Quarantine Coordinates

Ok, so I'm not actually in quarantine, but that title sounds better. I'm in self-isolation right now and it's been a pretty strange experience. Toronto is pretty much in shutdown mode right now for the forseeable future. It's been very surreal seeing so many closed storefronts, empty streets, and quiet highways. I enjoyed commuting on the the empty subway - up until I got laid off, anyway.

I don't really get too deep into my personal stuff on this blog (which is odd, since it's a lifestyle blog), but it reminds me a lot of the summer 2003 SARS outbreak - my dad was in the ICU at the time for unrelated reasons and I wasn't allowed to visit the hospital due to the infection risk, so I spent almost 2 weeks mostly alone in our family apartment. Even when I ventured outside, it was much quieter than normal. I remember being creeped out by the emptiness in certain places...but I had also been playing a lot of Silent Hill at the time, which didn't help!

Not a great game to play alone while your dad is in the hospital.

But, to keep it brief, I have an anxiety/panic disorder and a lot of my issues revolve around health. I also have some chronic health issues that make me frequently congested or short of breath...so to say I've been feeling anxious is the understatement of the century.

I was planning to either go back to school or enroll in a tech bootcamp next year so I'm really hoping that I won't have to dig too far into my savings. I'd set aside a bit of money because me and a big group of friends were also planning to meet up and rent a house together in April for Tekko (in Pittsburgh, PA) - there was going to be a Moitié fashion show and tea party. Obviously, we had to postpone our plans. Being upset about that seems really shallow compared to the other heavy stuff going on right now, but it's just one more disappointment.

Still, I'm an optimistic person, so I'm trying to find the positives in this situation. I've had time to relax at home and do a few things I've been meaning to do, like clean out my closet and practice coding. I have a lot of games and books that I've never had a chance to finish, too. I can also film and edit videos. I've been video chatting with friends all over the world. I'm also extremely solitary, so I like spending time alone and unbothered. And...I can wear lolita whenever I want while I'm at home! I wear very toned-down and casual lolita to work sometimes, which means some of my fancier dresses and blouses don't see much use.

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Day 1: I almost never feel inclined to wear this dress, which I talked about in this blog post. I'm trying to use some of my lesser-worn pieces more often so that I can feel a bit more justified about purchasing them...I'll probably end up selling this dress, though. Anyway, I didn't do much that day aside from household chores and cooking, so I didn't bother with doing my hair or makeup.

I love layering blouses under short-sleeved OPs. OPs can feel a little bit stylistically limited, so adding a blouse underneath can help to spice them up a little bit. I distinctly remember when people used to go on and on about how wearing a blouse under an OP, or an OP under a JSK was automatically ita, but I prefer the layered look. Besides, it's still too cold out to wear a chiffon OP on its own.

OP:  Moi-même-Moitié

Blouse: Dark Box

OTKs: Moi-même-Moitié

Headbow: Moi-même-Moitié

Purse: Moi-même-Moitié

Shoes: Offbrand

Accessories: Néant Glass, Restyle, Moi-même-Moitié

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Day 2:  I filmed a video earlier in the day, so I actually put on makeup and attempted to do my hair. In the evening one of my comm members was kind enough to organize an online Kamikaze Girls watch party and tea party! Of course, by the time evening rolled around, I'd switched to a cozy cutsew so that I could get comfy with my tea and snacks. I love to wear a cutsew and skirt when I'm just hanging out at home. It just makes me feel a little cuter and more put-together.

This skirt is my first piece from Enchantlic Enchantilly. I've admired their pieces for a long time, but I'd never bought anything for myself up until recently. I really like the fairytale inspiration they use in their prints - even their gothic prints are still dreamy and cute. I'm extremely pleased with the quality of this skirt. It's fully shirred and soft, so it's perfect for lounging around in.

