My Little Loli: Fashion is Magic

I don't have television so I'm pretty behind when it comes to popular shows, however I've recently caught wind of the unexpectadly popular program My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. I didn't think I'd enjoy it since it is a show aimed at children, but I was surprised to find that after just one episode I was hooked. It's funny, charming and all around fun to watch. I have at least ten adult friends who are "bronies" so I don't feel too weird about watching a cartoon.

Anyway, because I am being lame super awesome and mature I decided to put together some My Little Pony inspired lolita coordinates! Part of me can't believe that I spent so much time on this, but on the other hand I have plenty of ideas for more outfits, so I'm sure I'll make another similar entry in the future!

Twilight Sparkle

Twilight Sparkle Lolita by raegy_baby featuring heart shoes

Twilight Sparkle is the main character of the show. She is very studious and tends to be more serious than silly but still enjoys having fun. She always tries to be fair to others but isn't afraid to stand up for herself.

I figured that based on her personality she would enjoy a simple, yet girly loli coordinate. The Alice and the Pirates jumperskirt is sweet yet classic, it features cathederals, flowers and religious icons, perfect for a book lover who is interested in culture. The blouse and shoes are a practical, plain white, but the hat adds a little bit of spice to the outfit with it's pop of pink!

Applejack

Applejack Lolita by raegy_baby featuring necklaces

Applejack has always been my favorite pony ever since I was little! She is a hard working Earth Pony who farms diligently. She is polite, courteous and speaks with a gorgeous Southern accent. She does not care for overly girly things as she is a bit of a tomboy, but she has been seen in some episodes wearing fancy outfits.

I thought that an Applejack inspired coordinate would be the perfect oppertunity for country lolita! The Baby, the Stars Shine Bright floral jumperskirts colour is reminiscant of Applejacks organge hair, and the blond wig with ponytails resembled her tied up mane. The coordinate contains brown boots and, instead of a cowboy hat, a brown bonnet. I feel that both these items capture the "farm girl" feeling. All of the accessories are apples in honor of Applejacks cutie mark!

Fluttershy

Fluttershy Lolita by raegy_baby featuring shoes

Fluttershy is bashful, sensitive and sweet pony. She has a quiet nature but also a talent for arranging music. Her passion is caring for animals, all the critters she meets are drawn to her gentle and kind disposition. Like her name suggests she is very shy but she will always stand up for her friends if they need her.

Fluttershy loves beautiful things but does not like to stand out of the crowd, I thought that her nature would fit perfectly with Innocent Worlds toned down sweet look! Her jumperskirt is covered in soft coloured flowers that remind us of spring meadows. A cute floral headband with lovely ribbons sits on her pink hair. She wears simple accessories and carries a basket to gather up any tired woodland creatures she might meet. This outfit would be ideal for warmer weather so I chose to not include a blouse.

Rainbow Dash

Rainbow Dash Lolita by raegy_baby featuring bracelets

Rainbow Dash is competive, outgoing and energtic. As one of the most athletic ponies she rarely pays attention to anything girly. She is proud of her talent for flying and will jump at any oppertunity to show it off. Though she can be aggressive at times she uses her toughness in combination with her strong loyalty to protect the other ponies in her village.

Rainbow Dash has great confidence in herself so she wouldn't be afraid to wear a coordinate the breaks the mold. Angelic Prettys unusal plaid jumperskirt with it's cool collar and unusual ruffles would suit her personality! I imagine that she would choose sneakers over any other kind of shoe, the blue Converse I selected match the blue in the dress. Her rainbow accessories are so bold that a small pair of blue bows were chosen for her signature rainbow hair as to not overwhelm the outfit.

Rarity

Rarity Lolita by raegy_baby featuring crystal bracelets

Rarity is the most beautiful pony in Ponyville. Gorgeous, sophisticated and fashionable, Rarity never leaves home without a perfectly styled mane and tail. She is glamorous and feminine but also clever and generous.

The navy and white striped jumperskirt from Innocent World has a neckline that is rarely seen in lolita fashion. It is rich and classic, something that I think would appeal to Raritys sensibilities. Her jewelry is made of luxurious pearls, there are even little pearls on her head bow. I think that Rarity would prefer wearing high heels over flats, something that makes this outfit a little more mature. Her clutch matches everything perfectly which is good as Rarity never has a hair out of place.

Pinky Pie

Pinkie Pie Lolita by raegy_baby featuring tea party shoes

Pinky Pie is the Rebecca Black of the pony world, she can be a little difficult to get used to at first but is full of fun, fun, fun, fun (she is also so excited. She so excited). Energetic and cheerful, she loves to throw parties for any occassion. She loves candy, sweets and the colour pink of course!

