Ever since I discovered that Mary Magdalene's shirring could be relatively generous, I've been looking for their shirred pieces. Deborah Doll was one of those on my list and I got it for a very good price, considering the missing neck ties. Even though it took a bit of time for me to work out that the cut required different undergarments for the JSK to fit, it was entirely worth the effort and the stress because - I mean, just look at it! Mary Magdalene simply hits different.
Look 1: Country Lass
| offbrand bolero and socks | Hush Puppies boots | Cutie Creator hat | My Inspiration necklace | unknown earrings | Innocent World Strawberry Fields wrist cuffs |
I always say that Mary Magdalene doesn't require much embellishment to shine, their pieces are so full of detail that it's really best to let them do the talking. This coord proves that theory pretty well - it is a simpler and more cottagecore take on country lolita i.e. less sweet. Add some milkmaid braids and a picnic basket filled with homemade goodies, as well as a book, and all you need is a tree to sit under to enjoy living the aesthetic.
Look 2: Studious
| Axes Femme blouse, cardigan and brooch | Angelic Pretty Toy March OTKs | Hush Puppies boots | After Midnight beret | Patisserie Pink Bookshelf brooch | 4 Aces ring | Enchantlic Enchantilly Queen Cat Secret Library ring |
The original draft of this look that I had was a monochrome one, but once it got round to putting it together, I wasn't feeling a completely monochrome one. Instead I got drawn to this blouse (ironic considering how it's one that I may end up getting rid of once my wardrobe cull comes), which I then tried to pair with the cardigan. Admittedly, the flatlay ends up looking like a bit more frumpy type of academia look, but I'm confident that once worn it would smooth itself out. Though bookworms can get a bit frumpy sometimes in search for a bit of cosiness, which isn't necessarily a bad thing either.
Look 3: Sort of Circusy
| Lady Sloth Glitter Mesh blouse | vintage jacket | Angelic Pretty Crown Logo OTKs | Hush Puppies boots | Peacockalorum headbow | Bibelot Rose rosette | AatP The Mouse King * Gualtiero Medal brooch | Star Glazed Delights ring |
Don't ask me why I thought to do a circusy look with this dress. I'm not entirely sure myself, I just rolled with it. And it could probably work, but again, the flatlay may not be showing it off as best as it could? The styling of this one is still a bit of a mystery to me, I just know that with the right kind of hair and makeup, and maybe a few extra accessories, this could actually work. If you see something obvious that's missing here or that should be different, let me know, please!
Look 4: Fancy Lady
| Infanta overblouse | Enchantlic Enchantilly Crown of the Rose Princess tights | offbrand shoes and rose clip | Manda Rin Designs hat | vintage necklace | handmade ring and bracelets | My Inspiration brooch |
In all the years that I've owned this overblouse I've never actually used it as anything but a regular blouse. And that was going to be the case here, until something in me said to stop and just try. The swallowtail cut of this top really compliments the A-line cut of the JSK, when worn these would make for such a pleasing and clean silhouette. It may be a bit more overcomplicated than traditional Mary Magdalene looks, but this is the one that I am most excited to wear.
In typical me fashion, I only went with wine and ivory/gold looks for this post. If it ain't broke and all that. There are definirely some colourful combination that I would love to try, but for the time being I'm happy keeping this JSK restricted to simpler colour palettes and enjoying whatever variety I can produce there.
After the brain-bending that was the last post in this series I think we all deserve something a bit easier to digest. Mixing patterns was one of the first suggestions I received, left on the very first video in a comment by Dr Papillon and at first I thought that I wasn’t the best person to talk about this, that I don’t mix patterns that much. But then not only I found a fantastic resource that I could use to supplement the post with - I also realised that I mixed patterns more than I thought I did. Or that at least I started branching out into that side of coordinating more since the start of 2020. So let’s talk mixing patterns and how to prevent it from looking like you stopped caring, rolled inside your wardrobe and emerged dressed in whatever had stuck.
It may seem odd to lead the post with that, but if your entire point is to look as if you grabbed clothes at random and be the most headache-inducing clusterfuck around, then Mana speed you! Embrace the chaos inside you and turn it into fashion, you have my blessing. That kind of look is more to do with intentionality than with any sort of rules on when, how or whether to mix patterns, so this post may not be quite for you. Those intent on mixing patterns in a less obnoxious way and looking for tips on how to avoid overwhelming an outfit (or its admirers), or looking to get the most out of all those sets they bought over the years - carry on reading.
