Lolita Blog Carnival: What Made Your Dream Dress Your Dream Dress, and Has That Changed?

I really liked this week's topic, because it makes for a light, fun topic to write about while I'm trying to get back into the swing of keeping up the blog! Why don't we just dive right into it with a selection of my top dream dresses?

1. Strawberry Jam Long JSK by Innocent World

 

I think this was my first real "dream dress," and I came across it while I was still in my "research" phase of Lolita. I was perusing through the different substyles, and a long-defunct website had an image of a Lolita wearing this exact dress in the prettiest Classic coordinate (complete with an IW princess-sleeved bolero, and I believe violin OTKs).

Unfortunately, I can no longer find this image to show you, but it was basically the first time I had ever seen a coordinate and was just floored by how lovely it was and how well-put-together. It was one of the dresses that sort of cemented my love for the fashion.

I'm not as in-love with it as I used to be, but I still like the print, and I'd love to own it one day as a sort of sentimental piece.

2. Chocolat-chan Going Out JSK by Angelic Pretty

This was another one of my early dream dresses, and it was sort of the first Angelic Pretty dress that I really fell for. When I started Lolita, AP was winding down its OTT Sweet phase with prints like Whip Showcase, so that's what I came to expect of it.

And then I stumbled upon Chocolat-chan. The velveteen, the classy black cat, the little pearl details, it was a match made in heaven, and I'm still in love with it for those reasons. I once came across it in the second-hand sales, but conversion rates were awful, and I didn't quite have enough for it. Maybe I'll find it again, one day...

3. Fairy Tale Square JSK by Innocent World

Another Innocent World dress - this one had just been released shortly after I started Lolita, and as soon as I saw it in this particular cut and colorway, I fell hard. It's been at the top of my wishlist for years, now, and I've never come across it. The details are what sweep me away for this one: the apple buttons, the delicate lines of printed roses, the craftsmanship on the fairy tale panels, the overall construction... I'm in love!

If you recall, though, I did find the green, high-waisted version for sale, and I bought it because I wanted something with the print that I still loved. But if the opportunity ever arises to trade it for the black, square-necked JSK, I'm taking it.

There's just no beating those apple-shaped buttons.

4. Fraise Cerise OP by Mary Magdalene

I feel like I've mentioned this dress in a lot of posts, and there's a reason for it: I really, really adore it! It made me fall in love with the idea of Country Lolita, and it's another one of those simple, Mary Magdalene pieces that I could see myself wearing absolutely everywhere.

Clearly, I haven't changed my opinion on this dress.

Why did you choose your dream dresses, and have your thoughts on them changed over the years? Let me know in the comments below!

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~ Others Participants in the Lolita Blog Carnival ~

✿ Cupcake Kamisama ✿

AP New Release: Classic Florals are Back!

I was perusing the Facebook feed and someone posted a new Angelic Pretty release that made me stop and make sure that this was a dress from 2017 instead of 2007:

Look at it in all its floral glory!

This release, I actually am a little salty that I don't have the money to drop on a new dress, because this is lovely! Instead of a busy print like the ones to which we've become accustomed, it's a delicate, very Classic sort of floral and striped pattern with detail variety that comes in the form of construction, rather than graphic design.

The second thing that sort of stuck out to everyone commenting on the thread involved the price: ¥31,104 for a cotton jumperskirt? Why?!

 

... Ah. That'll do it.

There is so much lace and other accouterments packed onto this thing that it would easily drive the price up. On the bodice alone, I can count five different types of lace or piping in multiple rows, not to mention the satin bow and the line of faux pearl beading - this isn't even mentioning the rest of it on the dress.

I'll give this one to AP.

Classical Petit Rose (I'll ignore the French, as we must often do) comes in three colors and has a onepiece version as well as a JSK. Personally, though I do really like the JSK, I have to have a preference for the OP, this time. I just love the clean, vertical lines of lace that stretch from the top of the bodice to nearly the hem of the skirt, and the bow isn't as heavily burdened as the one on the JSK with lace or pearls.

There's also a brown colorway, and a headbow!

 

All in all, I really like this release, and I think it's something that people will feel more comfortable wearing out and about - you know, the way we used to when this was still truly a street fashion, when it was more common to wear Lolita to class or the grocery store or just to hang out somewhere with friends.

What do you think of the new Angelic Pretty print? Are there any other prints that have been coming out lately that have been catching your eye? Let me know in the comments below!