Lifestyle

Tips for Surviving the Summer in Lolita

/ lolitaland / 2 Comments

Image

How do you make it through the summer in all these frills?

I will try my best to give some tips! I do not wear Lolita everyday, but I hope to eventually become a lifestyle Lolita. In the summer, the weather gets hot, so I have already pondered how to wear Lolita and still be comfortable in the heat of summer.

In my opinion, it is okay to go casual. When it is really hot out, I would rather dress more casually than overheat. For example, I have paired a printed skirt with a solid-colored cotton shirt to battle the heat.

Image

It’s just a plain red t-shirt, but I think the outfit still fits with the Lolita aesthetic. I skipped a wig and decided to keep my natural hair for the coord, since wigs can trap heat and make me feel less comfortable outside. Instead of wearing a large hair accessory such as a bonnet or a jumbo headbow, I wore a small barrettes in my hair. I think less hair accessories can help keep your hair cool in the summer heat (or at least I feel more comfortable with small barrettes when it’s hot out). You could also wear a nice sun hat with a wide brim as part of your coordinate to help shade your face from the sun.

DSC_2122

In a more recent casual coordinate, I paired a red t-shirt with a high-waisted strawberry skirt. In my sort-of-curly hair (my friend curled my hair, but it didn’t last too long; my hair does not take well to curling), I am wearing a small barrette and a jumbo hair clip.

My method for wearing Lolita in the heat: go casual! I try my best to stick to the Lolita aesthetic while attempting casual coordinates.. (Although I skipped the petticoat in that high-waisted skirt coord. I only wore a petticoat for the photo. xD)

Here are some items I think would be great for a Lolita in the summer:

1. A one-piece dress

The great thing about this item is that you can skip the blouse and still fit in with the proper Lolita aesthetic. Go with a breathable fabric such as cotton for the dress and choose a short-sleeved piece over a long-sleeved one. Avoid a high neckline style if possible (since necks can be sweaty places!). If it is really hot and you want to wear a JSK without a blouse, go for it! Even though JSKs are meant to be worn with blouses, whether or not you wear a blouse is your personal choice. Do what makes you feel comfortable!

DSC_2101 - Version 2

I wore this Bodyline OP and Headbow set that I got off the EGL Comm Sales on International Lolita Day. I paired this set with a necklace, two rings, a barette, a pair of cute crew socks, and mary-janes. I wore a light petticoat to minimize the layers.

2. Ankle socks

In cool weather, I always wear over-the-knee socks or knee socks over tights or leggings to keep my legs warm. When it’s warm, I am usually okay with wearing knee socks (since I’m usually cold), but I know that sometimes, it gets hot! For some people, wearing knee socks or thick socks can be unbearable in the heat. I have seen a lot of cute ankle socks lately, so I think this would be a great summer alternative to knee socks and OTK socks. (If you find cute crew socks, crew socks could also work for the summer!)

Some examples of cute ankle socks!

DSC_2106

Here is a better look at the crew socks I wore with my International Lolita Day casual coord. I love the ballet-slipper design!

3. Hair scrunchies

There are a ton of cute hair scrunchies and hair ties out there! Personally, I prefer to tie up my hair in hot weather. When my hair is all over my neck, I feel more uncomfortable in the heat. In the summer, you can tie your hair back in a ponytail or in twin pigtails. You could also do a cute side ponytail, or braid your hair! An updo or bun would be another (very elegant) possibility. You can use hair scrunchies in your real hair, but if you are wearing a wig, you could also style your wig with hair scrunchies!

DSC_2124

There are a wide variety of hair scrunchies!~ (I love all of these scrunchies and I hope to use them in future coordinates! I’ve had these lying around since elementary school though. xD I used to wear them all the time as a little girl.)

4. Bolero or Cardigan

A short-sleeved or three-quarter-sleeved bolero or cardigan is a cute way to stay covered up in the summer heat. Look for a thin or open-knit one so you can keep cool while maintaining modesty! You could skip the blouse and wear a bolero or cardigan over a JSK as well. The less layers you wear, the cooler you will be. You can probably find cheap loliable boleros or cardigans easily in local stores too. (Even a plain solid-color one could work in many coords! A basic bolero or cardigan can be worn in and out of Lolita.) If you want a made-for-Lolita bolero or cardigan at a good price, check community sales online, or local swap meets if there are any.

