Packing for Japan

Hi all... 

It's already two weeks until I move out of my country town and three weeks until I head to the land of the rising sun for a few months. 

I have been thinking about what to take with me for a while and after seeing Roli's Ramblings post on packing a weeks worth of outfits I decided to give it a go myself. The items are chosen using a system based off the hypothetical wardrobe posts that are common on her blog, they dictate the amount of items and and the item traits in order to create a complete and versatile wardrobe for many different occasions.

Here is what I chose based on Roli's formula...

Three Main pieces

One one piece, one jumper-skirt and one skirt including one solid-colour piece.

• Mystic Chiffon One-piece (navy), Alice and the Pirates
• Collection Chocolatier Douce Praline Jumper-skirt (Sax), Baby the Stars Shine Bright
• Wonderparty Skirt (Brown), Angelic Pretty

Mystic Chiffon OP from Alice and the Pirates is my solid colour piece. I chose Collection Chocolatier Douce, praline jumper-skirt because it's my favourite, most versatile piece and simply perfect for the spring weather in Japan. Lastly, I picked out my Wonderparty Skirt by Angelic Pretty. My first impression laying them out on the bed was that they may clash or prove to be difficult to coordinate.

Three Blouses

Two neutral blouses including one short-sleeve and a different coloured or dressier blouse

• Pintuck Blouse (Off-white), Baby the Stars Shine Bright
• Sheer sleeve knit blouse (off-white), Off-brand
• Carolyne Blouse (beige), Baby the Stars Shine Bright

As I discussed in my wardrobe post, I don't really have any short sleeve blouses that are in working condition so I chose two long sleeve white blouses: one plain pin tuck blouse from Baby the Stars Shine Bright and a dressy knit that I use as a blouse which I picked up for $15 in an off brand shop. For the third blouse I chose my Carolyne blouse in beige (it's shiny so I initially thought it was gold), which is also a dressier piece.

Two pieces of outerwear

One short-sleeve and one long sleeve

• Short Sleeve Knit Cardigan (Off-white), Metamorphose
• Cardigan with fur collar (navy), Baby the Stars Shine Bright

I chose my short sleeve cardigan from Metamorphose and a long sleeve cardigan from Baby with a detachable collar. Detachable items are really useful for easily creating versatility, however the drawback is that they often are bulkier than similar items without the detachable pieces and this can make it difficult to create a nice line for those who are just on the edge of brand measurements, like myself. 

Leg wear

One pair of stockings, one pair of over knee socks and one pair of ankle socks including one solid colour piece

• Esprit de la belle epoque de paris over-knee socks (ivory), Baby the Stars Shine Bright
• Kumya Kuma over-knee socks (beige), Baby the Stars Shine Bright

I chose two pairs of over knee socks: one, a translucent pattern and the other, a beige pair with kumya kuma on them. I currently have no solid colour opaque tights that are in working order.

 

Accessories

• Hat: ivory beret, BtSSB 
• Pin: navy beret ribbon pin, BtSSB; chocolatier pin, BtSSB 
• Barret: brown barrett with yellow roses, BtSSB;  Ivory Ribbon and Crown Barrett, Innocent World
• Headband: two  striped ribbon head bands in navy and brown, Innocent World
• Necklace: Alice teatime necklace, BtSSB, original crown and trump necklace, Innocent World
• Ring: Alice teatime ring, BtSSB 

For accessories I just pulled a few accessories together considering colours in my wardrobe and luggage space. 

Shoes

Two pairs of shoes that go with everything

•  Ribbon pumps in chocolate, Innocent World

I already have a few pairs of shoes in Japan, a pair of flats and heels in white and a pair of boots and heels in brown, that I couldn't bring back last time so I will only take one pair of shoes over that suit most things in my wardrobe.

After picking out what I will take over the first thing I noticed was that it was easy to see the holes in my wardrobe using this method. It was very easy to see that I lack plain coloured pieces, in particular leg wear, something I will need to rectify in the near future.

