Those Who See Dreams

Manifest 2011

2011-08-31T03:59:00.000-07:00

Date: 27th August 2011

Venue: Melbourne Showgrounds

Event: Manifest 2011

Frack's theme: 甘すぎプレゼント！

GPOY!

Everything besides skirt: offbrand

Skirt: Angelic Pretty Present Box

Wig: MintyMix.Com

(I highly recommend them! Excellent service, fast shipping and lovely wigs. I got so many compliments on the wig I can't even. Also, one of my favourite things about the wig is that it's so soft you can comb and style it really easily. It doesn't get all tangled and nasty like other wigs.)

Ooohh lookit my nails. This was the very first time I tried on fake nails and man, were they a bitch to use. I couldn't press the buttons on my phone keypad, the nails kept getting stuck in my hair, they got in the way of everything! But they were pretty so that's okay.

Kimmie, my darling friend who came with me and was invaluable in helping me do stuff while my nails were busy being stuck in whatever. The pic is tiny because I look a bit like a huge cow here.

And it's me with a random cute guy! Lol. I should have asked him which character he was cossing but I was busy being distracted by his looks haha.

This was the first time I've been to an anime convention in Melbourne and I must say I enjoyed myself thoroughly! The level of cosplay ranged from eye-poppingly amazing to mediocre. There was of course, the usual array of Naruto and Bleach and Vocaloids, but my day was made the moment I set my eyes on 2 the Kuragehime cosplayers!

Tsukimi-channnnnn <3

Kuranosuke <33333333

Teeny little cosplayers! Have you ever seen anything cuter?!

Just look at her! The amount of detail on her dress, the make-up, the eyes, everything was so perfect!

Cloud & Sephi! Gotta love the classics

This guy is so many kinds of cool.

I love Sailor Pluto. Just sayin' but I do. She doesn't get enough credit.

Some good ol' Kuroshitsuji shounen-ai

Ciel!

The lolis at Manifest also met up for a little picnic lunch on the grass so I got to meet all the girls again <3

Now for the lovely lolis of the day:

The cosplay competition was pretty entertaining though I could have done without some of the skits.

The Trader's Hall was AMAZINGGGG. So much better than any of the Comic Fiestas I've been to. There is actually interesting stuff to buy! There were 2 lolita stalls, One Day in Paradise (from the store of the same name owned by our lovely Marie) and Tokyo Hardcore.

I bought a beautiful new brown Meta bag from Tokyo Hardcore. Love it to bitsss. Pics of it in the next post!

Easter Lolita Picnic in Melbourne Australia

2011-04-18T05:28:00.000-07:00

So, I had to leave my rocking horses back in Malaysia (quite literally) and set up house here in Melbourne! I'll be embarking on a 3 year adventure to finish my medical degree and hopefully by the end of it I'll be a doctor! Woot.

So, anyway, I went to my first loli meet-up here in Melbourne. It was an Easter picnic organized by the lovely Kimberley! You probably prefer pics so here you go:

Date: 17th April 2011

Venue: Fitzroy Gardens, Melbourne

Frack's theme: 黒姫

Coordinate: JSK - Angelic Pretty;

Everything

else - offbrand.

I regretted the shoes because they were high-heeled and kept sinking into the mud.

(And I was so happy my hair didn't bomb because it was typical last minute me sticking pins in and curling it like 10 minutes before I had to leave.)

Picture taken by Catherine!

Early part of the picnic. Thank god some of the girls were smart enough to bring picnic blankets. I just brought a teeny floor cloth, which obviously did not accommodate my huge frilly behind.

Catherine, the first one I met! We both got off the tram at the same stop and walked together to the gardens. She's funny and lovely and so so adorable! There were tiny little ribbons in her hair too, which matched her dress superbly. I believe her dress is the Bodyline "Soft Cream" line. It was really cute!

Our chocolate STASH hee :3 We had an Easter Egg hunt, all made possible by Kim. She's amazing, really. Notice how the celery sneaked into the picture to make me seem less greedy.

Alice and I on the tram home! <3

Catherine and Krystal skipping away!

Alice again! She wants to start busking and we were talking about her busking while wearing lolita, which would be so cool. I would totally go and watch and fangirl at the side.

This is Roxy (sp?). She belongs to Nitty and is the cutest little Chihuahua I ever saw. A lot of people don't like small dogs because they tend to bark a lot but Roxy was such a darling. And if you rub her belly when she rolls over she just has the cutest face ever! I'm definitely not a dog person but she really won me over.

