English Gothic & Lolita Bible Volume One

Today we will be looking at the first issue of the English Gothic & Lolita Bible. 

What I Liked

One of the first few pages contains a little quiz that helps you find your "perfect" loli style. It's not in depth and I would take it's results with a grain of salt (especially because the results are only gothic, punk, casual and sweet. Where is the classic?) but it's still fun to take. I really like the layout.

The article Lolita U.S.A. is a snapshot of the life of American lolitas. The date this mook was published was only three years ago but already it is evident that we have all come so far. This was written when brands did not offer overseas shipping and there was a very limited supply of Western lolita attention, it makes me feel fortunate that we're progressing with leaps and bounds.

The mook features the clothing of many major lolita brands including Baby, the Stars Shine Bright and Moi Meme Moitie, but I like that it also takes a look at smaller brands, many of which I hadn't heard of. It's fun to see something out of the usual, I really like the designs of Fairy Wish.

The short article Shopping Made Easy gives a quick but informative guide to obtaining loli clothing. It gives helpful suggestions for shopping on Japanese brand websites with the use of a shopping service, finding loliable clothing in the mall, making your own outfits and buying from American brands. The article mentions In The Starlight, an America lolita brand of the past which I always feel nostalgic for (however they have an Etsy page here).

There is an interview with Vivien Hoffpauir, the designer of the American brand Candy Violet. I was very interested to read about how she got started and what inspired her lolita line. I really liked Candy Violets loli clothing, it's a shame now that the shop caters more towards the rockability style now.

What I Disliked

There is a gothic photoshoot and interview with Hakuei and Tomo, who I believe are some Japanese rock stars. I know that the mook is called Gothic & Lolita Bible, therefore it must cover both styles, but I didn't enjoy looking at the photos or reading what they had to say. When I reread the mook I just skip over this section.

There is a two page photoshoot and story (which is only two paragraphs) called "Angel Stripped Bare by Her Devil" both featuring and written by Novala Takemoto. Personally I think it's really distasteful and poorly written. Fans of Takemoto will probably like this, but he really irks me.

There is coverage of a concert that occurred in Los Angeles in 2007 featuring J Rock and Visual Kei artists. Neither of these genres particularly interest me and I'm not an avid concert goer so this article bored me to tears.

One of the first features in the magazine asked girls "What is Gothic & Lolita to You?". It was interesting to see how everyone answered but the majority of the girls asked were from Japan, it would have been nice to see more Western girls respond as well. Lolitas come from all around the world, I want to hear a variety of opinions!

What Else Was In The Mook?

• Patterns for a wolf hat, bunny ear cape, cat hat, a tote bag, and an Alice head bow
• A letter from the editors 
• Gothic and Lolita History
• Interview with a Lolita-Loving Artist and Designer (Author of Japan Ai: A Tall Girls Adventure's in Japan)
• Harajuku Street Snaps
• A Moi Meme Moitie photoshoot featuring Mana
• Lolita store staff interviews
• An article on the Tokyo Darkside Tours which cater to lolitas visiting Japan
• A Snow White photo story
• An interview with Novala Takemoto discussing his book Princess Scale
• A prince and princess photoshoot
• Requirements of a Royal Princess
• A really jacked up Frog Princess photoshoot (I love how weird it is)
• A short story by Kendi Ootsuki
• An exploration of gothic and lolita fashion in manga
• Coverage of Baby, the Stars Shine Bright's 2005 Christmas Party
• An interview with Nana Kitade, a Japanese lolita singer
• A gothic photoshoot featuring Visual Kei band members
• Interview with the Gothic & Lolita Bible cover illustrator
• Kyokusyoku Sumire Pastimes
• Reader submissions
• A guide to blood type personality traits
• A seven page comic

Info

128 pages long

Isbn # 978-1427803474

Published February 12, 2008 


Link To Series Main Page

Let's Read The English Gothic & Lolita Bible!

I'm happy to say that I have finally collected all five of the English Gothic & Lolita Bibles! In case you don't know, the Gothic & Lolita Bible is a quarterly mook (magazine/book) in Japan featuring both gothic & lolita fashions, articles about the lifestyle and sewing patterns created by brand designers.

