Catching the Elusive Lolita

Sorry about the lack of post last Monday, life and school caught up to me a little. To get us all back to speed here's a bit of a silly post. Also, I'd like to make an apology. I've been unknowingly hotlinking images from other scources by using blogger's "add image from the web" feature. I assumed that it would upload it to my picasa web album automatically and this was not the case. I have rectified my mistake and would like to offer an apology to anyone I may have inconvenienced. With that said, let's get on with it!

So, you want a lolita girlfriend, do you? It's a lot harder than you might think, catching one of them girls. But I'll help ya out, no problem.

Before you go out hunting for your lolita, be sure to:
- Dress in lolita, aristocrat, or dandy. Lolitas feel threatened by people in other fashions. If desperate, Spank!, gal, or decora might do in a pinch.
- Have a list of compliments at the ready. "You're skirt is so poofy!" or "Are those real Vivienne Westwood rocking horse shoes?" are good ones for beginners.
- Also have a gift for the lolita on your person. Something simple and cute will do the trick, a ring, a hairbow, some socks. Lolitas love socks.
- Brush up on your etiquette. Remember to bow/curtsy, be polite, and always butter your roll as you bite it, not cut it open and make it a butter sandwich.


Once those things are done, then it is time for the hunt!
- Go to the lolita hunting grounds and set up your trap to lure the lolita out. Tea parties work great for this. A more adventurous hunter may try a more elaborate trap, such as an orchestra or brand store setup.
- Place your bait somewhere in the center of the trap. For the proper bait for the desired lolita, refer to the field guide.
- Lay in wait out of sight. Be patient.
- Once the desired lolita falls for the trap, spring into action. Be sure to remember your practiced manners from your prep session. Introduce yourself and woo her with compliments.
- If she looks like she's close to falling for you, go in for the kill with the gift. If she seems to be resisting your advances, back off to let her go on her merry way and reset your trap.
- Should things go south and the lolita becomes violent, drop to the ground and assume the fetal position. Be sure to protect your face with your arms.
- If she accepts the gift, feel free to bundle up your lolita and take her home.
Congratulations! You have caught your first lolita!

Recipe: Lemon Whippersnappers Cookies

I got this recipe out of an old cook book (about mid to late 1800's I think) that was gifted to me. I've updated it a little to make it more modern, though I'm sure there are lots of other versions out there. These cookies are super simple and perfect for the lemon lover.

You'll need:
1 pkg. Lemon Cake Mix (18.25 oz)
2 cups Whipped Cream (4.5 oz) (or just over half a standard 8 oz Cool Whip container)
1 large Egg
Powdered/Confectioners Sugar
OPTIONAL: ¼ Lemon OR 1 tablespoon Lemon Juice



1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Combine Cake Mix, Whipped Cream, and Egg in large bowl. If desired, add juice from ¼ Lemon or 1 tablespoon Lemon Juice for extra lemon flavor.
3. Mix until blended.
4. Spoon rounded balls of batter into bowl of Confectioners Sugar and roll to coat.
5. Place 1” apart on greased cookie sheet.
6. Bake for 10-15 minutes.

Makes about 40 cookies.

Current WTFs from Lolita Brands

There are brand pieces that may make you say "WTF?" but you know someone out there will like, they're just not to your tastes. And then there are those brand pieces that make you scratch your head until its bleeding with the question "Who on Earth would wear that?" These are some of those pieces, and they're not old-lolita either, these pieces are currently available for purchase on their websites.

Baby the Stars Shine Bright


I've always wanted a dress that had a skirt that looked like a diaper with strawberry dingleberries all over it! The matching propeller bow headdress goes wonderfully with it too!

Alice and the Pirates


Because we all need pants whose pockets make our hips look wider than a truck. Don't get me started on those hats, because I don't know what happened to them.

Angelic Pretty


I included the back view of the shapeless top to really drive home the fact that it looks like a frilly hospital gown. I love the lampshade hat too.

