Her Curious Elegance

The Underwear Issue

2012-01-28T08:00:00.000-06:00

It's common for girls in our community to say things like "I hate bloomers, they look like nappies" or "Bloomers make me feel like a clown". I've heard instances of girls not allowing their boyfriends to take off their lolita dresses because they are afraid of them seeing them in their bloomers and a sports bra. Though the outer layer of lolita is beautiful and refined it seems like the inner lolita clothing can sometimes be...well, embarrassing. This does not have to be the case!

There are many ways for a lolita to wear underwear that is just a pretty as her dress and you don't have to spend a bunch to get it imported either! Though some girls claim that the underwear isn't important I personally feel that if I am wearing something pretty underneath my dress I feel more beautiful overall. My under garments are a pretty little secret that only I know about.

Here are some fantastic alternatives to boy shorts/bloomers and tank tops:

Fitted Bloomers

Fitted bloomers are a godsend. I've recently discovered them and I can't get enough! Fitted bloomers are similar to regular bloomers except they have more shape to them. They are shorter and don't sag so much in the crotch. There is a difference in the cut of the material in the front than in the back, taking bloomers from frumpy to lovely.

Fitted bloomers are often made in opulent materials as opposed to the ordinary cotton of regular bloomers giving them a luxurious quality. I feel that if the wind blows up your skirt and the world is treated to a view of your delicates (which with a petticoat happens quite often) fitted bloomers provide enough coverage to avoid humiliation yet also are so pretty that you won't really mind showing them off!

This type of bloomer can be quite difficult to find both in stores or online. Your best bet is to hunt through vintage consignment stores or check out online historical undergarment stores. If you are capable with a sewing machine it may be easier to just make them yourself.

Though they may be elusive fitted bloomers are totally worth it if you are able to find a pair! They also never stay in stores fast so if you come across one buy it quickly.

Corsets

Corsets are very underrated in the modern world. If they are worn at all in mainstream fashion they are usually worn as a substitute for a top. In reality they were designed as underwear and are both gorgeous and useful.

Though corsets require assistance to put on they make for a very pretty addition to your intimates. Corsets also can help you slip more easily into those tight brand dresses and assist in creating an hourglass figure for your body. Besides being pretty corsets actually have some health benefits as well! The sturdy structure of corsets helps to give you better posture, they have even been shown to improve cases where the spine is curved! For those with larger breasts corsets can alleviate back pain and provide greater support for your chest than a bra can.

Of course it would be immoral of me to praise the health benefits of corsets without speaking of the serious health risks involved with everyday or frequent wear. If laced very tightly over time the wearers body will begin to conform to the shape of the corset. The ribs will compress and the vital organs will be pushed together. The muscle tone of the abdomens will greatly decrease causing Glenard's disease. Also the womb may be affected making it difficult or impossible for the wearer to have children. These side affects only occur if a corset is worn very often, if you just wear one now and again (and do not lace it too tightly) then your body will remain healthy.

It's fairly easy to find a corset in a style that fits your fancy. There are hundreds of stores online that specialize in making Victorian style corsets, many also take custom orders. A good corset will run you anywhere form $75 to $200, but if you just want one for the occasional wear then there are cheaper ones available from stores like Bodyline.

Delicate Bras

If corsets seem a little too scary for you then why not try a delicate, elegant bra? Bra's of course are the easiest to find because they are sold in almost every clothing store. Finding a lovely, lacy one may not be as hard as you think either. Although the main perception of bras is that they are tools to make you appear sexy and voluptuous there are several places that cater to the idea that bras should make you feel pretty.

Victoria's Secret has a line called Angels which specializes in pretty, feminine bras which very much match the lolita aesthetic. When shopping for new bras you should take the opportunity to have a free fitting as your breasts change size all the time. Your breasts will look and feel their best only if they are in a bra that fits them perfectly!

On special occasions you might want to try wearing fitted bloomers, a delicate bra and a corset all at once to make you feel extra gorgeous. I hope this entry has inspired you to feel beautiful!

Welcome To A New Year Of Her Curious Elegance

2012-01-20T08:00:00.002-06:00

Hello Rufflebutts and welcome to a brand new year of Her Curious Elegance! In the upcoming year I plan to make a few changes to the update schedule of this blog mainly because I'm getting older and thus taking on more responsibilities in my life.

I'm a university senior this year which is daunting but also exciting! With full time classes, a full time job and an upcoming internship I'm going to be a very busy Raegan, but I promise I will still maintain this blog! My new plan for this year is to update once a week so that you will get four full updates a month.

Now lets take a look back on my Lolita New Years Resolutions for 2011 and see how they panned out!

Establish a less sporadic update schedule for Her Curious Elegance- I feel that this was semi-successful. Though they may not have been on consistent days I at least met my target number of updates almost every month.

Give my blog a make over- I'm pleased to say that this goal was achieved! I really love the new layout, it's really pink and cute!

Spend more time making cute crafts- I met this goal too! Hooray! I went above and beyond with crafting this year by making hair accessories, sweets jewelry and cuddly toys for my friends.

Not buy any loli until I am in Japan on holiday- Sadly this holiday never came to fruition as the devastating earthquake in Japan occurred last year.

Work extra shifts to save up for my big trip- Again this was not possible due to the natural disaster.

Keep wearing loli almost every day- To be honest I've worn lolita a lot less this year but when I have had the opportunity to wear it the experience has felt a lot more special. I kind of like it better that way.

Here are my Lolita New Year Resolutions for 2012:

~*Make my own lolita skirt, cutsew or jumperskirt*~

~*Love the clothing I already own instead of buying new item*~

~*Do well as the president of my universities lolita club*~

~*Sell my lolita crafts at another convention*~

Did you make any lolita related resolutions this year? If so please let me know in the comments, I'd love to hear from you!

Happy New Years 2012

2011-12-31T08:00:00.000-06:00

Thank you for spending the year with Her Curious Elegance, I hope that we can have a wonderful 2012 together as well!

Love,

Raegan

xoxoxoxoxo

Her Curious Crafts: Alex Bow

2011-12-30T08:00:00.000-06:00

One of the gifts I made for Alex this Christmas was a cute head bow. I didn't have access to a sewing machine over winter break so I made it by hand, it was really difficult! I made it in a medium size, it's hard to tell in the pictures but it's bigger than an Alice bow but smaller than a massive brand head eating bow, I wanted to make something that Alex could wear often.

I chose to make the bow in pink to match the other gift I bought her (a Minty Mix lavender wig that fades to pink at the bottom), I thought that pink at the top and pink at the bottom would look really good. I didn't just want to give her a regular old bow though, I wanted it to be special, so I embellished it with some cute gold charms.

The heart shaped charm at the bottom is my favorite, it's actually quite heavy! I really like the engraved pattern that is on both sides.

I also added two little gold ribbon charms to the bottom of each side. In this picture you can also see the glittery gold hair band that I placed it on.

It was really fun to make something for a friend, I really hope that she ended up liking the present! I think in the future I will make more gifts for my friends special moments.

Lolita Poll

2011-12-29T08:00:00.003-06:00

The last poll listed on this blog asked readers "What do you like the most about Her Curious Elegance". 167 readers voted (and were allowed to choose multiple answers) and the results are in!

78% agreed the Lifestyle Articles were their favorites

43% said that they liked to look at Daily Outfits

35% enjoyed reading Craft Posts more than anything else

16% decided that Poetry was what they loved

8% liked watching Videos

The next poll asks the question "Would you date a person who disliked lolita clothing?". Please vote and let me know what you think!

My Lolita Christmas Gifts

2011-12-28T08:00:00.000-06:00

This Christmas was the first year I've ever received so many lolita related presents! My Mum and my good friend, Alex, both gave me thoughtful and lovely presents. I am so touched by their gestures and excited to wear all my new items. Let me share with you what I got!

Originally I had really wanted the Sweet Fawn coat by Baby, the Stars Shine bright, but upon further inspection it wasn't perfect (I wish it didn't have that stripe right across the breast) and was completely out of my price range. Having mentioned to my Mum that I liked the way it looked she took it upon herself to get me something similar.

We had both agreed that the BTSSB coat was too light, so I was delighted with the HMHM coat's camel colour. We altered it slightly, changing the buttons from double to single breasted. The sleeves and collar are removable, and to add the final touch Mum also ordered me a Bathina fawn collar.

I love the final product, it brings together all the elements I loved from the BTSSB coat at a fraction of the price, plus it was custom sized! Another thing I love about the collar is that I can wear it with regular outfits too, it's so darling!

My next gift was the blended Choco-Latte wig from Gothic and Lolita Wigs. I haven't trimmed the fringe yet but I can't wait to do so, I really want to wear it! Upon opening it I squealed and carefully removed it from it's packaging to inspect. The wig is very thick and is an even more beautiful colour in real life, the photo does not do it justice. It is my first wig to have the cute double ponytails that are beginning to become a signature lolita hair style. I am really looking forward to wearing it!

I was surprised when I opened present after present to reveal 11 pairs of Secret Shop socks! Many would groan at getting socks for Christmas, but not lolitas! To be honest my collection of lolita socks was pitiful, I've had the same 3 pairs for years and they were beginning to look a bit tired. Luckily I'll never have that problem again thanks to my Mum! I love all of the socks, but I especially adore the tea set socks (which I have in 4 colours now).

My dear friend, Alex, also gave me a pair of socks. They are by Innocent World, I love the brand but for whatever reason I don't own anything by them, I'm so happy that my first IW item can be from someone I care about so much. She thoughtfully chose a pair with strawberries and ribbons to match my Chained Berry Memoir jumperskirt my Dad bought for me in Paris last summer. So cute!

Alex also bought me this cute Swimmer watch. I actually didn't own a watch prior to receiving this one so it's both a practical and decorative! The poodle on it is really sweet and I love the heart design on the strap too. I've had my eye on Swimmer stuff recently so it was a lovely surprise.

The last gift I got from Alex was so touching, it was an Angelic Pretty booklet frame. She added a photo of both of us from the first day we met two year ago and also hand drew a picture of me. When I get home I'm going to place on my window so that I can see it every morning.

Overall my lolita gift haul was way more than I expected! I'm so thankful for everything I received, but most of all I'm glad to have such a caring Mum and kind friend.

