Lolita friends and bonus outfit!

 Hello lovelies!

I recently went on a friend date with someone I work with who has gotten into lolita over the past few months. She is the same one I went to the museum with. We went out for lunch, did some shopping, and then took some photos by The Tridge in Midland, MI. It was a really fun day! I love having someone local I can do lolita with since meet ups are often way too far for me.

This is my friend's outfit. She went simple and is still working on this coord and others. The skirt was made by her! I believe the blouse was thrifted.

We did precarious climbing to get this!

Make up close up.

My dress was designed by me and produced by A. Gato Designs, as mentioned in a previous post. My blouse is custom from Glittertale. For more details on the blouse check here! Everything else I'm wearing was either made by me, thrifted, or is off-brand.

I'm still doing some work on this coord and will be changing it up some in the future. Black is fairly new to my Jfashion wardrobe so I am working quite a bit with pieces from my normal clothes.

As a bonus I'd like to show you guys an outfit I wore for a concert I attended earlier this month. I wore it throughout the day so my hair and makeup are not really done. I did special makeup for the concert and, since I had to do it on the fly, I didn't bother with makeup for the rest of the day. I have a long ways to go on this outfit but I'm getting there!

My shoes broke so just socks! Whoops!

Blouse is Glittertale again and the dress is another I commissioned from A. Gato Designs. My socks and wrist-cuffs are Bodyline. Everything else is thrifted or off-brand.

My friend and I are attending a tea party next week for our community's 10th anniversary. The attendance list is large and there are lots of free goodies and contests. I will be making a full post on that next month so please look forward to it!

Love always,
Kayla

Custom design and custom size!

Hello sweetlings! I rececntly came across someone on a Facebook group who does custom pieces. As a plus size lolita, I am always keeping my eyes out for people who make quality custom pieces. I looked through her work and loved some of the cuts. She didn't have exactly what I wanted though so we worked together to get what I would really love. She started by going to a fabric store and sending me every insect themed fabric she could find. (As a side note: I'm obsessed with bugs and insects and spiders and everything creepy crawly to be honest. There are a very very limited number of lolita prints that fall into this interest.) I chose my three favorites, explained what design I wanted, and she started immediately to draft the patterns. Later on I chose the lace and accents as well. From first contact to delivery it took less than a week! That was so incredibly fast that my mind was blown.

I've been working on putting together casual coords with them. I've worn two of them so far. Casual Fridays at my job is where I've donned them so I haven't done complete/proper outfits with them because my comfort and convenience is more important to me at work.

The fabrics I chose were an entomology print that I had made into a skirt, a butterfly print with metallic accents that became a JSK, and a bee print with shiny crowns that ended up an under-bust dress with a black panel.

Close up of the print that became a skirt!

The finished skirt (uncoordinated).

Butterfly JSK casual coord

Close up of necklace (thrifted)

Under-bust dress with bees and crowns.

The seamstress allowed for one free alteration on each piece if they arrived and didn't fit or meet my expectations. They came and fit my measurements perfectly! There were no issues with the garments and they looked exactly how I wanted. As with any home made piece there were a few loose strings and what not but they were easily snipped away. She also threw in some free bracelets and an extra bow! Overall I was very happy with everything and I would definitely order from her again.

Want to commission her too? Check out her Facebook or Etsy for details.

What is your favorite brand that offers custom sizes? Let me know in the comments! Until next time, much love. <3

Replicas -or- Beating a Dead Horse

Hey guys! Today I wanted to insert my unasked for opinion on the long fought replica debate. This topic has been done to death, I know. Any possible opinion you could want on the matter is to be found somewhere in the community. I'm not looking for people to even necessarily agree with me (I understand why it is a highly contested subject). My stance is coming from the position of someone who is BOTH an artist & a plus-size/low budget lolita.

First, I'd like to start by discussing the arguments AGAINST replicas. After each I will give a brief explanation on my view of the reasoning.

1. It is a crime! The art is stolen! -I can't disagree here. The art they're using to make products is taken and reproduced without permission to a wider audience.

