I Was A Happy Victim

Have you ever seen the "Happy Victims" photography project by Kyoichi Tsuzuki? (It's all archived here if you can't find a printed copy). I was looking through it again and it got me thinking about my own relationship with consumerism as well as consumerism in lolita fashion as a whole. I touched on this in my 2021 Anti-Haul post, but I wanted to discuss it a little bit more thoroughly. I'm coming up on the one-year anniversary of when I started my minimal buy pledge, so let's start with my own story...

A photo of an h. Naoto collector from Kyoichi Tsuzuki's "Happy Victims"

"No, these Happy Victims aren’t rich; they’re decidedly on the poor side. It would hardly surprise us if they had lots of money and bought lots of clothes, but that would hardly amount to an obsession. Or if they lived in big houses with plenty of storage space, we’d never know how much they collect. But because they live in such small places, we can see exactly what they wear, what they eat, what books they read and music they listen to. Everything is out in plain view."

I haven't worn lolita nearly as often as I used to during the pandemic. I couldn't wear it to work anymore and I wasn't going out with friends, going to events, or even just going out for a walk or to do some shopping...so I only wore it on my days off at home. I felt a bit silly putting on even a simple cutsew OP and headbow just to go to the grocery store for 15 minutes, you know? I didn't do too many virtual meetups either since I found them a bit tiring. I was also going through some huge life challenges throughout the pandemic, some of which I am still struggling with, and it really shifted my perspective on things.

Over two years of living like this gave me a chance to establish a little bit of emotional distance from my wardrobe - I get extremely attached to inanimate objects, and I have a lot of fond memories bound up in all of these clothes. I spent so much money and so much time being heavily involved in the hobby that it made it hard to objectively evaluate my own behaviour until I was basically forcibly separated from it. In many ways, I was also a happy victim, until I suddenly wasn't.

Taking a bit of a step back from my special interest let me recognize some of the unhealthy habits I'd developed over the years. Without even realizing it, I'd gone from being extremely frugal, agonizing over making even the smallest of purchases, to being a bit of a spendthrift. While I never had any debt and I built up good amount of savings, I wouldn't exactly describe my spending habits as responsible, either. Sure, I could afford it, but it still wasn't prudent to spend that money when it could have been better used elsewhere; there's a lot of regret there. But that's what being a young adult is like, right? Better to make those mistakes earlier in adulthood rather than later. ( ´ ▽ ` )b

A small part of my Malice Mizer collection. I put it all into storage a few months ago.

By that time I had already decided to leave pretty much all online lolita groups as well as my local comm, leaving me blissfully unaware of what was happening in terms of new releases. I'd check in periodically to see what was new, but I didn't feel compelled to buy pieces just because I liked them. I was much better able to determine my motivations for buying - was I sad, looking for something to temporarily fill the void? Bored and needing a hit of dopamine from the thrill of a good deal? Was I filling an actual gap in my wardrobe or was I just purchasing on impulse? I actually felt much more compelled to purge things from my closet than I did to add more things to fill it with.

At that moment it truly hit me that my lolita collection was mature, for lack of a better word. I had basically everything I needed, so why add to it? There were some rare pieces I still wanted, but we all have things we want and can't have. No sense in hyperfixating on the few coveted pieces missing from my collection, which would probably cost me $2000 each in today's secondhand market. And sure, I would like to add some new colourways to my wardrobe, but did my desire to wear emerald green and grey really outweigh the expense of buying a boatload of blouses and accessories to match the 2 green and grey dresses I had?

Later I revisited my wishlist album, which I hadn't updated in well over a year...only to find that I was no longer interested in 90% of the items. My tastes didn't change, as I still liked all of those pieces...I just realized that I could appreciate them without owning them myself, and getting more dresses (when I already had over 70) was ridiculous. I ended up removing almost everything from the album. I've purchased 3 dresses and a handful of (versatile) accessories in the past year, and in that same time span I've sold close to 50 items. Before I decided to go on a minimal-buy, that's what I would buy in a month! At this point in my life, my priorities have shifted. I'd rather have the money and the closet space rather than the stuff. I just don't need it all and those items would be better served elsewhere. I'd rather have someone else enjoy and appreciate them than see them gathering dust (metaphorically, of course) in my closet.

Jane Marple collectors from Kyoichi Tsuzuki's "Happy Victims"

I am just one person, but this whole experience really got me thinking about consumerism in lolita fashion as a whole. Lolitas in general have a really unhealthy relationship with consumerism, and this relationship has only gotten worse with time. The rise of fast fashion and what I like to call "haul culture" have only accelerated the decline.

I have noticed that a lot of directionless young people throw themselves into a subculture/hobby like lolita and use it as a stand-in for their identity (because they haven't fully developed one yet) and it can end up being harmful to their mental health. The tired old jokes about eating ramen or racking up credit card debt to afford brand are a lot less funny when I think about how I've run into a lot of lolitas who have full-blown shopping addictions. Lolita being a gathering ground for unhappy people is a topic for another day, though...

