Just Do It - Goals for 2022

Well, it’s been more than a while. Nearly five years! I come back to the blog as a “32-year-old lady” (love you, Jenna Marbles) who has been living in the North-West of England since October 2019. There’ve been many times when I’ve wanted to start this blog up again but I’ve not felt enough motivation until now. 

Outfits from the last year…

I’ve been wearing lolita fashion on and off since my last post. But would you believe I haven’t been able to make it to a meet for the last two years bar two online meets with my Perth Comm. On top of that, the only lolita purchases I’ve made has been a blouse and a pair of shoes. I’ve begun wearing lolita more recently and I finally realised a lolita fashion dream of mine, singing whilst dressed up. 

The convergence of wearing the fashion more often, having a better handle on finances and becoming more mentally resilient has led me to set some pretty big goals for myself. 

1. Develop my lolita wardrobe through vintage shopping
   
2. Wear lolita more often in daily life 
3. Exercise more, improve my mood and lose weight

1. Develop my lolita wardrobe 

I want to dedicate £50 a month to spend on expanding my lolita wardrobe. Specifically I want to go to vintage shops and get blouses, cardigans and shoes that will suit a casual lolita wardrobe. 

2. Wear lolita more often

I would like to wear more thought out clothes in my daily life. I often wear very casual clothes outside of lolita and going out. I feel like if I am more conscious of what I wear it will improve my self-image and self-worth. I’d like to wear something that inspires me and gives me confidence. 

3. Exercising more

Since 2017, I’ve gained 25kg and lost 10kg. I still fit into some of my pieces but many are too tight. Ideally, I’d like to get back to my weight in 2017. More than that, exercising will greatly improve my mental health and now that I’ve started coming off anti-depressants, I would like the natural mood boost that exercising provides. Lolita fashion is just another motivating factor in going to the gym. 

So, where does the blog come in?

Basically, accountability. I’d like to track my progress with these goals using the blog. I think it would make an interesting story to see how my style shifts when I start incorporating vintage pieces and I plan on going to meets in the near future too. With the goals I have, it gives me a reason to blog every month and provide updates on what I’ve bought and what I’ve worn.

Next month I hope to update you on

• My current wardrobe 
• Outfits I’ve worn
• My exercise routine

I hope you’ll join me on this journey and if you have some lolita goals for this year let me know. 

Low Energy Lolita - Tips for Bad Mental Health Days

Hi all...

Long time no see. It's been a few months again and a bit up and down at that. Without going too deep into things, I have been dealing with some mental health issues for a while but particularly in the last four or five months. This has affected my ability to do everyday things including, of course, wearing lolita fashion. 

I reduced the amount of meets so that I had time enough for self care. As a result, the days when I went to meet ups were very important to me. There were some times when I would be having a bad mental health day but a lolita meet so I would need to wear low maintenance looks for those occasions. I wanted to share with you the items I like to use on those days.

Just a disclaimer, I understand that it is not always possible to wear lolita and go to meets when you are experiencing depression. Depression affects each person differently so you will need to make your own judgement on whether you have enough energy to wear lolita or go to meets. 

With that said, here are the items that I gravitate towards when I'm having a tough day. Most of these items are about getting a decent enough look whilst minimising effort and discomfort. 

Elasticated Onepiece

A one-piece is exactly that: a full outfit with one piece. Less pieces, less time, less effort; all things I consider when I don't have a lot of energy and don't feel good. It's gotta be stretchy too. Whether it's shirred or with an elasticated waist, I love an OP that gives you room to breathe. I find the more restrictive my outfit is, the more anxious I feel so I stay away from corsets or any tight fitting clothing. 

In my wardrobe (from the left)

Abandoned Night Chiffon OP by Baroque

Mystic Chiffon OP by Alice and the Pirates

Girly Note OP by Metamorphose Temps de Fille

 

Other Ideas (from the left)

Angel Wing Cutsew OP by Alice and the Pirates

Charming Dot by Angelic Pretty

Beloved Bloom Lace Puff Sleeve dress by Metamorphose Temps de Fille

The sack dress, fully-shirred bust OP or fully-shirred back OP would all be options for comfort and cuteness. 

Overknee Printed Tights/Socks

Printed tights add interest to your outfit. When I'm in a low mood, I tend to want to show even less skin than usual. Cotton overknee socks are often too hot in the Australian weather and I feel like they make my legs look wide so I prefer tights or socks in a stretchy fabric which cover skin, are cooler and often look better on my legs. 

