Lolita 52 Week Challenge #1

I know this is a pretty old challenge now, but I figured it'd still be fun to do. I'm going to try to do absolutely every one of them, and I might do it as a day-by-day thing. We'll see!

Number 1: 5 pieces that every lolita wardrobe should have, regardless of style.

Now, I'm going to go ahead and say I'm not listing petticoat here. I feel like everyone knows that yes, you need a petticoat. Instead, I want to focus on more unique pieces I feel should be in one's lolita wardrobe.

One - At least one special occasion dress

I think every lolita needs at least one dress they can bring out for special occasions and events. It should be something with lovely textures that can make them feel like a million bucks, and something that you can make as OTT as you want without it seeming weird. As lolitas, I think we have a major right to feel like a princess in these clothes, and there's nothing that achieves that more than a really special, beautiful dress that's made even more special when worn for fancy events.

Two - Shoes you can walk in

I love how heels look just as much as the next person, but sometimes they're just not practical. In lolita, I often find myself walking around a lot because that's when I want to explore and do more things out in the town, or go to festivals, etc. I've been a victim of many a foot blister, and to prevent that I started wearing flat mary janes and teaparties to make my life easier. Seriously, get a flat pair of shoes as a backup, and even if you plan on wearing heels, take them with you just in case!

Three - A distinctly "YOU" piece

Headdress from Black Unicorn Shop on etsy.

I believe every lolita needs a piece in their wardrobe that fits their interests and/or personality - something that speaks to you on a spiritual level, whether it's a main piece or an accessory. Even if you can only coord it with a few things, having a piece that really brings you joy can be wonderful. Plus, even better if it can double as a room decoration.

Four - A solid-color main piece

This is a great thing for all lolitas to have because of versatility. If you're on a budget, a solid-color piece can be a lifesaver as a lolita since it can be coorded in variety of ways. Another great thing about these pieces is that they're often fairly cheap. Even solid-color, second-hand brand can be wonderful, and often they're less expensive than printed pieces.

Five - A legit blouse

In lolita, blouses are one of the easiest way to cut corners. Unfortunately, most button-up shirts you see at the mall just don't cut it. Investing in blouses is really important, because often times what you're wearing beneath a JSK or with a shirt can make or break your coord. I recommend getting several different styles so that you can mix it up. The blouse seen above is chiffon, a wonderful fabric for these pieces since they're so breathable.

And there you have it. Five items I think belong in every lolita wardrobe. 

Thanks for reading!

Lolita in the Workplace

Hello, all!

Today's article is about something I've seen mentioned a bit recently, and something that applies to me and my daily life! I want to talk about wearing lolita in the workplace - specifically the appropriateness, reactions of co-workers, and general thoughts concerning it. 

I'll begin by saying that I work as a librarian for two scientific organizations that share a space. One of these organizations is more research oriented, so they are often my patrons. Other people I serve are students, outside scientists, and citizens who are curious about something related to what we do here. The library also serves as a meeting room for a community group one day a week. So basically, I deal with many kinds of people on a regular basis. 

In the beginning, I didn't wear lolita to work because I wasn't sure what reactions would be, plus I had a position that required more moving around and sometimes working with older things that carried dust and dirt. Still, many of my co-workers commented on my style, I guess because it was slightly different than what they were used to seeing. Our company doesn't actually have a dress code, and many of our scientists are out in the field, so you get used to seeing people in t-shirts and khakis. On a flip-note, we also have a regulatory group that often wears business casual to work each day. It's a really mixed bag for sure.

When I began wearing lolita to work, it was pretty casual. Usually something like a simple JSK, flats, and a small or no petticoat. I figured, it wasn't like anyone here actually knows what lolita is, so they weren't going to be judging me if I didn't look perfect. I want to mention as well that our building is located on a college campus, and I often go for coffee runs at the student center. The dress-code for students these days seems to be pretty lazy, so even just wearing some weird dress was out-of-place in a way. I imagine the looks and comments I've gotten from students are similar to lolita who wear their coords to classes in college. Sometimes you get the stink-eye, and other times people will come up and compliment you profusely. Nothing new, really, since that's typically the general public's reaction as well. 

I don't think my "work coords" have changed too much. I've gotten a bit braver about wearing lolita to work because at this point, someone might pay me a compliment, but even my boss doesn't really say anything about it. If he does, it's positive. What this means to me is that the people at my company value my hard work more than they do what I look like. That's the good thing about working at a place with no dress code, I guess!

For reference on a work coord, here's what I'm wearing today. Ignore my messy office, please! We've been working on moving things around so it's been a bit chaotic.

Anyway, here are some general points I want to make if you're considering being a "work lolita":

• I would advise against wearing lolita to any job interview unless it's a company that values creativity. If you're applying for a super professional job, you want your abilities to be the main focus, not what you're wearing. 

• Always make sure that your workplace is OK with you wearing it. If you have a dress code, try to follow those limits. There might still be a way for you to wear classic or casual lolita if it follows the rules.