Lolita culture promotes conspicuous consumption as a form of identity. I'm not going to pretend that it doesn't, or that most people who currently wear lolita love lolita for the deeply feminist countercultural roots of the fashion or whatever people are saying these days. Younger lolitas were immersed in haul culture and fast fashion from a young age and don't recognize that lolita was never intended to be consumed like that. Social media encourages trends to move as quickly as possible and slow fashions like lolita are not immune. An example would be the absolutely breakneck pace of releases, or the explosion of tiny indie brands hopping onto trend bandwagons for maaaaybe a release or two before disappearing into the ether.

This seeds jealousy, too. In order to "compete" they often feel like they need to amass an enormous, comprehensive wardrobe as quickly as possible and that people who already have them are rich assholes, spoiled, bankrolled by someone else...and I'm sure some are, but most lolitas are ordinary people who simply built their wardrobes over time. And having a cohesive wardrobe that you enjoy is much more important than having a big one. I'm happier after downsizing!

I truly wonder what the future of lolita fashion looks like now...

Until next time...

[Current Music: The Foreign Resort - Outnumbered (Bootblacks Remix)]

45 Lolita Questions

 

Hello bats! This month my friend decided to resurrect this ancient post and it's been making the rounds in our blogging circle. I have actually had the original 100-question version just chilling in my drafts since 2018. It's been like 90% complete for ages but I never got around to finishing it. Maybe someday...

Anyway, let's get to the questions!

1. Please tell us your Hand Name (name that’s used ONLY in internet.) and hometown.

Adenophora. My home planet is located deep in the Andromeda Galaxy ♡ but I currently reside on Earth.

2. About how long is your history as a Lolita?
About 8 1⁄2 years or so, but I'm not really sure to be honest.

3. What first motivated you to do Lolita fashion?

I discovered Malice Mizer while browsing goth websites and LiveJournal. I became a big fan of Mana in particular and looking for information about him led me to EGL on LiveJournal. I realized that I could dress like that if I wanted to...and the rest is history.

4. After knowing Lolita fashion, have you had any time-gap or resistance till you actually started to be Lolita?
I first discovered lolita fashion around 2004; I bought a few accessories like headbows and jewellery and tried to match them with "loliable" pieces just like every other broke teenager in the mid-2000s. I didn't consider myself a lolita proper until I bought my first real main piece many years later.
 

5. Please define your Lolita style as much as possible. (eg. gothic Lolita, sweet Lolita, white Lolita…. Etc).
Gothic lolita only ♡ I typically wear kuro/shiro and layer lots of different textures together, but sometimes I'll wear accent colours or colourful main pieces. Most of the time I wear pretty simple coords, but I like both the simple Moi-même-Moitié/Atelier Boz style of gothic and the frilly Atelier Pierrot/Alice and the Pirates style. . I also like to mix lolita with trad goth/punk/rivethead elements since I go to a lot of goth clubs, concerts, etc.

 

6. About how many Lolita friends do you have?
Close friends? Maybe 8. I have a lot of more casual lolita friends locally and online.
 

7. What is the best thing about doing Lolita?
Being able to look and feel fancy and decadent even when doing mundane things like shopping or hanging out with friends.
 

8. Conversely, what's the worst thing?
Dealing with the constant barrage of creeps attempting to infiltrate lolita spaces.
 

9. Which Lolita Brands do you like?
Moi-même-Moitié, Atelier Boz, Atelier Pierrot, Alice and the Pirates, Sheglit, Victorian Maiden, and Antique Beast.
 

10.  What was the first Lolita item that you’ve owned?
A grey Moitié skirt with raschel lace trim and a black flocked print.
 

11.  What is the “must have!” Lolita item?
For gothic lolitas, I think it's the original Moitié bat handbag. It's iconic, cute, versatile, and has lots of storage space and pockets!
 

12.  Do you wear drawers?
Yes, but I prefer bicycle shorts or boxer shorts.
 

13.  Do you have any favourite Japanese music?
I discovered lolita fashion through visual kei, even though I don't listen to it a lot anymore. I still really like Malice Mizer, G-Schmitt, Moi Dix Mois, Buck-Tick, Versailles, Lareine, Unlucky Morpheus, and GPKISM...I could probably go on listing bands forever so I'll leave it there for now!
 

14.  Where do you particularly visit as Lolita?
There are a few restaurants and tea houses that I visit pretty regularly. I also like to go to a nearby luxury shopping district.
 

15. About how many times per week do you dress as Lolita?
These days, once at best...
 

16.  Please tell us about one embarrassing episode from the time when you were just beginning Lolita.
I'm allergic to wasps. One time I was in the park and wasps got tangled up in my hair corsage...I was so scared of being stung that I yanked my whole wig off and ran away. ( ´ ▽ ` )b
 

17.  What's hairstyle and color that you think Lolita would suit the most?
Long, jet black hime cut. It looks cute no matter what style you wear!
 

18.  Have you ever thought of stopping Lolita? The reason?
Not in a serious way, but sometimes I think about how much profit I would make by selling off my entire wardrobe. I don't think I have many particularly rare or special pieces in my wardrobe, but Moitié was relatively cheap when I started collecting it nearly a decade ago.