Despite being an alternative fashion with its own set of rules, lolita fashion is surprisingly adaptable to mainstream fashion guidelines. Which could play a part in why mixing patterns is something that has us scared or hesitant, since it’s considered a fashion faux pas in mainstream looks too. And yet people do it. A lot of things passed down as ‘rules’ are just suggestions: they don’t mean that no-one can pull them off, and instead they try to deter people from trying too big a challenge too soon. Between what I’ve figured out myself and what I’ve picked up from others, mixing patterns successfully seems to boil down to three broad tricks: theme, size, and placement.
Although size and placement are equally important, I’d like to start with themes as this may be an easier introduction for some people. It’s a known fact that certain themes simply lend themselves to mixing patterns. This could be because the theme itself is characterised by a degree of visual clutter or because it’s something where mixed patterns traditionally feature. Once again you may need to reach for some of the same tips that apply to intentionality with a degree of willingness to just embrace the bold look. Depending on your specific outfit theme, sometimes you will rely more on embracing things (oldschool lolita is a particularly great example here), while other times you will have the intrinsic nature of your theme as a crutch to lean on (e.g. punk). As long as your overall coord remains identifiable as that theme, mixing patterns should actually work in your favour rather than against you.
My own examples will rely on circus lolita through Angelic Pretty’s Fantasy Theater Gilet JSK. Although hidden amidst muted colours in the background, the print itself has a diamond pattern behind that bright circus scene. But as we’re already used to seeing bold geometric shapes in circus-inspired looks, bringing something else to the mix is rarely a bad thing. My own examples are pretty tame, since circus lolita isn’t a theme that I reach for that often, nonetheless you can see it in various degrees of intensity here, predominantly through legwear. Compare the diamond x diamond coord from April 2019 with the diamond x stripes from March 2020. And for extra boldness, have a look at my “Break the rules” post from the AYWi30C series, where I’ve used both striped and diamond socks with the addition of mismatched boots. Any of these could’ve gone bolder, with blouses in patterns matching the socks, had I had them, and the coords would only look all the more whimsical for it rather than cluttered or overwhelming. A solid theme like this can actually be an easy way of trying out mixing patterns with relatively low risks, if you’re not quite sure of yourself yet.
Any of the above would've looked good with this print in any of the other colourways too, where the background diamond pattern is much more pronounced. Or with any other circus print, for that matter.
Having said this, the more confident you are with the size and placement of your patterns, the better the outcome will be. In the context of lolita fashion you can almost treat them in a similar way to colours. Sandwiching patterns, just like sandwiching colours, would ensure an even and balanced distribution by providing you with a template. And for your pattern mixing to be guaranteed to work, you will have to give some consideration to colours too, ensuring that at the very least they are either complimenting or in a similar shade. But just like with colours, I’d like to encourage you to think beyond the safe templates and give things a go before you decide against them.
So starting with size, let me relay to you the advice I first picked up from Dandy Wellington’s video (which btw I cannot recommend highly enough if you want a quick master class in coordinating outfits - even though it’s menswear, you really can apply a lot of his words to lolita): mixing smaller patterns with larger ones helps avoid clutter. This applies both to the size of the patterns themselves and to how prominent they are within the coord (though this leans more into placement). Basically, if your main piece has a large pattern running through it, you would pick pieces that have a smaller pattern on them to make the mix more balanced and avoid two bold things fighting for attention.
Personally, over the course of 2020, I have found myself reaching for a combination of stripes and polka dots enough times to notice it. Although I could do this with other pieces now, my most trusted formula centred around this particular offbrand top - so for once my example coords revolve around the same builder piece rather than the same main piece. The stripes on this top are distinct, made all the more so by the high-contrast black and white colour palette. So when I pair it with another pattern, in both of these cases with polka dots, I make sure to pick items with dots that are smaller and denser, which blend more easily, allowing the stripes to be the standout feature. In case of the Metamorphose JSK from June 2020, the dots are very tiny and identifiable as dots only from up close. Whilst I’ve ensured that the top is the feature point by using the JSK as a skirt, I have also brought more polka dots into the mix through the scarf on my head. Whereas with the actual skirt coord from February 2021, because I threw an additional colour into the mix and because the dots are slightly larger, though still not as prominent as the stripes on the top, I refrained from adding more. Both of those coords benefit from styling that’s inspired much more by larme and retro fashions than by lolita, which also helps balance the pattern mixing a bit more. However, I could’ve easily changed the styling to more traditionally lolita and by sticking to the same principles achieved the same effect. At least as far as the pattern mixing goes.
It's fine if you personally don't think that either of those coords is lolita - the fact remains that the pattern mixing is done well.
When it comes to the placement of your patterned pieces, this goes hand in hand with the matter of size. The key is to avoid crowding too many visually striking things into one area and spread them out if possible. Dandy Wellington exemplified that in his video by using patterned socks, bow ties and shirts with his striking striped jacket. For lolitas this could involve similar pieces, blouses and legwear, but also hair accessories, bags, certain overlayers etc. Putting big pieces with big patterns one on top of another is what makes our eyes and heads spin. So spread the patterned pieces around, give them their own space, and I’m sure the various elements of your coord will click into place.
