1 Dress 4 Looks Take 29

My first gothic lolita dress – with the most un-gothic name out there. Alice and the Pirates’ Sugar Plum Fairy Princess JSK was a bit of a gamble, considering how poorly shiny fabrics like organza can photograph and the short, chunky strap cut. It is a gamble that paid off and while it may be best suited to gothic lolita looks, I’d like to explore the possibilities beyond that at least a little.

Look 1: Typical Goth

| Haenuli x I Do Declare blouse | Cutie Creator fishnet tights (not pictured here) | Pauline Rose headband | offbrand hair clip | Voodoodolly ring | After Midnight necklace | offbrand brooch | Vivienne Westwood x Melissa Anglomania shoes |

Yes, I realise that there is no legwear pictured here. That’s because I would’ve gone with the fishnet tights, which look absolutely atrocious in flatlay photos. This is an updated version of the last coord I did with this dress. And while it’s much closer to that quintessential elegant gothic lolita look I had in my mind, I feel like there’s still way to improve it, namely by getting a more gothic headdress (the Antique Beast one keeps tempting me, maybe by next reservation I’ll cave in).

Look 2: Classic Vampire

| Infanta Swan Lake blouse | AatP Arabesque OTKs | Jeshii Doll bonnet | offbrand hair clip | Milkribbon brooch | Love from the North pin | offbrand ring | Jane Marple ring | Two Days Slow necklace | offbrand shoes |

It’s not the most vampire-esque outfit out there, I’m not trying to kid anyone here. Yet that blouse is so floaty that it inevitably makes me think of those ‘vampire/pirate/prince shirt’ meme. I also like how the blouse neckline covers up the JSK straps, they’re not my favourite feature, particularly in flatlays. Although heels with a big buckle or even short black boots would’ve been perfect here, as I don’t own anything like that, I went with my trusty black Mary Jane heels.

Look 3: Rose Red

| Haenuli x I Do Declare blouse | Putomayo Celestial Light OTKs | Cutie Creator headband | handmade (not by me) hair clip | AatP The Mouse King * Gualtiero Medal Pin II | Wicked and Whimsy ring | Vivienne Westwood x Melissa Anglomania shoes |

Again, this could be considered a somewhat vampiric look, but for the accessories. A wine red bonnet would be ideal here – why must they elude my search so?! I’m not entirely sure how those two hair pieces would stack up together or what hairstyle could even hold them, but I guess that’s a matter to figure out later.

Look 4: Starry Night

| Lady Sloth Glitter Mesh blouse | Boguta star underskirt | Innocent World Shanti OTKs | Cutie Creator headbow | Chocomint hair clip | Risu Rose necklace | Voodoodolly ring | vintage brooches | Angelic Pretty Elegant Doll boots |

In hindsight, I should’ve gone with my Resailan Jewelry Box tights, as they are black and gold rather than black and grey. But other than this, it’s probably my favourite look of the lot. If worn, I’d experiment with the neckline, to see how it might look with the blouse off shoulder. I like how it’s bringing in sweeter elements without losing too much of the elegant feel to the overall look. I guess mixing gothic and sweet elements tone the outfit down into a classic one? Whatever the label, I’m quite excited to wear this one.

Just like previously, I have actually put together more looks than I’ve featured here (three more in fact). They were on the more incomplete side of ‘work in progress’, though I definitely would like to revisit and finish them one day. While I’m sure you’ve noticed some pieces appearing more than once, I think it’s interesting to see how I can still create diverse looks whilst reusing the same smaller bits. It just goes to show that you don’t necessarily need tonnes of accessories or shoes, these are quite small parts of the coord and there are other ways of ensuring diversity of possible coords. I clearly went about achieving that through colour here – and even then I’ve left some avenues unexplored, so there’s still room to grow. Lastly, I am so, sooo pleased that the details of this dress are coming across in photos as nicely as they are. We all know the struggle of photographing black on black, which is an extra hassle when it’s a flocked velved print on organza. And you can see the gold glitter in it too! That’s a total success for me!

Frilly Housewarming

Hosting a meetup at my own place has been something I’ve wanted to do for a while. As nice as it is to go to fancy cafes or interesting places, sometimes what you need is the comfort of a truly private space. So basically as soon as I confirmed where I’ll be living, I organised a casual housewarming meetup.

| Angelic Pretty Crystal Dream Carnival Tiered JSK | Infanta overblouse | Haruhi Clover headbow | Peacockalorum wrist cuffs | Innocent World Moon and Star necklace | Angelic Pretty Crystal Dream Carnival ring | Angelic Pretty Twinkle Carnival OTKs | Deary shoes (only worn for photos) |

I am particularly proud of how I managed to keep my eyeliner so thin.

