A Valentine for my Style Icons: Shout Outs for Some of My Favorite People

This is a bit of a fangirly post, but I don't care. It's Valentine's Day and I wanted to make a post giving a little bit of love to those who have influenced the way I dress and, more importantly, the way I think about my clothing. They're style and attitude icons for me, examples of what I aspire to be in different ways. They're also people I would love to meet in person because they seem like beautiful people inside and out.

I've listed some of them here with links to their tumblrs but with no ranking system whatsoever. Perhaps someday I will make more lists, because there are many more people who have influenced my style. These are just the ladies who most came to mind.

Megan Maude

Not only is she a fantastic seamstress, but look how freaking cute she is! Her style is really pretty and very wearable for the most part, which is something I aspire to. She also tends to wear her skirts a tidge longer, usually just below the knee to tea length, which is where I like my skirts to fall.*

Lovely Lor

She's not precisely a style icon for me so much as an attitude icon. Yes, she did do my favorite example to date of guro Lolita, but it's about attitude more than the clothing. This chick has FUN with her style, and that's what counts. I mean, hello, Lor is the girl who has made multiple side-splitting "Shit Lolitas Say" videos. How can I not want to hug her after that?

Princess Peachie

She's so freaking cute! Her videos on youtube always make me smile, especially her video on confidence, and she always seems like the sweetest girl. Again, not precisely a style icon as sweet lolita isn't really my thing. But definitely a lolita who inspires me. She marches to the beat of her own drum - it's probably made of candy - and I love that about her.

Jillian Venters

And nobody who reads my blog should be surprised by this one. Jillian Venters, aka the Lady of the Manners, runs the Gothic Charm School website and has a delightful goth style that falls somewhere in the Victoriana-in-Tim-Burton-y-stripes-and-cupcake-pink range. She's also an eldergoth and living proof that you can still wear what you love once you're older (and sometimes even wear it to work). What could be more awesome than that?

Fanny Rosie

I love her. She's gorgeous. Her style is the most like what I want my wardrobe to be like: elegant, vintage-y, and wearable in many different settings. She wears a lot of brand skirts and dresses, but she's also got a fair bit of offbrand and vintage that she throws in and the effect is lovely. It's like she stepped out of a painting.

Kairii

I have one thing to ask Kairii: Kairii, how you be cute? Seriously, this girl is so adorable that sometimes she looks like she's not human; she looks a doll. She works several different styles into her wardrobe and is adorable in all of them.

Samantha Crossland

This lovely lady runs Blasphemina's Closet and lives in Minneapolis, so she's part of my local (by local read "state" because we're talking Minnesota here) lolita community. Unfortunately, I haven't had the chance to meet her, but I certainly admire what I've seen of her style and thoroughly covet her designs.

Ivy Frozen

This girl is lovely, her style is just as beautiful, and she seems to be just as beautiful on the inside. One day, I hope to commission a dress from her. Her style tends toward the classic and she does beautiful work. I mean, seriously, look at that book dress. She even makes custom sailor dresses.

Like I said, these aren't all the lovely ladies I admire. These are just the girls I thought of off the top of my head. Most of them are lolitas or at least lolita-inspired, which probably tells you a lot about the way my style tends at the moment. And all of them seem like lovely people.

Happy Valentine's Day, ladies!

___________________________________________________________________

*It's an "I really don't like how my knees look so I'd rather cover them up if at all possible" thing for me. To each their own, right?

Fear Not the Ugly: On Scrump and the Drive to Be Cute

"This is Scrump. I made her myself. But her head is too big, so I pretend that a bug laid eggs in her ear and she’s upset because she only has a few more days to live."
--Lilo, Lilo and Stitch

I love Lilo and Stitch, and I love Scrump. Lilo is essentially everything I was as a child and many of the things I still am. She's strange. She looks at the world differently and appreciates its strangeness as beauty. She isn't perfect, but she doesn't need to be. She's crazy and offbeat and, though she desperately wants to be accepted, does not change who she is to achieve acceptance.

And then there's Scrump. She’s not the most conventionally pretty thing in the world, but Lilo made her with her own two hands. She uses her imagination to explain why she looks like she does and loves her dearly despite her imperfections. Scrump is precious to her, and Lilo’s relationship with Scrump is beautiful. Scrump is, in a way, a representation of Lilo's best qualities.

But then, when I was searching online for Scrump plushies, I found this:

 

It's symmetrical. The bulbous head of the original has been transformed into a super-deformed trait of chibi cuteness. Everything that was off-kilter has been smoothed out. Every piece of uniqueness, save the mismatched eyes, is gone. Very little survives of the imperfect but thoroughly loved little doll except coloration and a few messy (but not too messy!) stitches across the mouth.

Apparently, it's sold only in Japan, and I'm both glad of that fact and thoroughly unsurprised. To me, this is essentially everything that I don't like about Kawaii culture rolled into a roly poly plushie with button eyes. It's something imperfect and all the more beautiful for it forced into an unnatural perfection.

