My Love of Lolita

It's been a while guys, but I had been planning a multi outfit post from all my days off. That was until the morning of the Lolita meet up I attended last Saturday. Something extraordinary happened.

While dressing in my frills and pettis, I was a bit scared. Though I had been accepted by those in my local comm (who are all amazingly wonderful,) I had yet to appear physically in front of my family in Lolita. Obviously they'd seen pics on Facebook and I've talked about it before, but it was different.

Don't get me wrong either, my family isn't nasty about my style choices: they have put up with my corsets, platform shoes, and strange make-up for years. Though they never mean to hurt, they like to tease. It's how they show their love sometimes. Yet, Lolita seemed different to me. Perhaps it was because it represents myself more than any other style and I feel so alive when I wear it. Goth was a part of me, too, but I never felt like I totally fit in. Which isn't to say that made me feel self concious either, but it's all different. I feel confident. I don't need validation, but it's a nice bonus. It can make or break my mood for the day.

So, knowing I would have to pass everyone in order to leave the house, I did get a bit anxious. I didn't want to leave with a weird taste in my mouth, but instead I was pleasantly surprised. My mom said I was cute (which is pretty normal, since she usually loves my fashion choices, if put together nicely,) and my sisters were less off put than they usually are. My dad did ask if I'd feel weird being in public in such outlandish clothes, but I assured him, being weird in a group is a cake walk. My grandmother loved my dress and my three-year-old God son said I looked very pretty. I suppose what shocked me most was my Uncle, who is normally the instigator, said how good I looked. It shocked even my mother. Everyone had extremely positive feedback.

I suppose what I wanted to say is that, regardless of the amount of confidence one has, it's so much nicer when there is also a strong support system. Being someone who likes different fashions across the board, my style varies from the norm more often than not. Though it is not always apparent, I know I am supported and that day is a reminder to me. I feel blessed to have that support, because so many in Lolita (and in other subgroups) don't have that, yet they are still strong enough to stand on their own two feet and feel beautiful. I commend them tremendously for that.

The girls of the Maine comm. The gif is made by the wonderful Elise.

***

On a less serious note, the meet up was at the zoo and was awesome! I loved seeing all the girls again and saw cutesy animals (and didn't melt in 100 degree weather like the last meet up.) At the same time, I know my wallet is going to start dying because of all the JSKs I want to buy for future meet ups and general tom foolery. If I didn't have such a diverse astheic, I'd wear all Lolita all the time. But, my inner Kawaii Riot Girl won't allow it. 

I did get a lovely outfit shot, too! This is a white version of the Bodyline OP from my PortCon posts, paired with the same hand me down cardigan, white tights (Target), and Jellypop Mary Janes (DSW Shoes). I topped it off with my sister's white lace bow (Claire's). 

There are more reviews ahead! First will be the Birthday duo I got from Sephora, followed by the Beach Box from LUSH!

Ooh La La!

~B

Review: GoJane Order!

As I mentioned a few posts back, I ordered shoes from www.gojane.com, but I was unable to do the review because I had issues with a pair of the shoes. Well, the time has come to finally do a post for them! I have a pair of sneakers and a pair of boots, so here we go!

Shoe: Zip Back Combat Boot, Size 9 in Whiskey
Price: $27.95 + S&H

I actually really liked these boots, both online and in person. The item was exactly as pictured. As for fit, I normally get a size 8.5, but the site was sold out of the Whiskey in that size, so I decided to try for a larger size. Turns out it was a pretty good idea. They weren't too big, which may indicate that the shoes run a bit small (either that or my feet are growing.) Also, unlike other boots I've owned, my comfort level stayed consistent when wearing them, even after walking around the mall. 

Something else that I loved about these boots were that they were super versatile. With the button snaps, you could wear them with the tops folded over, or you could wear them up for a more traditional look. 

Buuuutttt, there were some downsides. First, the shoe laces are long and not very flexible. If tied like normal, the bows look really silly, standing almost at attention and are easily stepped on. Taking a trick from Miss Allegra, I actually wrapped them around the ankle before tying them, adding a new dimension to the detail as well as making the laces a bit more practical. So, no biggie. Second, my boots came damaged. 

