Getting Into a New Style: You Only Got One Shot

Hey everyone! If the meme title hasn't already driven you away, welcome. Today I'm going to be talking about some recent insight I had relating to alternative fashion. If you don't already know who Safia Nygaard is, I highly recommend checking out her youtube (but pls cone back afterwords), since she's the one who sparked the inspo for this post.

So for those of you who don't know about her, Safiya Nygaard is a youtuber who makes a lot of experimental videos, such as melting lipsticks together, buying from questionable online brands, and trying fashions that aren't hers. The latter is the inspiration for this post. One of the things Safiya is known for is trying out different styles, whether it be dressing up like other popular youtubers, trying different decade's fashions, or trying alternative fashions, she does it all! I've watched her videos for years and these type of videos were always my favorites, but it didn't click until recently when I rewatched her Lolita fashion makeover what made her style experiments different from my own: She goes all in. And I could definitely take a page from her book.

So what does that mean, going all in when trying a style? In Safiya's case it means doing research in the style or styles she plans to represent, finding an expert in that style, and buying and wearing an entire outfit (or outfits) to wear for a video. Needless to say the majority of you reading this probably aren't Youtubers, but there's still a lot to learn from this format, even if you aren't making outfits for Youtube videos or instagram posts.

#1: Research!
The first thing anyone should do when going into a new fashion is research. What are the main aspects that sets this style apart from others? Are there different substyles? Start a pinterest board, folder on your phone or computer, or a list and start taking note of what makes that style. For example, bell shaped skirts, soft lace and ruffles, and bows are some of the key aspects of Lolita fashion. Predominantly black clothing, detailing, and extravagent or edgy hair are key points for Goth fashion.

For substyles of a larger fashion whole, what makes them stand out from each other? Since Goth fashion is such a huge umbrella term, let's use that as an example. The points I used above when describing it are so vauge because there's so many different styles, it's hard to pinpoint specific details and say 'oh yeah, all Goth fashion has _____.' Romantic Goth has softer silhoettes, corsets, lace, and an overall dark, dreamy sort of feel, where as Traditional Goth tends to have fishnets, teased hair, and casual clothing with a general 'eff the world' sort of feeling. (I'm not a huge expert on every Goth substyle, so sorry if I'm a bit off in places.) If you're getting into a style that has many different substyles, you should do enough research to be able to tell the difference between them and decide which you like and don't like. Also worth noting is that different eras can count as different substyles, even if they have the same general name. If you wore Lolita fashion from the late 80s and early 90s today and posted in a Lolita fashion group, you'd have a lot of people telling you that it's not Lolita fashion because the style's changed so much over the years it's become it's own substyle or sub-genera.

#2: Find an Expert
Thanks to the ease of using the internet and searching for things online, it's pretty easy to find an expert on many alternative styles. Unfortunately it may be hard to find an individual who will personally walk you through putting together outfits in a style in one go, but there's plenty of blogs and videos out there where people describe what makes a fashion. There's also groups where you can ask for advice on outfits you've put together or are thinking of putting together. If you're still unsure where to go after doing your research on a style, groups like this can be extremely helpful as you don't have to rely on one person in particular to help you.

#3: Buy an Entire Outfit
So this part of Safiya's videos is what really hit me: She always buys and wears a whole, complete outfit, makeup, hair, and all. When I look back at some of my previous outfits and style attempts, I realized that's what I've been missing. I've done pretty much nothing but research, research, and more research to the point of becoming an expert in a lot of styles while simultaneously half-assing my wardrobe and outfits. So I'm basically an expert, but no one would believe me if they saw the way I dressed compared to others who have more extensive wardrobes than me. And this is why I've struggled with feeling like I fit into certain fashions because I didn't always go all in when I wore them.

I recognize we can't all walk into Shibuya 109 or a giant Goth wearhouse and walk out with an entire outfit, hair, and makeup all put together when we start wearing a fashion, and that's fine. If you have the resources to, I highly recommend buying a complete outfit and taking the time to learn how to do proper hair and makeup to go with that style or find someone who can do the hair and makeup for you. If you're unable to, for example, drop $900 on an entire Lolita coordinate in one go, find pieces you like that would make a complete outfit and buy them one by one as you can afford to. If you can DIY or upcycle pieces while still remaining true to the fashion, great! However, what I highly recommend you DON'T do is be like me and buy things just because they're convenient and somewhat fit into the style you're trying to wear. It's a waste of time and money and you're better off just buying the thing you actually want.

Once you have a full outfit, do your hair (or wig) and makeup accordingly and wear it all together. If you end up liking the outfit, but don't want to pursue the fashion further, no worries! It was a learning experience and you can always hang onto the pieces you got and wear them as a whole some other time, you can wear the same thing as many times as you want! If you do like the style, you can use the pieces you have to expand and build a wardrobe that works together. And if you ever decide it's just really not you, you can sell the pieces or give them to a friend who does wear the style.

I hope you guys enjoyed this week's post and that it gives you an "aha" moment if you're struggling with your fashion identity like I am ❤

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Why DIY When You Could Just Buy?

Hey everyone! You might be surprised to see me back with not just one, but now two posts after a very long hiatus, but hey, quarantine and boredom give you lots of time to think. ;) So today I wanted to talk a bit (okay, maybe a lot) about how Do it Yourself, or DIY, has changed over the last 10+ years, as well as people's perspectives, my own included. So let's get started!

First of all, I want to preface this saying I very much support DIY, but I also understand not everyone has the skill set, time, money, or general capability to make their own things. This post isn't meant to shame people who choose to DIY or those who are unable to DIY for whatever reason. We all have our own stories and I'm not here to judge or look down on people in different positions from myself. With that being said, let's get into the actual content here.

When I was a young lass (my father took me into the... Wait, getting off topic here) I was raised to be rather frugal and depend on myself to meet my demands where I could. I learned sewing and crochet from my parents sometime before I have solid memories and many other crafts have come fairly easily to me. (Not including chainmail, but that's a different story.) If I wanted a new doll or stuffed kitten dress, I made it with the plentiful fabric we had lying around from my parent's past projects. When I first started getting into anime and lolita fashion back in the early 2000s, I didn't have the money or resources to buy lolita clothes or cosplays from the wonderful land of Nippon. So I made do and made my own, even if they weren't the best quality. As I got older and my style started changing, as well as my disposable income, I learned how to order online, but my first thought was always "Oh, I could make that." So I'd buy fabric and thread or beads and ribbon and attempt to fashion my own clothing and accessories, looking up tutorials online where I needed to. Sometimes it worked, sometimes I spent my money on a learning experience instead of a completed item. Either way, I forged ahead, convinced that it'd be easier to make things than to buy them. And I know I'm not alone in that.