As you’ve probably noticed by now, I enjoy using legwear as my area of choice for the pattern placement. Given that a typical lolita dress is knee-length, this gives me a significant area to play with to introduce patterns. As much as I enjoy patterned blouses, my own collection of those is still pretty small since I’m picky as to what I get. Nonetheless, both arms and legs are a significant area to play with in lolita. Which is how the polka dots manage to work with tartan in this (arguably barely lolita) coord from May 2020. And how the stripes manage that same feat in this May 2021 coord. Once again, the themes are pulling these outfits into a place where the mixed patterns add to the overall concept rather than detract with unnecessary clutter. Even with this dress being on the shorter end for me, there is still more of the tartan than there is of the other patterns. With legs you can easily just pick a pattern you feel is complimentary, whereas with blouses I’d suggest checking how prominent the pattern is against your primary one. And if it’s too bold, you can diminish it by sticking to smaller patterns or picking short sleeve ones or even covering most of the sleeves with another layer to keep the secondary pattern, well, secondary by showing less of it.
Full disclosure: I completely forgot that the left coord used solid legwear and not polka dot one, so in the video below you'll hear me refer to it as if it's the legwear that's patterned and not the top. Oops!
Those are the rough basics. Just like when playing with colour, experimenting is the way towards finding what works for you. Throw enough intentionality into the mix and who’s to stop you from whatever power move you have up your sleeve? In fact, with lolita fashion spending so many years wrapped in the safety blanket of solid builder pieces, it is up to those experimenting souls who brave trying things outside the box to make mixing patterns more commonly seen. I certainly remember the days when striped legwear was about as interesting as things got. Nowadays we are getting more patterned pieces: florals, stripes, dots, hearts, diamonds, tartans, ginghams, novelty prints, whatever your heart desires. So take advantage of that while you can if mixing patterns is something you’d like to do. After all, wearing bold patterns in an already gaudy fashion like lolita is not for the faint hearted to begin with, so embrace that.
Sadly, the paragraph above means that finding a lolita inspiration to offer specifically for mixing patterns is quite a challenge. Part of me is inclined to simply send you looking through old issues of FRUiTS, KERA and GLB, with maybe a dose of checking out other fashion styles and accounts. But then I remembered that I was being dumb and letting brain fart rule over me, because I do know someone whose pattern mixing always makes me feel like I’m super schematic myself: my friend Lu or @frilly_vanilly_cos on Instagram. For her mixing patterns is as much of a personal style stamp as it is a nod to the oldschool and punk styles that she favours. Would I ever have thought about pairing Innocent World’s Strawberry Field Animals print with a bright pink cardigan with fruits crocheted on it? Hell no. Do I love it? Wholeheartedly! Whether it’s a full on headache-inducing pattern overload or a carefully selected statement piece, @frilly_vanilly_cos mixes them with expertise that makes me feel free just looking at it and inspires me to go charity shopping to hunt down that perfect vintage piece that will actually complement lolita like nothing else ever could.
Even the most pattern-heavy of Lu's looks do not feel like they're too much. And damn, I just love everything she does with this cardigan! All pictures from @frilly_vanilly_cos Instagram.
Though all things considered, I do feel that if learning more about mixing patterns is something you’d like to do, the best place to start with are non-lolita fashion accounts. Lolita at large is still putting tentative steps on that path, despite fantastic efforts from the oldschoolers amongst us, while other fashion styles have been doing this for years. So I’d encourage you to broaden your horizons, expand your pool of inspiration with something completely fresh, then pick the tips and tricks from the people who have been mixing patterns for years to apply into lolita fashion - that is what has helped me most. And trust yourself. As I keep saying, the Advanced Coordinating series is intended for those who already know how to build a good coord and want to push it to be the best coord they could make. This means that even if it doesn’t work out, you will be able to draw conclusions out of it and find out what you need to do next to make it work. Or you’ll discover that you like the outcome regardless of how ‘objectively successful’ it may be. Whichever one it ends up for you, I hope that you have fun in the process. Because mixing patterns is totally pointless if you’re not doing it for fun.
A new coord challenge? Sure, why not. This one really spoke to me since it’s explicitly about encouraging wearing what you already have instead of trying to match any themes or enabling further buying. So whilst I am ignoring the timelines suggested in the post, going with a once per month instead, this is definitely something that I would like to complete.
Courtesy of my Discord server, though this isn't where the challenge originated.
