Bloomers Or No Bloomers?

Sleep shorts are typically cheaper and are often
decorated with cute patterns.

I always 100% endorse wearing some form of shorts beneath your dress, whether it be a pair of lacy bloomers or plain black short shorts. The wind is an unpredictable foe, and walking anywhere elevated risks exposing those on the lower level to what you're wearing under your coordinate.

However, do I think bloomers specifically are absolutely necessary? No. Wearing bloomers helps to contribute more with the lifestyle aspect of lolita and adds on another layer of frills with the detailing that so many lolitas admire.  However, bloomers are really specialized garments that can be replaced with other easier to obtain sport shorts or oftentimes soft and breathable sleep shorts. I never hesitate to use what I have clean on hand for beneath my coordinate.

The above post idea was originally from F Yeah Lolita's original list, Lolita 52 Challenge. 

Something That's Not My Style, But I Love Anyways

I've long admired ouji style from afar: the princely elements, the boyish charm, lolita elegance but with detailed trousers and vests. The style is very lovely, but I've actively avoided segmenting my closet into yet another Japanese street fashion. I'm also very unsure of how I'd look wearing the style, so I see ouji staying something that I admire but don't participate in for a long while to come.

The above post idea was originally from F Yeah Lolita's original list, Lolita 52 Challenge. 

How Strangers React To My Clothes and How I React To Their Reactions

How do I deal with the people asking what I'm wearing? 

I find that the above is one of the most common questions that new lolitas have especially those who start out wearing sweet. Dealing with the reactions of others to the fashion especially with OTT substyles can be weird at times, but I developed a set a different reactions for the different ways I'm approached.

• Are you in a play? 
  Why is this the one I always seem to get at my local mall which is decently far from the places in town that would even be hosting a play? Though I've felt like some people try to say this in a condescending manner, most just seem to be genuinely trying to fit what they're seeing into the closest reference they have. My general reaction is to just smile and nod especially since the question tends to get asked when I'm in the middle of a meetup. 
• Halloween is over! 
  I've actually only heard the above once or twice. I just tend to ignore heckling remarks and keep on struttin'.  
• Wow, what are you wearing?! That's so cool!
  I get the excited reaction the most from younger people who are somewhere from mid teens to late twenties. I often times take extra time to talk with people that respond in a manner that suggests they genuinely love the fashion and to have a general small chat about Japanese fashion in general. 
• Are you a princess? 
  That's my favorite reply from little girls, and I always feel really proud of capturing the lovely essence of the fashion. Making little kids smile with an outfit and giving them a sense of wonderment at the world to see a 'real' princess walking around is always a great feeling. 

That's it for the main reactions that other people have to me and I have to other people. I've mostly experienced positive reactions while wearing lolita in public. Please let me know what experiences you've had in lolita and what ways you deal with the public attention.

The above post idea was originally from F Yeah Lolita's original list, Lolita 52 Challenge. 

My Favorite Lolita Print

Oftentimes, a print comes up so high in demand and desirable that you don't even bother to add it to your mental wishlist. Why get your hopes when the lolita desire of your dreams seems nearly impossible to get? That's the case with me and Angelic Pretty's Cat Tea Party. The piece very seldom comes up for listing, and even then the prices can push up $1,000 which is out of my price range for a single dress at the moment.

The cats radiate a regal air just sitting at the table. Two of them gossip behind a fan while another looks on with intense interest from a seat away. The royal at the table sticks her tongue out in a sassy manner, secure enough in her position to act with complete composure and dignity without worry of the gossip. 

The Imai Kira art for the piece is lovely with two girls staring forward carrying cakes that match the color of the other one's dress. 

The cut of the dress itself is also amazing, of course. If getting just one more piece could make my lolita wardrobe complete, then Cat's Tea Party would be that piece for me. 

The above post idea was originally from F Yeah Lolita's original list, Lolita 52 Challenge. 

5 Keywords That Describe My Lolita Style

I had to actually thinking decently hard about the above prompt. Even in an age of digitization and keywords which condense down to describe our lives, what keywords describe my personal style, crystallize its essence? Though my conclusions may be rough and inaccurate, I do think I've better distilled what makes my style mine.