I envisioned Pinky Pie as an OTT Angelic Pretty girl! I chose the Candy Treat print because it has two types of pink in it that match both her mane and hair, and also because it's sugary sweet like her. Everything she wears is pink and covered in frills and lace. Even her bow has bows on it! I could see Pinky Pie carrying around a plush bag, I think she would love the cute AP mascot bunny! Like Piny Pie the outfit is loud and eye catching, good thing she is anything but a wall flower!

Life in the Spotlight: Being a Gay Lolita

Being gay can sometimes be a little daunting despite the modern "acceptance" (I use this term loosely) of the homosexual lifestyle. It seems that while many individuals have no problem with gays or lesbians, society as a whole is still not 100% comfortable with us. It seems that sometimes people perceive that those interested in the same sex, especially women in their early twenties, are in fact just using the label as a ploy to get attention for themselves and from the opposite sex. Throw in lolita fashion and you have pretty much stamped a seal of approval on this misconception.

Recently I was at a local gay bar, dressed up in one of my favorite coordinates, and was talking to a friend of a friend who I ran into there. He asked me what I was wearing and I briefly ran threw my now perfected spiel explaining loli fashion to him. As I was talking his eyes widened with comprehension and he said to me "Oh, so you're not really gay then. You're just in it for the spotlight".

It seems the annoying stereotype that lolita's are just attention seekers is a theory that is proven to be a law once the "evidence" of any other difference from the norm is discovered. I suppose that many people who dress in alternative fashion, have tattoos or sport piercings must run into these false ideas every day, but fashion is not the same as sexuality. You make a choice every day about what you decide to wear, but you can not choose who you fall in love with, thus lolita and homosexuality are completely unrelated! Loli's wear ruffly dresses because it makes them feel beautiful, not because they want to be stared at. Gays hold hands in public with their partners because they are allowed the same right to express their feelings as anybody else, not because they are trying to be controversial.

I spoke with a lesbian lolita who has experienced a lot of problems with her mother who claims she "can only tolerate so much strangeness" in her daughter. The mother can deal with her being a lesbian or being a lolita, but not both. It's just "too different". I can't imagine how awful this must feel, and I'm sure there are many others out there who have faced similar situations.

I am blessed to have the most amazing parents, it's like opening a lucky pack to find a rare set, I count my lucky stars every day that they love and support me no matter what. I never had to come out of any closets to them (lolita, gay or otherwise), my individual preferences have never been a big deal to them. My fathers motto is "if it makes you happy then embrace it" and my mother would be cheering me on no matter what I did. Their attitudes have given me a very easy life but I still worry about those who are not as fortunate as me.

I would like to encourage those  gay, lesbian or bisexual loli's to continue being yourself, despite any negative impressions people may form for themselves. If you are living at home and it may be dangerous to be open about your preferences then hold onto your individuality until you are able to start an independant life.There is no reason to be ashamed of loli fashion or homosexuality, in fact both are beautiful! If you hide one or the other aspect of yourself from the world then you will not shine as brightly as you know you can. All girls have the potential to blossom into fulfilled women, don't wilt in the face of adversity no matter what may challenge you!

Dress Up Box: Kaylyn and Raegan Lolita Day

 Last week my dear friend Kaylyn and I celebrated an uber late International Lolita Day together! We pretty much just ran errands, but we had fun lip syncing in the car together and chowing down at a burger diner! This is what I wore!

Wig: Minty Mix

Bow: Rococo Soul

Necklace: Primark

Cutsew: Metamorphose Temps De Fille

Skirt: Baby, The Stars Shine Bright

Bracelet: Lady Gaga

Socks and Shoes: Offbrand

Backpack: Jansport

I really liked wearing it, lately I've been enjoying slightly more gothic outfits, though I still think there is a hint of sweet hidden in there. I want to wear more black outfits in the future!

Kaylyn looked so adorable! She pulls off sweet very well, I kept telling her how cute she looked all day! Also it helps that she has such a cheerful personality, I think that adds to her overall loveliness. 

Bow: Angelic Pretty

Wig: Minty Mix

Top: Off brand

Skirt: Handmade by her (Impressive!!)

Socks: Baby, The Stars Shine Bright,

Shoes: Secret Shop

I had such a good time hanging out with her. Hopefully we'll be able to spend more days together now that it is summer time, I always have such a giggly time when I'm with her. Plus she introduces me to wonderful music that I instantly fall in love with (Type O Negative and Necromancer)!

I hope that you all had a great International Lolita Day, and if you didn't celebrate it then do so right now! Make every day Lolita Day!

Review: Chained Berry Memoir

For those of you who were wondering what jumperskirt I got when I visited Baby, The Stars Shine Bright Paris, this is it: the Chained Berry Memoir jumperskirt in brown! I think that it's gorgeous, classic with a hint of sweet! The collar makes it perfect to wear without a blouse, ideal for warm weather.