Merry Christmas 2011

2011-12-25T08:00:00.001-06:00

Merry Christmas Rufflebutts!

I hope that your day is spent happily with the ones you love.

Thank you for being the best readers I could ever ask for (Santa himself couldn't do better)!

Love,

Raegan

xoxoxoxoxo

Dear Father Christmas

2011-12-21T08:00:00.001-06:00

Credit to Myu-san on Deviant Art

Dear Father Christmas,

I don't need a new jumper skirt in pink or blue,

Don't need an one piece second hand or new,

I don't need a wig in a cute split style,

Don't need a parasol to make me smile,

I don't need tea party shoes under the tree,

I just need someone who'll love me for me.

Please do not give me Chocomint barrettes,

Take back all your Baby and your AP sets,

It's not that I'm ungrateful, I just want one gift,

Somebody special to share Christmas with.

Meet Up Report: Second Annual Christmas Party

2011-12-19T08:00:00.007-06:00

It's currently winter break for university students so I've traveled to Tennessee to spend the holiday season with my Mum. I'm lucky enough to have a whole group of dazzling lolita friends in this part of the country, we keep in touch but we only get to physically see each other once a year so spending time with them is like a magical gift from Santa himself! This weekend I attended the Second Annual Christmas Party, this year hosted by Kisha, and it was a whole lot of fun. I had a fantastic time mingling with my rufflebutts, meeting new lolitas and of course admiring everyone's lovely outfits!

I slept over at Alex's flat the night before, in the morning she made me feel like a princess by curling my hair and doing my make up for the occasion. I think they both turned out really well, it felt so special!

This was what I wore to the party-

Hair ties: Alice Doll

Bow: Forever 21

Kitty scarf: Handmade by a friend

Cardigan: Primark

Jumperskirt: Baby, the Stars Shine Bright

Bunny Bear: Baby, the Stars Shine Bright

Boots: Goodwill

My bunny bear, Teacake, met another of his species! I was so glad that Katie brought her bunny bear, Charlotte, we had way too much fun posing them and having them hold their cute little magnet hands (pro tip: if you stick two bunny bear's hands together and try to make it heart shaped it will just look like a rectangle).

This is one of my favorite picturse from the party. We had loli-fied President Obama and were all taking turns posing with him. Kesia is so tiny that she had a bit of trouble reaching him so I swooped in to help! She was not heavy at all but I am ~~a serious weakling~~ a delicate flower so I had to go into She-Hulk mode. It probably didn't help that we couldn't stop giggling.

We all went outside and posed for mini group and individual pictures. The sun was setting fast so we tried to be as quick as we could so that everyone could get a turn. When the last girl was finished we went back inside and chatted as the sky turned black. Before it was time for the meet up to end we all drew a number for gifts, everyone who brought one received one. Everyone had taken care to give something extra cute, I ended up getting a cute puffy Rilakumma sticker set!

We had so much fun at the party that the time flew by and it was over before we knew it. Before departing we all hugged each other individually and then hugged again for good luck. I was so happy to have spent the day with my beautiful friends!

10 Hand Made Lolita Holiday Gifts

2011-12-15T08:00:00.000-06:00

Found on Tumblr. I need to know who the artist is so I may credit them.

Holiday gifts can be difficult when you're shopping for a lolita. You could get her brand but it's so expensive, you could get her Bodyline but would she like it? Of course it's the thought that counts so why not make her a present? I always treasure home made presents from my friends, it's not just the item that's nice but the thought and effort that was put into it. Another plus of making your own gifts is that it's cheap and you don't have to wait for the item to ship to you (it might be cutting it a bit close anyway).

To help you out this holiday season here is Her Curious Elegance's list of 10 Hand Made Lolita Holiday Gifts!

1. Bloomers

Bloomers are a practical gift that every loli can appreciate. They don't take much time to sew and you can decorate them with all sorts of ribbons, bows and lace.

Go out to your local craft store and try to find some fabric that your friend would like, it doesn't matter if it's a busy pattern or in non traditional colours because they won't be wearing it visibly. For friends who live in cold climates why not line it with faux fur or fleece? You can make a cute flat patch of a bunny, deer or candy piece, and sew it onto one of the legs.

Here is a good tutorial for making bloomers.

2. Bow

Bows are another item that no lolita could live without, I don't think you can ever have too many bows. These are very easy to make even for beginners and don't require a sewing machine.

You can experiment with different sizes and materials while making bows. It can be really cute to add little charms to each side or add a jewel or patch to the middle. Thoughtful details makes it interesting and special.

Here is a tutorial for making bows.

3. Decorated Frame

A cute frame from Morbidly Adorable on Etsy

This is an oldie but a goodie. Take a lovely picture of the two of you and buy a plain frame for it. Decorate the frame in any way you'd like. You could cover it in glitter, glue on cut outs from a lolita magazine or even deco it! There is no end to how you can decorate your frame, just put your heart into it and your friend will love it!

4. Cute Sweets

If you like to bake then you could get creative in the kitchen. Most lolita's love sweet things so why not make some sweet cookies, fairy cakes or even a full blown cake! Holiday themed sweets are extra cute, why not make peppermint icing to frost everything in, or cute little gingerbread lolis?

5. A Lolita Valentine

If you can't post the gift then why not make a Lolita Valentine for your friend? Lolita Valentines are simple to make and mean an awful lot. I've received one before and it really touched me.

Lolita Valentines are great gifts for girls in your community you may not know so well but would love to become better friends with.

The live journal community Loli Valentines updates weekly but make sure to send your friend the link just in case she doesn't keep up with it.

6. Your Own Interpretative Dance Version of A Holiday Classic

These are only for very good friends (ones you know won't put it all over the internet). Get all frilled up, find a fun holiday song, like Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies, and film yourself doing your best (or worst) dance to it. Burn it onto a cd and give it to her with a card, it will definitely get a giggle or two!

7. Lolita Headdress

If your friend is into old school lolita then I'm sure she'd appreciate a headdress. They can be made in square or round style, just be sure to use high quality lace or it might end up looking a bit dodgy. You can add cute flowers or ribbons to either side of the headdress to make it extra cute.

Here is a tutorial for making headdresses

8. A Knitted Scarf

A beautiful kitty scarf my friend made me from a Gothic and Lolita Bible pattern

Knitted scarves can be really cute, and knitting is quite relaxing. Find some soft wool in a colour your friend likes, I personally enjoy the sparkly wool (it's a bit more expensive though). When you're done knitting your scarf you can add cute pom poms to the end and sew on cute little buttons or patches. Scarves are both practical and beautiful!

Here is a tutorial for knitting a scarf

9. Jeweled Gloves

Recently I came across some really cool gloves in a store, they were made of plain coloured wool but had eye catching jewels on them. I had never seen a pair like that before, I really wanted to buy them but they were too expensive!

You can easily make them for a friend by knitting or buying your own pair of simple gloves and adding minimilistic jewels that you can pick up at any craft store. They are sure to look lovely with her lolita coat!

Here is a tutorial for knitting gloves

10. A Handwritten Poem

If poetry is your thing then why not write one for your friend. It doesn't have to be sappy, deep or even rhyme, sometimes funny or quirky poems are the best. Write a cute little poem that will make her laugh or include some of your inside jokes. If you have difficulty writing then you can find one from online.

In your nicest hand writing copy it down onto some decorated paper, she'll be sure to treasure it. Just make sure to keep in in a folder to keep it from getting damaged.

A TaoBao Winter Collection

2011-12-03T08:00:00.002-06:00

Winter Lolita by TheDarkShiva

Winter is the perfect time for lolita, it allows you to wear all your cute layers comfortably and keeps you cozy no matter what! Winter lolita clothing can be gorgeous with it's dark colours, lush velvets and sparkling embellishments, but money is tight around the holiday season making buying brand out of the question for some. But never fear, this year Santa and his elves have been working extra hard with the TaoBao stores to bring you adorable, affordable lolita clothes just in time for Christmas!

The various TaoBao shops offer a large selection of lolita friendly coats, jackets and hoodies in a variety of colours. Often these items can be lined upon request and be custom made to fit you to a t.

Lolita coats are brilliant because they accommodate your petticoat and allow for the perfect cupcake shape. You should never have to sacrifice your floof just because of the cold. It's important to note that the coats look a little flat if you're wearing them with a non-lolita outfit due to the large amount of fabric used.

Lolita jackets are perfect to wear with both your frilly finest and will spice up a pair of jeans. Often they come with removable fluffy collars (but who would want to take those off?).

Hoodies are rare in lolita but they do exist. They are great for a casual look, maybe you could pair it with a skirt and a cute pair of pastel coloured trainers?

KidsYoyo Violin Embroidery Coat

Surface Spell Feathers With Crystal Coat

Dear Celine Winter Ball Jacket

Infanta Little Red Riding Hood Hoodie

Whether sipping hot chocolate by the fire, exchanging gifts with friends or taking a stroll through the snow you will look perfectly darling in these winter dresses and skirts. With their warm fabric and embroidered details you'll both look and feel like a winter princess.

Though many turn their noses up at off brand there are no shortage of cute little components that match the major brands attention to detail. Unlike Bodyline, many TaoBao shops pay close attention to their labor of love, adding tiny bows and cute lace in the nicest of places. I love inspecting my clothing from TaoBao, there is usually always some little treasure hiding from your first glance, it's great to discover new things about your clothing!

Surface Spell Iris Flower One Piece

Surface Spell Feathers With Crystal One Piece

Surface Spell Chandelier Jumper Skirt

Dear Celine Bunny Embroidery Jumper Skirt

HMHM Velveteen C handelier Skirt

Infanta Cinderella Jumper Skirt

Surface Spell British Witchcraft Jumper Skirt with Cape

These cute bonnets, bloomers, socks and hats will put the finishing touches on any lolita coordinate. Usually they are made specifically to match a certain dress or coat which is great if you want a very put together look. It's good to get creative too, mixing and matching your accessories around to make a whole new look!
Lolita accessories make great gifts for frilly friends too!

Surface Spell Hat

Surface Spell Bonnet

Dear Celine Bloomers

HMHM Faux Fur Collar
R Series Socks

Happy Shopping!

