“Are You In A Play?” “No, Just Attending One”: The Lolita in the Audience

Trying to get back into blogging has been a challenge, but one topic essentially jumped up and demanded to be written about the other day: Lolita fashion in the audience. We’ve all heard the old “Are you in a play?” comment, but what happens if you’re attending a play? What if you’re headed to a concert? Or even just attending a showing at a local movie theater?

 Pass on the Poof

Yes, I know it’s a bit disappointing not to be able to wear a grand, poofy skirt, but this isn’t the time for your widest, fluffiest petticoats. Not only will your widest petticoats extend over the edge of a seat and infringe on the personal space of others in the audience, they could also make it harder to navigate balcony stairs or theatre bathrooms.

This also goes for attending a concert in the general admission section. Not only will your wide skirts probably get smooshed (and possible spilled upon), they will constantly be invading the personal space of others. Sometimes this can be good—poof has protected my personal space on more than one occasion—but there are still plenty of reasons to keep the poof from getting too extensive.

Instead, go with a little bit of skirt poof. You’ll still look fluffy, but you’ll have an easier time with the event itself—and that event should be why you’re there.

Fashion Stretch: Girls in the Forest

So... this year's been something of a train wreck. I've been nonstop busy and stressed, and the one fashion-related thing that has been making me really happy is that my dear friend K got into mori girl thanks to me and looks perfectly adorable in it. She's developed a style that's lots of earthtones and autumn hues, but she's still not totally comfortable making outfits on her own.

Gee, wherever could she get someone to put together a few sample outfits for her?

I threw these together with her particular needs and uses in mind. The clothing had to be either DIY-able or available in plus sizes. It had to be easily added to a wardrobe that's mostly jeans and t-shirts without the need to go through a full wardrobe shift right away. It also had to fit her shape.

Patchwork Girl II

This outfit is meant to incorporate a really common thrift store purchase (or easy DIY project): the scrap basket skirt. This skirt is in a more traditional broomstick skirt line. K is fond of navy and burnt orange as colors individually, so I combined them here with lumpy and colorful knits and cozy fabrics to make a warm autumn outfit.

Fashion Stretch I: Pretty in Pastel

I jokingly say that my brain is made of cabbage roses, but that type of classic print really is an important element of my fashion sense. However, I think it's important for me to get out of my comfort zone once in a while. So, as I'm trying to get myself back into the swing of both blogging and fashion, I'm going to stretch my fashion muscles a little. This first fashion stetch is revisiting an old experiment: blending my friend Kristine's taste with fairy kei.

Kristine loves 1980s kids properties and comfortable clothing. She's also a plus sized girl and has a more apple-shaped body type than mine. Pairing those two things together is a great way to challenge myself with a style that isn't my usual cup of tea and a shape that isn't meant to fit my body. Kristine also has a standard repertoire of sneakers, jeans, and t-shirts, so anything I did had to be able to mix and match within that existing wardrobe.

Overall, my priorities were:

• Comfort first and foremost
• Plus size availability
• Media Kristine enjoys
• Showing a little leg (she has lovely legs)

Pastel for Kristine I

I started with less of a stretch: ruffly socks, skirts, and mint green. It's not much of a stretch, but it's definitely not an outfit I'd pick out for myself.

Inspiration is Hard to Find: Plus Size Ladies in Alternative Fashion

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I love alternative fashion, but there is one thing that I really do not love about it: the lack of space for plus size ladies.

Not, of course, that plus size ladies don't exist in these fashions. They are just extraordinarily hard to find and, furthermore, sometimes have rather rude comments aimed at them due to their size. This goes double for fashions that got their start in Japan because the average size of the fashion's originators (though not all of them - rock on, marshmallow girls!) is so much smaller than the average size of the ladies hereabouts.

I hate that.

I also hate that it's hard to find plus size inspiration floating around for Japanese fashion styles.

Especially when the fashions tend heavily toward the waifish silhouette, it can be very useful to have references for different body types. What's a curvy girl to do when mori girl is the desired style? It can be tough to tell when there isn't someone to look to. How do dolly kei looks work with a larger frame? It can be tough to tell.

This is doubly important if you're not comfortable with your own body in clothing. I have a dear friend who will not look at fashions on bodies like her own, and it's an absolute shame because her body is a good body because it is hers and because it is a body. I wish she looked at herself and others shaped like her and thought "Yes, I am wonderful."

