled. I've gotta find a solution to that somehow...
I hope this opened more people's eyes to the beauty of the good old ringlet-style! 

52 Weeks: Trends I Thought I'd Never Get Into

Oops, I missed a week! Oh well.. I've been studying a lot. I guess I'm excused, a little bit. 

(And yesterday I spent like 12 hours sewing non-stop! I'm gonna show you guys when I'm finished with my first Lolita-related project!)

Time to get back in the routine! This week's blog challenge topic is about the trends that I've been shaking my head or rolling my eyes at in the past, but I'm now lovin'! 

One of the prints I'm currently coveting.

Cute Prints
Back when I first got into Lolita, I was attracted to a Mary Magdalene-ish classic style, cute bowler hats and the like. I was a classy lady! But as time has passed, I've slowly been sucked into Cotton Candy Land, and a few of the prints at the top of my wishlist could give you cavities now.

The bigger the better!

Headeating Bows
At first I thought they were outlandish and childish, but as you get used to them, they grow on you. Also in a literal sense. The longer I stay in the fashion, the bows I prefer seem to grow in size as well!
(And here I am, joking about men's "strange fascination with size"...)

"Dolly" Gyaru Make-up
I would never claim that it looks "natural". And that's not the point! To me, it gives off a "mahou shoujo" sort of feeling. I've fallen head over heels in love with the false lashes on the lower lashline, the shiny-ness, pink cheeks and the huge circle lenses. Over-the-top makeup to complete an over-the-top outfit!
I need to practice some more and invest in some good quality falsies! 

Do you find that your tastes have changed since you got into Lolita? In what way? I love to hear stories of how other people grow in Lolita fashion!

52 Weeks: How I Get Out of a Wardrobe Slump

This week's topic for the 52 Week Lolita Blog Challenge is one I've not actually thought of before, but I hope it can be a bit of an inspiration for somebody out there!

So, how do I get out of a "Wardrobe Slump"?
Most of us do not have an unlimited wardrobe or unlimited funds to buy new items whenever we get bored with whatever we have in our closets. No matter how great I feel in my favorite dresses or even my favorite usual coordinates, It's always fun to experiment!

Experimentation is what usually gets me out of it. I like playing around with unusual color combinations the most. One of my favorite unusual combinations are blue, red and white. Red and blue can go surprisingly well together, as long as it has a neutral color in the mixture to break it up.

Since most people own prints these days, I'm gonna use a print as an example of my "unusual color" tactic.

Angelic Pretty's "Milky Chan" print, you can see that the obvious coordination choices would be coordinating it with either white or pink items. Maybe a tiny bit of brown, but nothing overwhelming. But I think an interesting choice to do something out of the ordinary, would be to bring out the blue butterflies. Maybe you could coordinate it with a blue blouse and blue socks with pink detailing? Maybe instead of coordinating it with the usual baby pink, try some hot pink to match the fawn's hot pink bows!

Most people probably do this from time to time, but another idea is to look beyond the limited Lolita wardrobe and through your pile of every day clothes. Some of it, or most of it, may not be Lolitable, but if you're just trying to be creative and is wearing it for yourself, it doesn't matter as much!

 Try building a coordinate around a leather jacket, a belt that you like, a cute sweater..

 I wear t-shirts instead of cutsews from time to time in casual coordinates, and I'd still say that my coordinates qualify as Lolita. One of my favorite ideas currently, is wearing "fandom" t-shirts with my Lolita clothes. It combines two things that I love! Think out of just Lolita fashion to other things that you're passionate about, and try to incorporate it into your coordinates. 

It doesn't have to be as blatantly obvious as a t-shirt.
It can be in details that remind you of your passion, like jewelery, hairstyles, shoes, colorschemes, make-up, or whatever you can think of!

These are the ways that I usually get out of wardrobe slumps, and as you can see, they all of course involves poking your brain to make it think a little out of the box. 

Even if Lolita fashion has a lot of "rules" and guidelines, it is not off-limits to color out of the lines. One of the fun aspects is actually turning the guidelines around and see how much you can actually get to fit inside the framework!