Bed Time Stories: Ibitsu

2011-11-26T08:00:00.000-06:00

As an avid comic book reader and beginning horror fan I was delighted to discover Ibitsu, a horror comic centered around a disturbing lolita antagonist.

The story begins as a young man, Kazuki, leaves his apartment at midnight to take his rubbish out to the trash heap. Upon arriving he notices a haggard, corpse like lolita slumped eerily before the pile of garbage. Creeped out, Kazuki tries to leave before she notices him, but before he gets the chance to run away the strange lolita asks him a question, "Do you have a little sister?". Almost immediately after he answers frightening things begin happening to both Kazuki and his loved ones. Is the lolita girl a frightening stalker or something much more sinister?

Ibitsu is a pretty short series, I was able to finish all thirteen chapters in a little over an hour so it's good if you are looking to read something in one sitting. Personally I found the story entertaining but I didn't find it very scary (to be honest I found the two side stories more frightening). Certain parts were rather unnerving, and there were definitely moments where I cringed, but at the end of the night I was still able to go to sleep with the lights off. Just because I failed to find the plot scary though does not mean that I didn't find it interesting! Throughout the story I found myself rooting for the main character and dreading the appearances of the deranged lolita, if only for his sake. Though the story was short and sweet I became emotionally invested in the main characters and their well being. I even liked the lolita character despite her evil inclinations, but perhaps my closet is making me biased!

The comic does feature some swearing and brief nudity (in one scene breasts are exposed) so I wouldn't recommend reading it at work or school. The violence is not very graphic but the implications of violence still might be too much for children and younger teenagers so I would suggest using your discretion.

What drew me to Ibitsu was purely the use of a lolita villain, however upon reading it thoroughly I have decided that I would still like the comic regardless of whether a lolita was included or not. Though the comic is not ground breaking it is still enjoyable. For fans of lolita fashion who also enjoy spooky stories I would say that Ibitsu, by Ryou Haruka, it definitely worth your time.

Ask A Ruffle Butt

2011-11-22T08:00:00.001-06:00

Since I have created a contact tab on Her Curious Elegance I've received some e-mails asking questions about lolita. It's been really fun to read and answer these questions so I've decided to start the Ask A Ruffle Butt series! In this series I will answer your queries publicly to aide in the general education of frilly fans everywhere.

If you have any questions about lolita fashion, lifestyle, or anything else then please feel free to drop me a line! Keep in mind that you may ask questions anonymously, but any inappropriate messages will be deleted.

I look forward to reading your message!

Fated Fortuity

2011-11-21T08:00:00.000-06:00

She fluttered straight out of the pages of my book,

All pink nails and fairy tales,

Opened her eyes to me, transcending illustration and text.

Her smile, her laugh, her sorrow, her joy,

She is my story.

This is chapter one.

A Bedroom Fit For A Princess!

2011-11-19T08:00:00.000-06:00

There's nothing worse than the contrast of a beautiful girl in a boring room. If you are feeling restless with your royal bed chamber then why not give it a lolita themed make over? This process may seem daunting, but here are some tips to lolifying your room and transforming it into a frilly paradise!

Paint Your Walls- This is probably the most obvious tip to giving your any room a new look. Adding a fresh colour to your walls really does make a world of difference! If you are theming your room after sweet style then pastel colours are best, for classic style go with a muted shade like dusty rose, and for gothic why not try electric blue or maroon instead of traditional black (which is way too intense for walls anyway)?

Add Decals- For girls living in university dormitories like me it is impossible to paint your walls, but adding wall decals is a fun way to spice it up. You can get cute decals at places like Target and Wal-Mart and packs are usually around $10. Wall decals are removable and reusable so you won't damage the walls and you can take them to your next dorm room!

Picture from pinkgundullhouse.net

Display Your Accessories- Some accessories are just too cute to keep hidden in drawers! Instead of putting posters up why not create a lolita accessory display? You can use command strips to hang up your favorite bags, head bows and necklaces, making your room cuter and also keeping those expensive trinkets out of harms way!

Paint Your Furniture- If you are really committed to lolifying your room you can paint your furniture! Use the same shade of spray or regular paint to coat your tables, desks, closet doors and bookshelves. Once it's dry you can paint cute matching designs on them (or use a stencil if you aren't artistically inclined). The uniformity of your furniture will really pull your room together!

Purchase a Dress Form- Many lolitas buy their own dress forms to decorate their rooms with. You can decorate it with a special coordinate that you love to look at, maybe one that's a little too fancy to wear on normal occasions, and it will make your room feel like a cute lolita boutique!

I hope that this has helped inspire you to cutify your room! I'd love to see the finished result, so please take some pictures and show me!

Her Curious Elegance Craft Booth

2011-11-16T08:00:00.000-06:00

I apologize to everyone for not having updated regularly this month, to be honest the time just got away from me as I was preparing for my very first crafting booth at FAN:doms artist alley. My table was little but cute, I put a lot of work into hand sewing, embroidering and painting every item.

I was both excited and nervous about attending, my major concern was that nobody would like the things I had made, but luckily my best friend, Kaylyn, was by my side so I ended up not feeling worried at all! In fact I spent the whole weekend giggling and chatting with her in between selling. I was very happy that so many of my items sold, I took photos of some customers wearing my crafts.

A cute lolita, Laurie, wearing one of my big macaron rings.

Kristen and her little cupcake ring.

My cute customer, Kacy, show off her rings.

Besides selling things at the convention I also made new friends. The local artists were so fun to be around, my favorites were Kizzy and Miriam & Dee Jay of GenkiGoth Studios. We all wrote little notes back and forth, Miriam even drew me a special picture on the second day of the convention!

Me posing happily with my present. It is now proudly framed in my room.

The cute drawing in question, a lolita zombie! I love how her arm fell off.

When the convention was finally over I was exhausted but glad to have sold so many crafts and met so many wonderful people. Afterwards my new friends and I all went out to Waffle House for a well earned meal, we had hardly eaten at all the whole weekend! I am very pleased with how everything turned out at FAN:dom, I think I'm going to try going to more conventions soon. Keep an eye on my shop tab for details of Her Curious Elegance's upcoming artist alley appearances!

P.s. Check out the video I made of all my items!

Lolita Bangs: A Cautionary Tale

2011-11-06T08:00:00.000-06:00

About a year ago I was just walking around, minding my own frilly business when suddenly I was gripped by a powerful notion; I needed to get a fringe cut into my natural hair and I needed it done now! I'm sure I'm not the only lolita this has happened to, with the industry standard being that of full, blunt cut bangs it's almost "un-lolita" not to have them!

I spent a couple of days mulling over the pros and cons of changing my hair so drastically, as a child I always had that hair style and when I grew it out I spent an agonizing year suffering from bad hair days. Growing out bangs is a total pain in the petticoat. However I felt that the pro's (cute, loli hair) vastly outweighed the cons (possibly not liking it, up keep, growing it out) so I had my girlfriend cut them in for me that night, complete with Misako Aoki style chin length strands.

At first I loved it! I felt that I had moved up in the lolita ranks and had somehow proved myself to be a real, dedicated loli. Even my coworker from Japan volunteered that my hair style was more "gossurori". I felt that my coordinates looked a hundred times better and wondered why one earth I hadn't thought about getting a fringe sooner. After having my fringe for a couple of weeks though I was singing a different tune.

I have many talents but styling hair is definitely not one of them. I take a shower at night, let it dry as I sleep, brush it in the morning and get on with my day. Bangs did not work out with this routine. My hair is normally stick straight and that's what I'm used to, however as I'd sleep my bangs would dry in a little cowlick and I'd wake up looking like Justin Beiber. Brushing didn't help at all so after a while I tried using my roommates straightening iron. One frazzled fringe later I discovered how uncool a frizz ball on your forehead was.

I quickly got tired of the hair monotony that my bangs provided. Sometimes I like to pin back a bit of hair at the front and push it forward to create a little bump, but my fringe was so small that it looked weird. If I went to the gym or went out dancing with my friends I had to leave my bangs down, let me tell you the sweaty, stringy look is not attractive.

Besides that my other major pet peeve was how fast my hair grew. This of course varies from person to person, but if I cut it to the level I liked I found my fringe in my eyes after about a week. To lengthen the time in between hair cuts I started to have it cut higher than I liked it, but then I spent a week of dissatisfaction with the way it looked until it grew to the level I liked.

After about six months I decided that a fringe just wasn't for me so I decided just to grow it out. Well the fast speed my hair grew before is history and now it's a painfully slow process. The last time I cute it was December of 2010 and only now am I able to tuck my hair behind my ears.

I'm not writing all of this to put you off getting bangs, to be honest I really like the way they look and think that they really add something to a lolita coordinate, however I think it's important to consider the real life upkeep of a fringe before you get too excited with the scissors. I personally didn't realize how much work they would be, and if you are anything like me they might become too troublesome. My solution for a quick fringe fix is to simply get a wig, that way you can wear it whenever you feel like donning lolita and it saves you a bunch of hair salon fees!

My Little Loli: Fashion is Magic 2

2011-10-27T08:00:00.001-05:00

I found this beautiful picture on Tumblr, if you know who the artist is please let me know so I may give them credit.

To celebrate the second season of My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic I decided to create a new set of lolita outfits for the main cast. This time I decided to base the outfits more on the ponies personalities than on their colour schemes which was a lot more fun. If you want to see the first collection of outfits click here!

Twilight Sparkle

Twilight Sparkle Lolita Outfit by raegybaby featuring tea party shoes

Twilight Sparkle is a pupil of the royal family so she is always geared up for studying! I chose a tartan one piece with a cute bow around the neck for her because I thought it sent off a bit of the scholarly vibe. I imagine that Twilight would choose simple, white accessories because she is more oriented towards function than fashion. I gave her a large bag so that she would have room to store all her books!

Applejack

Applejack Lolita Outfit by raegybaby featuring betsey johnson jewelry

I can't imagine Applejack ever changing what she is wearing just because she has two different things to do that day (for example, selling apples and then going to one of Pinkies parties) so I made sure that her outfit is versatile. When she's working she can pull up the bustle, like shown, so that the main dress fabric doesn't get dirty, and she can let it down when she's out with friends. The bonnet will keep her hair out of her face and the boots are much more practical than heels. Her apple accessories are just a little bit fancy so she'll still look nice at a get together with her friends.