Metamorphose


Surprisingly, this is the only thing I could find from Meta right now. Even more surprisingly, it's sold out.

Innocent World


I don't understand the shape of the coat at all. The grandmother cardigan would be perfect to wear underneath it.

Moi Meme Moitie


This would be fine if it wasn't pleather. But... it's pleather.

Victorian Maiden


While not exactly lolita, it is ugly.

Feel free to share some wtf brand discoveries of your own in the comments!

Happy Valentine's Day

Whether you're spending the day with a loved one or lamenting single's awareness day, curl up with some chocolate and enjoy yourself.

Elisabeth the musical

Bouncing off from the post on Takarazuka on Monday I'm here to talk about my absolute favorite musical ever, "Elisabeth" by Michael Kunze and Sylvester Levay.

Elisabeth is based off of the life of Elisabeth of Bavaria, "Sisi" to close friends. She was a complete tomboy growing up, but was married to her cousin, the Emperor of Austria, Francis Joseph, at only sixteen. She had four children, three girls and one boy, but all children were taken away from her at a young age to be raised by her Aunt/Mother-in-Law. Sisi travelled a lot and came to be known as "The Wandering Empress". She was also obsessed with her beauty and youth, following very strict diet, haircare, and skincare regimes. In 1898 she was assassinated by pure chance by Italian anarchist, Luigi Lucheni. He had missed his original target, spotted Elisabeth, and decided to kill her instead, stabbing her with a sharpened file. You can read more about Sisi's real life on her wiki page.

The musical is a little different, a little more fanciful. It starts in Hell, where Lucheni is under judgment for the murder of Elisabeth. He tries to get out of it by claiming that Elisabeth had wanted to die. When asked to explain he begins the story, calling up the souls of the dead who knew Elisabeth in life to help him.

According to Lucheni, who narrates throughout the whole play (and is always quite sexy in my opinion), after attempting an acrobatic trick when she was a child Elisabeth actually dies. She meets the Angel of Death, Der Tod, who almost immediately falls in love with her. Because of his love, he returns her to life for the price of her forgetting him but swears that he will have her heart in the end. We then follow Sisi throughout her life, the marriage to her cousin Francis, the birth and taking away of her son, her political influences, and a lot of other high and low points of her life that I won't give away.

The music is modern, having been made in the 90's, and has a lot of rock influences. I have seen two versions, the "original" Austrian and the Japanese Takarazuka Moon Troupe's version. I can't say which one I prefer, but there are definitely a lot of differences between the two to make each special. The Austrian version has a lot better singing, but the Takarazuka version has amazing choreography.

Uwe Kroger vs Ayaki Nao as Der Tod

And because I can't talk about this play without sharing youtube clips I'll share the two different versions of my favorite song "Die Schatten Werden Langer"/"Yami ga Hirogaru"/"The Shadows Grow Longer".

Austrian version (With Mate Kamaras as Der Tod and Fritz Schmid as Prince Rudolph)



Japanese Version (With Ayaki Nao as Der Tod and Oozra Yuhhi as Prince Rudolph)



My hope is that one day this musical will make its way to Broadway in the US. I'm absolutely in love with it. I have the Moon Troupe's version on DVD and want badly to get my hand on an Austrian version. All in all I believe it's a compelling story with beautiful music.

If you want learn more about Elisabeth the musical, here is the wiki page. If you don't mind watching things on youtube the whole production with Mate Kamaras as Der Tod is available here. If you're interested in the Takarazuka production, the Takarazuka Insanity Project has the Moon Troupe's 2005 performance (the exact one I own and have shown you here) available with subtitles.

I apologize if I've gotten anything wrong in this post in regard to names or languages, I do not speak or write German or Japanese but I've tried my best to keep things accurate.

Interrupting your regular posting schedule!

I just want to mention that the panel last Saturday went great! There were a few hiccups but I think Caro-chan and I did an awesome job and all our guests were awesome as well. So I want to say welcome to anyone who's stopping by from the panel and I hope you enjoy your stay!