NOOOOOO!

I actually didn't notice this until I was heading out of the mall (after about 1 and a half hours of wear.) Upon closer inspection, it seems like a machine error, where the bobbin had run out and only the top thread was lain, meaning it only looked like the area was stitched. That being said, one would think this would have been caught in quality control, buuuut...

I did contact GoJane to see if I could exchange for the same style (with the concern that if I did receive another damaged pair, would I be able to return/exchange those,) but they had sold out of the boot. Sad day! They did offer to refund me 25% of the purchase price if I wanted to keep them and try to get them fixed, but due to the nature of the damage and the lack of cobblers in my area, I just decided to return them for a refund. 

Overall, I would have been super happy with the boots, if not for that pesky stitching. I'm going to miss them.

Shoes: Quilted Platform Sneakers, Size 8.5 in Black

Price: $15.95 + S&H

These were an impulse buy during the site's sneaker sale. The Kawaii Riot Girl in me wanted these like crazy, because they would be super easy to coordinate into different outfits. As seen in one of my previous posts, my inner Kawaii Riot Girl was right. I am really happy with these shoes. 

They are really comfy and stylish. The sizing is pretty true, with a bit of wiggle room in the toes so my feet don't feel squished. I plan on eventually using these for work, so I will probably get extra cushioned soles to make them more comfortable for standing in one spot for 6-8 hours. 

I had expected the platform to be a bit bigger, but that is just based on in person perceptions versus the angle of the image online. For many, the platform would be plenty, as it adds about 1.25 inches, but I like outrageous platforms, so that's just a preference. These are better for casual wear, making it easier for working, shopping, walking, and driving. I do worry about them when I am out though, but that's just in my head. They are pretty sturdy and well made. The white sole does scuff a bit, however, they are shoes and are meant to be worn. 

Really happy with this purchase!

***

So, there you go! I ended up with a nice pair of sneakers and got a refund for the damaged pair. The company was swift to answer and offer any help possible. I might shy away from them for a bit, just based on the condition of the boots and my fear that I'll fall in love with another pair of boots only for them to arrive damaged. Allegra ordered three pairs and all came in perfect condition, so I'm not sure how to feel. 

Don't let my fear deter you, though. Judge for yourself, as they have really lovely shoes for cheap. Just remember: you get what you pay for! 

Let's see what happens next time!

~B

Festival, Our Summer Tradition

The other day was the fourth year my friends and I went to the local Old Homes Day. I love going to this event because I get to see a lot of my old friends from high school, since they all live locally in the summer time. It is the one chance I see some of them due to differing schedules.

I also enjoy it because I love dressing up for different events. The original plan for the day had been to meet up with the other Maine Lolitas for a meet up at the Clam Festival, but that went down the drain. My intent, though, was to wear Lolita to Old Homes Day in honour of all my Lolita friends, but I forgot my petticoat and  it was so ungodly hot. Thinking back on it, it would have been awful wearing tights, shorts, a petticoat, two sports bras, and an OP. Ugh. Not worth it.

Instead I went with an edgy, cute look.

I really loved this outfit. We have a flowy peter pan collared tank (Forever XXI), jean shorts (Torrid), patterned stockings (eBay), and a borrowed pair of patent leather Doc Martens. 

Arguably this outfit was better for the hellish weather we've been experiencing here in Maine in recent days.

***

Today I went to a special Body Care and the Art of Massage training session for LUSH. It was so wonderful, especially since I got to learn more about the new Spas coming to North America this year. I really need to take a trip down to NYC soon, even more so now. We'll see how that works out. 

See you soon,

~B

Sister's day out~

I went out with my two little sisters to the mall today. Although, I went there yesterday and it seems like I spend all day, everyday in South Portland, I still enjoyed it very much. I also did not purchase much, aside from lunch for the three of us, due to the fact that I am trying to save up for new Lolita dresses (and my Spring semester at Uni.) Luckily the day was not wasted as I got to spend time with my girlies and they found some super cute things for themselves.