19.  Please tell us your heart's bible as a Lolita. (anything like a book, magazine, CD, idol...)
Malice Mizer's album Bara No Seidou.
 

20.  Do you own a doll? Tell us your feelings about her intensely! 

 

 

I have so many dolls!! Even though I was a very tomboyish child, I always adored dolls, and I still do as an adult. I wish I owned a fancy BJD, but I'm happy with my Pullips and Blythes. I also collect Monster High and Novi Stars dolls. This is a pretty old picture of my doll shelf - I've got way more now.

21.  What kind of make-up do you wear when you wear Lolita clothes?
The same makeup I normally wear every day, I guess? I normally wear winged eyeliner, colourful eyeshadow, fake lashes, and sometimes translucent powder if I'm looking oily. The only real difference that I change is that I don't usually wear black lipstick with lolita and just stick with red lipstick or lip gloss.
 

22.  Have you ever secretly changed clothes in a train station bathroom on Lolita day-out?
Nope. Thankfully I don't have to travel very far for meets.
 

23. Are you composed when doing Lolita all by yourself? 

When I was a new lolita I would get pretty anxious when alone out in public, but now I'm fine.
 

24.  How much do you spend in your Lolita clothes & accessory monthly?
Lately, $0. I have been on a low-buy for over a year. I used to spend maybe $400/month.
 

25.  What is the most expensive Lolita thing you've bought so far? How much was it?
My black x blue Iron Gate JSK was about ¥85,000. Seems like a steal compared to current prices -  about a week ago I was bidding on the same JSK in white and it ended up going for about $1500.
 

26.  So far about how much has the expense been for Lolita goods?
Too much...
 

27.  Lolita outfit really costs money. How do you raise money to cover the cost of Lolita?
I have a full time job ( ´ ▽ ` )b As a broke teenager lolita seemed impossibly expensive to me, but at this point in my life it's it's very affordable for me.
 

28.  Have you ever bought from an online store? If so, please tell us its good and bad points and some advice for the future. If not, please tell us why not.
This questionnaire is really showing it's age (early 2000s?) haha! Secondhand shopping is always a bit of a gamble no matter what, but it feels safer buying from secondhand shops like Wunderwelt and Closet Child than it does to buy directly from a person. Always ask for more proof photos if you're suspicious of anything!
 

29.  Even if you sort of want to keep it a secret, please clandestinely tell us about a private manufacturer that is the best.
I don't have that kind of insider knowledge haha!
 

30.  Is there a brand and/or an item that you think, "I could never get it! But I unreasonably want it!"?
Not really! I have most of my dream pieces already, and the few that I don't own, my friends own. We kind of have a communal closet going so I don't feel that obsessed with having to own every single piece that I want. 

31.  What do you think about people who only do Lolita at music-lives or cosplay?
To be honest, I used to think they were lame. Now that I'm older I recognize that it's okay to just dabble in a hobby instead of pursuing it full-tilt, and not everyone has the time/energy/money/etc to be a full-time lolita. There's absolutely nothing wrong with being a weekend warrior.
 

32.   From what age to what age is it acceptable to do Lolita? Do you think that there's a state in which someone must graduate from Lolita? (you can answer as ‘never graduate’)
I don't think age matters at all. You should only graduate from lolita when you no longer enjoy it. It's fine to move on when you personally feel like you've outgrown something, but never let other people dictate that for you.
 

33.  Is there a Lolita fashion or behavior that you think "I don't want Lolitas to do this!" about?
I feel like I have this exact reaction to every single lolita I've seen on Tiktok, so...that.
 

34.  Is there something you think "Lolita has to be this way!" about?
Not really...as long as the basic ingredients are there, I'm pretty flexible. I like experimental coordinates, unconventional looks, and mixing lolita with other things. But I think a lot of people get this wrong when they try to put their own spin on lolita to the point that the basic elements are missing or obscured, and it doesn't look like lolita anymore.
 

35.  While doing Lolita, has something changed from earlier than you did Lolita?
Honestly, I put in less effort now. I prefer to wear simpler and more comfortable coords now.
 

36. Do you go to school/work as Lolita?
I went to school in lolita when I was in university. Sometimes I wear toned-down or casual coords at work if I want to look nice.
 

37.  Do you wear Lolita clothes as casual wear?
Yes, but less frequently than I used to.
 

38. Do you have a boyfriend (or husband)? Do you understand each other? (I think she meant “Does he understand you (as lolita)?”)
Yes and yes!
 

39. What do the people around you think of your doing Lolita? Do they accept it?
They don't mind, and if they did I wouldn't keep them around.
 

40.  What kind of Lolita is who has impressed you the most up until now?
A lot of my lolita friends sell lolita clothing and accessories that they've designed and made themselves. I really admire their creativity and their dedication to the hobby.
 

41.  Have you ever made your own Lolita clothing or/and accessories? If so, what was the best item that you’ve made?
I have but they're not very good so I'm not going to show them haha. I'm still learning to sew.
 

