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 ✿

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!

✿✿✿

~ Others Participants in the Lolita Blog Carnival ~

✿ Cupcake Kamisama ✿

Macaron Madness! (Coordinate)

We had a topic from the 365 Lifestyle Lolita Challenge that was pretty easy: build a coordinate around a dessert! I've had macarons on the mind, recently, and I'm pretty in love with an Innocent World print from a couple of years ago, so that's what I decided to throw together on PolyVore!

The JSK is Innocent World's Patisseries de Paris JSK in beige with the matching socks, Inocent World shoes, a Magic Tea Party blouse, a headbow from Baby, the Stars Shine Bright, and a couple of accessories from Etsy.

Did you make a coordinate for this challenge? Let me know or link me to it in the comments below!

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!

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!

Dream Dress Aesthetic Collages

March 18th's 365 Lolita Lifestyle Challenge was "Create a collage of your favorite dress and beautiful images in the same color." I'm going to pick two of my longest-running dream dresses for this-- how do you pick just one?

First, we have Innocent World's Fairy Tale print. I already have this print in green and in the highwaisted JSK, but the black, square JSK has always been my favorite. One day, I'll own it.

Then, I made a collage for another original dream dress, Mary Magdalene's Fraise Cerise OP in red and white. I fell in love with this dress when I was first researching different substyles, and a magazine shoot of it was added onto the LoitaFashion.org Country Lolita page. The image immediately stole my heart. Mary Magdalene is one of those brands that I never think about getting, because I don't think I'll ever fit into it, but it rekindles my love for Lolita every time I see it, whether worn or on a mannequin.

For funsies, here's the photoshoot image that I was talking about!

Too beautiful, I melt every time!

Did you make any aesthetic collages for dream dresses? If you did, link them to me down in the comments, I'd love to see them!

2016 Wardrobe Post

This is a month late, but because I'm not posting this to EGL, I don't mind so much. But here's my wardrobe post! I only photographed my main pieces, most of my accessories, and some other odds and ends that are brand. Be warned, this is a long and image-heavy post.

The Dresses

Metamorphose Temps de Filles Velveteen
Embroidery Ribbon JSK in Wine - 2007

Innocent World Ribbon Doll OP in Green
- 2005

Innocent World Fairy Tale Highwaist JSK in
Green x Brown - 2013

Baby, the Stars Shine Bright Sorcerer's
Horoscope JSK in Black x Offwhite - 2015

Metamorphose Temps de Fille Summer Lucky Pack JSK in
offwhite - 2012

Baby, the Stars Shine Bright Sugar Bouquet
Shirring OP in Black - 2007

Sweet Mildred Constellation JSK in Navy
- 2015

Metamorphose Temps de Fille Rabbit Cafe
Frill JSK in Black - 2009

Metamorphose temps de Fille Wheel of Time
Shirring Pinafore JSK in Green - 2014

Baby, the Stars Shine Bright Garden Alice Print
Babydoll JSK in Mint - 2009

Closeup of the Garden Alice Print. So much detail!

The Skirts (not including underskirts)

Baby, the Stars Shine Bright Bunny Milk and Snow Strawberry
Skirt in Black - 2010

Closeup of Bunny Milk and Snow Strawberry. I love these
bunnies so much!

Innocent World's Pompadour Skirt in Pink - 2009

The back of the Pompadour skirt has this really pretty bustle!

Odds and Ends

Baby, the Stars Shine Bright Short Sleeve Shirring cutsew
 (2012) and Chained Berry Memoir bolero (2011).

My wristcuffs, left to right: Belladonna, handmade, Bodyline

The box where I keeps my ribbon combs and some jewelry.
Red combs are Angelic Pretty and the bordeaux is Innocent World

A friend gave me this decorative box, and now I use it to store
all of my headwear!

All of my Lolita headwear! I love headbands with bows.
Top: BtSSB Shirley Poppy Fairy headbow in black and white
Middle: Two offbrand headbands, an offbrand bow clip,
AP's Charm Logo headbow in black, a Meta rectagle headress,
and a Sweet Mildred floral veil headband
Bottom: AP Wonder Cookie headband in pink x white

My socks
Top row: AP, BtSSB, IW, AP, Offbrand, Fan+Friend
Second row: AP, BtSSB, AP, Offbrand, IW.

My Baby, the Stars Shine Bright Parasol.

And my bags! A Metamorphose tote, a pink Usakumya pochette,
and a red Innocent World Angel Wing three-way bag.

And that was my 2016 wardrobe post! It's changed a lot in the last year. In fact, last year almost all of my dresses were pink! I can't wait to see how it will change and evolve this year.

Did you make a wardrobe post? Post a link in a comment below, I love to look at them!