Casual

A large number of my outfits never actually make their way onto my blog. Why? I tend to wear a large amount of casual style lolita outfits that straddle the border of being formal enough to be considered full lolita coordinates. I wear lots of casual style when I'm not feeling the sheer efforts of makeup and wigs that goes into my put together looks or when I'm wearing lolita to work where I never wear wigs or OTT types outfits. Even though I still see continued debate on whether or not casual lolita should be even considered lolita, I find the style to be one of substyles with the great amount of diversity and exploration of what base elements really make a lolita outfit.

Offbrand

I love to wear accessories from non lolita stores such as Forever 21, rue 21, and Claire's. More mainstream stores rotate in trends more quickly than lolita brands tend to absorb variety, so I like being able add in different elements of more popular fashion that I like at a much cheaper price. Bodyline is also my go to place for so many lolita items, and I'm hoping to add in more pieces of Bodyline even now to pad out my wardrobe with my solid everyday wearable lolita dresses.

Bittersweet

I'm not quite as into sweet lolita in the black colorway as I used to be, but I still really love the way that the substyle looks. I'm a sucker for the contrast of the pastels against the black background which makes seeing the print much easier. I also personally like seeing other lolitas in the subystle as I can more easily get a look at the detailing of their print and the shapes without having to get within an eerily close distances to observe their clothes.

Wigs

When I do pull myself into a more formal outfit for a lolita meetup or just a really nice evening out on the town, I wearing wigs so incredibly much. Even right now, I'm mentally going back on forth on whether to place a wig order when I know that my wardrobe expansion would be better served by more shoes. I really don't like how hard my natural black hair is to work with, so I've just taken to keeping my natural hair in a small puffy afro for everyday use then covering my hair with my slowly increasing variety of wigs which can instantly match the look I'm going for that day much better than my natural hair ever has.

Kawaii

Oh come on. My blog is named 'Beyond Kawaii'. I just HAD to put that as a keyword to describe my style. I do truly love kawaii, the Japanese style cute which lolita absorbs into itself so perfectly with sweet little characters and darling elements. I feel like I actually tend to vastly fail on being truly kawaii instead of just incorporating regular style cute, but I do try to always think about and add sweet elements to my life and style.

The above post idea was originally from F Yeah Lolita's original list, Lolita 52 Challenge. 

Best Places To Wear Lolita

I've had the opportunity to attend a number of meetups with my local lolita community as well travel without a group to a number of places while wearing lolita. Below are some of my favorite pics for places to wear your frills.~

Anime Conventions

Self at Kamicon 2014

If you can't stand to be stared at while out in lolita, anime conventions are a safe place to venture. Amongst a sea of cosplayers and other vibrant fashions, you have a great opportunity to go all out with your coordinate and dress in more over the top styles. Many anime conventions host lolita tea parties or have a Japanese fashion track, so opportunities to socialize with other lolitas (if that's your cup of tea so to speak) also abound.

Botanical Gardens

Me getting my derp on during a botanical garden meetup. 

Botanical gardens provide a lovely opportunity to not only get some fresh air away from your mbok auctions but to also break out the seldom used parasols while strolling between rows of flowers, trees and other various shrubbery. My local botanical gardens also hosts a cherry blossom festival every year which is always an amazing event hosted by my state's Japan society. 

Museums

Self at local museum in AP Dreamy Girl. <3

Though I've gotten a few askance glances from the staff during museum visits, my overall experience has been great. Especially while wearing classic lolita, you can feel like you've been transported back in time to the elegant era of the painting you behold. 

That's my top 3 list of places to wear lolita. Let me know of any other place you love to wear your coordinates.

The above post idea was originally from F Yeah Lolita's original list, Lolita 52 Challenge. 

How I First Found Out About Lolita

I came to lolita through a fairly common gateway drug: anime and manga. My pull wasn't Chii from Chobits or Misa from Death Note, but instead the character of Lucia Nahashi from the series Venus Versus Virus.