Skirt: Enchantlic Enchantilly

Blouse: Sentaro

Corset Vest: Sheglit

OTKs: Enchantlic Enchantilly

Headdress: Antique Beast

Purse: Moi-même-Moitié

Shoes: Yosuke

Accessories: Necrosarium, Luna Borgia

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Day 3: I actually didn't feel like wearing lolita on the actual Day 3, so this is technically Day 4. Anyway, me and my Tekko trip friends had a virtual Moitié meetup on video chat! I tried to recreate a hilarious classic Mana photo. Maybe wanting to look like a clone of someone else is derivative and boring, but I love cloning/twinning because it makes me feel like I'm in a cult or something. We used to joke that we were dressed to worship at the Church of Mana, and the name stuck around. We're only half-kidding at this point.

I'm really loving these Prisila clip-on ponytails. They're very voluminous, so they actually completely hide my hair underneath, unlike most clip-ons. Most importantly, they're not at all heavy! I have a pretty tender scalp so any weight or tension from wigs or extensions is migraine city for me, but I can wear these comfortably all day. I have no idea how I survived wearing box braids.

Same cryptid energy.

JSK: Moi-même-Moitié

Blouse: Atelier Pierrot

OTKs: Moi-même-Moitié

Headdress: Moi-même-Moitié

Shoes: Metamorphose Temps de Fille

Accessories: Moi-même-Moitié, Atelier Pierrot

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Day 4: Today I filmed a video about goth music, so I went for a comfortable layered look in mostly black.  I like wearing contrasting socks in my all-black coordinates, even if the colours aren't balanced out elsewhere. I had a virtual tea party with a small group of friends in the evening, but again I wanted to be comfy so I ditched the blouse and lounged around in the OP. This is probably the most comfortable OP I own! It feels like a fancy nightgown.

OP: Moi-même-Moitié

Blouse: Angelic Pretty

OTKs: Atelier 17

Headdress: Moi-même-Moitié

Shoes: Offbrand

Accessories: Néant Glass, Antique Beast, offbrand

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Day 5:  I've always liked the combination of a white JSK with black blouse and socks - it's so striking! For some reason, a black JSK with white blouse and socks just isn't as visually punchy. And I will defend wearing white shoes with black socks until the day I die.

I bought this JSK from a friend a few weeks ago, but hadn't worn it until now. She removed the plastic boning and replaced it with steel boning, so it fits very snugly, but I don't think it suits my body shape. She's much taller than me, whereas I'm pretty short with a short torso. I have to hike it up a bit for it to sit in the right spot on my waist, but then the shape just isn't quiiiiite right...still, I like the print a lot, so I'll keep the dress. I might have to try coordinating it with a jacket or something on top.

JSK: Moi-même-Moitié

Blouse: Moi-même-Moitié

OTKs: Moi-même-Moitié

Headdress: Moi-même-Moitié

Shoes: Metamorphose Temps de Fille

Accessories: Offbrand

And that's it for my first round of quarantine coords! Stay safe and healthy out there, everyone. Check on your friends and loved ones and do your best to help the people around you while minimizing contact - we're all stuck here together, after all!

[Current Music: No Problem - Talking to Myself]

2018 Wardrobe Post

Hello bats, and welcome to my wardrobe post! This is my first time participating in this time-honoured EGL tradition. It's difficult to take photos indoors in winter where I live, so please excuse the questionable image quality. I'm finally at a place where I'm pretty happy with my current wardrobe and I'm eager to start diversifying what I have a little bit.
Click here to see the wardrobe!

Lolita Blog Carnival: Create a Coordinate Based on Your Favourite Flower

Hello bats! Long time no post.

My favourite flowers are sunflowers, but obviously that doesn't mesh well with gothic unless Mana decides that he's going to start wearing yellow. Roses are a close second, so naturally I had to pull up my favourite Moitie rose-print florals for this challenge! I find it very difficult to work with florals in gothic coords, so this was tricky but fun.

The challenge only calls for making a single coordinate, but I decided to make two. This is because digging through Lolibrary is infinitely more pleasant than revising for my infectious disease control final.