Sinny (L) & Jess (R).

I just loved Sinny's hair! I attempted that sort of hair colour once but mine was rather full of fail. But her hair is lovely! And Jess! Oh I loved talking to Jess! She's just so full of information and knowledge and you just learn tons of stuff talking to her. I seriously never knew eyelash applicators existed until she mentioned them. Now I can have pretty eyelashes without spending half an hour trying not to stab my eyeball!

Marie, owner of One Day in Paradise & Amy.

Marie was just so friendly and nice! And she had the loveliest shoes, which are conveniently in the picture so you can oogle at them as I did. They were a beautiful shade of light pink and went so nicely with her dress. That lovely long braid you see on Amy is her actual hair! She told me she's been growing it for almost 8 years now. Not only was her hair perfect, her make-up was perfect, her outfit was perfect, the tea spread with silverware and macarons and tea was perfect! her boyfriend had a really nice co-ordinate too.

Krystal! :) With her pretty parasol!

Jorge and I.

Jorge was among one of the few guys at the outing. Too bad I didn't manage to get pics of the others. Jorge's umbrella was pretty awesome, the handle looks like the handle of katana. :D

Unfortunately I didn't get her name but I loved the redXblack concept and how she coordinated everything.

Kavya! She has such beautiful features and her dress was exquisite! I loved how she paired it with a burgundy coloured blouse and with a hint of brown from the boots.

In black JSK: Amber. In tartan: Li Mei (sp?) With bunny ears: Pamela

Amber and Li Mei were the youngest ones there! Made me feel quite ancient. I wonder if when I'm going to have to quit wearing loli. I'll probably just adopt a more mature style as I go along, I can't imagine giving it up. Or make my kids wear it. Definitely going to make my kids wear it. Hmm.

Here we have Pamela and Kim, our two bunnies for the day! Oh they are just too cute <3

L to R: Me, Steph, Lauren.

The dress Steph is wearing was handmade by her! I was so amazed. I can barely sew straight and she produced a super cute dress with scallop edging and all! :O I was in love with Lauren's wig. Like for serious. It was awesome! I really love hime-gyaru type hair but my own hair is so thin it can't do anything. I need more wigs.

Amy and her boyfriend. Aren't they just the sweetest couple? :)

Finally a group picture. Picture taken by Pamela!

The rest of the photos are in this album.

I feel like I'm going to have a fantastic Easter, especially with the amount of chocolate eggs I've guzzled down in the past week. Easter hols for a week yay!

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE! <3

Chocolate & Wine

2010-04-09T11:32:00.000-07:00

Event: Lolitas at the chocolate fair!
Date: Jan 2010
Venue: Midvalley

Bunnychan & I. I think her JSK is also from Meta. Oh noes, my brand recognition skills are getting rustier.

Blouse: Bodyline

Skirt: Metamorphose (Oh how I miss oldschool Meta)

Hat & shoes: Offbrand

Bag: Metamorphose

Why are there no pictures of the chocolate fair? Because it was incredibly boring, uneventful and devoid of free samples. That's right. No. Free. Chocolate. D:

Alice In Wonderland movie outing!

2010-04-04T11:14:00.000-07:00

Date: 13th March 2010

Venue: 1Utama

Theme: There was no official theme but Alice inspired gear was encouraged.

Frack's theme:

Unfortunately, that day I was extremely tired and just pulled on some casual gear. Therefore I was themeless and under-dressed. :(

Forgive me, I will pay for my sins by burning some burando.... not.

L to R: Frack, Aiko, Emily, Najwa, Donna

Obligatory shoe shot!

As a firm non-believer of stockings (it's way too hot in Malaysia okay), I am of course, the bare-skinned one in the RHS. Tights, maybe.

Puri shot!

I will attempt to post more pictures soon and maybe even a rant about the Alice in Wonderland movie, which I loved every single indulgent second of. I know a lot of people don't agree with that but who cares.

Medical school is really taking up all my time. Oh random thought, medical!loli?

Lolita Around the World 3: Bangkok, Thailand

2010-02-12T15:17:00.000-08:00

Disclaimer: In no way is this a comprehensive guide because there are so many places to shop in Bangkok that my 4-day trip was definitely not enough time to look through them all. This guide was written in 2008 and I am unable to guarantee the accuracy of the information now. If anyone has updated information, please do let me know. The original post on the egl comm is here: http://community.livejournal.com/egl/12014657.html

1. Vivi in Love/Vivi
Website: I googled it and found this site but it's all in Thai. It shows some of the items there though.

