Meetup Report: Dolls & Tea

July 6, 2010May 19, 2015 by alice ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

I’ve resigned myself to the fact that I consider a meetup to be any occasion where I am spending time with someone else and we both intentionally wear lolita fashion. If I had more days to my weekends, I’d try to spend as much of it as possible with friends! Schedules change and people move away, and I don’t want to wish I had gotten to know someone better.

Besides lolita fashion, I’m almost interested in ball-jointed dolls. Whenever I meet other lolita who also like dolls, it’s fun to get together to see each other’s dolls and talk about related subjects. Not every lolita likes dolls, and I don’t expect the two things to go hand-in-hand, so I try not to talk about it too much to avoid driving everyone else crazy~ However, I rarely get to local doll events (they are often too far for me to travel and conflict with my schedule), so I try to create my own with the friends I’ve made. ★

Two dolls, both of which are the same but also different~ Neither of which are wearing lolita fashion, although both are frilly!

On Friday, a friend of mine came over with a few of her dolls. We had originally talked about making plans so that I could see her newest doll in person, as it was a doll I have liked for a while. I wanted to see how it looked in real life compared to promotional and hobbyist photographs. However, I wound up purchasing that doll at the event I went to in NYC, so we actually got together to compare dolls and talk~

My home is very tiny, but I really love having friends over! ♥ Someday I’ll have to get a bigger place so that I can do more entertaining. I was also glad to have a chance to introduce my friend to my husband, as she hadn’t met him yet. It’s nice when he can connect a face and personality to the name of whomever I’ve been talking about.

We went out to lunch at my favourite bakery~ The weather was perfect for sitting inside, enjoying the air conditioning while the sunlight streamed in through the windows. The menu was full of light and summery dishes–I ordered chilled cucumber-mint soup that was absolutely amazing! ♫ My husband and my friend each ordered a berry lemonade, one of the beverage specials of the day. It was deliciously homemade–so much better than bottled flavoured drinks!

On the walk back to our house, I showed my friend the “secret” Japanese market. It’s not really a secret, but it’s very unobtrusive and many people don’t even realize it’s there at all! She’s didn’t realize she’d walked past it so many times~ It’s not an extensive market along the lines of Mitsuwa, but they do carry an assortment of food, toiletries, dinnerware, traditional clothing, garden supplies, books, origami paper, caligraphy supplies, and more! However, since there isn’t a lot of foot-traffic they don’t do much business, and thus they don’t always have very new stock. However, it’s still convenient to have nearby. I bought some sweet rice; I’m hoping to make mochi~

My doll, still unnamed, is on the left. My friend’s doll, Hotaru, is on the right.

When we returned to my house, we talked about dolls and I unboxed my new doll. It was a lot of fun to have the same doll! They’re literally identical, except for the fact that we’ve each dressed ours to suit our tastes. (I was very amused to see that we had both almost immediately swapped out glass eyes for the default acrylic eyes. It was so nice to have someone to talk to while I changed those in my doll. The company that makes our dolls uses hot glue to secure the eyes, and getting that hot glue out can be very difficult!)

ElleJay and her doll, Hotaru. Don’t they look alike? ♥

I’m sure my husband appreciated that I had someone else to talk about doll-things with instead of him! (Although he’s a sweetheart and doesn’t mind, anyway.) Inevitably our conversation darted back and forth from dolls to clothes and back to dolls again. We enjoyed some tea, as well, although I think the weather was so warm that we kept forgetting about actually making the tea we had previously discussed! I think we both really enjoyed ourselves; I can’t wait to plan something else.

I want to do something creative and entertaining, but I haven’t focused on exactly what yet. Maybe a doll photoshoot, or an actual doll tea party… Hmm… Or some kind of craft… I think we could have a lot of fun! ♫

Daily Life: A Summer Day

July 5, 2010May 19, 2015 by alice ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Most of the time I spend the weekends with my husband and my friends. I am often at work (and, when it’s not summer, often in class as well) during the week, so I try very hard to make the weekends into tiny vacations. That’s why I make a point of wearing lolita fashion and attending events. However, this Saturday my husband was out of town, working with my father, and my friends were occupied, so I spent the day alone. I tried to keep myself occupied, but wasn’t entirely successful. (Darn!)

All of my tea items are mis-matched, but also follow a similar theme of florals, so I love seeing everything together.

I made tea when I woke up, with the sun streaming in through the windows in the kitchen. My kitchen is actually not terribly pink–the most colour comes from the chairs, which are a bright and sunny yellow. When the sun rises it lights up the kitchen and everything seems to pick up that yellow hue; it always makes me think that the day will be a fantastic one!

Tea is one of my “first loves,” so I have an entire section of countertop dedicated to it. There’s a drawer filled with tea below, and an electric kettle always awaiting on top! My teacup collection is displayed on a shelf nearby, with teapots within easy reach. Most of my teacups are floral themed, so one of my favourite teapots is a small mossy-green one. It compliments most of them nicely!

Most of my morning was spent scrubbing in the kitchen (I like to keep things tidy), and then trying to get some pictures of my new doll. The lighting in my home is not very good–the sunlight tends to be too harsh or not bright enough, so getting a good picture is not simple. I tried to get some from the kitchen, but it didn’t work out as well as I hoped. (I also spent quiiiiiite a lot of time in EGL‘s chat room, popping in and out as my attention waxed and waned.)

I’ve been focusing a lot on doll-related things, so I had quite a mess of items strewn about the house.

I planed to get some cleaning and organizing done, since there wouldn’t be a well-intentioned husband to get in the way. n_~ The biggest mess was the proliferation of ball-jointed doll “stuff.” I purchased things at Dolpa during my trip, and ordered things online once I purchased the doll I really wanted, so there were clothing, wigs, eyes, and other accessories tucked all over the place–nothing where it belonged. I managed to pile everything together and attempt to fit it back into the box it came from, but that didn’t work out very well!

