My current obsession

I go through phases in my life where I become completely obsessed with something. Sometimes these things stick around (like Lolita) and sometimes they don't (various anime), but I've learned to let things run their course. And right now my obsession is Tiny Houses.

For the sweet Lolitas

In case you didn't know, a Tiny House is generally under 500 square feet; and those are the larger ones! Often times they're on wheels to get around zoning issues and, of course, to make them mobile. They've gotten more and more popular as time has gone on and are becoming a big alternative for millennials and older people nearing retirement, who maybe don't have a lot of money.

A bit more classic, farytail-inspired

So why am I posting about this? Well, I just can't get it out of my head that a Tiny House would be perfect for a Lolita. You can design your own house, with your needs in mind, and decorate it to your heart's content. Of course, Tiny Houses are best for one or two people (though people with families live in them as well), and this makes me think of the days long past, when a lone Lolita wasn't an oddity.

Of course if you have wheels, you don't need to be stationary. Imagine roaming the country with your cute Lolita house in tow, going from state to state, community to community, meeting up with all sort of different Lolitas. I think that would be super fun, if a bit unlikely.

A gothic option

What do you guys think? Tiny Houses for Lolitas yay or nay? If you could design your own Lolita house, what style would you go with? Leave a comment! I'll probably be posting more about decorations and house aesthetics as I develop my own Tiny House in Sketchup.

Lolita 52 Challenge: #1 - 5 pieces that every Lolita wardrobe should have

I've decided to start this challenge, because I think it will be fun! I'm just going to go in order, and I might skip a few that either don't relate to me or just aren't that interesting, but I'll try to do as many as I can. So, without further ado...

5 pieces that every Lolita wardrobe should have, regardless of style

       1) A bell shaped Petticoat

Petticoats are the lifeblood of Lolita fashion, and the bell petti is easily the most versatile. Even if you're a classic Lolita, a good portion of the dresses you'll buy will either be made for a bell petti or can be paired with one anyway. 

I'd recommend getting a petti that's either around $50 or so, or buying a couple cheaper ones that you can layer, if you want varied amounts of poof.

       2) Versatile, comfortable shoes

You can never have too many shoes, but unfortunately Lolita shoes can be pretty expensive. Look up a bunch of reviews for shoes you're thinking of buying and compare how comfortable they're supposed to be. Also, size up! If you need to, you can use insoles or stuff the toes with socks. It's better to have more space than less.

Go for a neutral color, like white or black, depending on what substyle you wear the most. Also, look for a low-ish heel.

       3) A versatile bag

I'm a huge fan of versatility, in case you can't tell. I like getting a lot of use out of my items, and I can't do that if they don't match everything! Getting versatile stuff is also really useful when you're first getting into the fashion. So do some googling and find a nice white, black, or cream bag to match your coordinates!

       4) Cotton or fleece-lined tights

Maybe not so much for the Lolitas in super warm climates, but for everyone else, these are a must! Wearing Lolita in cold weather can be a challenge, so having warm legwear is essential. You can't really find printed tights in these fabrics, so solids are your only options. I suggest white or black again. You can get some at Sockdreams.com with free shipping!

Pro-tip: Sometimes you can only find leggings for the fleece option, but worry not! If you have a sewing machine you can just sew the bottom parts closed. It'll be a little bulky, but the fabric is stretchy and you can trim the seams.

       5) A parasol

I used to think parasols were just a giant waste of money, but my opinion has changed greatly. I've recently become worried about aging and getting wrinkles, so my opinion has flipped. A parasol is a perfect way to stay cool in the summer, and it keeps the sun away from your sensitive skin! 

Don't bother with the fabric ones, or the ones that will run if they get wet. What's the point of having (essentially) an umbrella that can't shield you from the rain? Also, you can sometimes get lucky and find ruffly umbrellas at Target or Walmart for super cheap. I have one white parasol from Target that's lasted me about 3 years now!

 So there we have it. Five things your Lolita wardrobe should not be without. 

Relatively Affordable

Originally posted October 12, 2o12

If you follow me on Tumblr you’ve probably seen these already, but I wanted to talk about them a bit more here. I’ve started up a series called ‘Relatively Affordable,’ where I put together coordinates that I try to keep under $170. Right now most of the items are from Bodyline and Fanplusfriend, but that’s because I don’t think it’s really fair to list things from Taobao when I can’t include the shopping service fees and what have you. Also, Qutieland is slightly more expensive than F+F, so there’s that.

The first one I did is for Steampunk lolita.

• OP
• Stockings
• Watch
• Shoes

As you can see, the cost comes to about $150. I’ve been in love with this dress since I first saw it and wanted to put something together for it. I’m rather proud of this coord, actually, despite the fact that it’s only made up of four pieces.

Next up we have sweet lolita:

• Hair Clip
• JSK
• Purse
• Socks
• Shoes
• Cardigan

This one is around $100. I actually own this JSK in blue and it’s really cute. I really like the cardigan because I don’t typically use them when I try to put together coords. I don’t know why, because they’re really cute.

The last one I’m going to show you was requested by someone on my tumblr:

• Skirt
• Blouse
• Shoes
• Socks
• Purse
• Beret
• Gloves

This one is the most expensive so far. I could have knocked about $20 off the total price if I went with a different pair of shoes, but the ones in the picture are just so damn cute. I want a pair in every color.

If you found these interesting or helpful at all, you can see more here. I might post some more of them here eventually, but right now I’m going to stick with posting all of them on Tumblr. If you have a request for a certain style, please let me know and I’ll do my best.