I've had a very stressful few weeks at work because we are extremely short-staffed, and the fall semester just started. I'm in a work-study type of arrangement so it's hard to keep up now that we don't have enough staff; my role has expanded quite a bit too. I've no idea how I held down multiple jobs and went to school full-time back in the day...phew.
I decided to treat myself a little bit (a lot) but I keep getting bonuses at work, so I figured I could do with a little retail therapy ٩(｡•́‿•̀｡)۶ My first treat was a new pair of silver Tom Ford glasses! I usually get a couple of free pairs from work each year, and I hadn't gotten a new daily pair in a couple of years. I also went out shopping. I used to really enjoy going to the mall and shopping browsing aimlessly, despite the crowding, but now I absolutely cannot stand the crowds and noise. It makes me very anxious and short-tempered. I make my list of stores I want to hit and what I want to buy ahead of time, get in, and get out. I think I'm just all peopled out.
On my list was the department store because there was a bonus points event on perfume. I remember that Mugler Angel was really popular when I was a preteen, and I remember always wanting to have a bottle. I actually remember the print advert from reading my mom's magazines in the late 90s - it was so glamorous and beautiful. My mom wore it briefly (it's not her usual style) and that smell is permanently imprinted in my memory...so I decided I should go buy some.
Aaaand...I don't know if the formula has changed since the 90s or what...but it smelled super powdery and dusty on me! It just didn't agree with my skin chemistry at all. (｡•́︿•̀｡) It was not at all like the delicious smell I remembered from childhood. I was so completely taken aback. But there was also a sample bottle of Angel Nova, which I had heard of but initially dismissed because I usually don't like fruity scents. But I gave it a chance and...wow. It's soooo good! I ended up buying the refillable bottle on the spot. I also got a replacement bottle of Mugler Alien Fusion while I was at it.
I also went looking for a few bottles of Coke. Coke is my favourite pop drink, and I'm obsessed with Coca Cola Starlight but I can't find it anywhere. It's very hard to find the novelty Coke flavours in Canada, so I was happy to get my hands on some. Even Vanilla Coke and Cherry Coke are really hard to find. If anyone finds a secret cache in Canada...let me know!
After that I went in for my nail appointment. I said goodbye to my ultra-long nails. My nails are natural and I hate the feel of extensions, so I always feel a little bit stressed when I get them cut shorter, even though I know they'll grow back eventually. I love the look but they really get in the way when I'm working - my job is so tough on my hands.
I also did a bit of lolita-related shopping...
Midori wearing the Adenophora set.
As an extra treat, I reserved the Atelier Pierrot Adenophora series! I ordered the OP and matching corset in navy; I already have an older Atelier Pierrot velvet corset in black, so I don't mind getting a navy one even if it'll match less of my clothing. I also ordered the choker in black since that will match pretty much everything I own. Lastly, I got the headdress in all three colours to match my other velveteen dresses. I'm very glad that I keep my closet's colour palette super limited!
I also pre-ordered the Pullip x Moi-même-Moitié doll! I always considered Pullip Principessa to be the unofficial Mana doll...to be honest, I like Principessa better, but this doll is just so cute. I can't wait to twin with her. Maybe I can even host a doll twinning meetup, since I know a lot of my friends bought the doll too.
I've been trying to add purple and red accessories to my wardrobe, so I ordered the Layla Headdress, Caym Headdress, and Sacrifice Choker in April. There are bunch of other things I wanted to order at the same time, but I didn't want to go overboard since April is income tax season (◞ ‸ ◟ㆀ) I know that she'll reopen the shop in a few months but I'm impatient haha. I already know what I'm going to buy next! Anyway, I've never seen a review or any close-up photos of these items, so I thought I'd do a quick post about my haul.
† Layla Headdress †
The black version of this headdress has been on my wishlist for a very long time, but I decided to order the purple version instead. I'm very glad I did! It's more colourful than it looks in the stock photos. The flowers are actually a mixture of black, grey, and dark purple. I also love the cute little berries! I have a floral tattoo with tiny berries on my arm, so I match ( ˊᵕˋ ) I wish there were more gothic prints and accessories that featured fruits...
† Caym Headdress †
This headdress is so beautifully detailed! I love feathers so I had to buy this one. The colouring on the feathers is so subtle and pretty too - I really like the stripes and ombre effect. The only thing I don't like is that it's pretty flat so I have to wear it with my hair straightened or put up, because it just disappeared into my curls when I wore it with my hair down.
† Sacrifice Choker †
Lastly, I bought a new choker since I have very few red accessories. You can never go wrong with rolled roses and velvet ♡ I really like the black/red shimmery ribbon and the crystal blood drip details are so cute, too! I'm planning on wearing this in a red velveteen blood/vampire-themed coord for Halloween. I might order the matching headdress if the shop opens up in time.