Many of us who've been into lolita or other J-fashion for years grew up in an age where the only way you could get Japanese brand was by having a friend who visited Japan or going there oneself. And times have changed. Gone are the days of making a JSK with a bedsheet because Baby the Stars Shine Bright doesn't ship to your country. Gone are the days of having to make your own accessories because you don't have access to the style you want. We live in a day and age where you can find and buy just about anything you could want from the comfort of your own home. So why DIY if you can just buy something for 5 bucks off Wish or Amazon?

Well, there's a lot of reasons, but here's a few I personally find myself making:

• For fun
• Internetphobia?
• It's cheaper
• Sustainability

DIY For the Fun of it

A lot of folks who choose to DIY do it for the fun of it. You take time to yourself, you get an enjoyable passtime, and even an end product! Even if none of the other variables I mentioned concern you, it can be relaxing and fulfilling making something for oneself or for others. And if you make a huge mess and don't end up with a useable end product? At least you tried and learned something in the process!

Wait, I Can Use the Internet for That?

So this might just be a me thing, but I find myself forgetting that all the pretty sparklies I see online are only seperated from me by a few clicks and shipping time. I tend to prioritize buying things in person that kinda generally sorta work over the things I actually like and want online because "this is cheaper," or "well I know this fits," or even just "hey, this could give me immediate gratification instead of waiting a month for the end result!" I'd like to think I'm not alone in this, but I'm so used to having to "make do" with what's available, I sometimes spend more money on things I eventually get rid of than I do on the thing I wanted in the first place. But wait, isn't DIY supposed to be an affordable option?

I Could Make That for Half the Cost!

...Or so we'd like to think when we see $500 dresses online and $50 necklaces. Is that really the case though? If you're a skilled crafter who has access to the same sorts of materials used in those "overpriced" items, maybe. But if you're a skilled crafter, you also recognize that cost usually has more meaning to it than just being an arbitrary price. It factors in the materials, the skilled labor and/or specialized machinery needed, the time spent making the item, and how many are being made. The unlined lolita dress you made with $2 a yard fabric from Joann's isn't going to compare to a $200 dress from Angelic Pretty. The $5 necklace you made isn't going to have the same quality and finishing touches and the $30 one from Liz Lisa. If you really can make an item of comprable quality to what you see online, chances are you'll end up spending a lot more money than the original would have cost as well a lot of your valuable time. If you're just making something for fun and you don't mind it looking as professional as the original item though, there's no real harm in buying a $5 bag of beads and some stretch cord and making lots of bracelets and necklaces for yourself. And if you have the skills to turn a bedsheet into a detailed lolita dress, then go for it! Just remember that not everything you see online can be made exactly the same in your living room for a lesser cost. But what about items that aren't expensive? Like that 20 pack of hairclips you saw on Wish for $2?

But is it Sustainable?

An emerging "trend" of sorts that's becoming more and more popular, especially among my generation and younger generations, is sustainability and ethically sourced products. Not to be overly political, but put simply by our favorite Science Guy, "The planet's on [effing] fire," and a lot of us want to do what we can to keep that from getting worse. Sustainable shopping and ethical buying decisions are sometimes more important than simply liking a product for many people. Those impossibly cheap items online? There's no telling what their quality will be until you get the actual item and if you're paying $5 for something that should cost $200, there's a lot more to worry about. As I mentioned before, items made by reputable brands tend to factor the cost of their workers that make the items into their price as well as material costs. So that low quality item you're purchasing could just as easily be made by a very low paid, possibly otherwise mistreated worker. And that's not even factoring in where the materials for that product came from.

So then, you may ask, what makes DIYing better than straight up buying something? Well, that's a tough question to answer. There's really no way to know where the materials you buy came from, especially if you're trying to save money by buying inexpensive materials. And if you buy quality materials from reputable manufacturers, it could end up costing you as much or more than buying the item in the first place. So how are we supposed to decide? Honestly, there's no easy answer. That's the real reason I wanted to write this post, to kinda vent my own frustrations and also give others the oportunity to see things from my perspective. In the short term, everything seems so complicated, but if we start making informed decisions now, maybe there can be less grey area in the future. And that's a start.

What are your guys's opinions? Do you tend to opt to DIY or do you choose to buy things already made instead? Let me know in the comments below!

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Liz Lisa: First Impressions as a Curvy Girl

Hello everyone! Long time no post. Life's been rather complicated for me in the past few years and unfortunately blog posting took a back seat to my instagram as welk as more pressing life issues. But I'm here, at least for today, with my first experience wearing a Liz Lisa dress. For the sake of brevity, I'll post about other items I have from them in a different post All pictures are stock images unless otherwise noted b/c I am not in a position to take nice photos atm.

So first of all, what is Liz Lisa? Liz Lisa (LL for short) is a Japanese fashion brand focusing on "Retro Girlish" fashion stating (as translated by Google Translate) "We propose a fashionable style that fuses the retro style with the trend and retains the [']cute['] style of a woman. A woman who is sensitive to trends but who can enjoy her own style." LL's pieces have generally been considered Hime Kaji fashion in the past and generally consist of soft florals, lace, ruffles, flared skirts, and elegant detailing leading to a soft, feminine, yet still cute, look. Unfortunately, like many Japanese brands, most of their pieces outside of shoes are one size targeted towards smaller Japanese frames. This means their items generally fit a US XS or S. However, I decided to take a chance and buy a LL dress with a half shirred back both because it was cute and for super scientific research purposes.

So first things first, let's talk about my measurements and general size since my main reason for making this post is for the sake of others like myself who want to wear Japanese fashions, but are worried they might be too big. Measurements are approximate since I haven't measured myself in a little while, so they may be an inch or two off. I converted all measurements to their approximate cm equivalent as well.
Height: 5'4"/163cm
Bust: 35"/89cm
Waist: 30"/76cm
Hips: 45"/114cm

As you might have noticed, my hip measurement is significantly larger than my other two, meaning that I am pear shaped. Also worth noting is that in addition to a large butt I also have thicc thighs, a shortish torso, and somewhat broad shoulders. I'm also a bit chubby, but any weight fluctiatuons I have mostly affects my waist measurement as long as it's not caused by muscle gain. So with all of that in mind, let's talk about the dress and how it fits me.