While reading the manga, the author mentioned that one of her primary influences for Lucia's dress was gothic lolita and aristocrat style. I looked a little further into lolita because I thought Lucia was an interesting character with amazing sophistication. From the fact I'm writing a lolita blog now, you can guess that I took a liking to what I discovered in that Google search and went from there.

The above post idea was originally from F Yeah Lolita's original list, Lolita 52 Challenge. 

What I Thought When I Got My First Real Piece Of Lolita

As mentioned before, my first piece that I acquired for my wardrobe was a hard to work with wa lolita piece. However, I loved it nonetheless at the time, and my main thoughts were mostly comprised of wishes and dreams of how I would look like a Japanese Western infused *princess desu*. Yes, as embarrassing as it could potentially be, those were my weeaboo thoughts before trying on my first lolita piece.

The above post idea was originally from F Yeah Lolita's original list, Lolita 52 Challenge. 

What's In My Lolita Closet, But I Haven't Worn Yet!

When I first got into lolita, I almost never had items that went unworn for more than a week or two. Now, I have several items sitting on the back burner, waiting for a good occasion! Below are the items which I'm waiting for the right time to wear them.~

Angelic Pretty Whipped Magic OP

I know that some people dislike the dress because of the lime green in the print, but I love the piece so incredibly much. I now own the piece in the above colorway, and I'm very satisfied with the way the piece fits me, so I'm just waiting now for a 'sweet' opportunity to wear it out. I had originally anticipated wearing the dress to a cherry blossom festival in my area, but alas, I was too worn out from being burned at work that week so I wasn't able to attend.

Ista Mori Captain Mia Jsk

The above dress, which arrived in the mail for me within the last week, is actually my first dress to buy from Taobao, and I'm so incredibly pleased with the quality of my find that I'll likely post a detailed review within the next few weeks. I'm going to wait until the days get somewhat hotter (which won't be long given that I live in Alabama), then I'll wear the dress likely with a boater hat that I have coming in the mail right now.

Okay, so this jsk technically isn't in my closet yet, but the dress will likely arrive within the next week. Even though I had recently ordered, I decided to also purchase the Chocoberry jsk in beige to hopefully wear to a berry picking meet up during the coming summer.

The above post idea was originally from F Yeah Lolita's original list, Lolita 52 Challenge. 

My Wardrobe Turnover

Since I've gotten into lolita, I've sold a very small amount of the items that I acquired. All of them have been pieces which did not fit me properly in the slightest, though I still have a couple of pieces I'd like to get rid of lurking in my closet.

The parka contained in the Candy Sprinkle salopette set was definitely too small for my bust, so I sold it recently. 

This BtSSB shirring cutsew claimed to fit an 80 to 110 cm bust and a 60-104 cm waist. I guess if by 'fit' you mean, 'look like a strange lolita crop top', then yes, the fit was excellent.  

I sold this skirt recently as, even though I technically fit into the piece, the item was much larger than my measurements and tended to hang much more on my hips than serving well as a high waisted skirt. 

I also had a pair of shoes which were my first lolita shoes from Bodyline that were a size 26.0. I mis-measured myself completely as I now know that I'm a 24.5 in Japanese shoes. 

As far as my more 'normal' clothing is concerned, I have a tendency to over buy cheap video game t-shirts which then end up being seldom worn since I tend to dress in lolita or fairy kei style clothes on the weekend while wearing other clothing for work. I'm actually in the process right now of donating a large amount of clothes that I no longer get any wear out of to Goodwill so that I can make room for new more work appropriate and cute clothes.

The above post idea was originally from F Yeah Lolita's original list, Lolita 52 Challenge. 

Lolitas I Have Met In Real Life

Well, considering I've gone to a number of lolita meetups and the lolita convention Frill last year, I have met few lolitas! To highlight, I've been graced to meet a few of the more prominent figures in the community.

Shin Haenuli of Haenuli

I was happy to get to meet the designer of one of my favorite indie lolita brand at a meetup at my local mall this past December which I already discussed in a past post. She was really lovey and fun to talk with, and I dream of owning her Royal Kitten and Enchanted Fawn print one day. 