I should probably figure out some new poses for my closeup/portrait shots, these start to get repetitive.

This seemed like the perfect time to whip out Crystal Dream Carnival. Don’t get me wrong, I love and adore this dress – but it is on the ‘a bit much’ side. As I’m sure many of you will know, sweeter pieces, especially printed ones, attract more attention from the public and I often don’t have energy to spare to deflect the public when I’m out, particularly on my own (so usually when commuting to/from the meetup). This is not an issue when staying in, I also didn’t have to worry about accidentally flashing anyone given that this is one of my shortest dresses too. My initial plan was to avoid white as a base colour and to do something more OTT, again, taking advantage of not having to deal with the public. However, in the end I prioritised comfort and speed of getting ready (the less time I spent on that the more I had to make food for my guests), as well as reminded myself that not every coord has to be unique or different from what I’ve done before. This look somewhat revisited (and improved on) the first coord I put together with this dress and I like how it came out.

Sadly, this is where lolita-specific pictures end. I usually prefer to enjoy the meets, which ends up in me not taking pictures, and as a hostess I had other responsibilities to think of too. There were four people coming over, including one vegan and one gluten intolerant, and I was brought up to not keep your guests hungry. So while some of the foods were ready to serve, like falafels or macarons, majority I made from scratch: a vegan brownie, chicken drumsticks, onion bhajis and chaat (an Indian chickpeas in yoghurt side dish with tamarind sauce). Other than the brownie and the drumsticks, I managed to make all that whilst fully dressed in brand, including deep frying the bhajis, all without a single stain. This should be an achievement badge or something…

Cooking in brand? Not a problem for me!

Once everyone arrived, we had a nice relaxed time, mostly chatting and being amused by my cat. Whilst Spy doesn’t live with me, I’m cat sitting while my parents are away on holiday, which made him the guest of honour. He even got some prezzies in the form of mice toys and treats from one of the other black cats in our comm – super cute! We also enjoyed watching a video on how to calculate your pet’s HP and if you haven’t seen it yet, it is the single most important video on the internet right now. (I was able to calculate Spy’s the following day, which revealed that he is a Level 12 Rogue! So now I can begin to track the speed of his levelling up for extra nerd points.).

Little void with his new toys. He loved them, started playing with them as soon as they were out and they're still scattered all over my flat!

Another surprising discovery during the meet was that Iceland’s macarons are genuinely incredible. For the non-UK audience – Iceland is a chain of supermarkets selling primarily frozen foods, mostly their own labels, as well as some bigger brands. Their dessert/party food section has macarons (pack of 12 for £3 or, like I bought them, 2 for £5), which I was told are lovely and wanted to get, since they’re both a lolita favourite and gluten free. And they honest to God were fantastic – better than Marks and Spencer’s, potentially even better than Patisserie Valerie’s? They had exactly the right texture, the fillings were full of flavour and generous, and (despite my concerns) they defrosted absolutely fine, no sogginess or anything. If you’re in the UK and want macarons without shelling out, do yourself a favour and go to Iceland.

Hosting a meetup at my own place was probably the best thing I’ve had happen to me since moving to this flat. And not just because my lazy arse enjoyed not having to wake up early, not having to go on public transport and staying in slippers. The relaxed atmosphere, being with friends combined with you all wearing lolita is what we all want from a good meetup. And while I guess I already knew that I enjoy hosting meetups, given how many I’ve done already and how many I am yet to do, being able to truly take care of my guests was my way of showing my comm how much they mean to me. Fingers crossed there will be more opportunities to do that in the future.

Lastly, when planning my menu, I deliberately picked foods that I’d eat myself should there be any leftovers. So not only was I sorted for Sunday dinner and Monday lunch, I also had a whole pack of those delicious macarons left to enjoy as a little evening treat on Saturday. Absolute quintessential lifestyle lolita (if we glance over the fact that by that point I was in my pyjamas).

Are you even a sweet loita if your teapot doesn't make it look like you're drinking unicorn vomit?

Top 5 Wishlist Dresses and What Draws You to Them

Although the topic of discussing one’s wishlist dresses comes up on Lolita Blog Carnival every now and then, it’s worth revisiting it. Not only can our tastes change, but as we acquire some pieces and outgrow others, a previous wishlist post can quickly become obsolete. Which is why I decided to join in this week for some lighthearted blogging. The dresses below are listed roughly in the order of highest to lowest priority.

