Lolita; wardrobe basics

You've fallen in love with Lolita.  It's OK.  There are people here for you; it's happened to all of us.

Whether you've run out and bought a beautiful brand print item because you can't live without it (that's how it happened to me) or you're just taking your first baby steps and daydreaming while searching through website after website, you're probably wondering where on Earth to start.  As with every fashion wardrobe, you should start with the basics...

Examples of basics

I've focused on Sweet Lolita for the examples and the majority are from Angelic Pretty but you're really looking for the shapes and styles.  I've also put them in order of priority (in my opinion).

Skirt/JSK

A plainer, non-printed skirt or JSK is a great choice for a starter-lolita.  It will probably be timeless and carry you through different seasons as well as being a good mix-and-match items in your growing wardrobe.

Petticoat and bloomers

A cupcake-shaped petticoat is a must to hold your new skirt in shape.  Without it, the silhouette looks flat and frankly, wrong.  Invest in a good petticoat in a basic white (or black for those building a wardrobe based on that colour) and you can wear it under most of your outfits-to-come.  Choose some comfy bloomers too to preserve your dignity!

Blouse/cutsew

You'll want something to go with that JSK or skirt, and that is where blouses and/or cutsews come in.  Look for a simple shape with minimal fussy details so it will suit most outfits.  Peter-Pan collars are popular for Sweet Lolita and one with detatchable sleeves will carry you through the seasons.

I'm a bit of a heretic.  I often wear simple high-street tops under my Lolita clothing and I think it looks fine.

Shoes

Shoes in your main colour are a must.  High-street shoes can clash with the style of Lolita so be careful when coordinating with them but it CAN be done which is why I've put these as a low-priority item.  A simple Mary-Jane style shoe suits most styles of Lolita.

Socks

A simple pair of over-the-knee or knee-high socks in a coordinating colour to your shoes will help to add the finishing touches to your outfit.  Again, choose a simple style so they can be worn a variety of ways.  A lot of places carry a simple lace-topped sock and these are usually best.

Hair accessories

I've put these last on the priority list as people generally have a few already!  Bows, clips, headbands; anything will do as long as it matches with your outfit and looks pretty.  That said, bows are the standard for Lolita and are definitely the 'crowning glory' of your outfit.  Although crowns are good too!

General advice

• Steer clear of eBay until you know what you're looking for.
• Keep a journal to note down the things you see that you like, wishes you want fulfilled and definitely what you have already, with pictures if possible.  This will make choosing new items and filling in gaps in your wardrobe super easy.
• REPLICAS: I say if you're new to Lolita and are still finding your feet and your personal style, buying a replica isn't the worst thing you could do.  
• Pick a main colour for your skirt/JSK, shoes, hair accessories and petticoat.  Choose a secondary colour for your blouse/cutsew and socks.  Good main colours are pastel pink, pastel blue (sax), black and red.  Good secondary colours are white (for any main colour) or co-ordinating pastels.
• If you've chosen a printed item for your skirt/JSK, choose a secondary colour that's in the print.
• Flat shoes are best for a first choice so you can get miles out of them.  If you choose heels, be prepared to walk in them at meets and in daily life.
• Consider getting a matching bag for your outfit that can hold all of your things.  Mis-matching bags can throw off the whole look.
• Keep you choices multi-seasonal with layers and breathable fabrics so you're not stuck with clothing you can only wear a few months of the year.

A few proven places for buying reasonable Lolita basics;

Bodyline - Good for blouses and basic JSK/OPs.  They do sales and/or free shipping every so often so worth checking back every now and again if they don't have current offers. ($1 AIR shipping until 31.11.11)

Anna House - A lot of items can be made-to-measure and are good value.

EGL Community Sales - Basics are often listed here and you can snap up brand pieces for a fraction of the cost of new.

Qutieland - Again, a lot of items can be made-to-measure (there can be a long wait for the items to be shipped, however) and they offer brand replicas and brand-influenced pieces as well as carrying lower price-bracket brands like KidsYoYo and Rose Melody.  Also great for shoes.

