2016 Lolita Wardobe Goals - Mid-Year Update

So it's not quite exactly mid-year... shhh...

In February I posted a list of wardrobe goals, divided into three priority levels, and also a "wishlist" of sorts. Priority levels are pretty self-explanatory, and"wishlist" gets quotations because it's not specific pieces, like most loltia wishlists or dream dress lists. To be honest, I'm not willing to spend retail prices on 99% of loltia pieces that I do like when they're new, and I'm reluctant to spend much on secondhand pieces as well, so though there are distinct dresses I adore I feel no point having a conventional dream dress list because unless they pop up at a very good price I wouldn't buy them anyway.

So far this year I haven't actually bought all that much lolita, but I thought it was a good idea to see where I'm at with what I'd hope to achieve, wardrobe-wise, this year.

Priority 1 

A white short sleeved blouse - achieved!
An ivory short sleeved blouse
An a-line pettiocat

One out of three ain't bad. I keep thinking about buying the petticoat and it just doesn't happen, and in fairness I have been keeping my eye out for a nice ivory short sleeved blouse but haven't found one that I like and that fits.

However, I have acquired two short sleeved white blouses; one Baby one that we initially bought for the model wardrobe and then more recently I got one in my Meta lucky packs!

Priority 2

Replace ivory suede heels
Replace bordeaux suede heels
Replace peach suede heels
A black long sleeved bolero
A black short sleeved bolero - achieved! 
A brown short sleeved blouse or cutsew

One out of six is... less good ^__^

I got a really lovely Baby bolero in my last Japanese auction haul which definitely ticks that off the list, but haven't had much luck with anything else. Though in my defence, when I get my tax return I am planning to do a taobao order and when I do new bordeaux and ivory shoes will be part of it! And then I'll be half way there!

Contemplating buying these ones...

Though, if anyone can recommend me a good pair of peach/salmon shoes I'd appreciate it a lot!

Priority 3 

Blue headwear (beret, flowers, or headbow) - achieved!
Ivory headwear (beret, flowers, or headbow) - achieved!
Brand lace-topped OTKS in white, ivory and black
OTKS to match Jurassic Party (lavender or purple with white) - achieved (ish)!
Lavender or purple headbow to match Jurassic Party - achieved (ish)!
OTKS in black with white/grey/silver pattern
OTKS in blue/ivory - removing from list

I'd feel bad that the section where I've achieved the most if the section that matters least but it's also the easiest part of the list! The achieved ones are pretty self-explanatory, but the "ish" ones are because I've found/made things that are good (and I'll be posting some Jurassic Party outfits soon to prove it!) but not quite what I intended. So I'm still keeping an eye out for a more lolita-specific pair of OTKS and a good headbow to match; the headbow again may be something for my potential future taobao order.

As for the blue/ivory OTKS well... I thought I was going to work more blue into my wardrobe but in my last purge the only piece containing blue that I kept was Bodyline's L571 and I already have a pair of ivory with pink and blue OTKS from Innocent World which match it perfectly, so there' no need to get another pair of socks just to match one dress. So off the list they go!

Pretty, lacy burando socks...one day...

Wishlist 

An OTT classic OP or JSK
A gobelin coat
A fur, or fur trimmed, capelet
Simpler JSKs appropriate for work
Casual cutsews in red, pink and black-and-white (and maybe even more colours) - black and white cutsew achieved
Fawn fur items (coat, capelet and shoe toppers primarily)
More patterned/printed blouses

So from the wishlist I've only really achieved one, but that's okay, it's the wishlist! I do have fabric for an OTT classic main piece (and a chocolate one too... shhhh...) so that's vaguely in the pipeline too.

It's a cutsew, it's black and white, and it's casual... win!

Overall, I feel like I've done okay on achieving my wardrobe goals. Not heaps great, but I've definitely made some progress, and progress it good. I've kind of stalled my spending, because I really haven't worn lolita in ages, and don't see myself wearing it much in the foreseeable future, so I'm hesitant to drop much more money into it. But I still love the style so I'm not going anywhere, it's just that my purchase will (theoretically) be more selective for a while.

Do you have any goals for your lolita wardrobe? Have you achieved any?

A little red...

Recently I did a photoshoot with a photographer who's not James for the first time in a very long time, and of course I did a lolita look. The photographer, Paul aka Phocal Photography, I've worked with once before and I think we collaborated well on this shoot.

Introducing the red to this outfit was Paul's idea, and in the end I really liked it even though it wasn't something I'd have done myself of the bat.

Outfit Rundown
JSK & Boots: Bodyline
Blouse: Baby, the Stars Shine Bright
Everything else: Offbrand, taobao, handmade

You can see the rest of the photos on my facebook page!

Rose Birdcage outfits.

Before I share the outfits with my Metamorphose Rose Birdcage skirt I want to say that I really want to make a miniature birdcage headpiece now, just to go with this skirt.

Because how pretty is that print? Dusty pink! Chocolate brown! Gold highlights! This series is something I did contemplate buying when it came out but decided I didn't love it enough to warrant it, so getting this skirt in my recent lucky packs was awesome.

Also, excuse my cat's rear-end in all these photos. I've learned from experience if I move him he'll just get into an even more inconvenient position, so as long as he's not completely in the way I just leave him ^__^

The first outfit I pulled together is something cute and casual that I would totally wear. I also have a pair of off-white ankle socks with a gold crown on the ankle I'd add to this outfit, but though they look fine on I've worn them enough that they look kind of... not nice... in flat lays.