Metamorphose Gold Braid Tuck Pinafore JSK (wine)

The current no 1 wishlist dress. The longer I search for it, the more it seems to become the new Paulina JSK - in that there are literally no signs of it anywhere and I imagine it will be years by the time I get my hands on it. Similarly to the Paulina JSK, it’s the simplicity of it that really appeals to me. The gold braid is enough to make the red colourway pop and to add detail where it’s needed, without overpowering the design or going over the top. Because of this, I can envision both more casual coordinates and more OTT ones with this dress - it simply seems like a very versatile piece. One day I will have it.

Image shared via Pinterest.

Angelic Pretty Antoinette Decoration Bustier JSK (ivory)

Although this dress properly went on my wishlist pretty recently, part of me has longed for it since its release. Back then I didn’t really know which colourway or cut I’d want (other than: not pink) and over time I was able to clarify exactly what I think would suit me and my wardrobe best. This is one of those dresses that, while gorgeous on pictures, is even more stunning in person when you can appreciate the fabric and the trims. I love how this is a food print done in a very classic way and it absolutely screams Marie Antoinette. The dusty blue shades in this also seem like they’d be a perfect match for my Millefleurs blouse and I am 100% down for any and every opportunity to wear it!

Image shared via Pinterest.

  

Mary Magdalene Arabesque Rose JSK (offwhite)

As part of my quest for red-based floral dresses, I have rediscovered Arabesque Rose. I say rediscovered, because I first found it back in my early days, but at that point I didn’t realise that partially-shirred Mary Magdalene stuff would actually fit me. Even though it’s leaning a little bit more pink than what I really had in mind when I say ‘red-based floral’, the overall design is so stunning that I just couldn’t say no to it. I’ve had a brief glimpse of this dress, though in another colourway, at a lolita event once and the fabric looked so stunning in person. The small resolution stock photos really don’t convey the depth of detail of this design. It’s also another one that could be quite versatile, working either as a statement piece or as a more toned down outfit that a normie on the street would probably mistake for vintage fashion. And how could I be mad at versatility?

Image shared via Pinterest.

  

Innocent World Cool Rose JSK (wine)

The OG red-based floral dress that escaped me not once, but twice. Not sure whether it’s that ‘I almost had it’ thing or whether it’s just that this dress is simply gorgeous, but I feel that even once I did obtain a red-based floral JSK, I’d still want to have this one. Full shirring would make this incredibly comfortable, which would compensate for the nightmare that is trying to iron tiered skirts. And while Innocent World hasn’t done an awful lot of dresses in this cut, I saw someone else of a roughly similar body shape wear their dress of this cut and it’s incredibly flattering. This could be great all year round, with jewel tones in autumn and winter, then lighter shades in spring and summer, taking you from OTT to ‘I just need something for that normie formal thing I’m going to’. Fingers crossed that one day my search will be rewarded.

Image shared via Pinterest.

  

Marchen die Prinzessin Nutcracker JSK (wine)

After years of this dress occupying higher spots in my wishlist, I have decided to knock it back down a little. Partly because after so many years of fruitless searching I am not particularly optimistic about getting it, and partly as I feel that where I want my wardrobe to go has shifted slightly in a way that makes this dress a little less desirable for me. I still love the cut and the theme, I adore how it can be a Christmas print whilst staying wearable all year round and I can’t say no to some more wine in my wardrobe. Having said this, I now think that the beige of the print would be very hard to match and I’m not keen on the shape and length of the lace at the hem. Nonetheless, it’s a stunning piece that I’d love to own and live out my Christmas and/or Nutcracker outfit fantasies through!

Image shared via Pinterest.

Although there are a couple more dresses on my wish list, and I did have to think quite hard about that last one, at the moment those are the ones that I keep thinking about and looking out for the most. I think they are also a good representation of where my wardrobe is heading, as I try to expand my collection of reds, get more floral and classic pieces, and get further away from Angelic Pretty and their designs, which have just been underwhelming me recently. And to be honest, I think these days I keep getting more wishlist items that are not dresses, which is also very telling. I wonder whether this will stay like this or whether my wardrobe will see another shift in direction and priorities over the coming year or two.

What are five of your current wishlist dresses? Have they changed or remained pretty much the same since you first decided you wanted them? Do they still reflect your wardrobe and how you want to present yourself? I check second hand sales way too much, so if you want help tracking something down, do mention it to me and I’ll keep it in mind when I search. And, of course, as this is a post written for the Lolita Blog Carnival prompt, make sure to read about other people’s five wishlist dresses too!

The Bloody Tea Party
In Love with a Dream

Haenuli Farewell Reservations Unboxing and Review

It still feels a little unreal that Haenuli have actually closed their first chapter. It seems not so long ago when they appeared to bring one release after another. I’m very lucky that I was able to get pretty much everything I ever wanted from now – in no small part to their farewell reservations.