42.  If you have an ideal Lolita outfit or coordination, please tell us.

To me the ideal gothic lolita coordinate is the OG black x white look. You can't go wrong with a solid black JSK, a white blouse, white OTKs, and chunky black shoes. I don't even wear this combo much myself, but it's iconic and striking.
 

43.  Is there a motif that you think “this is a simple of Lolita”?
Prints with crosses and roses.
 

44. Would you want to dress your children as Lolita?
I don't want children, but if I did, I wouldn't want them to wear lolita unless they actually liked it. It's too fussy for small children.
 

45.  What's your image of the ideal Lolita?

 

 

[Current Music: Vandal Moon - Suicidal City Girl]

So I got interviewed for Vogue's web blog...

 

I've been very, VERY vocal about how I feel about talking to the media. All alternative people, including lolitas, are easy targets for journalists looking for the next freakshow to parade around for their audience of, for lack of a better word, normies. One thing I've noticed over the years is that many lolitas, at least here in North America, aren't involved in any other kind of alternative subculture or fashion. They have no idea what it's like to be a punching bag for the media (example: any kid who wore lots of black and liked Slipknot post-Columbine) and tend to be extremely worried about maintaining a good public image. Goths and punks don't act like this because we already know that there's no point in explaining ourselves or defending ourselves to people who have deliberately chosen to misunderstand us.

Lolitas, especially newbies, are constantly over-explaining themselves ("I wear lolita fashion but it has nothing to do with the book or pedos!!!"), and generally try to be as friendly and approachable as possible in the eyes or normies. I feel like this constant need to explain themselves beyond "I'm a member of a Japanese fashion subculture" and the need for approval/validation from outsiders is just some form of insecurity. And obviously while I don't like seeing lolitas being publicly humiliated or portrayed as sad, damaged women, I'm also not overly concerned with what the general public thinks of us. Or of me, for that matter.

So with that in mind, it might come off as very odd that I agreed to be interviewed for Vogue's web blog...

After I posted a YouTube video about my experiences as an alternative teenager/young adult, a journalist commented and emailed, asking if I'd like to be interviewed. I was super skeptical at first and ignored the email for a while. After a week or two, I decided to respond just to feel things out. The interviewer, Janelle, was very kind and respectful. Honestly, her being a fellow Black woman did a lot to put my mind at ease. We had a good dialogue and I felt comfortable answering her questions because she focused more on my experiences as an alternative Black woman, rather than just on my being a lolita. 

I'm really happy with how the article came out. Please read it and tell me your thoughts!

You can read the article here!

Gothic Lolita Soundtrack: Volume IV

Hello bats! In this edition of Gothic Lolita Soundtrack, we'll be visiting some of my favourite visual kei and symphonic metal bands. I'm still trying to keep the selections limited to slightly less obvious picks, but I'm running out. Maybe I should just make a separate post about the essential visual kei bands for gothic lolitas...

† Madeth Gray'll †

Madeth Gray'll was a short-lived visual kei outfit formed in the late 1990s. Even though they didn't get a chance to release much material, they gained a cult following and still have dedicated fans to this day. They were known for their dark, baroque rock sound. I think they were more influential on other bands than they're given credit for. After a number of lineup changes, some of the former members went on to form Schwardix Marvally, another tragically short-lived visual kei project.

Recommended Songs: Lucifer, Misantroop, Opera Za no Higeki

† Schwardix Marvally †

After Madeth Gray'll split, a few of the remaining members went on to start Schwardix Marvally. Some other notable members include HIZAKI of Versailles fame and Ko~zi of Malice Mizer (and about 1 billion other projects). They have a really classic 90s visual kei sound with baroque instruments and clean soft vocals as well as some touches of power/symphonic metal. You'll like them if you enjoy Lareine and Malice Mizer, as well as power metal bands like Hizaki Grace Project and Versailles.

Recommended Songs: Flowers of Dearly, Requiem, Lucifer (Madeth Gray'll cover)

† Hollow Mellow †

Hollow Mellow's music sounds like it comes straight out of a gothic fairy tale. I honestly don't know what genre I'd call it...baroque rock/pop/metal? If you're a fan of Ali Project, you'll enjoy Hollow Mellow. They're a perfect example of what I would consider "lolita" music - dark, romantic, yet still whimsical and cute. Their music videos perfectly capture that spooky fairy-tale feeling. I was lucky enough to see them perform live at Anime North a few years ago. The lead singer and composer, Iruma Rioka, is a gothic lolita herself, so she knows exactly what we like!


Fun fact, the violinist is the well-known Jill of Rose Noire - she plays in so many different bands, it's unreal!

Recommended Songs: Romantique, The Red Shoes, Eat Me

† Unlucky Morpheus †

Unlucky Morpheus formed as a symphonic power metal Touhou cover band that later went on to produce their own original music. I originally discovered them while looking for Touhou music because...you know, weeb. I really like that their vocalist goes for rock-style vocals instead of operatic-style vocals - I could never get into bands like Nightwish. They're really technically skilled in terms of composition and playing, too. Their songs CADAVER and REDEVAC are mirrors of each other, designed to play one after the other!