The Takarazuka Revue

I'd say this is rather lolita related. There's a lot of historical and fanciful clothing involved and they've been features in Gothic & Lolita Bibles, but we're gonna take a quick detour right now.

I'm not an incredibly devoted fan, I can't name all five troupes of the Revue off the top of my head, the only actress' name I know is Ayaki Nao, but I do love the Takarazuka Revue.

For those who don't know, it is an all female theater troupe in Japan that performs musicals. In fact, it's the only all female performance troupe in the world. The actresses are split into two roles in the school. Otokoyaku for the male players and Musumeyaku for the female players, and for the most part are tied to these roles throughout their career.

Takarazuka does many musicals from all over the world. From the American West Side Story, to the Austrian Elisabeth (You'll see more about this one Friday.), to an adaptation of the popular Japanese manga Rose of Versailles. They do everything from comedy to drama. They even have a Phoenix Wright musical. I shit you not. You can learn more about Takarazuka at their english webpage and on their wikipedia article. I could tell you more but now I'm going to get to the eye and ear candy.

Phantom (of the Opera)



Rose of Versailles



Gone with the Wind



I can't really suggest a place for you to buy videos of any of these plays, unfortunately. Japan is rather possessive when it comes to Takarazuka and your best bet would be through a shopping service. But be warned that they can get expensive.

However, if you don't mind unofficial videos and would like subtitles, the fans over at the Takarazuka Insanity Project have quite a few translated titles under their belt. They make no money whatsoever, you only pay for the cost of the DVD and the shipping. I have a few plays from them and can say they do a wonderful job over there. The quality isn't the best, but that is in order to encourage you to buy the real DVDs.

And with that I'll leave you with one last present. I assure you, you're not ready for this.

100 Question Meme

This meme was posted originally on EGL. Alice over at Pink Milk Tea cleaned it up and did it herself. It looked fun to fill out, so I grabbed it for myself.

1. Screen-name and date of birth, please tell us these~
RayRay, December 22nd

2. Height, weight, clothing size, and shoe size?
5'11", 200+ (that's all you're getting xP), 18, 12 US women's.

3. Why did you start to dress lolita?
I had admired it for years. A friend introduced me to Malice Mizer and lolita and I coveted it for forever. After a couple failed attempts with regular clothes over the years I jumped the gun and bought an actual outfit. It has been love ever since.

4. Which style of lolita do you like?
Gothic

5. Express in your own words, the ideal of your above answer.
Rich fabrics in jewel tones. Lace tights. Thick bangs with classic flat headdresses or stiff-brimmed bonnets. Cravats. Corsets. Elegant heels. The works.

6. Do you have piercings? Where?
My ears, but I'm allergic to nickel so I don't wear anything in them.

7. Which brands do you like?
I love Innocent World and Atelier Boz. Also Suppurate System jewelry. Mary Magdelene and Victorian Maiden are great to look at for inspiration too.

8. Which are your favourite clothes (that you have)?
My green floral jumperskirt made by nessaneko on livejournal. It fits me perfectly, is adorable, and is constantly mistaken for brand.

9. How many lolita friends do you have?
I have six very close lolita friends, either those I have met through the fashion or friends I had before who then got into it. I have a handful of online lolita friends as well.

10. What do you love most about lolita?
That anyone can wear it. There's so much room to play with it that you can always find something to flatter you. And that it makes me feel pretty.

11. What do you hate about it? Any pet peeves?
The care that the clothes take. I don't mind if my other clothes get roughed up, they're cheap and easy to replace. But lolita clothes I have to be careful of staining, or of my parents getting the smell of cigarette smoke all over them. Ick.

12. What lolita magazines do you read?
None anymore. I used to collect the bibles and brand books religiously, but after a couple years I realized I didn't do much more than look at them and set them aside. So I don't bother anymore.