Sometimes, I feel like that. We get pressured, so often, to be cute or attractive or generally pleasing to the eye. Especially if you're into Japanese fashion, like I am, the pressure to be cute is kind of insane. Even if you're not, we get hit from all sides with expectations for how we should look. Look attractive, but not too sexual. Look modest, but not prudish. Be cute. Be attractive. And do it in the way that society wants you to.

We really shouldn't have to do that.

The fact is, some days we won't be a polished image of perfection. For many of us, that'll be most days. Sometimes, we'll break out. We won't be as skinny as we would like, or as plump. Our hair will do hilariously strange things; mine grows something that looks like a tumbleweed out of the right side of my head. And that's okay.

I want to offer you a challenge: don't be afraid to be ugly. That's not to say "don't be cute." Be cute if you want to be cute, but don't be afraid to fail at that pursuit. Don't be afraid to make a mistake. Don't be afraid to be who you are, imperfections and all. Strive to be whatever you want to be, but don't be afraid to fail.

You are allowed to be less than an image of perfection. You are allowed to be unattractive. Nobody, and I mean nobody, should be allowed to judge you for that, because whether you are or are not attractive on any given day is none of their concern.

It's hard to do, I know. We get a lot of pressure from all sides to be one thing (or many things) and then you see one blog post from me. It's not going to stick right away. It's hard.

But fear not the ugly, dear readers. You can be charming. You can be loved. You can love yourself. You can be beautiful despite your imperfections. Some days, you'll look like a perfect porcelain doll, and that's wonderful. But other days, you might look in the mirror and see Scrump.

Don't be afraid. Scrump is wonderful, too.

Mozarabic Chant: Something a Little Different in Lolita

I admit, like many a lolita enthusiast, I've gone a bit mad for the Mozarabic Chant print by Krad Lanrete. It's just so darn pretty!

This dark ages inspired print had me when I saw the rune detail along the waistband of the dress and incorporated into the details of the manuscript, but there's so much more to it. From the Byzantine image of Mary and Jesus to lace and the faded handwriting of a manuscript used as background texture, the print is rich with detail. And, since I'm thoroughly obsessed with the look of the skirt in particular, I thought I'd do a few coordinates on Polyvore. Get ready for a LOT of outfits based on the same skirt.

To Fur or Not to Fur

I'm just going to get this out of the way right away: dolly kei involves a fair bit of fur. So does lolita. So does much of retro style. So do a lot of alternative fashions. So does mainstream fashion, couture and otherwise.

And I'm just one person giving an opinion, so take it with a grain of salt.

The subject of fur is something that most people, at some point in time, will form an opinion about, and fur is one of those things that people disagree wildly on. Some people would never wear any fur, real or fake. Others will wear faux fur but not real. Others will wear both. Still others eschew faux fur entirely, preferring real fur.

There are many articles floating about online on the subject of how to wear fur, how to tell real fur from faux fur, how you can't tell real fur from faux fur, and many more subjects.

It's a lot for a girl to sort out when she's looking for some warm winter wear and, strangely enough, there are rarely articles that talk about the decision of whether or not to wear fur.

So I'm going to share my opinion.

Personally, I'm not a really fan of real fur. I don't like the idea that the creatures whose pelts I would be wearing died solely for their skins to be worn by people like me. I own many pieces that feature faux fur as an alternative, from a warm stole I purchased recently to boots with faux fur accents.

However, I do own two pieces of real fur. Both are vintage, secondhand items that have been around at least since the 1950s. I have one fur collar, given to me by my aunt from her vintage collection. I also have one fur coat, the story of which I must tell you another day because it makes me feel connected to something much larger than myself.

Why?

Both of these pieces are items that I frequently think about when I consider the ethics of fashion. On the one hand, I do not, as a rule, wear fur. However, these items both have special meaning to me. They are more than just clothing; they are mementos of particular occasions, of people I love in the case of the collar and of a story I uncovered in the case of the coat. They are my connection, physical and tangible, to someone else. They are also one form of recycling. Rather than just throwing them out or leaving them to languish in dusty corners of storerooms or antique shops, they are being used. For those reasons, I am willing to make an exception.

But that's me.

The truth is, though, that I cannot decide for you what you do on this issue. I can only give you a few things to consider as you try to decide.

• Cost. Real fur tends to be much costlier. Vintage coats can be purchased for reasonable prices, but in general it is far and away cheaper to buy faux fur.
• Weight. Faux fur, by the nature of the process by which it was made, tends to be very different in terms of texture. Faux fur often has a very heavy base fabric holding the individual hairs together. Real fur, on the other hand, has leather, which tends to be softer and more flexible.
• Origin. Yes, real fur comes from animals. If you have issues with animal products, that's something you will need to wrestle with when it comes to real fur. You can always bypass the issue with faux fur.
• New or vintage. This is a big factor in my decision. New fur bothers me. Vintage fur does not, because I am not supporting the fur industry. Instead, I am recycling.