Then I tried to get some outfit pictures. I had forgotten how difficult it is to take my own picture. x_+ I made crazy set-ups of boxes on top of stools on top of chairs on top of even suitcases, and balanced the camera precariously on top of the stack. Again and again I wound up with pictures of only my feet, or only my head, or most of me but no head. (And, inevitably when I messed up setting the timer, pictures of my hand. XD) It was so frustrating!

I love this glass~ I just wish I had more than one of them; I don’t know where the others went.

The library notified me that some of my books were ready for pick-up, so I headed out on a short trip. It was so bright and sunshiney outside! With my heart-shaped sunglasses and fluffy pink dress, I got a lot of stares! X3 (Although a white-haired gentleman kindly told me that he thought my dress was lovely, which was very nice! I like seeing people smile, even if it’s because they’re holding back giggles. n_~)

It was much too warm for tea when I got back home, so I made a Shirley Temple! I almost always have maraschino cherries in my refrigerator, because Shirley Temples are my “oh my goodness what a horrible day” remedy, much the way some people treat cocktails or other liquors. Since I had both soda and cherries, it wasn’t something to pass up. I’ve never grown out of pink fizzy drinks with lots of fruit, and I like them best if there’s no alcohol. :3

I love the cover for the Lincoln book. The back cover is even funnier~

My library pick-ups included a novel I’ve been very excited to read (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith) and some books on ballet. I took ballet classes a very, very, very-very-very long time ago, and I’ve been thinking about taking classes again for fun. I’m much too old to ever be a ballerina, and I don’t have any performance aspirations, but I remember really enjoying ballet. (Plus, I’ve wanted to incorporate some exercise into my life!) I picked up a few books to read not to teach myself, but to at least do some research.

After reading the novel for a while I figured it was time to do get back to tidying up before it became night. (The novel is incredibly enjoyable. I wish I could talk my grandfather, who is very fond of Abraham Lincoln, into reading it, but I’m not sure he would find it as amusing as I do.)

My little sister selected some really gorgeous postcards–all the colours and illustrations are so beautiful.

When going through some lolita fashion items that had snuck into my house since my little sister’s trip to Japan, I found the postcards she had purchased for me. Although Imai Kira isn’t my favourite artist, her work is very beautiful. The postcards and mini-poster have such detailed, delicate lines. Most of the postcards have a pearly shine, too! ♥ I’m hoping to hang them up somewhere, but I haven’t quite decided on the best way to display them. I was thinking about putting the mini-poster up in my office, but now that I’ve seen it in person I’m not sure if that’s the best use of it! It’s so pretty!

My house is not decorated at all, but I have aspirations to add some more frilly touches~ I think framing the postcards might be a nice touch, but I’m not sure exactly what I’m going for yet. I have a hard time even thinking about where to start. I’ve never done much decorating because I’ve always rented, so anything that goes up will have to be taken down and put back to the way it was before moving out. However, it seems we’ll be staying in my tiny house for a little while, so I’d like to make it more of our own. ♥

My day ended uneventfully, since I had to head to work that next day. (There is no rest for the wicked, after all!) I hope that I can spend next weekend with friends and loved ones–it’s nice to have some time alone, but I get bored too easily. Work seems to give me all the “alone time” I want!

Outfit Snap: Polka Dots and Jewelry Jelly

July 4, 2010May 19, 2015 by alice ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

No traveling or hard-work for me this weekend, so of course I wore lolita fashion~ Lately I’ve been thinking more frequently of and giving more consideration to the idea of wearing the style to work, but regardless of any future decisions, the weekends are mine to enjoy with fun clothes! This weekend coincided with the arrival of some new things–dresses, socks, and accessories that I had been awaiting for a little while. There’s always a lot of excitement for me about getting something new, so I tried to wear everything~

I love taking pictures outside. The sunlight, even at odd hours of the day, is so much better than the shadows in my house~

I love pink (obviously), polka-dots, Angelic Pretty, and bows–so this dress and I were off to a good start from the moment I spotted it on the website. I was very surprised to find out that a friend of mine had the dress and would be selling it, so by this series of coincidences I was able to purchase it~ My little sister owns the same dress in black with pink polka-dots; she found it while on her trip in Japan.

The dress comes with the choker, and I also purchased the socks at the same time. However, I think in the future I’ll wear different socks. These socks do match, but the bows on the back are a much darker, “dustier” pink that isn’t elsewhere on the dress. I suspect they’ll match a different dress I own that has these same colours.

The socks have pink polka-dot bows down the back! I love that extra detail.

I didn’t wear a hair accessory. My original idea was to pull my hair back at the sides and affix a polka-dot bow, but I couldn’t get the bows to stay in place. I had a friend over that same day, so I didn’t want to waste the time fussing with my hair instead of having fun with my guest. ♥ Due to the lack of hair accessory I feel that my outfit is a bit “unfinished,” but it was still fun to wear!

This is my new doll of amazing doll-ness, who I opened on Friday. Just so excited that I wanted to share, even though it’s not a very flattering picture of me.

Saturday was one of those days with no plans, no events, and no errands. Quite honestly, I didn’t know what to do with myself! I flip-flopped between being very productive to keep from being totally bored and being so totally bored that I couldn’t even imagine being productive. I dressed up anyway, which at least added some sparkle to my day.

The version of the Jewelry Jelly jumperskirt that I own is incredibly comfortable. ♫ My little sister bought it on my behalf although I hadn’t asked her for it, and she sent me a message letting me know that she wasn’t sure if I’d really like it, but she had bought it because it was very cute and amazingly comfortable. I didn’t quite know what she meant, since I don’t find any of my clothes particularly uncomfortable. Then I saw it in person and tried it on.

Essentially, the jumperskirt is super comfortable because of the design. It has a fully-shirred back, no zipper, and isn’t high-waisted. The shirring across the back is nicely spaced, plus the elastic is not so tight that one feels squeezed, yet not so loose that the back hangs. It’s really nice! ♫ It’s actually a general “type” much like my red polka-dot jumperskirt, although the details of the design are totally different, which is similarly comfortable!

This is pretty atypical for me as an outfit, but it’s still pink, pastel, and fluffy. I should have put my hands in front, so the wristcuffs could be seen. They’re so cute!