Outfits

Here are the outfits I came up with from my hypothetical suitcase...

As you can see there is a large variety of outfits for a different weather and occasions. I probably could have created more if I hadn't have become so tired due to changing outfits so often. 

Observations

I had no idea these cardigans would come so in handy, simply layering the cardigan can change an outfit drastically. 

Doing this experiment really shows me how versatile my wardrobe has become over the past two years and it has further solidified my view on the positives of having a wardrobe based on colour palette.

Changes

As I'm going to Japan for far longer than a week (three months actually) so I would like to add a few more items to my suitcase. Specifically, two more jsks: the Dear Bunny JSK, which I promised to twin with a friend with and my Kumya Kuma Sweet Chocolate JSK, which I just really want to wear in Japan; I would also like to add a pair of plain coloured woolen tights to keep my legs warm during the cooler spring months.

All in all I'm really satisfied having done this challenge. The formula really worked for my wardrobe and it has allowed me to create many different outfits. Even if I wasn't going overseas, participating in this challenge has given me lots of coordinate ideas and has shown me where the holes in my wardrobe are. If you're stuck for outfit ideas or need a start on packing some lolita fashion for a trip I would recommend using this challenge as a starting point.

Until next time...

Tips to Stop Buying Lolita

Hi all...

I am currently planning a trip over to Japan in April, buying flights, planning transport and itinerary. I've been saving money for a number of months and now that it's getting closer I'm trying not to spend any money on Lolita fashion until April. 

There are many reasons why you might need to temporarily stop buying Lolita. Perhaps you're saving up for a holiday, like me. Or maybe you already spent all your Christmas money and maxed the credit card on Lace Market?  Stepping back from the auctions and second hand sales can be difficult if it has become a habit. So this week I'll share with you some tips I find useful to stop buying Lolita.

1. Set a goal 

If you really enjoy the fashion and you find it difficult to stop purchasing, setting yourself a goal is one of the best ways to stay motivated.  Being unsure of "buying boundaries" will make it harder to keep resisting as time goes on. In other words, saying "I'm just not going to buy anymore Lolita" is setting yourself up for temptation and disappointment. I have the trip in April to save up for and the added bonus of going somewhere that I can buy Lolita fashion. A date, a monetary amount, an event - anything can become your goal as long as you have a one. 

2. Make a plan of what your next purchase will be

Deciding what you want or need to buy next will help you with impulse purchasing. I'm thinking that I should buy a short-sleeve, white blouse next as that will have the greatest effect on my Lolita wardrobe in summer months. Knowing you want to buy a blouse or that you need to buy a new petticoat will stop you from getting that quick bargain that pops up on your social media feed.

3. Control what you look at on social media

When trying to save up, one of the worst things you can do is go and look at an auction site or eglcommsales on Live Journal with a casual attitude. You're deliberately putting yourself in a situation where it's easy to buy and encouraged. Even if you look at a sale, try to think about what would be good to buy after you achieve your goal or what might work in your current wardrobe rather than "can I afford it now" or "should I buy it now". This kind of change in browsing habits and attitude will be vital in keeping your sanity when you're not buying Lolita fashion. 

4. Replace your habit

I really enjoy the purchasing side of Lolita. Buying something new from somewhere far-away, waiting for something to arrive in the post; it definitely is one of the joys of this fashion, in my opinion. If I want to buy something when I'm on a budget however, I will try to do something else that I enjoy or is rewarding. I will wear my favourite outfit, spend more time on my make up, look at other people's outfits online. If I'm still reaching for the credit card, then I'll do something productive or even go buy something that's less expensive like some make up or take myself out for a coffee. This way I can stay positive and not feel like I'm punishing myself for trying to save money.

5. Decide Your Priorities

Deciding what is important to you will help you stay on track. If you actually write down what you want to do in order then it will be easier to follow through. Also keep in mind that buying lolita will only set you back from achieving your goals at this time.

