30 Day Lolita Meme: Lolita Love & Hate

This post is going to be all meme! I'll be doing day two and day three combined, even though it's been a number of days since my last post, but these two questions sort of go together. It was actually really hard to come up with 10, or really any, things that I flat out hate about the fashion, so my 10 "hate list" is more of a 10   "pretty damned annoying" list! I sort of feel that if you can easily tick off 10 things you absolutely hate about any hobby/group/interest you are a part of you should probably reconsider being a part of it!

1. Detail overloads- pintucks and ruffles and lace and embroidery, all on one dress!
2. Crown motifs- they're just so cute, definitely one of my favorite motifs in the fashion.
3. Brand loyalty- not to an insane extent, but I love getting excited about new releases from my favorite brand and the warm fuzzy feeling you get just because you have something with their logo on it.
4. Platform shoes- I just can't resist a platform shoe! Never could. In middle school, even my gym sneakers were platform sneakers.
5. Fancy underclothes- ruffly petticoats, and fancy bloomers, even camisoles and corsets! It's fun to make everything you're wearing extra fancy.
6. Meetups and the community- I've met so many awesome people at meetups, and I love killing time browsing Lolita blogs, forums, and communities.
7. Japanese fashion magazines- when looking at pictures on blogs doesn't do it for me, I can always find a Bible at a comic book shop. So satisfying to flip through!
8. The rarity- even though it sucks I can't just walk into the mall and walk out with a perfect coordinate, that makes it all the more special, and even more exciting to come across someone else who loves Lolita.
9. The relative simplicity of putting together a good looking coordinate- petticoat, bell-shaped skirt, puffy sleeved blouse, knee socks, cute shoes, hair bow. In theory it's just that simple, and sometimes it really is! I think it's satisfying to basically be able to just buy everything you need to be the perfect Lolita.
10. High quality lace- It's just gorgeous! I never really saw good lace until I started wearing Lolita, and now I can't get enough of it.

1. The price- of course! It's not the most expensive fashion out there, especially with the emergence of Taobao and Bodyline, but it's still really pricey.
2. The drama- everywhere has drama, and I'm not going to be one of those people who says that Lolita drama is the worst drama, because it doesn't hold a candle to some of the other drama-o-rama places I've been, but it's still really annoying that it's there at all!
3. The fact that so much of the community is internet based- this sort of goes hand in hand with the above annoyance, I feel like the internet magnifies drama and announces it for the world to see. So a stupid squabble at a convention or meetup all the sudden turns into an international incident, and then Lolitas argue amongst themselves, and non-Lolita spectators tsk tsk them for doing so as they sit and watch on the sidelines. Haha, maybe this annoyance should just be "The internet. Period."
4. The mega trends- Lolitas love to get caught up in new trends, which is fun, but sometimes it goes a bit far, especially when not-currently-trendy things are pushed aside by the majority (or, more likely, a vocal minority) as no longer being Lolita.
5. The people who are too rigid with the rules- Lolita is a vast fashion, and not everything within it fits easily into the Lolita box, and it doesn't have to. Some people get way too caught up in what is, or isn't, Lolita.
6. Shopping services- I just hate paying extra fees on top of retail/second-hand prices! I pretty much avoid using a shopping service whenever possible.
7. Lack of brick and mortar shops- I'm not asking for a brand shop in every town, but it would be nice if there were more places to actually go and buy nice Lolita clothes.
8. Drawing your lower lash-line way too low- I don't think I've ever seen this done in a way that doesn't look like their makeup is melting off their face along with their eyeballs. It's a weird trend that I believe got carried all the way from Manba to Gal to Lolita that got a bit lost in translation on the way.
9. Knocking stuff over with your petticoat- it's so annoying! 
10. Shipping costs- even within the same country, some things are just so heavy that you have to spend much more on shipping than you normally would! When ordering things overseas I always have to remember to tack on about $50 to the price just to cover shipping.

Angelic Pretty: Re-releases and Reimaginings.

In the past few months, it seems like Angelic Pretty has been doing a bit of switching up their style, while at the same time, revisiting some old favorites. It started sometime in the last year, when they started to release prints that were a bit bolder in color, and simpler in print design instead of the pastel jumble of cuteness that made them so popular in recent years. Angelic Pretty also gave everyone quite a shock when they announced that they had decided to re-release Sugary Carnival, a print which is definitely one of their most sought after pieces and was recently made into a replica. With this, it almost seemed as if Angelic Pretty realized "hey, we made some awesome stuff in the past that people still love, let's do that again!" so shortly after Sugary Carnival was re-released they came out with Aqua Princess, a print that looks surprisingly like Twinkle Mermaid, a print that was, at one time, another one of Angelic Pretty's most popular prints.

Left, Aqua Princess; Right, Twinkle Mermaid

Aqua Princess is very different from anything Angelic Pretty has released in a long time simply because the print is a simple 2 color print, reminiscent of some of their first custom screen printings in the early 2000's.

Left, Toy Fantasy; Right, Toy Parade.

