A Kingdom of Gay Princesses

Today I want to talk about a somewhat touchy subject. It's no secret that themes of flowers, sweets and lace run through our fashion, but there is also a somewhat unspoken subject that seems to crop up; homo-eroticism. Now before you freak out I'm not saying that every loli is a lesbian or is giving off homosexual signals, but the subject seems to be subtly embroidered onto the fabric of our community.

Loli's are constantly fighting off the annoying association we have with Nabokov's famous novel, and the assumption that our fashion is actually an age play fetish, but it seems that sometimes we say one thing whilst doing another. And actions speak louder than words.

The cute poses that we adopt for cameras to us seem just that, adorable, however to those unfamiliar with our culture the signals could be misread. Common images are hand holding, cuddling and "platonic kissing". These kinds of poses are beautiful, and were we children would seem completely harmless, but the fact that we are adults somewhat changes the meaning the poses convey to the general public.

Of course there is a genuine appeal to the intimate female couple poses, whether in a romantic context or not. Women are, in general, beautiful creatures. Themes of love, friendship and family stir up warm emotions in any viewer. So photos of two lolis in affectionate poses were bound to appear eventually in our culture (I mean it can't always be peace signs), especially since we are so focused on aesthetics.

There is nothing wrong with the poses and imagery we create, to us it's cute and that's all that really matters. However it's important to realize that since most western culture is focused on sexuality, then our actions will generally be misconstrued as sexual. We may be thought of less as a group of innocent maidens and more of a kingdom of gay princesses. Whatever label our actions may incur it's important to continue doing the things that make us happy, after all, that's what loli is about!

Merry Christmas 2010

I hope that you have a wonderful day!

Love,

Raegan

xoxoxoxoxo

Were I A Designer...

Prints are pretty big in loli. Long gone are the days when brands just released plain coloured dresses, slapped on a bow and called it a day, prints now dominate the market. However seeing print after print of bears, bunnies and ponies becomes monotonous and pretty darn boring. Now I'm not a designer, but were I in a position where I could direct brands on what prints to make, this is what I'd choose!

Books and High Heels

As a bibliophile I am completely in love with books. Not only do I love to read them, but I love to look at them, touch them and smell them (don't you judge me, old books smell really nice!!), so naturally I would be very excited about a book themed print. To make it more girly I think it would be cute to have some adorable high heels, perfume and jewelry strewn about the print too. Nothing too crazy, just simple and elegant. It could be in muted colours like a rose pink, sage and ocean blue!

Pandas at Play

Pandas are adorable and I'm majory angry that they aren't ever used in prints. Not only are they cute and fluffy, they also do the perfect things for a sweet print. If YouTube has taught me anything it's that pandas seriously enjoy playing on playground equipment, which I can sincerely say maxes out my cute-o-meter.

I can imagine a great panda print with little baby panda cubs sliding down slides, pushing around balls and awkwardly swinging on swing sets. It would be the cutest print ever!!

 

Royal Zombie

My obsession love for zombies runs deep, especially beautiful, opulant zombies! I would rush out and buy any print that featured a beautiful zombie girl dressed to the nines, lounging about her fancy and slightly trashed room. She could have a little, zombie puppy too (am I the only one who finds that cute?). I could see Alice and the Pirates doing a really great job with a print like that!

 

Lovely Maiden Ophelia

I find the imagery of Ophelias death beautiful and haunting. For those who don't know, Ophelia was a character in Hamlet who (debatably) killed herself by jumping into a river. Her dress was so heavy that it dragged her down, and when the other characters discovered her she was surrounded by floating flowers, her dressed flowing around her like an angel.

Personally I love looking at pictures of Ophelia, but a dead chick on a dress may not be super palatable for some brands. Maybe in the print she could just be sleeping, which I find kind of hilarious (seriously, who sleeps in a river?). If the name weren't already taken I would call the print "She is Sleeping" just to crack myself up.

 

Shakespeare In General

In my humble opinion, a series of Shakespeare prints would be divine! There could be dresses and skirts based on plays like Romeo and Juliet, Taming of the Shrew, Hamlet, King Lear and A Midsummer Nights Dream (one that features the actual characters and fairies). It would be brilliant if there were also famous lines from the plays printed on it too!

 

A Vision of Lace

Now I know what you're thinking, a lace print dress? Brands already use lace on everything! I know, I know guys, but hear me out; I think it would be beautiful if a brand designed a really simple dress, one with very few ruffles and bows, and embroidered on a lace pattern border print. In my opinion every print should just be embroidered as I think it looks richer and far more elegant, but a print like this almost demands embroidery! It could be accented by tiny beads and have the brands logo stitched in on a microscopic scale. It would be perfect to wear for special occasions!

Opposites Attract

Loli is a fashion of extremes, our look works so well because we make bold choices and stand by them confidently. Our skirts are big, our collars ruffled, our shoes a unique display of pastel hearts. And don't get me started on the wigs! As a community we've seen an impressive array of wigs in all shapes, sizes and colours. Let's face it, we are a group of angelic dare devils! So why not go to the extreme with our natural hair too?

I've always found myself drawn to the polar opposites of hair length. I adore the commitment it takes for women to grow their hair ultra long or cut it super short. Both styles are adorable and fit the frills well, which adds just one more dimension to our complete dolly look.

