5 Surprise Finds That You Didn't Realize You Would Enjoy So Much...

Hi friends! <3

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Triple Fortune Bonnet- I always thought bonnets looked nice on others, but weren't suited for me. I had tried out two half bonnets that came with jsk sets, but disliked the look and sold them off. Then I came across this one at the Triple Fortune booth at Ruffle Con. I loved how beautiful it was. The light colors are great for both sweet and classic looks. I feel like a princess whenever I wear it to fancy events.

Metamorphose "Tulle Lace Princess" Headdress- I tend to wear headbows most of the time with my coords. I saw some people wearing rectangular/flat headdresses in their old school coord posts and wanted to try one out. I picked this up for fairly cheap and love it so much! The lace and trim details are so pretty <3 It has a bit of a cushion underneath too, so it sits up on your head nicely. The beads sway and make a pleasant rattling noise when you move your head to the side.

Bodyline "Shoes515"- Going along with the old school style, I also wanted to try out a a pair of rocking horse shoes. I have this pair from Bodyline. I feel somewhat awkward wearing them as I'm already tall, but am getting used to it. I think they look really cool.

Handmade Wrist Cuffs- I usually wear bracelets and thought wrist cuffs were sort of weird. A friend gifted me a pair they had made and I discovered how much I liked them. They are super cute, match with a lot of my coords, and can change up my look in just a few minutes.

Moi Meme Moitie "Stained Glass Chiffon" Jsk- Although I am mainly a sweet lolita, I am also fond of gothic style. This jsk is gorgeous and lets me express my darker, elegant side.

I hope you enjoyed this post! :-)
Feel free to see what finds others shared at:

Cupcakes and Unicorns

Roli's Ramblings

Alice in Lolitaland

The Bloody Tea Party

Pros & Cons: Keeping to One Style VS Multiple Styles...

Hi friends! <3

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As a lolita who wears mainly sweet style along with some gothic and the occasional classic, I truly related to this weeks blog prompt. Here's my thoughts on things...

One Style

Pros- Rapid improvement rate, less time spent/invested, fewer pieces required- Coording becomes easier due to practicing/focusing on just that one style. You learn quickly what items work and which do not. Less time is spent shopping as you have a narrow focus. Items bought can often be used in multiple coords.

Cons- Limited selection- Your choices are about the same when deciding what to wear. Do I wear the pink dress with the bunnies or the blue one with the teddy bears? It can become boring/frustrating after awhile. As much as I love pastels and cute prints, there are times when I feel like wearing dark colors or having something with a more subtle design.

Multiple Styles

Pros- Variety/choices, experimenting - You have more flexibility when deciding what to wear. You can be a pastel cupcake one day, then a gothic princess the next. It is easier to experiment and try new things, which leads to learning more about each style along the way. 

Cons- Little time spent/invested (per style), slower improvement rate, more pieces required, more costly, less space- Your time is divided up among the different styles. Less experience means coording will take longer, and the increased likelihood of making mistakes. There is also an increase in spending as not all of your pieces will be able to work with other styles. You will most likely have to purchase additional items that are specific to just that style. When I decided to continue with gothic style, I ended up having to buy a bunch of basics. Things like shoes, a bag, and jewelry. Additional items also means less space. Whatever space you've allocated for your wardrobe will have to share that with your items from those other styles.

While it does seem that it may be better to keep to one style vs multiple styles, I enjoy the freedom and flexibility that multiple styles provide me (as I have been in lolita fashion for ten years now). I love being able to change things up. I would recommend that newer lolitas first gain experience in one style before venturing into another. I hope you enjoyed this post!

Check out what other bloggers had to say at:

Cupcakes and Unicorns

The Bloody Tea Party

Rose Sanctuary

Alice in Lolitaland

Bibelot Rose

Top Tips for Managing Your Wardrobe...

Hi friends! <3

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One of the most difficult things when starting out in lolita, is building up a wardrobe. It generally takes years of saving, searching, and much trial and error. Along the way, you learn and grow. But what do you do once you have a fairly decent wardrobe established? That's where the maintenance part comes in.

Maintenance is important. It should be done periodically and to different degrees. Depending on ones wardrobe, it may take a few minutes to an hour or more. Here are some tips.

Cleaning

It shouldn't have to be said, but please wash your clothes. This can be done either by machine or by hand. I recommend checking the inner tag for specific directions. There are places online that can translate the little symbols. Test cleaners on an unnoticeable area of the garment to see if colors run or prints bleed. Use a gentle detergent. Small items can be hand washed in a sink, while dresses can go in the tub or a large bucket. Lay heavy items like dresses flat to dry (on towels) to prevent placing extra strain/pulling on the straps. I like to place my otks and blouses in little netted bags in the wash machine on low delicate cycle with cold water, then remove promptly and hang to air dry. 

Repair

Sometimes accidents can happen, or just after repeated wearings your items become damaged and need some extra attention. Lace may tear, buttons may fall off, necklaces may break, etc. Take out your repair/sewing kit and find a cozy seat with good lighting. I got a blouse from a thrift store that had a button pop off while trying it on. Luckily I found the button and can stitch it right back on.