One of my first thoughts with this skirt was "I wonder if it'll go with my steampunk vest... nah, of course it won't" but it does! I've been dying to use this vest in a lolita outfit and now I have a skirt that it matches perfectly. That makes me very happy.

So this look turned into a quirky steampunk lolita affair which I totally love. It's not the most conventional look but I really like it. I'd probably wear it with cream lace tights, which I forgot to put in the picture.

Lastly I wanted to try something lighter, and I'm really chuffed with how it turned out. Normally I'd balance the bits of brown on the bottom with something brown up top, but if I'm putting these together for myself I have brown hair, so it balances out without any additional accessories.

What I love is how well this skirt works with my wardrobe despite me not really having anything that matches it perfectly colour-wise, except for that one barrette bow. I guess it really shows that I do have a very particular "type" in my eardrobe.

Adventures in crafting

Recently I found the mojo to do a bit of crafting again. Nothing too mind-blowing but a few little projects I'm rather pleased with.

First of all, I decorated a pair of plain brown suede ankle boots we were going to get rid of. I was going for something kind of mori-girl, kind of steampunk, and I think these could go either way. Now I just have to figure out an outfit they would go with!

I also recently whipped up some loltia hair accessories to go with some pieces that I don't have much to match with. Any guesses what those pieces are?

I'm quite pleased with the floral two-way clip but not so pleased with the headbow. It looks okay worn but it could be better. Maybe I'll just bite the bullet and buy myself a lavender headbow!

And I also just realised another crafting project I never shared... the flower vest I'm wearing in the photo above! James and I were organising a weekend of shooting with Angie, she suggested for one look her beautiful fairy-like outfit and since I'm very into that sort of thing I asked if she wouldn't mind making it a double shoot. She didn't mind, so I had to whip together something pink and fairy. I was so incredibly pleased with my vest... I think it also covers the fact that my dress is just a wrapped, tied and pinned piece of chiffon pretty well ^__^

Credits for the above photo:
Photographer: The Enthusiast
Other model: Angeline Bubsy
Angie's outfit: Lyris Design

I really love these photos, and if you want to see the rest they're on my facebook page, and Angie also has some solo one of herself James took if you want to see more of her outfit! And of course, everything is on James' page, and they're also on Lyris Design's page... I'm just pimping all our facebook pages now!

Ahem.

Have you crafted anything, big or small, recently?

L174 Outfits aka The six month ruffle

Yes, it really did take me over six months to actually finish sewing that ruffle to the bottom of this dress. What can I say? Sometimes I'm very good at procrastinating. Anyhow, the ruffled was needful because this dress was a bit too short for my tastes without it, but with it it's lovely! L174 is an older Bodyline piece and is a style I wish they'd make more of. Or not, really, because I really don't need more lolita.

I love this print, it's really pretty and detailed, and I like that it's a darker classic dress without losing the hint of cuteness that I like in lolita.

First up I ran with a fairly straightforward look, something nice and elegant. I'd wear this with black lace tights but as I always say they photograph terribly!

Next, another look which would also include black lace tights but an overall much lighter look. I love how the light colours on a dark background really enable you to go in a variety of directions with a main piece.

Also, as an aside I want to draw your attention to the barrette bow. Lately I've been embroiled in a big, stressful, life consuming project at work and Nat (my friend, housemate, and co-worker) one day bought me a goody bag of cosmetics and accessories to cheer me up. This bow was in that bag of joy and I wanted to take the chance to mention that she's a lovely human.

Lastly I tried a sweeter look, which I really don't have much to say about so I'll leave it at that!

Review #42: Metamorphose lucky packs

Hello world, I'm back! And with new clothes, no less!

Two years ago, I tried my luck with two Meta skirt lucky packs and was by and large disappointed. But this year, I kinda had a good feeling, so I got another two and was not disappointed!

Above we have the contents of both packs and immediately you'll see something I was very happy about... no duplicates!

I was incredibly excited when I opened up the box and saw this pack - when I'd daydreamed about what I might get, a pink blouse was high on my list of "I'd really love to get in this" and lo and behold, not just a pink blouse, but a long sleeved one! And the Rose Birdcage skirt fits my wardrobe so well! It's exactly my kind of thing. The socks don't match anything I own, but the colour and motif are something I can see maybe being useful in future, so I'm going to hang onto them. Even the ridiculous pink barrette is awesome because now I have something stupidly OTT for sweet!

I was less excited about this pack, but still not disappointed. White blouses are a good staple, and my only short-sleeved white blouse is a very old, worn Baby one that doesn't actually fit me properly, so this is a distinct improvement. And the Mermaid Princess Frill Skirt is really pretty, though it's not something I'd buy myself and I'm not sure exactly if I'll keep it yet, since it's quite different to anything else in my wardrobe. Unfortunately though I got two pairs of OTKs in this pack I can't see myself using either pair, but that's really the only actual bummer out of both packs, so I really am quite pleased.

A few more photos of the various things, because what is a good review without lots of pictures?

My lovely new blouses. both with generous back shirring.

Rose Birdcage... so lovely!

Mermaid Princess has a lovely textured fabric.

Accessories! Just look at that ridiculous bow!

So there we are! Two rather lucky lucky packs ^__^