Wednesday, 14 August 2013

Bargain Ebay Hunting: Sweet Heart Bloomers REVIEW!


So my bloomers have finally arrived from Ebay!

Link to seller

I bought them from Ebay for 157 SEK /24 USD /15.5£ including postage.

They are available in a range of sizes - XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL and they can even tailor make them for you, and it doesn't cost anything extra!

I am 176 cm tall and I weigh 70 kg, so I got the XL size for comfort (you don't want your bloomers to sit too tight!)

I fell for these bloomers because they where affordable and have such a cute heart pocket <3


They arrived in a soft package from DHL, which was kind of an inconvenience for me, because if they had sent it with the ordinary post, the postman would have delivered the package to my door.

Now I had to walk an extra 6 km the wrong direction to another part of town to fetch the packet. But maybe that says something about how sparse the DHL delivery centers are in my city, not the choice of delivery method (which was excellent, quick and traceable).


Packed out! What I immediately noticed was the lace - it is of good quality, nice and soft - but the hue is slightly off white/ ivory - so it doesn't quite match the very white cotton in the pants.
On the Ebay picture of the product this does not show!

I like ivory tones, so I was actually happily surprised, but for all you Lolita's out there who wants the white-white, you should probably not order this product!

Here's a detail of the lace and ribbon. I liked the hue of the pink ribbon, but the quality of the ribbon was pretty ordinaire.


And the heart pocket is so adorable!

But then I noticed something really wierd...


There was a tag in the back that simply and carelessly has been ripped off?!
Is this some kind of stolen goods? Are they maybe really brand bloomers?
The questions are many... but the fact remains that there is a really itchy, awful and ugly ripped off label in the back... *sigh* I have to remove the pieces myself...


And these are the bloomers on! The cotton is still a bit stiff on this photo, but after I washed it, it was much better!


To summarise my review:
3/5
Cutesy affordable bloomers with some small issues...

Ebay seller: 5/5 - Quick delivery, great response.
Did the product match the selling photo? 3/5 - No, it didn't. The lace was a different hue and the ripped off tag in the back is really awkward.
Quality: 3/5 - Nothing extraordinary, the sewing seems good.
Comfort: 3/5 - After wearing them for a day I concluded the following: The lace is soft, but after a while it is a bit itchy, and the elastic waist band is a bit stiff. Even though I got a bigger size than was recommended, the waistband cuts in a little bit - not much, but still a little. But the cotton is very nice! Even when you are not in Lolita, they are great to wear under skirts when you are riding a bicycle.
Price compared to quality: 4/5 - the fact that they can tailor-make them for you, is a great deal.

Feels alright after a day! :D

1 year update: 
The bloomers have all but fallen apart :) These are really Lolita-newbie bloomers XD 
And I have so moved forward from these. 
I've bought a pair from metamorphose that I really enjoy, but my secret dream is to purchase a pair from Atelier Dormir! Laelette makes the most wonderful creations and I'm really hoping she will expand her brand to encompass dresses soon as well :D

Tuesday, 13 August 2013

Fall in love with Poyopoyo!

I'm totally in love with Poyopoyo right now! :)
Poyo
Poyo is the football sized cat that lives in a family... Sounds derp? Sounds like Garfield?
No, it's soooooo cute... (and better than Garfield!)

It starts of with the daughter of the family falling asleep on Poyo in the street, 'cause she's so drunk and she thinks he looks like a pillow... She brings the cat home, and the tough Dad loves him, but the sisters brother is a bit cautious at first... Poyo has stolen Pokemons voice BTW =^.^=

The vivid anime cartoon episodes are 02:56 minutes, dead cute and FUNNY!

It's so veeeery Japanese! :) You really feel for the family characters, even after just watching a few episodes.

You can watch all episodes for free at Crunchyroll, which seems to be a great site for anime.

Check out the show Poyopoyo here!




Vocaloid Hatsune Miku 6th Anniversary and the tale of the leek

The tale of my softie blue haired doll...

At NärCon this year, in the swap shop - I got my paws upon this little cutie... (for 30 sek! Happy happy)
Now who's that? Well, it's Vocaloid Hatsune Miku of course! :D

Today, KarenT released the preview of Hatsune Mikus 6th Anniversary.

