Children’s Dress to Shiro OP!

Hi all! I wanted to share how I turned this vintage children’s dress into a Gothic Lolita Lacemonster! I was inspired by Marble, Antique Beast, and Old Metamorphose. When I saw this dress at the  vintage store, it looked really unassuming (and kind of grey-ish) in the dark lighting. However, the shiny organdy material caught my eye and reminded me of Meta’s babydoll op. 

The full set in action!

Being a children’s dress, it felt silly that I would even consider buying it. After all, it wouldn’t fit me at all, and wouldn’t it be a bit embarrassing to purchase it for myself? 😳

While Lolita fashion is intended for adults just  enjoying cute clothes, I do have to admit that there is more nuance to the argument typically expressed to normies that geos something along the lines of, “HEY! These look nothing like actual children’s clothes if you even bother to look at it 😡 Like what child is wearing a $300 dress??” 

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…

….

So…back to me staring down a $35 child’s dress and wondering how I’m going to make it EGL. 😄Would I have been burned at the stake in 2010? Maybe! But I’m going to show you how I did it! 

Inspiration

Organdy Babydoll

Metamorphose’s Babydoll Organdy OP is a dream dress of mine, but honestly, the old school prices and rarity make me feel like acquiring it is not worth the hassle. I was lucky enough to get the black Dot Tulle OP from 2009, which is somewhat similar. However, the OG is a truly iconic piece!

Honorable mentions are the following:

Princess OP

Trumpet Sleeve Babydoll OP

Trumpet Sleeve Tiered OP (Cotton Blend Raschel Lace)

Obviously, there are way too many Meta Lacemonsters to count… love them all!

Process

Here’s what we are working with:

First, I had to adjust the neckline and make the bodice more form fitting. The bodice is completely flat so I needed to find a way to accommodate my bust. 

Instead of the front being the front… aha! I will use the backside of the dress as the front instead. The back of the bodice closed with buttons originally. I sliced the skirt right down the middle to open it up. By adding pintucks to the top area, it added a modest curvature for the bust area. (Later, I trimmed away the excess fabric until I achieved the square neckline)

Then, I created this shirring panel. Have I mentioned that I love shirring panels and hate zippers? If you fluctuate in weight or make a mistake while sewing, there’s not much of a consequence. Zippers on the other hand…. we are not on speaking terms…

Anyway, here it looks with the first half of the skirt attached. There is lace that will ruffle up nicely when the elastic is inserted.

Added the ruffle to the bottom to copy the rest of the dress!

For the sleeves, I added one more layer of raschel lace and cinched them in with elastic. There seemed to be some wimpy old elastic that was… not doing much of anything? I’m just gonna ignore that and sew right over it…

I wanted some detachable princess sleeves so I made a big ol circle. The inner cutout should be somewhat bigger than your arm diameter, but gather it slightly to size. Once you sew it to a cylinder, behold! A detachable sleeve.

I’m on friendly terms with the button hole foot now, so I decided to make them this way instead of using elastics. Less handsewing for me.

Now we attach the middle panel to the dress… and it’s wearable! Then, just slap on some good ol corset lacing. Wait, this was pretty simple after all?

I also made a little choker from scraps I gathered from the dress and a faux flower, as well as a matching capelet!

Now, I did take it outside in the middle of sewing for the dreaded “mismatched” whites test. Something that is really apparent on an overcast day! Surprisingly, it’s not too bad. You can see that it’s symmetrically mismatched (kinda). I’m more forgiving because this is an upcycling project and not a dress made from scratch. (I’m really particular if I have to start a shiro project from the beginning…😭)

Okay, that’s all! Thank you guys for reading this diy post. I’ve been missing making them. Sometimes it’s a toss-up between making a DIY reel or writing a blog post. I think blog posts are much more informational even if it’s not a tutorial. Reels are more just for entertainment (at least when I make them). I know there’s some people out there who like reading these, so I’ll keep posting as long as I’m not too burnt out!

Until next time~ 

Valentine

Gothic Yearning: Going Back to my Roots

Hi all!