In general, I don’t wear jumperskirts without blouses. It’s not that I feel this is a lolita fashion “cardinal sin,” just that I like wearing blouses. I don’t like having my shoulders uncovered–it’s a quirk of mine. In non-lolita I rarely ever wear short sleeves unless I am indoors and among people I am at ease with–even though I’m not particularly self-conscious about my arms. (I particularly wear this infamous really ugly coat all the time because it keeps me covered, even on 90+°F days!) However, I really like the design of this jumperskirt–the thin straps with ruffles of lace made me want to wear it with a sort of “sundress” inspiration~ ★

It almost looks like I’m holding the skirt, but I’m actually clenching my fists…not that I have a particular reason to do so.

I headed out to the library, so I threw on a hoodie that didn’t really match, just for some coverage. The socks are also from my little sister; I think they match pretty nicely. I don’t own much else that has pink and blue, but Jewelry Jelly is a very colourful design.

I also have the Jewelry Jelly wristcuffs, but I’m not quite sure how to wear them. I wore them on my wrists for most of the day, but it felt like jewelry–which I am terrible with. I can’t help fussing with them, and then I take them off and put them back on and take them off again and put them somewhere else and forget where I put them! I’d really like to wear the wristcuffs in my hair (like scrunchies), but I haven’t figured out a good way to do so. When I wrap them it bunches up the lace, and I don’t want to permanently alter them.

I did find some hair baubles in my collection that seem to fit with the design pretty well, though~ They’re multi-faceted pink heart “crystals.” If I could find star shapes of a similar nature, in either pink, blue, lavender, or mint, it would match even better! I’m going to be on the lookout.

This is my “up to no good” face. …So basically my daily expression.

Although, honestly, my “hair accessory” for most of the day was a set of Cinnamoroll ears that my little sister brought back from Sanrio’s Puroland. Puroland is like Disneyland, just owned and operated by another company. My little sister adores Cinnamoroll (although probably not as much as I always seem to think when I buy random Cinnamoroll things to give to her), so she opted for his floppy puppy ears during her trip. They came into my possession upon her return, since my head is stupidly tiny and so is the headband.

I keep wearing them around the house, because it’s fun and I find them comfortable. However, I keep forgetting that I’m wearing them! I’ve almost walked out of the house more than once as a Cinnamalice…which would have been so embarrassing! (Yes, random ears are embarrassing even though I don’t think my clothes are! It’s just how my mind works~ n_~)

Meetup Report: Housewarming Tea

July 3, 2010May 19, 2015 by alice ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

My favourite meetups aren’t giant events with lots of pomp and photo opportunities–my favourite meetups are intimate events with lots of conversation. I feel bad whenever I realize that there was someone I didn’t get the opportunity to know. Sometimes I get so excited about seeing old friends that I forget to take enough time to meet those I don’t already know~ With a smaller group it’s easier to hold a conversation that includes everyone, come to a decision about what to do next, and generally make everyone feel welcome. That’s not to say that such a thing can’t happen at a larger event, but it takes a conscious effort to do so.

Thus I was very excited to go to a small tea party at a friend’s new apartment; she hosted the event as a housewarming. Hosting parties provides the planners with almost endless room for creativity, but it can get expensive very quickly! Doing something on a smaller scale, where you decide the guest list, allows you to do things elaborately without going broke. Fancy ingredients can be very pricey, especially if 20+ people are supposed to come…and if guests cancel at last minute you might be eating those leftover tea sandwiches for a week! If you want more control, less attendees makes it easier.

The table was elaborately set by the time we arrived, with flower petals and beautiful blue and white china.

I arrived a bit too early (which I have a particular knack for), but already the table was set with china and flowers. Cucumber-mint cream cheese and plum & prosciutto sandwiches were cooling in the refrigerator while scones baked in the oven. I brought a loaf of pumpkin tea bread, which is essentially a loaf of sweet quick bread made with strong brewed tea instead of other liquids. It tastes mostly like pumpkin spice, but I like to think the tea makes it more suitable for a tea party~ Another friend brought a lovely summer salad with avocado and strawberry. My little sister brought jalapeno cheese spread, which she and my husband tried on nearly everything else on the table.

The cucumber and mint with herbed cream cheese on whole-grain bread tea sandwiches were so pretty~ Very vibrant and green. Warm scones are lurking in the background near Devon cream.

The weather was almost unbearably hot, partially because it’s summer and partially because the apartment was on the top floor of a building and lacked air conditioning. Some of my smarter friends had brought collapsible fans, while those of us who hadn’t had that foresight (aka: me) kept ducking into the air-conditioned bedroom. It didn’t prevent us from enjoying ourselves, however! It was a lot of fun to sit around the table and talk~

Eventually we decided to take a walk, so we headed out to meander around the neighborhood. I had forgotten my parasol, but my little sister kindly lent me hers. ♥ I tried to hold it to provide some shade for her, as well, although I don’t think I did a very good job…

On our walk we passed a very cute candy store: Suckers Candy! ★ I saw the penguin first, to be honest. I love penguins, so when I noticed a big penguin on the sidewalk my first reaction was to squeal, run up to it, and please-please-please-please get someone to take my picture with it. I noticed the penguin’s “Ice Cream” sign, and turned around to see a candy store!

I peeked inside to see if they had candy cigarettes, which I really love, and luckily they did! My husband was very sweet and bought them for me! ♥ Not only did I get to hug a giant penguin, I also wound up with candy! It was great~

I really fell in love with this penguin. He’s so big AND he’s advertising ice cream!