While I am smaller than I was previously, it's still sometimes hard to get the inspiration I need on this front, so I'm collecting a few names of ladies who have inspired me. Maybe they'll inspire you, too.

Review: I Draw Rainbows, The Nerdy Feminist and Wacky Buttons

This is going to be something of a departure from my usual product reviews, but after dropping off the face of the earth last month I wanted to get back into the swing of things.

In terms of what I've been using my creative energy to do, I'm working on a fandom-inspired punk vest for an upcoming convention. As a result I've been trying to coordinate some buttons together for my tote bag and vest. Because of how the timing worked out, I wanted to do a quick review of my button sources.

Getting Into the Pool: Adding Alternative Fashion to Your Wardrobe

In thinking about how I got into alternative fashion, I realized that there are a few different ways that I have seen people get into their fashions of choice.

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Sweet Treats from Rommily

This post has been so long in coming, but I would rather get it out late than not at all. Reader Rommily was kind enough to act as a sort of shopping service for me, purchasing some German sweets for me to try. It arrived late in December, just in time for a very difficult sick day and snowstorm combo to hit. They really made my day!

The box itself was simple, but I wanted to show off this little detail because it's adorable and reminds me of Miyazaki movies.

Fashion Vloggers I Love

Another Valentine's Day, another list of people creating great content about fashion. I watch (or, rather, listen) to a lot of vloggers during the work day, so I wanted to share some of my favorites with you! They've all got alternative fashion leanings, though that isn't necessarily the primary subject of their vlogs.

Princess Peachie

I've mentioned Princess Peachie on my blog before, and it doesn't bother me a bit to mention her again. Her style is much, much sweeter than mine will ever be, but her enthusiasm for her fashion style and her kindness shine through in her videos and that is what makes me excited every time she uploads a new video.

Recommended video:



Shortcuttothestars

Mai is someone I found through her strega and mori girl outfits on Tumblr,and I'm terribly glad that I did. Her accent is cute, and I enjoy listening to her sing or talk about life. She's got some great style and has an enjoyable breadth of subject matter.

Recommended video:



ALBinWonderland

Another adorable lady who doesn't solely cover fashion topics. She's got pink hair, talks openly about depression and gender issues, and occasionally posts tutorials that make me envy her hair forever.

Recommended video:




AttitudeLolita

Do you love tutorials? I love tutorials. If you're looking for some fun DIY tips, a few lolita reviews, and some delightful random vlogs, this is a great option. She's also another person whose accent I find a delight to listen to.

Recommended video:



Do you have any vloggers you love? I'd be happy to have your recommendations!

Three Questions To Ask Before Purchasing a Specialty Piece For Your Wardrobe

During my hiatus from fashion at the end of last year, I did purchase one new piece: a blue chiffon dress with a pattern of angels. It’s a lovely piece in its own right, cost me very little, and will be a great addition to my wardrobe.

Then, while I was swooshing around in the dress and wishing it was warm enough to wear it, I was struck with a bolt-from-the-blue idea: pairing it with a Robe al’Anglaise. I love a good rococo style outfit, and I especially love the idea of pairing the soft blue chiffon dress with a structured overdress in a gold or ivory hue.

It would certainly be a specialty addition to my wardrobe. It would also be a fairly costly piece at the onset, so I needed to do some thinking about what I would do. In thinking about this, I came up with three questions that helped me to decide whether or not the addition of this particular specialty piece would be a good idea at this point in time.

Baby Steps: Little Ways to Get You Back to Yourself

I’ve already talked at acceptable length in my recovery frills post about the ways that clothing can be a challenge when you’ve got other things going on. Instead of going on more about that, I wanted to talk about some of the alternatives that I’ve been using.

These probably fit under the category of “lifestyle Lolita tips,” but since I’m far from a lifestyler I can hardly think of them as such. They’re really just things that I do when I can’t dress up to give me the same feeling that my frills usually do. 

Inspiring Women from History: Christina of Sweden

There are some characters from History that I can't help but love reading about, and there are few as fascinating as Queen Christina of Sweden.

Who

Christina of Sweden (December 8, 1626-19 April 1689) was the daughter of Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden and, for a time, was Queen of Sweden.