It’s been almost 2 years of wearing lolita, but sometimes I’ve feel like I’ve lost the essence of the style that represents me. I’m having fun with coording, but I often feel that I’ve left my gothic roots behind. Therefore, I feel a bit conflicted. Wearing sweet and experimental coords is fun, but when I look back at the photos, I’m like, “hey this doesn’t really represent me… LOL.”

People liked this coord, but it’s not my typical thing!

It’s a bit weird to think about! Well, if I wear it, maybe it is my style in a strange way? Or maybe it isn’t, and it’s more like a fun get-up for the day? I mean, there’s nothing wrong with enjoying things that don’t really “represent” you in the strictest sense. 

Still, I want to get back into my gothic style roots. I‘ve always loved EGA and it is one of my biggest inspirations in jfashion. I do enjoy coording and sewing Lolita a lot, which is why I’ve stuck with it. But one day, I may shift back towards EGA!

I decided to do a bit of a gothic style challenge. I haven’t stuck with wearing gothic because I feel like the color palette is redundant sometimes, and I like a colorful feed. I decided to wear and feature 5 gothic coords! Let’s satisfy my gothic yearning!

Coord One

OP: Wild Fable (altered)
Headdress, nun collar: Dearly Valentine
Purse: Upcycled/thrifted
Shoes: Offbrand

I wore this coord out on International Lolita Day, just for some studying. I didn’t want to wear anything too uncomfortable, so this altered target dress was great! I ended up layering it with a nun collar, which was always something I wanted to do with this dress. Nun lolita is a bit out of my comfort zone sometimes, since it sometimes can read as costumey. I'm also not great at gothic makeup, so there's that too LOL. However, I think it turned out alright!

Coord Two

Blouse: Present Box
Vest: Axes Femme
Headdress: Dearly Valentine
Purse: Upcycled/thrifted
Skirt: Offbrand
Shoes: Offbrand

This coord was something I had planned for a long time, but I couldn't wait until the final item came in to wear it. I had to substitute a cheap offbrand skirt for the bottom, but you don't really end up noticing too much! (Ahh...I will await my Victorian Maiden Skirt). I wore this to a nice dinner at a convocation. I ended up not wearing the headpiece just to tone it down. My mom stole my purse for the night so I grabbed something else LOL.

Coord Three

OP: Pyramid Collection (altered)
Headdress: Atelier Pierrot
Shoes: Offbrand

This is a coord I have pretty much worn before, the only difference being the short underskirt I wore under it instead of the long one I wore previously. I wore this to hang out with my friend at the Orange Old Town! Luckily, it wasn’t crazy hot but I had to take my choker off at some point since it got a bit warm. I love how elegant this OP is! It’s such a great offbrand find.

Coord Four

OP: Vintage (altered)
Headdress, bloomers: Dearly Valentine
Shoes: Yosuke

Shiro gothic my love! To be honest, maybe this is stylistically on the sweet end due to the length and styling. For the sake of this post it’s going to be gothic to me. Eh yes I have my mummy platforms on good enough. >:) I upcycled this dress and I really love it to be honest! I has so maybe styling options with the detachable capelet and trumpet sleeves. The contrast between the shiny organdy and cotton panels also is a nice detail to me.

Coord Five

JSK: Metamorphose
Headdress: Dearly Valentine
Shoes: Bodyline

This is a simple gothic blouseless coord that I wore for my trip to Washington state. It wasn’t too warm, but it was quite sunny and the weather was suitable for this style! I don’t wear my jsks without blouses too often, but I think it has a nice casual effect. With a black lippie, it definitely gives more gothic vibes! 

I think this little challenge definitely helped me feel a bit more in touch with my gothic clothing items. I have been neglecting them a little bit because I worry that my coording will feel repetitive. Or, I just want to reach for something that is super casual and comfy that day, and I don’t always think up the best coord ideas. To be honest, there isn’t anything wrong with that! But im happy that I was able to also try a few gothic coords that I’ve been thinking of wearing but haven’t quite got to. 

Until next time~

Valentine

Old School Lolita Tag

Hi all!