I recommend that you go to your closet, rummage through it and pull out a big pile of stuff to play around with! Maybe you will find that perfect New Years outfit somewhere in there!

52 Weeks: Predict the Next Lolita Trend!

For this week's installment of the 52 Weeks Lolita Blog Challenge, I will be taking a look into my crystalball to predict the next big trend of 2014!

Instead of predicting just one trend, I think I'm gonna mention a few that are kind of connected to each other, in what I think will become the "2014 Lolita Look".

Rose Melody has already got 2014 down.

In 2014, I think Lolita will continue moving forward with what I suppose has been the tendency that has been slowly crawling out of the shadows for a while. It seems that overall, Lolita fashion at least in the global, Western community is turning towards a more Classic Lolita style. I'm doubting that it will turn out to be the OTT Classic that many people have been predicting will come (as much as I'd love for that to catch on!), but a more floaty, light and elegant take on Classic Lolita. I think we will see a lot of florals in 2014, and more AATP style prints (fairytales, flowers, jewels..) in 2014. The colors will vary, but the palette will be Classic Lolita-ish. Jewel tones and the colors of nature.

An example of a sweet, but more mature AP piece.

Longer skirts seem to be the new trend, instead of the shorter ones that AP made popular last year. Baby has been continuously releasing longer skirts, with a very elegant and Classic feels to the themes and prints, and a bunch of non-printed dresses as well. Most of them are very elegant, opulent and princess-like, but they tend to use very light fabric. Instead of OTT, I get more of a porcelain-doll vibe from them.
Angelic Pretty's pieces might still be sweet, but they have moved away from their cavity-inducing, sugary prints lately. Their colors have become paler and more mature, and their prints have become simpler, IMO.

Picture from babyssb.co.jp

Another trend that I think we will see a lot of, will be non-printed chiffon pieces. I think we will see more porcelain doll-like coordinates, mostly all white. Chiffon will be big in 2014.

For make-up, I think we will see a rise in the look that Fyeahlolita recently described- Shironuri. It will be the most OTT part of the style next year, but mostly worn for photoshoots and some meet-ups. Apart from that, I think make-up will be natural. Just a touch of powder to the cheeks for a light blush, and earthy-colors.

I think 2014 will turn out to be a very interesting year, and a fresh breeze after all the sugar and candy of 2012! 2013 was a very quiet year, I think.
Mostly a "transitioning" period from an AP dominated era, to the one that is to come.

What do you think will be the new trends for 2014?

52 Weeks: My Favorite Lolita Print

This week's topic in my battle with the "52 Weeks Blogging Challenge" is number 49, my favorite Lolita print! I didn't even have to think about my answer for this one. I think most Lolitas have a dream print, a print or a dress that has a special place in their heart for some reason or another. 

For me, that print is Alice and the Pirate's "A Midsummer Night's Dream"

Specifically, in the navy colorway. Even more specifically, JSK II. It is not without reason that this JSK, in this colorway, usually go for a couple hundred dollars on the secondhand market. This dress is a dream, and the first dress that I fell head over heels in love with when I first got into Lolita.

It's like the dress is almost glowing. The pale pink of the ribbon compliments the dark, elegant midnight blue, with just the right touch of purple. The color of the dress itself is like a summer night sky, and the damask pattern in the background adds a depth to it, that to me makes it seem almost other-worldly.

The print itself is beautifully detailed. The grey shadowing on the swirly windows is beautifully done, the roses climbing in the windows. Their pink color matches the pink butterflies, whose shiny wings stand out so lifelike against the background and are spaced out just the right amount. 

The ribbon brings out the highlights on their wings too!

I know I sound like a crazy-in-love tween schoolgirl..
But this dress has everything that I need in a garment! This style is the one that I have been falling for over and over again since, and this particular dress was part of what pulled me over the threshold and into Lolita-dom, along with the people who was, and still are, my greatest inspirations.

I love a print that tells a story, has beautiful artwork, and is in bright and romantic, but mature colors. I love the combination of pale and somber colors.

What is your favorite print, and how has it affected your overall Lolita style?