While Toy Fantasy isn't a direct re-release, it is very reminiscent of Toy Parade, which was one of Angelic Pretty's very first custom fabric prints, from 2007.

What does this mean for Angelic Pretty and even Lolita? Does it mean that Angelic Pretty has simply run out of different combinations of candy and cute animals to add to their dresses? I doubt it. Angelic Pretty has been on the cutting edge of Lolita fashion for the past 4 years, or at least, the cutting edge of Lolita has been Angelic Pretty. I, and many other Lolitas, feel that the trends in Lolita are beginning to shift away from the over-the-top-rainbow-explosion-glitter-extravaganza that Angelic Pretty has popularized, and, at least a little bit, has started focusing a bit on the nostalgia of Lolita trends gone by. To me, it seems like Angelic Pretty is, instead of trying to come up with The Next Big Thing, grabbing a hold of this new trend for the old and making it their own. "Remember this?! If you liked it you're going to love this!" they seem to be saying.

Will this trend of re-releases and reimaginings continue for very long? Will other brands start to take heed? Baby has already re-released a couple popular prints this year, Stained Glass and Vampire Requiem, but, while popular, neither of which are as iconic as the Angelic Pretty prints that are getting a second go. Many Lolitas have been practically begging Moi Meme Moitie to follow in Baby and AP's footsteps and re-release what is quite possibly Lolita's most sought after print, Iron Gate. Will MmM listen and give in? MmM is known for being one of Lolita's most "exclusive" brands, priding themselves on high prices, limited runs, and nearly impossible to get a hold of pieces, so it's highly unlikely that the old Iron Gate print will ever see new life, but perhaps Mana has heard these cries and listened because a recent print of theirs is a bit reminiscent to the Iron Gate styling.

This re-releasing of older prints is something of a double-edged sword and within the Lolita community there are people who feel very strongly about both sides of the argument. There are those who long to get their hands on a long ago released print and would prefer not to simply buy a replica, even if one were available; and there are others who enjoy the collecting aspect of the fashion and would be crushed to find that a print that they spent a lot of time and money to own could now be so easily, and cheaply, bought. Myself, I'm a bit torn. I have several older prints that cost me an arm and leg and I would be a bit annoyed to find out that if I had only waited I could have gotten them for retail price, but there are even more prints that I know I'll never be able to get my hands on because they are just too rare. I think that when it comes right down to it, I am more of a fan of the reimaginings of prints rather than the re-releases. I feel that this way there is always something new coming out, even if it's heavily inspired, or just a rearranged version of something old.

What about the rest of you? Do you like the direction backwards some brands seem to be going? Or are you always craving something new and exciting from your favorite brands?

I also would like to start doing the 30 day Lolita meme that has been going around in the community! I don't know how I'll go about doing it, maybe I'll actually do a post every day, or every couple of days, or just answer all the questions for any missed days between blog posts. However I decide to do it, today is the first day, so let's answer the first question!

Day 1 – 10 things about your Lolita bubble.

1. I fell in love with Gothic Lolita first, and consider myself a Gothic Lolita, but I really enjoy most all of the sub-styles and wear several of them pretty frequently.
2. That being said, I don't really worry too much about if what I am wearing doesn't exactly fall within one sub-style, or sometimes even completely within the usual Lolita definition.
3. I wear Lolita as much as possible, on a near daily basis. When I get home from work I typically change into a Lolita outfit even if I'm just planning on a night of playing on the computer and reading.
4. I love pink and black! I am a complete sucker for pink and black colorways and I have a ton of pink and black pieces.
5. I have a love/hate relationship with print replicas. I think they're great for people who can't otherwise get a hold of their dream print, but besides the couple of Bodyline ones that I already own and were the first print replicas to really make a splash, I can't really see myself buying any more. Even though I'm always just on the verge of jumping on some sort of group order to get some for cheap.
6. I don't have many Lolita purses. I usually just carry one of my h.NAOTO bags with me, regardless of how well it matches what I'm wearing.
7. I don't have many Lolita shoes either, at least compared to my clothing wardrobe. I usually match a pair of black tea parties with nearly everything, just because they are really easy to walk around in all day. Come to think of it, I really need to invest in a brown and a white pair!
8. Lolita has made me learn, and want to learn, a lot of things! From sewing, to hat making, to doll customizing, to a million more little mundane things. I really love being inspired by Lolita!
9. Baby the Stars Shine Bright is definitely my favorite Lolita brand. They were the first brand I feel in love with and one of the brands that continues to amaze me with their quality and designs. I also really love their little "B" logo.
10. My wardrobe turnover isn't very high. Some people are constantly buying and selling, but I tend to just buy. Even things I rarely wear I don't want to part with because I know they can be made into really cute outfits, even if they aren't really my style.
11. *Super Special Bonus Bubble* I love those completely tacky animated .gifs. Kitten that float up and down for no reason, winking bears, glittery flowers, random bobbing exclamations of "cute!", I love them all, but I never get a chance to use them in my blog!

If you want to join in on this meme along with everyone else, you can check out this post by Sweet Lolita On The Go to get all the questions!