†  Antique China Roses †

Dress: Moi-meme-Moitie Rose Printed Gathered Sundress (White x Navy)

Blouse: Moi-meme-Moitie Holy Cross Collar Blouse (White)

Headdress: Moi-meme-Moitie Blue Bouquet Headdress (White x Navy)

Socks: Moi-meme-Moitie Blue Rose OTKs (White x Navy)

Shoes: Metamorphose Heel Strap Platform Shoes (White)

Necklace: Moi-meme-Moitie Metal Rose and Cross Necklace

This coordinate reminds me of old-fashioned blue and white china, hence the name. Also, I love the Meta stripper shoes more than life itself.

† Grey-veyard Roses †

Dress: Moi-meme-Moitie Monochrome Rose Sundress

Headdress: Moi-meme-Moitie Holy Cross Headdress (Black x Silver)

Blouse: Moi-meme-Moitie Holy Cross Blouse (Black x Silver)

Socks: Moi-meme-Moitie Holy Cross Lace-Up OTKs (Black)

Shoes: Metamorphose Heel Strap Platform Shoes (Black)

Necklace: Moi-meme-Moitie Cross Rose Pendant

Haha, get it?! Grey-ve? Grave? Because it's grey, like a gravestone?...I'll see myself out.

Anyway, I really adore the Holy Cross line that MMM put out a few years ago. The metallic silver trim on the lace is quite bright and lovely in person. I thought it'd look very striking against the greys in the Monochrome Rose JSK.

 

Please visit the other lovely bloggers who have written on this topic! 

Queen & Commander

Last Coords of 2015

Just wanted to share a few of my old coordinates from last year! It feels so weird to refer to 2015 as "last year". These are in no particular order...I just happened to be going through my phone and came upon all these pictures I forgot to post. It runs the gamut from casual to OTT.

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Dress: Atelier-Pierrot

Blouse: Atelier-Pierrot

Socks: Metamorphose

Bag: Moi-même-Moitié

Shoes: Antaina

Headdress: Antique Beast, offbrand
Jewellery: Alchemy Gothic, Offbrand
Wristcuffs: Offbrand

My friend Stacy was kind enough to take some really nice photos of my coordinate! Right now my camera is my S3, which is my most of my coord photos look like they were shot with a potato. 

This was an absolutely wild day! We were pretty tired after a lovely tea party at the Royal York. They gave us SO much food...had to loosen the back of my corset a bit. Anyway, we were hanging around a park downtown, relaxing and taking photos. A big baseball game was going on, so it was really busy and many of the passerby were totally wasted even though it was pretty early. It was pretty much a constant barrage of harassment /creepshots/annoying people until we just gave up and hit the bar.

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JSK: Moi-même-Moitié 

Jacket: Atelier Boz 

Blouse: Ista Mori

Socks: Metamorphose

Bag: Moi-même-Moitié

Shoes: Bodyline

Headdress: Antique Beast

Jewellery: Alchemy Gothic, Offbrand

It was absolutely freezing that day, but I wore Underarmour and frilly bloomers underneath my outfit. The Boz jackets look a lot warmer/thicker than they really are...on the subject of this jacket, I find a lot of people really dislike it when you wear a Roland with a print underneath since it blocks the print. I really like how it looks, though. I love all the metallic gold in this coordinate! Next time around, I want to pair it with a gold and black purse, and a big bonnet.

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Dress: Atelier-Pierrot

Blouse: Atelier-Pierrot

Tights: Abilletage

Bag: Moi-même-Moitié

Shoes: Demonia

Collar: Antique Beast

Hat: Offbrand 

Wristcuffs: Offbrand

Jewellery: Restyle, handmade, offbrand

Halloween party coordinate! I basically recycled the outfit from the Royal York tea party and added a hat. I thought my poofy black and blue hair would be appropriately witchy, so I didn't bother with a wig.

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Jacket: Atelier Boz

Blouse: Ista Mori

Jabot: Marble 

Brooch: Offbrand

Boots: Bodyline

Pants: Offbrand

My first shot at masculine aristocrat, I guess? I would love to purchase some better-fitting pants and a proper hat. I felt very elegant in this coord! I honestly think men's styles suit me better than lolita - I have a muscular figure, broad shoulders, and no boobs whatsoever.

