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.