Recovery Frills: Staying Frilly When You Don’t Feel Like Much of Anything

This is going to be kind of a downer post, guys, but it's something that's been on my mind and I want to address it. If you want a happier post for Christmas Eve, here are a couple of recommendations before you get into the meat of my post:

• If you want some style inspiration, take a look at Princess Peachie's adorable Christmas outfit or these adorable, nutcrackertastic outfits from Milkyfawn.
• Last minute shopper? Princess Peachie, F Yeah Lolita, and Parfait Doll all have tips for Lolita-appropriate Christmas gifts.
• Is a white Christmas making dressing up a challenge? Sleeping Sweets, Lolita Tips, and Ruffles Not Diets have tips to keep you warm.
• Fashion Santa. I don't know that this one needs much explanation. Go forth and have fun.

Okay, now for the serious stuff. Grab hot beverage and settle in.

Things I Love For Winter

In this edition of "Things I Love...", we're talking about the things I love for winter outfits!

A Warm Coat

This one is obvious, but it bears repeating that having a nice, warm coat that matches your style is essential when the snow starts to fall. Pick one in your favorite winter wardrobe colors and you’re sure to get a lot of use out of it.

I have two pea coats in my own wardrobe, both wool. One of them is burgundy and reserved for special occasions. The other is dark gray and more for everyday use. I wear both of them almost constantly during the winter.

Tweed

Tweed has always been a winter fabric for me. The subtle texture is welcome in the sea of even white that often descends from the sky. Tweed usually includes both woven texture and subtle color differences caused by using a multi-ply yarn. It’s common for informal suitings and absolutely office-appropriate.

As a note, if you’re into houndstooth, this is where that got started.

Velvet

Oh, velvet. So warm, so elegant, and so lush. Winter is pretty much the only time I can wear velvet, both because it’s the time of year with the most holiday occasions that suit that level of dress and because it’s the only time of year when I won’t get overheated while wearing velvet.

Fur

Fur is so warm and wonderful it would be mad not to include it on this list. If you’re not into real fur (and I totally understand why you wouldn’t be), faux fur is common enough and just about as warm. Fur makes a beautiful addition to coat collars and sleeves. It can also be worn with regular outfits in the form of collars. Just look for a real or faux fur that’s good quality – smooth, clean-looking, and soft.

Rich, Darker Colors

With so much white around, winter is my favorite time to wear darker colors. I usually fall back on colors with high saturation like jewel tones, darker shades like wine or plum, and even the occasional cherry red. Not only do they look lovely against the snow, they look wonderful with my ever-favorite black.

That is not, of course, to say that you can’t wear pastels for winter. If you’re into sugary sweetness, I’m sure you look adorable in pastels throughout the year. But, for me, darker colors are ideal in the winter.

Do you have any winter essentials that I haven’t mentioned? I’d love to hear about them.

Making Big Things Happen: The Power of Details

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It's the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.

-John Wooden

This is a post I've been wanting to make for a while, because I find that a lot of people that I know put a lot more focus on articles of clothing than they do on the outfit as a whole.

But, as John Wooden said, the little details are vital.

Accessories make a huge difference in how your outfit looks, especially if you (like me) tend toward the classic and the low key. They can make a Lolita look polished or completely change the genre of an outfit.

Why is This So Hard?: Fashion During Weight Loss

I have been losing weight for almost two years now, and while it’s been a gradual process it’s left my wardrobe in something of a difficult place. I need to buy new clothing to replace pieces that I can no longer fit, but I don’t want to spend money to do so because my weight hasn’t yet stabilized. I’m now down to a US size 10.

My bust hasn’t budged much – I’m still stacked despite the promises I heard from a variety of sources. Really, I look increasingly like Mae West as the lower half of my body gets smaller.

All of this comes together to make it incredibly difficult to find  clothing that fits, and I've learned a lot along the way.

Shirring is My Friend

A lot of weight loss sites say that it's a bad idea to get clothing with elastic because you don't know if your size is going up again, but I strongly disagree with this idea.

I have never been so thankful for elastic as when I started losing weight. Not only did I adore every single one of my skirts and dresses that included elastic and corset lacing, I started adding elastic to every dirndl skirt with a waistband. I don't know that I've ever before appreciated elastic so much, because my Lolita wardrobe is the clothing that has managed to stick with me through many a size, and it always cinches in the waist where I need it most.