13. Headdresses, bonnets or ribbons/hairbows?
Headdresses and bonnets. I love classic headdresses even if they are out of style for the most part. And I absolutely adore stiff-brimmed bonnets.

14. Do you wear bloomers?
No. Its hard for me to get bloomers that fit right it seems, so I've stopped bothering. So I go bare for the time being. I want to find a pair of gym shorts or something to wear underneath my skirts instead.

15. Do you tie headdresses at the front or in the back?
In the back if they have ties. I try to get headdresses on headbands instead. I hate that they push up my chin fat with ties. Bonnets, however, I can't tie anywhere but under my chin so I just suck it up and deal.

16. Who is your favourite band/type of music?
Right now I'm listening to a lot of Mika and Lenka, but I love everything from Infected Mushroom, to X Japan, to HalCali.

17. What is your phone ring tone~?
I have a ton of them xD I have Mika's "Relax, Take it Easy", Infected Mushroom's "Cities of the Future", the Super Mario theme, Flogging Molly's "Seven Deadly Sins", "One Day More" from Les Miserables. The list goes on and on.

18. Do you go to concerts in lolita?
If I went to a Mika or Lenka concert I might, but most concerts I go to are rock or metal so no, I don't. I've had clothes torn, beers spilled on me, mysterious bruises appear, the works. So no way I would wear lolita to concerts.

19. For people who attend concerts: do you headbang there?
Of course!! I lose all all inhibitions at concerts and rock out however I want. I love it.

20. What colours do you like?
Green and pink are my favorite colors. Most of my lolita clothes are green. My room is bright green with neon pink borders, with green polkadotted pink curtains. Its like being in a giant watermelon xD

21. What are your hobbies?
Reading, baking, playing video games, reading manga (I know, nerd).

22. If you have any favourite perfumes, please tell us.
I'm not big on perfumes.

23. Is there anything you are careful of in lolita?
I'm always careful about spilling anything on my clothes. Stains are never fun. I also constantly check where I'm sitting down and am wary about bending over. I always bend at the knees while in lolita.

24. Do you have any favourite haunts to go to in lolita?
Anywhere where my friends are at. I love the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens in the spring too.

25. How many times a week do you dress lolita?
Very rarely. I'm lucky if I get to dress lolita in a month.

26. Please tell us an embarrassing story from when you were a lolita beginner.
My first outfit I begged my mother to buy for me for my highschool graduation. She wanted to spend as little money as possible so I ended up with a black circle skirt with a bit of lace, a squaredance petticoat, and a generic white blouse. I put my hair up in pigtails and had a bit of ribbon as a headband. I was so proud of my outfit.

27. What is your current hairstyle and colour?
A few inches longer than shoulder length, bangs curved around eyes, brown.

28. What is your lolita history?
I learned about it in 2002, wore my first outfit in 2004. I gave up and didn't come back to it until 2007 and finally gained a good sense of fashion for it by 2008.

29. Do you store your clothes in a special place?
I have a closet. One side is lolita, one side is normal clothes. Any accessories I have go into a cubby in the closet.

30. Did you ever think about quitting lolita? What was the reason?
Once in a while the thought comes up. Especially at times where I come across other fashions. When I got into aristocrat I considered it again. And recently when I discovered Spank and decided I want to try it. But I have invested too much time, money, and love into lolita to ever leave it.

31. What is your motto?
"Be confident and you can rock anything."

32. What are your dreams of the future?
They're not related to lolita at all but I want to finish my program at community college, attend and graduate from UNH, get a job in the mechanical engineering field, and go from there. A home and some pets would also fit nicely into that picture as well.

33. "This person is so perfect for lolita!" - Do you ever think that about certain celebrities?
Not really, no.

34. Are there any products/items of which you have with a fond memory?
Not in particular. I've never received lolita as a gift and I've sold most of my first pieces so there's really nothing I have an especial attachment to.

35. What was your first item?
The first item that I still own is my green nessaneko jumperskirt. My first item from when I finally got the hang of lolita was a pink Angelic Pretty replica that I eventually sold because it didn't fit me right.

