Victorian Maiden Cape

I want a fall and winter cloak a la Victorian Maiden... Perhaps I can make one myself.

With fine velvet and a soft satiny inning..

Melty Chocolate Release Colors

Quick Note on Baby the Stars Shine Bright

My does time fly by it is already time to celebrate Baby's San Francisco Boutiques first anniversary, and what a better way to celebrate then by releasing in store lucky backs!

The stores official blog has just announced the lucky packs and their release day.

Man, I wish I was in San Francisco to pick one up.

Follow the link to more info on the rules of purchase.

And Happy Shopping!

Quick Note on Angelic Pretty

Original release advertising

Bonjour mes amis!

I just wanted to make a quick update on a bit of news coming from Angelic Pretty.

They are rereleasing the Melty Chocolate line in new and improved colors

It has been mentioned that this is the first time that AP has rereleased one of their prints, so this i definitely exciting news!

And from what I can tell they have also come up with a new triple color combo

Pink-Mint-Coco, yum!

Happy Shopping!

rereleased coords

The Basics: Lolita Silhouette

Bonjour mes amis!

For the next series of post I will be referencing to the basics of Lolita.

What I mean by the basics is what makes an outfit Lolita.

The Skirt (on skirts, Jumper-skirts (jsk) and dress (op): The quintessential item that can make or break your Lolita coordinate.

Ideally it should be bell shaped but I have seen a-line, trapezoid and circle skirts (though not as common). Something that will flare out and accomodate a petticoat. If you want to truly put this basic on its head you could also try for a pencil skirt a la Victorian Maiden.

But what ever the shape you choose, take note Lolita prides itself on modesty so this should be at knee or just 2 inches above the knee.

skirt 1

skirt 2

skirt 3

jsk 1

jsk 2

op 1

op 2

Tops: Blouses and cutsews, they are the thing that goes with the skirt or under the jsk. Though there are many options for tops. Not any old thing will work. Traditional a Peter Pan collar blouse or for a sailor inspired look a sailor collar have been the ideal, but brands come up with many variations.

Here are some other varieties:
blouse 1
blouse 2
blouse 3
blouse 4

The camisole styles offer a summer option:
cami 1
cami 2

Then there's the cutsew, a jersey knit top sometimes with cute graphic to boot.
cutsew 1
cutsew 2
cutsew 3
cutsew 4

Socks and Tights: This is your most open item, by that I mean you can go along with brand socks ( super cute but very expensive) or even hit up your local boutiques and novelty stores for options. Usually the kept at knee length or over the knee and thigh high.

sock 1

sock 2

If you have an issue with knee high socks or want to cover up a too high skirt (for taller lolitas)

tights 1

tights 2

Headwear: everything from a head eating bows to cute cake hats and mini top hats.; and the old school headdress too! Remember to hit up accessory departments in your locals stores.

bows 1

bows 2

hat 1

hat 2

headdress 1

headdress 2

headdress 3

Undergarments: The petticoat has been suggested as the most important part of your wardrobe, it is the base without it you have no silhouette. Don't fall prey to getting a square dancing petticoat they don't have the right shape! Almost all Lolita brands have options:

petticoat 1

petticoat 2

petticoat 3

There is also the option of making your own, I recommend Sugardale's Tutorial!

Bloomers: remember the part where Lolita was all about modesty well, bloomer help to keep your modesty on windy days or when bending forward.

bloomers 1

bloomers 2

bloomers 3

Like the petticoat, bloomer can also be handmade. There are also tons of tutorials online. This one involves recycling.

Shoes: There are many options but at the same time some are clearly un-loliable.

The Mary-jane style shoe is the most basic of Lolita shoes; and is the base of many brand shoes (cute teaparty shoes). Other options the famous and infamous (Naomi Campbell incident) RHS (Rocking Horse Shoes)

shoe 1

shoe 2

shoe 3

shoe 4

Final Note: All these are suggestions, the Basics are open to interpretation; though mind the bell-shaped or flared skirt and petticoat when looking for items, they are the staples of Lolita fashion.