Plus, Jill's in this band, too.

Recommended Songs: Black Pentagram, Knight of Sword, Unknown Child (U.N. Owen Was Her Cover)

† AMADEUS †

Amadeus is an underrated 90s visual-kei band that I lovingly refer to as Castlevania-kei. Their vampire aesthetic extends beyond the floor-length velvet coats and eyeliner to their music, too.They have a dramatic neoclassical sound that you will enjoy if you like Versailles or Lacroix Despheres. While they aren't nearly as heavy as either of those bands, but still features baroque instruments and intense guitar solos. Plus, you may recognize the vocalist - it's Seth of Moi dix Mois!

Recommended Songs: Kyouzou no Kami

Thank you for reading, and be sure to check out the rest of the posts in this series!

† Volume I † Volume II † Volume III †

Ideas for Online Lolita Meetups & Activities

I've been laid off for nearly 2 months, and I've left my immediate neighbourhood maybe...5 times, at most? It's been hard not being able to see my friends or go out, but I'm managing. Video/voice chatting while painting or crafting, or just to shoot the breeze, has been a godsend. I'm also very thankful that my lolita community has been actively hosting meetups and activities so that we don't all die of boredom. Here's a list of things I've been doing with my comm and my lolita friends - maybe you'll get some ideas!

Host a watch party. I We also watched a bunch of terrible low-budget "documentaries" about lolita and roasted them. My comm held watch parties and streamed lolita-approved movies like Emma, Kamikaze Girls, and Bara no Konrei. In some ways it's more fun that going to a theatre since you can't talk in the theatre, but during a watch party you can chat all you want! It was tons of fun discussing and riffing on the movies, especially Bara no Konrei.

Bara no Konrei doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but it's aesthetically pleasing.

Watch2gether has been great for this since you don't need to sign up for an account or anything - just plug videos into the playlist and send people the link to your chatroom. You can also use platforms like Kast, Discord, and Twitch.

Attend a virtual visual kei concert. In the same vein, I recently hosted a Malice Mizer live concert watch party with my friends where we all wore Moitié and watched the concerts in chronological order. I have a few Malice Mizer DVDs kicking around. Youtuber Cantavanda has uploaded a ton of Malice Mizer concerts and music videos in HD so you can view them if you don't have the DVDs. If Malice Mizer isn't your bag, Youtube has lots of full lives uploaded for bands like Versailles, Hollow Mellow, and Lareine. if your group of friends is anything like mine, you'll have a fun evening of nostalgia and fangirl tears.

Now you can go to the concerts you couldn't go to when you were 14!

Take a virtual tour. Many museums and tourist attractions have online tours or walkthrough videos available - there's a great listing here. I'm partial to this tour of the Louvre and this tour of St. Vitus Cathedral. I also found an unusual but interesting tour of the Tim Burton exhibit at the Neon Museum in Las Vegas! Ghibli Museum's Youtube channel is uploading tours on a weekly basis. It's no replacement for travelling, but at least there's no crowds or crying babies. Plus, the tour guides can get up close and personal with the artwork without being swatted away by a security guard.

The Vatican even has a 3D reproduction of the Sistine Chapel. Admittedly, this one isn't that exciting, but I thought it was sort of cool.

Take an online class. It's always more fun to study together, so why not take an online class in a light subject? It's important to keep your mind active, and lots of websites are offering free trials or even entirely free courses that are entirely self-paced. Many public libraries offer free subscriptions to many of these websites.

The Museum of Modern Art offers this course on fashion as design via Coursera.EdX is also another good resource, and even offers instruction in languages other than English. Want to fulfill your weeb aspirations of learning Japanese, but you only speak Chinese? Say no more. Or you can learn French so that you can finally figure out how to pronounce Metamorphose Temps de Fille correctly. That's right, I'm calling you out.

It's ok, people were confused in 2004 too.

I hope that some of these ideas were helpful! What have you and your comm been doing to stay connected?

[Current Music: My Bloody Valentine - Only Shallow]

My Favourite Gothic Lolita Fragrances

Whenever I wear lolita, even casually, I like to put on makeup and perfume that suits my coordinate. It's an important part of my daily ritual. I also just like things that smell pretty because they make me feel like less of a goblin. I find that my tastes in perfume have changed a lot over the years, from uber-girly candy scents (think anything from Victoria's Secret) to darker and more mature scents. I put together a list of scents that I really like to wear when wearing lolita.

Gothic lolita is such a broad substyle that it would be easy to pick a thousand different perfumes that suit the fashion. Gothic lolita is dark but sweet at the same time, so I think that slightly sweet floral or fruity scents with a hint of darkness embody the fashion perfectly.

So, some notes about my taste. I usually like rather gothic perfumes, especially with a dark and fruity flavour. Patchouli, incense, smoke, wood, and rose are common notes in gothic perfumes - fruits are less common, but you may find berry notes as well. Basically, anything that invokes images of an old church, graveyards, vampires, a garden of thorny roses, dusty books...you get the picture. If that doesn't sound appealing to you, then you probably won't like my picks very much. This topic has been covered in the Gothic Lolita Bible a few times and in the EGL Livejournal community, so I'd recommend checking those out instead.