As soon as those were announced, I made notes in my calendar on when would the items I wanted be released, so that I could ensure I had money for them when needed. Luckily, they were spread apart a little, so that I could do just that without taking away from my Japan fund or anything else, really.

Because the shop has closed now, I won’t go into details of how my purchasing experience was. I always held Haenuli’s communication, processing speed and customer service very highly, so there’s nothing I could add to this either. Let’s focus on what I got instead.

My first order was the I Do Declare collaboration mesh blouse. This time I went with red and to be perfectly honest, had I had the money, I would’ve happily bought more, it’s that good. However, as I had to make a decision, after some mulling over, I went with a wine one. It seems like I’d get more wear out of this than green or grey and with how many white/ivory blouses I have, I just couldn’t justify getting the white one. I sized up this time, compared to when I ordered the black one, and to be honest, I shouldn’t have. I did so because I am very aware of the high neck on the black one, but the neckline is a bit too loose now. It won’t be a problem if I use the neck tie or wear a choker, but at any other time I will have to pin it as discreetly as possible. The sleeve cuffs are also a touch big on me, though that’s not so much of an issue as it’s less visible and easier to hide. Still, I’m sure I’ll wear it as often as I wear my black one and the quality is still the same – meaning fantastic – so I’m not upset by my sizing choices.

As I didn't take any standalone pictures of the blouse, enjoy the two together.

And in another round of reservations I got the OG gothic dress of my dreams: Just One Bite JSK in jacquard. Oh, I remember when it came out just before Wicked and Whimsy and how impressed I was with this unique take on Snow White. Back then I was adamant about not getting into gothic – things change is all I can say. So to have this in my hands right now is a fantastic full circle moment.

This texture is so lush and the fabric feels like straight from a dream.

As is common in this fashion, the stock photos do not do this piece justice. The jacquard has a wonderful weight and texture. Compared to my AatP Side Frill JSK, which is also jacquard, it feels sturdier, a little heavier and the rose texture is a slightly larger pattern. What on stock photos look like grey stripes turns out to have some purple undertones and can come across as purple in certain light. It’s not so noticeable so as to be off-putting, given that I own literally only the handful of lavender pieces you saw in my last Around Your Wardrobe in 30 Coordinates post, just an interesting observation.

The boning sits a little awkward in a flatlay, but beautifully when worn.

Also, here's a quick lace appreciation photo. Black on black together with that ruffle layer above the lace make it hard to capture well, I did my best.

 

The dress arrived with the straps completely detached, which led me to think that it could be worn strapless as a bustier style. I might try it one day, though for now I’ll stick to the strap look. The straps have three buttons for the back, as well as good 5cm of space still left on the strap, great for those who need to move theirs really low. For me it was fine on the last button and that way the bodice finished precisely at my waist. And as the bodice is boned, this little construction detail makes a massive difference to the silhouette. Honestly, Haenuli dresses are one of the most flattering ones out there for my body shape! The only other ones I can think of which I feel flatter me just as well are AatP’s low waist cuts.

Death lurking behind the Evil Queen is an amazing touch.

Just look at that first dwarf on the right - his emotions couldn't be portrayed more clearly.

This side feels incredibly dynamic and I can't imagine that capturing movement like this could ever be easy.

But, of course, we’re here for the print. And the level of detail truly stunned me once I saw it up close. My first impression that this looks like a medieval woodblock print still stands and it’s what I love about this print. The eerie, dark interpretation of Snow White is probably way closer to how the Grimm Brothers have told the story – I find this incredibly captivating. For someone who doesn’t like majority of common goth imagery, I like the Death figure being present in the print. Although, for all of Snow White’s beauty in this depiction, my favourites might actually be the dwarves. Not only are they very individual in features, they are also very animated in trying to stop Snow White from accepting and eating the apple she’s been offered. This makes such a difference from their usual absence in that moment in the story, shows that they truly cared about Snow White and wanted to protect her.

This little apple is precious. I can't wait to add more apples to the coord!

However, the title of my favourite detail in this whole dress goes to the apple charm on the detachable bow. Apples are my favourite fruit, in that way I am very Polish and you will not persuade me that any other apples in this world could be better. Somehow my brain keeps thinking that the apple in the print is also red, when it actually isn’t – the only red in this whole dress comes from that little bow. Which you can count on me to change as I coordinate it with all the red pieces I can work into it.

At this point in time I still have no idea what I’ll be doing in October, meaning all the spooky Halloween meetups. As not much of a Halloween person myself, it’s not really my priority, so I tend to wait to see what the different comms are doing and who will go before deciding. By the time I make that decision, I should have at least one coord in mind to wear with this JSK, so it couldn’t arrive at a more perfect time.

If you would like to see this dress in movement, you can watch my unboxing video for it below.