Fluttershy

Fluttershy Lolita Outfit by raegybaby featuring pink earrings

Fluttershy will look lovely in this Baby, the Stars Shine Bright heavy ensemble. The outfit incorporates her love of animals, the Unico in Bloomland print features unicorns interacting with butterflies, her socks have cute bears on them and the bear eared headband looks super sweet! For some reason I just don't see her wearing a blouse so I didn't include one. This outfit is toned down to match Fluttershy's demure personality, but it is still beautiful just like her!

Rainbow Dash

Rainbow Dash Lolita Outfit by raegybaby featuring wooden shoes

Rainbow Dash is very athletic so it was easy to picture her wearing pants instead of a skirt. The outfit I chose is a little bit tomboyish, just like her, with some cute shorts paired with a light blue hoodie (I'm sure she'd like the pony). I chose the unusual hat because it matched the boyish look and I bet Rainbow would find it cool. I thought she would like the backpack because it is practical and matches the outfits theme.

Rarity

Rarity Lolita Outfit by raegybaby featuring earrings

Rarity's outfit breaks many of the lolita rules, but as the most fashionable pony in Ponyville I figured she could pull it off. This is something I can imagine her wearing as a casual outfit, but even when she's running errands Rarity would always look her best. The sleeveless blouse and retro skirt make me think of a cute country club member. The bows on the blouse, skirt and shoes tie the outfit together while the jewelry pulls from the skirts pattern. The bag is elegant and sophisticated, to me it just screams Rarity!

Pinkie Pie

Pinkie Pie Lolita Outfit by raegybaby featuring tea party shoes

I imagine Pinkie Pie as an OTT sweet lolita to match her larger than life personality. As a stereotypical AP girl she would buy and wear whole sets together, creating a perfectly coordinated look. I chose the print Honey Cake because she works in a bakery so it seems right up her alley. Just like her the look is both sugary sweet and just a little bit too much!

Minding Your Meet Up Manners

2011-10-23T08:00:00.000-05:00

There is an infamous myth that almost every loli has heard of; lolita's are supposed to be polite. Although this is not inherently true, as clothing does not change the core character of a human, it will be easier to get along in life if you are good mannered. At a meet up it is important that you make a good impression, there are sure to be plenty of potential friends in attendance, and the quickest way to a this is through graciousness.

Manners can be a little confusing sometimes, if you haven't been raised with using them then they may seem unnatural at first, but after practicing them often they will become second nature. Just remember, it's better to be too polite than rude, so when in doubt always be courteous.

Meet Up Manners

Upon arriving at the meet up be sure to introduce yourself to the hostess/host if you have not met in person yet. Go out of your way to thank her for hosting the event.
It is never in bad taste to bring a small gift to the hostess. This does not have to be anything expensive, a plate of homemade cookies or a small hair corsage would do. It makes the hostess feel glad to have invited you and will show that you appreciate all her hard work.
If you see any friends or acquaintances say hello to them. Before starting a conversation be sure to introduce yourself to any one you don't know so as to not leave them out. If you are in a very large group it may be impossible to meet everyone right away, so just include the nearest lolitas in your chat and be welcoming of any new comers.
Exchanging calling cards can be really fun, come prepared to the meet up with a set of your own. You can order them from office stores or hand make your own. Calling cards are really cute, I often display the calling cards of my friends on my pin board.
If you are unsure of what to talk about a great fall back subject is lolita, after all it's something every member of the meet up has in common!
If you are going to the snack table make it something social by both commenting of the refreshments and offering to pick up something for a member of your group. For instance you could say "I'm going to grab one of Margaret's amazing chocolate chip cookies. Would anybody else like one while I'm there?".
If you are asking anyone to do something for you preface the question with "please". This may seem really simple but you'd be surprised how little people say that one magic word.
Thank you, you're welcome and may I, as in "May I use your bathroom?" are also greatly appreciated.
If you discover that you have a common interest with another member of the group, for example you are both sports car enthusiasts, it is great to have a discussion on the merits of the newest model, however it is impolite and can make others uncomfortable if you dominate a group discussion with a subject they are uninterested in. Have a one on one conversation about the topic so that your may connect with others in the group over another shared interest.
If you like something somebody is wearing, or even one of their traits, it is highly encouraged to tell them. If you feel it might be a little weird you could preface the sentence with "I hope you don't mind me saying but...", that way if won't come off as creepy.
If you find a particular activity of the meet up boring do not announce this to the group as it could embarrass the hostess. It is also unkind to whisper to others about how lame the meet up is. If you find yourself very bothered you should suggest a way to liven up the activity to the hostess in private.
Always ask if you may take a photo of someone before snapping away. It is also wise to ask if you may post the picture online. My friend, Kaylyn, is applying to graduate school and asks to never have photos of her wearing lolita tagged as it may come across as unprofessional to those evaluating her application.
If you say you will upload pictures of the event be sure to do so within the next few days, that way people can look forward to something even after the meet up is over.
At the end of the day you should make sure to tell the hostess how much fun you had and let everyone you met how lovely it has been spending time with them.

If you have any tips of your own be sure to let me know in the comment section!

Dress Up Box: Colourful Cute

2011-10-09T08:00:00.000-05:00

Today I felt like changing things up a little so I tried out a new look. Usually I don't wear head eating bows but I thought it looked kind of cute with my outfit. The blond wig is very extreme, but it's a nice change. I'd like to get a long one with pig tails sometime soon.

Outfit Rundown:

Wig- Gothic Lolita Wigs

Headbow- Bodyline

Blouse- KidsYoyo

Jumperskirt- Bodyline

Necklace- Forever 21

Ring and Bracelet- Rue 21

Socks- Baby, the Stars Shine Bright

Shoes- Rakutan

Game Review: Princess Debut

2011-10-05T08:00:00.000-05:00

Princess Debut is available for the Nintendo DS

How is Princess Debut related to lolita?

Princess Debut features many themes that are commonly associated with lolita; a princess fantasy, magical, frilly outfits and ballroom dancing (one of my favorite pastimes to do in lolita) are all wrapped up in one, small cartridge. Though the main character never wears anything explicitly lolita you can dress her up in many lolita inspired outfits.

What is the game about?

In Princess Debut you play as a young girl who is transported to an alternate reality in which she is mistaken for a princess. Your goal is to master ballroom dancing in only 30 days in order to perform at the royal gala with your dance partner. Speaking of partners, you can also win the heart of one of the many princes in the kingdom, each with unique personalities, strengths and weaknesses. And as if all that wasn't enough, you have to keep your true identity of a girl from another world a secret!

One of the things I like about the game is the fact that you don't have to end up with a prince at all! If it is your preference you can ignore romance entirely to focus on your career (dancing) and the ending will still be a positive one. It's refreshing to see a princess game that gives you options regarding your happily ever after.

Caesar, the romantic prince, is easily wounded if you don't stroke his ego.

How does the game look?
The majority of the game is illustrated in a typical manga style. The art is simple and cute, there are very few picture changes and a lot of text but the effect is charming. When you complete a game you receive "photos" of your ending which you can store in your photo album. Once you've completed the game a few times it's nice to look through the album as the art style is very pleasing.

When you dance the game switches styles to more typical computer animated graphics. I'm not going to lie, it looks pretty goofy. The characters have flat, sharp edges and your princesses dress often severs the legs of her dancing partner as his arms fly through her face and out the back of her head. I don't think this is the fault of handheld consoles either, the animators could have created something less clumsy if they had put more time into it. Luckily the dancing is on the top screen of your DS so you don't have to pay attention to it, the actual gameplay takes place on the bottom screen.

The Princess dancing with Prince Liam, a man with serious sister issues.

How does the game play?

Princess Debut is part sim dating and part rhythm game. Both game play systems work quite well, I never got bored with the conversational options between you and the princes and the dance system doesn't appear to have any bugs or glitches. To make your princess dance you simply use the stylus to trace a dancing pattern on the bottom screen of the DS. Go too fast or slow and the dance move will look sloppy, you have to time your movements just right to appear elegant!

The only thing I could ask for is a higher difficulty option for the actual dancing and a bit more variation in songs. As you improve your dancing you earn more songs, but at the beginning you will find yourself performing the same two dances repetitively until you unlock something else.

Still, there's no faulting the story mode. Although it is only a one player game I've had loads of fun reading the at times derpy dialogue out loud with friends and choosing the funniest things to say in reply. With six princes to choose from (not including two hidden suitors) and fourteen possible endings, Princess Debut proves itself to have great replay value. I'm onto my third game and so far the plots are varied enough to grab my attention.

Who should play this game?

Anyone who enjoys light hearted adventures with a big serving of cutesy romance will enjoy this game. Those who appreciate storyline in games will enjoy it as Princess Debut place more emphasis on plot than game play. Fans of the girly shows of our youth such as Sailor Moon and Card Captors will find the cheesy cuteness both nostalgic and endearing. Princess Debut is ideal for long trips, it's great to pass the time on a train or plane ride, although during the dancing segments it's important to maintain a steady hand!

The game is aimed at children but I feel that the amount of text may be overwhelming for younger kids, I would recommend it for children eight years and up. Despite the target demographic being little girls this game isn't too easy or juvenile, it is enjoyable for princesses of all ages!

An example of the games adorable art

What is the overall rating?
It's difficult to rate Princess Debut, it certainly can't be compared to "serious games" however giving it a lower rating just because of it's carefree attitude would be unfair. Princess Debut does not attempt to be an epic or live changing game, all it wants is to provide a little bit of girly fun which it undoubtedly achieves. Princess Debut is what it is, and for that I recommend it.

Kaylyn and Raegan Day: Frozen Yogurt and Silly Snapshots

2011-10-02T08:00:00.001-05:00

It's sad that Kaylyn Face (a.k.a. Dr. Rufflebutt) and I don't get to have too many dolled up days together, but when we do they're excellent!

Last week the two of us went shopping in our frilly finest. We got some curious stares which is very normal, but what was unusual was that we got mobbed by high school girls! Lots of little teeny boppers asked for pictures of us and with us, it was really surreal. Later on one of the pictures ended up on Facebook with Kaylyn tagged in it! It was so strange.