†

Smelly Yeti Perfumery † Queen of the Damned
"Drusilla, Spike’s sometimes-paramour, wanderer of graveyards, makes for an enchanting and unconventional floral scent. Among the more traditional bouquet of roses is a mélange of darker, cooler notes of cabbage, cedarwood, tuberose moss, dewy grass, and damp earth. The overall effect is one of flowers in a graveyard. Feminine."

The first perfume on this list is from Smelly Yeti Perfumery, a tiny perfume oil shop that appears to be on temporary hiatus. They've released many collections based on pop culture, from TV shows to comic books to anime series. I love Buffy the Vampire Slayer, so I bought a bunch of scents from the Buffy collection. Queen of the Damned is based on Drusilla, a deranged clairvoyant vampire with a ridiculous accent. I love her.

One of my favourite Drusilla costumes. This looks like an I Do Declare dress!

This perfume is truly unique. It gives me the impression of a funeral in a rainy rose garden. You can actually smell the wet earth and grass underlying the rose scent on top. It's not just a plain rose, either - it's smokey and incense-y. It's a gorgeous scent, perfect for an elegant witch or vampire aristocrat. It's only available in an oil form, so be mindful of this if you don't want to get any on your sleeves. It would be a good candidate for a perfume oil locket.

†

Chanel † Gabrielle
"It is a pure floral composed around four flowers: exotic and intense jasmine, radiant and fruity ylang-ylang, fresh and sparkling orange blossom, and creamy, highly feminine Grasse tuberose."

I'm not a fan of most Chanel fragrances. I recognize that they're objectively nice fragrances (they're enduring classics for a reason, after all) but they just don't really suit me or my style. That being said, I love flowers, and you can't go wrong with a pure floral like this one. It's soft, delicate, and girly without being sugary-sweet or overpowering. I feel like the slight citrus and wood notes help tone it down a bit. It's also not overly powdery - some people find powdery floral scents a bit too "mature" (I hate when people call perfumes old-ladyish!) but this one is fresh and sweet enough to give off more of a cute vibe. it's the perfect springtime scent, perfect for a walk in the park or a picnic on a sunny afternoon.

†

Smelly Yeti Perfumery † Ouran
"Roses. Bulgarian roses. English roses. Rosehip jasmine, pikake flower, and yuzu. Basically, FLOWERS. Plus, a hint of the tropical flavor that signifies the mark of a true silly anime - the token beach episode. The perfect way to be noticed by senpai- or rather, for senpai to be noticed. Feminine!"

I cracked up as soon as I saw the name of this perfume. A running gag in the anime series Ouran Highschool Host Club was a character saying something ridiculously dramatic while surrounded by rose petals, poking fun at that old shoujo anime cliche. It's a very fitting name because it's just over-the-top roses and flowers with the sliiiightest hint of yuzu and fruit. It's also slightly fresh and powdery, which prevents it from smelling too sweet. Don't let the goofy description fool you - it's actually a rather sophisticated and elegant scent. It's definitely one of the prettiest and girliest scents in my collection so I like to wear it when I'm wearing something extravagant, like my Atelier Pierrot bustle dress. I feel like someone like Arika Takarano would enjoy this perfume!

Arika Takarano of ALI PROJECT.

Yves St. Laurent † Nuit de l'Homme
"Bright, masculine freshness combines with sophistication and nonchalance to create a fresh, yet deep and mysterious scent with notes of cardamom, cedar, and coumarin—a structure of contrasting forces."

Even though this is marketed as a masculine scent, I feel that it works well as a unisex scent as it is quite a bit sweeter than most men's fragances. I bought a bottle for my boyfriend on a whim, and it smells great on him, but I ended up liking it for myself as well. This is a go-to perfume for me when I'm wearing EGA since it's very much like how I imagine a beautiful vampire would smell. It's a little bit like the scent of Djarum Black clove cigarettes, but less tobacco-y and more warm and spicy. Overall, it's a mature and elegant scent with just a little bit of sweetness, and it's perfect if you want a scent that's lightly sweet without being overly girly.

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Bath and Body Works † Dark Kiss Eau de Parfum

"Dark Kiss is a daring and seductive scent of berries, flowers and tempting night musk. It is a modern tale of forbidden love that will loose your hidden fantasies and primal passions.
Top notes: bergamot, incense, Mirabelle plum and blackberry. Heart: amber, Burgundy rose, geranium and peony. Base: dark vanilla, labdanum, vetiver, balsams and musks."

This is one of my favourite everyday scents, and it's super affordable! It's a "retired" scent, meaning that it's available for purchase online but is only available in physical stores at certain times of year. It starts off as a very dark berry scent with a bit of incense that tapers off to a softer floral scent with a hint of vanilla. Even though it's fruity, it's not too "young" or candy-like like many fruit scents can be. Despite the edgy name and marketing, I don't find it particularly sexy or primal at all...it's just dark, sweet, and feminine. In other words, perfect for a gothic lolita!

