Planning Outfits for Perth - Coordinates for Spring

Spring Outfits for the City

This week I'm travelling to the city for the first time in three months. Even when I returned from overseas I only spent a few days in Perth and didn't have the chance to go out in Lolita with friends. This time I've organised to see friends twice over my week trip so I put together some outfits in preparation. 

On the weekend, I put together some spring outfits and did up some coordinate ideas for my new purchases. I wanted to focus on coordinating seasonally appropriate outfits. It's spring in Australia (it's already quite hot though) so I chose light colours and breathable fabrics. 

Collection Chocolatier Douce by Baby the Stars Shine Bright 

This outfit is for a meet to eat chocolate and churros. I had to go with the Collection Chocolatier Douce for this outing.

I went with a white blouse and white purse to bring a fresh spring feeling to this jumper skirt. I really wanted to add in the brooch from this same series that I have so I've placed it on the collar. I also added a few cherry themed charms to my bag to keep the bag looking too plain. I'm still not sure if I'll keep them in as the look a little cheap clustered together on the bag. The blue bow is off my beret and I would clip it on the side of my head (hopefully it will stay). I would have preferred to use white shoes but my pair are still in Japan so I went with brown as my second choice. 

Wonder Party by Angelic Pretty 

I chose the fun Wonder Party print in brown for a meeting with a few close friends for dessert and board games.

Rather than go with a full ivory/brown coordinate, which would tend towards Autumn, I added a chiffon blouse in mint to add some cool tones and bring this coordinate towards spring. I believe that keeping most of the outfit light in colour is another key to keeping this brown and gold skirt working in a spring coordinate so I've added off-white see through socks and off-white wrist cuffs. I would also like to add a round lacy headdress or a bow in white with roses on it to keep the entire look bright from head to toe. The jewellery is the teacup ring and teapot necklace from Baby and it just goes beautifully with the theme of the skirt. 

A few bonus pictures now of some basic coordinates I made using the new pieces in my wardrobe. As I get more pieces within my navy, brown and ivory colour-scheme I can create more coordinates using the same pieces. It's certainly a very exciting journey. 

Until next time...

July - September 2015 Haul

Hi all,

What happens when you have a steady income, you have little to do in terms of recreation and the Internet...you go shopping!

One of my New Years resolutions was to create a more cohesive wardrobe so in keeping with that I stuck (mostly) to easy-to-coordinate pieces in either ivory, navy or brown. It was my first time shopping at many of the places as I tend to buy from EGL Comm sales and Facebook and have nothing bad to report (phew). So now that most of my stuff has arrived I would like to show you.

These are all my Lolita purchases for the past few months:

The story begins when I broke my spending drought by purchasing the bonnet from the Belle Époque series by Baby the Stars Shine Bright. I refused to pay full-price as it cost over ¥10 000 so I got quite excited when I saw it was on sale on the BtSSB website. 

It was my first time buying from the site and it went really smoothly, which is good because I've heard of the blacklisting horror stories. I definitely recommend reading an up-to-date tutorial before you buy from there.

A friend was selling some AatP ouji pants and I've wanted to try ouji-kei for a while. The sales were really in my favour so at the same time I was able to purchase an AatP Prince Conrad blouse in white and a vest on the second hand market for an excellent price.

This story is stamped to be continued, however, as the materials are of a different thickness and they don't match. My neck also disappears in the generous frill of the Prince Conrad blouse so putting together a first coordinate may take some time. I think I may have discovered the anguish of the ouji-kei wearer.

Another friend from my community was selling some items and I couldn't go past the navy Phantom of the Opera JSK from Krad Lanrete and the brown Wonder Party skirt from Angelic Pretty that she was selling. I've had the Wonder Party series on my wishlist for a couple of years and I love Phantom of the Opera (actually musicals in general) so I'm really excited about making a coordinate with both of those items.

Thinking about my upcoming trip to the city in mid-October (I live beyond the black stump at the moment) I was hoping to buy a dress in my colour-scheme that was suitable for warm weather. Then, I came I came across Collection Chocolatier Douce in sax by Baby, the Stars Shine Bright whilst on Usagiyouhinten. 

This was also my first experience with Usagiyouhinten. Although initial contact took a while, as they close mid-week, I was very pleased with the communication and the packaging of the item.

Also on my list for my trip in October was a petticoat. My current petticoat is on its last legs (and in storage in Japan) so I decided on a new petticoat from Chiffon Rose. I went with the Classical Puppets everyday A-line petticoat figuring if I needed more poof I could layer it with my older petticoat when I get it from Japan next year. They were closed for the month of September but as soon as it became October I received a shipping notification so it will arrive within the next week.