2. They look cheap compared to the real thing! -This depends a lot on where you get it from. Of course they're not going to be as high quality as brand because they're not made by the same people or with the exact same materials. I see lots of non-replica pieces that are also very low quality though. Each lolita has to make that choice. It should be noted though that most replicas are not lined, have different lace than the brand dresses, and usually have only 1 sided waist straps. The default option is sometimes sewn on where they were removable from the brand dress (you can change this from some places though, but I'll talk more about that later) or they have no pockets when the original dress did.

Starry Night Theater (AP)

SNT (replica)

3. They're stealing money from the brands! -No they literally aren't and here is why: The brands that get replicated are generally selling out everything immediately upon the release. Even if they reissue it 2 or 3 times they often sell out every single item. They produce a limited number and no more, which means that they were only able to make X amount of money to start with. Secondly, most of the people who are purchasing replicas would not be buying the brand items anyway. (Note that I say MOST because there are people who opt for replicas who, in my opinion, shouldn't.) Most of the people who buy replicas are either out of the size range of the brand option (which as we all know, usually comes in only one size that is catered to their Japanese buying base) or simply can't afford brand. I don't think either of these cases warrants lynching someone if they fall in love with an item.

4. Well if they can't fit into brand they should lose weight! Or get dresses altered! -Losing weight is not an overnight immediate thing. It is hard and there are tons of factors that come into play there. Some people just don't want to lose weight! And, in my opinion, that is fine, that is their right, and they have ownership over their bodies. Some people who don't fit into brand are too small as well. Some people have just one part of their body (bust and shoulders being most common) that don't fit. For those people it is often suggested that they alter the brand items. While that IS a viable option for some people, altering is expensive and, in many cases, significantly lowers the value of the dress.

Milky Plant (AP)

Milky Planet (replica)

Another reason people opt for replicas is because they don't like the original design by the brand. While not all replica makers offer custom designs, some do. Some will even make you home wears or sell you the fabric so you can make your own projects with it! This is great for people who want the dress in a cut or style that wasn't offered. Don't like the tacky collar on Milky Planet? No problem! You can take it right off. Hate that scalloped edge? Easy fix. Add pockets, make things removable or permanent, make the print into a non-lolita item. Really your imagination and bank statement are the limit.

Chess Chocolate (AP)

Custom Design CC (replica)

Replica producers are making a fracture of what brands are, though yes, illegally. The brands are not losing money however. They are always going to be the first choice for many people. Once you buy a replica there is a good chance you're going to be stuck with it long term, so keep that in mind! The majority of lolitas do not fall into the custom size your dress will have, many may not like your custom design, and most resale places do not allow replicas at all.

I personally own several replicas of varying qualities (the cause being different makers) and will probably own more in the future. I also have hand made and indie pieces, and will probably have many more of those in the future. I personally think, if brand is just totally inaccessible to you (genuinely, not just "well it's too much I could get 3 replicas blahblah") replicas can be a good way to get the prints you love. If you opt for replicas though, keep in mind that their value is low, they don't have comparable quality, and some lolitas (mostly online) look down on those who wear them for any reason. I am also choosing not to direct link to any particular replica maker because it is NOT my intent to promote them.

Stay frilly <3 

Innocent World: My first direct brand purchase

Hello everyone! I recently returned from my trip to China and am now just finding time to update this blog. Today I want to talk about my first experience with ordering directly from a brand site. A while back Innocent World had a sale going and I took the chance to try ordering from them. Obviously I don't fit into their dress but there were a few hair accessories I'd had my eye on.

Tags and a lovely letter they included.

The ordering process took me a few minutes to figure out but honestly was pretty easy and straight forward. They have clear instructions in English. It takes a while for your order to be confirmed (I think mine was a few days). Compared to what I've heard about ordering from some of the other brands, this seems like a good brand to start with if you're nervous.

