AYWI30C #26: Using the thing you bought first that you still have

I still have two main pieces from my first Bodyline order, this JSK and the Chocoberry skirt. Given that Chocoberry has already been used in this series my lovely brown floral JSK was the obvious choice for this prompt.

For the rest of the coordinate, I also tried to use older (to me) items and also to style the whole look a little more like I would have when I was a newer lolita. Not that I'd really have done all that much differently as I still like this kind of styling, but it still informed my choices, like using an offbrand blouse and my only bracelet being some real pearls I've had since I was a little girl.

Most obviously, a beret with something clipped in front has been a staple of my look for a very, very long time. So have flower clips!

And, of course, fawn fur. Even though I don't wear my fawn fur pieces all that much, they still feel very iconic to me. I got my first fawn fur collar within my first year as a lolita (the one pictured here is my second).

Again, this bag has been part of my collection for a long time, and I don't think I'll ever not love it in classic coordinates. Gobelin is such a gorgeous fabric, I really want a tacky gobelin dress someday.

And last of all, I pulled out the OTKS that I wore with this dress to my first lolita meet with the Newcastle community. Just for some bonus nostalgia points.

I really enjoyed turning this coordinate into a bit of a trip down memory lane. As I said at the start, even though I tried to make this more "retro Roli" than how I'd choose to style this JSK now, I'd still wear this outfit. Though I must admit, in putting this together I realised how same-y I tend to style this...and now I want to try something really out there!

AYWI30C #25: Using your newest wardrobe addition

 This prompt was fun and super easy, because I was already dying to bring Blooming Garden out for a spin!

There's not much too this outfit, really. I tried to go for a bit of an older style sweet, slightly OTT vibe. Not sure if I nailed it, but that inspiration is what prompted the inclusion of the star clip.

I did want to go a bit heavier on the hair accessories overall, but it turns out none of my yellow bits really match this dress! It's a very buttery yellow, and all my little bows are more saturated! Oh well, gives me something to craft one day...

I did, however, include one of my big yellow flower clips as a bag accessory. I figure that IRL there's enough separation between the flower and the dress that it doesn't matter. And also I don't really care ^__^

Since I couldn't overload the head are as much as I like with OTT, I focused on adding more details overall, like this flower clips and pearl chain accessory on the wait area. I think it matched really well!

I also busted out multiple rings (I rarely even wear my wedding ring!), big wristcuffs, and an assortment of bracelets. We're going big here!

Well, perhaps not exactly big, but I enjoyed adding a lot of little details to this coord. I really, really love this dress - the colour,t he print, the cut, all the little details. So it was fun to just coord it in this detailed yet simple fashion.

Coordinates from August - September 2020

I tried to start August on the right foot, lolita-wise, but on the first Monday of the month I realised the sleeves of the cutsew I'd chosen to wear were too tight for comfort, and the night-time dew meant that my freshly washed petticoat was still damp, so I gave up. And honestly, that set the tone for August, and I didn't end up wearing lolita until the end of the month.

But that's okay. I've recently started trying really hard to life and mental health into a better position, and part of that is not forcing myself to do thing just because I feel like I should. So I'm only wearing lolita when it makes me happy, not because I decided months ago that wearing lolita to work from home was a good idea. It's not a bad idea, but I'm not going to force it. It's got to bring me joy and not just be a thing that I do.

So my first lolita outfit was worn to run an errand and go to an appointment on the last Friday of the month. And for my outfit photo I asked James to snap me on our awesome new couch!

OP & Headbow: Lady Sloth Verrry Berry Picnic

OTKS: Metamorphose temps de fille

Shoes: Bodyline

Everything else: Offbrand/Taobao

The outfit isn't much to write home about, but it felt good to wear lolita again. I also happened to have a pretty decently matching mask from Pastel Poisons which I wore while interacting with people, so I grabbed a selfie in that too ^__^

Then it was September, I got my "July" haul in and was really excited to wear some of my new things...so I did the very next day for working from home!

Skirt: Metamorphose temps de fille

Cutsew: The Black Ribbon

Bolero: Maxicimam

OTKS, Necklace & Bracelet: Angelic Pretty

Shoes: Bodyline

Everything else: Offbrand/Taobao

I still have so much love for Patisserie Dream, it's such a perfect print to me. But most of all...OMG this new bolero is perfect! Seriously, if you're plus-size I really, really recommend Maxicimam. This is my new favourite item of lolita outwear, it's so comfy and warm and looks really good.

A week and a bit passed before I felt the lolita urge again. I almost didn't wear the outfit I'd pulled out the night before, but since I had a tiny Zoom meeting with my awesomely nerdy coworker, I decided I actually get dressed rather than repping the PJs. And I'm happy I did, because I really liked this outfit!