However you approach budgeting don't forget that there are many ways to enjoy lolita outside of increasing the pieces in your wardrobe. What about trying a new make up technique or creating coordinates with your current wardrobe. Plan what gaps you have in your wardrobe or even have a look at other fashion styles to see how they coordinate their outfits. You may learn something you can incorporate yourself. 

As with many things, the trick is about remaining realistic and doing things in moderation. Good luck with your budgeting! 

Until next time...

Three Quarters of a Lolita Fashion Wardrobe

This is the entirety of my lolita fashion wardrobe. It fits snugly into one small wardrobe.

At the end of my time in Japan in 2015 I realised that I would have to leave a large portion of my Lolita wardrobe in Japan. In fact, apart from the cardigans and blouses, I left everything that I'd taken to and bought in Japan behind in the care of my second family. So although I was tempted to place my wardrobe pictures up on EGL on LiveJournal this year, I decided to wait another year before putting my wardrobe on the board. 

I did take a few shots of the different colours in my wardrobe, my accessories and miscellaneous items and did some experimenting with coordinates, which I will share with you here.

As I have mentioned before, I am working towards a wardrobe that can be worn in many different ways and I mostly work with a colour pallet of blue, brown and ivory. 

White

My well-loved Anna House short sleeve blouse, Prince Conrad blouse from Alice and the Pirates, an off-brand pull-over and the blouse I got from the Baby the Stars Shine Bright 2012 Lucky Pack.

I definitely need more white blouses. This is goal number one of 2016.

Ivory/Beige

Metamorphose - Short-sleeve Ribbon cardigan (off-white), Alice and the Pirates - Mary Ribbon blouse (Ivory), Alice and the Pirates - Etoile blouse (Ivory), Baby the Stars Shine Bright - Sonnet for Juliet Striped Chiffon blouse (Ivory), Baby the Stars Shine Bright - Carolyne Blouse (Beige) 

I just discovered that ivory really isn't my colour (more on that some other post) so I sense a clean-out in the near future, which, on the positive side, will leave me with more money for Japan.

Pink

Baby the Stars Shine Bright - Snow Crystal Bolero, Metamorphose Temps de Fille - Rose Letter with Collar Pinafore JSK, Angelic Pretty - Happy Garden,  Metamorphose Temps de Fille - Girly Note OP 

Pink, THE colour for sweet lolitas. It may all have to go unfortunately.

A few pink coordinates. I finally found a way to display the clothes a little better.

Blue

Angelic Pretty - Stand Collar Chiffon blouse, Baby the Stars Shine Bright - Cardigan with Fur, Baby the Stars Shine Bright - Collection Chocolatier Douce Praline JSK (Sax), Baby the Stars Shine Bright - Hello Dear Bunny's Little Enchanted Room Pattern JSK (Sax) (Happy Pack 2016), Krad Lanrete - Phantom of the Opera JSK, Alice and the Pirates - Mystic Chiffon OP. 

All of my blue babies can stay. This will become my main wardrobe colour from now on.

A few blue coordinates. I really like the first coordinate with the Mystic Chiffon OP. 

Brown

Baby the Stars Shine Bright - Kuma Kumya's Sweet Chocolate High Waist JSK (Bitter Chocolate x Mint), Angelic Pretty - Wonder Party Skirt

I love the Kumya Kumya JSK. It's definitely one of my favourite pieces in my wardrobe. 

I can't tell you how happy I am with the kuma kumya socks!

Black

Unknown vest from Alice and the Pirates, Magical Cosmetics (L372) from Body Line, unknown pants from Alice and the Pirates

I'm not wearing any of these pieces. Although I was confident about a fabulous foray into ouji-kei last year it has become apparent that ouji-kei does not want us to be friends. Fine, I can take a hint.

Mint

Baby the Stars Shine Bright - Stripe Patissier Blouse

This is a blouse I was really keen on owning but maybe it's time may be over soon than expected. 

