Closet Clean-Out

Wishlists are nice and all, but what really needs to happen is a thorough spring-cleaning of my wardrobe. So much of it isn't my style anymore, or what I have in mind for my style. It needs to go to someone who will love it. Everything needs to be laundered, but for me, I'm just happy I got through Step One.

I'm actually quite pleased with myself for how large my "to-go" pile is and how small my "maybe" pile turned out.

I decided to keep my underskirts, petticoats and socks. Two of those are necessary for most outfits, and people don't like buying used socks half the time, so I'm not going to sink energy into it.

Here is my "keep" pile:

See? Look how small! It all started with the Meta sundress on the far left. As soon as I took it out of storage, I smiled. I remembered how happy I was when I first got it in the mail. It was the true beginning of my Lolita journey.

Garden Alice is both a favorite of mine and an old, damaged dress. It had come to me in less-stellar condition, and I've never been able to really get it back to 100%. It's staying with me.

And then, of course, I can't let go of Sorcerer's Horoscope. She's too beautiful.

Finally, I've got one cardigan that I can wear with two of those JSKs, as well as my two underskirts. They can stay.

Sell Pile:

This is just about everything in my closet! I had to sit down and be honest with myself about how much I still loved the pieces. Some are no longer my style while others never were. Peter Pan collars and whatever's going on with Sugar Bouquet are never going to sit on me very well. Wheel of Time was never my favorite theme, but I kept it around because it was so comfortable.

I've also forced myself to let go of matching Rabbit Cafe to one of the titular bunnies in the print. It's never going to happen.

Finally, there's the Maybe Pile:

Only the pink and brown Baby cardigan, the black IW skirt, and Candy Bottle.

I was never head-over-heels in love with the cardigan, but I can still potentially make a decent coord with it if I put in some effort. As for the skirt and the JSK, I feel like I never really gave myself a chance with them? I had such plans for Candy Bottle, and the IW skirt can still fit in my new wheelhouse. I'll have to sleep on these items a little while longer.

I'm still not really sure where I'm going down the Lolita rabbit hole, but I know I'll feel a bit better knowing that these things I've held onto for so long will go off to new homes. "When" is a good question, current global climate in mind. My next step will be finding all of the detachable bows and waist ties, as well as going through my headwear to see what else I can sell.

If you have any closet clean-out photos or stories, I'd love for you to share! Go ahead and let me know in the comments below.

Back in the Saddle 1: What Stayed

While I work on things and wait and try to learn patience to re-start my Lolita journey, I thought it would be fun to share something I've discovered about it: my wishlist evolution.

I've taken LovelyLor's video about starting over to heart a bit and began rebuilding my wishlist, swearing to look out only for things that I truly love and wait for dresses that are special to me. But first, I had to clean out the old one. There are a lot of new pieces, a lot of things that were pulled, and a shocking amount of dresses that remain! I don't want to start on a downer, so I thought I'd share what's being kept around on the list!

Top: IW Strawberry Jam, AP Royal Unicorn, MM Fraise Cerise

Middle: AP Horror Garden, Meta Lace-Up Tiered Long JSK, AP Marine Kingdom

Bottom: IW Fairy Tale, AP Chocolate-Chan Going Out, AP Dreamy Perfume

I don't think this is an exhaustive list, but it's basically everything. I'm surprised at how much Angelic Pretty is still there.

A lot of these are nostalgia pieces for me. Many of them were around for my formative Lolita years and I've never lost my love of them. Everyone who's ever read this blog knows how much I love Strawberry Jam, Fraise Cerise, Chocolat-Chan, and Fairy Tale.

Horror Garden and Royal Unicorn are pieces that I've always wanted but stayed on my mental backburner for a long time. I would love to add them to my collection. Unicorns are my favorite mythological creature and I need more Gothic prints in my life. I always have.

Revisiting the Lolita world made me realize how much I love perfume prints, so Dreamy Perfume stayed. I won't say no to any perfume prints if I'm honest.

The Meta JSK is simple in comparison, but I still love it. In fact, that might be why I still love it. You'll see in future posts how I'm gravitating well away from busy prints.

Finally, there's Marine Kingdom. I have no excuse, I have no reason. Mermaids and mermaid prints are great. I love that neckline and I can't tell you why. Seashell lace. Pearls on the bow. Mermaids.

I hope this was fun! I tried to be more light-hearted because I know the last post was kind of heavy and the next one's going to be heavier. After that, expect a post about the pieces that were cut from the wishlist, then a post about the ones that were added!

Stay safe!

January 2018 Mood: Cozy, Red, and Classic

Instead of Style Inspiration, I figured it would be easier just to do monthly mood collages based on what sort of Lolita style I'm feeling. This month, I've been really into a sort of Classic color palette based around red, brown, and green. Mostly, I've been eyeballing a lot of Baby, the Stars Shine Bright products because I ended up placing a small order from BtSSB New York to celebrate the end of my two-year break from school.