To make things extra spicy, I also started this out of order, by doing the second prompt before the first. Wild, I know, someone stop me before I turn the entire world upside down! I love all kinds of prompts that ask for doing one piece multiple ways (as evidenced by this entire series), so this is very much up my alley! And to show that even the hardest pieces to coordinate don’t have to be restricted to just the safe and simple looks, I made this extra challenging by picking Meta’s Airline JSK as my piece here.
Coord 1: Dotty for a Bag
| Metamorphose Airline JSK | Laura Ashley blouse | Angelic Pretty Drained Cherry OTKs | offbrand shoes, scarf and earrings | Dream Masquerade Carnival pin | Banned Retro Bella belt | bows from Haenuli’s Whipped Cream Kitty JSK | Boguta bag |
That feeling when your beehive turns out the way you wanted.
No waist ties could ever compete with this.
The first coord here was entirely inspired by my new Boguta bag, which arrived earlier this month. I’m not sure if it’s the combination of two dumb items or whether something else within this bag made me think that it would go with this dress, but I had to try. The result? Very fun, very colourful, and one that I am very pleased with.
To start off with, I leaned into the polka dots of the bag and tried to include as many as I could have. The blouse does a good job at introducing them as the main theme, and even though the cherries on the socks are a bit distracting, there are also polka dots there. Besides, both the cherries and the buttons on the JSK itself could be seen as just another form of polka dots. In absence of any more orange bits I decided to ignore the orange completely and focus the colours on the whites and the reds.Thankfully, both orange and red are warm colours, so although the combination is still a little odd, they aren’t fighting each other that much, especially not in ratios that this coord introduces.
Once all the clothing and accessory elements were sitting where I wanted them, I decided to take the styling towards the 60s and modlita. The dress somehow feels more 60s to me, besides I’ve recently been thinking about how I didn’t do 60s retro as much despite liking the look, so that was as good an opportunity as ever. The makeup was actually kept pretty simple, just white eyeshadow with a buttload of mascara and a tinted lip gloss, probably not that far off from what it would have been in the 60s. To compensate for that and turn the mod vibes up, I went with a beehive, which for the first time I was actually pretty pleased with, I think I’m getting the hang of it?
Even though this isn’t a typical look for this JSK, when I compared it to the very first time I wore it, I have to admit that I enjoy it a lot more. The first one was great by virtue of being simple, allowing me to enjoy a newly arrived dream dress and have some silly fun - but this is what I would consider a coord. Some actual thought went into this to ensure balance, an overall pleasing look, and that the end result wouldn’t be offending to the eyes.
Coord 2: Mixed Transportation
| Metamorphose Airline JSK | Hell Bunny cardigan | Snag Take a Selfie tights | offbrand boots, beret and earrings | bow clip from Lady Sloth’s Winter Spices skirt | vintage brooch |
I was going to put eyeliner and/or lashes on, but then I decided that I couldn't be bothered. Also, shoutout to these earrings, which I only just realised featured in both coords.
A few hearts for the lovecore season that is February.
To balance out the more themed look, here’s something significantly simpler, though no less comfortable. The original inspiration for this was, believe it or not, the colour theory. Remembering my own advice to use the colour wheel in its entirety to help with coordinating, when this dress arrived I used it to find contrasting colours to this neon orange, which turned out to be blues. So why not turn an aviation uniform dress into a nautical themed one?
There are certainly a few tweaks that I would love to see (though am not sure if I’ll ever have the will to make them). Having some neon orange laces in these boots could’ve pulled that colour in a bit better without the need for a whole new shoes option. I also would’ve liked to have a necklace of some sort, preferably an anchor shaped one, but something else that was on the larger side, in white acrylic maybe, would’ve worked too. It’s not that this coord is lacking without them, but having those would’ve pulled it together a little bit more neatly.
Still, working with what I had available to me yielded a result that I am very happy with. The tights had arrived the day before (I was actually waiting for them to arrive before wearing this look for a work from home day) and added that touch of interest, even in the process they led to an even more confused theme. It’s a worthy trade off for a bit of comfort. And the bow pin from my Lady Sloth Winter Spices skirt, although very clearly not neon orange, is similar enough in tone to work with that extra bit of separation. This is probably the first time I’ve actually used it, so knowing this may mean that it will come out a bit more often when this JSK is involved.
Final words
Whilst I don’t think that either of these is something that I otherwise wouldn’t have come up with, having the challenge prompt there encouraged me to wear them sooner than I otherwise would have. And anything that gets us to wear our dream dresses is good. These coords manage to be so different from one another and, even more importantly, make this dress look and feel significantly different. The worry with it was that it was going to be a one-trick pony, but I’m not even out of ideas for it yet, though you’ll have to wait until the 1 Dress 4 Looks post with it (probably next month, actually) to see more. I guess my goal is to become the number 1 person people in our community think of when they think of this JSK. Very lofty ambitions, I know, but I can't say I know of anyone else who owns it, let alone anyone else who actually wears it, so I think I stand a chance!
