Procrastination, Practicality, or Just Plain Poor {Lolita 52 Challenge}

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Hello Hello!! Before I get into today's prompt I just want to point out the updated layout for Monochrome Sparkle!I have moved my about me to its own page after basically destroying it for the sake of reducing side scrolling so go check that out! Learn all about my crazy life.
Anyway, today's prompt is "Why don't I wear lolita more often?", which is as good a question as any. Unfortunately there's not any big important reason. The fact of the matter is I just don't have a big enough closet to wear it any more than I do and even beyond that I just don't have the money to improve and maintain a larger closet for the most part.
I take close care of my pieces either hand washing or dry cleaning them, the latter of which is fairly expensive and while my parents DO help me quite frequently with the fees, almost always in fact, there is pacing to consider. I don't want to bleed my parents dry!
I have about seven jumperskirts and two skirts. That's it. And while I coordinate them very well and with a lot of different items there's not enough to really wear more often than I do, which is fairly often anyway! I dress four times a week at least, so it's not like I'm skipping out most of the time.
On top of that, I have to worry about wearing out my dresses. At which point I should tell the sad and short story of my first brand dress:
I once bought my first jumperskirt from San Francisco's BTSSB store and I loved that dress. Incidentally, it was my only jumperskirt for more than a year and I wore probably once a week! And I wore it into the *ground* by the time I retired it, it was covered in tiny stains, the lace was yellowed, and there were tiny rips along the seams.
The moral of that story is, if you wear a dress too often you basically slowly destroy it, and in an effort to avoid that myself with my current closet I have to take care to not wear my dresses to often.
So in essence, the reason I don't wear lolita more often is I'm not to the point where my closet can facilitate more than what I currently wear.
Till next time!

Why I wear Lolita? {Lolita 52 challenge}

It's just like the title says this time around, why do I wear lolita? I haven't done one of these in a while because I haven't posted in a while.  But that's the prompt, and boy what a loaded question. I've actually thought about this a lot ever since I read a questionnaire a couple years ago about lolita. As soon as I read it I really knew the answer-- so, what is the answer? This answer is a few parts.

Lolita is part of who I am. It represents part of me.

I started lolita at a very young age, around 14, back when I didn't really have an identity for myself. The existential question "Who am I" would have hit deep if I had considered it in between contrived stanzas of poetry and bad deviant art uploads. So, when I found lolita, along with some other things, I felt connected and grew around it and into it. Not so much artificially selecting myself for lolita traits but instead just growing in knowledge and experience relevant to the culture around lolita. Everyone grows up with cultural influences that shape them, people who participate in band, high academics, plantation society. Mine happened to be lolita.

I love the way it looks.

What more can I say? I don't know why, it's just part of me. I adore the look. The supreme girliness and unabashed self appreciation that goes into wearing lolita. I also like the fact that its technically an alt fashion and is really weird and out there.

The community is relatable and connecting.

While the lolita community has a lot of draw backs to it, the drama, the cattiness, it has a good side too. It brings together people from many walks of life and allows me to meet new people. And beyond that I feel like I belong. I fit in somewhere. It's hard to say that because everyone is encouraged to strike out on their own but honestly, people need support, people to relate to. That's what the lolita community does for me. I can ask advice, and talk to people, have things in common with people everywhere from Scandinavia to Japan.

So basically, lolita is just right to me. I didn't think about why when I did it, and now I only think why because I'm asked. It's ineffable and it's my fashion.

My heart belongs to... {Lolita 52 Challenge}

Hello Hello! Took longer on this post, so sorry. I'm trying to be a better blogger!
Today's prompt is "Your favorite brand" and probably the easiest so far! I have always had a special place in my heart for one brand in particular, no matter how much I love other brands. I'm siding with Momoko on this one; Baby the Stars Shine Bright has my heart.

So, what makes Baby my top pick?

 

• BTSSB's creative leanings: Whether it's the old school style or the rococo and extravagant OPs they just seem to know me so well. They have really wonderful design ideas and tend to leave prints to Angelic Pretty most of the time
• Serious attention to detail: Every piece Baby puts out, almost without fail, has multiple types of lace, careful construction decisions and things you would just never notice without being up close. They pick great materials to start with and end with great designs to tie everything up!
• Kamikaze Girls: Seems nebulous? Kamikaze Girls was one of the most formative things for me as a Lolita getting into the fashion and is still one of my favorite movies. Fight Club and Kamikaze Girls...heh. And as anyone who has seen Kamikaze Girls can tell you, Baby The Stars Shine Bright is basically 1/3 of the plot! It's eternally tied and in turn I have attachment to it as well.