Skirt: Wonderpunk Jurassic Party

Cutsew: Mary Rose

Socks: Angelic Pretty

Shoes: Bodyline

Everything else: Offbrand/Handmade

Jurassic Party is a challenging piece for me since I don't really have much lavender or purple in my wardrobe, but this year I've managed to wear it a few different ways so I'm happy ^__^

I was starting to get more back into the lolita vibe, so the next Monday I wore a coord to work from home in again. Nothing really noteworthy about this one (except my discovery that this dress won't fit my new petticoat) but that's okay.

OP: Metamorphose temps de fille Berry Stripe

Cutsew: Mary Rose

Socks: Jane Marple

Shoes: Bodyline

Necklace: Lady Sloth

Everything else: Offbrand/Taobao

Then it was Thursday and I dressed up again to work from home. And I discovered another piece that won't take my big petticoat - my handmade green skirt.

Skirt & Headbow: Handmade

Cutsew: Axes Femme

OTKS: Innocent World

Shoes: Bodyline

Everything else: Offbrand/Taobao

I actually really enjoyed wearing this coord, because it felt like the first time I've done something unique with this skirt! That's not actually true at all, but it is the first time I've worn a different top than my Black Ribbon cutsew with it ^__^

However...I am seriously thinking of parting with this skirt. I've mentioned before that it doesn't excite me, and it still doesn't really. The shape is also a bit awkward. But I get very sad when I think about selling it! Decisions, decisions...

The next day, Friday, I wore lolita to my weekly counselling appointment. Afterwards a friend came to our house and I got lots of compliments ^__^

Skirt & Headbow: Handmade

Cutsew: The Black Ribbon

Cardigan: Banned

Shoes & Socks: Bodyline

Bag: Angelic Pretty

Everything else: Offbrand

With that coord, I have worn every main piece that fits me at least three times this year. Wow! I'm really happy with how much I've worn lolita this year, even if I've abandoned my original goal of daily wear while working from home. Changing goals is okay! I've been keeping a running list of what order I wore things in so my main pieces get somewhat equal wear, but I think from here on I'm just going to wear what I feel like for a while ^__^

And that's all for August and September! I have a feeling that October is going to be a little more prolific in terms of outfits. After all, I'm on a roll but also warmer weather is coming and that makes getting out of my PJs in the morning a lot more appealing!

AYWI30C #24: Using your least worn main piece

For this prompt I wanted to work with my Innocent World Princess Rose JSK, as it's one of several pieces in my wardrobe that I have actually never worn.

But, to be completely honest, this outfit just...didn't work for me. I don't know why, since it does match quite well and on paper it's nice but it just doesn't excite me at all. Which is a pity, because every individual piece is gorgeous. Perhaps it's a matter of shifting tastes, since I did approached this wanting to do something very classic, and I've really been more on a casual sweet kick lately.

Oh well, at least when I do these coords I do take close-ups so we can enjoy the good aspects of the coord. Like my wedding flower crown, which I still love a lot.

And this Innocent World book bag, which I felt matched in aesthetic if not in colour. Bags are one of those things that I really want to get loads more of, but I know I don't need them and really shouldn't. 

Innocent World is an interesting brand, in that what matches Innocent World best is nearly always more Innocent World. Other brands I find I can mix and match and it's all fine but when it's Innocent World I just drift towards matching it with more of the same.

Though, like my overall opinion on this coord, it could just be a bit of a classic thing. Even though my wardrobe is a bit of everything, it definitely skews more sweet than anything else, which could be why I find Innocent World goes best with Innocent World. 

But regardless of the substyle, I do love working in some offbrand accessories into pretty much everything. This two-way clip is gorgeous but I never seem to wear it! So it was good to bring it out for this coord.

So yeah, this coord ended up being a bit of an odd one, but it was still good to try a new outfit with something I haven't yet been able to wear. I've definitely got options for when I drop a dress size or two and can fit it ^__^

A little bit of loliable crafting

 Recently James and I got to spend some time with our eldest niece, and we did some beading together. I took the opportunity to string together a couple of bracelets in colours my lolita collection was missing, as well as make myself a big rainbow necklace!

My first bracelet, the purple/red/pearl one was to match Verrry Berry Picnic, since I don't have many purple accessories. Then I was on a roll and made the pink/purple/pearl one in a very similar way, since I often pair my purples with pink.

Since our niece was making herself some fun rainbow things, I also wanted to make a rainbow thing! It doesn't come up much here since it's not all that easy to work in with lolita, but I am a massive rainbow fiend. I have a little collection of rainbow goodies, and it was really nice to add something handmade to that.

The only downside of making these things is...now I want to make so many more bracelets!

AYWI30C #23: Using your most worn main piece

I was really excited when I got to this prompt, because I'm taking it as an opportunity to showcase my handmade cherry skirt in a more traditional lolita coord. This skirt is perfect for casual wear, which is how I most often wear it, but I really wanted to try something a little more "proper".