The cell phone photo that was posted online. The caption reads: "lolita girls that i saw at the mall they are freakin amazing and they are really pretty"

After a hard day of shopping both of us went to the new TCBY that opened up. We had the most delicious frozen yogurt ever! We both love the decor, my favorite is the wall that flashes rainbow colours.

Kaylyns yogurt to the left, mine to the right. They were amazing!

"No pony, he'll like that!"

Pony chillaxing with my Teacake

After eating we went back to my residence hall and prayed to Mana for more brand (as every good loli should).

We ended up filming a short video together which can be seen here, and by that time it was the evening and we were pretty tired out. To finish up our fun day we sat down on my new rug and took a few silly pictures.

I'm so glad that we could spend the day together, I always have a fantastic time when I hang out Kaylyn Face!

Bunny Bear Contest Winner

2011-09-28T08:00:00.000-05:00

Thank you to everyone who entered the Bunny Bear Contest, it was so much fun to read through all your name suggestions. It was hard to make a choice as many of the names you thought of were adorable, my readers certainly have great imagination!

After much deliberation I decided to choose the name Teacake! It's cute, European sounding and just plain sweet; everything that our fashion embodies! Congratulations to Alice Princess, you are the winner of a brand new Bunny Bear cell phone strap/keychain. Now you can carry your own Teacake around wherever you go! Please e-mail me so I can mail you your prize!

Thanks again to everyone who entered, please look forward to the next contest!

Blooming in the Light of the Internet

2011-09-25T08:00:00.000-05:00

The online EGL community, hosted on Live Journal, is the major hub for lolitas all over the Western hemisphere. The community serves many purposes including loli education, brand announcements, hot issue discussions and connecting lolitas to others in their area. This week, for the first time since 2001, the EGL community is closing.

Despite this closure being only temporary it got me pondering, where would we be without the community? Would the concept of a Western lolita even exist?

It is true that before the community was up and running there were a few lolitas rocking the frills outside of Japan but hardly enough to constitute a subculture. Through many years of trial and error, coaching and posting, the lolita community became large enough to attract the attention of overseas brands who recognized us and opened new shops around the world.

When I was a new lolita the EGL Community was pretty much the only resource available to me. At that time there were very few lolita blogs (not even the infamous Lolita Charm, now Parfait Doll), so I spent my lolita-in-training days pouring over every post on the site. It was an invaluable resource to me, without it I doubt I would have gotten very far in the fashion at all.

My question to you, dear ruffle-butts and ruffle-butt admirers; did the EGL community serve a significant role in your lolita life? I can't wait to hear your responses!

Dress Up Box: Casual for Class

2011-09-21T08:00:00.001-05:00

This was my outfit for school today! It's difficult to see but I was wearing my corset which is surprisingly comfortable! With my two mini petticoats under it my skirt become quite short but I think that it looked rather cute that way (and maybe just a little bit ero).

It was my first time wearing lolita to my classes this year, I've been apprehensive about it since I changed my major and was unsure of how my teachers would react but I was happy when they inquired about what I was wearing and said that they liked it.

Outfit Rundown:

Corsage: Forever 21

Necklace: Handmade
Top: Alloy

Corset: Bodyline

Skirt: Lolita Princess
Socks: Claires

Shoes: Target

A New Look

2011-09-20T08:00:00.003-05:00

Hello everyone! Have you noticed the new layout? Her Curious Elegance has been growing and evolving since the day I started writing, and I felt that it needed a bit of a makeover. Pink is my favorite colour so it was a natural choice for me, I hope that you like it!

For those of you who want to remember the old banner, here it is! It was so kindly made for me by my friend Dalliann, a few years ago, and I will always treasure it!

There will be more changes to the layout coming soon, so look forward to an updated Her Curious Elegance!

Lolita Style Poll

2011-09-19T08:00:00.000-05:00

I recently realized that I've had the same poll on Her Curious Elegance open since 2009! It just recently ended and now there is a new poll for you to vote one, I'll try to switch them out more often in the future.

Here are the results of the last poll. The question was "What is your favorite lolita style?"

My readers answered:

40% Classic

27% Sweet

16% Gothic

5% Aristocrat

5% Kodona

5% Other

I was surprised with the results, I thought there would be an overwhelming majority of sweet lolitas as that seems to be the most popular these days. It's great to see such a variety!

Make sure to enter the Bunny Bear naming contest before it ends, the winner will be chosen soon!

Secretly Tough

2011-09-18T08:00:00.002-05:00

Once upon a time there was a lovely girl,

Who dressed in the finest of clothes,

She did not know how to make any friends,

So she stayed in her room sewing bows.

When she did leave her house she was shocked to find,

All her peers called her nasty names,

But she kept her head high, walked quickly and,

Wore her frills the next day just the same.

She often wondered what was wrong with the world,

It was all she could do now to bawl,

Because all of the people she seemed to meet,
Didn't seem like people at all.

One morning she awoke to find the streets still,

Silence was widely spread,

Not a peep could be heard from a living thing,

But oh the noise of the undead!

The town was filled with her neighbors,

Who had once been alive and well,

The girl cried and ran back to her house,

As a zombie clawed her with a yell.

The poor dear was shocked and very scared,

But the time to be meek had passed,

It was now or never, she had to be strong,

At her door all the undead massed.

She ran down the hall and grabbed a box,

That she'd ordered just for fun,

Thank god in her AP lucky pack,

She'd received a pink shotgun.

In her jeweled and ribboned shoes,

She kicked down her front door,

As the zombies clambered in,

She shot them to the floor.

Shot after shot they kept coming,

Blood covered her cute dress,

She yelled "Do you know how much this cost?!",

And added to the mess.

At last all of the undead souls,

Were now at rest and free,

So the lovely, secretly tough girl,

Put on a pot of tea.

Lolita Challenge Day Ten

2011-09-15T08:00:00.003-05:00

Here is what is in my lolita bag. It's not terribly exciting, lolita bags are infamous for not having much stuff fit into them. All I usually carry are the essentials; my wallet, sunglasses cell phone and keys (not pictured as they are not cute).

The Princess, The Pauper and the Lucky Pack

2011-09-09T08:00:00.014-05:00

I'm not sure who the first brand was to come up with the concept of lucky packs but I'm very glad the idea caught on! For those who don't know, lucky packs are a way for lolita brands to clear their unsold seasons inventory. The customer can buy a lucky pack for a fraction of the cost of the items inside, often times a $150 pack contains $500 worth of items! So what's the catch? The company puts a random assortment of clothing into a bag which the customer can't see before they buy, so the buyer is really taking a gamble as they may not like all of the contents.

When buying a lucky pack it's best to choose one from a brand you love, that way there is a good chance that you will like the style of the pieces. Some brands take care that all the items match each other creating a ready to wear coordinate, others just include items at random, however if you have a good solid foundation of lolita basics you should be able to match almost any item you receive. Many of my friends solely buy lucky packs as it's the only way they can afford brand and they all have beautiful wardrobes.

There is no doubt that Innocent Worlds clothing is the epitome of classic lolita. The garments are always well constructed and exquisite in nature making it one of the premier classic brands. I would say that it's hardly a gamble to buy an Innocent World lucky pack as everything inside is almost guaranteed to be of high quality. Their lucky packs have always been known for good value for money, but the recent release has boggled my mind a bit.

The newest released lucky packs are their "Oddment Packs", an assortment of items they could not sell due to slight flaws. Usually these flaws are so small you can hardly notice them as Innocent World won't sell you items that are too damaged. These packs include clothing at five times less than the brand new price so they're definitely a great bargain. When I saw them posted I thought "Fantastic! Now I can finally add some Innocent World to my closet!". Then I looked at the prices and reeled away from my computer. The small lucky packs cost 52,500 Yen which is roughly $672 and the large packs cost 84,000 Yen which converts to a whopping $1089! Though the packs are worth around $3250 and $5200 respectively it's still an intimidating amount to spend on something you aren't sure you'll love.

Maybe oddment packs are a luxury that most people can't afford, but I feel that if I had over a thousand dollars to spend on lolita clothing I would not want to spend it on a random assortment of not quite perfect items. Lucky packs, in my opinion, are supposed to save you money. I feel like I'm missing something essential as to why these packs are so expensive but as far as I can tell buying these lucky packs will make you look like a princess, but on the average college students paycheck you'll end up a pauper.

Her Curious Bulletin Boards

2011-09-05T08:00:00.001-05:00

This semester I'm a Resident Assistant at my school. RA's look out for all the residents safety, plan fun events and decorate the halls! I made a video to show my first hall decorations which are decidedly girly. Kaylyn makes a special guest appearance! I hope that you like it.

Bunny Bear Contest

2011-08-30T08:00:00.001-05:00

I'm very happy because I recently got one of my dream items, a Bunny Bear bag by Baby, the Stars Shine Bright! I've wanted one forever and I'm delighted to finally have one. It's so cute, I want to take it with me everywhere.

Right now my Bunny Bear doesn't have a name, and that's where you come in! Just think of a name of any gender for my Bunny Bear and leave your suggestions in the comments. The person who suggests the name that I like the most will win a prize!

Feel free to comment as many times as you like, just make sure check back next month when I announce the winner!

Thank You 400 Followers!

2011-08-17T08:00:00.004-05:00

Today my Mum sent me a text with the message "YOU HAVE 400 FOLLOWERS ON HCE!!!!". I ran to the computer to check for myself, I was floored when I saw it! I never expected to have so many readers, I'm so grateful to everyone who reads.

So I wanted to say a big THANK YOU to everyone who is subscribed and everyone who reads Her Curious Elegance. On September 9th this blog will be two years old, it's hard to believe (fun fact: HCE's birthday is 09/09/09. It was an awesome coincidence).

Again, thank you all for reading. You all are so special to me and I'd like to take a (rather dramatic) quote from one of my favorite movies, V for Vendetta:

"I hope most of all is that you understand what I mean when I tell you that, even though I do not know you, and even though I may never meet you, laugh with you, cry with you, or kiss you, I love you. With all my heart, I love you."

Lolita Challenge Day Nine

2011-08-13T08:00:00.008-05:00

1. Smoke- I don't smoke anyway but I won't even stand near smokers when I wear lolita. I would hate for it to damage my clothing!