Here's a little synopsis for all you out there who has been hibernating the last 6 years and missed out on the huge Vocaloid hype or if you just want a little in-depth story about Hatsune Miku (For the rest of you, jump down to below the next picture):

Hatsune Miku is a computer generated pop star, a Vocaloid. 
Vocaloid is the software program/ singing synthesiser developed by Yamaha back in the days. The programme technically breaks the sample voice down into phonetic bits and pieces, so that you can rearrange them in the manner you like, to create a whole new pop song!

Since Hatsune Miku's commercial release in August 2007, she has truly taken the world as one of the greatest pop singers.

The fact that she is completely computerised, based upon the sampled voice of Japanese voice actress Saki Fujita, makes her even more interesting... and she never has to answer to fans about using playback ;=

As sent from the future, Hatsune Miku gives live performances as any other pop star to huge audiences. Her outer physics were developed by anime drawer KEI Gurou, who worked in the Yamaha synthesisers characteristic colour scheme (teal blue) and bars from the synthesiser programme.

Hatsune Miku is forever 16, is 152 cm short and weighs 42 kg.

So 6 years on, what has happened to Hatsune Miku now?

Well, the vocaloid hype is definitely over, but Hatsune Miku still has fans out there!

This year the company released Vocaloid playing cards, Precious memories, based upon Hatsune Miku and her friends. (Maybe a sign of declination?)

Hatsune Miku held a large concert in Kansai, Japan, as well. You can watch the whole concert here!

As for the debate technology vs humans - I say go technology! Just check out how f****d all child stars get - the list is long but say for example Britney Spears, Drew Barrymore and Justin Bieber have totally flipped out. So much more mentally healthy to use an anime cartoon drawing, some samples and POW you've got a new smiling super-forever-young-and-slim pop star :)

The Leek / Spring Onion :D LOL


LEEEEEEK
So whats up with my cutesy stuffie holding a leek anyway? 

It started of as a prank of the Finnish nonsense song by a band called Loituma and a funny video of  Orihime from anime Bleach spinning a leek... http://www.leekspin.com/

So, as for being a software programme you can (ab)use Hatsune Miku anyway you like ;) And make a gibberish Finnish spinning leek song...

LOL it's sooooo nerdy I don't know were to start ;)

Monday, 12 August 2013

I've bought my first Lolita dress!

This is a BIG thing.

I practically really can't afford it... but who can wait for like forever to get your own first dress? (So there is a hole in my economy - but I'll try to sell some of my old stuff on Ebay to get more money! ;)

First and foremost, it has been so difficult to choose which Lolita style I want to belong to.
For me there are 3 big different Lolita "girly" styles: Goth, Sweet and Classic.
(Boy style and Aristocrat are not "girly")

I'm really not into black at the moment, so Goth was out of the question (even though there are some neat purple and red prints out there!)

Sweet is so wonderful! I love the Fairy Kei Lolita with lots of pastels...

But... when my browser eyes fell upon this beautiful Classic Lolita dress in Velvet Cream...
It was to die for - I just knew it when I saw it. 
That will be my first dress! :)
Infanta Pumpkin Carriadge Cinderella JSK 89.99 USD
Infanta is a Chinese Lolita Brand that comes in a variety of sizes and the brand shop is on Taobao (Chinese Ebay) (Link to Infantas shop on Taobao).

MissyTetra has several excellent posts and reviews on Infantas dresses - you can read them here. 

I am 176 cm long and I weigh 70 kg, and Infanta's size XL will fit me if I lose 1 or 2 kg's of water weight (no more sweets until I get that dress! ;) LOL) (I'm really an XXL according to their size guide, but they only sold this dress up to XL!)

Being that tall, I'm worried that the dress will be too short. When the dress arrives I'll see if I need a lengthening underskirt to go with it.

I chose to buy the dress from Light in the box, since taobao is so complicated. Tabao is cheaper (you can buy the same dress as I bought for only 498 yuan (81 USD), but you have to have a Chinese cell phone number to confirm the order. If you wish to buy from Taobao, you can use a shopping service - Hello Lace has a taobao guide if you wish to venture that.