This shop is located in Siam Square. Now Siam Square is a huge area so I'll try to explain how to find the shop as best as I can. It is located in the area that is directly opposite Siam Centre, and underneath the Siam BTS skytrain station, near the stairs that descend from the station to the road. If you walk along the road on the side that is opposite Siam Centre, there will be lots of shops lining the walkway. There will be one part that is sort of a square opening or clearing. Now, if you're facing the clearing, Vivi will be on your left, but it's hidden from view until you walk into the clearing. On your right, there will be a hair saloon that is called "P-nak" if I'm not mistaken. Now, if you're walking along the road, with Siam Centre on your far right across the road, you will eventually come to a place called "Lido Shopping Complex" on your left. There are wide steps leading up to it so you probably won't miss it. This means your are headed THE WRONG WAY. So turn around, retrace your steps and look for the clearing.

The shop staff were so very nice to me and the owner gave me a pretty good discount too. :D

Items: Loli items: Mostly GLP. No Japanese brands as far as I could tell. Adorable shoes from Montreal (the HK brand) and some cute bags and accessories. Other items: Some punk/goth clothes, Sex Pot Revenge stuff.

Vivi is apparently their other branch, as it was printed on the shopping bag but I sadly did not have time to visit it, so am unable to give directions.

2. JJ Mall
You can get to JJ Mall from the Jatujak weekend market by foot, but it's a little far. Get a map from the tourist information centre in Jatujak market and you can clearly see where the mall is. I can't remember the name of the specific store unfortunately, but it is located on the 1st floor of JJ Mall. The place is a bit of a maze so I can't give specific directions but if you walk around the 1st floor I'm sure you'll eventually stumble upon it.

Items: They didn't have very much when I went, just some GLP clothes and cosplay costumes. No shoes. But they have a made-to-order service that takes about 7-10 days. They have a catalogue you can look through and tell them what you want. Not sure about the pricing though.

3. Merci
If you refer to this post, suzu_hime mentioned this shop in Siam Square but I didn't have a chance to visit it.

4. MBK shopping mall
This is more doll-related than lolita-related but there is a shop that sells mostly Barbie dolls but does have one or two Pullips and Blythes. I mention this shop because they had the H.Naoto Hangry Dal doll, which was going for only 5000 baht. T__T There are a few other doll shops but this is the only one that I saw selling this particular doll. The store is located on the 5th floor. You have to walk through the food court, through the area where they are selling artwork and sculptures, right to the back area where there are a few shops selling anime-related items. There was one shop selling Jrock CDs too. I'm sorry I can't give more specific directions but it's a bit impossible because there are so many shops in just that area.

Other places to go are the Platinum Fashion Mall and Jatujak weekend market, where you can find a lot of loliable cut-sews, blouses and also some cute bags.

I would recommend taking the skytrain or the underground to these places, because the traffic jams mean it can take forever to just get from place-to-place.

Even if you're not interested in looking for lolita items in Thailand, I still recommend Bangkok as a travel destination. The food, the culture, the shopping, it's all fantastic. I absolutely loved it there. :)

Lolita Around the World: Nagoya, Japan

2010-02-12T14:50:00.000-08:00

First off, please note that this guide was written in 2005, when I was staying in Nagoya for awhile. I went back in 2007, and the information was still accurate at that point in time. However, I cannot say whether the locations of any of the shops have changed since then. If anyone has updated information, please let me know.

This post is mainly for my own reference and is taken from the original one I made at the egl LJ comm. It can be found here.