I ordered a brown headbow and two navy blue hair clips because these pieces will fit well with the main pieces in my wardrobe. It took quite a while for the package to get to me but if you've been in lolita for any length of time you are probably used to the dreadful wait times. I didn't need them in a hurry so I wasn't worried. I wouldn't be hopeful if you need a rush delivery though!

3300 and 2800 yen originally

I will start with the brown headbow. First of all, it came slightly lighter than it appeared on the site. It will still work for what I need but be aware that some of the colors are obviously not exact (even things like your monitor settings can change that though).

The fabric is really nice and the gold details came without any snags or issues. I was expecting a little more for the price and reputation though. The headband it came on is pretty cheap and a little painful to wear because of the ridges.

As you can see here, the ridges are quite large and sharp.

The bow is securely attached so it does not move around. This is both good and bad. I'm glad I won't be losing the headband or having my bow move in the middle of a meetup but it is stuck at the one angle and spot so you really have to plan around it compared to bows with a little more flexibility.

The blue hair clips I got are small and cute. You get a set of two when you buy them but make sure you pay attention because that isn't always the case!

The material is a little shiny but not enough to make it look tacky. There are small IW logo charms sewn to the middle. They seem to be attached pretty well and did not fall off during a day's wear. There are also stars attached to the corner. These aren't attached quite as well as the logos so I am worried that over time they may need to be reattached. Again, after a day's wear they did not fall off.

The back has alligator clips to secure them to your hair (or wherever else you may want to wear them). I wish they were two way clips (having both a pin and hair option) so they had a little more versatility but that is probably only because I've been spoiled with most of my items having multiple wear options.

Overall I was pretty happy with what I got and I know they'll get plenty of wear. These did not quite live up to the price tag and the expectations I have for brand items however. I would probably order from Innocent World again if they were having a sale but otherwise I will probably stick to second hand.

I hope this was helpful, interesting, or informative for some of you. Have a wonderful month and I'll see you in April!

Glitter Tale Review and Recommendations-Positive

Hello dear readers! I promised last month that I would do a review of the custom Glitter Tale blouse I ordered. So here you are!

I ordered through their facebook page by email. Overall the order process was quite easy. You choose your style and color then note if you want a standard size or custom size. You can also say if you want lace that is the same color or different. You can customize the design as well if they don't offer exactly what you want. As a plus size lolita, I chose custom size. There is a slight fee for custom size if I remember correctly. Overall the blouse cost a little over $70 USD shipped. They blouse came in just over a month but would have come faster if I hadn't needed to change my size. I accidentally sent the wrong measurements (because I thought I knew how to take the measurements but while double checking about a week later I realized I'd taken them differently than how they wanted.) Be sure to watch the video they link to and do the measurements EXACTLY how the video says. I recommend going step by step along with the video and writing them down if you're doing custom. I also would recommend adding 2cm to all of your measurements, especially if you chose a non-stretchy fabric.

I want to note here that they were amazing about changing my size for me. They had already started the blouse but did not charge me extra to start over with updated measurements!

The shirt came in an envelope but there was some slight damage to it. I didn't need to worry though because they wrapped the blouse in a sturdy plastic bag for protection.

The details are beautiful. The lace is soft and wonderful. The sewing is really well done. The buttons are a little loose but after several wears they have not fallen off. It also came with an extra button. They are very elegant, well spaced, and are included on the wrist as well.

An initial try on revealed that the fit was done very well. I did add a few cms to my measurements to avoid gaping and to ensure it would fit. The only issue I had was that the shoulder width was a bit small. It fit but I felt it was shortened slightly from the measurements I gave. I added 4 or 5cm to that measurements because another review I saw said they had that problem. However, even with that it could've used another 2 to 4cm. I recommend adding quite a bit to that measurement to make sure you have full movement and comfort.

As you can see it also came with a neck ribbon

It is a sheer fabric so I think it looks best under a JSK (as seen below) but with a tank top underneath it would work well for a skirt as well.