I enjoyed walking with my friends and taking part in conversations. Eventually the heat and humidity got to be a bit much, so we ducked into an air-conditioned coffee shop. I didn’t get home until a bit late, but I had such a wonderful time! I hope that my summer is full of more of those outings~ I want to spend and enjoy time with my friends as much as possible~

Outfit Snap: Saturday Tea

June 29, 2010May 19, 2015 by alice ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

My weekend wasn’t as frilly as I generally prefer, because I did something else I am very fond of–I volunteered at the observatory~ ★ I love the observatory, but I’d been missing out on several sessions that were held on Saturdays, as it was nearly impossible for me to then get to work on time on Sunday. Thankfully, we’re back to Fridays, so I was able to go! However, the observatory is very dirty. It is a bad, bad place for frills. I sat down on something for a moment, and my rear was black for the rest of the night. Imagine the horror if that had been a beloved jumperskirt! ;_;

On Saturday, I attended a tea party with some close friends. I wore white since it had been a little while since I’ve worn my white dress~ (And also, a bit, in memory of the grime in the observatory, which this outfit would have never survived unscathed!)

I’ve worn this same outfit many times, but I try to vary it at least a little bit. I don’t want to wear exactly the same thing over and over again! It’s a bit of a challenge to mix things up and still be wearing all white, though!

I wore a cardigan for part of the day. It’s strange, but I like to keep my arms covered.

This time I wore my new white hairbow. I’ve actually owned a white hairbow for several years, but I never wear it because it stands up straight. It tends to look like it descended from space and landed on my head! This hairbow is much more suited to the ways I typically style my hair.

I wore a cardigan while outdoors. I didn’t bring my parasol (which was very, very silly of me), so I wore it to shade my arms. Somehow being mostly covered always makes me feel a little bit cooler in warm and sunny weather, although it’s sometimes entirely imagined. It was much too warm to wear it inside, though!

The sunlight was so bright that it was really difficult to keep my eyes open!

I’m still dreaming of a white bolero or parka to wear with this dress~ (Or maybe a white apron?) I really enjoy trying new combinations, since I already like the style of the one-piece so much! ♥

Oh! I’m wearing my new petticoat in these pictures. It’s much poofier than before, isn’t it?

Ruffle Review: Classical Puppets Petticoat

June 28, 2010May 19, 2015 by alice ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

I’ve been wearing lolita fashion for over four years now…and during all that time, I’ve been using the same petticoat. It held up loyally for many years, but recently it hasn’t been doing very well. It’s just lost some of that puff and fluff that petticoats are so important for. Being a sweet lolita through-and-through, I require that full skirt silhouette–otherwise, I feel like something is lacking. I’ve been on the fence for a while now about getting a new petticoat, but finally I decided that it was time for a change.

I ordered from Qutieland, although I knew I could order through a TaoBao shopping service and get the same items for less. I chose the method that I did simply because it is convenient. I browsed a well-organized website, placed my order quickly, and made one payment. Soon after the stated time required to make my item, it was on its way to me.

The petticoat I picked was the Classical Puppets A-Shape Fluffy Petticoat. This type of petticoat is not the ideal lolita fashion bell-shape. However, I chose one because there are several petticoats of this shape that are very popular (such as the Malco Modes 580/582 models carried by Candy Violet). What I really, truly want is a Metamorphose white organdie pannier, but the cost is so much higher. I’m sure I’ll buy one eventually–I know they are fantastic petticoats. I just need to stop being a wimp about the price–I know I’ll use it enough to justify the cost!

Communication: 5/5 Billy responded to my emails very, very quickly. I had several questions, even a few that I really ought to have been able to get the answer to for myself had I been paying slightly more attention. He was very polite.

Price: 3/5 Overall, it would have been cheaper to purchase it with a shopping service. There is a definitely markup when dealing with Qutieland.

Promptness: 5/5 My order was completed before the stated 30 days were up, and it was mailed to me immediately.

Convenience: 5/5 Browsing the products was simple, and I really liked that I made one payment instead of several installments of deposit, item cost, fee cost, and shipping. I was able to track my order on their website to see what the status was.

Shipping: 4/5 I prefer boxes, as a general rule. However, this was shipped quickly, via EMS, and did not suffer any damage during shipping.

The petticoat was smushed into a waterproof envelope. It was well-sealed.

The petticoat was packed within another package within the outer layer, so it was fairly well protected.

This was the pillow of petticoat poof that I removed from the envelope.

Woah! It’s huge!

The material is very soft and not scratchy.

I love all the layers of ruffles that are formed from the petticoat’s fluffy self!

The petticoat is made of two layers–the voluminous outer layer and a fabric inner layer for comfort.

No petticoat. This dress was a very good candidate because it was no built-in petticoat or extra lining.

With petticoat. It’s a huge difference!

Overall Satisfaction: 4/5

I’m happy to have a new petticoat. It definitely adds fluff to my silhouette! However, I don’t quite like the shape of the petticoat. I was surprised to find that there was only one layer of material. The actually petticoat-y part of the pannier is made of three tiers, and I think the bottom tier is a bit too large. This causes the shape to be not exactly what I was hoping for.

I wore it for the first time over the weekend, and I will say that it is a definite improvement. There’s a huge difference between my old petticoat and this new one. I’m not completely content, but I prefer the new one. Also, wearing it for the day helped the shape adjust slightly to be a bit less full at the bottom. The ruffles of the petticoat can shift, and I’m not used to it yet.

However, I don’t think this will be my permanent petticoat, and it wasn’t a substitute for the pannier I really wanted. I’m sure that I’ll be buying that one in the future. It’s very likely that this petticoat will be modified somewhat to adjust that last tier’s fullness. The petticoat is worth the price, it just isn’t (in opinion) perfect.

Meetup Report: Dolpa NYC 4 Day 2

June 26, 2010May 19, 2015 by alice ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

My post about my trip to New York for Dolpa NYC 4 was just too long for one entry, so I’ve continued it from the post about my Saturday.

I was determined to go both days, although I know a lot of people only attended the Saturday. I signed up for the workshop, which I was really enthusiastic about! The workshop was a class, taught by some of the company artists that paint the dolls. In general, I’m really, really terrible at painting. I try to avoid projects that involve painting, because I don’t seem to have very good control with a paintbrush. I wanted to take the workshop to be given instructions by someone with lots of experience and talent. I was very satisfied, even though I still don’t plan to paint my own dolls.