• Older style: Being more ornate and less decorated in comparison to AP I find it appealing. I really do love the more monarchical feeling. It's not all Hyper sweet but instead a more verbose sweet. If that makes any sense!
• Versatility: Maybe Baby is more demure and less kawaii, but that doesn't mean that's all it can be. The last thing I really love about Baby is that their clothes can be as stated but can also be hyper cute, or classic, and possibly, on a full moon, even gothic! So much opportunity is important for me since I have a very low closet turn over and its really something I pay attention to.
• Sentimental Value: Baby was where I bought my first JSK from, and my first brand piece. I took a trip to San Fran when I was younger during the beginning of my Lolita life and it left an indelible mark for certain.

So in conclusion, Baby has my heart forever and I don't care for a cure.
See you next time!
(All pictures taken from Baby's San Fran Blog)

Am I an Economist or a Lolita? {Lolita 52 Challenge}

Good day (And I mean it is a good day), and another prompt. Today's prompt is "my wardrobe turnover" which is...uh, I'm not quite sure? I think its supposed to mean how many clothes do I go through? Like the exchange of new clothes and old clothes. The throwing out and taking in? Sounds kind of like I'm talking tax returns and net sales income. Haha. BUT! It's a prompt so I'll guess what it is and roll with it.

The fact is I am 16. I'm 16 and I don't have a job. I get 25 dollars every other weekend as my allowance and money from presents for like Christmas and my birthday, etc. So all of my dresses have been saved for for a good long while in order to buy. Some only took a few months, others took a full year or more. With that in mind, I don't have much of ANY wardrobe turnover.

 I've been reduced by three items my entire duration. One was a gift I passed down to my friend who was getting into lolita- my first item to her first. The second was my first brand dress and I ended up....finishing with it (?) because I wore it into the ground. It was faded and yellowing and had quite a few stains on it and it was just done. The last was a skirt which was just too small for me and I tried to wear but couldn't do it comfortably, so I sold it to my friend. In conclusion, I have minimal if any turn over. Seriously. All my items are purchased because I LOVE them. Full on adore, choose them and think about it for months while I save up for them.

I also only take in like one or two dresses a year. Three if its like a blow away year. At the moment I own two skirts, and around 8 dresses. In five years of being in lolita. That breaks down to like two items a year. Of course I get other items too. Accessories, socks, bows, fabric, all that jazz. But big items? Two a year. 183 days and one item. 

I'm not complaining too much though. I love every piece in my wardrobe dearly.

That being said- I'm always looking to increase my quarterly intake. Winkwinknudgenudge.

Till next prompt guys!

Your Heart, Your Head, and Your Hat {Lolita 52 Challenge}

Hello lovelies! Today's prompt is "Favorite Thing to Put on My Head" and that is a damn good question! Do I say bows, like most lolitas? Do I say cake, because, come on, cake! Or do I say flowers?

Two Guesses?

How about none of these!

I'll be the first to tell you, I am a hat kind of girl. There's something so potent about wearing a really on your head hat. Hats can have historical significance. They can change the entire feel or aesthetic of an outfit. Just a switch from a top hat to a wide brim hat (A la Carmen Sandiego) can turn you from the mad hatter to Irene Adler!
Personally, I derive a lot of inspiration from historical fashion and hats are a great great way of really feeling that inspiration. I recently got a psuedo Bergere hat as a gift. I had been pining away for a while and someone was kind enough to get it for me, which was so sweet. I *LOVE* this hat. Aside from being springy and unusual, it also was very popular among the french aristocracy when they would visit the countryside. If you couldn't tell from my other posts, I am a rococo nut. I really love the aesthetics of it, so this was too perfect.

(My lovely hat)

I currently own two berets, the bergere hat, a british riding hat, a boater hat, a BTSSB bonnet, a mini tricorn, and a few others I honestly cant remember! I dont wear them nearly as much as I'd like to because mostly I got to school and they're pretty anti hat, plus bows are more versatile, but when I do it really just brings the outfit to a new level.

Well, that's about all I can ramble about hats for now, so until next prompt; Bye!

A day in the life {Lolita 52 Challenge}

Well, today's prompt is "What my own Lolita lifestyle is like" and I'll be honest with you; I had a hell of a time quantifying it. Lolita and the lolita lifestyle is such an integral part of who I am and what I do its not active decision making. Its just my tastes and my attentions. So with that in mind.....

(Unknown source)

My lolita lifestyle is striving to live in fairytale palace, a Versailles skyscraper, and a royal dinner party. My lifestyle is having a heart of diamonds and pearls, and having expensive taste and no regrets. My lifestyle is waking up in the morning and reaching for my petticoat without even thinking. It's being able to rattle of my outfits from the past 4 meetups and not being able to remember what I ate for dinner. It's walking down the street and feeling confident enough to look every person that passes in the eyes and smile at them. My lolita lifestyle is believing in my own personal aesthetics and appreciate my preferences. It's not buying into what I'm supposed to like and instead buying into what feels right to me.
I wear fake beauty marks because I feel like it. I own more tea cups than an old lady. I can identify the time period something takes place in by the fashion in it. I've walked into a Baby the Stars Shine Bright store before and almost cried. I've watched Kamikaze Girls over 7 times. And for that matter, I've written analysis' of Momoko's quotes and their philosophical impact before.
When it rains, I don't think "I should have worn pants today." I think "I really need to invest in a good lolita rain coat." Which is then quickly followed with remembering that one I saw on Baby's website last fall. Heading to school 3 out of 5 mornings at least dressed in lolita without a second thought. Getting a car and bringing a spool of ribbon to decorate it.
That's my lolita lifestyle, everyday. Its a LIFESTYLE. It's every day I am awake since I've gotten into the fashion. Because its me. Lolita is a punk, lolita is a lady, lolita is a rebel, lolita is angry, and happy, and excited, and outgoing, and lolita is how I feel.