Anyway, that's all for now! I have another Antique Beast order lined up so I'll share photos as soon as it arrives ♡
Hello bats! Check out the goodies that arrived recently! The Moitié Velour Lace OP is a trade from a friend. I gave her one of my re-release Iron Gate OPs - I'd bought all 3 colourways and didn't really need them all, so she gave me this dress and some cash in exchange. I also received the Haenuli x Mossbadger kickstarter dress! I'm so happy with it. The dress is made out of a nice heavy material and it has a pocket!! The last dress I received is the Vampire Prelude JSK in ivory which I've been trying to get ahold of for years. I used to have the black JSK and skirt and sold them - not sure what was going through my mind, but I've regretted it ever since. I'm so happy to have this print back in my collection.
Moi-même-Moitié Velour Lace OP, Haenuli x Mossbadger Mystic Wandering Spirit JSK, and Alice and the Pirates Vampire Prelude JSK
My friend hosted a small get-together a few weekends ago so I decided
to wear a casual witchy outfit with my Mystic Wandering Spirit JSK and comfy Sheglit cutsew. The
JSK holds a nice shape even without a petticoat. It's
definitely one of the most flattering dresses I own! The bodice length is perfect for me, and the shape makes my waist look tiny while hiding my complete and utter lack of hips. Haha ( ´ ▿ ` ;) I also bought this Rick Owens jacket a few months ago but I haven't really
had much opportunity to wear it until now due to the weather. I thought it looked cute with the leather Fluevog boots I wore with the dress. Wish I got a full body photo...
Also, I guess you can't really tell in the photo, but I've cut my hair suuuper short and let all of the blue-black dye wash out! I haven't had hair this short since a botched haircut I had in grade 9 that left me in tears, so I was a little bit apprehensive about it at first, but I needed to chop off all of the fried ends. It looks much cuter now! The only downside is that it's too short to look good when I put it up, but being able to wear it down more often is a good tradeoff.
Lastly, I want to share my latest manicure! It's a multichrome cat-eye polish with clouds and stars. Each nail is a different colour, and depending on the light they flash sparkly green, blue, purple, and gold. I fiddle with my hands quite a bit, so having sparkly pretty nails makes it a much more pleasant experience (*´▽`*)
It was a lot cooler today than it has been all week, so my friend and I took the opportunity to go out for sweets and a little bit of shopping! My friend wore a comfy coordinate with her Angelic Pretty Milkshake Circle Skirt and matching cutsew, and I wore my Moitié Frame Cross JSK. I should have worn a cutsew coordinate too...would have been much more comfortable. It was still a little warm, even with the breeze. I really need some more cotton tops for wearing lolita in the summer, but maybe I should hold off since autumn is around the corner.
We both had delicious mille crêpe cake with earl grey tea frosting, topped with lavender. For some reason the creperie wasn't serving drinks that day, so we got some cold drinks at a nearby Starbucks. This was my first time having a fancy desert since the pandemic began, so it was a really nice treat. I used to go to a cute patisserie with my boyfriend once a week. Having it delivered just isn't the same...
Afterwards, we walked around for a while and did a bit of shopping. I bought a cute sticker book! I have a huge collection of stickers. There are butterflies and flowers in every colour of the rainbow, as well as black and white! Can't wait to plaster them on everything, haha. There are apparently 1000+ stickers so it'll take some time to get through.
We also took a few coord shots while we were out! I love the colourful backdrop of the graffiti. It was surprisingly quiet in the alley, when usually it's packed with tourists. The street was pretty busy, but I guess everyone was busy shopping rather than taking photos. Fine by me, since I hate cutting through there and being stopped every few moments by tourists wanting photos with the local colour.
JSK: Moi-même-MoitiéFrame Cross JSK
Blouse: MetamorphoseEgg Art Blouse
Headbow:Moi-même-Moitié Divine Cross Headbow
Nun Collar:Moi-même-Moitié Nun Collar
Necklace:Luna Borgia
Socks:Alice and the Pirates Lace Up Rose OTKs
Shoes:Yosuke
I really like how my coord shot came out! I haven't worn this dress in so long. I forgot how pretty and lightweight it is. Even though it's polyester, it's not too uncomfortable to wear in summer. I'm surprised that I don't see people wearing this piece more often!
The weather has been spoiling some of my plans - the terrible air quality, humidity, crazy heat, and thunderstorms are all wreaking havoc on my allergies and asthma - but it's still been a pretty good time over here. I have lots of things to smile about. My exams are over, I secured a tattoo appointment, and I passed my second clinical evaluation!
My best friend took a job near me, so now we can hang out all the time. We've been getting together after work for dinner/drinks. We ate Mexican food last time!
I bought some new skate shoes, and I taught myself to ride switch on my longboard!
It feels so nice to just have a comfy, chill day to myself. I'm going to do some cleaning and laundry and put on Max Headroom and Aeon Flux in the background (all of the episodes are on Youtube now!) and then settle in with some nice skincare. Later tonight, I'm going to tune into an online synthwave/vaporwave/witchhouse event, Vaporgrave...all the good stuff! Super stoked! In the meantime, I'm just doing some online window shopping. I guess it's not really window shopping if I actually bought it...but then that disqualifies half of the things on this list. Oops.