Hair Accessories

Innocent World - Striped Ribbon Headbow x 2 (navy and brown), Innocent world Organdy Bow Clip, Angelic Pretty Happy Garden headbow, Baby the stars Shine Bright - Fairy Headdress of Trifolium, Hello Dear Bunny's Little Enchanted Room Pattern Headbow from Baby the Stars Shine Bright (Sax) (Happy pack 2016)

It was the best idea to get the hair accessories from Innocent World. Having an accessory that matches every piece in a wardrobe changed my lolita game. 

Bonnet

Baby the Stars Shine Bright - Esprit de la Belle Epoque Bonnet (Brown)

This brown and pink colour is lovely and I love the print. I can wait to wear it together!

Accessories

(Left) Innocent World - Original Crown and Playing Cards Necklace (Gold), 

(Right) Baby the Stars Shine Bright - Alice's Teapot Necklace (Gold)

(Centre) Baby the Stars Shine Bright - Scarlet Wrist Cuffs (Ivory) 

(Centre Back L to R) Offbrand - gummy bear ring, Disney - Mickey Mouse Macaron Ring, Angelic Pretty - Balloon Heart Ring (Angelic), Angelic Pretty - Balloon Heart Ring (Pretty), Baby the Stars Shine Bright - Alice's Teacup Ring (Gold), Offbrand - Pearl Bracelet

You can see my journey from sweet lolita fashion to classic right here. 

Bags

Innocent World - Ladder Lace Ribbon Bag (Chocolate), Baby the Stars Shine Bright - Heart Bag (White) (Happy Pack 2012), Baby the Stars Shine Bright - Double Ribbons Bag (Pink x White)

Having a matching bag and shoe combination is the best. I recommend it so much to those of you who, like me, have a difficult time coordinating items. 

Miscellaneous

Baby the Stars Shine Bright Decoration Tape, Doll Classica Book by Midori Fukasawa, Lolita Fashion Book by Misako Aoki, Gothic Lolita Bible Vol. 56

The books by Misako and Midori have great make-up tips and hair tutorials in them! Some day I'll sit down and translate some of the longer passages about Lolita history. Perhaps that's a future blog post. 

I hope you enjoyed taking a look into my wardrobe. I am looking forward to making over my wardrobe this year and I hope you can join me for the journey. 

What is Summer Lolita Fashion?

Hi all...

After realising I had difficulty making a Lolita-fashion outfit that felt summery I have endeavoured to do some research to help me to create a Lolita fashion coordinate for the summer. I'd like to share what I have found.

If there's anything I've learnt from this research it is the idea of "evocation". One of my favourite fashion books My Basic Note by Naho Mihirogi states that "Clothes show what our inner-selves and our life style is like on the outside. Clothes are the film that connect me to society." What you are doing with fashion is creating an image that is interpreted by your audience. In other words, there is no specific summer lolita fashion and only images that evoke the idea of summer. 

Historical Summer Fashion

Lolita is said to be based on historical fashions from the Baroque,  Rococo and Victorian period. This is roughly the period from the 15th century right through to the turn of the 18th century. That's around 300 years of skirts and sleeve sizes billowing and contracting and waist lines going up and down much like a hot air balloon attached to a carousel 1, 2. Of course, one cannot begin to pigeon hole the thoughts and fashions of the whole world over this period of time so please take what I say with a grain of salt and your own research.

It seems from what I can glean that although fashion changed it was not as bound by spring, summer, autumn, winter seasons back in those times. In fact, in many places with relatively milder weather, women were expected to stick it out most of the time in the same type of clothes they would wear other times of the year 3, 4. Of course, coats and shawls etc. could be added in winter if required. Clothing appears to be split up into morning, afternoon and evening wear as well as occasion wear such as mourning and wedding clothing.  Other places, such as Virginia, had a less forgiving climate so in summer less layers were worn or different materials, such as lustring, silk and light wool were utilised 5. In general, accessories seem to change from heavier fabrics such as velvet in colder months to straw or linen in warmer months 6, 7, 8. 9.

