Lolita 52 Challenge: Week 18

~ Trends I thought I would never get into, but I now love ~

I can't think of anything in particular? Like the only trends I can think of in lolita are things I either liked or loathed from the start. I can't really think of anything I disliked but then warmed to. So this was quite a boring post, haha.

Animal Crossing: New Leaf

My curiosity finally got the better of me!


I'd never played an Animal Crossing game before, but figured it'd be cute yet boring. And so far that's my experience of it. It's not a bad game, definitely fine for a few minutes play each day, but in the same way as LINEplay is (and that's free and not almost £30!).

I've only just started though and still have lots of functions to unlock (I want to customise my character alreadyyyy), and am in dire need of some friends! My DS friendlist is totally empty right now...*hinthint* My friend code is 4597-0734-7642.

Edit

I'm a little hooked on this now! I have planted a ton of flowers around my house (there are now more, and I expanded my house too).


I got a cute lolita outfit too! I thought the dress was horrendously ita at first, but I couldn't resist and it has really grown on me.


I spent tanabata fireworks with Sophie by wireless.


And have had lots of fun with catchphrases!




And found a shirt from Chocomint?!!


I'm now looking forward to reaching my 10th game day so that I can get more shops to open! I want to be able to buy shoes and change my look! Kinda bummed that I landed such a dumb-looking face though.

Crescent Moon

The 6th of August marked the one year anniversary of the Imperial Tattoo Company! To celebrate they held a free tattoo day with lots of cake!


This was the flash sheet for the day. I really liked the envelope design, but thought it was a bit much to get on impulse, so I plumped for the crescent moon design. I was a bit cheeky and cut off the starts...and rotated it...and refused to get it filled.


Excuse terrible photo (and flabby back), it's kinda hard to get myself! I can only just reach it to apply cream Dx

Turns out the shop did 29 tattoos that day!

Wonder if they'll do the same next year? I kind of hope so. Hopefully I'll be living closer to Bath again soon so I can go back for a foot touch up and more tattoos in the mean time.

Lolita 52 Challenge: Week 17

~ My first meetup ~

Wow, I had to go back to Asiajam to look up the answer to this one!

My first meet was April 2011, in Gloucester. We went around the cathedral and then had tea (well, hot chocolate in my case) in a cute little café. The meet was hosted by Sophie who is now a close friend, so I'm glad I shook off my nerves and went along. It was actually my first time alone on a train that day, after only using trains a handful of times previously.



It seems like such a long time ago now! Amanda was the only veteran, you can kind of tell that the others of us were new...but we all have to start somewhere!

Lolita 52 Challenge: Week 16

~ 10 facts about my Lolita wardrobe ~

1. Most of my main pieces are brand, whereas my accessories and lesser pieces have a much higher percentage of offbrand.
2. The most prevalent colour is pink.
3. The sole fell off of my favourite shoes - a pair of pink Angelic Pretty tea parties! I have to wear my Antaina replicas now.
4. My clothes are actually spread between 2 wardrobes, some drawers, and a ton of boxes that are in the loft as I have far too much stuff.
5. I use items from it once a month at most D=
6. I have far too many pieces that I haven't had an opportunity to wear yet!
7. I have several print doubles (Sugary Carnival, Jewelry Jelly, Lyrical Party).
8. My favourite brand piece is my Angelic Pretty Sugary Carival skirt in black.
9. My favourite offbrand piece is my Bodyline Fruits Parlor replica...that I bought before I realised it was a replica.
10. I don't think I own anything non-sweet!

I delayed posting this as I had planned to add photos, but I'm too lazy right now (^_^')

Lolita 52 Challenge: Week 15

~ 3 things I wish I was told when I was a new Lolita ~

1. You WILL buy brand, no matter how much a waste of money you think it is at first. My first skirt cost £12, and I felt bad spending that much on a piece! But my lust for brand soon took over. My first print cost £150 and I felt so guilty until it arrived. Haven't really looked back since.