Dawn of The Snow Field

I actually got to meet her at the same meet that I got to meet with Haenuli! Sadly, I didn't get a lot of time to talk with her, but I am happy to at least own a piece of her brand, the Nostalgia series tights. 

Andrea of Atlanta Lolita Comm

Andrea is a giant sweet heart that I've gotten the chance to meet at Frill last year along with meeting at the museum of art meetup that my comm hosted recently. I hope to go to at least one meetup in Atlanta during the coming year, so I'm looking forward to seeing her again. <3 

Christina of Sweet Clover Tea

Christina is another lolita that I met up with at Frill last year whose blog I have been following for a long while. She was dressed so beautifully in her classic Innocent World dress that I kind of felt like a giant dork in Dream of Macaron next to her, hah. 

What lolitas have you had the chance to meet up with? Feel free to link to blog posts with meetups of interest. ^_^

The above post idea was originally from F Yeah Lolita's original list, Lolita 52 Challenge. 

Wardrobe Blunders! Things I Bought That I Ended Up Regretting!

I've had a number of items that I haven't been completely pleased with like my Fanplusfriend blouse or my Bodyline wig which I ended up later selling. However, the number one item that I end up regretting purchasing? That would be my very first lolita purchases, Bodyline l231 along with a headdress I grabbed in the same order, gothic645.

;A;

Edgy desu.~

Yep, I had the brilliant idea of buying a wa lolita piece for my first lolita purchase. Don't get me wrong. I think wa lolita can be a lovely substyle. However, wa lolita is definitely not for beginners with the dearth of dresses available outside of Bodyline. The wide distracting sleeves can easily make a coordinate look overly costumey as they're hard to balance out. And for around $70, the dress definitely wasn't worth the price for which I could have bought dresses that I would have liked better and had a better resale value. However, the purchase wasn't entirely bad. I have managed to make use of the red skirt in more punk or gothic style looks. The headdress... well, um, the piece has a lot of sentimental value so that counts for something, right? 

The above post idea was originally from F Yeah Lolita's original list, Lolita 52 Challenge. 

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3 Lolita Trends I Wish Would Come Back

Having been in lolita for a few years now, I've now had the experience of seeing some trends come and go along with having come too late to experience the peak of other trends. I'd like to share 3 trends that I'd like to see come back in full force.

Twin Tail Split Wigs

A couple of years ago, I saw wigs like the above being all the rage and paired with every OTT sweet lolita outfit. Now, I hardly see the split wig color trend nor the chunky twin tails. I really love the look of the wigs, having worn a twin tail wig as recently as Kamicon this year, so I'd love to see the heavy hair come and add weight quite literally to outfits. 

Rectangle Headdresses

By the time I entered the fashion, rectangle headdress (ie, 'maxi pad' headdress') had already had their heyday and gone out of style. I love the chunky doll like look of them. They seem to have resurfaced somewhat as noted by F Yeah Lolita, though I'm still not seeing many of their thinner cousins. 

Source: Paradise Rose on etsy

Rocking Horse Shoes

I still don't have a pair of these glorious shoes, but I plan to order one at some point during my lolita career. I love the contrast of the wooden sole along with just how unique and fun these shoes look. 

The above post idea was originally from F Yeah Lolita's original list, Lolita 52 Challenge. 

My Favorite Lolita Brand

Well, my favorite lolita brand likely won't come as a shock to anyone who's watched my blog for a bit. It's... *drumroll*... ANGELIC PRETTY, アンジェリック　プリティ! The main lolita brand pieces that I currently have are all from them: Dreamy of Macarons, Whipped Magic, and Candy Sprinkle. I soon will likely be adding Dreamy Girl to that list. <3 Though I of course have a minuscule number of items compared to some wardrobes, I tend to love most of their releases as they release prints that vary between sugary sweet and femininely elegant. Since so many are out there, I'll go through the main prints of early 2014 and recap why I love them.