Organized

It's great to have a wardrobe, but it's not good to have to hunt for an item when coording. Everything should have a proper place and be relatively easy to find. Clothes hung up in the closet, shoes lined up on a rack, and accessories sorted neatly into little containers. And once you're done with something, it should be put back. I like to use these boxes with the dividers to keep my necklaces from tangling up.

Review

Small wardrobes grow into larger wardrobes that can get out of hand or be overwhelming. This is especially true for those who have been in the fashion for a long time. You tend to acquire a lot. But you don't always need to keep everything. Look closer at what you have. Items that don't fit, have unflattering cuts or colors,  regretful impulse buys, things that don't match anything, are unworn or rarely worn should be set aside. Consider putting them up for sale. It may be difficult, but your wardrobe (and you) will be better off in the long run. Doing this can also help you realize areas where you may be lacking. Funds earned from sales can be put towards a much needed item or even a dream dress.

I hope these tips were helpful :-)

Feel free to check out what others had to say at:

Roli's Ramblings

The Bloody Tea Party

Alice in Lolitaland

Create a Coord That Sparks Joy...

Hi friends! <3

www.facebook.com/groups/lolitablogcarnival/

I decided to use my favorite piece from the last post, and make a fairly simple sweet coord in pink x lavender with some old-school elements. I would also include a pair of small gold hoop earrings and a pearl bracelet or wristcuffs. 

This coord sparks joy for me because it reminds me of when I was starting out in lolita. Coords were simpler and didn't requiring a lot of effort and extra things. I think a lot of people have forgotten that. You don't need to have a giant wig, large prop, and a million accessories to make a decent coord. Others must feel the same as I've noticed a mild return to old-school looks as well. What do you think?

BTSSB: Spin Doll Headdress

Vintage/thrifted: Blouse

Angelic Pretty: Dream Fantasy Jsk

Offbrand: Unicorn Necklace

Angelic Pretty: Unknown Otks

Bodyline: Shoes515

Angelic Pretty: Happy Lovely Heart Bag

Angelic Pretty: Candy Ribbon Ring

Check out what coords others created at:

Cupcakes and Unicorns

The Bloody Tea Party

Alice in Lolitaland

Bibelot Rose

Share a Bit About Your Favorite Piece & How You Acquired It...

Hi friends! <3

Will all the craziness going on in the world, the Lolita Blog Carnival group has been revived! That means fun new posts for all you lovely readers to enjoy :-) Let's get right into things shall we?

www.facebook.com/groups/lolitablogcarnival/

My favorite piece is Angelic Pretty's Dream Fantasy <3

I bought it in 2014 from a friend a couple years after I had moved. It was altered to be slightly bigger and came with the matching headbow. I tried it on and the fit was perfect. I was so happy! At the time, my wardrobe was mainly skirts and blouses with maybe a few dresses, so this was a great addition for me.

This jsk was originally from a 2013 lucky pack that included a jsk, headbow, otks, blouse, and small bag. Unknown to me, it was actually fairly new at the time I had bought it. Back then, I wasn't too knowledgeable about prints and releases. I have learned a lot since then though. I even ended up buying the bag from the blue version of that set from another person later on. What are the odds of that?

There are a few aspects that make this my favorite piece (aside from the larger sizing)...

Bodice- Fairly simple and cute. A little bib with tiny bows and star lace. The waist bow is a good size without being too large or obnoxious.

Print- Super cute animals (bunnies, bears, mice, unicorns), scoops of ice cream, rainbows, clouds, stars, castles, balloons, etc. It makes me think of a sweet dream land that I would love to visit. 
Colors- Soft pastels that appear faded, but are not. It really enhances the dream-like feeling of the print.

Lace- In addition to the star lace, there is special lace around the bottom hem that features bears holding balloons and more stars.

I love the attention Angelic Pretty gave  to details, even for just a lucky pack dress. I find it super easy to coord this piece. Here's some I've done over the years...

Feel free to check out what others had to say on their blogs at:

Roli's Ramblings

The Bloody Tea Party

Alice in Lolitaland

Create a Spooky/Halloween Themed Coord...

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www.facebook.com/groups/lolitablogcarnival/

For my coord, I chose a dress I haven't worn yet. I was hoping to wear it to a meet-up around Halloween time, but I don't think there's going to be one. I might just wear it out shopping to the local mall or antique store instead. I may switch the shoes out for my shiny black ones. I thought the rocking horse style would better suit the old-school feel I have going. What do you think?

Metamorphose: Tulle Lace Princess Headdress

Vintage: Long Sleeve Blouse

Moi Meme Moitie: Sleeping Garden Jsk

Offbrand: Roses and Skeleton Hands Otks

Bodyline: Shoes515

Metamorphose: Cross Crown Earrings

Belladonna: Deluxe Wristcuffs

Voodooodolly: Beasts Dragon Ring

Loris: Bat Bag

Check out what coords others created at:

The Bloody Tea Party

Cupcakes and Unicorns

Ruffle Road

Share Your Top 5 Wishlist Items & What Draws You to Them...