Overall I am very happy with my order and the company. I really can't recommend them enough and I really do feel like the end result is worth the cost. The quality is only a slight tier under brand blouses I've had. Glitter Tale is really a great option for people who want to customize their clothes, are struggling to find the perfect blouse, or are too small or big for the standard size lolita blouses. They even have sales on certain styles throughout the year so keep your eyes open for those to save even more.

Have a wonderful month! I am going to be away on a vacation until the end of March so I will update then with a review of some brand accessories I recently obtained. Stay lovely!

January 18th, 2016 Meet Up

Hello lovelies! Yesterday there was a meet up planned at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn. They had free admission and parking in celebration of Martin Luther King Day. There were about 20 people there I believe? Unfortunately we were late due to bad roads and unforeseen circumstances and never managed to find the large group! Though we did run into two other lolitas, we mostly stayed on our own but still had fun.

My friend Virginia came along with me. She is new to lolita and this was her first time wearing it out. Unfortunately for her we had more people come up to us with questions and wanting photos than I've ever had. We got so many compliments and people who genuinely polite and interested. Luckily, even the people who were not as polite were not out right malicious to us. There is a certain amount of leeway that needs to be provided while wearing alternative fashions because, no matter how silly it seems to us, people are going to want to know why you're dressed that way.

We explored the museum and saw some really great exhibits. I hadn't been to this museum since I was a small child and I didn't remember anything (except the Weiner-Mobile) so it was like going to a brand new place! Here are a few of my favorite pieces:

The Women's Suffrage Display

Antique Lamps & Wood Stoves

This plane made me smile!

JFK's car

Showing the anatomy of the Model T

When we were finished at the museum we drove to Midland to go to our favorite sushi place. They offer great vegan options and my favorites kind of tempura. Here is what I ate.

Miso Soup  (Fish free!)

Sweet Potato Tempura

Lastly, and what you probably wanted to see in the first place, are some pictures of my friend & I. I will include outfit breakdowns at the very end. Thank you for reading and have a beautiful week. <3

Greenfield Village was closed but made for a cute photo!

Virginia

Makeup! My first time wear falsies.

Virginia's Outfit:
Head bow, skirt (jsk actually), shoes, bag, and keychain: Bodyline
Blouse: Baby The Stars Shine Bright
Rings: Off-brand and Chocomint
Everything else: Off-brand

Kayla's Outfit:
JSK and head bow: Cloudberry Lady (See review here)
Blouse: Glittertale
Shoes and ankle socks: Bodyline
Twin Bows: Innocent World
Moon Clip: Chocomint?
Everything else: Thrifted or off-brand

2016 Buying Goals & An Update

Hello lovelies! I wanted to give everyone still reading an update on my life and on the plans for this blog. Unfortunately this past year I did not have many opportunities to wear lolita and have had some computer issues. Because of those reasons, this blog was pretty quiet throughout 2015. However I have great news for the new year. I have multiple purchases that have come in recently, a meetup coming up, and several other plans for future posts. I also now am borrowing a computer so I can update as need be. My goal is to update this blog at least once a month throughout this year and to share more of what is happening in my jfashion life. :) So I hope you'll all look forward to that.

Now, on to the main point of this post. Last year I made a post about what my buying goals were for the year. It really helped me stay focused and make less impulse buys. I bought several of the items on that list. Unfortunately several of those items didn't fit me properly and either have been sold or will be in the future. The ones I was able to keep are amazing though. You will be seeing posts on several of them throughout the coming months.

So here is what I'd like to get this year. Some of it is continued on from last year because I was unable to obtain them this year. On top of these items I am intending to make a taobao order this year (for the first time yay!) and will be getting several dresses hopefully that I've had my eye on. I will definitely be letting you all know when that happens and will review my shopping service and purchases. On to the pictures!

Any brand/off-brand brown wristcuffs.

Any brand/off-brand white wristcuffs.

White pagoda umbrella. BtSSB preferred.

Chess Chocolate mint replica with border print.

Pink mermaid sandals.

BtSSB dark brown treasure purse.

Evil Live (or similar) 3-way heart bag. Pink or gold.