I decided to answer the questions from the Old School Lolita tag created by AngelBruises, Gravelvet, EmbroideredDoll, The Flufferdome, Candib3ar, SweetJosephine03 and TroubleInTheMessageCentre.

Usually, this is done with a video, but I didn't feel like filming haha.

Old School Lolita Tag

1. What is the current coord you are wearing?

Well... this didn't translate too well into a blog post because I am currently in PJs xD. The last coord I wore however was my BTSSB Cul de Paris JSK that I paired with my handmade bonnet.

2. What is the oldest piece in your wardrobe?

The oldest piece in my wardrobe is either this 2001(?) Angelic Pretty OP featured in GLB 1, or this 1999-2001 Metamorphose sundress (it has the Curly tag, but it isn't on lolibrary).

Mami

GLB 001

3. What is a piece released after 2010 that you often use in your old school coordinates?

Hmm... this is a bit challenging to answer because most of my staple items are post-2010 because I made them. 😂 I frequently wear this pair of long bloomers I made from an old skirt!

4. What kind of item is missing from your wardrobe?

I would love to have a shiro main piece with raschel lace. I love crazy OTT lace monsters but I don't yet have one! I love designs by old Meta and Kazuko Ogawa. Meta recently released one of their popular princess sleeve OPs, but it doesn't quite scratch that itch for me.

(Edit from future me: OKAY SCRATCH THAT-  I immediately DIYed a shiro lace monster promptly after writing this…)

Kazuko Ogawa Long OP

Organdy Babydoll OP

5. Your Old School Dream Dress.

It's really hard for me to narrow down an ultimate "holy grail," especially because I'm really satisfied with my current wardrobe. I don't know that any new dress would necessarily warrant that title (especially at the price points they are currently at) xD

Well, let me think! Hmm... this is such a basic answer, but I chose it because I believe that it would be impossible to acquire in my lifetime.

Velveteen Elizabeth OP (2001) 

It is pretty funny because I do know someone in my lolita comm who owns this exact OP! They happen to be the person who submitted this photo to Lolibrary. Ah... it is so rare but I was lucky to even see it in person! I was captivated by the elegance and charm of this dress. I hope BTSSB one day rereleases it in velveteen 💓

7. Your Old School dream item that isn't a dress?

Currently, I would love to own this Meta Crown Cotton Lace Blouse!

8. An aspect of Old School you think is missing from lolita now?

An aspect that I think is missing is DIY and handmade items! Of course, there are still plenty of people who handmake lolita, but I think it is less common. I also think another aspect that is missing is the carefree attidude people shared back then. We care a lot more about appearances and looking "good" now, I think! I'm not immune to this myself, but I do try to channel that energy sometimes through casual lolita coords and no-makeup coords. Also, the IDGAF energy that people had when posing for photos was equally hilarious and badass.

9. Your favorite photo from a lolita magazine.

This is really hard to choose! I guess I will include a few favorites.

GLB 4

This one is so cute and peak shiro coord! I recreated it before and was happy with the result.

Alice Doll

I have this exact VISIBLE OP but with short sleeves. I thought it would be longer, but I realize now that I'm much taller than the girl here LOL. The front hits me nearly at crotch length, so I wear a black underskirt beneath it.

Not sure where it's from oops

These dolly-esque looks are so cute! I'm not sure if this is from a magazine, but I'm sure many people have seen this photo around.

10. Your favorite piece from your wardrobe.

This is too hard to answer, I have a lot of favorites LOL. I am particularly fond of my VISIBLE Op that’s featured in Alice Girl. I wish it fit me a bit better though.

I also love my handmade shiro OP! 

(Why does this feel like a mirror image of question #9? 😂)

11. Your favorite coord from Kamikaze Girls.

Oooo! Here's a fun blog that shows Momoko's closet from Kamikaze Girls. I have to say the classic Red x White Elizabeth OP coord is my favorite. I love the big rose details on her headdress!

12. Your best Old School lolita bargain.

Best bargain huh… I think I have had 2 pretty good deals! I found this gothic style OP for about $35 at a vintage pop up. It’s offbrand, but it has incredible Princess Sleeves andr aschel lace. I just upcycled it slightly (there’s a blog post on it).