English Rose frill OP in pink (162-6006-1)

Unfortunately since this is a slightly older item from 2016's Autum collection I haven't had much luck finding the official measurements and the seller I purchased from took down the listing, so I can't reference that either. Below are the measurements I could find as well as notable features.
Bust: 85cm (34in)
Shoulder (presumably flat): 32cm (13in)
Sleeve length: 60cm (24in)
Overall Length: 72cm (28in)

• Half back shirring
• Side zipper
• Fully lined bodice and skirt

Potato quality try-on

So, first things first, when I innitially tried the dress on, I was wearing my regular pushup bra and it was rather tight, so I switched to a less padded bralette, which made the fit much less constricting. Both times pulling the zipper up the last half of the way was a bit challenging. I definitely couldn't have put this dress on as easily without the side zip.

Secondly, the waist of the dress hit a bit high on me due in part to my very much not flat-chested-ness. When worn it sits more on the bottom of my ribs than my natural waist.

Thirdly, and most importantly for me, the skirt lining juuuuuuust barely fits over my hips and the skirt itself comes maybe 3 inches below my bum. This means that I DEFINITELY need to wear some sort of shorts underneath to avoid accidentally flashing people and when wearing it out I need to be careful sitting and bending over in it.

Also worth mentioning, the shoulders of the dress are a little bit tight on me, but that's normal for me even with fitted, non-stretch blouses in my size from the US. The sleeves were also just a teeny bit short on me, but not really significant enough to be outright noticeable or harm the intended appearance of the dress when worn.

What We Learn?

I knew I was taking a bit of a risk buying this piece, but I figured the shirring would make it more likely to fit me. Luckily, my risk paid off and I have a dress I can wear, albeit a tad uncomfortably, as well as a reference point for future Liz Lisa purchases. Overall, I'll probably lean towards dresses with fully shirred backs and straps for more comfortable wearing in the future. Unfortunately since the bodice is relatively tight on me, this means that any fitted blouses from LL are a straight up nope for me. Luckily they also have tops, often paired with matching skirts, that have straps and shirring, so I could definitely wear those. For skirts, I should also be good to wear them as long as the back is fully shirred or the waist band is fully elasticated. I'm unsure if skirts with built-in modesty shorts (aka sukapan) would fit me, but I'm willing to give them a try if I find one I like and I can always alter the shorts if needed. I may want to lean towards longer skirts where I can in the future, but that won't stop me from buying shorter skirts since I'd be able to wear them at my natural waist too. Overall, I'd say this dress is a great first LL dress for me and a great way to give myself more buying confidence in the future when buying Liz Lisa pieces.

Was this article helpful for you? Are you considered "plus size" in Japanese fashion? Let me know in the comments!

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The End of Kera and the Gothic & Lolita Bible

Hello Everyone! Today I'll be giving my thoughts on a very sad topic: The ending of Kera's print edition and the suspension of the Gothic & Lolita Bible (G&LB). I considered making a video on this topic, but since I don't currently have any editing software and I know there will be a lot of crying, I decided it would be best to stick to writing a blog article.


 As many of us in the J-Fashion world have learned over the last few days, Kera and the Gothic & Lolita Bible will no longer be releasing printed magazines. After learning about Fruits magazine's cancelation earlier this month, this is coming as a very hard blow to many of us who have loved and collected these magazines over the years. While I only recently started to collect Kera and have one copy of G&LB, my original love for Lolita was due to a friend introducing me and my sister to the fashion and lending us copies of the English edition of G&LB to look through. I would never have gotten into Fairy Kei when I did if it hadn't been for my interest in Sweet Lolita and finding a more wearable option for day-to-day. Even though my introduction to Kera was within the past couple of years, it quickly became my favorite magazine and I was looking forward to getting more and more copies in the future. However, due to it's cancelation I won't be able to get any more after the last print issue comes out this month. I personally like having a physical copy to flip through when it comes to fashion magazines, though I can understand their decision to switch to a digital only copy due to the decrease in popularity of print media in general. I'm going to miss being able to collect new issues of Kera, though I will treasure the ones I have (especially the one with a street snap of Mana-sama).


 So with the end of three of the most iconic J-Fashion magazines, what does that mean for Harajuku fashion? I at first presumed that their closures were merely due to printed media being less popular nowadays due to the internet allowing easy access to so many things, but I might have been wrong. After finding out about the end of the magazines, I saw a video by one of my favorite YouTubers, Cathy Cat, a German Lolita living and working in Japan, where she expressed her feelings on the matter. To summarize what she said in her video, the generation of Harajuku kids and Lolitas that started and promulgated many of the crazy, over-the-top styles that Harajuku is known for are getting older and changing to more demure styles that suit them better or completely giving up J-fashion to fit in better with the general populace. Because of that, those fashions are not as present in Harajuku as they once were because the younger generation aren't wearing them. Cathy Cat goes to Harajuku a lot for her and Kawaii Pateen's videos, so she gets to see what's going on there regularly and she said that she's seeing less and less bold fashion present in Harajuku. She ends her video stating that in order for these fashions to survive, the older J-fashion generations need to bring the younger generations into our fashions and stop discriminating based on experience in a style.


 So, from what I've seen, I've gathered that Harajuku fashion isn't so much dying as changing. In the Keras I have as well as street snaps I see online, styles are getting more toned down and changing to more muted pallets instead of brighter colors like Decora or OTT Sweet Lolita tend to use. In the G&LB I got recently, I noticed almost everything in it was Gothic or Classic Lolita and seeing as how many of the original Lolitas I know of are getting along in age, OTT Sweet may not suit them as well as when they were younger. Even outside of Lolita, styles such as Cult Party Kei with more muted color pallets are getting more popular. Softer pastels are more in than bright colors as are black pieces and detailing. As to the end of Fruits, cancelation of Kera's print edition, and GL&B's suspension, these are most likely due to the drop in popularity of print media and could also be affected by the change in popular J-fashion present in Harajuku.

What do you guys think? What are your thoughts on the end of many J-fashion magazines and the style shift in Harajuku? Let me know in the comments below!

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Lolita 52 Challenge: What Influences my Lolita Style

Hello everyone! Today we have another Lolita 52 Challenge topic: What influences my Lolita style. I'll be doing this in a bullet style to list my influences. Let's go!


#1: Bakery goods and sweets
 As I mentioned in my 5 keywords Lolita 52 challenge post, I have a bit of a foodie theme to my wardrobe. The main reason for this is that I really love the look of cakes and candies and such. I love how delicate frosting roses are, how delicious a spongy jelly roll looks, how jewel-like, yet sweet candies are, and many other aspects of sweets that definitely translate into the general theme of my wardrobe. Additionally, due to its white base color, frosting more often than not turns out pastel even with stronger gel food dyes, and the aesthetic of that is clearly translated in my Sweet Lolita wardrobe.