Recently, I've been really enjoying a few different key things: Underbust JSKs, more casual-style pullovers, cozy cardigans, bonnets, and lace-up sort of OTKs. I actually have the red-and-white Baby OTKs on order along with a pair of pink ribbon hair ties and an Usakumya pen (which is going to be my special note-taking pen for my only in-person class this semester).

Of course, any school set for me won't be complete without my Innocent World Angel Wing bag - it's just the right size for some notebooks, a textbook, and a few other odds-and-ends like wallets and things. Just skip it if you bring a laptop to class.

Here are a few coords I've mocked up; most of them are simple, easy outfits to wear to class. I've never been big on too many accessories, so most of them use minimal accouterments or the design details on the pieces themselves, such as the decorative collars of the blouse and turtleneck.

What are some color palettes or styles that you've been leaning towards this month? Let me know down below!

Lolita Blog Carnival: Pet Peeves; Five Things You Hate About Prints

This week's topic was actually really hard for me to put together! There are so few pet peeves I have with prints, really - sure, there are prints that I actively dislike because maybe it's just not my style, but it's probably not some single element that immediately turns me off from it. So, I ended up branching out a little bit.

That said, the following accounts for a very small majority of Lolita prints in the world, and if you love these things, then that's awesome! You rock it! Just know that I'm probably not ever going to try to outbid you for something that I'm describing.

1. Prints Over Pinstripes

I will say that this personal pet peeve doesn't always apply to everything that goes over pinstripes. I mean, AP's Chocolat-Chan Going Out JSK is still one of my dream dresses. The difference is that the applique or print needs to contrast well enough with the stripes to not either blend in or hurt the eyes. Even with the dress above, AP's Lucienne Dream, the brown colorway actually does this pretty well! But the rest of the colors, particularly the black, sort of flop.

Baby, the Stars Shine Bright did this, too, and quite recently with the My Dear Sweetheart Regimental JSK. The print is metallic, so maybe it looks better under different lighting, but in the stock photo, it just looks... not great.

2. Crosses in Non-Gothic Prints

Angelic Pretty's Romantic Little Garden print.

There's a whole discussion out there about whether or not using crosses in Lolita or "Nun-Lolita" as a substyle is cultural appropriation, and that's not what I'm here to talk about. I'm down with crosses in Gothic Lolita, and if you want to throw on a veil and Ista Mori's Nameless Poem OP, then you go for it, but when I see it pop up in sweet prints, I'm just... eh. I don't even know what it is, something about it just makes me cringe away from an otherwise lovely print.

3. Great Prints, Bad Cuts

Meta's Cherry Berry Song OP

Maybe this one isn't so much a pet peeve I have with prints, themselves, but with something annoying I stumble upon every now and again. The print's gorgeous, or really cute, and I really like it, but then the cut of the dress is just terrible. Luckily, most prints come in more than one cut, and if you can fit into the nicer option, then there you go!

For us busty girls, who often can't... learn to love the sack dress? Or, more likely, to live without that print.

4. The Extra-Overt Brandwhore Print

A ton of Lolita prints in the world feature the brand name in some way, shape, or form, whether it be Angelic Pretty's monogrammed lace, Baby's hidden, scrolling cursive name nestled in the background of its prints, or anything else. And then there is the occasional piece that has the damn thing plastered onto its fabric. As much of a self-described brand-whore as I am, I didn't buy the dress out of brand loyalty, I bought it because I liked it, and I don't feel like being that much of a walking billboard.

5. Meta's Skirt (and Occasional JSK) Thing

Meta, why do you do these things you do?!

This is Meta's Mermaid Princess Ribbon Shirred JSK. It's a perfectly standard print, an interesting take on the whole "mermaid" theme, I think. I can dig it.

This is the skirt.

Meta does this with so many of its prints: they take one of the pieces, and strip it down to its least-cluttered section of fabric. And for some of them, that's fine! I even like them better that way (like Wheel of Time in its fully-shirred JSK version - at first I was a little salty about the lack of clocks, but now I really prefer the toned-down version of gears and keys). But for others, it just feels... lacking. Like Mermaid Princess.