I woke up bright and early on Sunday to get macarons. I missed out on the chance to the night before, so I hurried to the bakery in the morning. I wanted to be there early enough to have a full selection and late enough to not beat anything from coming out of the oven and being ready for the display. There probably wasn’t a lot of chance of that, but I was worried anyway. My little sister brought me back a ton of crazy KitKat’s from Japan, and in return she asked for some macarons from NYC. I was lucky enough to have full choice when I got there!

After getting my box of one dozen macarons (vanilla, chocolate, pistachio, peach, strawberry, and caramel~ ♥) and a chocolate-almond croissant, I zipped over to Argo Tea. In Chicago, we have quite a few of these shops, and I like some of their really sugary-sweet drinks. I was just a teeny-tiny bit homesick, since I wasn’t traveling with anyone else, so I got a coconut bubble tea to have with my croissant breakfast. (They use square pieces of tapioca for their bubble tea–it’s really neat!)

After that, I headed back to the hotel. My friends were getting ready to head out, since they had arranged to meet up with another friend of theirs at Kinokuniya. I decided to tag along because I wanted to see the three sisters again–I think they’re so cute! ♥ Besides, I hadn’t had a chance to see Kinokuniya since their remodel. The last time I was there they were still in progress, since it was so long ago!

I headed back to the venue after saying hello and goodbye to everyone at the bookstore. (And after buying a few small purchases… Hello Kitty onigiri boxes were calling to me.) Dolpa started pretty early on Sunday, but they were signing the Another Yourself photo-book, which I don’t own a copy of. There were also clothing items from Japanese vendors, but I had a hunch they wouldn’t carry a lot of things in Mini Super Dollfie size. I tried very hard not to but expensive things for a doll I don’t own~

Soon after I arrived and checked in again, it was time to register for the workshop and pick up workshop items. I had ordered the tool kit and a kit of a doll that could only be purchased if you took the workshop. I had seen some pictures of Mi-chan, and thought she was pretty cute, so when I decided to go to Dolpa and take the workshop it seemed perfect that she would be available for me to order. As soon as I picked up my doll and tools, I skipped back to my table to open the box and take a look at her.

Unfortunately, as soon as I moved aside the top cushion I knew that the doll wasn’t right for me. It happens sometimes~ I set to work getting the doll ready to come back on the airplane with me. The box was much too big for my carry-on sized suitcase, so I packed a duffle bag to check on the way back. However, I don’t trust airlines very much with luggage, so I planned to put the doll’s pieces in my carry-on and put other less-delicate and less-expensive things in the box and duffle bag.

Once I put the box into the duffle bag, I noticed that there was a lot of extra space. This wouldn’t have meant anything to me if it weren’t for the fact that the Tenshi no Sumika table still had the doll I really wanted. No-one had purchased Nono even though most of the wigs and everything else were long since sold. I looked at the duffle bag, and shuffled over to the sales table, then slowly “measured” the box against the empty bag. It was absolutely long enough to fit the bigger box.

So I went back, got the other box from where I had left it, and went back to the store. I looked at the employees, who already knew that I really wanted that doll–they had taken her out to let me see her instead of just in pictures. She’s so much prettier in real life~ ♥ I told them that if the two boxes fit in the duffle bag, I would buy the doll…even though I knew I shouldn’t be buying a doll! Somehow, both boxes fit!

When I tried to pay, however, my card kept getting declined! u_u I called my bank and spoke to someone who wasn’t able to help me out. I had plenty of money in my account, she said, and there weren’t any blocks or holds on my card. I’ve been anxiously watching my bank account all week, as this trouble caused me to be very afraid that I behaved recklessly and spent enough money to jeopardize my finances, but everything seems fine! It’s very mysterious~

Thankfully the staff were very patient with my trouble, and I was able to pay with a different payment method. They even paused so that we could all take part in the Unbirthday gift exchange! My present was a stuffed cream puff and madeline~ (I have a soft spot for felt sweets–I really enjoy making them!) I received a beautiful gray and black doll-sized scarf~ It’s absolutely perfect for a friend of mine, who has a doll with a mature and elegant style. ♥ As soon as I opened it I thought of her!

The workshop was a lot of fun, but I wasn’t concentrating very well. I couldn’t help being jittery from the turmoil-ridden purchase of the doll I’ve wanted for so long! Some of the attendees at the table I was sitting at started talking to me about my new doll, and they asked if they could try some wigs on her, and then clothes, so I let them. They were very nice girls, and it was fun to see what she looked like in outfits~ (The doll’s head is so big that she can’t wear the wigs in the sizes they had with them. I was amused~)

I really enjoyed watching Mikey, our teacher for the class. She’s so very talented! Watching her hands as she paints was astonishing. Her movements are fluid and steady, so every brushstroke comes out looking wonderful. I know I’d have a LOT of practice ahead of me to get to a level like that! (If I could even accomplish it in the first place.)

I didn’t get to stay for the entire workshop because I had to head back to the airport. There was a snafu with the car; it didn’t come to pick me up where I was! When I finally talked to the driver, he was very confused, but promptly came to get me. It was pretty scary to be waiting to head towards the airport, alone and with several suitcases, without seeing the car that said it would pick you up 15 minutes ago! I was sure we would be late, and compounded with the stress from worrying about my bank account my ride to the airport and wait in the terminal were not very much fun.

I was so happy to be home, especially once I had my checked luggage safely reclaimed from the baggage area.

Overall, Dolpa was lots and lots of fun! I really enjoyed going, and I extremely enjoyed wearing lolita to it! I hope that I can go to another one in the near future. (And this time, I can bring the doll I’m so excited to own!) I’ll definitely get dressed up again, too~ ♥

Meetup Report: Dolpa NYC 4 Day 1

June 25, 2010May 19, 2015 by alice ♥ 1 Comment

Okay, this isn’t really a meetup; it wasn’t a group of lolita getting together to enjoy some time together. However, I had an amazing time this weekend at Volks‘ Doll’s Party in New York City 4! I’m not avid about ball-jointed dolls, but I do find them fascinating. I have a weak spot for toys (hence the My Little Pony collection, recent purchase of Calico Critters, and Pinky:st figures), so the concept of well-made, customizable dolls was just a bit too much to resist~

I was really nervous about attending Dolpa NYC 4. I wasn’t really going with friends, although I thought I might at least see one or two people I knew. My flight in and out of NYC allowed no leeway for exploring or lateness.