Today's outfit was more on the summery side! I've got my "Oh Captain, My Captain" tank (made by Captain Maggtos; picked up at the last Emilie Autumn concert in Boston) paired with a black camisole, jean shorts (Torrid), tights (Rite Aid), and my sassy new platform sneakers (gojane.com - we'll be discussing these on a later date!)

Note: this is how I do my make up 99.9% of the time. I've got Nutrogena hydrating facial primer, L'Oreal True Match Foundation, ELF's blush in Twinkle Pink, Urban Decay's Big Fatty Mascara, and L'Oreal Color Riche Lip Balm in Provence Romance (from the Versailles Romance Spring 2013 line.

I also got a Flower Crown from Forever XXI! 

***

A few updates on upcoming things: as mentioned my order from gojane.com did come in, however there is an issue with the boots I got, so I will be doing an overall review for my experience with the shoes and shop when I finally receive my exchange pair. 

In the meantime I will have a review for the LUSH Beach Box and another little gift I recieved: The 2013 Sephora Giftset, which includes Benefit's They're Real Mascara and Watts Up! Highlighter! 

Isn't it exciting?

-B

Review: Let's try the Tangle Teezer!

Hair Type: Long and thick, falling a few inches past my armpit. I have been dying my hair for the past four years, but it is shiny and healthy looking. Tangles very, very easy, especially after sleeping.

Hair Care: I shower *almost* daily, using both shampoo and conditioner. My staple products are the New Shampoo Bar from LUSH and Color Me Happy Conditioner from Herbal Essences. I comb through my hair when conditioning with either my fingers or a conditioning comb. I usually use my Start Style Finish Frizz Free Brush from Goody to wet brush my hair. I VERY RARELY use heat treatments on my hair (curling/flat irons, hair dryers.)

The Product: The Tangle Teezer can be found at http://www.tangleteezer.com/index.php for approx. $15.41 plus S&H; can also be purchased at Urban Outfitters.

I received the Tangle Teezer as a gift or my birthday. After hearing rave reviews from YouTubers and fashion bloggers, the Teezer seemed like the answer to my problems! But, is it?

The Original in Pink Fizz.

Though the back of the box says to wash hair first, I had heard tell that the Teezer could be used on dry hair as well. Directly after waking up, I attempted to use the brush on my knotted and frizzed bird's nest, only to find that it made things worse. It tugged and pulled, eventually making my hair even more frizzy, giving it a severe split end look. If this was the look I had been going for (and, yes, some days I want a flyaway fan of hair) it wouldn't have been such a big deal. This was not the case. 

The next order of business was to try the Teezer after washing my hair. I followed my normal regimen for washing my hair, followed by a nice towel dry. At this point my hair is still wet, but not soaking. I brushed one side of my hair with the Teezer, experiencing a more toned down pulling and tugging, as compared to my normal hair brush. The product is supposed to be pain free, but this was not the case for me. I brushed the other side of my head with my normal brush for comparison. They each took about the same time to "detangle" and had about the same amount of pull, especially on the tough knots in the lower layers that are closest to the nape of my neck. The only plus is since the Teezer has so many individual teeth, it separates the hair so it dries faster than the hair that was done with a normal brush.

\

Close up of bristles - the entire product is hard plastic.

B's Verdict: I am not saying that every internet guru that loves this product is wrong, but this product was not the miracle my hair needed. It seems like a lot of hype for something that does the same thing as all my other brushes. I feel bad, also, as the gift giver really felt this was going to do much more for me, so upon hearing my critique, she was a bit upset. This product will probably be most useful in the winter, so it will dry easier and my hair will be less apt to freeze into hairsicles. Other than that, I'm not in any hurry to toss out all my other brushes for the Teezer. It's just aight. 

***

Disagree? Let me know what the Teezer did for you. Am I doing it wrong, or...?

Looking towards our next meeting.

-B  

B goes Shopping

Hello, all! I hope your Fourth of July celebrations were relaxing and enjoyable. If you worked, like me, thank you for all the hard work!