I bought the dress from Light in the box, anyway. I have never ordered from them before, so I hope everything will go well!

I ordered a lace blouse and some stockings too.
Aristocrat Lolita Cotton Blouse 49.99 USD
It was important to me that the blouse and stockings are made of cotton, because I relly hate the feeling of cheap polyester against my skin!
Stockings cotton 30% off 7.99 USD
I actually started of looking at Ebay and Bodyline for my first Lolita dress. 

Bodyline is very cheap, but most of the clothes come in very small sizes - I have 2L or 4L even according to them, and very few items catered my size, so I was worried that maybe the items also would be to short. Bodyline seems mostly cater to Sweet, Gothic and Kuro Lolitas.

All Bodyline's blouses are made out of polyester by the way! That's a terrible material to have close to your skin. I'd never buy that material for a blouse. Cotton, linen, bamboo, silk - natural materials are the way to go!

On the other hand, Bodyline had a great line of very affordable shoes! It looked like it was the same items that were available at Light in the Box, but with 40 USD lower price!

So I bought these beauties from Bodyline:

Shoes 251 from Bodyline 40 USD (and 10 USD postage)
I usually always wear leather shoes, but both Peachie and Vanessa Lopa swear to the comfort of Bodylines shoes, so I have to give it a go! Plus the fact I couldn't find any Lolita style real leather shoes anyway...

I chose flats because I'm so tall, I really don't need to add more height :) And I think flats look really classy.

Ebay has a great Chinese Lolita seller: cosplay007. They have beautiful Lolita clothes for very cheap prices, and they tailor sew them especially for you! That is some good service :) They announce that they can make anything at all - so if you want to, you can design your own dress and send it over to them, and they will sew it for you. They have a wide range of fabrics and colours to choose from as well.

A quick google on cosplay007 gives different reviews - some love it (and they are willing to compromise quality for the low price) and some were very disappointed, because they had received the wrong colour etc.

I will give cosplay007 a shot in the future, because I would love to own a tailor made dress!

But for this first, I fell for Infantas beautiful dress :).

I bought a wig from Ebay. My hair is medium brown, so I chose a wig that is dark brown to add some variety. Having a fringe on your wig is great - because it looks more natural and if you have a different coloured wig from your eyebrows, you can cover your eyebrows with the fringe.

I chosed a classic wig look to complement my classic Lolita dress.
Dark Brown Wig from Ebay 8.54 USD
And of course I need a pretty bow!
I couldn't find a matching bow to the dress print anywhere on the internet (I think the Infanta dress print I chose is from last season). So I bought a bargain Velvet Big Bow from Ebay.
Cream White Velvet Bow from Ebay 4.99 USD
I also bought my bloomers from Ebay.
White bloomers with heart pocket approx. 24 USD (incl postage)
From the local Swedish thrift store - the Red Cross - I stumbled upon this darling real leather Grandma Handbag. It needs a little TLC and something Lolita added to it, but it cost only 30 SEK (4.6 USD)
Granny bag in real leather from the local thrift store - 4.6 USD
I'm thinking of adding some jewellery to my handbag: maybe something like this:
Classic lolita brown flower pearl tassel 18.99 USD
And my petticoat is from the Salvation Army, it cost 40 SEK (6.1 USD).
Petticoat from VILA found at the Salvation Army for 6.1 USD
So all in all, my whole first outfit cost me ca 1750 SEK or 269 USD. That is including postage and a parcel insurance for 5 USD at Taobao (Don't know if it was worth it, but I'm better safe than sorry!)

269 USD for the first Lolita outfit is rather cheap - Just to buy a lucky pack from a brand with perhaps 1 skirt or 1 blouse costs often even more. I could probably gotten a cheaper dress, but I'm not sure I would be happy with the quality.
So I feel very satisfied with the end costs!

I'll be even more satisfied when the mail comes with all my lovely new stuff! :D

And then I will post all the REVIEWS - of course! :D
<3 BIG HUGZ <3

Ps. Now I just have to get my paws on this one: Infanta's Cinderella Embroidery Coat! I LOVE!

Sunday, 11 August 2013

Hilarious Lolitas

These videos OMG you must watch them :)

Don't give up 'cause they seem a bit amateur at start, just watch...