I also found this op for around $35 as well! This one required a more intensive alteration but I used old bedsheets that didn’t cost much. I also made a capelet and choker! I’ll write about my process in a blog post soon.

Well, that’s it for the tag! It was super fun, although it took me a long while to get to it 😂. Hope you enjoyed reading!

Until next time~

Valentine

June Haul: Gothic Edition!

Hi all!

For the past few months, I've been thinking about how I'm reaching the end-game stage of lolita fashion. It's a bit like how I've invested 600+ hours into Animal Crossing. I mean, I've terraformed my entire island, and there's not much space to decorate it anymore (except maybe one spot...)

That is all to say that I'm nearing my 30 main piece limit I've set for myself. Now, I could add some stipulations that "handmade" doesn't count, or that my cheaper taobao pieces didn't really count either xD but the truth is, having too many items takes up a lot of mental and physical space. I think that I may be ready to shift towards an old school gothic and EGA closet, and perhaps it's time to let go of some pieces that are too sweet or classic. Erm... hopefully then I can atone for my recent shopping crimes😅 

Recent Buys

Metamorphose Unknown Sundress (1999-2001?)

I've been looking for a black jsk for a while, although it was low on my priority list since I have a ton of black OPs. I much prefer the comfort of OPs, but I do lament the fact that I could not do the classic "Old School Black JSK x White Blouse" look. (Aha, now I can!) I'm unsure of when this item was released, especially because it wasn't on lolibrary. However, it does have the curly tag, which points to it being an earlier piece. 

To be honest, curly tag Meta is not amazing quality. The design is super cute, but the material is thin and the stitching is visible against the lace. However, I do think that I will wear this a lot since it is my only all-black jsk! Not a total dealbreaker for me, but just something to note.

Yosuke White Platforms

Seriously, I've been searching for a white platform in my size for MONTHS! I passed up a pair of Atelier Pierrot Gold Frame Pumps in white, and it just did not sit right with me after that. I always felt like this was a missing piece in some of my coord options. Luckily, I finally got some that fit. They're so cute and perfect for gothic shiro coords.

Victorian Maiden Velveteen Skirt

I really wanted a long skirt that would work for EGA looks, especially because I have a blouse and vest which would be perfect for that. When I saw this, I wasn't too sure if it was exactly what I wanted, but the price was decent so I gave it a shot! The quality is nice and the velveteen is luxurious. At least, I'll be able to finally wear the top items with something.

Black Peace Now Coat

This was not on my high priority wishlist, but this coat was giving major EGA and gothic lolita vibes. I love that it can be versatile! Like I mentioned, I just really want to go back into wearing more gothic fashion. I can definitely see this being one of my favorite pieces. It's super comfortable and flattering! Eventually, I might move most of clothing towards this direction, so it's a start.

Le Vitrail Kickstarter 

Kickstarter Link

I was really excited that there was going to be a gothic & lolita magazine revival with this new project. It looks super promising and I would love to support the talented artists and contributors of this publication! 

Okay, I'm ready to go on a no-buy now LOL😂 Maybe I will start selling or trading a few pieces as well. Either way, I'm pretty happy with these pieces. Previously, I was a bit hesitant to get more gothic items even though it's what I like. I definitely prioritized variety in the past, but I know that my end goal is to narrow my style down a bit.

That's all! Until next time~

Valentine

My Actual Thoughts on Being Ace

Hi all! Ok first of all, happy Pride Month to everyone who celebrates :3

I was a bit hesitant to post this because it's a slighty sensitive topic for me. Sexuality is such a diverse and sometimes confusing thing -- it's not really something I have actively attempted to explore outside the past year or so. While I might've known since highschool, being asexual didn't register to me until I reached my 20s. Of course, being the age where a lot of people get into relationships, it triggers a lot of mixed feelings. And with it being Pride Month, it's also a bit hard to avoid thinking about this topic😂

This isn't exactly an informative post; it's my personal experience! But maybe some people can learn or relate a bit. Treat this as a bit of a public diary entry. I decided to put cat pictures because this is a word salad. My attention span is dead too.

me typing on the puter

My Asexuality, Labels, and the LGBTQ+ Community

Lately, I was reminiscing about a wonderful asexual therapist I had, who had since left the school I was attending. I'm not sure where she is now (...is it weird to try to track her down so I can see her again? LOL). She guided me on some self-introspection that helped me organize my thoughts.