And this will be different for everyone depending on their preferences. For instance, the Matryoshka Doll print skirts come in two flavors: one with the full print, one without. The one without the full print is the longer of the two, and unless you're very short or really into their mini-skirts, maybe you'll feel like you're missing out on something.

~~~

That's all I've got for this one! What are some pet peeves you have with prints? Let me know in the comments below!

✿✿✿

~Other Participants in the Lolita Blog Carnival~

✿ Cupcake Kamisama ✿

10 Items From My Wishlist

So you'll notice that there's been a change to the blog: the name is different! I finally decided to go with "Floating on Macarons" instead of Grisaille Dreams in Color. I like it better, I think. Anyway, on to the blogging challenge!

This is a topic from the 30 Day Lolita Challenge (you can find the original list here) that caught my eye. I have an extensive wishlist, so I'll just have to boil it down to 10 dream dresses!

1. Melty Ribbon Chocolate JSK by Angelic Pretty

2. Fancy Rose JSK by Angelic Pretty

3. Chocolat-Chan Going Out JSK by Angelic Pretty

4. Dozing Cat Bustle Pinafore JSK by Metamorphose Temps de Fille

5. Horror Garden JSK by Angelic Pretty

6. Wonder Story JSK by Angelic Pretty

7. Fairy Tale Square JSK by Innocent World

8. Bambi de la Forêt Secrete ~Petite Princesse de la Forêt JSK I by Baby, the Stars Shine Bright

9. Strawberry Jam Long JSK by Innocent World

10. Kuma-Chan's Christmas Holly Night Ribbon JSK by Baby, the Stars Shine Bright

It's funny because I started slapping down dresses and I noticed a couple things about my list: first, while I love OPs and wish I had more, almost my entire wishlist is made of JSKs. Second, I claim that Baby is my favorite brand, but half of my wishlist is Angelic Pretty. I think I'm a closet AP fangirl.

Anyway, what's on your wishlist? Let me know or post links in the comments below!

Something That's Not My Style - But I Love It, Anyway!

Here's another topic from the Lolita 52 challenge from FYeahLolita -- I feel like everyone who follows this fashion sees a certain style and adores it, but wouldn't wear it. The one that I, personally, think of is something that I think a lot of people like but don't want to wear:

OTT Sweet Lolita

You know the kind I'm talking
about.

Giant petticoats, bigger hair, a dozen bows and clips of various sizes, rings on every finger, brooches, crazy prints, themed purses-- in other words, exactly what was going on when I first jumped into Lolita fashion (which was about a year after the rerelease of Sugary Carnival) . Coordinates that want to blend pastel-colored Hime-inspired wigs with Decora style and pour it onto a Lolita outfit take a lot of work, and a lot of accessories.

I really do love the style; it's so much fun. Being elegant or princessy is great, of course, but it's the difference between going to your favorite coffee shop and hanging out at a festival.

We still have OTT Sweet Lolita today, but it's definitely changed in the last few years. Far less about pastel vomit and candy-colored wigs, and more about maximum opulence. Every coordinate is a work of art that is painstakingly prepared like this Crystal Dream Carnival outfit that I just can't get enough of.

Seriously, click those links. This coord is
a masterpiece.

As you can see, today's OTT Sweet focuses less on having the biggest hair and the most accessories, and is instead about craftsmanship. This is being reflected by the brands most obviously by the fabric they're using. There's less straight-up cotton going around, and more organdy, shantung, jacquard, and lots of chiffon.

I keep thinking about trying to eventually pull together one or two OTT Sweet coords just to have in my closet for when I don't want to wear black or be so serious, but that's a long way off, at the moment. If I did, I might go with Angelic Pretty's Dream Sky or Marshmallow Bunny.

 

What is a style that you love, but probably wouldn't wear? Let me know in the comments below!

The Witch's Apprentice (Coordinate)

The April 15th 365 Lifestyle Lolita Challenge was to build a coordinate around your newest dress. For me, that's my Sorcerer's Horoscope JSK in black and white by Baby, the Stars Shine Bright.

Quick Outfit Rundown:

Jsk: Sorcerer's Horoscope (BtSSB)
OTKs: Astronomical Clock (IW)
Headbow: Logo Ribbon Charm Headbow (AP)
Blouse/Shoes: Offbrand

I decided to opt for something more simple, even though the dress itself is super fancy... mostly because I'm lacking in the "fancy" department! Most of my wardrobe was built around the idea of wearing Lolita several times a week, so a lot of what I have is toned down or casual. Still, I can't resist pairing that JSK with this lovely Angelic Pretty headbow!

Another quick 365 Topic from this past week was "What dress are you currently coveting?" While my wishlist is quite extensive, recently I've been daydreaming the most about Angelic Pretty's Holy Lantern and Horror Garden JSKs.

 

It doesn't help that everyone's been getting their Holy Lantern orders recently! So jealous! And Horror Garden at my last check was still selling for well over its retail price. Maybe in a year or so it'll go down, and I'll be able to get my hands on it.

What dress are you currently coveting? Let me know in the comments below! And share pictures of coordinates you've made with your recent purchases!

Purses That I Love