If you make a decision that is different from mine, that's fine. I understand. This is something that we each need to weigh out for ourselves. It's something, though, that we do need to weigh out, to consider thoroughly before we act.

Sweet Skirt, Classic Eye: A Few More Examples

After last week's clothing sets based on the skirt I gave my cousin, I was inspired to break out of the limited wardrobe I used and do a few more. It's a challenge for me, being so much on the gothic and classic end of things, to play in the sugary world of sweet Lolita. So, in light of the fun I had making a few outfits for my cousin, here are a few more.

Sweet Skirt, Classic Eye III by bespectacledbibliophile featuring a turtle neck sweater

This first outfit is, obviously, a winter outfit. I wanted to create something that would be just as adorable outdoors as it was indoors and, living in the upper midwest, that means warm accessories. Fur boots, a wool coat, a hat, gloves, a scarf. They're all pretty necessary. So are a nice thick set of tights or leggings (layered if it's really chilly) and a warm layer of actual clothing underneath. It's pretty simple, but it's adorable and in keeping with the style of the skirt.

Sweet Skirt, Classic Eye II by bespectacledbibliophile featuring beige tights

Another nice, simple outfit. I wanted this one to pick up on the green in the skirt. I was hoping for green flats, a blouse, or tights that matched that particular green, but I couldn't find any. Instead, I went with some accessories that will add touches of the same color.

Sweet Skirt, Classic Eye I by bespectacledbibliophile featuring an ivory shirt

And, finally, the one that looks most like me. It's vintage-inspired with deep, rich shades. It's got a ruffled umbrella/parasol. It takes its cue from the early 20th century.

It's very me, and that surprises me.

What I've loved most about this project is that it got me out of my aesthetic and dumped me straight into a style that I know very little about and have a very tough time connecting with. Does this mean I'll be adding sweet skirts to my wardrobe? Probably not. Does it mean I have a much greater appreciation for girls who wear this on a regular basis? Yes, indeed.

"What do I wear with this thing?": One Skirt, Many Outfits

As a very early graduation present, I got my cousin a skirt from Bodyline. It's sweet lolita, full tilt, but my cousin is not a lolita. She asked me, after trying on the skirt, what I thought she should wear with it.

So, of course, I made a blog post.

I limited the store choices to Target, Wal Mart, Maurice's, Claire's, J.C. Penney, and Kohl's. They're all stores my cousins shop at and all sell their wares at fairly reasonable prices. Megan, I know you're into cheap. I tried to reflect that in my choices.

The outfits are all lolita-ish. I wouldn't classify most as lolita. My cousin, as I said, is not a lolita. However, I tried to make them cute and fun, which is really all that matters. Also, most of them are simple. I wanted to make sure they reflected the need to throw it on and go that I know my cousins have sometimes.

One Skirt, Many Outfits: Wardrobe I by bespectacledbibliophile featuring sheer stockings

This is really just a basic accessory wardrobe. Three different colors of shoes to choose from, one plain pair of tights, one wild pair of tights, a couple of hats, a headband, a sparkly hairbow, and a pair of suspenders for fun. I kept everything to a very basic color scheme so it will pretty much all match.

Styles to Seek: Otome-Kei

Otome-kei is one of the next big things. A lot of Lolitas are turning to otome for their fix of frills when the rules of Lolita become too rigid. Some Lolitas are taking otome items and using them for Lolita. Some Lolitas are taking their Lolita items and using them for otome.

So, what the heck is otome?

Otome-kei is a Japanese style that focuses on dressing like a young lady, or otome, for lack of a better term. There really isn’t a clear definition for the style. Outfits are generally cute, elegant, and feminine. You could say that it is a mixture of styles, and that is technically true. You could say that it is inspired by the clothing of the 20th century, and that's often true but not necessarily so. Each outfit can be completely unique to the wearer, and the style is more about the feel you get than from the actual clothes.

That doesn't mean there aren't brands that cater to otome style, of course. The big three are MILK, Emily Temple Cute, and Shirly Temple. But even these aren't necessary; otome is pretty easily found from offbrand sources.

Now, otome can look like a lot of things. Here are just a few examples:

Pixie-late looking adorable and ladylike.

As you can see, they're all girly, but past that there isn't really much in terms of a hard line set of rules. Skirts are usually shortish, knee length or shorter, but that isn't a hard rule. Prints can vary from quirky silverware to bunnies to polka dots to old-fashioned florals. Sleeves or sleeveless work. From a-lines that flow from the shoulders to dropped-waist dresses, there isn't a defined silhouette. The style is just... ladylike.

And that's a large part of the draw. There aren't really rules. There's just a feel of girliness, of youth.

And you know? I can't say it doesn't appeal to me.