#2: Trends that I never got to try
 While there's still a lot I want to try out, I find that both current and outdated popular trends can influence my Lolita style a fair amount. Some aspects of my wardrobe and aesthetic are more oldschool Lolita since that's the era I discovered Lolita during and I have plans to add some more oldschool pieces like rocking horse shoes to my wardrobe. Additionally, I'm kinda catching up with Sweet Lolita trends I missed when I wasn't able to afford Lolita clothing.


#3: Fashion Icons
 Lolitas and other J-Fashion enthusiasts I follow on Youtube and Facebook have a HUGE influence on my wardrobe since secretly I kinda wish I was them to some extent. For example, I got a blue/pink mixed wig because Lawl Factory (Now Anna Drake) wore one in a couple of her videos. Additionally, I decided to add a yellow JSK and a pink blouse to my wardrobe because of Lovely Lor's coordinate for Japan Festival Houston. The people I follow are big inspirations to me, so I copy trends and looks they do as much as I can, but I also don't try to force myself to try a look that wouldn't suit me just because someone else looks good in it. Like I tried Decora out since Mahou Prince is such a big inspiration to me, but I learned pretty quickly I don't like it on me as much, so I focused more on styles I do like on me.


#4: Dolls
 I've always really loved the outfits you see on porcelain dolls as well as just dolls in general, so they were kinda the underlying influence that made Lolita such a perfect fir for me. I've always loved dressing up dolls in pretty clothing and having porcelain dolls dressed in elegant fashions, so being able to dress myself up in similar styles is a lot of fun.


What influences your guys's wardrobes? Let me know in the comments below!


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Lolita 52 Challenge: 3 Things I Wish I Was Told When I Was a New Lolita

Hello everyone! Today we're back with another Lolita 52 challenge topic: 3 things I wish I was told when I was a new Lolita. Let's go!




#1:Lolita in anime is different from Lolita in real life
 One of the main places I saw Lolita fashion outside of the Gothic & Lolita Bible was anime when I first started getting into the style. Because of this, I saw a lot more "Lolita style" rather than actual Lolita outfits. While many of the dresses I saw in animes were similar to some Old School styles, which at the time were more current than they are now, it took me a while to separate anime Lolita from actual Lolita mentally and come to accept the changes in the fashion as well as learn how to not look like a horrible ita.


#2: BODYLINE: YOU CAN BUY IT
 I really wish I'd been a bit more savvy about buying things online when I was getting into Lolita because I could have started building a decent wardrobe much sooner. I'm not sure exactly how long Bodyline's been shipping overseas and been decent quality, but judging from Princess Peachie's wardrobe tour, I'd hazard a guess that I would have been able to get some pieces a few years after I discovered Lolita. One of the things I wish I could have done is experiment more with my wardrobe in J-fashion during my mid-teens, so if I'd known how to order on Bodyline, I could potentially have a stronger wardrobe by this point like many of the Lolitas I admire.


#3: For the love of all that is good, DON'T BUY THOSE SHOES
 Yeah, I still feel really stupid about buying a pair of really clunky shoes that were three sizes too big for me at the thrift store thinking I could throw some lace and ribbons on them and have them be Lolita and magically fit me. Basically, I wish I could have told myself what would and wouldn't work for Lolita and prevent myself from making horrible fashion mistakes as well as wasting money. I wish I had had someone who could have showed me what good quality Lolita looked like, what nice lace felt like, and generally given me some more knowledge of what is good quality Lolita VS poor quality Lolita or things better suited to Lolita's earliest days.


Is there any advice you'd give your younger self about the style you currently wear? Let me know in the comments below!




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Lolita 52 Challenge: Combining Other Fashions with Lolita

Hello everyone! Today's Lolita 52 Challenge topic is combining other fashions with Lolita, which somewhat confuses me. I'm not entirely sure what this topic's asking for, but I'm guessing I'm supposed to talk about how to mix Lolita with other styles or mixing other styles into Lolita? So that's what I'm going to talk about.




So, as we all know, Lolita has a lot of "rules" or guidelines that make it what it is. Modest knecklines, skirts at the knee, cupcake shaped skirts, so how do you mix this in with a different style without it looking like you did a terrible job making a Lolita coordinate? I'm going to be talking about mixing Lolita pieces into three different non-Lolita styles: Goth, Decora, and Fairy Kei.


#1: Goth
 So as many of us seasoned Lolitas know, Lolita started out with a lot of takeaways from Gothic and Visual Kei fashion. It's since grown and changed into its own separate thing, but there are still ties such as Gothic Lolita. Because of this, it's fairly easy to wear Lolita and still be consided to be wearing Goth clothing. However, much like Lolita, Goth fashion has many different substyles, so what works for Lolita might not always work for a different substyle of Goth. So let's work with just one of those styles, Romantic Goth. Rather than just say wear Elegant Gothic Lolita (EGL) and sending you on your way, let's talk about what some things you can add to a typical Gothic Lolita outfit to make it have more of a Romantic Goth feel. First of all, choose a dress with a corset detailing on it and change the ribbon so it contrasts to create a more noticeable look or wear a skirt and blouse combo with a corset on top. Choose jewelry with black or dark jewel toned gems in it such as a choker and rings. If you're wearing a skirt or JSK, add a lace or chiffon blouse with flowing sleeves underneath. Choose a skirt with an asymmetrical or hi-low style cut or put a sheer to semi-sheer overskirt on over or under the skirt (but over the petticoats to retain the shape) to add more detail. Choose accessories such as lace gauntlets or gloves, fishnet or patterned black tights, and a coffin shaped purse. Shoes with a more pointed toe or a narrower rounded toe than teaparties would look best for this.


#2: Decora
 Back when I was first getting into Lolita this new sub-style called Deco Lolita was just coming into style. It combined Lolita dresses with more than typical accessories, colorful wigs, and colored tennis shoes instead of mary janes or teaparties. Nowadays we have styles such as OTT Lolita (Over the top Lolita) that are accessory overload. What I want to talk about is taking Deco Lolita and revamping it by incorporating more modern Decora trends into a coordinate. One of the first things you can do is layering pieces differently. While Lolita tends to have a very put-together look, Decora can be all over the place. Try bringing that look into a coord by layering a skirt in a different colorway and print over a JSK, wearing a bulkier jacket, or having colorful petticoats peeking out from under a skirt or even on top! Rather than the typical OTT layering of accessories, try adding pieces in different colors from your main pieces. Add bulky bangles, watches, legwarmers, and lots of hair clips to your coordinate. Also, similar to the Deco Lolita of old, wear brightly colored tennis shoes, fuzzy slippers, or platforms instead of typical Lolita footwear.


