Alice Doll Review

When I was in Tennessee I received some items from my favorite American brand, Alice Doll! The label is run by my friend but that doesn't mean my review will be biased, writing untrue sentiments would be completely unfair to my readers.

Here is my review of the two items I received!

Item 1: Chocolate Compact

Overall I was extremely pleased with my chocolate compact, it's very detailed and even cuter in real life than in the picture. I love how each square has a cute cursive "chocolate" etched in, and I really like the Hello Kitty-esque bow on the side. 

I was surprised at the size of the compact, it was a lot larger than expected. Despite it's size it's still light and easy to carry, and since it's bigger I can see more of my face!

Looks: 5/5

Quality: 5/5

Item 2: Ice Cream Ring

My favorite item from the two I received was my sweet little ice cream ring. It looks very realistic, my photo does it no justice. I like the details that Alice Doll adds, the little rhinestones are what sets it apart from other sweets jewelry.

The actual ring (as in the part that stays on your finger) is not real silver, so you must take the it off when washing your hands. I don't mind though because if she were to use a real silver band the price would have to be raised and it wouldn't fit such a large variety of fingers.

Looks: 100/5 It's so darn cute!

Quality: 5/5

I can't attest to Alice Doll's shipping method or speed because I had my items hand delivered to me, but if it's anything like the way Alice Doll crafts their items then it will surely be above and beyond!

If you want to commission or purchase something from Alice Doll here are the links. Make sure to tell Alex that you heard about her on Her Curious Elegance!

Alice Doll Etsy

Alice Doll/Alex Says it All

Bonnets are Beautiful

In my opinion bonnets are the single greatest loli accessory of all time. It's not very often that you see a girl wearing one, I suppose because they can seem a little intimidating.

Before I had tried one on I was extremely doubtful that I would suit them, I had already discovered that I look terribly derpy in rectangular headdresses and I didn't want to lose my bonnet fantasy. Last year I had the opportunity of wearing one in my universities production of A Christmas Carol and was ecstatic to discover that I liked the way I looked in them. As I glanced around at the cast of twenty or so girls I realized something spectacular- they all looked wonderful in their bonnets. Everybody had very different looks and hairstyles but the bonnet framed each girls face beautifully.

I love bonnets because they can really pull an outfit together and make it look complete. Plus there is a bonnet type for almost any occasion!

• Soft, half bonnets are perfect for every day use, they look darling with any style! You can wear them with low pigtails for an extra lovely look.

• Stiff, half bonnets are great for dressier outfits or evening wear. They are also great for harsh weather, in the heat they block your face from the sun and in the cold they protect your ears from the wind!

• Stiff, full bonnets are not for the meek as they will definitly make you stand out! They look especially amazing with OTT style loli! 

Bonnets are not everyone's thing (I'm looking at you Mum), but if you like them then you should wear them proudly! Decorate them with flowers, add cute bows and if anybody tries to get you down just remember my motto:

Meet Up Report: Tea Room Mini-Meet

This spring break I visited my mum in Tenessee, and while I was up there I met up with some of my favorite loli's! We had a fantastic time swapping stories, trading teas and giggling uncontrollably. I want to say thank you to Colleen, Kisha and, of course, Alex for being some of the lovliest friends I have!

Doll Love

I currently have a theoretical (read: non-existant) collection of dolls. I really, really want one of the loli Pullip dolls, but I also love Disney dolls. Well, recently I discovered that Disney is now making Princess poseable dolls which is like a mix of the two things!

I'm sure that they are not actually ball jointed, but they have joints that you can move into a lot of different poses. And I know this sounds really dorky but I want to buy some just so that I can make loli versions of their dresses for them!

This is a cute loli Snow White by wolfypuppy.

Check out her deviantart

For those of you who are ball jointed doll purists these dolls may not your cup of tea, but for someone like me, who just wants a cute doll to pose and photograph, the new Disney Princess dolls are great. And at 2 for $20 they are a great alternative to the pricey ball jointed dolls of Japan!

I just really wish that they made Giselle as she is my absolute favorite Disney Princess ever!! I would still love to buy the now discontinued and overpriced old style doll though, I just won't be able to pose her very well.

The Giselle loli is by mollay of Deviantart. Check her out too!

Eat a Cheesburger!

It is generally assumed that if you are old enough to buy loli that you are an adult, or at least old enough to know right from wrong. Most loli's are conscious of their words and the impact of what they say, after all speech is an extremely powerful weapon.

Most girls (or guys) would never tell a woman that she was "too fat", but I'm surprised at how many comment on women who are "too thin". The other day I was eves dropping overheard a conversation between two girls I'd never met, and they used a phrase that I absolutely loathe: "That girl needs to eat a cheeseburger!". It made me cringe.

The majority of people who use the phrase don't even think about what they are saying, but whenever I hear it I get offended for the girl it's targeted at, whether she hears it or not. You would (hopefully) never tell an overweight woman to eat less, so why on earth do you think it's ok to tell an underweight girl to eat something fattening? Why does someones weight bother you so much to the point of snarky remarks?