52 Weeks: 5 Movies for Lolitas

This week's 52 Week's Blogging Challenge is gonna be number 2, "5 Movies for Lolitas"!

To spice things up a little bit, I'm not gonna mention "Kamikaze Girls" more than this one time. That would be too easy. Instead, I'm gonna focus on 5 movies that put myself in the mood to dress up and twirl around in my frills. 

1. "Interview with the Vampire"

This one pretty much wrote itself. It was the first movie that came to my mind. Lestat's wicked charm, Louis' moody elegance and Claudia's adorable but depressing crazy makes for a great story that any Gothic Lolita or Classic Lolita with a flair for the darkly elegant should give a shot. Sit down with a cup of tea a cold winter evening and let yourself overflow with emotion!
( Mind you, the book is even better!)

2. "Marie Antoinette" by Sofia Coppola

Even if my history teacher had to curl his toes in horror at this film, I found it quite charming. It might not be entirely historically accurate ( I found that it was pretty d*mn close, though!) and puts too much emphasis on decadence, but it's a great story none the less that depicts the "Ultimate Lolita Lifestyle™". I recommend arranging a movie night with your Lolita friends. Make a bunch of tea and macaroons, lounge about in your frilliest pyjamas together and pop in this movie!

3. "Pride and Prejudice"

This list would be incomplete without Pride and Prejudice on the list. Keira Knightley seems to be the female lead in most historical movies about strong and independent women, but that might just be because she does a fantastic job! Elizabeth Bennett is a role model for any aspiring Lolita when it comes to independence and confidence, though she is not without her flaws. She is a very well-written character, and this story just keeps being charming and relevant throughout the ages. There is a reason Jane Austen's works are immortal!
I also recommend reading the book. Jane Austen's sass is still spot on even after 200 years.

4. "Legally Blonde"

This movie is perfect for Lolitas, even if it is not as frilly as the movies above. It has twice the amount of pink to make up for it, though! This movie is all about how you can be feminine, clever and succesful at the same time, and how you can achieve the most if you strive to be your own person and do things your own way.

5.  "Jane Eyre"

Gloomy and romantic are two of the words I'd use to describe this story. It's a very moving story, and shows how a girl can be strong, insist on being herself and overcome a difficult life. That, and it's got an element of mystery that keeps you on your toes through the entire film! I strongly recommend it to anybody that likes darker historical films.

These are a couple of the films I love that I find to be the most "Lolita". 
Do you have any movies that you'd like to recommend? Let me know in the comments!

Oh, and check out the list of the 52 Topics that I have to get through to find out which I've already done!

52 Weeks: How Lolita has Changed Me

This is my 3rd week in this challenge, and well, well.. if it isn't already time for number 52! I feel like I got the big, deep question so soon.. but well, I promised to go random! This weeks blogpost is gonna be about how Lolita has changed me.
And boy, has Lolita changed me!

I'd say that Lolita has made me...


..let the outside match the inside.
I got into Lolita in 2010, at the age of 17.
Before then, I had slowly started developing into a "typical girl" when it came to fashion, make-up and the like. Yup, I was very late to the party in that area. Before then, I had always been a tomboy.
I know a lot of girls who got into Lolita from being interested in japanese fashion, goth, couture fashion or some other unusual fashion-style, and from the pictures I have seen, they were all very thorough in their look before they decided to get into Lolita fashion instead. I had to start from the very bottom. I had always worn jeans, oversized sweaters and never even put my hair up in a ponytail or wore any make-up what so ever. I never bought new clothes, because as I said:
"I want stuff that is actually useful!"

Lolita made me discover that clothes and make-up can be, well... Useful.
 It's like being your own fairy godmother.
Now it matters to me that the outside reflects what's on the inside, and I enjoy looking pretty.

...Consider more ways to go with my future.
I have always been a big history geek, but Lolita broadened my horisont even further. Before I got into Lolita, it never occured to me to look into French history, the Victorian era or any other period after the Renaissance. The historical roots of Lolita inspired me to look up the 18th and 19th century, which in turn made me fall in love with historical costuming, which then again got me to stumble upon the regency era. It opened up my eyes to 200 years of awesome history that I had never bothered to look into before and now, I think I might just try and specialize my studies in that field!