#3: Fairy Kei
 Fairy Kei definitely uses Lolita pieces a fair amount, so let's talk about adding Fairy Kei to Lolita! Obviously there's Sweet Lolita and Casual Lolita, but I want to talk about ways to make a Lolita coord that stands apart from those and resembles Fairy Kei more. My first recommendation for this is to incorporate typical 80s cartoon characters from Fairy Kei into a coordinate and avoid prints if you don't have one with these characters on it. For example, wear a cutsew with My Little Pony or Carebears over a blouse, add accessories with little characters on them, or even carry a plush with you. Another idea is to wear the typical colorful Fairy Kei tutus rather than a skirt (though a longer length would be best) or layer them over your skirt instead of having petticoats under your skirt. Like with the Decora look, wearing colorful tennis shoes instead of typical Lolita shoes would add to the look. Be careful to keep typically Lolita elements such as skirt shape and blouses in mind to help ensure your outfit looks more Lolita with a Fairy Kei twist rather than just Fairy Kei using Lolita pieces.


What do you guys think? Would you try any of these looks out? Let me know, and be sure to post a picture on my facebook if you do any of these!




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Lolita 52 Challenge: 5 Keywords that Describe my Lolita style

Hello everyone! Here we are again with another Lolita 52 challenge topic: 5 keywords that describe my personal Lolita style. Let's go!


#1: Pastel
 I generally prefer pastels and while I do have a few Gothic and slightly Classic pieces, my Lolita style is most definitely Sweet Lolita. Because of this, my wardrobe, including my Lolita, is most definitely pastel.


#2: Foodie
 No, I don't have gravy stains on all my Lolita dresses, nor am I morbidly overweight (I'm just a bit chubby :3 ). Though there is definitely a food theme to my Lolita style. Macaroon necklace, candy-like jewelry, heck, my dream dress (which I happily own) is Jewelry Jelly, a cute pastel print with lots of cute jelly treats on it. I definitely love cute food themed items and want to add more to my wardrobe in the future.


#3: Cutesy
 I definitely have a cute flair to my Lolita style, also evident in the fact that I mostly wear Sweet Lolita. Even with my Gothic Lolita pieces, I have cute oldschool styles and accessories.


#4: Simple
 While I enjoy OTT (Over the top) Lolita styles, due to time and money constraints my outfits are fairly simple in nature with one or two well place hair accessories, a main piece (or pieces if skirt or JSK), and some well placed jewelry. Also, I generally wear my natural hair with my Lolita coordinates as opposed to wigs.


#5: Mildly repetitive
 As mentioned before, I have money constraints, so my wardrobe is a bit lacking and I end up using the same pieces a fair amount. Because of this, my outfits can look a bit repetitive because, as an example, I'm always switching between the same two white-ish, short sleeved blouses and only really have one JSK and an OP.


So what about you? Can you come up with five keywords to describe your personal style, be it Lolita or some other fashion? I struggled a bit coming up with three key words, much less the five I ended up with.


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Lolita 52 Challenge: Why I Wear Lolita?

Hello everyone! Today we have another topic from the Lolita 52 Challenge: Why I wear Lolita?
 I'm going to break this into a list of sorts so I don't just ramble on endlessly about how frilly and cute it is.


#1: Aesthetic
 I've always loved the cute, frilly dresses that porcelain dolls wear and so being able to dress like that myself is like a dream come true! I generally prefer dressing modestly and Lolita is great for that as well as for situations where it would be more respectful or appropriate to dress modestly while still dressing up such as church and weddings. (I'll be honest, I haven't been to a wedding since I started wearing Lolita, but I hope I'll get the chance to put together a nice, simple coordinate for one in the future.) In addition to the frills and more modest cut of Lolita clothing, it's also very nice to look at even when not worn.


#2: Dressing for my shape
 I have a figure that many modern styles with super short skirts, tight form fitting pieces, and oversized pieces don't work well with, so having Lolita as an alternative is great for me. I like that Lolita emphasizes my waist while minimizing the appearance of my hips with it's higher waistlines and poofy skirts. In addition to that, I enjoy wearing heels and platforms which go very well with Lolita in the right styles. The only complaint I have is trying to find sizes that fit me well and aren't too small for me.


#3: Quality
 As many seasoned Lolitas know, inexpensive Lolita clothing used to be horribly ita with its scratchy lace, weird cuts, and inappropriate fabrics. Over the years however, getting good quality Lolita clothing without having to pay brand prices is a lot easier than it used to be. I like having pieces that last for a good long while without developing holes or wearing out and Lolita generally is much better quality than many typical fast fashion stores such as Forever 21 and H&M.
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Living Doll VS Lolita

Hello everyone! Today I'm going to be talking about some similarities and difference between the Living Doll style and Lolita fashion. If you aren't familiar with what a Living Doll is, check out my post here. For those unfamiliar with Lolita fashion, please check out the Wikipedia page or the Lolita Fashion webpage.


One of the main confusions with Lolita and Living Dolls is that they're the same thing. Part of this confusion comes from the fact that Living Dolls may wear Lolita fashion and many Lolitas may go for a more dolly look with their makeup and accessories. These two styles are not interchangeable though they do cross over in some places and have similar features. They both can be either just a fashion or an entire lifestyle and they both aim for a kawaii or cute look, but they're two separate and defined styles.


So let's talk a bit more in depth as to what the difference between Lolita and Living Doll styles are, beginning with them as just fashions, not lifestyles. In Lolita fashion, there are many "rules" or guidelines that make Lolita what it is. Lolita coordinates generally have knee-length, bell shaped skirts, delicate lace and ruffles, large and small accent bows, a modest neckline and elegant or cute accessories and round toed shoes, such as Mary Janes. Living Doll fashion is generally a lot looser and is defined as "looking like a doll." Whether that means frilly, Victorian-esque Lolita dresses, trendy Barbie style clothing, or even just a loose T-shirt with a girly design and a pastel circle skirt is completely up to the style of doll the wearer is inspired by. So simply put, Lolita fashion is generally a certain style of dress paired with particular accessories while Living Doll fashion can be just about anything.