Anyone else going to give the No Buy Support challenge a go?
Two of my favourite things: lolita fashion and romance. Not that I think there is much demand in either our community or in the literary market for romance fiction for lolitas, but it’s fun to imagine what that could look like. This post is brought to you by Bibliotheca’s monthly theme of Romance and my own procrastination on working on editing my last romance novel.
FYI, I still make that face when the romance is good.
The Classic
Girl meets boy. She’s a lolita, he’s unaware of it, but her dress sense intrigues him, so he tries to get to know her. But she’s got a wall of thorns and parasol spikes around her, having been hurt by others mocking or misunderstanding her clothes ever since she started wearing them, so she projects that distrust onto him. Until one day he turns out to be the photographer at her local comm’s big tea party - and the worry of whether she’s pushed him away too hard becomes too real. Because suddenly she’s not that special anymore. Or is she?
The Bridgerton Fantasy
An alternative universe in which high society fashion developed to be lolita and ouji. He knows that he needs to settle down and ensure that his family fortune will not be lost, as he inherited it on the condition that he marries within five years. Time is running out and no prospective candidate has appeared at the balls and tea parties, when a new lolita arrives from out of town. Her gaffes and casual attitude towards the ton’s rules amuse him, but will she see beyond his strict ouji upbringing and realise that they could be not just the ultimate power couple, but the right match for each other?
The Chick Lit
She was not looking for love. She was happily single and frilly, enjoying spending her income on numerous shopping sprees with prominent lolita fashion brands. She found love in the least likely place: with her work rival, the new girl who is trailblazing through the digital marketing company they work at. They locked horns via multiple passive aggressive emails in the fight for the top spot at work. But when they bump into each other at the local branch of a flagship lolita fashion shop, a new bond of understanding develops into more than just a shopping trip buddy.
The Paranormal
The lolita fashion community loves to joke about its vampire memberships - and they were happily laughing along. Little did those frillies know that they have been travelling this world for a few centuries now, collecting all sorts of pretty things, which EGL fashion was just one of. Yet even the prettiest clothes cannot fill the void of their lonely existence. When an opportunity to start a mentoring group within the community comes up, they jump at it and get to know a young wannabe ouji. The line between mentorship and friendship is quickly crossed - how soon can they let themselves go and allow this newly created ouji into their heart? Apparently quicker than this ouji can turn from a newbie to a fabulous best dressed award winner, it turns out.
Please note that none of the above are on the plans for me to write in any foreseeable future. This is just my throwing some ideas out there and to celebrate romance as a genre by adorning it in the frilly, ruffly, lacey goodness that we are here for. So if any of you enjoy these, you have my blessing to take the ideas and make them your own by writing those stories. If you ever do, please, let me know!
Remember when these daft things popped up? Well, I bought one. Because it’s dumb and apparently that’s all that’s required to tempt me to part with my money. The Big Question now is - was it worth it?
I will skip over the details of a preorder process with a Taobao shopping service. I knew the wait would be long, I used the same SS as always (Superbuy) and there were no problems at any stage of that, so let’s skip straight to the juicy parts!
No filter, natural lighting on a slightly rainy day.
This is it - the bag in its glory. I ordered a size L, since it was the same price as size M, and why wouldn’t I want the biggest bow possible on my butt, right? For reference, the price was 178 CNY split into a 55 CNY deposit and 123 CNY for the second payment, which worked out at like £25 give or take (obviously exchange rates fluctuated during that time). At £25 of course I am going to get the L size rather than M size, that’s a no brainer! And, well, this really is a big boi!
Everything that was included.
I kind of wish that it was three postcards from this bag's photoshoot, but that's just being petty.
The logo on the clear file...
... is the same as on the bag.
Each bag came with a clear file and a few postcards. I say each bag because I once again hosted a group order (though it ended up being just one friend), so I got a peek at what they got. And it seems that the clear files were only available in red, they ordered a pink and a leopard bag, and both still have a red clear file included.
Thankfully the tag came with laundry instructions because I did worry about upkeep. The bag is made out of fabric and appears to be at least partially stuffed, so it’s reassuring that it appears to be machine washable, as well as ok with a tumble dryer on low. It will help with keeping it looking good.
It's nice that the strap will add some interest to your shoulders, though this frill could look a bit too maid-like for some.
All pretty sturdy here, I might actually reuse the straps with other convertible backpacks.
You can just about make out the difference here: left is the underside facing up and right is the top side.