...Fill out my life with things that have meaning.
Kind of related to the above, Lolita fashion also opened my eyes to a world of new interests and good reads I had never thought of on my own. My new interest in the 17th and 18th century made me want to read up on old fairytales, read Jane Austen and gothic books like "Interview with the Vampire" and watch more historical or period-inspired movies like "Jane Eyre". Like many other Lolitas, I'm also looking for sewing classes in my area. I've always liked drawing, but Lolita has inspired me to do it more often.

...More open and accepting.
Meet-ups with my local community has kind of forced me to open up. Before I got into Lolita, I always only had a small group of friends, which meant that I was kind of lonely. I never wanted to talk to people that I didn't think I had anything in common with. At first I thought that meet-ups would be the perfect way to expand my social circle to include more people that were just like myself, but it turned out to be very different from what I'd expected. Lolitas are a surprisingly diverse bunch! Now I'm a lot more open to making friends with people who have a lot of different interests and are just very different types of people from myself.

...Made me stronger and more aware.
Lolita has made made me realize how tied down everybody are by society's expectations, which has made me stand up for my right to be myself a lot more, and in general made me care a lot less what other people think. I am not, and will not, be ashamed of what I like, from MLP: FiM to Supernatural.
In the same department, Lolita has made me aware of how women are still discriminated against and in general treated as if they are below men. It has made me aware of phenomena such as "rape-culture", and feminism in general. The blogger of Herlumpiness was the one who first inspired me to look this topic up, and I'm really glad I did!

All in all, I'd say that Lolita has made me a more complete person. It has enriched my life in so many ways!

Well, this was a really interesting challenge to do! It could actually be fun to come back some day and see if I've discovered something new and different about myself.

To see the complete list of 52 Weeks I have to get through and which challenges I've already done, click here!

How has Lolita changed you? Has it made a great impact on your life, apart from the obvious?

52 Weeks: Most Versatile Item I Own

This is the second week of the Lolita Blog Challenge, and this weeks topic is number 39, "The Most Versatile Lolita Item I Own"! 

I think every wardrobe should have a piece that can easily be dressed up or down, and works for any occasion. The Lolita's "Little Black Dress", I guess you could say!

For me, it actually is a "little black dress"! 

My most versatile item is Baby the Stars Shine Bright's Ekaterina JSK!
What I think makes this JSK so incredibly versatile is that everything that makes this JSK special, is in the detailing. There are no huge ruffles, no chiffon, no big flowy sleeves or shiny embroidery. It is all in the soft lace and little pleats, and the puff in the straps give it that little extra that actually looks great on top of a black blouse with long sleeves. It makes it look like the sleeves have an elegant poof to the shoulders.

Here it is in a casual outfit! It looks simple and pretty much work appropriate.
It may look simple here, but I've also worn it with an elegant black chiffon blouse, a huge victorian hat with a veil and big gothic platform shoes. That's the magic of the little black dress, and the reason a dress like this is what I recommend for beginners as one of the first building blocks in their wardrobe. It doesn't have to be black. It should just be something that matches most of the wardrobe, or a neutral color, with beautiful detailing that can be toned down, or made the focus point of the outfit depending on the accessories!

So, that would be the piece in my wadrobe that is pretty much worth it's own weight in gold!

Do you agree on my recommendations? What do you think is the trademark of a versatile Lolita piece?

To see the list of the 52 Weeks Challenge, click here.

I'll update the list every week so both you and I will be able to follow which topics I've done!

The Weekly Lolita Blog Challenge!

I got inspired by a couple of blogs that I love, and I'm in a mood to challenge myself a little bit, so: I'm gonna do a hardcore Lolita challenge! A Lolita extreme sport, if you will. (Since bungee jumping or rock climbing is not that practical in petticoats)

I present to you, F Yeah Lolita's 52 Week Blog Challenge! Once a week I'm gonna pick a random number from this list, using Random.org, and write a blog post on the topic. I changed some of the topics that I've already written about with a topic of my own. (The ones in purple are my own additions)

So, Ready?.. Set... GO!