Nobody Understands Budgets

The big thing about tips for dressing while losing weight is that they suggest you spend money on all sorts of clothing pieces rather than actually using what you have. There is a reason why I only have two pairs of pants at the moment, and that reason is that I am not going out to spend $25 on a pair of pants that will be falling off in two months and probably needs tailoring to fit now. It's just not worth spending the money.

For me, the biggest godsend has been the thrift store. Is the selection spotty? Yes, but if I find one pair of pants and one new vest in a neutral color, I'll have what I need at a tenth of the price.

Know When and How to Drape

I see a lot of tips that say I shouldn't wear anything that drapes or flows because I'll be swimming in it soon enough. I flatly disagree. It's really about knowing when and how to use that drape.

The things that I get that drape are top layers - cardigans and vests, primarily - that can flow a little extra because they are open. I update my wardrobe every so often with fitted tank tops and other shirts to go beneath them, but those draped pieces really don't leave my wardrobe because the added fullness doesn't matter as much. If you are going to drape, make sure the pieces you are draping will continue to drape well after you've dropped a size or two.

Also, belts are going to be your best friend. Even if you're into mori girl, having a belt on hand to cinch in the waist of something that's oversized is a great idea.

Buy the Essentials as You Go

I don't mean "constantly buy new clothes," because that makes no sense whatsoever. What does make sense is buying the important stuff little by little as you're losing weight. For me, the essentials are bras and jeans, because I can tailor or alter everything else to make it work on the way down. Bras and jeans, not so much.

Keep your coupons, look for sales, and get one or two essential pieces as you go.

Alterations and You 

For some reason, every weight loss fashion tip I've seen ignores the possibility of alterations. I assume that this is because many people don't sew. If you can sew, though, do your alterations because it can save you a ton of money.

One thing I have come to adore about mori girl is that I can very easily Alter the pieces I need. Pull it in at the waist or taper it toward the shoulders and I've still got a great piece to wear. Not every style is so alteration-friendly, but mori girl really is.

Have you ever lost weight and faced the challenge of nothing fitting? How did you deal with it?

Spooky Shows for Stylish Folks

I love Halloween

And, because I love it so much, I wanted to pull together some of the movies and T.V. shows that I find inspiring for Halloween.

None of these are horror, though. I love horror films - terribly unladylike of me, I know - but they are rarely something I watch on Halloween unless I find a particularly interesting one on T.V. Instead, I tend to watch media that's aimed at children, but with a spooky bent, and this list reflects that. So, if you're looking for some aesthetic inspiration for your autumn looks, curl up with a mug of spiced cider or hot chocolate and enjoy.

Over the Garden Wall

This miniseries is a newer find of mine, and it's full of style, cuteness, and a big ol' dash of creepiness. There's an old-fashioned look to it that I find very satisfying and inspiring, especially if you're into a very Victorian-inspired style or mori girl. The  muted color palette reminds me of vintage cartoons, and each episode's length makes it easy to watch if you're on a tight schedule.

Hocus Pocus

Say it with me now, in your best Bette Midler impression: "I put a spell on you, and now... you're mine."

This movie is eternal, I swear. It's one of the Halloween movies for me. Was the early 90s a great time for fashion? NO. But was it a great time for watching three ladies ham it up. This movie has Doug Jones, big musical numbers, talking cats, and a story that's both kid friendly and appropriately frightening.

And, thankfully, their witchy costumes are delightfully lush. They gave each of the witches a different personality and look. I mean, look at this:

This movie is fabulous and fun from top to bottom.

The Addams Family

The look of this movie will probably be most inspiring if you're on the goth end of things, with its many hues and textures of black, black and white stripes, and general spookiness. I'd say you could easily watch the old TV show, read the comics, or watch either of the movies to get your fix.

If you're a fan of the gothic tropes of decadent aristocrats in a crumbling house, this is a fun way to address those tropes.

Edward Scissorhands

This is the most candy-colored Halloween movie I could think of. With 90s suburbia as a backdrop, this movie is like exploring the world outside the Addams house in the Addams Family world.