2. Sports- I don't actively play sports, but if I did I'd definitely wear shorts and a t-shirt (and a cute bow).

3. Eat Something Messy- Most foods are fine but if I was going to eat something with a lot of sauce or something I'd go change real fast.

4. Wear It On An Inappropriate Occasion- Some people say that lolita can be made appropriate for all occasions but I disagree. One word: funeral.

5. Wear A Replica To A Brand Event- If I ever went to a brand tea party I would lose my mind with excitement. I don't have anything against replicas but it's definitely disrespectful to wear them to a brand event, could you imagine if one of the designers were there?

6. Go To An Airport In Lolita- It's just a bad idea. Security is so crazy in airports now due to terrorism, wearing an alternative fashion just draws unnecessarily suspicion. Plus it would be hard to sit in a little plane seat with a petticoat, I bet the person next to you would not appreciate it.

7. Paint- Or anything crafty that involves glitter, glue or liquid. Sewing and stuff is fine though.

8. Wear It On Halloween- One of my pet peeves is lolita being perceived as a costume, if you wear it on Halloween you are kind of asking for it though. Plus Halloween is for wearing costumes, I'd hate to miss out on the fun!

9. Frill Out Hardcore On The First Date- If I were going on a first date with someone I didn't know all that well yet I would not wear lolita, rather I would ease them into the fashion gradually. If I wore it right away they might only see the outfit and not my personality. The only way I'd wear it is if I knew the person very well already and they were well aware of my frilly tendencies.

10. Apply For A Job- Even in artsy job interviews you have to dress professionally, I feel like wearing the latest AP print would really hurt your chances with any company.

Bonus: Having said all that I think it's only fair to mention that I have moved all of my boxes and furniture into my new dorm whilst wearing brand. I don't know what I was thinking.

Lolita Challenge Day Eight

2011-08-12T08:00:00.004-05:00

These songs are in no particular order.

1. Fireflies by Owl City- I feel that this song has a magical quality to it! I especially love listening to instrumental covers of it. This harp version I found is perfect for choosing your outfit in the morning.

2. Just Throw It In The Bag by MC Melody Doll- Lolita rap at it's finest! Not only is this an awesome song but it's accompanying video is very well made too! I like to listen to this in my car when I'm all frilled out, it makes me feel tough.

3. Chopins Op 25 No 9, Butterfly Etude- This short, sweet piece is really happy! It reminds me of how I feel when I'm out with a group of lolitas!

4. Sugar by Flo Rida- I really like this song (probably because I enjoyed Eiffel 65 as a teeny bopper). If you're ever wearing sweet lolita it's the perfect song to bop around to!

5. Boy Falls From The Sky from Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark- A lot of people dislike the Spider-Man musical but I've enjoyed all of the music I've heard from it! It makes me think of a lolita walking down the street and getting dirty looks but still feeling strong.

6. Telephone by Lady Gaga- I'm sure you've all heard this song before but I really love it! Again it's a great song to get dressed to in the morning, it really pumps me up to put together the cutest loli outfit!

7. Pon Pon Pon by Kyary Pamyu Pamyu- I rarely listen to Japanese music (it's usually not to my tastes) but I can't get enough of Pon Pon Pon! The song is really infectious and reminds me of how new lolitas feel when they first discover the fashion.

8. Coin Operated Boy by the Dresden Dolls- I feel that this songs instrumental exemplifies the beauty of lolita fashion and that the lyrics highlight the occasional feelings of isolation.

9. What The Hell by Avril Lavigne- This song is so upbeat, I relate it to lolita fashion because sometimes you just have to disregard what others think and have some fun!

10. I Want You Back by Colbie Caillat- This song is cheerful yet relaxing, it's perfect for lolita! It makes me think of a girl drinking a hot chocolate in a cafe while it's raining outside.

Bonus: I love pretty much everything from the Punk Goes Pop albums!

Lolita Challenge Day Seven

2011-08-11T08:00:00.059-05:00

1. Misako Aoki- She is my favorite lolita model. She kind of only has one facial expression but she always looks so put together. I love that besides being a model she is also a nurse.

2. Kerli- Kerlie is not a loli but I really enjoy her style. I especially love her outfits in the "Tea Party" video.

3. Chokelate- She looks like a model because she is one! I love Chokelates simple yet gorgeous coordinates.

4. Pixie_late- She always looks so put together, you can really tell that she puts a lot of thought and effort into her outfits.

5. Atlas- I haven't seen all that many coordinates from her recently but she is just too cute!

6. Xelyna- I love her sense of humor, not to mention her stunning coordinates! Check out Throw It In the Bag if you haven't seen it already.

7. AvinaStar- She has kind of dropped off the face of the internet, I think she gave up loli, but I used to adore all of her pictures.

8. Nadia- She is a stunning lolita who once won the Bodyline modelling competition. Like Misako Aoki she has one primary facial expression but she is very cute none the less!

9. Nicki Minaj- Again, she is not actually a lolita but I still enjoy her style. I wish to incorporate her creativity into my own outfits.

10. My readers- That sounds kind of cheesy but whenever I get a new reader I always check out their profiles, blogs and pictures. You guys are so beautiful!!

Lolita Challenge Day Six

2011-08-10T08:00:00.012-05:00

1. Her Curious Elegance- I'm not trying to see pompous by putting my blog at the top of the list, it's just that I really love writing for it! I have so much that I want to say on the subject of lolita and I'm happy to share any thoughts or information I have.

2. Baby, the Stars Shine Bright- The first brand dress I ever bought was from Baby, since then it's become my very favorite brand. Without fail I can browse their website and find loads of things I would love to buy. Their style makes me very starry eyed.

3. Online Communities- The online lolita communities, especially EGL, are fantastic resources for both learning about lolita and making frilly friends. I don't know what I would have done without it when I was starting off.

4. Local Lolitas- There's nothing better than hanging out with a gorgeous bunch of like minded girls. I love to hang out with my local lolitas, I've found many of my good friends through lolita fashion.

5. A Good Petticoat- A deflated petticoat is one of the worst things that can happen to your coordinate. It's important to wear a heavy duty one that can stand up to all types of punishment. My petti of choice is the Dear Celine Frothy Petticoat.

6. The Best Post Man Ever- I'm on a first name basis with one of the postal workers in my universities post office. His name is David and he totally has my back. Once he called me and said "There's a pink package waiting for you, I figured you would want to get it right away". He has also paid for a stamp for me when I didn't put enough postage on a letter I was sending. I always give him a Christmas card.

7. A Hair Accessory- I cannot get dressed in loli without wearing something on my head. I feel so incomplete without a hair clip or something.

8. Bows- I really love bows. If I am wearing a bow in my hair, a bow on my jumperskirt, a bow on my bag and bows on my shoes then I am a very happy ruffle butt.

9. Amazing Photographs- I draw a lot of inspiration from photographs of other lolitas. Sometimes I'll spend ages saving pictures from tumblr and We Heart It.

10. Cute Online Videos- I love watching lolita related videos on YouTube. It doesn't matter if it's a vlog, a package opening, a documentary, or footage from a meet up, I will watch it attentively. Recently I've been looking up a lot of videos of loli's dancing, it's so cute!

Bonus: Here is one of my favorite loli dance videos.

Lolita Challenge Day Five

2011-08-09T08:00:00.001-05:00

1. Unico In Bloomland- Oh man, I didn't think much of this when I first saw it but recently I've fallen in love with the Unico in Bloomland scalloped jumperskirt in pink.

2. Veil Headdress- This is a really cute headdress. To me if feels kind of wedding appropriate so I'd like to save it for my engagement photos (I'm not engaged but I'm determined to wear wedding style lolita in my pre-wedding pictures).

3. Angelic Pretty Lucky Pack- I've really been loving AP's line this season but I'm a little reluctant to pay full price for a brand I'm not yet sure if I can pull off. I am hoping to get a lucky pack this year!

4. A Blond Wig- I think it would be fun to change up my hair colour so drastically. I wonder if I'd suit blond.

5. A Brand Parasol- I have an off brand parasol and it's pretty cute, but after seeing brand parasols in person I was sold. They are so perfect, I adore their little ruffles around the edge.

6. Tea Party Shoes- I already have three pairs of tea party shoes and I love them! I want to get lavender, mint and black next.

7. A Brown Blouse- I am seriously in love with chocolate brown blouses. I think they add a classic touch to almost any skirt or jumperskirt and I'd love to own one. They are very difficult to find though.

8. More Socks- I didn't have many pairs of loli socks to begin with but the ones I do have are becoming very worn out. I need to restock socks ASAP!

9. Cutsews- I would love some cute cutsews for casual outfits that I could wear to class.

10. Baby the Stars Shine Bright Lucky Pack- I love the value for money you get with lucky packs. I would really appreciate a whole bunch of stuff from my favorite brand!

Lolita Challenge Day Four

2011-08-08T08:00:00.004-05:00

Today's challenge is to list ten different kinds of food I like, which does not have all that much to do with lolita but there you go. My list is in no particular order.

1. Cream Puffs- I eat way too many of these every year at Christmas.

2. Sashimi- If I could eat sashimi every day I would. I adore it! Whenever I see raw fish in a supermarket I want to eat it.

3. Kiwis- I find these incredibly delicious, both sweet and a little sour. I scoop the insides out like a hard boiled egg.

4. Cotton Candy Ice Cream- My favorite kind of ice cream, I like to put white chocolate chips in it.

5. Macaroni- My Mum make the best macaroni in the world. Just thinking about it makes me hungry!

6. Crepes- My Dad is the master of crepes, every time I see him I ask him to make them. My favorite are lemon and sugar crepes.

7. Yorkshire Puddings- Are so tasty! For those who don't know they are not a dessert but a pastry served with gravy.

8. Scouse Pie- A pie that originated in Liverpool. It contains steak, potatoes, veggies, Worcester sauce and gravy. I need to learn how to make them myself so I can eat them in America.

9. Sticky Toffee Pudding- A scrumptious toffee dessert. It's best served with ice cream.

10. Mussels- I love seafood in general but especially mussels, they taste like the ocean!

Lolita Challenge Day Three

2011-08-07T08:00:00.000-05:00

1. I hate red- This is actually just a joke between my friends and I. Red happens to be my least favorite colour so sometimes my friends will ask me "How do you feel about red?" and I'll say, in a pouty valley girl voice, "I hate red!". I only dislike fire engine red though, I love wine colour!