I naively signed up for Lace Market and was suddenly overcome with a terrible need for blouses. I wanted to get cool fabrics which would tie-in with my wardrobe and I managed to find three great lolita blouses. 

So at the close of September I've ended up with the following:

Two dresses: 

Collection Chocolatier Douce Praline JSK in Sax by Baby, the Stars Shine Bright

Phantom of the Opera JSK in Navy by Krad Lanrete 

One skirt:

Wonder Party Skirt in brown by Angelic Pretty.

Three Lolita blouses:

Stand Collar Chiffon Blouse in navy by Angelic Pretty

Stripe Pattisier Blouse in mint by Baby the Stars Shine Bright 

Etoille Blouse in ivory by Baby the Stars Shine Bright (in transit)

One bonnet:

Belle Époque Bonnet in Brown by Baby the Stars Shine Bright 

An (unmatching) ouji-kei outfit:
Prince Conrad Blouse in white
Unknown AatP vest in black
Unknown AatP pants in black

Classical puppets everyday A-line petticoat (in transit)

As for the next few months, I'd like to focus on purchasing accessories. I really lack in this department and I know how important accessories are for making your wardrobe more flexible, bringing balance to a coordinate or putting a new twist on an oft-worn item. I'm particularly interested in making a "set" of accessories, that is, a few accessories in the same colour or similarly themed to make coordinating easier. 

Until next time...

Beautiful Things I'll Never Own - (Pipe) Dream Dresses as of September 2015

After writing about why I sold my dream dresses two weeks ago (I didn't post last week because my sister was in town) I thought it would be nice to write about the lolita fashion items I just can't get enough of but for one reason or another I don't think I'll ever get to own.

Fleur Antionette one-piece by Mary Magdalene 

First up, my very first and longest love affair, Fleur Annoinette. I first came across this dress when it was re-released in 2012 but not knowing much about the fashion at the time and not having any clue about how to buy from Mary Magdalene's website I didn't do anything about it. 

Why I like it

I really like the design of this dress from the Georgian design to the beautiful rose print.  In my mind, this is the epitome of a spring/summer dress of a courtly maiden. It's feminine but it has a hint of frivolity in it. My favourite colour-way is the green - not only because of the rarity of such a bright mint in Lolita fashion but because I wore a similar colour for my high school ball, so it's a little nostalgic for me.

Why I wouldn't buy it

I would love to own this dress but in reality, I don't think I would ever take it out of the cupboard; partly due to its sentimental value and because there wouldn't be a nice enough event close-by to wear it to. I've also seen the beige version of this dress for sale for US$400...ouch.

Beautiful Glassy Saint Mary - Jeanne JSK by Alice and the Pirates

I was already into lolita fashion when this was released but I didn't buy this dress because I wasn't crazy about it at first but it has really grown on me ever since. 

Why I like it

I love every detail of this dress from the intricately detailed stained glass art, the background pattern bringing a little brightness to the gothic style of the dress, the defined waist, which is my preferred style of dress and the gorgeous pearl chain topping the bust. I also own the Mary Ribbon Blouse!

Why I wouldn't buy it

I got so caught up in owning a dress with a stained glass window print that I bought the design that Korean-indie brand Baroque brought out called "Abandoned Night", which I absolutely adore. I think I can be satisfied with that and besides I recently saw the black version on Lace Market for US $800. No matter how much I love it, I could not put that much money down for a dress besides my wedding dress.

Kumya Kumya's Sweet Chocolate high-waist JSK by Baby the Stars Shine Bright

After seeing a friend wear the brown x pink version and getting my own kumya kumya in chocolate x gold I started take a liking to this dress. Then I made an outfit for a past post "Coordinating using three colours" and my fate was sealed. 

Why I like it

I particularly love the art of the print: the kumya kumya's are drawn so beautifully. I also love the idea that I have a "real" version of something in the print; my kumya kumya, that is. My favourite colour is the bitter chocolate x mint because I feel I would be able to coordinate it in a more mature fashion.

Why I wouldn't buy it

For all intents and purposes I have moved on from super sweet designs, however, this is print is still within my reach, although still a little expensive at about US$300. Even though I've seen it recently, I may have to pass it up on account that the Australian dollar is so weak at the moment.

The END of immortal EDEN skirt by Alice and the Pirates 

Like the Kumya Kumya Chan print above, I saw a friend wearing this and I really liked it.

Why I like it

The moment I saw this I thought Sailor Moon. The floating feathers in the design remind me a lot of Eternal Sailor Moon's feather-filled attacks and transformations. I also love the long length of the skirt and the design of the waist.

Why I wouldn't buy it

Well, actually I would buy it but I've hardly ever seen it sold. If you do see it, drop me a line!

So, how about you? What are the prints you love but probably won't be able to own? Let me know!

Until next time...