Hi friends! <3

Today we're talking wishlist items. Most lolitas have items they've wished/searched/hunted for, or just generally want to create their ideal lolita wardrobe. And not just beginners, but those who have been in the fashion for a long time too. Starter pieces, rare prints, new releases, etc can all be appealing for different reasons. My wishlist is fairly large right now. It includes dream dresses, hard to find accessories, and specific items to help make coording certain dresses possible. I also like to update it every so often to redirect my focus and avoid impulse buying. I find it fairly helpful. So without futher ado, here's my top 5 wishlist items...

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Moi Meme Moitie: Stained Glass Print Chiffon Jsk (green)

Green is my favorite color. I know I already have this jsk in blue, but I would love the green version too. It is super comfortable and fits great. The print is gorgeous! Not to mention I have a blouse that would match perfectly with it, as well as some accessories too...

Angelic Pretty: Honey Cake Headbow (mint)

Another but lighter; green item. I have the jsk but no matching headbow. Nothing I have for headwear looks quite right with it either. The subtle print and lace are so nice.

Angelic Pretty: Honey Cake Round Jsk (mint)

This version has the full back shirring which I would prefer over the one I have with only partial shirring. Mine is a bit snug and doesn't leave much room to move around and/or breathe. The print is super cute with bears and various breakfast foods <3

Bodyline: Shoes521 (gold)

I wear my current pair of gold shoes a lot. They are starting to show signs of wear though. I have this style in silver and they seem to hold up well. It would be great to get these as a replacement sometime.

Metamorphose: Cat Print Lace-up Pinafore Jsk (sax)

I've been wanting a cat print jsk and I love how cute and simple this one is. Many of the other cat prints out there are not a flattering cut for me and/or are too busy with the print/details. This one also has full back shirring, so it will be super comfortable. I also think it will be most versatile for coording when compared to the other colorways ;-)

Hope you liked this entry!

If you happen to see any of these items, please let me know!

Also, feel free to check out what wishlist items other bloggers shared at:

The Bloody Tea Party

Cupcakes and Unicorns

Create a Coord Inspired by Your Birth Flower...

Hi friends! <3

It's been awhile since I did a create a coord type entry. I had saved some interesting blogging prompts awhile ago back when the Lolita Blog Carnival had us come up with new and unique ideas. I decided to go with a prompt from Roli's Ramblings post which was called the Lolita Birthday Challenge. Original link can be found *here*. I did the second part of it.

Me Likes Tea- "Eleanora" Half Bonnet

Angelic Pretty- "Lacy Striped Sleeve" Blouse

BTSSB- "Snow Dot Ribbon" Jsk

Angelic Pretty- "Princess Damask 2018" Otks

Bodyline- Shoes283

Peppermint Fox- "Journal Page with Daffodil Detail" Brooch

My birthday is in March, with the birth flower being the daffodil. I was originally going to have a mint and yellow coord, but I didn't like how the colors looked together. So I went with yellow and white instead. Yellow was a difficult color for me to coord with as it is not a common color in my wardrobe. I have just one blouse and a few accessories; which I use more as contrasting or accent colors. I also challenged myself further to make the coord seasonally appropriate. While creating it, I imagined myself wearing it out and about on my birthday. However, things didn't go as planned and it ended up being more princess-y and suited to warmer weather. I do find the "snow dot" jsk name fitting; as it makes me think of seeing all those little patches of snow that remain just before the flowers start growing. Just waiting for winter to come to an end.

What do you think? Have you done a coord with similar colors? How did it turn out?

If You Could Only Keep 5 Main Pieces What Would They Be...

Hi friends! <3

I'm just going to jump right into things...

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Angelic Pretty: Dream Fantasy Jsk

Lots of pastels, an adorable print featuring stars, rainbows, and different plushie style animals. I wear this one fairly often. Very easy to coord.

Moi Meme Moitie: Stained Glass Chiffon Jsk

Dark and elegant. Love the stained glass print! <3 It got me into wearing gothic style.

BTSSB: Dreamy Pony Ribbon Ribbon Jsk

A darker take on the pastel look. I started off in lolita with bittersweet. Wearing it makes me think back on those beginner days and realize how far I've come. This is also one of the first few brand dresses I got second-hand on LiveJournal. Anyone else remember that site?

Innocent World: Ave Maria Stained Glass Tulle Lace Jsk

More stained glass, but in a classic style. I like that minimal accessories are needed when coording and you can just let the focus be on the print/design.

Angelic Pretty: Fancy Paper Dolls Jsk

Pastels again, this time with cute plushie type animals playing dress-up. My first lucky pack/brand purchased direct from the brand. I remember being so excited when it arrived!

Hope you enjoyed this entry!

Feel free to check out which main pieces other bloggers chose at:

Roli's Ramblings