The attention to detail is stunning! I love the intricately illustrated strawberries and the faux lace and ribbon print. I also love that it says the brands name around the bottom of the dress, Baby is my favorite and it really drives home the fact that I'm wearing something from them, which makes it feel more special.

The back of the jumperskirt has detachable waist ties fixed onto the dress by adorable little buttons that compliment them theme. There is also partial shirring, allowing for a more comfortable fit, and corseting for adjusting the dress to fit your shape. I particularly like the back of the dress, I think that it is very elegant.

There is a rather large bow on the waist of the dress, but thankfully it is detachable. It is well made, featuring strawberries that match those of the dress and soft, beautiful lace, but I personally don't think that the dress needs it. A perk to the bow being detachable is that you can slide it onto a headband and use it in your hair!

Overall I adore this dress and couldn't give it any higher praise! If you are thinking about purchasing it then don't hold back!

Be A Real World Loli

For the majority of lolis it is impossible to physically visit a brand store, and a great number of us do not know any other girls in their area who dresses in the same manner. There are currently no mainstream English magazines on the subject of loli, nor are there regular tv shows featuring frilly characters. A huge chunk of girls with an interest in loli fashion can only gain access to the clothing and their peers through the internet.

As a result of this the loli community is based entirely online and revolves around the internet. Some girls, especially those with a new found interest in the fashion, spend hours upon hours checking the Live Journal communities EGL, Daily Lolita and EGL Community Sales.

There is nothing wrong with researching your passion but it becomes a problem when you spend almost all day online. Instead of reading up on loli fashion why not go outside and wear it? There isn't much of a point to buying beautiful clothes if you don't go out and strut your frills. When you are stuck to your computer the world will pass you by!

In order to cut down on your computer time try going online only in the morning and evenings, that way you have the rest of the day to actually live your life. If you are still in the honey moon phase with the fashion you could bring a notebook to the park and scribble down all your thoughts, doodles and wishlists. Or, like me, you could print out blog entries that interest you and put them in a binder, essentially making your own loli book.

Remember, everything is fine in moderation, just don't get too wrapped up in one interest. Live your life in a dreamy reality, be real world loli!

Vlog Four

I made my fourth Vlog today, I added subtitles in case it's difficult to understand me.

Here are some pictures of me with Stella Kitten!

She's just the cutest! She is growing very quickly, I can't believe how much bigger she is already!

Also, I've established a regular update schedule: I will update Her Curious Elegance every Sunday with absolute certainty and an extra update will be given on a random day of the week if I can manage it. I hope that you look forward to spending your Sundays with Her Curious Elegance!

My Dream Come True: Baby the Stars Shine Bright Paris

On my recent trip to Europe my Dad and I popped over to Paris for a day and visited Baby the Stars Shine Bright store! When our taxi pulled up to the store it was hard to believe that I was really there, it's been a dream of mine since I first became a loli! 

Upon entering the shopI was surprised by how small it was, for some reason I expected it to be as big as the pictures of the Japanese stores, but in reality it was tiny! My Dad said "This is it?" and to be honest I was a little disappointed, but it is a boutique after all. 

As we went inside my Dad ceremoniously removed the fluffy BTSSB cushion from a comfy chair and sat down to glance at some issues of Kera that were stacked on the table next to him (wow Dad, I'm impressed). I swiftly went into business mode and ran to the two small racks of dresses and jumperskirts to inspect them all. There weren't really that many to choose from, probably fifteen different dresses maximum, but they were all really pretty. It felt wonderful to look through so many new dresses, I couldn't be casual about it at all!

I didn't intend to buy anything but socks, but I decided to try on a jumperskirt just for fun. When I came out of the dressing room my Dad looked up from his Kera (with a confused expression) and told me that it looked very nice on me. When I came out of the dressing room my Dad took it from me and walked up to the counter, I was kind of dazed and was like "Uh....Dad? It doesn't go there". He gave me a "Come on now" look and proceeded to buy it for me! I couldn't believe it, I've never had a new brand dress before, never mind one from my favorite designer. As he bought it I dizzily looked at the trinkets and bags that were on display towards the back of the store.

As the shop girl was wrapping the dress for me I went over to talk to her. She was a very cute blond girl wearing a Dance of the Black Cats jumperskirt in red, with a black cardigan and no head bow because she thought they were "too much". She spoke excellent English and was incredibly friendly and helpful. I was impressed by how carefully she wrapped my dress.

 Jumperskirt wrapped in soft tissue paper

She tied a ribbon onto the bag and added a sticker to keep it closed.

I loved carrying the bag around, it was so cute!