I mean, sure, to a lot of people this is still quite casual and I guess it is, but it's more "proper lolita" casual than casual casual, if you know what I mean ^__^

I decided to keep a lot of the elements in this coord quite "traditional", hence the big old headbow. But I couldn't resist sticking on a cherry clip as well...gotta keep on theme!

For the legwear I chose to go lighter rather than darker, same with the cutsew on top. Obviously you can't avoid black with a black main piece, but I did like pairing this skirt with some lighter and brighter options.

I kept the accessories very minimal, and I loved how perfectly this necklace sat under the collar of the cutsew! Unfortunately it's probably one of those things that wouldn't behave so neatly when actually worn, so let's just admire it in flatlay format.

This coord once again brought into sharp relief that I still down own a black lolita purse, and that is a sin and a shame. Fortunately, most of my black coords are really black x red (and berries, of course) where this Milky Berry tote works perfectly. Or they're black x pink and match my AP bag, or they're black and white so I whip our the big, old, much-abused BTSSB bag.  I don't really need a solely black bag, but I do want one!

This coord really rekindled my excited over this skirt. I've always loved it, but I do tend to wear it in very samey ways so it was nice to see a new potential in it ^__^

"July" Lolita Haul

So I did a thing, namely I got my tax return and while most of it got squirrelled away some if it went to funding new lolita! I'm calling this my "July" haul since that's when I ordered it, but  it took a while ^__^

I placed the order with Japonica on July 15, and received a near-instant email letting me know that they couldn't ship by EMS but could hold the order at no extra cost and was I okay with that. I was, so I replied just as promptly. I did have a bit of a panic over the order, because the seller for my first item just wasn't responding and I didn't hear anything for like a month until I decided to check in with Japonica. Turns out they had missed the sellers reply and were able to buy the dress after all but I was a bit sad for a while thinking I wouldn't get it!

Ultimately I got my package on the first of September, though I did have to ship by DHL which was horribly expensive. But let's not dwell on that, let's look at the amazing goodies I got!

The dress that started it all is Meta's Blooming Garden OP in yellow. I've been after a sweet dress in a light pastel for a while, though I hadn't specifically considered this dress before I found it on Fril for a decent price and decided to go for it. I was actually strongly considering buying this no matter what, but once I realised what my tax return was going to be I decided to go for it!

In person it's just lovely. It is hands down the most typically sweet thing I own now, and that's exactly what I wanted. The print is really beautiful, and I love how it's both very soft and very vibrant. With front and back shirring the sizing is very flexible... but I can't zip it up on my own due to the high waist! Oh well, that's what husbands are for ^__^

I also decided that it was high time I bought the Maxiciman Lovely bolero that I've been eyeing off for like a year. If I was going to have a bit of a lolita splurge I was damn sure this bolero was coming with me! I wanted a pink bolero anyway so into the cart it went, and besides, it was on sale.

The bolero also came with a shopping bag, a fan, and some catalogue pages, which were really fun to look at. 

An oh my goodness, I am not a firm Maxicimam fan. This bolero is absolutely perfect. It fits me so well, it's comfortable, it's beautiful and I'm so glad it's out of stock int he other colours I'd want otherwise I'd be buying too many of these! Seriously, if you are plus-size check out Maxicimam's Lovely size, you won't be disappointed.

Then I did a little more browsing on Fril and found another wishlist item - mint OTKS! Admittedly, I was hoping to find something more versatile but given that my only mint main piece right now is Teddy Chocolatier and these are a perfect match I figured why not? As you can see, they were actually part of  a set and while I'm not overly excited about the other two pairs they certainly do go with my wardrobe so all in all I was very chuffed with this AP sock set.

I also picked up a couple of cheap Bodyline main pieces secondhand. The first was this bustle back cherry print skirt. You know me, black berry prints are kind of my thing, and I liked how quirky this was. On the surface of it it's just a cherry pattern, but I liked how prominent the flowers were in the print and I also loved the bustle back. It's a weird mix of casual and OTT, very old school.

But unfortunately, despite being a full elastic waist this skirt is still tiny! Probably a maximum stretch of 70cm and while I have had a 70cm waist I don't think I'd ever be able to get it past my hips or boobs even if I got down to that size again!

And that is a massive pity, because I adore this skirt. I'm toying with the idea of deconstructing is an replacing the bustle back with a wider one, but more likely I'll just sell it. Though it has made me think about making this skirt cut myself so that's a plus side, I suppose. I'm just really disappointed that it's too small to even keep as a "when I lose weight" thing.

Last of all I bought this older Bodyline floral JSK (L003). It's a beautiful simple piece and that's about all I have to say about it. It was a gamble, size-wise and thus it is a bit small for me, but it's definitely something I can fit in time. I actually really love it - I've always thought it was pretty when I've seen it online but IRL it's even more gorgeous! 

So that's my "July" haul. It was really exciting to buy a bunch of new lolita items given how much I've been wearing the fashion recently, and I'm loving the immediate boost to my wardrobe versatility. Stay tuned for outfits with my new things soon!