Now lets get into the two lifestyles, being a Lolita VS being a Living Doll. (I'll be referring to them in terms of the lifestyle with the fashion as opposed to just the fashion now.)
**NOTE** It's not required to follow a certain lifestyle in order to wear either of these fashions. Some people choose to wear the clothing and style because they like how it looks while others choose to wear the fashion because it suits the lifestyle they follow or wish to follow. If someone wears the fashion without having a coordinating lifestyle, it doesn't mean they're any less a Lolita or Living Doll than someone who's lifestyle is more in line with their fashion.
With that out of the way, let's start with some similarities. Lolitas and Living Dolls both generally like to spend plenty of time taking care of their outward appearance and tend to have beauty routines and treatments to achieve a healthy, youthful exterior. Routines can include use of face, skin, and hair masks, manicures and pedicures, spa visits or home spa days, and facial treatments both in the morning and at night. Many Lolitas and Living Dolls also choose to surround themselves with décor that reflects their lifestyle. For example, a Gothic Lolita may have dark colored and black décor, skulls, small replicas or paintings of gothic architecture, and a shine to the Lolita God Mana in their home. (Disclaimer: Mana is human just like us, but he's gorgeous and perfect in the eyes of many a Lolita, so he might as well be a god.) A Living Doll may surround herself with cute toys and dolls that suit her particular style. For example, a Living Doll inspired by Barbie may have a vast collection of Barbie pink décor and Barbie dolls surrounding her and may even try to style her room like Barbie's Dream House. Additionally, Lolitas and Living Dolls may choose to act in a manner that suits their style or even arrange their diet to suit their style. For example, a Sweet Lolita may choose to follow a more Victorian inspired code of conduct, being more quiet and reserved and choosing to enjoy things such as flower gardens and art museums as opposed to clubs and sports games. They might also prepare their food to always look cute and delicate and enjoy sweets such as cakes and macarons with tea every afternoon. In contrast, a Living Doll may choose to spend her time fussing over her looks, shopping for new clothing, or trying new outfits. She may choose to eat a very balanced diet and work out regularly in order to maintain a slim, yet toned physique. As you can probably tell from these different descriptions, Lolitas and Living Dolls can have very different lifestyles, even though they both may live lifestyles considered abnormal for some.


Now, back to the general usage of Lolita and Living Doll (someone who wears the fashion and/or follows the lifestyle). Lolitas and Living Dolls, while two different and distinct styles, do have a fair amount of crossover, as I mentioned at the beginning of this post which is why they can be confused sometimes. Many Lolitas may choose to achieve a more "dolly" look with their makeup with false eyelashes, colored circle lenses (ones that make the iris look bigger), and flawless skin. At the same time, many Living Dolls may choose to wear pieces from Lolita fashion or whole Lolita coordinates, meaning a Lolita can also be a Living Doll. So while there is cross-over, being a Lolita does not automatically make you a Living Doll and vice versa.


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What's a Living Doll?

Hey everyone! So, today I want to talk about a style that I've been interested in as well as imitating for several years now: The Living Doll style.


 So, what is a Living Doll? What defines them? To explain simply, Living Dolls are those who choose to imitate the look of a certain style of doll both with their makeup and hair as well as clothing. Many Living Dolls choose to try and modify their figure to be more doll-like through methods such as diet and exercise, corseting, or surgery. The type of doll imitated varies widely, but typical inspirations are Barbie dolls, Asian ball-jointed dolls, porcelain dolls, or anime. Barbies are known for their dramatic proportions, glamorous features, and somewhat flashy clothing. A few well known Barbie inspired Living Dolls are Valeria Lukyanova and Angelica Kenova. Asian ball-jointed dolls tend to have slender figures, large, but still realistic looking eyes, and a somewhat natural, yet still elegant look to them. By far, Asian Ball-jointed dolls seem to be one of the more popular inspirations amongst the group I'm in (an online community on Facebook). A popular Living Doll that has this sort of style is Dakota Rose or Kotakoti. Unfortunately, Kotakoti is known for achieving her look partly through image manipulation, but not all Living Dolls choose to do this. Porcelain dolls are well known for their child-like features, extravagant clothing, and perfect skin. Many Living Dolls also draw inspiration from porcelain dolls. Venus Palermo or Venus Angelic is a popular YouTuber that is known for her porcelain complexion and doll-like features. When she was younger, she used to dress more extravagantly like a porcelain doll, but more recently her style has become more natural like an Asian ball-jointed doll. Anime is well known for its long legs, huge eyes, and slender figures (actually more typical to Shojo anime, aimed at girls 12-16, but still common in other styles of anime). Anime Living Dolls tend to exaggerate their eyes greatly through use of false eyelashes, circle lenses, and white eye makeup. A very popular anime Living Doll is Anastasiya Shpagina on YouTube. There are some other doll styles that Living Dolls choose to imitate such as Pulips or French dolls, but these are the main inspiration for many Living Dolls. Now, let me answer some frequent questions that arise when Living Dolls are brought up.


 So, are Living Dolls trying to actually be dolls?
 In most cases, no. Living Dolls just like the look of dolls and choose to imitate it with their style and make themselves into what they consider to be an ideal look, similar how many people choose to dress like runway models or popular icons. While there are some dolls that choose to imitate their preferred style of doll very closely through use of plastic surgery, I find that most of us choose to stick to makeup, diet and exercise, and corseting (also known as waist training) to achieve our look.


Why do you want to look like a doll? Why not Kim Kardashian or Taylor Swift?
 Most Living Dolls choose to look like dolls just because we like how they look and we aren't as interested in trying to achieve the look of some famous actor, star, or model. In some cases, a Living Doll might have features or a build that resemble a doll and just choose to run with it and start making their looks even more doll-like (similar to Venus Angelic). They may also just be interested more in anime and Japanese fashion than typical European styles and looks, like me.


Are you obsessed with looking like a doll?
 In many cases, Living Dolls are just as obsessed with our looks as any typical teenaged girl or fashionista. We typically aren't so into our fashion as to spend every living minute focusing on looking like a doll, but we make changes to our lifestyles to accommodate our style such as planning a wardrobe, makeup, or redecorating our surroundings. Just like anyone else interested in something, we surround ourselves with our interests and develop them. Much like someone into video games might collect games and systems or someone into runway fashion might surround themselves with model inspiration pictures and the trendiest clothing, Living Dolls tend to surround themselves with items they deem "dolly." For some this might just be the clothing and makeup required to look the way they like, or it might mean completely redecorating their surroundings to reflect their style.


I hope you all enjoyed this post. If you have any questions about Living Dolls, feel free to ask and I will do my best to answer. I'll be doing a post later talking about the Living Doll community, so please look forward to that.


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Lolita Level Up Quiz!

Hello everyone! A while ago I watched one of the Lolita Vloggers I follow take a Lolita Level Up quiz off of F Yeah Lolita and decided to do the same myself! While there's obviously the opportunity to "cheat" by looking things up as I type, I assure you that I shall dedicate myself to this post and not stray for stolen answers! With that being said, let's start!

*Please note* This is going to be a very long post. I blabber on at times...

• You have a favorite brand (+1)

Yup! Baby the Stars Shine Bright. :3

• You own a petticoat (+1)

Multiple hand-made ones. I had a full on, floor length petti, but it was too big to pack, so I gave it to a friend. ;-;

• You own multiple petticoats in different cuts and/or lengths (+1)

Yuppers. Not all of my techniques quite worked...