Have fun and happy shopping!

*image credit to owner.

Budget Lolita: DIY

So you've scouted your local boutiques, Forever 21, HM, even departments stores and still can't find what you're looking for.

Every beginning Lolita has experienced this frustration with the readymade world. So what are you to do?

Make it your self!

But how you ask, well if you know where to begin you have a juicy option to build your wardrobe.

Where to begin? You have lots of resources at your dispense.

Sew_loli Comm in Livejournal: offers but tutorials, and inspiration and also gives you an audience to give constructive critique or to help when your projects get a little out of hand.

EGL Comm Memories : EGL staff have placed the many tutorials submitted into an easy to access page.

These lead to lolita specific tutorials but with a little creativity and knowledge you can use other resources not necessarily meant for Lolita and make a whole new garment

Visit Craftster an online community dedicated to you guess it crafts! There are also some Lolita members who share and post tutorials so you won't be lost.

Threadbanger website and Threadbanger on Youtube: They offer non Lolita tutorials but a Tuxedo Bib tutorial posted by the girls at Burdastyle and Caplet tutorial by Jenn have huge loli potential. Keep you eyes open and you mind wheels rolling to convert their ideas.

Now if you can't find what you got in mind, You could also look up patterns and add some lace and bows and voila JSK or OP. Make sure you have a good idea of what Lolita fashion s before trying this out.

Burdastyle offers patterns (both free!) for simple dress and blouse that with a bit of tinkering can be your next Lolita JSK and blouse.

You could always head down to your local fabric store and purchase one of their patterns.

Here are some of my suggestions:

Vogue's Very Easy Misses' Dress reminds me of the bodice of BTSSB Cherry Ribbon Summer OP; a simple change for a fitted skirt to say a gathered one; Voila you have a cute new BTSSB inspired OP.

Can any one see the similarities between Butterrick Misses' Dress B5351 and Angelic Pretty's Dream Dollhouse JSK?

Yes, you got it.. it's the bodice (with a few more embellishments of course) and if you take that bodice and flare out the skirt portion of this pattern and some lace and a some bows.

Remember with a bit of creativity, basic sewing skills and knowledge of Lolita, you too can come up with your own Lolita wardrobe items.

Have fun with it and happy crafting!

Budget Lolita: Off-Brand

Borrowing a page from EGL's monthly theme I have be wanting write a post focus on Budget Lolita...especially Off-brand.

Now it can be argued that off brand does not neccessarily mean budget...but most of the time one can make up a good portion of one's Lolita wardrobe and general wardrobe by diving into the world of off brand.
So what is offbrand in Lolita terms it means anything that is made or produced by any other company or brand that is not a Lolita Brand ( ie Angelic Pretty, Victorian Maiden, BTSSB, Innocent World et al)
Sometimes it will also add brands that are not Japanese (ie Candy Violet, Megan Maude, Blasphemina's Closet etc etc) but really that issue is a personal call and for me all brands geared to the Lolita are brand weather they are Japanese in origin or not.
So lets begin, shall we?

Most lolis first choice when looking into off brand is.... Forever 21!

The accessories alone are enough of a reason to go and stock up, and from time to time the come up with the most Loliable garments: cardigans, blouses, vest.

Off brand 1 by dizzylolibliss featuring Forever21

Next up HM

HM is an off brand brand that has made its way in to lolita legend when they release a truly Loliable dress

I would suggest scouting out your local HM for blouses and probable jsk options for your coords.

Off brand 2 by dizzylolibliss featuring Vivienne Westwood shoes

In a final note: for the beginner off brand can be a true hit or miss, to guarantee your off brand excursion produced good results make sure to get the basics of what makes garment lolita and take that info with you as you browse the shelfs and racks at your local boutiques and shops. Happy shopping.