So, this is another topic from F Yeah Lolita's Lolita 52 Challenge, and I thought it would be enjoyable to blog about. If I ever decide to stop wearing Lolita fashion for good, the fun and adorable bags might be one of the few things that I carry over into "regular" life. In fact, the bag I use for everyday now is one I use in Lolita, too.

Ignore Usakumya for a hot second and focus on the beaded purse
next to her!

I dug this up at an antique mall for less than $20, and I was surprised to find out that it was made in the 1950s. It's made from a fine knit, embroidered with tiny pink roses and beads woven throughout the material, a style known as Corde. I believe it was popularized by a brand called Lumured, but because the Google is being fussy about telling me more about the terms "Lumured" and "Corde," I can't tell for sure. But if you're interested in finding a purse like this, then they're the two keywords that will hunt it down for you!

Other (actual) Lolita bags that I'm obsessed with are two more that I luckily already own!

Innocent World's Angel Three-Way Bag

When Innocent World first came out with the Angel accessories, I thought they were tacky as hell (in a good way, but I didn't think I'd ever use them for Lolita-- I was proven wrong when they made Cesky Krumlov). Tacky or not, I fell in love with this bag, and really wanted it for school!

Especially since you can convert it into a cute
little backpack!

I'm pleased to say that it actually worked pretty well. It doesn't fit a laptop by any means, but it's been a wide-spreading trend at my university for instructors to ban them. That leaves plenty of room for notebooks, pencils, my wallet and keys, and occasionally a textbook or two if they're small enough.

Baby, the Stars Shine Bright's Usakumya

Of course, I can't talk about Lolita bags and not bring up Usakumya.

My poor college roommate was so disturbed when I opened up the package carrying my pink Usakumya Pochette. "It's eyes are red, it's demonic!" cried literally everyone who saw it. To which I always pointed out that they were, in fact, hot pink, but they chose to ignore that fact. Actually, my roommate ended up naming her. After shooting down some more colorful options, we settled on Ruby.

As much as I love Ruby, she's very small and doesn't hold much. I've been able to get by with her at conventions, primarily by carrying my cash loose, without a wallet. I'm not too worried about the ease of theft. Have you ever tried to open one of these? The zipper, unlike the one on the larger specimens, is located on top of the head, underneath the bunny-eared hood. I'd definitely notice if someone tried to pick that pocket.

As much of a pain as it is to use her as an actual purse, I still desperately want a whole collection of Baby's stuffed animal bags! Usakumya of every size and color, and even a few of the Kuma Kumyas!

What are some Lolita purses that you love? Let me know in the comments below!

How I Fell in Love With Lolita

I saw this on a list of blog topics posted by another Lolita in my comm, and it's a story that I like to share!

Mostly because I get to gush about French pop music lol

I was about 13 and in the 8th grade when I first heard the term "Lolita." Surprisingly, it was neither the fashion nor the book; it was the song "Moi... Lolita" by the French pop singer Alizée Jacotey.

I had to choose a famous French person to do a project on for my French language class, and because I was lazy, I picked the first female singer on the Wikipedia list. I don't regret my decision, though, I really enjoy her music! Anyway, "Moi... Lolita" was her first hit, and the song that made her famous, and I had no idea what the term "Lolita" meant. So, I typed it into the Wikipedia search bar, and a few things popped up.

Of course, the book was top of the list (and is what the song is referencing), but my eyes fell onto another article: Lolita Fashion. While this article is the last place I'd ever direct anyone to learn about the fashion, it's still the page that put the idea into my mind.

These were the first pictures of Lolita fashion that I'd ever seen, but I can't say that it was love at first sight, like so many others that I know! I liked it, sure, but this was the "costuming" I used in a chapter of one of my earlier National Novel Writing Month books. It took me six or seven years to finally decide to start wearing it.

While these Old School outfits were what first attracted me, the pieces that brands were putting out the year I started really researching were very different.

I know that Baby and AP weren't the only two brands doing anything in 2013, but these were the prints that I remember the most vividly from when I started.

I came in on the end of the OTT Sweet trend, right before the waistlines started rising and the hemlines started falling. Baby. the Stars Shine Bright quickly became my favorite, but Angelic Pretty influenced a lot of my decisions during my first year. I went on an Etsy bender and bought a dozen sweets-themed accessories (none of which I have anymore), and my first co-ord featured a cupcake-printed circle-skirt and a cake slice headband that I'd made out of felt.

Since then, my style has switched from Pastel Princess to more Old School Sweet/Classic. While I was making my wardrobe post for this year, I could hardly believe that a year before, my closet had been almost entirely pink! I actually rather miss the pink, but that's a problem for another time.

How did you fall in love with Lolita? What was the fashion like when you first started? Leave comments or links below and let me know!