The only time it is ever appropriate to suggest somebody change their diet in relation to their appearance is if what they are eating is life threatening. For example, if a friend of yours is noticeably thinner and you suspect they have an eating disorder it is important to help them seek medical guidance so that they can develop a healthier relationship with food. You would never tell someone who is anorexic that she needs to eat a cheeseburger.

This post may have seemed like a massive rant, but I am just so bothered by intolerance in all forms. Nobody is perfect, and I don't want to seem like I'm on a moral high horse but this subject in particular grinds my gears. We loli's are always trying to improve ourselves on the outside, but it's important to do the same to the inside too. And seriously, a group of girls who frequently wear cakes on our heads have no room to criticize the appearance of others!

My Personal Print Overload

When I first started wearing loli fashion I was enchanted by the printed dresses of Baby the Stars Shine Bright and Metamorphose Temps De Filles. They were beautiful, unlike anything I'd ever seen before and I definitely wanted them! Like many girls, I chased elusive prints enjoying both the thrill of the hunt and the satisfaction of winning an auction. But I often found that when it was delivered to my home and I held it in my hands I felt somewhat disappointed.

When I wore my prints I didn't feel elegant, I didn't feel like my personal definition of loli. I felt flashy and showy, when I wanted to feel simple but beautiful. But still, like a derp, I didn't get it and continued to seek out more prints to perhaps compensate for my lack of satisfaction.

The problem I had was that I'd see prints online and think "those puppies/teacups/rainbow caroseul horses are adorable", but I didn't think about how they would look on me. I think it's one thing to like a picture, but an entirely different thing to wear it.

Eventually I became very burnt out from our fashion, I didn't want to wear something that was only half way to what I desired. I took a few weeks off from loli, but wearing jeans just exasperated my need for something beautiful. In a hopeless effort I ordered a lucky pack from Baby the Stars Shine Bright, and what I received rocked my lolita world.

The jumperskirt they sent me was...plain. There just wasn't anything on it. Sure there were a couple of bows and some lace around the edges, but for the most part it was just a solid coloured dress. I was kind of upset until I tried it on. Suddenly I had found what I'd been looking for! I realized then that for me loli is not about the prints, but the silhouette! All the prints I'd been wearing had detracted from the simple lines I had hoped to achieve.

Getting in touch with your own "perfect loli style" is difficult because it's easy to like certain dresses on other people but not yourself, but I encourage you to try something different if you aren't 100% happy with your current style. If you wear classic, maybe try OTT, it can be daunting but you might just fall in love!

I Need Your Help!

I have entered the Gothic Lolita Wigs competition. The winners will receive a free wig of their choice, and I would be so happy if I could do so because I'd love to own a wig but I can't really afford it. The requirements were that we had to submit a photo of ourselves and write a paragraph about why we love loli.

This was what I originally wrote, but I guess it was too long because it was edited! ^_^'

"Being a lolita is not like being a princess, but like being a knight. Our fashion is a suit of armor, it can defend against even the sharpest of blows because it makes the wearer feel beautiful and nothing can pierce that protection! Lolita clothing emboldens the wearer to be brave and true to themselves! It doesn't matter if wearing the fashion makes you nervous, as even the most courageous knights are frightened before a battle, but the fact that you can still walk out your front door and feel radiant means that you are a very special person.

I love lolita because it brings out my purest feelings of hope, happiness and kindness. The clothing helps me to embrace all sides of my personality and share them honestly with the world. I love lolita because when I wear it I am both delicate and strong, it takes both of those things to follow your path to happiness in a world that can be so beautiful and cruel."

To help me out please click on THIS LINK and click the "like" button. I would be very grateful if you could! Thank you so much!

Let It Go

It's all to often that you hear of girls deciding to leave loli fashion because of cruelty. Unfortunately online bullying is just as common as being judged by people you see on the street, and when so many people seem to be against you it can be very hard to remember what you liked about loli to begin with.

Unkind comments people say to you can echo around in your head every time you look into the mirror, preventing you from wanting to do what truly makes your happy--being yourself. Bad experiences can leave scars on you and it's difficult to learn how to cope with them. Ignoring the comments is difficult, but sometimes facing them head on can turn into a fixation. It's easy to become consumed by negative feelings towards the people who have hurt you, or just the fashion in general, but it's sad to leave something your care about over something like that.

It may not work for everyone, but here is my solution to moving on from cruelty: forgiveness. Forgiving people can be really difficult but I've found it to be the most effective way for me to get past my insecurities and let go of hurt feelings. Forgiving people doesn't mean that you shouldn't learn from your experiences, you don't have to trust the people who hurt you again or become a doormat, but it means you can let go of any grudges you may feel before they consume your thoughts.

I think that in a fashion where people are so quick to criticize others, and sometimes even take pleasure in it, it is important to have as many tools at your disposal as possible. Forgiving people, even when they are not sorry, can be the best weapon in your arsenal!

So if you ever find yourself being chastised by somebody about your outfits, insulted by a stranger or posted on a negative community just take a deep breath, forgive and move on with your life. And if you are the person who has been unfair to somebody else then remember how far an apology can go. Even if the one you have hurt can't forgive you, you can forgive yourself. It is a lot more pleasant than being upset.