36. Do you have a signature pose for photos?
Not really. I usually have my hands clasped in front of me though. I'm trying to get out of that habit.

37. What is your heart's bible? [book/magazine/CD/etc...]
Sir Apropos of Nothing by Peter David. Its a satire but its also about not settling for being a supporting role in your life's story.

38. What is the best height (cm) for heels?
2 inches. Shorter is okay but my feet look super ducky in flats. I can also go up to 3" but I'm tall as it is so I try to avoid it.

39. Do you wear tiaras?
No.

40. Do you think you want to try prince style? What kind of prince? Gothic/dark prince? Or "prince on a white horse" style?
I thought about it for a minute but I decided against it. If I had it would have been more aristocrat boystyle.

41. What types of lace do you like?
I love rose cluny.

42. Do you own a doll? Does owning it give you fun, childish feelings?
I have seven dolls right now. All BJDs. And no, I was into BJDs before lolita and collect them more for aesthetic and storytelling then any desire to remain childish.

43. What is in your lolita bag?
Wallet, keys, cellphone, tide-to-go, my camera, bobby pins, safety pins, lint roller, sometimes sock glue, and a bottle of water if my purse is large enough.

44. What is your favourite flower?
I love roses and water lilies.

45. Right now, what is your favourite accessory?
Oh jeez I don't know. I think it's my Suppurate System cage necklace. It's gotten so banged up over time but I still absolutely adore it.

46. Please recommend some cosmetics.
I can't? I don't wear much makeup at all. I have had no luck with finding a foundation that matches my skin so I've pretty much given up.

47. With eye-tape your eyes look like a doll's! What eyelashes will you wear?
I'm not taping my eyes and I'm wearing my own lashes thanks xD

48. What is your eye makeup for these eyelashes?
None. Haha!

49. Red Lipstick? Blue? Black? Pink?
If I have to I'll choose a nuetral to pink tone.

50. Which nail polish do you normally choose?
Clear if I use it, just to make them shiny and pretty.

51. Have you ever changed in a train station bathroom?
No, thank god. But I have changed in a car. That was an experience.

52. What do you think of "twin" and "triplet" lolitas?
They're adorable. My friends and I are coming up with outfits to triplet (or even more!) in and I can't wait!

53. How do you keep in shape for lolita? Recommend something.
I'm out of shape right now... but I mostly do a lot of walking. I go through long walks in the woods with my mp3 player going in my ears. That way I get to sing and unwind too. I want to try to start jogging in the spring though. We'll see how it goes.

54. Do you keep calm when you wear lolita alone in public?
For the most part. I'm pretty confident while wearing it and if someone makes a comment I'll usually make a comment right back.

55. How much do you spend per month on clothes/accessories?
Very little. I'll usually save up and then splurge every couple of months.

56. Was there a time lag between knowing about lolita and dressing in the fashion?
Oh yeah, definitely. Years even.

57. What is your most expensive lolita item?
Oh man... Probably my green jsk again. Fabric, custom design, custom made, shipping from New Zealand. It was a pretty penny.

58. It takes a lot of money to be a lolita. How do you save?
When I was working I'd just work as much as I could and put away as much as I could. Now it's a little harder.

59. Just a little secret here... How much have you spent so far on lolita, roughly?
Oh... don't ask me that. Well over a couple thousands. I don't want to think about it. Haha.

60. Is there a brand shop you want near where you live?
OMG Innocent World please. I don't even care if its in New York City and I have to travel two hours by train. I'd love an IW.

61. "Man, what a rip-off!!" Have you ever thought that about a store?
A lot of the time. Even big brands like Baby and AP. Some of the stuff they put out is amazingly overpriced.

62. Do you shop online? If so, put the good & bad points here to advise others.
I love to shop online. Good: Usually nothing in the stores fit me so shopping online lets me choose from a much bigger selection. Bad: You always want to research a shop when ordering from them for the first time or you might get burned.