Kera Shop AULA, Heart E, BtSSB, Moi-meme-moitie, Angelic Pretty, Metamorphose, etc.
The important thing is to get to Nagoya station. Once there, take the subway, not the train to Sakae station. The entrance to the subway from Nagoya station is just outside the main doors. To get to Sakae, you need to take the Higashiyama line. The station at the end of the line is Fujigaoka so if you are confused, just look at the huge map of the stations and take the subway heading that way. Okay, that's the easy part. Once at Sakae station, exit at exit no. 7. Walk towards the Mitsukoshi department store. It's a big building with a large sign so you can't miss it. If you get confused, ask around for Hisaya-odori Park. You want to head towards Hisaya. There is a map in front of the Sakae subway station so you can refer to that too. Once you get to Mitsukoshi, look for the NOVA sign just opposite Mitsukoshi. Ask around for HMV (the CD store) if you can't find it. NOVA and HMV are in the same building. Once at NOVA, go to the fifth floor and voila, loli heaven. <3

Emily Temple Cute
Also, if you`re at Nagoya station, walk out and turn to your right. Head towards the Meitetsu signs. Look for Kintetsu Passe. The Passe sign isn't very big but it's orange so it should stand out. I can't remember which floor it's on but there's an Emily Temple Cute outlet there.

Algonquins, hNaoto, BPN etc.
One other place to go is the Sakae Parco. Parco has Algonquins, hNaoto and a few other punk brands. To get here, you have to take the subway to Yaba-cho station. This line is the Meijo line, the purple one. This line travels clockwise though, so make sure you're heading the right way. Once at Yaba-cho, exit the station and look for the huge Parco sign on the top of the building. Can't miss it. If you ask around, I'm sure someone will point you in the right direction. Head to the 4th floor, the floor for "Casual Wear and Characters". Have fun!

Violet Blue
There is also a second-hand lolita (and some Vivienne Westwood too) clothing store in the Osu shopping district. Unfortunately, I can't give any directions to get there because I visited it once and couldn't find it again after. There is a bus from Sakae that stops at Osu but I can't remember what number bus it was. I think it was bus number 21 but don't take my word for it, do ask around first. The address is in one of the G&L Bibles, but even though they provided a map I still couldn't find the shop. However, Osu itself is a really fun place to shop so taking a trip there won't be a waste.

International Winter Loliday 2009

2010-01-09T14:23:00.000-08:00

Event: International Winter Loliday 2009!

Date: December 2009

Venue: KLCC

Frack's co-ordinate theme:

Offbrand ftw! (and in my defense, no I don't consider Bodyline burando.)

Co-ordinate rundown:

JSK - offbrand

Shoes - Montreal

Blouse - Bodyline

Bag - Bodyline

Hat - offbrand

Wrist cuffs - made by Aiko <3

See the slideshow for the rest of the pictures:

5 Things to Remember When Building A Basic Lolita Wardrobe.

2010-01-08T02:05:00.000-08:00

a.k.a 5 points to help you avoid

buying that weird JSK/OP/cutsew you will never wear.

1. Size is everything.

No, really. If it's too big on you, and it has lace and frills, you have the option of being a giant cupcake or a badly decorated cake. If it's too small, that shirring is going to stretch over your bust in the most unseemly manner. Just. Say. No.

And as I took quite a while to learn, length is very important too. Everyone knows that too short is bad but too long will make a height-deprived person (such as myself) look like a hobbit.

2. Pick what actually looks good on you, not what you think looks good.

This one is a little tricky. Getting a second, HONEST opinion usually helps greatly. And don't take comments personally. Remember, your friend is trying to help you. Everyone needs help, sometimes.

Think about your body size and shape. The general rules about what looks good for your body shape apply to lolita clothing as well.

Your personality matters as well. Wearing something you don't feel fully comfortable with affects your confidence. And when you have people staring at you as you walk down the street, as always happens with loli, confidence is your best friend.

3. Colour scheme

Lolita is an expensive hobby, so buying something that totally doesn't match your other clothes is thrilling, but is ultimately going to cause difficulties.

Take the time to browse magazines and pictures before deciding what your style really is (or what you think it is). It's much easier if you decide on a few basic colours that match well so you can co-ordinate different items in different ways. This saves money and encourages creativity. The same OP on a different girl can look very different depending on the co-ordinate (but you already knew that). Unless you're doing twin loli, if you look more or less like the girl next to you in the same dress, ICK. Yes, ICK.

Your colour scheme doesn't have to be boring either. Yellow, brown and mint. Purple and cream. Gray and pink. Wine and gold. Not everything has to be just blackXwhite or pink.

4. Need vs. Want

What you actually need is a blouse... but that MMM Iron Gate JSK is gorgeous and yes, you WANT it. You WANT it so bad you can feel it in your frilly little soul. But buying it will render you broke for at least another six months, without a proper blouse to wear over your skirts and under your other JSKs. So you compromise and wear something "loliable" which really is just a sad replacement. And then you post pictures on egl and feel bad when people comment negatively about it.