Clobbaonline - Similar to Qutieland, Clobbaonline acts as a buyer from the Chinese site TaoBao and is a great place to buy shoes, bags and Dream of Lolita brand replicas.

Learning to be the girl that knows her own style

The girl with a hundred dresses.  The girl who always rocks offbrand.
The girl with the amazing eyelashes.  The girl with all the Angelic Pretty.
The girl that loves bunny prints.  The girl that's always in green.
Feel lost yet?

With so many styles and so many choices, it sometimes seems difficult to make an image your own or stick to one thing.  So many people seem to have strongly defined taste and almost trademark style and they tend to be well known for just that; their image.  It can often seem difficult to define your OWN image but often it's just a case of rinse and repeat!

(image thanks to Kyra)

Build on strong foundations.
It might be that you want to start all over again with your personal style, but odds are that you already have one.  Build on it and what you're comfortable with and you may be happier than starting from scratch.  You will be more comfortable in your style if it's something you're accustomed to and it'll be you wearing the fashion, not the fashion wearing you!  Maybe you need to rejuvenate your closet before you start to build on it?

Stick to your guns and be yourself. 
Your favorite shoes might not be the most popular design, your socks might not quite reach your knees and your hair may not suit a particular style but it's YOUR style and YOUR choices. Don't let anyone dictate what you should wear; make yourself happy and others will notice your smile!

Don't be afraid to get what you LOVE not what's popular. 
There's an old adage of 'Fashion is what's available, style is what you choose from that' which I believe will always apply. It's easy to choose an outfit from clothes that are available, but it won't be your personal style. Mix in things that you love and bring your style to life.

Know your style, but don't be afraid to step outside it. 
I always think of one of my friends as always looking beautifully elegant in Moi Meme Moitie dresses, jewel tones and roses strewn through her hair but I know that she also has a lot of sweeter than sweet pastel frocks. Just because you choose to dress in different styles doesn't mean that the main impression people get from you should be diluted. Rock your personal style to it's fullest and it will translate to the masses.

xoxo,

40 ways to beat the Winter Blues

The nights are getting gloomier, the Autumn seems wished away in the run-up to the holidays, and the dreaded SAD is already rearing it's ugly head. Make the most of the shorter days and beat the Winter Blues...

(image from Tumblr; source unknown)

 Get the lights on in the AM.

If it's as dark inside as it is outside, you're not going to want to wake up.  Not wanting to wake up first thing will start your day off with a negative vibe.  Shed a little light on the situation!

 Get the coffee on.

As well as lights, the smell of coffee can stimulate you in the morning to make sure your get-up-and-go doesn't get up and go.

 Stroke a cat.

Or hamster.  Or dog.  It's good for you.

 Get outdoors and enjoy some natural light.

It might be cold, but getting some sunlight on your skin makes Vitamin D in the best way possible.

 Get something green growing.

Introduce a little greenery into your life.  It's not in their natural blooming period, but indoor roses are beautiful in Winter and with a little TLC they can be kept in bloom if bought when they're budding.

 Write your goals for the Winter on a page and stick it somewhere visible.

If you write something down, you're more likely to remember it and if you see your goals in front of you every day, you're more likely to strive for them.

 Get yourself something frivolous.

"To Me, Love Me"

 Watch "Love Actually"

Appreciate the love in your life, and then go appreciate the fact you have better things to do in your life than chase tail.

 Buy next years planner.

Put in birthdays, plan breaks and highlight special occasions.  Mark in direct debit dates, rent payments, the days your wages go into your account.  Make 2012 the most organised year yet!

 Start a project.

The more all-consuming the better.  Be passionate about something different for a while for distraction and a change of viewpoint.

 Write down everything you need to do today.

Screw up the paper and throw it out of the window.  Enjoy your stolen day.

 Start a journal.

Or write in yours more regularly.  Make lists, write down your loves.  Draw charts, track your constellations.  Doodle to your hearts content.

 Look at your diet and cut out the rubbish.

Feeling gloomy often comes from within so cut out excessive sugars, carbs and fats and replace them with healthier alternatives.

 Make recipes you can't get away with in the Summer.