A little note: I just got a new laptop (since my old was was on it's last leg!) and I decided to switch over to Chrome because everyone else is, and I, for whatever reason, can't figure how the heck to resize my images in blogger! So... until I figure that out (or just switch back to good old familiar Firefox) pictures are going to be a bit randomly sized around here!

20 More Things Every Lolita Should Have

I'm still getting back into the swing of things after a pretty busy month, I guess my announcement about being back from my break from blogging was a bit premature! I hope to get back to a more regular schedule sometime this upcoming week. I hope I haven't left some of you wondering where I was!

Back in February I made a list based on another blogger's post of 30 things every Lolita should have. I thought 30 should be plenty, but ever since I wrote the list I have been wanting to expand it, just a little bit. So with this post I'll be adding 20 more things to my list, to round it up to a nice even 50 things every Lolita should have. It sounds like it might be a whole lot of stuff, but really, lot of it is quite easy, and just like the first list, is probably stuff you already have but never realized it was a necessary part of your Lolita life before!

1. A headband with a subtle corsage or side bow, something you can easily slip on your head without much hairstyling or worrying about.. Suggested by Seitou.
2. A cute purse that works well in and out of Lolita, because constantly switching purses is annoying. Suggested by Seitou.
3. At least one pair of elegant lace tights, this is great for making Gothic Lolita more elegant, making Sweet Lolita look a bit more princessy, or just making Classic Lolita a bit more fancy! Suggested by Seitou.
4. A couple pairs of solid colored knee or over-the-knee socks. They're easy to coordinate with just about anything, cheaper than brand or even knockoff printed socks, and much easier to just toss out and get a new pair when you wear them out!
5. A beauty routine. It doesn't have to be circle-lens-and-fake-eyelash full-face makeup routine, but it's a good idea to have some sort of routine, even if it just involves your favorite moisturizer and a little bit of mascara and some lip gloss.
   
6. A versatile shade of nail polish that matches your style, so you can easily give yourself a quick and cute manicure.
   
7. Some lace print nail decals or stickers, for when a simple coat of nail polish isn't going to cut it, but you don't have the time or patience to go all out with fake nails. Sephora carries Hello Kitty lace decals for a reasonable price, but you can pick up lace printed nail decals just about anywhere.
   
8. A Lolita friend! Either online or in real life, it's always nice to have someone to share the frills with. If your friends aren't really into wearing the style themselves, at the very least hopefully you have a friend who is supportive of your frills and who will let you ramble to them about brands and new releases and give you support and suggestions on coordinates.
9. A couple pairs of bloomers. They're great for warming up in the winter, looking cute peeking out from hems, or making sure you avoid flashing people! They're also easy to make!
10. One quick and tasty recipe that is sure to please everyone the next time you go to a pot-luck picnic meetup. If you don't exactly know your way around a kitchen, then switch this to a good local deli or bakery!
    
11. A "Lolita" perfume or scent. Whether it's a special perfume in a fancy bottle who's scent goes well with your style that you only save for special Lolita occasions, or a whole arsenal of different scents that you wear with different styles or to different places. I tend to like to wear sweet candy scents with Sweet Lolita, dark and musky scents with Gothic, and flowery scents with Classic.
    
12. A relatively simple, solid colored skirt, in the perfect length, that works well with most of your wardrobe. This is a great addition to a Lolita wardrobe because you can do so much with it! Besides just wearing it on it's own, you can use it as an underskirt to add a couple inches to too-short skirts, wear it with an open dress or skirt that's meant to have a separate bustle, or you can wear it under a regular Lolita skirt and gather the top skirt to create a bustle effect.
13. A favorite easy hairstyle that looks great with most any style you wear and you have perfected doing in about 10 minutes. Something you can do on days with minimal time to get ready but still look polished.
14. A cute Lolita themed set of stationery or notebook, so you have something cute to write on!
15. A folder filled with cute and inspiring Lolita pictures, or even an inspiration journal or sketch book.
    
16. A favorite "secret" place to shop. Maybe it's a cute store in the mall or a local vintage store, but knowing about some place to pick up unique and cute Lolita accessories or even pieces you can mix in with your wardrobe is something every Lolita should try to find!
17. A lint roller! Especially if you have pets and are fond of dark colored velvet, but even otherwise, it's a good idea to invest a couple dollars in a lint roller.
18. A good, trustworthy, seamstress. Either a Lolita with sewing skills or a local tailor, it's always good to know of a seamstress just in case you need something altered, or made from scratch.
19. Knowledge of how to make an LJ-cut. A lot of Lolita business is done through Live Journal, and knowing how to make an LJ-cut can really save your hide!
    
20. Confidence! It's so obvious that I completely forgot it in my last list! Suggested by Julie Doll.

I hope this didn't add a ton more things to some of your Lolita to-do lists! But, just like the first list I made, I do think that a fair amount of the things that every Lolita should have are very basic things that most people have anyways (nail polish, lint rollers, the ability to learn an lj-cut) but just used in creative ways with the fashion!

Do you think that these 20, plus the original list of 30 is enough for any Lolita? What do you find most vital in your daily Lolita life?