I miss Bath and Body Works' old packaging style...the label was way cuter.

Yves Saint Laurent † Black Opium Floral Shock
"The iconic coffee and vanilla accord is now combined with new floral notes of gardenia and orange blossom that add the instant cool feeling of a sea breeze—it’s Black Opium on ice."

Black Opium Floral Shock is my favourite everyday perfume. I like gourmand perfumes (who wouldn't want to smell like a yummy bakery?) but I find that a lot of them can be overwhelmingly sweet and cloying, and it just brings back memories of the cheap cinnamon bun body spray I used in high school.  For me, this perfume has just the right amount of sweetness without being overpowering. The scent is a mixture of sweet coffee and white flowers, with a slight citrus fruity note...actually, it smells kind of like a Tim Horton's Iced Capp, but better. I don't really get any of the "sea breeze" notes from the description, though. When I hear sea breeze I think of bright and fresh beachy scents, not floral vanilla coffee - and I wouldn't recommend a sea breeze scent for a gothic girl anyway!

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Tom Ford † Noir de Noir
"Rich feminine florals and the masculine earthiness of black truffle, vanilla, patchouli, oud wood, and tree moss add a warm sensuality to this dark chypre oriental."

The last scent I wanted to discuss is a bit of an odd one in my collection. It's another unisex scent marketed towards men, but with a slightly feminine feel. It's an earthy, smoky, woody rose scent with a hint of vanilla and dark chocolate. Those things don't sound like they'd go together at all, right? But somehow it all works. I would describe it as a dark and romantic scent, perfect for a gothic aristocrat or a vampire princess!

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I hope you guys enjoyed my recommendations! Please let me know what if you think if you decide to go out and try them. Do you have a favourite perfume to wear when wearing lolita?

[Current Music: The Mission - Severina]

Gothic Lolita Soundtrack: Volume III

Hello bats! Were you waiting for another installment of Gothic Lolita Soundtrack? No? Too bad, because you're getting one anyway. As usual, I'll be featuring a mix of cute, creepy, and heavy music. Skip to the bottom of the post to see links to previous editions!

† Strawberry Switchblade †

Strawberry Switchblade was a Scottish new-wave duo that was popular in Japan during the 1980s. They definitely had an influence on the appearance of more than a few visual kei acts at the time, as well as a whole generation of goths in the west. They're definitely responsible for my love of miniskirts, polka-dots, corsets, and shiny leather. Their music is often cute, dreamy, and upbeat sounding, with melancholy or dark lyrics. I'm actually planning on doing a Strawberry Switchblade coordinate based on the styling in Let Her Go!

Recommended Songs: Cut With The Cake Knife, Secrets, Being Cold, Let Her Go

† OLIVIA †

You might recognize Olivia Lufkin's voice and music from the NANA anime as the vocalist for the fictional band Trapnest. Most of her songs are a blend of trip hop and alternative rock, and she has a very distinctive singing voice.

Recommended Songs: Blind Unicorn, Denial, Dreamcamp, Crystalline

† Lacuna Coil †

Lacuna Coil is a legendary Italian hard rock/gothic metal band with incredinly endearingly corny music videos. I got into them as an angsty teen and still love them as an angsty adult. Great if you're looking for something heavy, gothic, and emotive. Swamped, one of their most famous songs, was featured in the RPG Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines.

Recommended Songs: Enjoy the Silence, Our Truth, Spellbound

† Darling Violetta †

If you're a fan of Buffy or Angel, you might recognize Darling Violetta as the band who performed the Angel theme song, Sanctuary. They were also featured in the soundtrack Vampire: the Masquerade Bloodlines.

Recommended Songs: Spoiled and Rotten, Sanctuary, Blue Sun

† Amber Asylum †

Amber Asylum is a beautiful blend of neoclassical darkwave/dark ambient that's perfect for when you want to listen to some moody, calming music while reading or relaxing.

Recommended Songs: Outer Dark, Garden of Love

† Autumn †

Autumn is one of my favourite gothic rock bands of all time. The lead singer is expressive and emotive, and I love her powerful voice.

Recommended Songs: Red, Desert Winds of Jezebel, The Fall

Thank you for reading, and be sure to check out the rest of the posts in this series!

Volume II: Rasputina, The Eden House, Switchblade Symphony, Artésia, Emilie Autumn, Cécile Corbel, Rule of Rose OST
Volume I: Lacrimosa, Stillste Stunde, Cross Vein, GPKISM, The Birthday Massacre, Lacroix Despheres, Rose Noir, Kaya, Elend

Gothic Lolita Soundtrack: Volume II

I decided to make this into a recurring topic since I can babble on and on about music for hours. Last time, you met Lacrimosa, Stillste Stunde, Cross Vein, GPKISM, The Birthday Massacre, Lacroix Despheres, Rose Noir, Kaya, and Elend.

As before, I’m going to avoid mentioning the most commonly suggested artists like Malice Mizer and Kanon Wakeshima – not because I don’t love them, but because everyone has heard of them already. Also, a lot of these artists are French – just a heads up!