Most bags had a pre-set strap colour. Mine came with white ones, though I can tell you that the leopard one came with black ones (and the pink one with white). Boguta appears to be selling strap replacements separately too, which would be helpful for anyone who wants a different colour. They are made out of a nice pleather, with the frill part being some sort of suede-like fabric on the underside. The D-rings they attach to make little sense at first, but trust yourself that it is as obvious as it appears. Whilst in theory the D-rings would allow you to add a different strap, e.g. for a cross-body bag or handbag, no other straps were included and these ones wouldn’t be long or comfortable enough for any other arrangement.
The zip is more hidden than that, I puckered it out of the bow a bit for the photo.
Very cute zip pulls.
This is about as much of an opening as you can get.
So where does your stuff actually go? Inside this smaller front section of the bow. The zip pulls are these cute hearts, which you will only see when the backpack is open - otherwise they tuck underneath the centre section of the overall bow. There are two zips on either side of the centre part of the bow, but whilst the pocket inside is one thing, the zips don't meet in the middle. I like how the zip pulls are hidden because whilst your average pickpocket would have to first figure out that this is a bag, it adds a nice layer of security - they are easy enough to fish out from under that piece of fabric, but only if you know to look for them there, and you would definitely feel someone pulling on your bag if someone tried to do that to you.
How much does it actually hold then? I tried to come up with a reasonable and plausible bunch of items that I would be likely to take and packed them all in.
From left to right: a linen tote bag, sunglasses, wallet, 500ml bottle of water, phone, keys and a 100ml eau de toilette spray.
Even though it's only the smaller bow that's a pocket, all of the things above fit inside comfortably with some room to spare. Not a lot of room, but enough for some small bits like a few snacks, a hand sanitiser, small pouch with accessories etc. The bigger problem is finding things that can fit through the zip openings - whilst the inside pocket probably could hold a manga book, there is no way to get it through an opening this small. Still, I can see this holding a pair of soft flats or something like this for a change of shoes, so it would definitely work for a meetup or, like Boguta advertised it, a trip to a theme park. The size L is big enough to allow you to take most things that you’d need, though it likely wouldn't fit your shopping if you did any. This should be enough for my own purposes, but it may not be for others who really need to take a lot with them.
Intrigued by the coord? You'll see it soon enough.
Lastly, this is what it looks like in the context of an actual person. Definitely a big boi, but what can I say - I like big bows and I cannot lie. I look forward to wearing it out, it will be great for spicing up even the simplest outfits. And I’m also just desperately curious as to what reactions I’ll get from the public, let’s be honest here!
Right, somehow time completely slipped past me and even though January felt as long as month should, I still managed to miss posting the coords roundup whilst actually still in January. Though I guess those are just details.
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Coord 1: The Book of Mormon
| Song and Temple Fairytale Library skirt and bow brooch | offbrand cutsew, tights, bolero and shoes |
Starting the year as I meant to go on: by seeing a musical and dressing up for it. As well as cutting myself some slack with outfits and coord photo taking. It was odd at first, fighting that instinct, but I grew more comfortable with it as the day went on. The Book of Mormon was also very fun to watch, I had a good time and would definitely recommend it to others if you’re looking for something funny.
I forgot how nice having portrait shots could be instead of selfies. Effort, but worth it, I'll try to do more of those this year.
Similarly with flatlay detail shots, when there are a lot of accessories in a coord, this is a great way to showcase them all.
Shortly before the end of 2021 I received an email with another offer of free glasses in exchange for a post on Instagram. Whilst at the time I found the range that I could choose from a bit, to put it bluntly, boring, once I had the frames in my hands, I appreciated having something darker and more neutral. That drew my mind and inspiration towards dark academia vibes, resulting in another OP x JSK kind of look - though admittedly I like this 2022 version better than the 2021 one. Granted, I didn’t actually wear all this for the whole day because I wanted to be chill and comfortable, but it’s still a look that I’m happy to have put together. It’s just a shame that between the offer coming in and the glasses arriving I had an eye test, which showed that my prescription has changed slightly… I can still see through these ones, but it’s no longer ideal and I’ll be looking into replacing the lenses in all of my current glasses anyway, so depending on the cost, I’ll include these ones too.
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Coord 3: The Choir of Man
| Innocent World White Double Braid Tartan skirt | Amavel cardigan | Innocent World Belle Epoque OTKs | Hush Puppies boots | Cutie Creator headbow | offbrand necklace and crown brooch | Amadea Kingdom The Adventurer D20 brooch |
The first of a number of selfies where my trying to work out the lighting situation ended up with photos where I look extra pale.
Knowing how Amadea Kingdom were a bit bummed when this series of D&D dice brooches didn't take off, it breaks my heart a little every time someone asks about them when I share detail photos.