Luxurious Length

Long hair creates a dramatic and rich look, conveying the feel of a beautiful and elegant doll. However, long hair requires a lot of upkeep and if you skimp on it the style can easily look ratty. If you decide to grow your hair out it's important to trim it regularly, that way it will always look healthy well maintained. There's nothing worse than lovely locks of hair looking thin and uneven at the ends.

Make sure to brush and condition your hair regularly to keep it in good shape. Try not to use heated tools on it too often as they can leave it looking fuzzy or frazzled.

You can play with a variety of styles with your long hair, a favorite of mine being braiding, to change up your look frequently. If you want to do something really cool try forming a crown with wire and wrapping your hair around it completely!

Super Cute Short Hair

Short hair also creates a huge and gorgeous impact. Although it's easy to think of the style as boy-ish, it can also be extremely feminine. The fact that there is less hair draws more attention to the details of your outfit, accenting your hair accessories, earrings and collar. Additional emphasis is placed on your face, which you can soften with natural make up or pop with bold colours.

Through the use of clip in extensions you can change your look drastically by adding ponytails or braids without having to spend the time maintaining your mane. The good thing about short hair is that it creates a intense look without hours of styling.

The shorter your hair the more contrast and interest you bring to your look. Short hair is perfect for a delicate princess, or a kind hearted loli prince!

What do you think about the extreme looks of both long and short hair? Personally I think they are both amazing styles that look wonderful with our enchanting fashion. I'm working on growing my hair out super long, hopefully I'll be able to handle it!

From the West to the East

Sorry that I haven't updated in a little while, I've been busy studying for and taking my finals, which was when my computer conveniently decided to blue screen. It's still not fixed, so updates may continue to be sporadic until I get to Tennessee to visit my mum (the weather is bad though so flights are getting canceled).

Anyway, onto the important stuff! Next summer I am going home to Scotland (MOTHERLAND!!!!) for a while and visiting my family in England. I'm expecting it to be a lot of fun! I was planning on dragging my father over to Paris to visit Baby the Stars Shine Bright, but it turns out that I don't actually have to as I will also be going to Japan that summer!!!! 

My good friend Jerico (pictured below stealing my food on Thanksgiving) lives in Japan but goes to school with me in America. He's over there right now for winter break, and his parents invited me to come stay with them for a little bit! I'm so excited! 

 What the hell Jerico? Your plate is a mountain of food, don't take my last piece of pasta!!!

We haven't really made detailed plans yet, but the wheels in my head have most certainly been turning! Here's my list of what I'd like to accomplish while visiting Japan!

 

 

Overall I'm looking forward to it greatly, but I know I'll be hemorrhaging money everywhere I go so I'll have to save up! I'm planning on not buying any more loli until I get there in order to maximize spending money. Wish me luck!

I Wish to Take Care of You Always

A friend of mine told me a story today, one that could be called a "loli horror story". She was meeting up with another local loli and was invited into her home for the first time. My friend asked the girl if she may take a peek into her wardrobe as she was curious to see her loli collection (which, by the way, is quite impressive). The girl chuckled, spread her palms and smiled "Go right ahead, it's all around you". At that point my friend realized that indeed, her dresses were scattered all around the room. There were brand dresses piled on the floor, lying in crumpled heaps everywhere. My friend even said that the girls cat, who is notorious for having bladder issues, was using some Angelic Pretty as a bed!

Now some may argue that the girl paid her own good money for her clothing and that she should be able to treat them however she desires, which is a valid point. Yet it seems contradictory to spend thousands of dollars on a wardrobe only to leave it in poor condition.

Well made loli clothing is beautiful no matter how much it costs, but even the most expensive of outfits will look cheap if it is wrinkled, stained or smell unpleasant. You get out what you put in, if you make the effort to care for your clothing it will show. Simple things like hanging up your dresses, ironing and folding your blouses, and polishing your shoes can make a world of difference.

Everyone feels differently, but for me each loli item I purchase is a personal triumph. Each package I receive is a testament to my hard work and diligence in earning and saving money. My wardrobe is small but I am proud of it, I cherish every piece that I own. Looking after my clothing is something I enjoy, I've always found that it's nice to take care of things that you love (yes I will admit that I love my clothing. Obviously not in the same way as I would love a person but I do hold tender feelings towards my dresses).

Clothing that is treated poorly will not last very long without becoming damaged, something that can severely affect the resale value of your item. Plus if you have paid $100+ for something why would you let it become ruined?

This may not be everyone's opinion but it is my belief that a true loli genuinely cares for her clothing and will do her best to ensure each piece has as long a lifespan as possible. Looking at her well kept clothing and feeling the fabric on her skin will bring her joy. Her clothing reflects her inner self, and cared for clothing represents a well fed mind, healthy body and her good heart.

International Lolita Day Winter 2010

Happy International Lolita Day 2010! I hope that everyone has a phenomenal time strutting their frills today, do something that makes you the happiest! My day will be spent in my universities library studying for the finals, but I will be wearing a loli coordinate so I'll be very content whilst memorizing facts about theatre.

To celebrate the holiday I have made some Loli Valentines for everyone (if I forgot anyone please forgive me, between my play opening, finals week, work and classes I'm pretty frazzled). I hope that you like them and have a wonderful day today!

A Smile

A smile:

Holds more magic than a witches wand,

More light than a cluster of stars,

It can hold more warmth than a fireplace

Help anyone like who they are.

So smile,

So beam,

Grin,

Glitter,

And glow,

Don't cover your charm with your hand!

The world will love you,

Whatever you wear,

A smile helps a heart understand.