1. 5 pieces that every Lolita wardrobe should have, regardless of style
2.  5 movies for Lolitas
3.  What my own Lolita lifestyle is like 
4.  Favorite thing to put on my head
5.  My wardrobe turnover
6.  My favorite Lolita brand
7.  Why I wear Lolita?
8.  Why don't I wear Lolita more often?
9.  5 keywords that describe my personal Lolita style
10.  What I've always wanted to try in Lolita
11.  3 trends I wish would come back
12.  Combining other fashions with Lolita
13.  Lolitas I have met in real life
14.  Lolitas I would love to meet
15.  3 things I wish I was told when I was a new Lolita
16.  10 facts about my Lolita wardrobe
17.  Make an unusual clothing item work in a coordinate
18.  Trends I thought I would never get into, but I now love
19.  Trends I thought I loved, but now I'm not too keen on
20.  How satisfied I am with my current wardrobe
21.  Plan for a trip! A week's worth of Lolita outfits I can fit in a small suitcase
22.  How I accessorize
23.  What influences my Lolita style
24.  What's in my makeup bag
25.  Best places to wear Lolita
26.  How I get out of a wardrobe slump
27.  Purses that I love
28.  Bloomers or no bloomers?
29.  Lolitafying things in my everyday life
30.  How long it took me to build a complete wardrobe
31.  Impulse buys that were totally worth it
32.  My best deal
33.  Something that I made
34.  Wardrobe blunders! Things I bought that I ended up regretting!
35.  What I thought when I got my first real piece of Lolita
36.  3 Things I love the most about Lolita
37.  Something that's not my style, but I love anyways
38.  Favorite hair style
39.  Most versatile Lolita item I own
40.  5 inspirational fictional characters
41.  Fondest meetup memory
42.  The ways in which I fit the cliche
43.  The ways in which I do not fit the cliche
44.  How strangers react to my clothes, and how I react to their reactions
45.  Something that was a gift
46.  Parasols: Vital or frivolous?
47.  The item in my wardrobe that was the hardest to get
48.  My "signature" outfit
49.  My favorite Lolita print
50.  What's in my closet, but I haven't worn yet!
51.  Predict the next Lolita trend!
52.  How Lolita has changed me

This Weeks Topic is:

The Best Places to Wear Lolita!

There are a couple of places that I find to be the ideal places to wear Lolita. 
Not because of the occasion, or for practical reasons (when is lolita fashion ever practical?), not even because of ease or anything like that. 
To me, the feeling of a dream-like or fairytale-like atmosphere is one of the best things in the world, so therefore I think the best places to wear lolita are..

The Forest
I've had plenty of magical walks through the forest in my lolita. It feels peaceful, talking a walk alone like that, far away from the noise and fog of the city. I recommend dressing up to the nines on a sunny day, bringing along your parasol and your iPod and just strolling along the trail. Put on some music to set the mood, and try and imagine how, centuries before you, a carriage might have driven their horses along the same trail, gorgeous women in Robes a la Francaise gossipping about the handsome guards inside, and what might be awaiting them that night when they reach the..

Castle

As a great old history geek, I love any old setting. Be it a patch of dirt where a roman camp once stood, or of course, a castle! Imagine my excitement when I got to dress up in lolita when I went to versailles last year! I could practically hear the rustle of dresses, smell the overwhelming, headache-causing perfume from centuries back, and you feel like part of the story in your frills. Castles come in all shapes and sizes, be-fitting of any lolita style. The only negative point would be people thinking you're part of the show and clicking away with their cameras.

Victorian Tea House

Few things are better than when the surroundings match the serenity of a good cup of tea, and that is victorian decor to me. A victorian tea house is the perfect place to meet up with friends and perpetuate the deeply rooted lolita stereotypes of lolitas all being classy and polite flowers.

(Owning a good stereotype now and again is hilarious, imo!)

Oh, and I love me a good cup of tea.

So, that was the first installment in a long series of posts. It seems like they will, surprisingly enough, make me think of lolita from all new angles.

What do you think are the perfect places to wear Lolita? Do you agree?
Let me know!