• If it's not okay, don't sweat it. Not being able to wear lolita to work doesn't make you any less of a lolita. Plus, it can always be a special thing for afternoons or weekends!

• If you work in a job where you are dealing with the public, it might be best to have your outfits be toned down. Regular classic or gothic might be a better option than OTT sweet. You have to remember that making a good impression on your workplace sometimes has to come before your style preferences.

I hope this post was helpful if you're considering wearing lolita in the office. Above all else, be professional! 

As a final goodbye, have a picture of my desktop monitor. A work lolita's gotta have her print wallpaper!!

Thanks for reading!

~Sweet Mildred Review~

Greetings, all! It's time for my first review here. 

Today I'm doing a review of the Etsy store Sweet Mildred. This isn't actually my first time purchasing from Millie - at last Momocon I picked up one of her "Last Rite" headpieces, and I wear it frequently with both lolita coords and regular gothic outfits. Millie is very kind in person, and I love her items so I was really eager to get some more things from her shop. I ended up purchasing two items, the "Black and Red Gothic Raven Headdress" and the "Black Rose Circular Headdress" (though this item was customized to my preferences). 

First up, I'll show you how the items came!

Everything was packaged well, the items were topped and bottomed with a generous amount of tissue paper, and the items themselves were in a plastic bag.

Now onto the items. The first I looked at was the raven headdress. It was even more beautiful than the stock images, and as anticipated, well made. The headdress features a small, fake raven sitting atop several roses, with additional flowers and feathers as extra garnish. 

Here is the stock image of the headdress:

And here are my photos. As you can see, there are some slight differences. The lace on my headdress is black instead of red, which I actually prefer. The flowers are also different and are a more vibrant shade of red. I actually like the headdress I received even more than the one featured in the stock image!

I'll have to remember to keep these away from my cat - he was seriously eyeing them!

Next up is the round headdress. Here is the stock image:

Here is the headdress I received. My order was somewhat a custom order, as I asked for the ornament to be on a legit headband instead of a tie. Imo, what I received doesn't really look much like the stock image, but it's exactly what I envisioned when I was thinking of my order. My own headdress features black roses, feathers, and a beautiful, thick lace veil. It was a bit difficult to get good pictures of it, but I will be wearing it with an upcoming coord. 

And finally, Millie also included a small ring (not pictured) as a freebie, and a calling card. 

If you're looking for well-made lolita accessories, I highly recommend Sweet Mildred. Now that I have three headpieces from Millie's store I can firmly say that I'll be a repeat buyer. Not only is the quality of her goods excellent, but she's a very quick communicator and will work with you on custom orders. It understandably takes time to make the items, but shipping is fast and I think you'll be pleased.

Final Score:

Communication: 5/5

Shipping: 5/5

Quality: 5/5

TOTAL: 5/5

Thanks for reading!

Fal-Con Fashion Show!

Recently, I had the opportunity to be part of a con fashion show with my state comm. Although it was a small convention, this was the first time I've ever gotten to model in lolita. The show took place on a Sunday in a town about an hour and a half from where I live. When I got there, there were two others present, so we were directed to our dressing room and started from there.

It was a really good thing we got dressed early, because within the next hour or two, the room was filled to the brim with people changing and putting on makeup, and it wasn't a very large room!

Here's a picture of many of the girls on the steps leading up to the dressing room:

For the show, I was asked to wear OTT gothic, so I was stoked. My coord breakdown is as follows:

- Bella Bows bonnet

- Handmade flower/feather headpiece

- Handmade feather epaulettes

- Handmade necklace

- Dear Celine blouse

- AatP JSK (Rose's Prisoner in the Pirate's Ship [red])

- Skull jewelry (purchased at AWA, not sure of the brand)

- Offbrand tights

- Bodyline shoes

I don't yet have a solo coord pic, but here is a picture featuring all of our gothic models from the show:

Overall, my experience was very pleasant. The con wasn't incredibly exciting due to its size, but I really enjoyed being with my comm and walking in the show. Our comm leader did a fantastic job of emceeing and I really can't ask for better friends within this fashion.

I hope to have an opportunity like this again!

Introduction Post!

Hello everyone!

I've decided to create a blog about my life as a gothic lolita in order to both explore my love of lolita fashion, and to become more informed on issues within the worldwide community. 

My focus will specifically be on the gothic substyle, although there may occasionally be articles related to other substyles. I hope that through writing here, I can become more of a lifestyle lolita and find ways of incorporating more of what I love into my daily life.

At the present time, I try to wear lolita once or twice a week. It's difficult for me to wear it more often at this point because of work, but I attempt to wear it every chance I get. I would like to increase the frequency I wear it, and have begun to wear more toned-down coords at work. 

Speaking of work and little of my own personal background, I am a librarian at a scientific research/regulations organization. I work cataloging materials, helping the public, archiving older items, and doing random "grunt-y" tasks when anyone else needs help. My personal hobbies include reading, writing, and playing video games. I also enjoy going to conventions and wearing cosplay if I'm not in lolita.

There. Now you know a bit about me and my goals for this blog! Here's a picture as well~

I look forward to being part of this blogging community!