My husband I woke up at 3:30am to get on a bus in time to catch a train to the airport. I really wanted to use public transportation, as cab fare from the city to the airport is very expensive. I was already paying for a hired car to take me to and from the airport in New York; I wanted to avoid spending any extra money! We got to the airport with no trouble at all, but the security line was very, very long. I got a lot of stares and whispers; inevitable when one is wearing something pink with bunnies around the hem.

I had taken off my hairbow and petticoat for security and the flight; I try to limit accessories, so I don’t set off the detector. (I really don’t want to be wanded or patted down.) I passed through with no problems and hurried to my gate. My flight boarded on time, and soon I was on my way! It was really, really exciting! As we started to land the gentleman sitting next to me started asking about my trip and such. It was rather interesting that he was only vaguely curious about what I was wearing, and much more intrigued about where I was going. (He was kind enough to carry my suitcase off the plane, as well.)

It was very easy for the driver to spot me when I stepped out to the pickup area. We made it to the hotel very quickly. I was much too early to check-in, but I got in line anyway, just to see. Some of the employees were giving me sideways glances or raised eyebrows, but they were instantly accommodating when they saw the name on the reservation. (My father travels constantly for work, so he ranks very high as a customer for the hotels and airlines he typically uses; it really comes in handy when I get the chance to travel!) They wanted to give me a room right away, but I needed it to have two beds, as I had offered to let some friends stay with me. Instead, I checked my bags and headed out.

Being back in New York made me very happy, even though I didn’t have time to do all the things I really wanted to do! Just walking down the street, heading towards FIT, reminded me of all the things I’d missed. New York City is my favourite destination in the US. (Although I’ve only ever been out of the country to visit relatives in Canada!) When I arrived at Dolpa, I met some friends who had been waiting in line for a while. There were quite a few girls wearing lolita fashion, including three adorable young girls attending the event with their mother. They were dressed up for the “Alice in Wonderland” theme as Alice, the Mad Hatter, and the Cheshire Cat! ♥

I really enjoyed talking to everyone in the line, and seeing their beautiful dolls. ♥ It was really clear that everyone had put forth as much effort as possible! When the doors opened and we were let into the venue, I was amazed. I hadn’t really known what to expect.

My Claire, a Volks Nagisa in Preschool, with another girl’s doll whose name I unfortunately cannot remember! So pretty, though~

The event took place in a large hall, with many round tables at the center. The round tables were for displaying dolls and sitting to eat dinner. There were no reserved seats–you simply found a place to sit after registering. Around the perimeter of the room were long tables set up as different “stations.” Beside the door was the registration table and a podium for announcements. Beside that was a table for FDQ, an important partner in the event. They were advertising for their magazine and the limited edition dolls: Super Dollfie 13 Boy Williams as “The Hatter” and Super Dollfie 16 Girl Cristal as the “Queen of Hearts”! They were absolutely beautiful dolls!

Beyond their section was the display of one-off dolls, and in front of those areas was a table showing the limited items for the party–Little Alice, Little Lorina, the White Rabbits, and the outfit sets. They had it very cleverly set up so that it looked like there was a mirror at the center of the table, when really it was an empty picture frame that showed Alice mirroring Lorina “through the looking glass.” Whoever set it up did an amazing job!

Amakusa was one of the one-offs. I really adored his outfit. It’s princely but also very over the top!

The eleven one-offs were Luna, Tohya, Jun Tachibana, Shiro Amukasa, Tsukasa Konoe, SD16 Ruby, Hikaru Genji, SD16 Madoka, Shinku, Cecile, and Suigintou. One-offs are dolls specially designed by the various artists. They have special clothing, special face painting, and often use headmolds that are otherwise hard to acquire. The dolls this year were really, really gorgeous! I loved looking at them! I didn’t enter into the lottery for any of the one-offs, though; I didn’t really need one. It sounds like they all went to people who will really, really appreciate them!

Another one-off, this time Shinku. I thought her outfit was absolutely gorgeous. She looks like a very sweet classic lolita, I think!

In the back the “Dolly Doctor” had a room where he was taking appointments, and they also had a place to check luggage. Beside the coat room was a table set up as a very tiny “Tenshi no Sumika,” one of the Volks stores. They sold lots of tools and equipment for painting and customizing, a few outfits for YoSD, and many-many-many wigs. I bought a new wig for my doll, and they were kind enough to let me try it on her, to make sure it would fit her big head, as it wasn’t quite the standard size for her type. They also brought four dolls: Ryo, Kanata, Mark, and Nono. The first three sold out right away, but the last doll did not.

This was particular bad for me because Nono is my dream doll. Seeing that box sitting on the Sumika table tormented me all day! I kept waiting for someone else to buy the doll so I wouldn’t be tempted anymore.

Beside that was the table for Full-Choice System. FCS is a service that allows you to custom-design your doll. You pick everything–the headmold, then the body, eyes, wig, and makeup. You can put what is normally a “girl” head on a boy’s body, or vice-versa. You can pick any eye colour or wig colour and style. You can even choose separate hands–like fists, pointing fingers, or other positions. It’s really neat! (It’s also very expensive.) The ladies at the table tried to talk me into signing up for a spot, but I resisted.

One of the many, many pictures I took of my doll at the photo area. It was a lot of fun to have so many settings and props.

Past that (coming back around the perimeter of the room towards the entrance) was a photo space. It was a string of displays where you could pose your doll and take pictures, all of which were Wonderland themed. The first section had giant chess pieces and lots of jewels across a black and white checkered background. The second was a large walkway with a red carpet, red roses, and green hedges. The third consisted of a couch and a small table with a teacup. The next scene was a “mad tea party,” with tea set upon the table (and a dormouse in the teapot!) and plenty of seats. The last area looked like a garden or meadow–lots of flowers, benches, and mushrooms!