Here are a few portraits from the period to give you an idea of the changing fashions throughout the times. I've tried to include ones with accessories as much as possible. 

Portrait of a Lady - Gabriel Metsu (1667)

Left: Portriat of Marquise de Pompadour - Francois Boucher (1759)
Middle: Portrait of a Noblewoman - Donat Nonotte (1760)
Right: Portrait of the Marchioness Angela Maria Lombardi - Unknown (c.1710)

Left: Unknown Portait - Howard E. Gray (c. 1885)
Middle: Portrait of Josephine Bowes - Louis William Desanges (1858)
Right: Portriat of Countess Daru - Jacques Louis David (1810)

Colours

As a general rule in fashion, it's thought that the lighter the colour is, the closer it is to summer and the darker the colour is the closer it is to winter. This, however, this doesn't mean a person is only able to wear white in summer. It means that a lighter version of a colour will be viewed as a "Summer Colour". This particular video, featuring Yoshimasa Hoshiba from B.R. Fashion College, explains this concept quite well using a navy jacket as an example 10. As there are no subtitles I have made a few screen caps below.

"As you increase the amount of white in a colour it approaches a summer colour" - 11

"The navy [on this jacket I'm holding] is more of a Spring/Summer navy
and the navy that I'm wearing at the moment falls more on the side of Autumn/Winter navy." - 12

According to Lolita Fashion Book

I happened to get a hold of the Lolita Fashion Book by Misako Aoki when I was in Japan in 2014. As well as information about the lolita fashion basics as well as make-up and hair tutorials, it has this to say about Lolita in Summer. 

"The trick is to use accessories made with natural materials..."

• Go for less petticoats to make your clothes more breathable
• Use natural materials for bags and hats etc. to evoke summer
• Pair short sleeves with wrist cuffs for cuteness right down to your hands

Summer Lolita
Scan from Lolita Fashion Book by Misako Aoki

In Summary

To summarise the above, wearing the same type of clothes in every season can be an option as a personal preference or even from a historical perspective. There are also methods that can evoke a summer-feel to an outfit. These include choosing light or natural fabrics that breath well such as light cotton, chiffon or linen; choosing colours that are a shade brighter such as a bright navy, light brown and rose and choosing accessories made of natural materials, particularly straw or cotton. 

My Idea For Summer Outfits

Personally, I think single colour pieces in cotton finished with white lace could really come into their own in summer outfits. I like the idea of "breathable" not only in the use of materials and outfit but in an evocative sense as well. What I'm talking about is spaced out prints: prints that give the impression that the wind could blow through the space between them. This, I believe, will be the corner stone of my personal summer style in lolita fashion. This as well as Marine themes that evoke the seaside, which is a popular summer activity.

Below are some prints from different brands, which I feel could work well in a summer coordinate. I've tried to chose items from different years and in light and darker colours.

Alice and the Pirates
Left: Alice's Wonder Marine Treasure JSK (Navy) 2014
Right: Ansie Princess OP (Dark Pink) 2015

Angelic Pretty
Left: Sugary Gingham OP (Pink) 2014
Right: Fairy Marine Skirt (Navy) 2014

Baby the Stars Shine Bright
Left: Lilly Rose Basket Bag (Pink) 2013
Right: Alice Brudges OP (Pink) 2012

Innocent World
Left: Peter Rabit Just Waist (Sax) 2016
Right: Carousel of Paris (Ivory) 2014

Summer is almost over and I'm still in lock down in terms of lolita purchasing I don't feel I have the right items to create a good summery lolita outfit so I will have to wait until next year to make an actual summer lolita coordinate with my wardrobe. I hope this article will give you inspiration to find your own summer-style for lolita fashion. If you have any summer lolita fashion coordinates you've done I would love to see them too!

Until next time...