And laugh until you peewee in your bloomers ;) LOL


Episode 5
Episode 4
Episode 3
Episode 2

I didn't link to the first episode, because it wasn't that good :) It was their first and all the other videos are a HUGE improvement compared to the first one.

There's an Australian guy-Lolita spin-off too! :D


And this absolutely fabulous Death-By-Cupcakes video...

And not to forget MC Melod¥ Doll! You can buy her hit single at iTunes ;D
http://xelyna.tumblr.com/

Saturday, 10 August 2013

Bargain make-up from Ebay - Efolar mineral blush review

I've been kind of wary of buying Asian make-up, mostly because the Swedish government is often good at screening make-up for harmful substances. There are plenty of laws in the EU and in Sweden to protect customers from make-up with dangerous ingredients.

Asia's market seems... kind of unregulated in comparison.

...But when I came by this bargained price mineral blush, I felt I had to give it a shot!

For only 17 SEK/2.48 USD (including postage!) I received this blusher in my mailbox the other day.
Mineral powder blush with sponge puff on Ebay from seller justinyrd
I love mineral make-up, it is the only make-up I can wear everyday without getting skin break-outs. I'm usually a fan of British mineral make-up brand Lily Lolo - but I get so frustrated with there pots!

When I use Lily Lolo's blushers, I have to apply the loose mineral powder with a brush from the pot - with the consequence that pink dust falls over the entire bathroom! (Yuck) 

So, this Ebay mineral blusher has a built-in puff, which might minimise the pink dust issue...

So this is what the box looked like:
Brand name "Efolar" Cheek Rouge minerals

I chose colour #4 "Matte Pink"

So this is what the product looks on the skin.

As you can see, the puff doesn't disperse the powder properly, there's a large hole in the middle were there should be make-up.

But for that kind of price, I'm willing to compromise.

As for getting pink dust all over my bathroom, this product is slightly better than the usual Lily Lolo loose mineral blush routine.

I'm wearing no other make-up but the blusher.
When I apply the blusher to my cheeks - the effect is great! :D Very natural and the shade compliments my skin perfectly. So that was very satisfying. And the blusher stays on the skin for like forever!

I can't guarantee that the blusher keeps its promise with no parabens, bismuth, oxy chloride, talc or other irritants, but I haven't experienced any rashes or break-outs with this blusher.

And I'm SO going to buy some of the other shades as well :)

XOXOXO


Review:
Did the items match the pictures on Etsy? 5/5 Absolutely!
Where the items of good quality? 5/5 Very good quality.
How was the sellers communication? 5/5 Great!
Cost versus quality? 5/5 Absolutely affordable!

Friday, 9 August 2013

How to look good in photo shoots!

I'm actually just going to link this post directly to Amanda at Elementals Online for her brilliant YouTube video series "Posing in Cosplay: How to get Photo's that don't Suck".

Amanda is a professional Cosplay photographer and in this program she shares her stunning 10 years of experience about photo shoots. Since I've realised that beautiful pictures are vital in a Lolitas life - because so much social networking seems to happen online,
I found Amandas videos to be filled with great tips and tricks that poofs your next photo shoot!

It's a three part video series, and every part is about 25 minutes long, 
so grab some popcorn and start watching them!



Lolita secrets revealed and horrifying beauty terrors unveiled!

Have you ever looked at professional Lolita photos and felt that your petticoat doesn't poof enough?

Maybe you wonder how those girls are blessed with those almost non-human dolly eyes and perfect porcelain skin?

How their eye lashes can be so thick and long?

Were they just born very lucky?
http://animecka.se/forum/Japan/3821
Well, Lolita fashion insider, excellent Lolita-blogger and part-time model Victoria Suzanne 
(www.parfaitdoll.com) reveals the truth behind the daunting pictures of fab:

Did you think you could cut it with one Angelic Pretty or one btssb petticoat? They are brand petticoats after all, aren't they?

WELL, the answer is... NO.
The Lolita models use 3 thick good quality petticoats under their dresses to attire the right poof!

(This reminds me of my friend who worked with selling beds, to attain the right bedding fluff, they used 2-3 thick feather duvets - and the customer would never achieve the same poof with only one at home!)
If you want that poof, layering is the key! Picture source
Victoria herself states that she most often uses 3 petticoats herself, being an Angelic Pretty fan - the cupcake shape is essential for her style. 