5. A summer hat

There are many cute and functional summer hats out there, and I think many of them are loliable. Go for a wide-brimmed hat for the most protection against the sun, but you can also choose to wear an adorable boater hat or a simple straw hat. If you are wearing a floral dress or skirt, a hat with silk flowers on it would be a cute addition to the coordinate. You might be able to make a cute visor hat work for a Lolita coordinate as well (for example, use a pastel pink visor with a pink sweet lolita summer coordinate).

DSC_2140

6. A parasol

I do not have a Lolita parasol or umbrella, but I love seeing this accessory in Lolita coordinates. Parasols provide great shade from the sun while also acting as a stylish accessory. If you want an easy-to-carry parasol, look for a collapsible one or a light one. That way, it will not weigh you down when you aren’t using it. There are so many gorgeous lace parasols and parasols/umbrellas with ruffles along the edges that I’ve seen online. I wish I could find a parasol in a local store though. Unfortunately, I do not have advice on where to find a good parasol. Brand Lolita parasols are really pricey, but also really gorgeous. Maybe someday I will get a Lolita parasol? It’s definitely on my wishlist!

7. Remember your summer essentials!

Sunblock is important: you do not want to get sunburns! Sunburns are not fun. 😦 Bug repellent is also a good idea since you do not want to get tick or mosquito bites. You can easily find combination sunblock and bug repellent lotion! Lip balm with sunblock is also a good thing to stash in your purse. Also, remember to drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration! Stay safe in the summer.

Image

~Be sure to read other blog posts on this topic for the Lolita Blog Carnival! 

Lace a la Mode, Ima-Princess, Ramble Rori, F Yeah Lolita, The Bloody Tea Party, Starry-Eyed Lolita, Jess Cosmic Delight, A Sweet Lolita’s Disney Life, Lolita in the Sky with Diamonds, Alpine Heidi

In and Out of Lolita

/ lolitaland / 2 Comments

Image

What do I wear in and out of Lolita? Well, let’s start with Lolita fashion!

The major Lolita styles I have stuck with have been Sweet Lolita and Classic Lolita. This is ironic though since when I first found an interest in Lolita fashion, my favorite substyle was Gothic Lolita.  I still really love Gothic Lolita, but it has been difficult for me to find pieces and coordinate outfits for it. It’s really interesting how one’s style develops: I used to dislike Sweet Lolita, but now, I adore it! In general though, I probably wear Casual Lolita the most often. I try to keep to the Lolita silhouette when I do so. You can see some of my full-out Lolita coordinates here.

Out of Lolita… Most of the time, I dress casually and comfortably. I wear a lot of jeans, t-shirts, and sweatshirts. I like to tie my hair back into a ponytail, but if my hair is left down, I like to add a headband. Or a hair clip or two. (I adore mini-bow barrettes!) When I want to dress up a bit, I like to wear vintage clothes that my mother handed down to me. (My mom gave me all of her old clothes… For once, I am grateful that I am an only child!)

Image

This is one of my favorite hand-me-downs from my mom! It’s a really cute blouse and shorts set, but the shorts are really billowy and resemble a skirt. There are also adorable detachable suspenders! The material is awesome; it never gets wrinkled!

Image

Featured here is my favorite blouse that my mom has handed down to me. It’s a pretty peach color, and the fabric feels lovely! It’s a great thing to wear in the summertime. I adore the little details on this blouse, and I want to use it in a Lolita coord someday. I am finding peach hard to coordinate though… So maybe I will wear it with a plain white skirt in the future? We’ll see.

Image

I don’t have many good photos of myself wearing clothes that my mom gave me, but above is an outfit that I really like! Sorry about the terrible photo. Everything I am wearing, even the belt, was from my mom. My mom used to wear things like this! I told my mom that she should still wear them, since they still fit her, but she thinks that she is “too old” to wear clothing like this. Sigh.

Image

Above is another favorite hand-me-down from my mom! I love qipaos… My mom gave me a few of them. ❤ This is the one that fits me the best though! I love the sequin detailing, and the matching hairpiece is so pretty! The hairpiece doesn’t like to stay in my hair though. xD;; I have only worn this once, but I would like to wear it again someday. It feels too formal to wear on a random occasion though, so maybe I will wear to a formal event or ball of some sort in the future.

I also enjoy cosplaying, so if I wear a wig outside of Lolita fashion, it is most likely for cosplay. I also use my real hair for some of my cosplays.