I was absolutely amazed by everything! I wandered from table to table, eager to see everyone’s dolls. There was so much creativity at work! A few tables even set up full scenes with their dolls posed with props and furniture. It was quite astonishing! So many people were excitedly meeting with friends they hadn’t seen in years; the atmosphere was really warm and welcoming. The staff did a great job making sure that things ran smoothly.

At some point it was announced that the dormouse was missing, and party-goers started to poke around for the dormouse. A picture of the dormouse was discovered under someone’s chair–and that lucky person got to take home an adorable sleeping dormouse! It was a very cute surprise.

One of the other lolita that I met at the event asked if we could get a picture together! I wish I had gotten more pictures. She looked so pretty in her Wonder Cookie outfit; if only I weren’t so bad with names~ I look really short here!

In a little while it was time for the lottery! That’s when the people who decided to try for the one-offs found out if they were going to be purchasing that doll. I’m sure that all the lucky winners will cherish such precious dolls! Then company president Mr. Shigeta and the Volks staff came up to the podium to give a short speech. They were all dressed in costume–Mr. Shigeta as the Mad Hatter and all the other employees as cards! During this time dinner was served; I made sure to get a piece of strawberry unbirthday cake–being myself, I cared about the dessert more than the “real food.” Mr. Shigeta, Volks president, came around to the tables after his speech. I really wanted to get a picture with him, but I thought that I had missed my chance. However, a friend of mine dragged me over and we were able to get that picture! ♥ Hooray!

After that, the staff asked him to pose with the cutout of the doll, and since I was nearby, I took one, too!

The lottery involved tickets we had been given upon registration. Mr. Shigeta pulled numbers for winners to get postcards, posters, printing proofs, doll beds, wig grab-bags, and YoSD outfits. Everyone in the room was waiting anxiously to see who would win Sei-Tenshi or Rei-Tenshi, very tiny dolls that are only available from lotteries at these events. There were 5 Rei-Tenshi, the smallest kind, and 10 Sei-Tenshi! Fifteen very lucky winners took home those adorable little dolls that looked like angels~ I was so happy to see the beaming, amazed faces of the winners as they hurried forward to claim their prizes.

I think everyone was thinking about what Mr. Shigeta had said earlier in his speech. He mentioned a phrase that is the best way to start your day–as soon as you wake up, think:

Lucky, Lucky, So Fun!
Lucky, Lucky, So Happy!
Lucky, Lucky, So Wonderful!
Lucky, Lucky, So Fantastic!

He claimed if you do this, you will open your life to “Super Dollfie miracles.” And some of those winners did get their “Super Dollfie miracle,” whether it be the girl who won her 3rd tenshi at a time when she was feeling a bit blue, to the gentleman who welcomed not only a tenshi into his life, but another angel as well–a granddaughter!

The event ended after the lottery, and I headed back to the hotel to check in. I made an attempt at picking up some macarons, but the shop I like to go to was completely sold out so close to closing time. When my friends rejoined me, I convinced them to go on an excursion with me to Rice to Riches, a rice pudding shop that I’ve been visiting since high school~ Every time I’m in NYC I try to make that a stop.

It was the perfect way to end the day–I went to bed completely exhausted, yet excited for the second day of the event! (I’ll make that a separate entry–this is already much too long~)

Outfit Snap: Dolpa NYC 4

June 24, 2010May 19, 2015 by alice ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

I wore lolita fashion to Doll’s Party in New York City 4. I figured that if I was going to take a vacation, I might as well enjoy it as much as I possibly could!

The day before I left I also dressed up, although I don’t care much for this outfit.

I feel like everything about this is a bit awkward.

I wanted to wear my sailor collar cutsew, but I wanted to wear it in a combination other than the red jumperskirt I always wear it with. This is one of the only other things I own with red accents, so I thought I could combine the two. I’m not satisfied with this outfit, though. I don’t think there’s enough red in the skirt to balance with the very, very red cutsew. I’ll have to try something like this again after I give the items in my closet closer inspection. (I think that really I need a different skirt, and maybe different socks/shoes.)

When planning my outfits for the event over the weekend, I decided that I wanted to wear my favourite things. It was a little bit of a hard choice because I would be traveling, and lolita fashion isn’t exactly the best choice for that kind of thing. Additionally, I would be alone in a big city, and the style attracts a lot of attention–sometimes good, sometimes not. However, it makes me very happy, so I wanted to enjoy myself to the fullest!

Everyone wanted to pose with the cutout of the limited-edition Williams as the Mad Hatter, myself included.

I wore Cherry Berry Bunny on the first day, since it’s my favourite print. ♥ Every time I see it in my closet I feel just as fluttery and happy as I did when I saw the first advertisement scans! I got a lot of shocked stares at the airport, but that’s okay. It made it really easy for the car service to find me! I wore this jumperskirt with a short-sleeved blouse, since I knew the weather would be warm, and pink and white striped socks with strawberries at the ankle.

Typically I prefer to wear this outfit with less-busy socks, so the print isn’t overwhelmed, but I do particularly like these socks. They were recommended to my little sister by the shop-girls when she purchased this jumperskirt. We both agree that they’re not a really fantastic or absolute “match,” but I think they’re very cute and adore them! It’s a good thing that Tea Party shoes are pretty comfortable; I did a lot of walking~

I love this picture SO MUCH. I’m so happy I was able to be in a picture with Mr. Shigeta, president of the company! The silly stickers are because it was originally part of a group picture.

I loved the chance to wear this new hairbow. It has a little white pom-pon, which I think is sort of like the bunny tails on the jumperskirt’s print~

A few people at the event were amazed by my outfit and asked for pictures–it was fun! I also spotted several other lolita, although I didn’t get to talk to them very much~ It would have been nice to get a group picture, but I was too shy to ask! I was trying really hard to be sociable so I didn’t spent most of my time alone, but it was kind of overwhelming amidst so many people.

On the second day I wore the pink one-piece that my husband bought for me several years ago. It’s one of my favourites, and it has such sweet memories associated with it. It’s also surprisingly easy to pack, although it is a very big and poofy thing!