2. The rules aren't absolute, but you'd do well to follow them. This is something a lot of new lolitas don't really understand. It wasn't much an issue for me though.


3. Lolitas are normal people! I was worried I'd be too common or whatever at meets, but then turns out we're all as bad as each other and very far from lifestylers. I think most lolitas think everyone has a certain lifestyle when they start out, sometimes it takes far too long for the cold reality to hit!

Angelic Pretty Summer Lucky Pack

This year I actually knew about Angelic Pretty Summer packs, so I decided to get one as a gift to myself for graduating. I used Yunni Sweet Like Candy SS again as it was on her Facebook page that I saw the announcement, and I'm too lazy to find a different service. Plus, I know where I stand with this service now after having used it twice previously.

The announcement reached her page on the 20th June, and I placed a request there and then. I received confirmation the same day. I must have gotten in quick as she picked up 2 packs and one was mine! I got my pack confirmed on the 22nd, although full shipping quotes weren't given to me until 3rd July. Tracking given on the 8th.

Apparently there were only 15 or so packs in store, and the packs seem to have been Shinjuku only. The pack cost ¥10,500, I ended up paying ¥13,261 for the pack and fees, and the EMS shipping was ¥4,600. I managed to avoid customs, so the total cost was around £120.

I actually had no idea what would be in this until it came as no one seemed to know anything. I just knew that usually they are special sets of prints with 5 items total, and I was told that the dress was heavy and causing expensive shipping. This disappointed me as I was hoping for a miniskirt, and it meant that it couldn't be anything Dream Sky as they are light as air. Not knowing made me nervous, and had huge worries that I'd have to sell it all straight off the bat. I should point out that all this information is what my SS said... some of which was a lie. Special sets are announced, and apparently ordinary lucky packs happen all the time. I find it hard to believe that she honestly didn't know that, but ho hum.

It arrived today, boxed well.


I was so surprised (and a little horrified!) when I lifted off the tote that I forgot to take a photo. It wasn't a special set. It wasn't even a happy pack with matching items. I didn't know that Angelic Pretty even did true lucky packs anymore, but that's what it was. That means that I got all the crap nobody wanted to buy from the store!

These were my items. My first impression was 'itaaaaaa'!


Thankfully on closer inspection, I love the JSK.


It's quite a bright pink, with regular straps and a halter. While I like the style, velvet is very heavy and impractical so I won't get many chances to wear this.


Lovely button detailing.


Asymmetrically placed bow and corsage, which are joined to a bow and tassle on the back with ribbon. The necktie also has a tassled bow on it, and the waist ties are tassled.


While I wanted a short skirt, this wasn't what I was hoping for.


Red gingham reminds me of primary school, and all the broderie anglaise isn't helping matters! I think it'll be wearable though, especially once I've moved the bow pin to the side. I have some AP broderie anglaise hairties which will match this nicely, although I may look a little too childish.


Bonnets look stupid on me because I don't have a fringe/bangs. That said, bonnets look stupid on most people. I'd have been okay with it were it black, but this won't really match anything. I wasn't sure what print it was but had a feeling it had bottles of some kind on it, and after a google it is in fact Glass Bottle of Tears. While it isn't a print I like much, it does have lovely details and fabrics.


I don't like this blouse at all. The pleats are a bit messed up already and I hate ironing! I literally never iron anything. It's not sweet enough either, and the black buttons look a bit out of place. But I guess that doesn't matter anyway as it's unshirred and I doubt it'll fit nicely over my shoulders/bust.


Pointless tiny tote bag. I do love Fancy Box in this colourway though, so I'll try to find a use for it!

While very disappointed that it wasn't a special set or print (there have been so many cute prints lately!), I feel that my money wasn't wasted. That said, I probably wouldn't have risked the purchase had I known. The tags were all removed, but original cost of the JSK was probably around what I paid for the whole set including shipping so who knows what the combined value could have been. I'll probably keep hold of everything except maybe the blouse (if it doesn't fit) and the bonnet (if I can find no use for it).