Aside from working my life away, I shop my life away. I got pretty things over the past few days, effectively breaking my "No Spend July" pledge. It was inevitable, I suppose. Shopping is one guilty pleasure I will never give up. The haul begins with going out for steam buns and tea in Portland. I went with my best friend, Allegra, and a few other friends. One friend had brought the new Thirty Seconds To Mars CD and I died, not knowing how I ever lived my life without such a beautiful thing. I am a huge fan of concept albums, a recent discovery on my part upon the release of Emilie Autumn's Fight Like A Girl. The tea shop we frequent has a Bullmoose in the basement of the building (basically an independently owned chain of record stores, for those unfamiliar with the brand.) I sought out the TSTM CD and found the price to be reasonable enough, so I purchased it, along with a copy of Depeche Mode's The Best of Vol. 1.

Now I'm on a CD kick. My Volvo barely supports them in it's player, save for my Best of Bowie and even then it rarely likes to actually read the disc, and here I am buying CD after CD. Today I picked up two Placebo albums, Meds and Once More With Feeling. I also realized I prefer "best of"s to the actual source albums, particularly because it gives me a lovely mix of my favourite songs over a period of time. We'll see if this CD obsession dies down.

Next obsession: LUSH stuff.

Today's haul includes Lemony Flutter Cuticle Butter, Imperialis Facial Moisturizer, Tea Tree Water Toner Water, The Guv'ner Deodorant Powder, and the new Beach Box Giftset.

It totally does not help matters that I work there and I get a gorgeous discount, but I drop $50+ every single time I work. And I love everything I get. Granted, most of it is restock, but I do pick up new things, since I love doing reviews on Facebook (which will soon be transferred/continued here!) My first exciting LUSH thing on here will be a reveal/review of what's in that lovely Beach Box! After demoing it on costumers all afternoon, it only makes me more and more giddy to work it's products into my daily regimen. 

***

Shopping aside, I am sad I didn't get to do a Fourth of July outfit post or one for the day after. My clothes were cute and I was just too lazy to take pictures! Rawr. 

Anywhosywhatsit. I worked Target and LUSH today, so here's my cute uniform for the latter:

We've got a borrowed Peter Pan Collar Dress (Hot Topic), tights (Rite Aid), and JellyPop Mary Janes (DSW Shoes).

And for the first time: Make-up! Excuse my derpy face, as this was taken after my shift at LUSH. I've got Naked Foundation in 0.5, Sin Primer Potion, Zeypher+Blackout Eyeshadows, and Big Fatty Mascara, all from Urban Decay, with Orgasm Blush from NARS. I also used a spritz of DeSlick Setting Spray from Urban Decay. Lips were done at LUSH with the Bubblegum Sugar Scrub and Honey Trap lip balm tag team. 

Aside from that lovely Beach Box review, I do have a review of the Tangle Teezer, a long raved about product I was given as a gift!

I hope you are ready~

-B

PortCon Day Three (LATE POST~)

This is a long overdue post. I have been busy with work and finishing my new Lolita styled room, so it's been hard to find the extra time to blog. In any event, I wanted to show the final two outfits I donned at PortCon!

Did it up Lolita style for the first half of the day. Rocked a simple black OP (Bodyline), cardigan (hand-me-down), white tights (Target), pink bob wig (EpicCosplay), and a vintage sun hat (My Sister's Garage Vintage.)

For the panels, I geeked out with a Sailor Moon/Sons of Anarchy crossover tee (ShirtPunch!) and my galaxy dress (Hot Topic.)

***

As for real life, I haven't been dressing up too, too much because of dress code at Target. When I get more hours at LUSH, I'll post the cute outfits I wear to my shifts there. Juggling work, social life, and internet life is hard, but I WILL get better at it! 

Promise~

-B

P.S. - I've been looking at shoes on  GoJane and KarmaLoop since my shoe collection has deteriorated so much during the Purging of my room. If and when I purchase them, I'll do a review post on the shoes. Yes?