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Rasputina

Rasputina is quirky and unique – definitely one of my favourite bands. The lyrics often have unusual or historical themes. Many lolitas enjoy their sound, since they even performed at Rufflecon!

Recommended Songs: Transylvanian Concubine, Stumpside, Girls’ School,  Antique High Heel Red Doll Shoes

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The Eden House

 Refreshingly modern gothic-rock/post punk band with a lovely female vocalist. Like a softer, dreamier Fields of the Nephilim.

Recommended Songs: Hunger, Trashed Treasure 

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Switchblade Symphony

While their sound is a bit dated now, Switchblade Symphony is a hallmark of 90s goth music. They bring together darkwave, ethereal wave, and trip-hop in a wonderfully creepy and dreamy mix. Their later albums are much more industrial/trip-hop influenced, but the first album is a cult classicthat  would definitely appeal to many gothic lolitas.

Recommended Songs: Bad Trash, Dollhouse, Wallflower, Clown

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Artésia

Artésia’s music is so relaxing. I like to go for long walks through the cemetery or woods while listening to them – it almost feels like walking through a movie scene (cliché, I know...). It’s instrumental dark, folky, ethereal music, sometimes with haunting female vocals. I would recommend Artésia to anyone who enjoys nature, faeries, or fantasy. You don’t need to understand French to enjoy their songs.

Recommended Songs:  Le Haut Bois, Lying on the Grey Foam, Eveil Et Deséspoir

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Emilie Autumn

Self-styled “Victoriandustrial” artist Emilie Autumn is adored by angsty teenage girls the world over for her asylum escapee persona and frilly costumes. Her music is an odd blend of industrial and neoclassical with dramatic fluttering vocals. She makes lots of references to Victorian-era literature and events, if you’re into that historical sort of flavour. Her discography up until Fight Like a Girl is pretty solid.Definitely a guilty pleasure. 

Recommended Songs: Castle Down, Misery Loves Company, Leech Jar, Rose Red

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Rule of Rose OST

Rule of Rose is a fairly disturbing survival horror game about creepy, psychotic little girls from an alternate world. Naturally, the music is melancholy, instrumental piano and violin music – not a cheerful soundtrack by any means. Sadly, most of the songs are pretty short.

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Cécile Corbel

Some more French music for you!I feel that Cécile Corbel’s music is appealing to all lolitas because her voice is so sweet and dreamy, but not overly saccharine and poppy. The string backing tracks are pleasant, too. 

 

Recommended Songs: Jardin Secret, Red Rose, Folia

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I hope you enjoy these recommendations! Until then, stay spooky and keep your eyes out for Round 3 of the series.

My Lolita Resolutions for 2016

 

(Whoops…I thought I queued this to post but I guess I didn’t. Welp.)

Hello bats, long time no post! I wanted to share a few of my new year’s resolutions for 2016. I have a few item reviews in the works right now, so hopefully this blog won’t be so empty in the coming year.Anyway - on to the resolutions. They aren't very original or exciting, but they're mine!


1. Experiment more with coordinates, especially with accessories and hair.
I feel like in recent years most lolitas have strayed away from experimenting and plain having fun with the fashion. While lolita does have strict rules, it’s still an alternative fashion with plenty of room for experimentation.

I feel like people get too riled up over people who are just playing with the boundaries of the style. At this point I’d rather be called ita or be made fun of than stop myself from having fun with the fashion, so…here’s to that! I’m 100% open to constructive criticism and advice, but I feel like the nitpicking is getting absolutely ridiculous.

Most of my coordinates are pretty samey, especially since I only wear black. Lately I’ve been experimenting more by using my natural hair in different styles, and incorporating some more aristocrat and western gothic elements to my coords. I’m going to keep experimenting and having fun with new looks!


2. Post more in my blog and on LJ.
I first got interested in lolita around 2005ish, when the LJ community was really taking off and blogs were starting to pop up everywhere. Fast forward to 2016 and that aspect of the scene is 99% dead thanks to Instagram and Youtube.

I’m really happy about how new social media has allowed lolitas to connect in more ways than ever before, but the level of connection is…more shallow, I guess? A lot of it is almost purely image-based with very little discussion or authentic interaction. They also don’t have the staying power of blogs. Blogs are usually just abandoned rather than purged.

Blogs are a wonderful time capsule, especially when it comes to fashion. You get to see what real people actually wore in their daily lives. Even if I eventually stop posting, I hope that it can be a little snapshot of what gothic lolitas were like at the time. I also recently got an amazing camera, so I really have no excuse.

Sometimes on a quiet afternoon I like to go way back in the EGL entries and read the old posts – some of them make me feel all warm and fuzzy and nostalgic, and some are straight up hilariously outdated.


3. Wear lolita more often.
I usually wear lolita once a week, maybe less. I can’t wear it to work since it isn’t allowed, and it’s not practical to wear it to uni either. I want to find a comfortable style that I can wear more often so all this stuff in my closet doesn’t go to waste.  I guess this is one way to make good use of a sad, deflated petti – casual coords.

That's about it for me - I like to keep things simple, otherwise I can't stick to them. What are your resolutions for the new year?