Honestly, I'm not a big fan of putting labels on sexuality and things like that. I mean, when you associate with a label, people immediately jump to conclusions. Hey, but I know it does help linguistically to express our thoughts, and there's no way around that. I'm asexual and on the aromantic spectrum. It doesn't fully express the nuances of how I feel or go through, but it's a start.

To be honest, I've always had difficulty relating to other people who fall under the queer or LGBTQ+ label. Maybe it is nuanced, but "not feeling" a form of attraction is still quite different than "feeling" non-heteronormative forms of attraction or variations in gender identity. Maybe that is why I always felt a bit isolated, it's hard to find a sense of community when you can't quite relate. That's not to say this is the case for all asexual people, some do identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community!

Even so, I discussed this with my therapist, who had said that her research about asexual individuals revealed that they're the non-heteronormative group that feels the least connection to the queer community. You can read the preview of the dissertation here! It's quite interesting. I’m  lowkey trying to chase her down for the full text.

we do be reading tho

Okay, okay, like I said. Thinking about this stirs up mixed feelings in me. Some asexual people deal with self-esteem issues which stem from wanting to fit in or be allosexual. I don't think I've experienced this exactly. I didn't feel exactly "broken" or like I should've been different. But you know what still makes me sad? I struggled to accept the fact that my love life got extremely nerfed. Hey, it's one thing to be ace, and it's another thing to be on the aromantic spectrum. 😂 Sheeesh.)

Asexuality and The Quest for Love?

Asexual people may or may not experience romantic attraction. If they don't, they would also be aromantic. People seem to think AroAce people would not care for a relationship at all. In fact, this could be far from the truth. They could have fulfilling relationships like everyone else! Check out more on queer platonic relationships. 

Anddddd... I swear this wasn't supposed to be an informative post but I HAVE TO SHARE THIS. This chart is so helpful and shows that there are different types of attraction besides romantic and sexual attraction. 

I don't experience sexual attraction, and would consider myself a sex-repulsed aegosexual (if I really had to choose a microlabel 😬). The romantic attraction part is harder for me to conceptualize, but I'm left feeling like I'm somewhere on the aromantic spectrum. The weird part is, I have a gender preference! I'm more attracted to men, so perhaps I could say I'm straight. But I somehow I struggle to imagine what romantic feelings are like, and I can't confidently say I've ever experienced it. Is this the aesthetic attraction kicking in instead? I don't know, and if my therapist did not leave, I'm sure I would have asked her more about this. It remains an unanswered question in my mind! 

I experience all the other forms for attraction very clearly though. It's definitely enough for me to say that I would like to one day be in a monogamous relationship with someone who feels similarly. I deeply value platonic, intellectual, and emotional connections. I would feel attracted to someone because of that. Aesthetic attraction is a bonus too, and usually it is the first thing people typically notice. However, I think my perception of someone's beauty is also influenced by how positively or negatively I feel about them overall. So stay slaying, my fellow chopped huzz.

Last Thoughts

Well, I'm trying to stay positive that one day I will find the right person! At the same time though, I cannot deny that I feel a bit disappointed that doing so is so tricky. I may someday like someone, and they may be allosexual or alloromantic. It is incredibly hard to find out whether someone could be ace or not...because we almost never have any reason to "come out." LOL. And sure, online dating within Ace spaces is another option but... bleh that sounds like something I'm not ready for right now😅

Anyway, feeling urgency to find a partner is the weird thing you have to deal with being in your 20-somethings. I hope that I make the right choices for myself and live life without regrets. Flowers bloom where you water them the most. At this point, I may not be watering the "relationship" aspect of life, but one day I might. Right now, I have plenty of other things to grow!

I wish you all the best, thank you for reading~

Valentine