2. Bobs with ponytails- I don't get those wigs that have long, full, curly clip on ponytails but just a bob hair cut for a base. They look so funky from the back.

3. Unlucky packs- I love lucky packs because you get a lot of value for your money but I really dislike when brands put really awful stuff in there. Most of the time you get a decent haul but sometimes you get a monstrous collection!

4. When things wear out- I understand the concept of wear and tear but I really dislike items breaking when you pay so much money for them. Recently a pair of my Putumayo socks got a hole in the toe and I was like "oh hell no!". I sewed them so, so hardcore, like three times better than they probably needed to be sewn.

5. Prints growing on you- I often have this problem. I'll see a print that is up for reserve on a brand website but I won't think too much of it. When the reserves are closed and I see what the dress looks like on people I often fall in love with it, it's so obnoxious because by that time there's no way to buy the item.

6. Sold out items- Brands stock a ridiculously low amount of dresses. I understand why they do it but it makes buying clothing really stressful. I wish they would restock items like mainstream stores.

7. Massive head eating bows- The really, really, unnecessarily large ones just don't flatter anyone. If it's bigger than my skull I'm not going to wear it.

8. Wearing different socks/shoes- I guess it's an OTT trend to wear different coloured shoes and socks but I'm really not a fan of the look.

9. Photoshoots at meetups- When I go to a meet up I like to take photos but I really am not comfortable with full on photoshoots. If I'm going to have professional pictures taken of me I don't want it to be right after I've finished roller skating or eating!

10. Weird material- Bodyline does this a lot. They make really cute designs but choose to use the strangest material ever. Their latest blouses are so lovely but they're all made of polyester!

Bonus: I really didn't like making this list, I don't like to dwell on negative things!

Lolita Challenge Day Two

2011-08-06T08:00:00.000-05:00

1. The poofy skirts- When you achieve the perfect poof it is wonderful! I love the silhouette that petticoats provide, it somehow makes me feel so magical. Twirling around in loli dresses is the best (you just have to make sure to wear bloomers).

2. Making any day a good day- I love that wearing loli makes even mundane tasks feel special. Even if I have to do something boring like go study in the library I feel good about it if I'm wearing something cute.

3. Bonnets- I just adore bonnets! I don't know what it is about them but they just appeal to me so much. Lolita is the only fashion where you can get away with wearing one!

4. Heels with lolita- I like Tea Party shoes, but there's something about a flirty pair of high heels that gives lolita a more mature look. It makes me feel cute and sexy at the same time!

5. Wigs- Never again will I suffer from a bad hair day! Since I bought my first wig I've been very into them, it's so cool that you can change up your look easily and often. I would never have gotten into wigs if it weren't for loli fashion, I'm definitely becoming a wig addict!

6. Bunny Bear Bags- Some people find them incredibly creepy but I personally love Bunny Bear bags! My favorite size it the pochettes, they are neither too big nor too small and I feel that they have the sweetest faces. I want to get both a white and a black one someday!

7. Baby, the Stars Shine Bright- Baby is my favorite brand, I worship at their frilly alter. Baby is essentially the department store of lolita, they create designs that cover almost every sub style of the fashion! I enjoy wearing their signature toned down sweet look but they also carry gothic and classic styles and occasionally come out with something OTT.

8. Spotting another loli- It is a very rare occurrence but if I spy another lolita just walking around I flip my frills. It has only happened once to me, I was working at Disney World and saw a girl wearing Angelic Pretty. I finished up what I was doing really fast and bolted over to her and was like "You're a lolita! Me too!". Her face lit up and we hugged quickly and exchanged information, it made my whole day.

9. Getting nice compliments- Of course it's not the reason I'm into the fashion but it's really nice to get stopped by strangers who think you look pretty.

10. My mainstream fashions friend knowledge of lolita- Throughout the years my friends who are not into loli fashion have become non-participating experts. I just had to laugh when two of my friends called me and told me that they had just seen a lolita but that her petticoat was really deflated and she wasn't wearing a hair accessory.

Bonus: 11. Justin Beiber in lolita

Lolita Challenge Day One

2011-08-05T08:00:00.001-05:00

1. I can't make up my mind when it comes to style- I have a very difficult time creating a cohesive wardrobe because I love almost every style of lolita! Though my staple style is Classic Sweet a la Baby, the Stars Shine Bright I also adore gothic and classic styles. I wish that I could choose to like just one, it would really help out my wallet!

2. I'm not opposed to showing skin- Loli is a style that insists on covering up your body for a modest look. Since I live in a tropical climate however there is no way I could wear lolita everyday and survive if I was wearing all those layers. I don't think there's anything wrong with skipping the blouse and knee socks!

3. My wardrobe is a revolving door- I can't afford to be dropping cash every time a new item I like is released so instead I sell one or more of my current items to afford something new. Many people ask me how I can buy so much new stuff but I very rarely put any new money into my lolita wardrobe, I'm just constantly selling things off!

4. I'm lucky to have good lolita friends- The frilly gods have been especially kind to me when it comes to finding good company! I am so glad that I have lolita friends in each of the three cities I frequent the most (my Mums, my Dads and my own). I often wish that we weren't so spread out, I'd love them to get to meet one another, but I'm happy to never feel alone.

5. My parents are loli friendly- My parents are pretty much the greatest that anyone could ever have. I'm really glad that both of them like lolita fashion. My Mum and I can get into lengthy discussions on all sorts of frilly topics and my Dad even took me to Baby, The Stars Shine Bright when we were on holiday!

6. I wear my frills to class- I find it really exciting that my major is so laid back, it means that I can dress up in lolita every day! The only time I don't wear it is when it's raining (I wouldn't want to damage my clothes), all my classmates get really disappointed if I am wearing jeans, even my professors!

7. My goal is to visit Baby, the Stars Shine Bright in every country- After visiting Baby, the Stars Shine Bright in Paris I have made it my goal to visit one of their boutiques in every country! I'll have to find someway to San Francisco, it's all the way across the country for me, and then one day I will make a trip to one in Japan.

8. I wear flip flops with casual coordinates- Like I said, Florida is hot. I would never dream of wearing flips flops to a meet up or photoshoot, but if I'm walking to the grocery store to get some milk then they are my shoe of choice.

9. If a romantic partner asked me to choose between them and lolita, lolita would win- No matter how attached I was to the guy or girl I am currently dating if they hated the way I dress I couldn't be with them. This may sound really frivolous but I would never want to be with a person who wanted me to give up something that makes me so happy!

10. I will keep wearing loli until it looks ridiculous on me- There isn't really a set age where I will give up wearing my precious frills. Unless I one day decide that I want to move on to a different fashion then I'm just going to keep wearing it until it starts to look silly. Luckily for me I've seen many women pull off the fashion into their thirties! Hooray!

August is Lolita Challenge Month!

2011-08-04T08:00:00.004-05:00

This month I am going to be crazy busy! For the next 2 and a half weeks I have Resident Assistant training every day (every hour is scheduled for me with no weekends or evenings off, it's intense!), then after that I will be moving my new residents into their dorms and starting "welcome week".

It's going to be hectic and I figured that instead of being MIA for the whole month I could do that 30 Day Challenge thing that has been going around. I hope that my absence isn't troublesome. Rest assured that the regular articles will return to Her Curious Elegance in September!

To pass the time, why don't you take the 30 Day Lolita Challenge with me? I'd love if you posted your answers!

To get you started here is the official list for each day!

Day 1 – 10 things about your lolita bubble.

Day 2 – 10 things you love about lolita.

Day 3 – 10 things you hate about lolita.

Day 4 – 10 different kinds of food you like.

Day 5 – 10 items on your wishlist.

Day 6 – 10 things you can’t live without in lolita.

Day 7 – 10 people who inspire your lolita style.

Day 8 – 10 songs that inspire your inner lolita.

Day 9 – 10 things you will never do in lolita.

Day 10 – What’s in your lolita bag?

Day 11 – A day in your lolita life in pictures.

Day 12 – A picture of yourself before lolita came in to your life.

Day 13 – A picture of your favorite sweets.

Day 14 – A picture of your dream item.

Day 15 – A picture of your last lolita purchase.

Day 16 – Your outfit for the day.

Day 17 – What do you want more then anything right now?

Day 18 – A picture of your favorite lolita style.

Day 19 – What’s in your make-up bag?

Day 20 – A picture of a lolita friend.

Day 21 – Your favorite fictitious lolita.

Day 22 – A picture of your room.

Day 23 – A picture of your handwriting.

Day 24 – A picture of you from a meet.

Day 25 – Your favorite lolita themed artwork.

Day 26 – Your Facebook profile picture.

Day 27 – A song that fits your favorite lolita style.

Day 28 – A picture of the perfect lolita location.

Day 29 – A picture of a lolita you would love to meet for real.

Day 30 – A photo of yourself taken today and 3 good things that have happened over the last 30 days.

English Gothic & Lolita Bible Volume One

2011-07-31T08:00:00.001-05:00

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

Let's Read The English Gothic & Lolita Bible!

2011-07-27T08:00:00.001-05:00

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!

Building Your Wardrobe Using the Fundamental Counting Principle

2011-07-24T08:00:00.002-05:00

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

2011-07-20T15:27:00.003-05:00

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

2011-07-17T08:00:00.000-05:00

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

2011-07-13T08:00:00.000-05:00

*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

2011-07-10T08:00:00.007-05:00

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

2011-07-07T08:00:00.001-05:00

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

2011-07-01T08:00:00.003-05:00

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!

My Little Loli: Fashion is Magic

2011-06-30T08:00:00.001-05:00

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

2011-06-26T08:00:00.010-05:00

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

2011-06-20T08:00:00.000-05:00

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

2011-06-19T08:00:00.009-05:00

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

2011-06-12T08:00:00.003-05:00

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

2011-06-08T08:00:00.001-05:00

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

2011-06-05T08:00:00.020-05:00

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

2011-06-01T08:00:00.000-05:00

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.

Home from my Holiday, Greeted by a Ball of Fluff

2011-05-31T08:00:00.001-05:00

Hello everyone! I'm happily back from my trip home to Britain. It was lovely to go back but I'm glad to be back in America too!