But it still speaks heavily to the outsider in all of us. Ever felt different, like you didn't belong (and, really, which of us who is into alternative fashion hasn't)? This is a movie for you. Equal parts Gorey-ish and suburbia-sweet, you should definitely watch it if you haven't yet.

Do you have any Halloween traditions for movie or TV watching? I'd love to hear about them.

13 Halloween Questions Tag

I got tagged!

1. Favorite Halloween song?

Danse Macabre by Camille Saint-Saens. I have been known to get this song stuck in my head and go waltzing about the park. By myself. Usually while I'm walking alone. At night. I promise, I'm not really THAT creepy. Or, at least, I try.

2. Witch or Vampire?

I've always been more fond of vampires.

3. Favorite thing about Halloween?

Seeing children dress up and getting to dress up myself. When I was in high school, I developed a great fondness for dressing up because I usually worked at my fast food job on Halloween. This was mostly because an adult in costume is instantly something between a hero, a celebrity, a confidante, a kindred spirit, and real magic. I love being able to dress in ways that I like and get that reaction from children.

Scrapbooking my Fashion Life

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Last winter, I decided to spend some of my snowbound time scrapbooking my favorite Lolita outfits and other pictures.

I actually have had several scrapbooks going in my life. I have one with life experiences, one for a bicycle revamp project, one for DIY projects, and one for my outfits. The fashion one is probably the fanciest, but I suppose that’s to be expected.

With that in mind, here are my ten tips for the scrapbooking Lolita and other alternative fashions.

Inspiring Ladies from History: Katie Sandwina

Ever seen Mister Rococo?

I first saw this short film ages ago, and I adored it. If you liked it as much as I did, then you should probably look into the life of Katie Sandwina.

Who

Katie Sandwina (1884 – January 21, 1952), born Katharina Brumbach in Vienna, Austria, was a circus strongwoman.

What

Katie Brumbach was one of fourteen (or possibly fifteen or sixteen) children born to circus performers. She showed an aptitude and strength early on, and performed with her family. By her teenage years, Katie's father would offer one hundred German marks to any man in the audience who could defeat her in wrestling. No one succeeded, but she did meet her future husband in one such wrestling match.

After defeating famous strongman Eugene Sandow – by lifting 300 pounds over her head – Katie took on the stage name of Sandwina in reference to that. She worked in the United States with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus for many years, until she was nearly 60. One of her standard performance feats was lifting her husband (who weighed 165 pounds) overhead with one hand.

Sandwina was also described as being a great beauty and very feminine. Even after she retired from the circus and started a family tavern with her husband, she apparently kept her nails painted.

Katie Sandwina died in 1952 from cancer.

Why

A lot of the way that people talk about – and often think about – femininity is as exclusively “soft” or “fragile.” If we take anything away from Katie Sandwina’s life, it’s that we can be girly, beautiful, and powerful if we want to be.

And me? I love that idea.

I hope you find Katie Sandwina as interesting as I do. Because I'm a history major and a history nerd, this is something I want to do on this blog every so often. Most of the inspiring ladies I want to talk to you about are not going to be fashion icons, but they are going to be women who I find fascinating and who I take inspiration from in my understanding of the clothing I wear and the way I think about gender presentation.

Underskirts on a Budget

victorianme rocking a lovely
long underskirt with her JetJ

Underskirts are one of those things that I advocate for. Especially if you're tall or uncomfortable with showing off your knees (like I am), underskirts can make an unworkable skirt workable again. They allow me to wear Bodyline skirts with ease and to keep my budget down. They also add visual interest or an accent color.

But getting underskirts can be expensive if you don't know where to shop.

Before You Start

Get your measurements. You can use a site like this for guidelines on how to measure yourself, though I would recommend getting a friend to do the measuring so your arm position doesn't impact the measurements. The most important measurement for underskirts is the waist.

You should also figure out your ideal length for skirts. You can do this by measuring a skirt that hits you at just the right length or by holding a measuring tape to your waist and using that tape to measure to your ideal length (find a friend to help with this). My ideal length is somewhere between 23” and 25”, so when I look for underskirts that fit into that measurement when I go shopping.

I would also recommend knowing these measurements in both metric and imperial/United States customary systems. Because these measurements are not likely to change all that much, it's worth knowing the measurement in both; I have mine (along with bust, hip, and other measurements) written down on an index card that I keep in my purse for easy reference.