What you can do is start your own "[insert name of wanted item] fund". Buy the blouse that you need but try to keep within a set budget. Compromise (on brand, but never on quality). Whatever money you have left over, that goes into your fund. Remember that part about being creative? Now that you have your blouse, use it to its maximum potential. Wear it with different things, with different styles. Pin things onto it. Go crazy with accessories.

And keep saving up money to add to your fund. It will take a while but you'll eventually have enough to get what you wanted, and still have what you need.

And just because it's cheap, doesn't mean you need it. It may not even mean you want it.

5. Quality, quality, quality.

Offbrand is good. I love offbrand clothing. As long as the quality is good. This applies to burando as well. If you're going to pay so much for an item, it's only sensible that you make sure it's worth every penny.

Check the lace. Look at the details. Don't buy it if the lace looks cheap, is too wide or too thin for the item, if it just looks weird in general.

Check the construction. Is the sewing good? Are the small details in the embroidery well done? Is the material good and worth the price? Are the ribbons made of good quality and are they double-sided? Is the shape of the skirt nice? Does the colour of the lace and the material match?

When dealing with second-hand items, always make sure to pay close attention to what the seller says. If there is a defect, make sure to carefully check it and think about whether or not it bothers you. If you receive an item with a defect that was not mentioned by the seller, you have a right to tell the seller about it and see what the seller can do about it. That said, unless the seller specifically states the item is in mint condition, you probably shouldn't expect the item to look absolutely untouched. If you're not sure you can remedy the defect and will not be happy if the defect remains, best not to buy it.

The things to consider are endless, really, so the take home message is: Think before you buy.

Do you have any special tips of your own? Do let me know :)

Documentary!

2009-09-27T09:45:00.000-07:00

Event: Loli documentary filming!

Date: ...sometime in July 2009

Venue: The Curve and its surrounding area

Attendees: Bunnychan, Aiko, and Frack

Theme: BlackXWhite (or as Bunnychan called it, a tribute to Michael Jackson)

This is a long, long overdue post. I was hoping to post up some of the photos and videos that were taken by the crew but as of yet, have not got them. Will update with those when I get my little hands on them. For now, enjoy the teasers.

Aiko and two of the crew.

Notice the giant fountain in the background. It was very pretty, if non-functional... which is probably a good thing, in case one of us fell over into it. Wet!Loli :D

Pretty, pretty bunny.

You can just barely see the amazing lariat, which she beaded by hand, around her neck.

Obligatory camwhore shot.

I love my JSK's pearl straps. ♥

Of course, group shot. Both bunny and Aiko are in BtSSB. I was the outcast in Angelic Pretty.

I was trying to smile in the picture, I promise.

Summer Loliday 2009

2009-06-07T19:09:00.000-07:00

Event: Summer Loliday 2009

Date: 6/6/209

Venue: Aiko's house!

Attendees: Bunnychan, Aiko, Michi, Ice Cream, Ginger and Frack

Theme: Floral Angels

Frack's co-ordinate theme: Rose parlour

Standing (L to R): Ginger, Michi, Aiko
Sitting: Bunnychan & Frack

Summary of events:

1. Aiko makes pasta!

2. Hungry lolis stuff themselves with pasta & Bunny's lovely cherry blossom tea. ♥

3. Clothing swap! Each of us brought a few items of clothing for the others to try on so everyone got to change co-ordinates and have fun! We even stuffed Michi into pink, shock horror! I fell in love with Aiko's Bodyline JSK with the little devil wings and a tail. Sadly, too big for me. :(

4. Much camwhoring ensues.

5. Teatime! Started off with longan ice, then cupcakes, Ginger's beautiful little pastries, and the cute loliday cake that Michi made and she and Bunny decorated. Sadly, we didn't even touch the cake as we were so full of food by then we couldn't eat anymore.

Loliday cake made by Michi, decorated by Michi and Bunny!

The decorations spell out "loliday 2009"

6. More camwhoring.

The Angel and the Devil: Ice-cream & Frack

7. Gift exchange and loliday message writing! I got a pair of lovely blackXwhite lace cuffs from Aiko. It was fated for me, haha.