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OP: Moi-même-Moitié

Blouse: Moi-même-Moitié

Socks: Moi-même-Moitié 

Shoes: Antaina

Headbow: Handmade

Jewellery: Alchemy Gothic

 I tried to find the loosest, comfiest pieces in my wardrobe because this meetup was for the sole purpose of eating pancakes and ice cream. Maybe not my best coord, but it was nice to be able to eat without worrying about popping a seam. I did manage to totally crumple my petti, though.

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JSK: Sheglit

Blouse: Offbrand

Jabot: Marble

Socks: Moi-même-Moitié 

Boots: Demonia

Beret: Offbrand

Jewellery: Restyle

Just a comfy, simple coord I wore to school. 

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JSK: Moi-même-Moitié

Blouse: Moi-même-Moitié

Socks: Moi-même-Moitié 

Boots: Bodyline

Headpiece: Offbrand

Another simple and comfortable coord for school!

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That's it for 2015. Hopefully 2016 is filled with even more coordinates and opportunities to wear lolita!

August Coordinates

Like I mentioned in another post, I didn't actually get a full coordinate together until July, but somehow between then and now I managed to get a sizeable collection of pieces (R.I.P. wallet). Now I can actually wear lolita or aristocrat reasonably often! I'm so excited. I'm looking forward to wearing it at least 2-3 times a week.

That said, I was not excited about it being August. As a goth, I'm already used to the suffering that is a Toronto summer, but not while wearing layers of frills. Granted, it hasn't been too unbearable this year, but still...

Anyway, onto the coordinates!

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JSK: Moi-même-Moitié (Frame Cross Lace-Up JSK II)

Blouse: Ista Mori

Socks: Metamorphose

Bag: Offbrand

Shoes: Antaina

Beret, Hairband, and Jewellery: Offbrand

This is my first-ever coordinate! I still feel like it could use some work, but for the most part I'm pretty happy with it even though I could use some more gold accessories on top - maybe I'll wear gold hairpins or something.

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Jacket: Atelier Boz

JSK: Sheglit (Gracious Flare Underbust JSK)

Blouse: Ista Mori 

Socks: Moi-même-Moitié

Bag: Moi-même-Moitié

Shoes: Antaina

Jewellery: Offbrand

 

Just a simple, comfy outfit for walking around town. It was strangely cold even though it was the middle of August, hence the jacket. I feel like the jacket works best with long layers, but I like how it looks with a shorter skirt.

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Skirt: Moi-même-Moitié  (Gothic Arch)

Blouse: Offbrand

Socks: Moi-même-Moitié

Bag: Moi-même-Moitié

Shoes: Bodyline 

Jabot: Marble

Fascinator and Jewellery: Offbrand

I had a lot of errands to do that day, so I put together a simple, comfy coordinate. Skirt coords are so underrated - a lot of people hate coordinating skirts because it's a little trickier than coordinating a JSK or OP, but they're also more versatile.Way more comfortable in summer, too. It was pretty hot out so I couldn't stand wearing a JSK.

Side note, I love it when my hair matches my outfit! As a sign of devotion to our lord and savior Mana, I've dyed it Moitié blue. Mostly because it was purple before and it kept clashing with my outfits.

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Bolero: BPN

OP: Moi-même-Moitié (Royal Gate)

Tights: Offbrand

Bag: Moi-même-Moitié

Shoes: Antaina

Hairband and Jewellery: Offbrand

Had an awesome meetup with my comm that day! We rented a photo studio and practiced posing and taking photos. I've never been very photogenic so while I definitely improved, I'll still never photograph well. Who knew it was so hard to pose? Jojo poses, while awesome, are not exactly the most elegant/humanly possible (or comfortable in 4 inch platforms).

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Thank you for reading~ and of course any constructive criticism is welcome! I'm still new to lolita. It's one thing to lurk comms and look at outfit photos, but putting together a coordinate on your own is something new entirely and I'm still not that good at it yet.