I swear by these on the Holy Gothic Lolita Bible {Lolita 52 challenge}

The first one on the list of challenges is " 5 pieces that every Lolita wardrobe should have, regardless of style". And in my own personal opinion; here they are, the five things I swear by for the successful lolita.

1. A supremely fancy dress
        This can't be just any dress. This has to be THE dress. The dress that is something a princess could wear to a ball, or alternatively, hold vampire court in. It doesn't have to be huge but it has to be significantly fancier than a normal lolita dress. I'm currently in pursuit of this myself. >~> Baby's new release is beautiful beyond all belief.

2. An Organza petticoat
       The magic to these petticoats is that they don't deflate. They're puff is derived from the sheer amount of material instead of the stiffness of the fabric, insuring minimal if any deflation. One supplies everyday poof for ever and two is enough to make any AP girl weep tears of envy. I'm looking for a second one right now.

3. Community
       So many lolitas are in the world today, and for that matter gathering places! There's local communities, the EGL friending meme, the EGL free for all, plenty of forums, Conventions. So many opportunities to meet the other girls who share your hobby and passion. And I think its very important to remember that they do exist. Even if we live on opposite sides of the world, we have something in common. It's a really brilliant and uplifting thing, even if we do fight. It always seems to turn out ok.

4. A pair of cute shoes that don't make your feet bleed tears of fiery death
      That pair of heels with the pearls is all fine and dandy at a tea party, but when you're at a picnic, or a mall meet, or some other thing where you are on your feet for more than five minutes, how cute those shoes are don't mean jack shit. Find a pair of nice shoes that DON'T feel like the Spanish inquisition. You'll thank me later. (I have a pair of pink flat oxfords from www.goldenponies.net and I LOVE them)

5. A good camera (or at least a decent one)
      Even if you don't post pictures to the internet, you should still record your outfits. One day you're going to want to look back at the years past, progress, changes, etc and if you never recorded anything you are you of luck. You wont be able to remember everything on your own, get a little help with memory making.

Seven Days of Christmas Coordinate Countdown

I love Christmas. What a great holiday. And this year I'm doing something special to build up for Christmas- A seven day countdown of Christmas themed coordinates starting as of yesterday! Haha, yes. This is the plan:

~18th Tuesday: Victorian Caroler  Btssb bonnet, candy violet skirt, high collar blouse, pink fur dear Celine coat with capelet, cream tights, pink oxfords

~19th Wednesday: Clara (Nutcracker)- Glitter trump, peasant blouse + short sleeved blouse, pink oxfords, flower knee highs, braided updo

~20th Thursday: Santa- Red btssb bustleback dress, santa hat, brown boots, cream tights, brown belt, brown purse

21st Friday (Travel Day): Mouse (Not a Creature Was Stirring, Not Even a Mouse)- Brown Jsk, curly on-top-of head curls, brow blush +pink nose blush, BTSSB blouse, Lace tights, brown oxfords, fur ankle cuffs, white fur ear warmers

22nd Saturday: Snow angel- White skirt, peasant blouse, white headbow, white wristcuffs, joker style pearls, Gold heels, gold star clip, lace tights

23rd Sunday (Travel Day): Gingerbread Girl- Brown Jsk, pink tights, brown ankle socks, pink oxfords, pigtails, brown bows, pink necklace, 80’s pink shirt

24th Monday: Mother Mary- Chantilly replica skirt, Blue top, blue bow, gold cross/crucifix, blue oxfords, knit tights

25th Tuesday: Candy Cane- Red Btssb dress, cream sweater vest, red knit sock/white knit sock, red heels, High side ponytail w/ curl, red sweater

The days that say "travel" are the days I'm either going to or coming back from Atlanta where I'm visiting family for an early Christmas. Some Sacrifices will have to be made, and changes in plans but I'm doing it! Here is yesterdays outfit:

Victorian Caroler~

(I'm sorry for the poor photo quality on this one. Web-cameras are not professional for a reason. Haha.)

My outfit was:

Bonnet- BTSSB

Bustier + Skirt- Candy Violet

Blouse- Offbrand

Cream tights- Offbrand

Pink Oxfords (not shown)- Golden Pony