Fave Brand Releases of 2015 Thus Far

(SOURCE: Kira Imai )

Hello.

Its been a while. Spring is finally here and March is about over. So far, 2015 is off to a slow start. Well-- in terms of releases I personally like. Let me share them with you! 

The Seasonal Lolita -- Winter Edition: How To Dress Lolita For Cold Weather

(SOURCE: unknown)

When winter rolls around, it gets a bit tough wearing cute frilly dresses. The heavy rainfall, strong winds, snow, freezing temperatures but no need to put the dresses away! Here are ten tips to help you survive the winter season no problem!

1. Thermal underwear is your savior! Invest in some good quality thermal shirt, leggings, or one piece. This will help in keeping the body heat in! Preferably it should be a v-neck, long sleeve and in white or black depending on the colored blouse you intend to wear. So buy one in white/offwhite and one in gray/black. 

2. Avoid wearing reds in wet weather. Reds bleed 99% of the time when in contact with water. So your favorite BTSSSB Little Red Riding Hood JSK in red? Yeah, don't wear it. Consider wearing a full kuro coord instead. That way, even if the black bleeds, its not noticeable. 

3. If possible, wear tall, platform boots. Boots do a good job in keeping your feet and leg wear dry, but platforms do a even better job. The platform gives you a bit of elevation that is useful when walking in the rain or snow, especially if you're prone to step into puddles.

4. Keep your legs warm by wearing (stirrup) leggings underneath your over-the-knee socks. Be sure to match the color of the leggings to the pair of socks you intend to wear because socks are slightly transparent. 

5. Skip the cotton bloomers, wear wool shorts instead. 

6. Wear a scarf. By wearing a scarf tightly around your neck, it helps with keeping body heat in. Still cold? Wear earmuffs.

7. Invest in a pair of "touch" gloves. Then you no longer have to take off your gloves to be able to answer a phone call. 

8. Secure the head wear on your head! You do not want your hat to fly off when a gust of wind hits you. Opt for head wear that have ties. 

9. Bring out your velveteens. The heavier your dress, the better. That means you can wear more than one petticoat. This helps with locking in warmth. It also blocks the wind. 

10. Layer, layer, layer. Keeping warm is all about layering. To prevent sweating, layer light to heavy. Doing so lets your body heat circulate. 

Lolita Style Lessons: Chapt 1 -- Elements Of The Lolita Outfit

(SOURCE: Dolce & Gabbana)

The best way (personally speaking) for someone that is interested in getting into lolita fashion is to first learn about the distinctive "anatomy." After all, it is what got them interested enough to learn more about this one-of-a-kind Japanese street fashion. 

The standard lolita outfit consists of (a) headbow, (b) blouse, (c) jumperskirt, (d) over-the-knee socks, (e) mary jane shoes and (f) bag. See figure 1.1.

Figure 1.1

Note the hair is natural and neatly styled, the makeup minimal, giving it a simplistic look.

However, the ideal lolita outfit is more detail oriented, commonly; (a) wig, (b) fake eyelashes, (c) circle lenses and (d) fake nails. See figure 1.2.

Figure 1.2

This look is "dressing up to the nines." The makeup is heavy, the wig is voluminous, there is much detail to the outfit. You could say its less casual.

Now onto the undergarment layers which are super important. It is basically half the look, literally!

The undergarments are typically (a) bloomers, (b) petticoat and (c) camisole. See figure 1.1.

I would advise any beginner to start out with the standard, along with a petticoat. The camisole and bloomer undergarments are optional. Well, kinda. The camisole acts as a barrier between you and the dress, keeping the dress a little more clean. You could also use sleeveless, v-neck tops which maximizes the efficiency. As for the bloomers, they're designed to prevent any embarrassing Marilyn Monroe moments, but shorts would work, too. Petticoats are the only undergarment that is absolutely not optional! Petticoats are the magic behind the super fluffy lolita dresses! Otherwise, you get a sad looking dress, much like a deflated balloon! It is, like I said before, half the look! So please invest in a petticoat before anything else!

Which petticoat? Where to buy? 

Stay tuned for Lolita Style Lessons: Chapt 2 - Petticoats!

Welcome, 2015!

(SOURCE: Unknown -- Visual Kei)

SURPRISE! I am alive and it is 2015!!

Looking back, I could've done more with this blog, but i'll be sure to make it up this year! 

To start off, I took this lolita quiz and got a 53, which means i'm a well-rounded lolita. I think the description is accurate. I will host meet ups this year and be more active within my community to improve myself! See if the quiz provides a accurate description of your frilly self. 

In January, lolitas from all over the world post their wardrobe on the Livejournal EGL community as a tradition. It is fun to see growing wardrobes and the creativity in presentation! The wardrobe posts are all over the front page till early February. If you feel confident about your closet, post it! Frills galore!

On New Years day in Japan, Japanese brands usually provide a New Year grab bag called the fukubukuro. With major Japanese lolita brands, you are able to order one yourself from their webshops. It is also possible to ask a "shopping service." In fukubukuros, brands either stuff them with left over stock (you save as much as 80% off retail), known as "blind" fukubukuros or they provide you a exclusive New Year outfit, which are revealed to customers about a week prior to New Years. 

This year, Metamorphose had a blind bag while Angelic Pretty released a exclusive New Year print, Cotton Candy shop, and "special set" versions of Crystal Dream Carnival (blue) and Mercator Antique Shop (mint). BABY also released their own New Year print. Innocent World like they do all year, provided random assortments in theirs. There is a Livejournal community on fukubukuro or "lucky pack" openings found here.

It is noteworthy to mention Chinese Taobao lolita brands provide New Year sets, too.

Currently, most lolitas are awaiting more information on the Angelic Pretty prints revealed during the Princess Dreamy Carnival tea party event in Japan (pictured below).

The two known prints out of the spring collection is Milkey Cross and Perfume of Wonderland, the Kira Imai collaboration.

I personally like Milkey Cross because it reminds me of a softer version of Lisa Frank. The collaboration print is cute, too, but I still regard Cat's Tea Party as the best.

Mail Update: Angelic Pretty

Angelic Pretty Loyal Rosette Tokyo Night Out Presented by VOGUE Special Set in Green

Mail Update: Juliette et Justine, Angelic Pretty, MILK

 

(SOURCE: Phantom of The Opera)

Mail Update: Innocent World

(SOURCE: Unknown)

This painting is a great representation of autumn. It captures the mood. Everything about it is perfect. Sadly I am unable to credit it.