And for the dolly eye look - No way it's all natural there!

The models wear circle lenses - a fashion eye lens that widens the brim of your iris,
and they may wear as many as 5 (!) pairs of false eye lashes!

www.luuux.com
For achieving the perfect porcelain doll skin, the make-up artists air brush them...
Not really my daily foundation fingerpaint routine  ;-)

http://aivymakeup.blogspot.se/2012/01/airbrush-make-up-vs-traditional-make-up.html
As for making the dresses fit - how about an old fashioned Victorian corset in non forgiving metal that makes you swoon? Or a tomboy-bra to keep your chest small?
Breast binder
And on top of that, we of course have the retouch magic of Photoshop!  :-)

So don't give up on your outfit if it doesn't cut the pro standard,
chances are that in real life, 
your outfit might actually be better than the pro's!

And remember - you can't fit into many designer dresses if you are tall, busty, not skinny or not petite. I guess, you're not the average teenage Japanese girl!  :-) But that's alright - here's a fantastic guide how to survive as a plus size Lolita, and here a great interviews with plus size Lolitas!

On the topic of circle lenses, these posts below were the most horrific reading I did today... I think I'll pass on the lenses and stick with my granny glasses instead!
Visible corneal damage after wearing defective circle lens.
There was no way telling that it was defective before the damage happened. 

Thursday, 8 August 2013

The Lolita beginners' Lolita beginner-guide to Lolita fashion

*Giggle* I just looove that heading! Cause it's sooo true - I'm such a freshy, such a baby, such a newcomer in the lacey-frill-world of Lolita...

I'm going to rant about my first Lolita experience here, so if you just want the Lolita fashion basics, scroll down to under the picture of Momoko in pink dress :)

I stepped out of my comfort zone just a couple of weeks ago, dressed in something I thought was Lolita...
But still, the glory of first-time mistakes: the skirt was a bit too short, it was too hot for stockings and I'd just pulled out a bad quality polyester dress from my closet and snapped a petticoat underneath... Easy to fix newbie-mistakes.

Yet I came home and felt absolutely refreshed!
I could wear something that I liked - not something I am socially obliged to wear!
It was so fantastically invigorating!

I didn't give a hey what anyone thought about me! I felt absolutely beautiful, and I loved every little thread of my first maybe-not-so-Lolita outfit! (Perhaps I'll post some pics of it later, it was rather cute).

It was truthfully, like stepping out of a closet :) LOL
I have since the day I was born, loved Lolita-style outfits.
How I, as an adult, have lingered in the children section of the department store, wondering why they couldn't make Christmas special dresses with frills and bows in just a little bigger sizes? So, perhaps, I could squeeze into it? (Being a 5 ft 9"1/3 /176 cm Amazon didn't really help ;)

After my outing, my first official Lolitaesque-style-experience, I was sparkling with the sense that I just made a new fashion-BFF. It made me plummet into an in-depth week, hanging around in Lolita FAQs, forums, facebook-groups, tumblr photos, you tube fashion documentaries, lolita vlogs... *phew* I see pretty lolitas in my sleep!

I know almost everything now about the quintessential of the Lolita fashion style, be it a subtype (Classic, Sweet, Gothic, Country), a crossover (Fairy Kei-, Dolly Kei-, Mori Girl- Lolita) or even not-really-accepted-sub-sub-type (Bittersweet) of the style.

What I perceived as the most basic Lolita-spirit of heart is that
first and foremost, it is a FASHION. 
A style, a way to dress yourself in the morning.
Aka it is NOT a costume, not a pretend-play or game. 
It's hardcore sweet (or classic or scary LOL).

And of course, I noticed ALL blogs mentioned it - so I should too - it has nothing to do with the novel with the same name ;) Here's a good explanation to that!
Lolita is a fashion based upon Victorian-, Edwardian- and Rococo-era children clothes. 

What I as a beginner sieved through all these masses of Lolita-information, is the basic shape of the basic Lolita outfit:

1) Something in your beautiful hair/wig ;)
Be it a bonnet, big bow or headdress...