Rest of the album is here:

FAQ 1: Lolita shopping in Malaysia? (Lolita Around the World 1)

2009-05-24T22:29:00.000-07:00

This is one of the most popular questions I get, so here's a basic guide to lolita shopping in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (I would appreciate any input on other lolita-related stores in Malaysia so if you know of any, do leave a comment. ♥) Hopefully this will be useful for both local and foreign lolis alike.

First off, if you're looking for burando (Baby, the Stars Shine Bright, Metamorphose, Angelic Pretty etc.), unfortunately you will not find any physical stores in Malaysia. Going online is your best bet. However, I will first focus on actual physical stores in KL. The online buying guide will be a separate post. If you're a local Malaysian lolita though, I would encourage you to buy online as the range is wider and it isn't necessarily more expensive.

If you're looking for Bodyline, K-star, GLP or other off-brand items, then you're in luck!

1. i-SOCKS in Times Square

Located in the Times Square shopping mall, so far this is the only store I know of that carries Bodyline. They also carry the brand GLP. They have a few branches within Times Square itself, with each branch carrying different styles such as punk and gothic-inspired clothing.

The branch of i-SOCKS that carries the lolita clothing is a "members only" area, meaning you will need a members' card to gain entry.

How to get a members' card: I am not sure of the exact policy, but I think if you spend a certain amount at any one of the other branches, you are eligible to become a member. Each card admits 3 people, if I am not mistaken, so if you yourself do not have a card, just get a friend who is a member to go with you. (If anyone knows the exact details of their policy, do leave a comment.)

According to delphnie, you need to spend RM30 in the non-members' area, which will grant you access to the members' area. Then, if you spend another RM50 in the members' area, you will get a members' card. So, in conclusion you have to spend RM80 in one day there. However, the policy is a bit unclear, so the best way is to just ask the shop staff about it if you want the card.

**Also, it may be worth noting that public opinion of this store is..... varied.

How to get there: Take the monorail to the Imbi station stop, which has a direct walkway leading into Times Square.

2. Anatomi in Sungei Wang Plaza

They carry the brand K-star. They also have a range of other alternative fashion styles. Unfortunately, I can't remember the exact floor the store is on but it is on the same floor as Sun Comics (the branch on the lower floor), one floor above Famous Amos. (I will update the exact info when I get a chance to check.)

How to get there: Take the monorail to the Bukit Bintang stop, which has a direct walkway into Sg Wang Plaza. It is also about a 5-minute walk from Times Square.

3. Anatomi in Sunway Pyramid

This is a branch of the Sg Wang store, and carries mostly the same things, with more casual clothing.

How to get there: Unfortunately there are no trains to Sunway Pyramid directly but from the Kelana Jaya LRT station (Putra line), you can take bus no. T623, which has Sunway Pyramid as one of the stops. The wait for the bus may be long though, so taking a taxi may be more convenient.

Map of the T623 route here.

4. Kinokuniya in KLCC (http://bookweb.kinokuniya.co.jp/indexohb.cgi?AREA=05)

Sells the Gothic and Lolita Bible, Gosurori, Shimotsuma Monogatari and other related books.

How to get there: Take the LRT to KLCC station (Putra line).

5. Others

If you're looking for loliable and lolita-related items, Sg Wang plaza and Times Square are probably the best bet. With a little time and patience, you can find some some cute accessories, socks and maybe even a bag or two.

Extra links:

Kuala Lumpur public transport map: http://www.malaxi.com/Map_transit.htm

Map of RapidKL bus routes: http://www.rapidkl.com.my/images/therm/area%205/a_05_eng_ani.gif

Outing!

2009-05-23T06:17:00.000-07:00

Lolita outing next Saturday!

Venue : Seed Cafe, Mid Valley

Date : 30th May 2009

Time : 11am

More information here: http://forums.comicfiesta.org/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2002

Jrock no Tamashii

2009-03-14T10:13:00.000-07:00

Not exactly lolita-related but I'm sure some of you may be interested. I'm pimping it so I have someone to head-bang with me. That and, two of my very awesome friends Reiki (of Drako'Zen) and Lina (of Gemini) will be performing. <3

Rules on the Lolita

2009-02-08T20:52:00.000-08:00

Text by 嶽本野ばら (Takemoto Novala)
From the Gothic and Lolita Bible vol. 23 , pg 49

Translation: (done 10.2.2009)