My Wardrobe (from the left)

Kingdom Tights by Beth

Funeral Procession of Rose socks by Alice and the Pirates

Other Options (from left)

Elizabeth tights by Innocent World

Cream Cookie Parade by Angelic Pretty

Milky Pony Carnival by Angelic Pretty

Look for tights with a pattern down the middle for a leg slimming effect. 

Cardigans/Capes

Just like an elasticated one-piece, wearing a comfy cardigan or cape is a way to hide arms or décolletage without the discomfort of a blouse. While a blouse can feel constricting and starchy, a cardigan or cape is stretchy and soft. There's also nothing better than a knit or fluffy cape to help make me feel cosy and comforted on a bad day. 

My wardrobe (from left)

Bunny Ear Fur Cape by Baby the Stars Shine Bright

Cardigan with Fur by Baby the Stars Shine Bright

Other Options (from left) 

Rose and Little Bird Hood Cape by Innocent World

Heart Cardigan by Innocent World

Arab Knitted Short Cape by Alice and the Pirates

Soft, fuzzy and comfy is the aim with capes and cardigans. 

Make Up 

Generally, putting on makeup to match my lolita look is one of my favourite parts of lolita but when I don't have a lot of energy, I don't want to spend time on doing intricate makeup so I find the following items really useful. 

A medium brown eyeshadow and a glittery white eyeshadow 

Brown is a fairly neutral colour with many shades to suit all skin tones and dress colours. It's a colour that you can brush over your lid for a light shade or build up to create depth. Adding the white shadow near the tear duct in the inner corner of your eye creates depth and opens your eyes. This means you don't need to spend time choosing colours and creating looks. 

Pen tip Eyeliner and mascara 

Pen-tip eyeliner with mascara adds drama without the mess of false eyelashes. For me, false eyelashes are annoying to apply on the best of days, so on a day where I lack motivation and energy, having an eyeliner that draws smoothly is essential. This gives the illusion of dramatic eyes and with mascara it's often enough for my coordinate. Your face may not look "beat to the gods" but it's dramatic enough to carry the lolita look. 

Blush and Highlighter

Use a blush pallet with high lights and blush in one compact. Usually I combine two or three different colours from a couple of different pallets on my cheek, I will do some contouring around my face, put blush on my cheek and add a tiny bit of highlight. On a rough day I can use one pallet and a few strokes to minimise fuss and get colour and dimension on my face. 

Medium coverage lipgloss 

Rather than a creamy lipstick or a clear lipgloss, I would chose a lip gloss (in pink, of course) with medium coverage (and glitter, lots of glitter) for a quick but finished look. The reason why I don't chose a lipstick is it makes me look more mature and I prefer the glassy, less defined look of a lipgloss. 

Lip Stain

I also use lip stains because it leaves a soft impression and stays on your lips so you don't need to reapply often. 

Here are some looks I put together on some of the days I wasn't feeling well. They required minimal effort and were comfortable enough to wear for the duration of the meet. 

A comfortable outfit for an afternoon Murder Mystery Meet

Cats Window Velveteen OP with Putumayo 

Cotton Frill JSK by Victorian Maiden

Offbrand knit with chiffon sleeves

Offbrand tights and shoes

Detachable Shoe bows by Baby the Stars Shine Bright

Necklace by Innocent World

Christmas in July!

Mystic Chiffon OP Funeral Procession of Rose tights by Alice and the Pirates  

Cardigan with Fur, Logo Beret, head bow by Baby the Stars Shine Bright

Off brand shoes 

Relaxed and cosy for a Sailor Moon marathon. 

Girly Note OP by Metamorphose Temps de Fille 

Bunny Ears Fur Cape and Mini Usuakumya pochette by Baby the Stars Shine Bright

There are my tips for when you're not feeling well or don't have a lot of energy. What are your tips when you're having a tough time? I'd love to know. 

Hoping you are able to take the time you need to take care of yourself. Wishing all of you health and happiness. 

Until next time...

Mini-Muffins and Turtle Teapots

International Lolita Day June 2017

First of all, thanks Kit for organising this great casual high tea meet. I had no idea this adorable cafe even existed and I had a great time. 