I always think I look a bit demonic when I smile like this! It’s kind of scary!

I never really do anything “astonishing” with my coordinations. My style just isn’t that quirky or unique. I also got a chance to wear my favourite socks. They have a “lace-up” look up the back, with scallops and hearts. I adore this design so much that I own it in pink x white AND white x pink! If they had it in other colours that showed up in my wardrobe, I’d own those, too! They contrasted well with the white shoes; I was hoping to avoid packing another pair.

I really love this picture, but you can tell how frizzy my hair is~ Darn that hotel shampoo…

I wore this dress with another new hairbow. I’ve wanted one in this style for so long; I am so glad to have one! I tried a new hairstyle–down with two small braids in front. However, I’m going to have to try this again now that I’m at home. My hair gets very frizzy when I use hotel shampoo–it’s just too drying. I look like such a poof-ball that the braids can’t even be seen!

Overall, I had a great time! I’m going to write about all the fun I had, and share some pictures, too. I want to be able to remember this and look back on it some day!

On Being Lolita: Questions and Answers

June 17, 2010May 19, 2015 by alice ♥ 1 Comment

A little while ago I signed up for FormSpring when I heard people talking about it. I never used it and had forgotten about it, but then it occurred to me to link it from the blog as a way to have a “drop-box” for questions without worrying about spam email. (I’m working on an “email me” option, just in case anyone would like to, but I want to keep myself from piles and piles of junk.) I liked that FormSpring allows people to ask questions anonymously, and I can delete or choose not to enter questions that are rude or insulting–they aren’t posted until I respond. (Thankfully that has not been a serious problem, but I try to be prepared.)

For a while there wasn’t much activity, but recently I’ve been receiving a few questions about lolita fashion. I decided to compile them here in the event that anyone else was curious.

Please note that I am not a magically all-seeing, all-knowing judgment-casting princess of the style. n_~ These answers are my opinions. Please feel free to disagree with me!

1. Would you dress lolita in school? Or is it perfectly ok to hang out with friends and dress lolita at home and with them?

Whether or not I would dress lolita in school depends on the class. I would certainly have worn it in high school if the opportunity had been there. I have worn it to university courses on occasion, but because I am enrolled in a school of business it is usually inappropriate. My professors and classmates could be potential business contacts, and I don’t want to alienate them by being known only as “the girl who dresses weird.”
And it is absolutely positively okay to hang out with friends and wear lolita fashion at home or with friends! You might as well wear it while you enjoy it. ♥

2. Do you keep a number of how many lolita items you have? If so how many?

I don’t really count my lolita items, but I have quite a few! I’ve been wearing the fashion for several years, and I very rarely resell anything–plus my little sister loves to pass off clothing to me. But there’s definitely a lot!
I have a picture of my closet here (which would give you an idea), but it’s not up-to-date.

3. How do you get your hair in those lovely curls/spins?

My hair is very curly, and it easily forms spirals with little coaxing. When my hair is wet I twist it in the direction I’d like the curl to turn, and occasionally repeat the procedure until my hair is dry. Sometimes I use a bit of gloss to help with fly-aways.
I get asked this a lot, and I wish I could do a tutorial on it, but my method won’t really work for anyone with a different hair type.

4. Is it strange for a sweet Lolita to wear black?

Not at all! My little sister wears sweet lolita almost exclusively in black~ ♥ A print of cookies and candy is still cookies and candy whether it’s on a pink or black background–it really doesn’t look any more “gothic” that way.

5. What did you dress like before you discovered lolita?

Boring! Even now, when I don’t wear lolita fashion my clothes are duuuuuuuull. XD My typical outfit involves a tshirt or camisole under a sweater with jeans. I wear sweaters even in the summer, although then over casual sundresses instead of jeans + shirt.

6. Have you seen the movie Kamikaze Girls?

Yes, I have seen it. (I also own it.) :3 It’s a cute movie!

7. Do you wear bloomers beneath your Lolita clothes?

Yes; I think bloomers are very important. I don’t want to accidentally flash my undergarments at friends or strangers!

8. How do you sit with a petticoat? Do you sit on it?

Yes, you sit on it. It’s like wearing a very cushioned or thick skirt.

9. How do you clean your Lolita clothes?

I dry-clean my blouses, delicate cutsews, jumperskirts, one-pieces, skirts, and coat. Even if they could be handwashed, I trust my dry-cleaner (they are very careful) more than myself. They also do a much better job ironing than I ever could.
I machine-wash bloomers, petticoats, socks, cardigans, and some cutsews. However, I hang my socks, cardigans, and cutsews up to dry. I only run my bloomers and petticoats through the dryer.

10. Did you promote your blog? How?

My promotion is very minimal–I just write for fun, so if no-one reads it that’s a-okay. I’ll never try to make money off of it, and I don’t need “fame.”
My blog is linked on my LiveJournal, and linked as my website on any account elsewhere (Flickr, Poupee Girl, Den of Angels, Twitter, WeHeartIt, and Formspring). I also have a feed so that updates are posted on my Twitter account.
I think I actually get a lot of traffic from other lolita-related blogs. They often have lists of the blogs they read or updates on those blogs; I think that’s where most of my visitors come from.
I hope that was helpful!

11. How can you make sure your bloomers don’t peek out from underneath your skirt?

The easiest way is to make sure your skirt is longer than your bloomers~
If your bloomers -are- longer than your skirt, you’ll want to position the elastic higher up on your legs. This scrunches up the legs of the bloomers to make them functionally shorter in length.
Although bloomers peeking from underneath a skirt is not really a problem or tragedy, especially if the lace or finished edge is particularly pretty.

If you have a question, feel free to drop one off, anonymous or otherwise! If you don’t want me to answer it publicly, include your email address as part of your question and I’ll email you~ ♥ Questions don’t have to be related to lolita fashion–I’ll answer any question that isn’t obscene or rude. ★

Pink ♥ Milk ♥ Tea

May I interest you in one lump or two?

Author: alice