2) Elegant make-up (a big no-no to gothic white-face)
or no make-up, if you are a young Lolita.

3) Preferably to show as little skin as possible
between your neck and the tip of your toes
- i.e. to wear high collar necks, long sleeve blouses/dresses
or at least puff-sleeves and opaque stockings and decent underwear,
like bloomers or at least thigh-length tights.

4) A petticoat. The Lolita-heroine in Kamikaze girls does not have a petticoat, 
but it seems to me that 99% of the online Lolita society disagrees to this. But no rules without exceptions, I guess ;)
It doesn't have to be a 3-4 super-poofy organza pettis', cotton-cloth pettis' or chiffon works well with more subtle coords.

5) Accessories! Doesn't matter which Lolita style you choose - a plain dress without all the details is just a plain ol' boring dress :) It seems to me that the thought and love that you bring into your accessories defines your quality as a Lolita.

6) Coordination is the key - I've read this so many times.
Lolita is all about looking elegant and feeling good abut yourself!

:)

Here are links to more Lolita beginners guides!
(They are ALL written by Lolitas who know a great deal more about the fashion style than I do :)
http://lolita-tips.tumblr.com/post/15375960036/a-beginner-lolitas-guide-to-avoiding-common-beginner
http://thevelveteenlolita.blogspot.se/2012/03/tips-for-beginner-lolitas.html
http://hellolace.net/about/novices-guide
http://fyeahlolita.blogspot.se/2009/10/how-to-avoid-being-ita.html
http://www.youtube.com/user/PeachieAngelPrincess?feature=watch
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheLolisteinChannel

Yup, that pretty much covers it, I think.
All other things are secondary, take for example shoe-styles: they can be very specific Lolita, or they can be simple ballerinas, Mary-Janes, classic pumps or boots! They can have any height in heels - if it looks good, and it feels good it is good! :)

So, now, we await the mailman :)
Online shopping is the key to Lolita fashion,
if you aren't making the clothes yourself or have friends who have
the same dress-size and wants to sell you their beautiful pieces to you second hand :)
which would be my favourite pick *hint, hint*.

And we wait... and perhaps we drink a cup of tea?

http://phillydiamond.buzznet.com/photos/weeklyfashionblogswe/?id=66834901

Kawaii Licca boasted success over seducive Barbie in Japan

Did you know that Japan has their own indigenous successful Barbie-like doll? She is called "Licca Kayama" and was originally created after heroines in Shojo Manga, popular in Japan in the 1960s when the first Licca-doll was released.

Licca in a Lolita-inspired dress
Apparently Licca was more successful than Barbie due to the fact that she more similarly resembled Japanese idols with her petite appearance and her young age (11). Personally, I believe that the Starry-Big-Manga eyes are the main feature of  her success! :D

Philosophically, Licca portrays the Japanese dream of Kawaii; eternal pre-pubertal youth and eminent sweetness. In contrast, Barbie - the westerners ideal dream girl - is more grown up and portrays larger-than-life glamour (and bosom).

Here is an excellent blogpost about Licca, with lots of beautiful pictures and an interview with a collector!
http://www.kawaiiotaku.com/licca-chan-japans-smallest-idol/

I especially love these pictures of an almost-sweet-lolita-style (they rarely get the Lolita style all right when it comes to dolls and anime or manga - she's showing of a bit too much skin for my taste ;).

Licca with pink hair and a fabulously over sized bow! (Copyright Kawaii Otaku 2013)

http://www.kawaiiotaku.com/licca-chan-japans-smallest-idol/


Licca stands in stark contrast to Barbie:

Photo from Elaine Eeksvärd

The question is what Licca would look like when she grows up? 
Would she look like Barbie?

No, actually she wouldn't! This is what grown ups in Liccas world looks like, still sweet and Japanese! I love the grandma :) She's just how I would picture a Japanese lady :)
Still, there are plenty of similarities between Barbie and Licca. They are both girlygirl dolls with conservative values. And please - WHY does the company announce how much Licca weighs?! (See top photo, 34 kg) That's just plain stupid and weird! No healthy 11-year old should be occupied of how much she or he weighs!
http://www.takaratomy.co.jp/english/products/licca/profile/family.html
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