When we left I was dancing on Cloud 9! Dad took a photo of me with my birthday gift in front of the store. We did a lot of other things in Paris that day, such as sight seeing and exploring, but visiting Baby the Stars Shine Bright was definitely my favorite part! It was the happiest day of my loli life!

Baby the Stars Shine Bright Paris Review:

Selection: 3/5
Service: 5/5

Quality of Items: 5/5

Overall: 4.3/5

100 Question Lolita Baton- Part Three

51. Have you ever changed in a train station bathroom?
No, the closest I've ever come to that was changing at a friends house.

52. What do you think of "twin" and "triplet" lolitas?
It's much more positive than getting upset that someone has the same outfit as you! I have never twinned before but I'd love to.

53. How do you keep in shape for lolita? Recommend something.
I don't think there really is an "in shape" for loli, we come in all kinds of lovely shapes and sizes! I get most of my exercise for walking to my classes and from my weekly ballet class.

54. Do you keep calm when you wear lolita alone in public?
Oh yeah, but I live in an area that's very tolerant. If I were traveling somewhere that was known for crime then I would not wear it alone.

55. How much do you spend per month on clothes/accessories?
Not much at all. I usually only buy a few pieces a year, so mostly I just save my pennies!

56. Was there a time lag between knowing about lolita and dressing in the fashion?
Yes, quite a few years.

57. What is your most expensive lolita item?
My Angelic Pretty Moon Night Story bag. I bought it brand new and paid full price which is unusual for me, but I don't regret it at all (I just couldn't make a habit out of doing things like that)!

58. It takes a lot of money to be a lolita. How do you save?
I have a job and I generally put $5-$10 away from each paycheck. Usually though if I want to buy something new I weigh it against my current wardrobe, if I like the item more than something I already have then I'll sell the old item to generate money for the new item.

59. Just a little secret here... How much have you spent so far on lolita, roughly?
Thinking about that would make me cry! Realistically probably over $1000 (oh my god...).

60. Is there a brand shop you want near where you live?
It would be nice to have a Baby the Stars Shine Bright around, but that might actually be a double edged sword as I may go bankrupt.

61. "Man, what a rip-off!!" Have you ever thought that about a store?
Yes, some things in loli are just far too expensive. I'm usually thrifty by nature so I try to find offbrand equivalents to everything.

62. Do you shop online? If so, put the good & bad points here to advise others.
I personally dislike shopping online, but for loli it is the only option (unless you live near a store). I dislike not knowing how something will look on me and I neither like waiting for my item to arrive or paying for shipping. I much prefer walking out of a store with a cute shopping bag!

63. Is there a secret person/shop that you have commissioned a dress just for you from?
They aren't a secret but sometimes I order things in custom sizes from TaoBao stores.

64. "I can never have that/see that happening!! But I will always want it!!" Is there a brand you think this of?
Innocent World. I adore their coordinates but they are just too dressy for me and I know I'd not wear them as often as my Baby stuff.

65. What do you do with the clothes you don't want anymore?
There is no point in something just sitting around in your closet, gathering dust. If I decide I'm not into something anymore I mercilessly sell it!

66. What is your most recent purchase? (Even non-lolita.)
I bought some soap today (lol). Loli wise though I bought a pink Baby jumperskirt from Mbok a few months ago (it was only $30).

67. Is there an item you love that you can't buy/seem to find?
Vampire Requiem skirt in lavender! It's so cute that I suppose nobody wants to sell it.

68. What do you think of people who only wear lolita to concerts?
Everyone wears loli for different reasons, whether you wear it only at meet ups or every day it doesn't matter!

69. What do you think of lolitas without makeup?
I think that they are adorable! I prefer a natural look to caked on make up.

70. Another lolita is wearing the same coordinate/clothes as you!! What do you do?
Make sure we get some really good photos together!

71. What age should you stop wearing lolita?
Whenever you want to I suppose. If the fashion is still in your heart when you are one hundred years old and you still want to wear it then more power to you! I'll probably stop when I hit thirty or so.

72. When do you think you should graduate from lolita? And why?
This is a very similar question to the last. Just whenever you feel ready to move on, or if you get a job that would not allow for the loli lifestyle (like a politician or something).

73. "You should stop doing that!!! >_<" What must a lolita not do?
Loli's can do whatever they want as fashion does not dictate behavior, but I always get embarrassed if a girl at a meet up is being loud and acting immaturely in public.

74. "A lolita should be 'this'!" What do you think that should be?
Herself! Loli is all about embracing your life and enhancing your happiness so a lolita should never hold back from doing the things she dreams!

75. Besides #73, is there anything you should definitely not do while wearing lolita?
Commit crimes. But you shouldn't do that anyway.