To celebrate my birthday I went to London for a few days, living as boujie life as I could afford. This included seeing a musical every night that I was in London, which inspired all the outfits that I’ve worn. To see The Choir of Man (which I completely fell in love with, why am I not in London to go and see it again over and over?) I decided to put together something comfy with nods to ‘the lads down at the pub’. Granted, my attempt went a bit more Jon Richardson than actual lads down at the pub, with the cardigan and the smart collar, but eh, who cares. Love how this skirt looks with green and absolutely love this cardigan, I’m going to have to keep a closer eye on Amavel second hand and maybe get a few more.
Considering how this was hair after a whole day, it really held up surprisingly well (in braids rather than fully exposed to the elements, but still).
I've committed to the crown, might as well embrace that.
On my second day I went to see Hamilton, which was one of the shows my parents bought me tickets for as a present. Some could say that it’s extremely bold to turn up to Hamilton in a red coat, but at least I’ve done that in the UK. If I ever get a chance to see it in the USA, I’ll be sure to wear a blue jacket. I must say that I adore the way this jacket and JSK work together, I wouldn’t have expected the dress to lend itself to military looks quite as well as it did.
However, that was in the evening, for other stuff I did during the day I went with a more relaxed outfit, which I’m also adding here. Even though this one was worn longer, I’m not necessarily counting it as much as I do the evening look. However, I do think it’s good to show how you can keep your frills more chill, comfortable, and practical for other activities. Fancy dresses are still valid when worn in less fancy ways and I want to help normalise that by showing them when I have any record.
Still pre-braiding my hair for the day, though with plenty of comfort changes.
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Coord 5: Come From Away
| Angelic Pretty Cinema Doll JSK | offbrand top and tights | Innocent World Tulle Lace Millefeuille bolero | Hush Puppies boots | Manda Rin Designs hat and brooches | handmade necklace | Tiny Passerine Creations The Duchess’ Tea earrings |
Finally a daylight selfie!
They were like a pair of guardians.
Ok, I full on chickened out, I should’ve worn my Airline JSK to see Come From Away, but that felt like a bit too much. So instead I went with this super classy option, basically imagining myself to be a passenger on board first class, which is how I spent most of my trip anyway. The brooches and the hat were handmade by my Secret Santa, brooches specifically to match Cinema Doll, and they elevated what is a relatively simple coord into something that little bit more fancy. Although again, I didn’t actually wear the hat on the day - I knew I’d have to take it off at the theatre and I didn’t have a tote bag to carry it with me, plus the spoons weren’t quite there. But it still got immortalised. That was the day that I spent entirely out, first pottering around Harrods (where an employee working one of the perfume counters complimented my dress and asked if it was from Dior - Dior wishes), and later meeting a friend for Japanese souffle pancakes, before heading to the theatre.
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Coord 6: Six and Thirty
| AatP Sheherazade ~ One Thousand and One Nights ~ JSK I | offbrand top | AatP jacket | Resailan Jewelry Box tights | Hush Puppies boots | Ebony & Ivory hair clip | Tiny Passerine Creations The Duchess’ Tea earrings | Puvithel Crystal Heart brooch | Annie’s Flower brooch |
Sittin' here all alone... on a throne... in a palace that I happen to own...
Noticed this eagle on my dress as I was having the afternoon tea and couldn't help from admiring it.
It was only until the actual day of my 30th birthday arrived that I realised that I planned all my outfits around the musicals and nothing else. If I was planning something to wear just for the occasion of my birthday, I probably would’ve gone with something different. Not that I’m actually complaining, this outfit went through a few changes over the course of the day, first for when I went shopping in Covent Garden, and then for taking afternoon tea at my hotel. This is its final iteration that I wore to see Six, which was also bought for me by my parents. Whilst I wasn’t necessarily planning to make an homage to any particular queen, going with something royal and vaguely Tudor-esque instead, I can’t deny that I ended up looking like an Anne of Cleves stan (which isn’t a bad thing, Anne of Cleves was arguably the winner in the history of Henry’s wives). My seat was also so close to the stage and right in the centre that I’m sure the cast members noticed me, I feel like I saw one or two meaningful looks cast my way (in a good way). My love for this show is no secret and I had an absolute blast, every single one of the cast members was fantastic and I went full on ‘treat yourself’ in the merch shop. If any of you spot any crown-shaped ita bags, do let me know, please.
An earlier version of this outfit when I was just having my afternoon tea.
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Coord 7: Park Date
| Innocent World White Double Braid Tartan skirt | Axes Femme top | everything else is offbrand |
Nothin much, something warm and practical to wear for a walk in the park.