Angelic Pretty, Wonder Queen

Dignified royal rabbits play their trumpets, heralding the ruler of the fantasy style kingdom in front of the heart shaped window. Animals are a complete weakness for me, and I also love the refined Alice in Wonderland vibe that the dress gives off.

Angelic Pretty, Melty Royal Chocolate

Once I get done pursuing my macaron obsession further, I'd love to get my hands on one of the myriad of Angelic Pretty chocolate prints. I just love the chocolate bar motif, and I'm looking forward to what future spins AP may throw onto the theme.

Angelic Pretty, Romantic Rose Letter

I love the elegance and imagery of the print. I imagine a young woman at her vanity composing an eloquent letter to the love of her life, completing the note with a heart stamp and the words 'think of me' on the back of the letter. When her suitor eventually opens the letter, he inhales a scent that reminds him of her, a perfume reminiscent of a bed of roses. <3 Okay, maybe I'm a little overly romantic, but you get where I'm going with my appreciation for the print.

Angelic Pretty, Melody Toys

Once again, I'm a sucker for cute animals. After the music inspired coordinate Lolita Blog Carnival post of last week, I've been looking more into musical motifs. I love the idea of the little animals sweetly learning to play instruments particularly with the bear having the maestro's stick and the soft pony padding gently on a drum. I smiled at the thought even while typing the above.

Angelic Pretty, Dreamy Girl

I have a particular admiration for Dreamy Girl. Maybe my love is just a case of a release being in the right place at the right time with me exploring makeup more lately, but I can't help but imagine a sweet vanity or a magical girl transformation even though it's such a simple print. The print seems like a softer looking version of Fantastic Dolly, and I actually ordered the dress for my first direct purchase from the Angelic Pretty international site. The only thing that would make my love of the print more complete would have been a limited edition makeup collection from Angelic Pretty to go along with the collection.

I hope you've enjoyed walking through the reasoning of one person for loving Angelic Pretty so much and enjoyed eyeing recent releases again. Thank you for reading, and I'll write again soon.

The above post idea was originally from F Yeah Lolita's original list, Lolita 52 Challenge. 

5 Pieces That Every Lolita Should Have, Regardless of Style

No matter how new or budget conscious your lolita wardrobe is, certain pieces will help to complete and accentuate your OP's, JSK's and skirts throughout different substyles. Below are my picks for items every lolita should at the least consider having in their wardrobe.

Petticoat: Dear Celine
Bracelets and Floral Hairclips: Forever 21
Tights: Sock Dreams

Petticoat

The most defining feature of lolita fashion is the use of a petticoat to achieve shape beneath the dress. Without a petti, dresses tend to look kind of sad and limp. Of all the pieces of a lolita wardrobe, I'd recommend saving up and investing in at least one good petticoat to provide the perfect degree of fluff for the cut of your dresses.

Pearl bracelets

Whether your main substyle is classic, gothic or sweet, pearls can be used to add an extra hint of opulence and luxury to your outfit while being able to be purchased cheaply at mall stores like Forever 21. 

Floral accessories

Again, no matter which style you aim for, a floral accessory can add a nice touch to the outfit. I've found tons of floral accessories at a local dollar store accessory type shop called Z's Outlet, but you can find floral accents to compliment a lolita outfit at many locations.

Tights

Rather than socks, lolita brands are more and more releasing tights to go with their sets, so they're becoming more of a lolita staple. Several lovely detailed pairs of tights along with some basic solid colored hosiery in the color scheme of your choice are perfect for any lolita outfit. You can find tights in many different colors and sizes at places like Target, Sock Dreams, and We Love Colors.

Confidence

Yes, yes, I know that confidence technically isn't a piece you can just keep in stock in your wardrobe. But I believe being able to be confident in your style and appearance while in lolita is a valuable asset. Even if you're newer to the fashion and feel that you have no clue what you're doing, maintaining an air of poise and confidence in your frills can make the difference between having a fearful day worried that others are staring at you and having a relaxed day out laughing with your lolita friends. 

The above post idea was originally from F Yeah Lolita's original list, Lolita 52 Challenge.