In 2008 Tokyopop released the first of five English language Gothic & Lolita Bible's, however instead of a direct translation the mooks featured original content for the Western loli as well as old articles from the Japanese version. 

The last issue of the English Gothic & Lolita Bible was released in Spring of 2009. Due to financial issues the publisher reduced it's writers to a skeleton staff which put a great burden on the few involved. The series was put on hiatus and eventually cancelled. In 2011 Tokyopop closed it's doors for good and while many hope that the mook will be picked up by another publishing house the outlook is doubtful.

Due to the mooks being now out of print it can be quite difficult to  get your hands on them, especially copies with the patterns still in tact! It can be troublesome to find them at a lower price than they were originally sold at, I had to wait two years to get all of mine as it was extremely hard to find a fair price amongst all the scalpers (at one point they were going for over $500 on Amazon.com!).

Due to the difficult nature of obtaining these mooks I thought it might be helpful to give an overview of each issue so that my readers can decide if the contents are actually enjoyable to them. It would be a total pain to spend all that time and effort hunting down a copy only to find that you disliked it!

Please look forward to my Let's Read The English Gothic & Lolita Bible series!

Issue One
Issue Two

Building Your Wardrobe Using the Fundamental Counting Principle

In math class we are currently reviewing something called the Fundamental Counting Principle. It really caught my interest because it can be easily applied to any wardrobe in order to maximize it's outfit possibilities. 

Definition of Counting Principle

• Counting Principle is used to find the number of possible outcomes. It states that if an event has m possible outcomes and another independent event has n possible outcomes, then there are mn possible outcomes for the two events together. 

So what does this have to do with lolita? Using the Fundamental Counting Principle can help you create multiple outfits based around the same main pieces and is perfect for beginning lolita's. When I started buying loli clothing I went about it in a rather willy nilly fashion, meaning that I often didn't have accessories to match my jumperskirts, but if I had used the Fundamental Counting Principle along with colour coordinating basic sets then I would have had a much larger arsenal of outfits at my disposal.

Lolita Basic Wardrobe by raegy_baby featuring white shoes

For example, lets say you are a beginner lolita. You buy your basic set of a blouse, headbow and shoes in both white and black. These sets can be coordinated with virtually any skirt or jumperskirt from any sub-style of lolita fashion. If you were to purchase three main pieces, using the Fundamental Counting Principle, you would end up with six different outfits to choose from.

Sweet Lolita Set by raegy_baby featuring tea party shoes

Classic Lolita by raegy_baby featuring white shoes

Gothic Lolita by raegy_baby featuring tea party shoes

To find how many outfits you have simply multiply the main pieces by the sets. Your math problem would look like this:

3 Dresses x 2 Basic Colour Sets

3*2 = 6 

You have 6 outfit combinations

However you can create more outfits by mixing and matching the elements in your basic sets:

3 Dresses x 2 Blouses x 2 Headbows x 2 Pairs of Shoes

3*2*2*2=24

You now have 24 possible outfit combinations!

If you are a new loli it might be helpful to keep this principal in mind while buying your clothing, it will help you save money in the long run and keep you more organized. If you already have plenty of clothing it can be fun to count up how many of each item you have and work out how many possible outfits your wardrobe holds. It can get tricky if you include things like socks and accessories so make sure to write it down on a piece of paper. You will be surprised by how many outfits you can put together from stuff already in your wardrobe!

How I Fell In Love With Loli

When I was a teenager I was really into attending anime conventions, it was an excuse to drive somewhere with my friends and spend several days unsupervised! Since I am now an adult conventions have lost some of their appeal for me, but I still have many fond memories of enjoying them with my friends.

The other day I was looking through my old photos when I came across some from AFO (Anime Festival Orlando) 2005. It was the first convention I had ever attended and as you can imagine I was pretty camera happy, snapping pictures of pretty much anything and everything I could. I came across a picture I had taken of a loli at the convention and all of a sudden I remembered that moment exactly. She was the first lolita I had ever seen, my first exposure to the fashion, and I was enchanted! 