• You own a parasol (+0)

Sadly, no. I keep wanting to get one, but never have. T-T

• You own an item from a brand (+1)

Yes! I got my first Brand piece not too long ago: a second hand BTSSB cutsew. :3

• You own a novelty item from a brand (plates, mugs, stuffed animals, home decor, and other "non-wearables") (+0)

Nuuuu...

• You own an item from Bodyline (+1)

Two skirts and some stripy socks. :3

• You own an item from a Taobao brand (+0)

I still haven't figured out shopping services...

• You own an item from a Western indie brand (+1)

Yup! Several pieces from the lovely Miss Carlyfornia!

• You own an item you bought of eBay, Amazon, or a shady website and it came out okay (+0)

Never ordered from a shady place.

• You've bought brand directly from their official store (+0)

Hahaha, I wish I had that kind of money. ;-;

• You've bought a lucky pack (+0)

Nope.

• You bought an item in reserve (+0.2)

Not entirely sure what this means. I've bought multiple items that I had put on hold.

• You own a complete Lolita outfit (+1)

Yup! Need some better blouses though...

• You've worn a complete Lolita outfit in public (+1)

Almost since day one of discovering it. And yes, I did go through a "ita" phase where my outfits were thrown together with whatever I had that sorta worked. XD

• You've worn a complete Lolita outfit in public and it wasn't even on Halloween or at a convention (+1)

For funsies and at church multiple times. :3

• You've bought and sold on an online Lolita community (+0.5)

Bought, yes. Sold, kinda? Do commisions count?

• You've paid retail price for a rare secondhand brand (+0)

Not to my knowledge.

• You've paid double the retail price for a rare secondhand brand(+0)

Not to my knowledge.

• You've paid less than 20% the retail price for secondhand brand (ex: you paid $40 for a piece that originally cost $200) (+0)

Seeing as how I'm having trouble figuring out any info on my one brand item, I have no idea.

• You've bought from a Japanese auction (+0)

Nope.

• You've ordered from a shopping service (+0)

Nope.

• You wear clothes you've made for yourself (+1)

All the time!

• You wear a print you've designed yourself (+0)

Still working on that...

• You wear clothes you've had custom made for you (+1)

Yuppers!

• Have had brand pieces altered to fit your size or style (+0)

Not really. Had to resew the elastic in one sleeve on my brand blouse, but that's it.

• You've been wearing Lolita for over a year (+1)

Yup.

• You've been wearing Lolita for over 5 years (+1)

Yup. Not that actively, but yup.

• You've been wearing Lolita for over a decade (+0)

Not quite.

• You have enough Lolita outfits to wear a new one every day for a week (+1)

Barely, but yes.

• You have enough Lolita outfits to wear a new one every day for a month (+0)

Hahahaha, no. ;-;

• You've converted an interested friend to Lolita (+0.2)

Not quite yet, but we're working on it. He's gonna come with me to a meetup eventually. :3

• You wear brand with your "normal" wardrobe (+0)

Nuuu...

• You don't have a "normal" wardrobe because you only wear Lolita (+0)

Nope. Also into Fairy Kei and Decora. And then there's the days that I just wear a Tshirt and jeans...

• You know how to handwash your Lolita clothes (+0.5)

Stiiiiillll figuring that out. I know how to handwash stuff, just figuring out how to make knits not stiff when they dry...

• You know how to wash a wig (+1)

Yup.

• You've worn a wig, circle lenses, or false eyelashes (+1)

Yup.

• You've worn a wig, circle lenses, and false eyelashes all at once (+0)

Don't own circle lenses yet since I want to do a bit more research on them first. So that would be a nope.

• You own a pair of rocking horse shoes (+0)

TT-TT I want a pair so badly...

• You own a pair of tea party shoes (+0)

Not yet.

• You own a purse shaped like something ridiculous (+0)

Nope.

• You own an old school rectangle headdress (+1)

Yup! A cute all white one. :3

• You own a bonnet (+0)

Nah. Don't really like how they look.

• You own Lolita roomwear or pajamas (+0)

Does cherry printed PJs count? (Nope...)

• You own a Lolita item that was released this past year (+0)

Iiiii...don't think so?

• You own a Lolita item that was released over 6 years ago (+0)

Again, not sure.

• You own a Lolita item that was released over 10 years ago (+0)

I don't knooooowwwww!

• You own every item released in a favorite print/series (+0)

;-; No...

• You've worn something on your head that was never intended to be worn on a head (+1)

A table runner? XD

• You've worn a trendy accessory (deer horns, halos, peignoirs, eyeballs, etc) (+0)

Nah, don't really like that stuff too much.

• You've worn Sweet Lolita (+1)

Yup!

• You've worn Classic Lolita (+0)

Nope.

• You've worn Gothic Lolita (+1)

Yup!

• You've worn Old School Lolita (+1)

I'm going with Yes since Miss Carlyfornia's designs are more Old School (the ones I own at least).

• You've worn Boystyle (+0)

Nope.

• You've worn one of the lesser worn Lolita substyles such as Punk, Ero, Wa, or Guro (+1)

Sailor Lolita! And I'm working on a Guro dress that's kinda taken up residence on my manequin...

• You know the difference between a JSK and an OP (+1)

JSK: Straps or sleeveless. OP: Sleeves. (Yes)

• You can name at least 5 prints (+1)

Milky Planet, Jewelry Jelly, Romantic Rose Letter, Dream Sky, Sugary Carnival. (Google confirms yes.)

• You can tell which items are from which brand just by looking at them (+0)

Sometimes, but I have been proven wrong many a time. (Curse you Angelic Pretty for looking like Moi Meme Moitie! XD)

• You can tell which items are from which brand just by looking at them, even if they're not a print (+0)

Again, not really. I can kinda tell with the more eccentric looks from Alice and the Pirates as well as with Baby's more old school styles, but otherwise, nah.

• You can tell which year a brand piece came from just by looking at it (+0)

Hahahaha, no! XD

• You've taken Lolita outfit snaps (+1)

Aaaaaalllll the time.

• You've traveled to visit a fancy looking place just to take outfit snaps (+0)

Too cold outside right now... And I only recently got more pieces...

• You've started a trend that others have followed (+0)

Not to my knowledge.

• You own a Gothic & Lolita Bible (+0)

I've only been able to borrow them from friends... ;-;

• You own every single Gothic & Lolita Bible (+0)

Why must you mock me so, test! T-T

• Your picture is in a Gothic & Lolita Bible (+0)

Did I mention the fact I haven't worn Lolita all that long despite being into it for years? (Tha's a no.)