I want to be a lolita, you say.
And so I answer, good if that is so.
What should I do to seem like a lolita?
I do not have the answer to that.
A headdress is necessary, of course. A pannier too.
This co-ordinate, does it look strange?
As a lolita, am I making a mistake?
Ne, why do you want to be a lolita?
Because it has become popular, because your friends are wearing it too.......
Supposing that is true, you are not qualified to be a lolita.
If you just imitate, you will achieve the outer appearance.
However, I would like you to think.
For whose sake are you living?
You want to show your individuality, yet you fear isolation
You scream that you want to be free, yet you feel safe within the rules
If you don't even know why you were complimented, are you still satisfied.
You Vivienne Westwood girls who don't even know about the Sex Pistols.
Even wearing just a jersey, a princess is still a princess.
Because my rules for lolita, belong only to me.
Because your rules for lolita, belong only to you.
For my god is different from your god.
If there are angels draped in elegant robes that play the tambourine
Then there are also angels clad in armour, sword in hand, whose task is to fight.
Even if you ask me, I can't answer you.
If you would like a hint, they are scattered everywhere.
You simply didn't notice.
That what you believe is right, that is the answer.
Sew frills all around the border of your heart!
Wear a tiara upon your soul!
All you have to do is to be proud.

*I decided to take a more interpretive approach to this translation rather than a literal one. Some of the phrases that Novala-sensei uses here are quite lovely, and I really wanted to capture that in the English translation.

Original text:

ロリータになりたいと、君はいう。
なればいいと、僕はこたえる。
どうすれば、ロリータさんらしくみえる？
返す言葉を、僕は持たない。
ヘッドドレスは必要だよね。パニエも。
このコーディネイトって、おかしい？
ロリータさんとして間違っていないかな？
ねぇ、君はどうしてロリータがしたいの。
流行りだから、友達もしているから・・・・・・。
もし、そうなら君にロリータの資格はないね。
真似をすれば、それなりに格好はつくよ。
だけど考えて欲しい。
君は誰の為に生きているのかを。
自分らしくと思いながら、孤立するのを恐れている。
自由でいたいと呼びながら、規則の中で安心している。
納得出来ないのに誉められて、満足かい。
SEX　PISTOLSも知らないでVivienne　Westwoodな彼女達。
ジャージを着ていたって、お姫様はお姫様さ。
僕はロリータのルールは、僕だけのものだから
君がロリータのルールは、君にしか見付けられない。
僕の神様と君の神様は違うだろ。
優雅なローヴを纏い、タンバリンを叩く天使もいれば
甲胃に身を包み、剣を持ち戦うが仕事の天使もいる。
僕に訊かれても困るんだ。
ヒントなら至るところに転がっているけれど。
気付いていないだけさ。
君が正しいと思うものが答えだということを。
心の裾にフリルを縫いつ込め！
魂の上にティアラを飾れ！
君はもっと、傲慢になっていい。

Itadaki Loli Outing

2009-01-17T07:39:00.000-08:00

Event: Itadaki Loli Cupcakes Outing~!
Date: Saturday, 29th November 2008
Venue: Sweetchat @ Times Square (originally meant to be bisou @ Asian Heritage Row)
Theme: Pink, white, desserts & sweets

Co-ordinate theme: Sweets no ohime-sama!

Four Things I Wish I Had Known As A ko-Loli

2009-01-06T09:29:00.001-08:00

The year was 2003 (or thereabouts). Back then, the Gothic and Lolita Bibles were still freely available on the Internet in the form of downloadable torrents and I had my first, fascinating look at GLB 1.

Of course, like most ko-lolis (in Frack speak, a ko-loli is someone who has just started to develop an interest in lolita fashion), I decided, heck, I can pull something like that together! I was into Gothic Lolita so obviously black+some lace+some crappy make-up makes me oh so Gosurori. What a disaster! Well, you live and you learn. Especially important life lessons like a pannier is not a skirt and will never be one. Sometimes I wish someone would have pulled me aside and said, "DUDE NO."

And that brings me to the main point:

Four Things I Wish I Had Known As A ko-Loli

1. How to take constructive criticism
If someone had come up to me and said "You call this loli?" I might have reacted rather violently and beat that person to a pulp with my parasol. However, it might also have prompted me to take a long, hard look at myself in the mirror before stepping out of the house in a pannier and half-assed veil. Being on the receiving end of criticism is hardly ever easy or pleasant but if you are going to post pictures of yourself on the Internet showing off your very first lolita outfit, criticism is going to come your way. Getting angry and accusing everyone of being elitist isn't going to help. The trick is to first, receive it graciously and second, filter through it with an objective mind.