It wasn't until years later that I bought my first loli piece and by then I had forgotten all about the girl in the picture (I have a really horrendous memory), but now that I remember I feel really humbled. I'm not sure what here name is or even if she still dresses in lolita, but I wanted to express my thanks to her for introducing me to something that has become such a positive influence on my life.

How did you discover lolita fashion? Please leave me a comment, I'd love to hear your story!

Meet Up Report: Summer Time Tea Party

This past weekend I hosted my first meet up, the Summer Time Tea Party, and I'm pleased to say that it was a big success! The weather was very stormy that day, but luckily the last guests arrived mere moments before the rain started. I'm so relieved that none of their outfits got ruined! We were able to take some photos outside once the storm had passed.

I wore the jumperskirt that my Dad recently bought for me from Baby, the Stars Shine Bright Paris. I'd been saving it especially for this meet up and was really excited about it! Everything I wore was from Baby except my belt and shoes which were offbrand.

 Not only did I provide snacks and tea, but everyone else brought food too. We ended up with more food than my poor little table or any of our stomachs could handle, but it's better to have too much than not enough. Everything was delicious!

 Kaylyn brought over a lot of bows and barrettes so that we could make some cute hair clips. We also played games including balloon races (which ended up being very funny), pass the parcel and "werewolf" (a game where you accuse members of your group, it's very silly).

 Usually in meet up posts you see a ratio of more sweet lolis to anyone else, but my meet up was dominated by gothic lolis! It was fun to see everyones creative outfits!

Christina and Kaylyn were decked out in super cute outfits! I love the simple, sweet look!

Kristen and I both wore classic loli. Her outfit was handmade, even the blouse!

Of course we all ganged up on the sweet lolitas!

 We had a secret vote for who had the loveliest outfit, it was a very close race but Kristen ended up winning the crown!

 Amy was awarded the prize for "greatest bum".

My kitten, Stella, even made an appearance although she was a little overwhelmed by such a big crowd. She quickly got over her fears once people began to shower her with affection! 

I hope that everyone who attended enjoyed the tea party. It was a lot of hard work to put together but it was totally worth it, I enjoyed spending time with all my cute friends. I can't wait for the next time we all get together!

Game Review: Alice Madness Returns

*Warning* This post contains potentially disturbing images. Use discretion when reading.

I haven't done a video game review in a while. I am going to start writing many more so please look forward to them!

How is Alice Madness Returns related to lolita?

Alice in Wonderland is a very popular character with lolitas, in fact many brands draw heavy inspiration from the story. In the game Alice wears many lolita inspired coordinates (although she needs a good petticoat), in fact she gets a new dress with each world you visit! Her character design was one of the things that appealed to me so much about this game, I always looked forward to her new outfits.

Alice in her standard Wonderland dress and what she wears in "reality".

What is the game about?

The game itself is a sequel to American McGees Alice, a platformer that was released for the PC a decade ago. It was praised for it's dark take on the classic story and for it's twisted artistic merit. Although Alice Madness Returns it is a sequel you can pick up the game without any prior knowledge of it's predecessor and not miss out on anything related to the plot as there is plenty of exposition. I think that the game was quite enjoyable and paid an homage to old school platform games--a genre that seems to have disappeared in a world of next gen sandbox video games.

The story of the game takes place long after Alice's initial visit to Wonderland. After her family was killed in a fire of suspicious origins she loses her mind, blocking out all of her memories related to the incident. When the game begins she is in a therapists office trying out his new technique of healing the mind through erasing memories, but it is not very successful. Upon leaving the office and having a traumatic experience that shows just how delicate Alice's sanity is, her mind transports her to a now ruined Wonderland. As you explore and cleanse her world you also repair her shattered mind all the while picking up snippets of her memories in an attempt to piece together what really happened on the night of her families house fire.

 Alice being treated in a Victorian asylum

How does the game look?


Visually the game is very beautiful, Alice herself looks great and the level design is breathtaking! The only problem is that occasionally there is so much detail that the textures take a long time to load and since the game is so fast paced you usually zoom past the area before it has a chance to finish. Also now and again the game will stop mid play to load a new section, creating a freeze frame of your current action. After a few seconds it starts back up but it really takes you out of Wonderland and back into your living room.