My first order of business will be to get right onto replying to all of the comments left on the entries that posted when I was away, my second order of business is to write about my visit to the Baby the Stars Shine Bright shop in Paris! <3

Also, I want to introduce you to my new kitten! Her name is Stella and she is just 8 weeks old. My roommate and I have nicknamed her Princess Stella because we totally spoil her! She knows that she can get pretty much anything out of us because she's so adorable. However she frequently gets up to mischief which causes us to yell at her Marlon Brando style!

Please look forward to more updates!

Spend Summer With Friends

2011-05-29T08:00:00.001-05:00

Picture from this My Yellow Beauty

Walk through the flowers,

Soak up the sun,

Laugh with your friends,

The summer's for fun.

Wear your best dress,

Forget all your cares,

Dance through the day,

Smile at those who stare.

Feel your most pretty,

Drink cold lemonade,

Settle down for a picnic,

Under the shade.

Frills Center Stage

2011-05-22T08:00:00.000-05:00

Sometimes when I go out with a group of my loli friends people come up to us and ask if we are participating in a play. It makes me giggle to imagine that the people around us are just waiting for our group to break out into song or start reciting Shakespeare. But when I go out in loli on my own often I feel that the play comment isn't that far fetched, the reaction people give me makes me feel like I'm a one woman show.

Some girls would be very upset by this kind of attention, but since I am a theatre major I have the personality that can take these things in stride. Perhaps the fact that I worked at Disney influences me, but here are some things I do when approached by "my audience".

I make eye contact and smile at the people who are looking at me. I often greet them or ask how their day was. Most people have good intentions and are just curious.

If someone asks me questions about my outfit and I have time to answer I will gladly inform them all about our fashion.

Sometimes I catch people trying to take pictures of me on the sly. If they are trying to be sneaky I often call them out which embarrasses them a little (hopefully discouraging them from doing so again), but then I offer to pose for a picture for them so that they don't feel too bad.

If somebody is polite and asks to take a picture of me I offer to let them be in the picture too.

Little girls like to wave at me, I always wave back!

Of course there are days when I just don't want to be bothered, in that case I just put on a giant pair of sunglasses and walk with purpose. To most people this conveys the message that I'm not free to talk. It can be kind of fun too, wearing big shades make me feel like I'm an incognito celebrity!

A Salute to Handmade Princesses

2011-05-15T08:00:00.002-05:00

Springbells, in her beautiful handmade jumperskirt

There are many girls in the world who would love to dress in loli but are so put off by the hefty brand price tags that they never fulfill their dream. If you feel like this describes your situation then you should consider making a dress for yourself, some of the most beautiful pieces are handmade!

In the early 2000's when many brands refused to ship overseas, the western loli world was a rainbow of handmade pieces. Girls taught each other how to improve their sewing and meet ups were filled with happy girls complimenting each others outfits. It took a lot of effort to make your outfit look beautiful but the result filled you with so much joy.

Now that brand is so easily accessible it seems that the handmade loli is a dying breed. The attitude of many modern day loli's is that handmade clothing is somehow not as valid as expensive brand clothing, but it fact it can be even more magical!

And_otherness wearing her gorgeous handmade dress and bow.

Handmade loli clothing can be stunning, and the great thing about it is that you can make your dress look however you please! Generally making your clothing costs a whole lot less than buying expensive brand dresses, and since you make it to your own measurements it will fit better too.

Making your own clothing is a good option for girls who are too young to shop online or for those without the budget to make brand purchases. And making handmade pieces doesn't mean that you can't save up and buy your clothing sometimes, it can be really great to have a wardrobe mixed with your dream brand dresses and your treasured handmade clothing.

This year I've found that making accessories can be extremely rewarding, so when I come back from Scotland I'm going to try to make my very first skirt. I'll make sure to post pictures of the result, wish me luck!

A Brolita Experience

2011-05-08T08:00:00.004-05:00

This post is part of my "Guest Lolita's" series. It was not written by me.

My name is James Chiong, a gothic and sweet Lolita who currently hails from Charleston, SC. I have been a cross-dresser for about 12 years but I have been a Lolita for a little over a year and half now.
It all started one summer day in 2009. I was going through another one of my cross-dressing inspiring picture searches on google images, maybe something that involved turning my beloved broom skirts into something more flattering. What I found instead was one of the most inspiring things I have ever found in my life. This was the day I came across Mana.

I was astounded! I had never seen anything like this. But it wasn’t his female silhouette that captured me. It was his dress that, at the time, was the most gorgeous dress I had ever seen. Everything he had on, from the petticoats to the wig to the makeup, amazed me. This fashion, which I came to find out was called Lolita, was EVERYTHING I had ever wanted as a cross-dresser.

As a guy Lolita, aka a ‘bro’lita, dressing up in frills and lace is an exhilarating experience. I love being able to coordinate an entire outfit that can be mine. Everything, from the dress and the blouse all the way down to my shoes and even the wig I wear, is something that excites me and makes me just feel pretty. Even the little subtle things such as makeup, bloomers, and petticoats help add to the overall experience of it all.

But Lolita is more than just a fashion. It’s a lifestyle. And even now, when I cannot wear it as often I would like, it continues to inspire me. It has become the catalyst that allowed me to open up in ways I never could have imagined. Through lolita I've met dozens of people I would normally have little to no interaction with and have learned to take pride in my outfits despite what others may think. Lolita has helped me to find the strength to carry on, and to live my life as the person I dream of.

My Birthday!

2011-05-05T08:00:00.010-05:00

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!

I just felt like saying that! I always get super excited on my birthdays no matter how old I get. Today I am 23 and there is no end in sight to my frilly behavior! Yaaaaaay birthday!!!!

Leaving on a Jetplane

2011-05-03T08:00:00.000-05:00

Hello everybody! By the time you read this I will already be back home in Scotland. I'm really happy to be visiting my family, perhaps I'll even be able to take a trip over to Paris to check out Baby the Stars Shine Bright and Angelic Pretty! If I do I'll make sure to take plenty of pictures!

I don't any internet access so the updates for this month are all pre-scheduled, if something goes wrong and they don't post then I'm sorry! Some of my friends will be participating in my Guest Lolita series, they have written some really great stuff! Anyway, I will be unable to reply to comments until some time in June.

I hope that you all have a fabulous May (my favorite month) and enjoy the summer!

Love,

Raegan

xoxoxoxoxoxo

100 Question Lolita Baton- Part Two

2011-05-01T08:00:00.006-05:00

Here is the second part of my 100 Question Lolita Baton. To see Part One click here!

26. Please tell us an embarrassing story from when you were a lolita beginner.
Luckily I never had an embarrassing beginning because I had done a lot of research before buying anything, but I went to my first meet up with a flat petti because the petticoat I had at the time was way too massive for the skirt. I felt really self conscious about it the whole time.

27. What is your current hairstyle and colour?
Long hair and I'm currently growing out my fringe. When I got the style cut I really loved it, but now I am tired of it.

28. What is your lolita history?
It's hazy even to me (I have a notoriously bad memory), but I think I became aware of the fashion in the early 2000's, and I started wearing it in 2008.

29. Do you store your clothes in a special place?
I hang all of my loli clothing up, but that's about it. When I one day get my own home I'd love to have a special dressing room!

30. Did you ever think about quitting lolita? What was the reason?
Not really, although I'm sure that I won't be wearing loli when I'm middle aged! Now and again I get burnt out from wearing it every day, or just want to dress casually so I will take a week off. I usually find that I am desperate to get back to my frills!

31. What is your motto?
Haters Gonna Hate.

32. What are your dreams of the future?
I want to have a steady job related to theatre or the arts. I'd love to continue with my piano and voice lessons after I graduate and record music for an indie label. One day I'd like to get married and have children.

33. "This person is so perfect for lolita!" - Do you ever think that about certain celebrities?
Not really celebrities, but I often think that about my friends.

34. Are there any products/items of which you have with a fond memory?
My lovely friend Alex bought me a Metamorphose cutsew for Christmas which I absolutely adore. It was so, so sweet of her!

35. What was your first item?
A cream Anna House blouse. As dramatic as this sounds I actually cried a little when I first touched it.

36. Do you have a signature pose for photos?
No, but I really have to get better at posing. I feel that I'm always awkward!

37. What is your heart's bible? [book/magazine/CD/etc...]
The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde! If I could only read that for the rest of my life I'd still be entertained.

38. What is the best height (cm) for heels?
I often prefer the ones that are so tall I have trouble walking, but those aren't practical for the area I live in.

39. Do you wear tiaras?
I have one which I always wear on my birthday. It was given to me on my 18th birthday, which was also my senior prom, by a nice young man who swept in to save the day after my not-so-nice boyfriend broke up with me the night before!

40. Do you think you want to try prince style? What kind of prince? Gothic/dark prince? Or "prince on a white horse" style?
I think about wearing prince style every time I am on the technical crew for a show. We have to wear all black, and often skirts and dresses aren't appropriate for the work involved. I usually end up fantasizing about an all black prince style wardrobe, but I never actually buy anything like that.

41. What types of lace do you like?
Crocheted!

42. Do you own a doll?
I would love a ball jointed doll, and I've always longed for Disney Princess dolls but I don't own any. I do have many cherished cuddly toys though.

43. What is in your lolita bag?
Debit card, identification, cell phone (with Bunny Bear key chain), keys, hair brush and chapstick!

44. What is your favourite flower?
Daffodils because they remind me of Aberdeen, my hometown. Sunflowers are a close runner up though!

45. Right now, what is your favourite accessory?
My skeleton cameo necklace, it's very dramatic

46. Please recommend some cosmetics.
I kind of just buy whatever I can afford from the drug store, but if I had the money I would shop at Sephora.

47. With eye-tape your eyes look like a doll's! What eyelashes will you wear?
I have never heard of eye tape but it sounds scary! And I only wear false lashes on very special occasions.

48. What is your eye makeup for these eyelashes?
Eye shadow I suppose.

49. Red Lipstick? Blue? Black? Pink?
I love light pink, my current favorite is called Dusty Rose.

50. Which nail polish do you normally choose?
Although I claim to like pastels the best I usually end up with darker colours like royal blue or turquoise.