Outfit Rundown

Skirt, bonnet, jabot, wristcuffs : Angelic Pretty

Blouse, socks: Baby the Stars Shine Bright

Headbow, necklace: Innocent World

Shoes: Bodyline

Rings: Disney and Q-pot

I wanted to go all out for International Lolita Day and after day dreaming about creating a veil, underskirt or a tea cup head dress, I realised I just hadn't given myself enough time to prepare any of it. I decided to go with my Wonder Party skirt because of the tea cup print but I didn't want to wear it the same way as I had before and felt it was too casual. So I used the bonnet and jabot from the Chess Chocolate series to make the coordinate a little more formal and added wrist cuffs with crowns on them, a crown necklace and a head bow just to give the coordinate more volume. I would have worn my brown Innocent World shoes but it was raining when I left the house (thankfully not for the whole meet) so I chose to wear Bodyline shoes.

I was really happy with this coordinate and even after the meet finished I didn't take it off for at least another hour because I felt so pumped after the meet and just really loved how it looked. It was also my first time print mixing.

The cafe was just outside of the city in a suburb called Leederville, known for its cafes and artistic places. However, rather than the main cafe strip, this place, called Piccolo's Corner, was on a little street away from the centre of the town and a short walk from the West Leederville train station.

 

Photo taken by Kit

The cafe was quite small but absolutely gorgeous. Kit managed to reserve a small room just for the group. It was filled with lots of pictures that created the perfect atmosphere for lolita fashion. 

 

A few more people than expected turned up for the meet so the room was completely full of petticoats and (I'm happy to say) pantaloons! As I pulled up a chair near the entrance of the room I felt the power of the frill positively spilling out the door and I revelled it. 

 

I met a few new people whom I hadn't met before. It's always nice to see new people coming into the community. We only got to talk for a little while but I hope to see you at the next community event!

It was great to look around and see the group enjoying different types of food and drink. Some people ordered savoury dishes such as ham and cheese croissants and others ordered cakes and muffins. There were quite a few people who ordered mini-muffins, which is what I did. Most were dusted with edible glitter with some kind of decoration on top. I chose a chocolate mini-muffin -it went with the coordinate- with white chocolate icing and a rose. I also ordered an English Breakfast tea and it was instantly much tastier when it came in the most charming turtle-shaped teapot that I had ever seen.

 

When most people went out to the garden to take outfit shots, I hung back to enjoy my tea and muffin. Here are some of the shots courtesy of Kit and Susie.

 

Kit is so gorgeous and naturally cute. Kit was one of the many people wearing carousel prints. 

 

Greta looks so gorgeous in this garden. What a lovely setting!

Carousel prints were the unexpected popular print at the meet and the garden had a perfect statue.

 

Karina has got elegant posing down. 

After the photo shoot in the garden, the whole group headed outside to take a group shot and more outfit shots.

 

Siobhan is a Lolita who is also a part-time prince. 

 

This chick right here has great dynamic poses. This is the "Is my ride here yet?" Susie held the quiz night meet in my last post. 

 

Incidental Twins - Kit and Gretta 

This is so sweet. It's like the lolita version of fusion from Dragon Ball Z. Go forth and fight cuties. 

 

Siobhan the Suave (that's her full title). Me making my grand entrance and even Serena in the background there. Hi!

 

I told you Karina had it down. 

 I think one of my favourite parts of meet-ups is walking around with everyone dressed up. Fluff flying everywhere. I had this feeling of excitement similar to when I would go to my friends' birthday parties as a child. 

 

 

We headed towards what we thought was a church but it ended up being a school. We didn't want to trespass so we made do with the brick wall outside for group shots.

 

All of the carousel prints!

As well as individual outfit shots. 

 

Me, myself and I. I tried out some poses from Milkb0x's posing 101 video. How did I do?

 

Frances - an actual doll. Wearing a coveted classic Puppet Circus by Angelic Pretty. 

 

This baby! I'm a closet foil print lover. 

 

More Foil Please and Thank You. Serena embodies the mysterious fortune teller in this amazing dress by Alice and the Pirates, which I totally didn't get a close-up of. 

 

Siobhan, Mhairi and me! Good friends who are certified veterans of the comm. Mhairi wins a prize for being the best community Mum. Crossing the road and looking at phones doesn't mix, frillies!

After spending a good hour or more on outfit shots, we headed back to the cafe. I put on some tunes (read: Kyary and Perfume all the way). It made me think I need a mini-speaker or a kawaii blue tooth boom box of some kind. When we reached the cafe again, we parted ways. 

Here are some more shots that I took.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was great to meet new people, see lots of faces I knew and go to such a gorgeous cafe that is so calm and quiet. I've really been enjoying going to all the meets and I want to say thank you to all the group members who go out of their way to create these meets for the community.

And thanks so much to you for taking a look at the blog. 

Until next time...