Battling some undead card soldiers

 How does the game play?

The controls of the game are pretty simple. The button you will be hitting for the majority of the game is jump, Alice jumps more than Mario. Since it is a platformer the game is very linear and jumping is your primary means of transportation around the levels. The combat controls are easy to memorize but varied enough to stay interesting, Alice collects four weapons throughout the game which can be upgraded by collecting teeth.

One of my favorite aspects of the game is Hysteria Mode; when Alice is very low on health she flies into a rage, doing extra damage to her enemies and taking none at all. It's so creepy when she enters this mode, her body turns all white, becomes covered in blood and her distorted screams are the featured instrument of the already unsettling soundtrack. Sometimes I would just let enemies deplete my health simply so I could enter this mode as it was so much fun!

The variety of levels does a great job holding the players interest, you switch from different themed Wonderland areas ranging from a life size chessboard to the bottom of the ocean, and back to the gritty reality of Victorian England. The exploration and fighting is broken up by mini games (my favorite being the side scrolling "Oriental" themed game) in an attempt to create level diversity. I must say, as much as I enjoyed the game the levels were simply too long. Though the exploration and collecting was fun after spending over an hour in the same area I became quickly bored with it. I think that the game designers wanted to make it a very large game, but length does not indicate worth, just look at Portal and Ico, two highly praised games that could be completed in one sitting.

 A fans interpretation of Hysteria Mode

Who should play this game?

The rating for Alice Madness Returns in America is M for Mature due to excessive violence, vulgarity and sexual implications so players under the age of 17 are not permitted to buy it. To be honest there were some parts of the game that I had a difficult time playing, occasionally I had to pause and take a break because it was freaking me out.

Although it is an action game it certainly contains elements of horror. The art style is extremely creepy and often the content is very disturbing. In the opening cut scene alone the White Rabbit's head explodes and Alice gets her face ripped off, so the game definitely lets you know what you're in for right from the beginning. The scare factor is not all gore, there are often atrocities that will leave you shuddering at the off screen implications.

These gruesome characters were particularly difficult to look at.

What is the overall rating?

Despite it's flaws Alice Madness Returns is an entertaining, albeit perturbing video game. With it's creative and well voiced cast of characters the game weaves a mysterious story that the player will eagerly attempt to untangle. I would recommend this game to anyone who enjoys old school platformers, survival horror, action or just plain loves Alice!

Alice Madness Returns is available for the PC, Playstation 3 and Xbox 360.

Extra: Watch the games intro to get a feel of the unnerving style!

Change Can Be Good

One of my main values is that of self love and acceptance. It's hard to get through life in one piece without being happy with your personality and body, so the best thing to do is try to love them the best that you can. However there are some things that you may not be able to accept, no matter how hard you try.

It's easy for other people to tell you to like yourself, but actually doing so is a very difficult task. There may be some features about yourself that you just can never get used to, maybe your teeth are kind of yellow and it stops you from smiling with them in photos, maybe you never know what to say to people so you just stay quiet in groups.

I think that if there is something about yourself that you are really unhappy with then it is ok to change it. Sometimes little things make a big impact on our quality of life, I don't think changing yourself is something to be ashamed of. It isn't selfish or conceited, it's normal to want to feel good.

With the high standards of perfection that are projected onto lolis by ourselves and the community it sometimes makes you feel guilty to want to change your body. Remember, the goal should never be perfection, because this is an unattainable goal for anyone. No matter how you look if you really scrutinize yourself you will always find something "wrong" with yourself ("my eyelids are so fat"), so try not to sweat the small stuff. Rather, try to improve what you can about yourself if it would make you happy to do so. Get your teeth whitened if you feel they are yellow, ask a friend to help you get involved in group conversations if you are shy, go to a dermatologist if you have upsetting acne or find some fun exercises to do if you'd like to tone up.

Small changes can make a big difference in your life, if something about yourself is bothering you then you should work hard to improve yourself! Just make sure that you do it in a healthy way, that way you'll have more to like about yourself!