• Your picture is in a Gothic & Lolita Bible because you're a model for a brand (+0)

Nope.

• You own a Lolita sewing pattern book (+0)

Nope.

• You've made something from a Lolita sewing pattern book (+1)

Yuppers!

• You've seen Kamikaze Girls (+1)

Yup yup. And you can find my review of it here!

• You've read Kamikaze Girls (+0)

Not yet. I kinda forgot it was a book too...

• You've met Novala Takemoto (+0)

Awhozada? *Googles it*

• You've met Misako Aoki (+0)

No, but she's a very cute girl. n_n

• Misako Aoki has made you an official Lolita ambassador (+0)

Nope.

• You've met one of your favorite Lolita designers (+1)

Miss Carlyfornia!

• You've learned how to sew/craft just so you can make your own Lolita clothes/accessories (+0)

Nope. Learned sewing to make clothes for my stuffies as a kid.

• You've decorated your house/bedroom to match your Lolita wardrobe (+0)

Not really to match my wardrobe, but definitely to make it cuter.

• Your Lolita wardrobe is part of your decor (ex: you display your hats on a shelf, keep a mannequin dressed up on display, etc) (+1)

I guess you could say yes. My rolling clothes rack (that all of my Lolita clothing is stored on) is out in the open along with some other pieces.

• You've been interviewed for a newspaper/magazine article for wearing Lolita (+0)

Sadly no.

• You've made friends through Lolita (+1)

A couple so far, yes!

• You've made friends in foreign countries through Lolita (+0)

Not yet.

• You've celebrated International Lolita Day (+0)

I think I was busy with school at that time... (nope)

• You have a separate facebook profile just for Lolita (+0)

Kinda? I have my fanpage for outfits and stuff in general, including Lolita coords.

• You're known by a different name when you wear Lolita (+0)

Not really. I do use the name Butterfly occationally, but it hasn't really caught on since I mostly hang out with my "normal" friends and they call me by my regular name no matter how I dress. ^^;;

• You've twinned with someone (+0)

No.

• You've tripleted with people (+0)

No.

• You've been part of a group of clones (+0)

I don't even know that many Lolitas... o_o;;

• You've taken purikura in Lolita before (+0)

Purikura, yes. In Lolita, no.

• You have a purikura app on your phone (+1)

Yuuussssss....

• You've had to explain what you were wearing to a stranger (+1)

Many a time.

• You've been called a princess by small children (+0)

Can't remember a specific occurence, but it might have happened...

• Old ladies have complimented you and remarked how nice it is to see young people dressed so nicely (+1)

All the time at church.

• You've been called Bo-Peep (+1)

Aaaaalllll the time.

• You've been asked if you were in a play (+1)

Quite a few times, yes.

• You've been asked what you were cosplaying as, or compared to an anime character (+1)

AAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLL the time.

• You're a member of online Lolita communities (+1)

Yup. Several on Facebook.

• You're active in online Lolita communities (+1)

Yuppers.

• You mod an online Lolita community (+0)

I don't have that much free time.

• You mod an online community of over 1,000 members (+0)

Nope.

• You've attended a meetup (+0)

Not yet.

• You've attended a tea party meetup (+0)

Not yet.

• You've attended a brand sponsored tea party (+0)

Nope.

• You've traveled multiple hours to attend a meetup (+0)

Nope.

• You've hosted a meetup (+0)

Sooorta. I had a tea party birthday once, but no one really wore Lolita besides me. I don't think my sister did either, but my memory is failing me...

• You've hosted over 6 meetups (+0)

Hahaha, nooooo.

• You've hosted a meetup with over 20 attendees (+0)

Nope.

• You've been to a Lolita swap meet (+0)

Nope.

• You've attended a large scale Lolita event or convention (+0)

Nope.

• You've been on staff at a large scale Lolita event or convention (+0)

Nopity.

• You've been to a Lolita panel at a convention (+0)

I think so?

• You've hosted your own panel at a convention (+0)

Nope.

• You've seen a Lolita fashion show (+0)

Nope.

• You've modeled in a Lolita fashion show (+0)

I wish. ;-;

• You've seen a brand fashion show (+0)

Nope.

• You've modeled in a brand fashion show (+0)

Sooooo wish.

• You own your own Lolita clothes/accessory line (+0)

Not yet, but working on that. Need to find some good patterns to start off with...

• You've hosted your own brand's fashion show (+0)

Nuuu...

• You have visited a Lolita shop (+0)

Not yet, but I have been made aware of the existence of one not too far away. But it's far enough away I haven't been able to visit yet.

• You've traveled to another country just to buy from Lolita shops (+0)

I've never even left this contry...

• You own and run your own Lolita shop (+0)

Nopity.

• You're friends with a brand shop girl (+1)

*Googles Brand Shop Girl* ...I still am unsure what that means... I'm going with yes since I have a friend who runs her own shop and another that works with her at that shop and I'm assuming this is what they mean... Girls who wear a Brand at a shop. (Indie shop in this case)

• You are a brand shop girl (+0)

No. But have worn my handmade Lolita while working at my friend's shop.

• You run a Lolita blog (traditional, tumblr, vlog, etc) (+1)

No. This is merely a piece of fried chicken. (Yes, silly!)

• You run a Lolita blog with over 1,000 followers (+0)

*checks* One follower. I think that's my sister...

• You have been called "e-famous" (+0)

Nope.

• You have been called "e-infamous" (+0)

I don't think that many people even know of my existence...

• You've been featured on TV for wearing Lolita (+0)

Nopeity nope.

*And now to add all the points up for the final score...*

40 points (Not including partials. Counting those as nos)

So that makes meee...

Just Starting Out

16-40 points means you're just starting out in the world of Lolita. You may have been interested in the fashion for a few years but are just now getting involved in wearing the fashion on a regular basis and joining local communities. You probably have a couple full outfits but are still working on building a larger wardrobe. Alternatively, you have a larger wardrobe and definitely know your stuff, but you aren't very active in local or online Lolita communities and are perhaps more of a lone Lolita. Your next step is probably either finishing up adding a few more pieces to your wardrobe or to starting getting to know some other Lolitas.

 So, I find this pretty accurate. I have been into Lolita for a while, but am only really just starting to build my Lolita wardrobe. (Doesn't help that my handmade blouses don't fit my Swolita shoulders any more. XD) Plus I'm not very active in my local Lolita community since I only recently discovered their existence. All in all, this was a fun quiz! Took a while due to all of the questions, but I finished it! n_n

I have a fanpage now! (Maintained by yours truly): facebook.com/CelesteChoCho
Check me out on Twitter: @animlolicouture