Any comments that are blatantly malicious, mean or refer to you as "lala/seaweed/whatever offensive word" you can most probably ignore. Also, while comments screaming "kawaii" are always nice, they may not be the best indicator. Instead, focus on the comments that actually mention what they think isn't quite right with the outfit. If someone says your skirt is "not loli", it may be worth your time to think about why that may be so. Is it the shape, the length, the material? But remember, everyone has their own opinion and everyone makes mistakes so don't take anything too personally and don't blindly follow everyone's advice. Pick and choose what you think is the best advice and use that to improve on the next outfit.

Also, I think the way you give constructive criticism is just as important as how you receive it, but that's another rant for another day.

2. Lace, oh lace.
I think I have a slight lace fetish so I could go on forever about this topic, but I will spare you the excruciating boredom. The main point is: cheap lace is not your friend. Come now, repeat after me, cheap lace is not my friend.

I understand how hard it can be to pull together a nice co-ordinate when you're on a budget. Lolita fashion is expensive but that doesn't mean there aren't ways to save money.

But wait, what is that you say? You've already bought a dress (spent a good RM200 on it too!), covered to the brim in cheap lace and you finally decided that you don't really like it. Fret not. Take a good, long hard look at the dress. Look at the design. Imagine it -gasp- without all that lace. There, doesn't that make it a lot better? That was the easy part.

The hard part is replacing all that lace. No, I'm not kidding. Yes, it takes a LOT of time and a LOT of effort, but it can be done. However, first decide whether you like the dress enough to put in all that time and effort. Also, if the problem with the dress is its shape, cut or length, then no amount of lace-replacing can save it.

Now take a trip to your local lace shop, take the time to look around and pick up some nice lace (it doesn't have to be very expensive). However, it is important to have a design plan in your mind before you go lace shopping or you might end up buying lace you won't use or need. And it's not just the type of lace you want to worry about, you should also think about the placement and the size of the lace. Lace that is too wide or too elaborate can be overwhelming. Also, this is a huge generalization but using lace the same colour as the material (e.g. blackXblack, whiteXwhite) allows you to get away with using less expensive lace.

3. What maketh a loli?
And no, the answer isn't lace. 0 points for you. I have said this again and again but I feel that it just isn't said enough. Putting lace on a skirt/blouse/dress doesn't make it loli. To be fair though, these past few years, I have noticed that the ko-Lolis nowadays are quite knowledgeable which I will assume is the result of the increasing exposure that lolita fashion is receiving in Malaysia.

Anyway, back to the point. There is no one simple answer to the question but there are certain guidelines (albeit debated guidelines) by which the fashion usually adheres to. Personally, I feel the best way is to get a feel of those guidelines is to just keep looking at tons and tons of pictures of lolita fashion. Grab a few GLBs and start flipping through them, browse brand websites, join online communities like egl and daily_lolita. Really form your own personal opinion about what makes something lolita or not.

Pay close attention to skirt length and shape, the shape of the collars and sleeves on the blouses, the colour schemes, the type of shoes. Ask yourself this question: "What is it that makes lolita clothes so different from other clothes?"

Just remember, at the end of the day, there are no set-in-stone rules and the fashion is still open to some interpretation. Originality (while still keeping with the style) is always important in a good co-ordinate.

4. The importance of hair and make-up
Okay, so you've got your co-ordinate all ready, from your headdress to your pannier to your rocking horses. The next thing to consider is your hair and make-up. One of the ~~most annoying~~ best things about lolita is the utmost care taken for every little detail and thus, a beautiful outfit can really be undermined by untidy hair while a cute hairstyle can bring the whole outfit together in a nice little package. Of course, sometimes you just don't have the time to make sure every exquisite curl is in the right place but on those days, the least you can do is ensure that your hair looks neat. Unintentionally messy hair does not an elegant lolita make.

Wigs are also a good investment for bad hair days.

Now for make-up. The most important "don't" of all time: Unless you're Mana, blue/black lipstick and white face powder IS NOT FOR YOU. You can thank me later. Not wearing make-up is fine too, if that's what you prefer.

Finally, never be afraid to have fun and be creative with your co-ordinate. No matter what you're wearing, just hold your head high and walk like you're the most beautiful lolita there ever was. With these tips in mind young ko-Loli, go forth and be frilly.