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Coord 8: Valentine Vibes
| Bodyline L262 JSK | offbrand top and necklaces | Snag Sweetheart tights | Irregular Choice Flickety Kiss shoes | Cutie Creator Maiden's Prayer headbow | Big Pink Boutique earrings | Madillustration brooch | Patisserie Pink Lock and Key brooch |
Truth be told, I'm not 100% happy with any of my selfies from that day, even though I loved the look, but I am working on being less critical of things I can't control (like my face).
The heart pendant is one I nicked from the Winter ILD's Secret Santa game.
This was way too early to be getting into the spirit of Valentine’s Day, but screw that, I have finally found a way to accept the aesthetic without compromising on my values, so why not enjoy it. I’ve also looked at the November 2020 outfit with this JSK and felt like updating that. I would definitely wear that to a date if I had one that day, it was cute and flirty.
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Coord 9: Kind of Already Done This
| Resailan Jewelry Box JSK | offbrand top and jewellery | Innocent World Rose Lace Millefeuille bolero | Enchantlic Enchantilly Crown of the Rose Princess tights | Deary shoes | Cutie Creator headbow |
That collar did not want to stay within the choker, it was a right faff to get it right for the photo.
Tiny cameo.
Except that that previous one never got a photo. I can’t remember the exact coord, but I remember wearing this JSK with this bolero for one of my very early videos. I probably would’ve cringed a bit at that attempt now, so what better opportunity to update that and wear some jewel toned tricolour? Although granted, the work from home day was a bit manic, I’m surprised I even managed to dress up at all.
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Coord 10: Tartan Saturday
| Juliette et Justine La Couronne Classique Robe OP | offbrand blazer, beret, earrings, ring and brooch | Vivienne Westwood x Melissa Anglomania shoes | Promised Land Creations necklace | Strike a Pose pin | handmade bracelets |
Somehow the tartan and the beret here manage to look more arty than punk. Just an observation.
This crown on the dress is such a nice detail, very Vivienne Westwood.
I am very pleased that I gave in and bought this dress. It’s my first JetJ piece and the cut and length are just perfect! What’s less perfect is that this is a wool blend dress that’s completely not lined - not good for an OP, especially considering how JetJ is one of the more premium brands. I expected more from them. Still, this dress is definitely a favourite once I layered it with something soft underneath. The coord you see above is what I wore to film a video and since JetJ frequently coords without legwear, I figured that so can I. But since an amended (i.e. simplified) version of this look was my outfit for going out in the evening, I was sensible and covered my legs for that. Though in the rush to get out of the house I did not take even a mirror selfie of that amended version.
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Coord 11: Night at the Musicals
| Metamorphose Polka Dots tiered skirt | offbrand top and belt | Angelic Pretty Romantic Angel OTKs | Bodyline shoes | handmade (not by me) hair tie | Big Pink Boutique earrings | Rose Marie Seoir necklace | Patisserie Pink Lock and Key brooch | Star Glazed Delights ring |
All the hearts!
I noticed, sadly, that the gold from the front of this ring has worn off, which goes to show how often I use it.
Going to see some form of musical theatre six times in one month is really not bad at all! I really managed to start the year the way I meant to go on judging by how things went until that point. However, since this was an event of many musicals at once, it was harder to pick an outfit. I settled on something vaguely 50’s inspired, which ended up still vibing with Valentine’s Day, but that’s ok since it was also a date night. We got amazing seats for National Lottery’s Big Night of Musicals, which was then shown on BBC One, though we didn’t make the final cut of the televised show. But being able to see it live, as well as be told by three separate people that we were the best dressed couple on the night - priceless!
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Coord 12: Simple Black and Ivory
| AatP Sugar Plum Fairy Princess JSK | Innocent World Tulle Lace Millefeuille bolero | Violet Fane Antiquite tights | offbrand shoes and hair tie | Promised Land Creations earrings and necklace |
The Glossier lipsticks I bought in London are so great for those bare face pictures where I just want a bit of colour on my lips, I am so tempted to get more.
Proof that I was, in fact, wearing a hair accessory.
This coord was supposed to be worn so much sooner, but first I needed to change plans and then life had other ideas. I’m still pleased that I managed to wear it before January actually ended for working from home once that had calmed down a bit. It surprised me to see that I hadn’t tried to wear this dress with a simple ivory base and I like the elegant, toned down look that it created.
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Although once again travelling is skewing things slightly, January really does seem like it’s been a busy and packed month. Which I guess is pretty accurate, that is how it felt. But it’s prime time to move over and make some room for lovecore in February. Because whilst my view on Valentine’s Day has not changed, I feel much better able to balance having those views with enjoying the aesthetic, the colour scheme, the hearts etc. And I look forward to channelling that through my outfits this month.