63. Is there a secret person/shop that you have commissioned a dress just for you from?
I usually commission from Talia_Speaks on livejournal if I want something just for me.

64. "I can never have that/see that happening!! But I will always want it!!" Is there a brand you think this of?
AP. I can't fit it. I don't wear OTT sweet, but somedays I'm just "I WANT THIS!" so very bad.

65. What do you do with the clothes you don't want anymore?
I first offer them to my friends for cheap and if they don't want them I sell them on the comm sales.

66. What is your most recent purchase? (Even non-lolita.)
I'm waiting for a skirt, blouse, and bonnet from Qcute to get finished. I'm so excited for them!

67. Is there an item you love that you can't buy/seem to find?
If I really want something and can afford for it to be made I can always get it, so no I suppose.

68. What do you think of people who only wear lolita to concerts?
If it's rock or anything where there's potential to ruin your clothes I get concerned.

69. What do you think of lolitas without makeup?
I am one, so I love them. Haha.

70. Another lolita is wearing the same coordinate/clothes as you!! What do you do?
Laugh and pose for twin pictures.

71. What age should you stop wearing lolita?
Whenever you get sick of it and no sooner.

72. When do you think you should graduate from lolita? And why?
Probably when another fashion comes and takes its place for good. It's definitely a long time coming but I know one day there'll be something I love more.

73. "You should stop doing that!!! >_<" What must a lolita not do?
A lolita can do whatever she wants as long as she's not harming others or their clothes, I believe.

74. "A lolita should be 'this'!" What do you think that should be?
A lolita should follow enough "rules" of the fashion to at least resemble lolita when she wants to wear it. You can't just go around in a poofy skirt that barely covers your privates and a corset and call yourself lolita. There are guidelines for a reason and if you're unrecognizable as a lolita there's no point in calling your clothes lolita.

75. Besides #73, is there anything you should definitely not do while wearing lolita?
See 73.

76. What do you think of men in lolita?
Go for it. I only mind when an older man (say 30's and above) wants to come to meets when we have minors in the group as well. Then I would have to be mean and ask him to stay at home, just for the comfort of the younger members (who already get nervous with hanging out with 20 year olds). But if he wants to hang out with us older girls one day I'm fine with it.

77. Did you change yourself to be a lolita?
I changed my attitude. For the better in my opinion. I used to be so scared of what other people thought of me but lolita let me gain confidence and pride in myself.

78. What does your family and other people think of you dressing lolita? And do you accept it?
My parents were weirded out in the beginning but my dad has come to accept it and my mom has come to love it. She asks me for pictures everytime I go out. My extended family makes faces whenever I'm wearing it but I've always been the weirdo in the family so I just deal.

79. How do you wear lolita in the boiling mid-summer?
If I'm absolutely dying I'll forgo a blouse, but I can usually get by with a short sleeved blouse and OTKs as long as I have a parasol to keep the sun off me.

80. Have you gone to school or work in lolita?
I've gone to school in lolita a couple times. I'm trying to do it more this semester since I don't have drafting anymore. (Graphite all over your expensive dress is not fun.)

81. How do you dress normally?
Jeans and t-shirts. A skirt if I'm feeling adventurous. I'm trying to dress more girly and spank! like in my free time though.

82. Do you think twice about buying second-hand clothes?
Its so rare that I do, but no. I check the user's feedback and ask for extra pictures. If they check out, I buy.

83. Do you have a boyfriend? (or husband?) Does he understand lolita?
He's a steampunk freak so he doesn't mind the weird fashion. And anything that gets me into a skirt is good for him. He was once asked what he felt about the fashion before and after he got to know me (when we first met I was in lolita) and for before he answered "That is one frilly dress", after "That is one expensive as hell frilly dress." So it makes me laugh.

84. Please tell us about your ideal man.
I really can't tell you. I thought I had it all sorted out but this computer nerd who's loud and abrasive but also the biggest teddy bear once you get him behind closed doors showed up and knocked my world upside down.