Image

Above is one of my cosplays from AnimeBoston this year: a maid variant of Hatsune Miku (Vocaloid). I love Vocaloid music, and I would love to cosplay as more Vocaloids in the future. So far, I have only cosplayed as variants of Hatsune Miku and Mikuo (the genderbent version of Miku).

Image

Here I am cosplaying Enma Ai the Hell Girl (Jigoku Shoujo)! Standing next to me is my awesome Lolita friend. (I adore her coordinate in this photo!) This was the first time I cosplayed Enma Ai again in a long while. Last time I cosplayed her, I used my real hair. But this time, I revamped the cosplay by styling a wig to fit her character. This worked great since I hated dealing with my real hair last time I cosplayed her.

9034701611_c023bf8f90_c

[EDIT] The photos from the Hell Girl photoshoot are finally up! Above is one of my favorite photos from the shoot.

Image

Sorry about the terrible photo. I can’t seem to find a better photo in my photo library of my Terezi Pyrope cosplay. Outside of anime, I also really love cosplaying Homestuck! (I really need to catch up on Homestuck this summer though…) Terezi Pyrope is my patron troll, and I love cosplaying as her. ❤

I also really love cosplaying as Karkat Vantas (another Homestuck troll)! The gray troll makeup is annoying at times, but it was fun figuring out the best methods for applying the makeup and sealing it. Another Homestuck troll I have cosplayed as is Feferi Peixes. I have cosplayed as a few Homestuck kid characters as well. The above photograph was from a fun casual wintertime photoshoot. Photo credit goes to Micaiah Reid.

If you want to see more of my cosplays, you can check them out on my Tumblr through this tag! The tag has a mix of Lolita and Cosplay though… I was too lazy to make two different tags for them. xD;;

Image

~Be sure to read other blog posts on this topic for the Lolita Blog Carnival! 

Hello Batty, A Sweet Lolita’s Disney Life, Edible Rainbows

Taobao Experience

/ lolitaland / 5 Comments

I just received my Taobao package!

I’ll be posting reviews of the items soon. Maybe I’ll even post a video of me opening the package? >w<

In any case, I used Taobaospree as the shopping service to order from Taobao. I did a lot of research on various shopping services and Taobao stores before placing my order. The agent who worked with me spoke fluent English and was very helpful. She answered my questions clearly and promptly. At first, communication seemed slow, but it was because of the time difference. I started checking my email around 11 pm to 1 am, and usually I would receive responses around that time. (Night time here is day time over in China, I presume.) Taobaospree was a great shopping service, and I will definitely use it again if I ever make another Taobao purchase. If anyone is curious, the shipping I used was EMS. I had no problems with it – no issues, it didn’t take too long, no customs fees. I know some people use DHL, but I’ve never used DHL before. This was my  first overseas purchase, so I’m in no way, shape, or form an experienced shopper, however, I thought maybe someone will find this useful.

My Taobao shopping experience was pleasant. Although also difficult because there are so many wonderful items on Taobao that I wanted to purchase.

My Taobao shopping process:

  1. I browsed through Lolita Taobao shops. Here’s a list that I found really useful: http://egl.livejournal.com/15204857.html
    (Also, feel free to check out these Lolita items from Taobao; I posted items that I found cool/cute/nice but not all of them are still in stock: http://xiaorawr.tumblr.com/tagged/taobao%20wishlist)
  2. I emailed myself a list of products I liked. I narrowed it down to things I thought were great deals (cheap, but seem to be good quality). I added a staple (a Classical Puppets petticoat). Then I decided to browse cosplay-related items to see if I could find some deals (since I’m a cosplayer too) and decided to purchase two sets of false eyelashes (they’re so much cheaper on Taobao than in the US!) and a few wigs (also so much cheaper than wigs from the US!).
  3. I researched the companies that these products came from. I read reviews, both specific product reviews and general company reviews.
  4. I narrowed down the list further.
  5. I emailed my order form (an Excel spreadsheet) to Taobaospree.
  6. I received a response. (Sadly, some items were out of stock by this point. But the agent gave me recommendations and I looked into them.)
  7. I confirmed the order. Taobaospree accepts payment through Paypal, which makes things a lot easier. 🙂
  8. And today, I received the package! 😀

To be honest, I’d love to order from Taobao again… but I don’t think I will any time soon because I currently can’t afford it. Maybe in 2 years? (I love how cheap items are on Taobao, but the international shipping fees are REALLY expensive… I still think my order was worth it though. But I won’t be making another overseas order anytime soon)

I hope someone will find this helpful! Feel free to ask me any questions.