How To Host A Brilliant Lolita Meet Up

Loli meet ups are a lot of fun! Not only are they an excuse to wear your cutest outfit, but they are also an opportunity to get together with your friends and to make new ones too. Meet ups provide an opportunity for local lolis to bond and become closer, and there is nothing better than a close knit community!

Hosting your own meet up can be a daunting task, there is a lot to account for and plenty to plan. If you do not think of something your group may be very inconvenienced and could turn into a disaster! It's a good idea to ask one or two other lolitas to assist you in planning the details of the meet up so that you are not overwhelmed, that way you can enjoy yourself without stressing the small stuff!

Here is a list of important things to consider when hosting your own meet up.

1. Guest List

Is this meet up a private get together of lolitas who already know each other, or is it public and open to anyone who can make it? Decide on what kind of meet up you are having and then stick to that plan, it is unfair to make a public meet up but discourage the participation of lolitas you do not know.

Make sure to let everyone know that they must RSVP at least a week before the scheduled date. Many activities require a head count in advance, your group may not be accommodated if you show up with more people than you had planned.

2. Location

Picking the location depends on what activities you would like to plan. If you decide to host the meet up at your home make sure that it is in a suitable condition for your guests. At least one day in advance you should clean from top to bottom, when the guests arrive everything will get a bit messier so it's best to aim higher than your desired level of clean.

If you decide to host a meet up elsewhere be as considerate as possible. Don't pick a spot that is hours away from your communities base unless you don't mind volunteering seats in your car. Be mindful of the levels of safety in the area you are going to, nobody wants to be made fun of or threatened, so pick somewhere that you know is loli friendly for sure.

Be sure to provide the address of any and all locations at least two weeks in advance, and it's helpful to let people have your cell phone number in case they need last minute directions.

3. Dress Code

It's important to clearly state the dress code of your event well in advance of the date. Is it a lolita only party? Is it ok if people who are just interested in the fashion show up in mainstream clothing? Are other street fashions like Gal and Fairy Kei welcome? What about cosplay lolita? If what people wear is critical to you then make sure your message is loud and clear. If you don't mention a specific dress code then it is unfair to turn people away or act negatively towards their outfit.

Even if you are very clear that your party is a "pink only" party, and somebody shows up wearing all red you shouldn't give them a hard time. Ask them if they were aware of the theme, and if not try to make them feel welcome to your event (after all, you did invite them). It is alright however to politely ask all the people who did not dress the part to abstain from special photos.

4. Weather

The weather can be a very unpredictable thing and a little rain can easily put a damper on any party. If your event is outdoors keep a close eye on the weather forecast on days prior to the meet up. If things are looking bleak it may be wise to have an alternate indoor location available, that way nobodies prints run!

5. Refreshments and Facilities

When people are having a good time they tend to forget all of their cares, but they still are very in tune with their needs. It is very important to ensure that your event has at least one bathroom available for your group. It sounds silly but this is the biggest problem I have run into when attending meet ups, and believe me it's no fun at all!

If you are hosting the meet up at your home, or if you will be outside for a very long period of time, it's a smart idea to provide some kind of refreshments. Things don't have to be expensive or elaborate, providing a simple sweet and savory option such as cookies and sandwiches will please most people. You may want to provide a vegetarian option just in case any of your guests don't eat meat. The drinks don't always have to be hot tea, anything from iced water to pink lemonade will do nicely!

6. Activities

Meet ups can get boring pretty quickly if all the group is doing is standing around talking to each other. Planning engaging activities is the key to creating a successful meet up! Whether it's getting to know you games, watching a movie or playing laser tag, helping your guests have fun is the fastest and easiest way to help them relax and become friends!

Planning a great meet up is a lot of work but try not to get stressed out. Remember, hiccups will happen so no matter what just go with the flow and enjoy yourself! After all, meet ups are all about having fun!



All photos were taken from Tumblr and are the property of their respective owners

100 Question Lolita Baton- Part Four

76. What do you think of men in lolita?
I think that it's fine. Brolitas often give us girls a run for our money!

77. Did you change yourself to be a lolita?
I didn't change to become a loli, but I think that the fashion has changed me. I'm more aware of myself in public, I always feel like I'm representing our community to those who have never encountered it so I try to be on my best behavior! Also I think that loli has made me much more outgoing! Usually I'm fairly shy but when you are dressed up you naturally get into conversations with others.