85. What lolita has left a big, shiny impression on you so far?
Caro-chan, definitely. She was my first lolita friend and has taught me so many awesome little crafty things and is just absolutely insane. (Don't let her blog fool you, that girl's crazy xD). My friend Xanet is a close second. I love them both.

Xanet, Caro-chan, and Me

86. Have you made your own clothes? What are they like?
I've made a skirt... it's kinda wonky but was a good learning experience. I want to make more skirts soon.

87. Have you made your own accessories? What did you make?
Back in the beginning I made a beaded crown. It's probably in a landfill somewhere now. Haha. But yeah, I've given up on accessories for the most part.

88. Think about the best item you have made! What is it?
Nothing lolita related. lol.

89. Please tell us about the most perfect lolita coordination you wear.
I have no idea... I still don't have many mix and match clothes (being poor sucks), but I love coordinates paired with my green shoes. You almost never see green shoes and to have them match my clothes is just so amazing to me.

90. Do you admire someone? What are they like?
Not really. Especially not in lolita. I just kinda do my own thing.

91. "One day I will go on a date with that person." What would you like to wear for him?
Whatever I feel like wearing, and he will be happy. I dress for myself, not for others. If he's lucky I'll put on a skirt. Haha.

92. If you want one, what type of store would you open in the future?
I want a store with a ton of different indie brands and seamstress clothes. It will absolutely never happen, but a girl can daydream.

93. Something catches your eye. What is this motif?
Butterflies. I'm obsessed with them, but its very rare for them to show up in lolita clothing.

94. Would you dress your child in lolita?
Before they are too old to choose what they want to wear? Yeah. I'm guilty of wanting to do that. But once they start making their own decisions I'll let them choose.

95. How much do you spend on one outfit?
Ohhh man... Let's just take an educated guess of about 700? But who the hell knows really.

96. "This is lolita!!" Please say what you would say this about.
Definitely the petti. I don't see the point of wearing lolita if you have a flat skirt

97. "I have always wanted to try that once!" What, in the lolita world, have you wanted to try wearing?
OTT sweet. It's my secret weakness. Some days I hate it and some days I'm in love with it. I adore a million ruffles and can't get away from it.

98. Look at yourself in lolita. In one word/phrase, how would you express your style/image?
Cute fatty poof. xDDD

99. What is your lolita ideal?
I have no idea actually. I just wear what I love.

100. Thank you for taking this baton!! Tell us what you think!
It took me forever to fill out but I had fun doing it! I hope a lot of others do it too!

Working for the Frills

I'm currently unemployed and all of my available funds are going to college. (Hurray for the economy!) My most recent splurge was only possible with the aid of Christmas and Birthday money. While I know I'm better off than a lot of people out there, but there are also a lot of people who are more well-off than I am. This past Christmas there was a discussion on the EGL livejournal community where people got to list what they received for gifts. I was floored by the amount of money some people's family spent on frills alone. There are genuine lolitas out there whose mommy and/or daddy buy them anything they want. And I can be jealous of these people until I'm green in the face.

But when you think about it, these are the people most likely to buy the most popular print. And then once its not popular anymore they buy the next big thing. They keep moving on from piece to piece, possibly selling their old ones.

And then there are the people like me. Like a lot of us lolitas out there. We work hard and save up for what we really like. Maybe a piece from a lesser-known indie-brand. Or an older piece that we've wanted forever that someone is selling second hand. Or a custom-made piece that only you have, and no one else. We can appreciate the clothes we buy. Love them.

I can't say that I have my first lolita garment, since I started out as an ita like the best of them. But I do still have one of my earliest jumperskirts. It is an original piece made just for me and I still get asked constantly what brand it is.

So you can be jealous of all those girls better off than you who get the whole world handed to them one day and throw it out the next. Or you can be proud of the frills you bought with your own hard work and love them like no other lolita could.