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.