78. What does your family and other people think of you dressing lolita? And do you accept it?
My parents are generally supportive of everything I do, so it's not a big deal. If what I wore embarrassed them though I wouldn't wear it around them, we live far apart and don't see each other often so it wouldn't upset me to take a few days off from the frills.

79. How do you wear lolita in the boiling mid-summer?
This is everyday where I come from! I usually skip the blouse, socks and very often wear flip flops!

80. Have you gone to school or work in lolita?
I wear loli to all of my classes besides dance. I don't wear it to work because we have a uniform, but I visit my workplace frequently when I'm off the clock and I always wear loli.

81. How do you dress normally?
Usually I wear loli, but if I'm taking a day off I still try to wear something cute. I've noticed that I gravitate towards skirts and dresses now.

82. Do you think twice about buying second-hand clothes?
Not at all! Unless you are rich it's not smart to buy all your loli brand new. Of course I still make sure that my used clothing is in good condition.

83. Do you have a boyfriend? (or husband?) Does he understand lolita?
I currently don't have a boyfriend or girlfriend, but those in the past have all liked the way I dress.

84. Please tell us about your ideal man.
My ideal partner would share similar interests with me. We would share a special bond, make each other laugh easily and talk through our problems rather than fight. Looks or clothing aren't important, it's what is on the inside that makes a person truly beautiful!

85. What lolita has left a big, shiny impression on you so far?
My wonderful friend Alex from Tennessee! She is always so beautifully put together, and her talent for arts and crafts never ceases to blow me away.

86. Have you made your own clothes? What are they like?
I have made my own head bow before. It went really well actually!

87. Have you made your own accessories? What did you make?
Besides the headbow sometimes I make myself little necklaces and hair accessories.

88. Think about the best item you have made! What is it?
That same headbow! I'm sure that I could make much more but finding the time is really difficult.

89. Please tell us about the most perfect lolita coordination you wear.
My favorite coordinates revolve around my Wizard of Oz jumperskirt, whenever I wear it I'm the happiest!


90. Do you admire someone? What are they like?
I admire Misako Aoki a lot. Not only is she beautiful and are her coordinates effortlessly gorgeous, but she's a lovely person on the inside too. Besides being a premier loli model she's also a nurse!


91. "One day I will go on a date with that person." What would you like to wear for him?
I suppose it would depend on the person. I have been on dates in loli before and it's always gone pretty well. The last time I went on a date was Valentines Day, I wore classic loli and I got a lot of compliments.


92. If you want one, what type of store would you open in the future?
I would open a tea room! It's very stereotypical but I just love the idea of having one!


93. Something catches your eye. What is this motif?
Flowers! I feel that flowers are very elegant and mature, I love to have them everywhere.

94. Would you dress your child in lolita?
Absolutely! I've always admired the cute mother and daughter duo of Frilly Capricious, it would be so fun to dress my kids up. If they expressed that they didn't want to dress up anymore, or got "too old" for it then of course I wouldn't push them, it would just be fun to do when they were very little and didn't protest!


95. How much do you spend on one outfit?
Not that much. I re-use many items in different outfits, so I'd say about $100.


96. "This is lolita!!" Please say what you would say this about.
I would say that the silhouette of a loli is the defining aspect of our fashion. No matter what style you prefer the petticoat poof is universal!


97. "I have always wanted to try that once!" What, in the lolita world, have you wanted to try wearing?
A beautiful, Marie Antoinette coordinate with massive hair, extreme make up and decadent jewelry. I think that it would be really fun, and I've always wanted to wear a tricorn.


98. Look at yourself in lolita. In one word/phrase, how would you express your style/image?
Simple yet lovely.


99. What is your lolita ideal?
Having many perfectly coordinated outfits at your disposal that are appropriate for every day wear! One day I will get there, but it might not be for a long time, there's always something to work on!


100. Thank you for taking this baton!! Tell us what you think!
It was a lot of fun, I wonder if people will actually read it. I'd love to hear other peoples answers too!