Pumpkin pies, heavy fruit cakes, casserole dinners and stew and dumplings are all fantastic Wintery foods perfect for hibernating through the coldest months.

 Eat some bananas.

They contain serotonin (upping your serotonin levels is also something that Prozac does!) and dopamine (which tickles pleasure sensors in your brain) so they really are the happy food!

 Drink enough water.

You're probably sick of hearing it but you need around 8 glasses of H2O a DAY.  In the Winter, it's not so warm and you might not feel as thirsty so make sure to glug some down!

 Soup.

Warm, delicious and nutritious.  It's perfect for the colder weather so eat up.  (I like Souper Douper, even though it's miles away.)

 Sort out a box from your childhood.

Unless you've gotten rid of it all, of course.  Spend a few hours sorting through your old Barbies and My Little Ponies, cleaning them up and brushing their hair and re-boxing and hiding back in the loft.

 Do something on the way home.

Break the monotonous cycle of home-work-home and go DO something straight after work.  Meet friends, treat yourself at the shops.

 Buy yourself some flowers.

Houseplants may be falling back and it's all dead outside so a bunch of flowers could brighten your room(s).

 Get dressed up.

It's so easy to lapse back to "It's warm and it's comfortable" for your style choices but this can often make you feel frumpy.  Get dolled up and dress to impress yourself.

 Plan a Winter break to somewhere sunny.

Even if you can't afford to go, plan a trip away.  Somewhere hot, ideally.  Think about the places you'd visit and the sights you'd see and note it all down for the future.

 Get taken along for the ride.

Take up a friend on their offer to introduce you to a hobby they love.  Roleplaying, go-karting, gallery-visiting... try something new that someone you love loves.

 Go visit your Mum.

Or Dad.  Or best friend.  Call them and arrive on their doorstep.  Chat, laugh, cry.  Benefit from their wisdom.

 Trade mixtapes.

Or flashdrives if you want to be one of the cool kids.  Find someone with music taste you appreciate and trade themed mixes.

 Hit 'submit order' on your online cart.

We've all got one somewhere.  A website you love with a car stuffed of cute stuff we don't REALLY need but we do REALLY want.  Be sensible about it, but hit that order button (as long as you can afford it!)

 Churn.

At least that's what someone in my family calls it.  Sort through your stuff and rearrange some furniture.  Just because it's not Spring doesn't mean you can't sort and clean for a fresher life.

 Decorate your walls.

Tear down your old posters and replace them with your favourite art, words you love and photos from your most treasured memories.

 Stay away.

Book a hotel for you and your best friend or boyfriend.  Stay up all night and get breakfast in bed.

 Note down your dreams as you wake up.

Research their meanings, spot patterns.  The nights are longer so find out what your mind is going through while it gets through them.

 Enjoy something delicious.

Two words; Hotel Chocolat.

 Finish a project.

It might be putting the finishing touches on , it might be finishing a drawing or it might just be actually filing papers in the filing system you started a year ago.  But choose a project you keep putting off, and finish it!

 Have a pampering evening.

Whether you invite your best friends to join you or not, a night spent pampering could never be a night wasted.

 Stay away from The Pessimist.

Everyone has one.  The friend that runs you down but you've known forever, or just can't get away from.  But try your hardest too, please.  Save the pessimism for when you can take it on the chin.

 Take Winter for all it's worth.

Otherwise known as 'Drink Gingerbread Lattes until you feel sick'.  Leap in head first and enjoy start your Winter the way you mean to go on - wear the cutest scarves, make the Christmas decorations, cut out the snowflakes and kick the snow about while you can.

 Get your make-up done at a department store.

Go in fresh-faced and come out feeling like a diva.  Extra kudos for glitter before lunchtime.

 Embrace an alter-ego

Buy yourself a wig and be someone else for the day; someone that LOVES Winter and smiles at strangers and eats vegetarian and wears heeled boots to kick leaves.

 Have sprinkles.

Today is worth the sprinkles.

 Admit defeat and overcome it.

It's easy to let yourself drop into murky waters but it's as easy as you let yourself make it to ask for help.

 Know that Spring is always just around the corner.

xoxo,