A friend passed along a link to a pair of black Vivienne Westwood x Melissa Rocking Horse Shoes, which I bought immediately. I prefer the glossy look to the OG leather and wooden look for some reason. I sold my last pair because I mistakenly got a half size down and thought it would be okay. Normally this isn't too much of an issue for me since my feet are between sizes, but they must run small. My feet were bruised and numb after wearing them only once! The new ones are a half size up, so they should be comfy even with socks on. I'm so excited!
On the same topic of shoes, I also can't stop thinking about both of these shoes from Poison Shoes, a small Mexican shoe company that specializes in winklepickers and other trad goth footwear. The platforms are the Kasumi model and the flats are the Lilith model. I've worn a hole through my one pair of flats and the insoles have collapsed..my knees are also giving up after 15+ years of wearing heels every day, haha. They are pretty inexpensive, so I might pick up both pairs...but now that the RHS are in the mail, maybe I don't need the Kasumis. But they do come in red...⸜( ˙˘˙)⸝
I have too many damn shoes.
There's also a new Monster High collectible set coming out this week. I don't really have much space on my doll shelf anymore, but I really love Beetlejuice, so I'm going to try to snag them in the inevitable bloodbath. I'm really in it for Lydia - she's just so cute! It's so nice to see a doll with plain brown eyes, too. On the other hand, the Beetlejuice design is a little bit disappointing. I think they could have gone way crazier with the outfit and accessories..it just seems a little bland. The mismatched sandworm shoes are great, though. Maybe I'll change my mind when I see the dolls in person, but I'm likely going to sell Beetlejuice and keep Lydia.
I'm also very interested in this new Na+H dress. I love drapey, loose pieces like this, and the big collar is so cool and ninja-like! I've been wearing my natural hair up under a 30" Ariana Grande ponytail that I've bought several times since the pandemic began. During the height of the pandemic when I was still wearing scrubs every day, I didn't want my hair to be exposed but I still wanted to look a little cute. I think that hairstyle, or my favourite bob wig, would look really cute with the high collar. Or maybe double buns/puffs.
I like how they paired it with the Na+H pumps, which I do own and adore, but they obviously aren't great for daily wear. I wonder how it would look with my Frye Gia boots...too frumpy or would it look cool? I dunno, but I think I'm gonna pull the trigger and buy it.
Some other stuff: I've been listening to the new-ish Cyber Crimes EP from VR SEX on repeat lately. I'm a big fan of the band and their whole concept. A lot of their material focuses specifically on the pitfalls of modern life and technology, so it's a nice departure from the more traditionally goth subjects.
From the description:
"No one is exempt from the world wide web of destruction. A once-innocent digital playground has turned into a panopticon for pedophiles and predators - waiting, watching, baiting, and stalking. 2020 proved to be the tipping point in exposing these bloodsuckers within the world of music and art. Devoid of satire and sarcasm, Cyber Crimes stands alongside the victimized and attempts to serve as a sobering scene report for the current state of affairs."
The subject matter is pretty dark, but the EP is surprisingly upbeat-sounding and dancy. I love the contrast between dark lyrics and bouncy (well, bouncy by goth standards) music. I also really do appreciate that they chose to speak out about this topic. Unfortunately, myself and many others in my local goth community have had far, far too many run-ins with these kinds of predators, and seeing them get off scot-free by virtue of "but they're a DJ!!" or "but they host major events!!" is infuriating. It feels so validating to see this kind of bullshit called out, loud and clear.
Anyway, I'm mad because I didn't even know that it was released months ago on
colourful vinyl (my weakness!!) so of course it's all been sold out by
now. If you guys see the neon green record for sale, please let me know.
I'll pay good money for it! In the meantime, I'm going to get the long-sleeve shirt because I still want to support them. I really love the print - definitely been feeling a little more into the futuristic/cyberpunk looks lately rather than trad goth.
I'm gonna need a second job if I keep this up...(*´∀｀*)
Hello bats! Today I'm going to be reviewing a recent purchase from Lurker and Strange Perfumery, a small business that sells hand-blended perfume oils made with natural, vegan-friendly ingredients. The scents are inspired by Wicca, witchcraft, mythological figures, and the like. The perfume oils are made in a historical concentration that isn't widely used anymore called esprit de parfum. This class of perfumes contains ~40% aromatic ingredients, so they last much longer and don't need to be applied in large amounts.
I had a really hard time picking which scents I wanted, so I had to pare down my original order of like 10 bottles to 4. I ended up choosing 1mL bottles of Brimstone, Ostara, Aura, and Dragon's Blood ($6.50 CDN each), and I also received a free sample of Brigid's Wisdom! Really good value for the money here.
Tiny little bottles!
The crystal decorations on each bottle are so cute!
I placed my order on April 3rd, and it was shipped out by lettermail on April 5th - very quick turnaround. The parcel arrived on my doorstep on the 14th. The shop is located in the same province as me, but the pandemic is seriously interfering with local delivery times. Anyways, let's have a look at what's inside the package...
Brimstone ("spiced cocoa, caramel, smokey vanilla")
is a really interesting scent! It smells like fragrant smoke and spicy
hot chocolate with a little caramel underneath. The vanilla notes is
light but still noticeable, especially after the top notes of smoke fade
away. It reminds me a little bit of Tom Ford Noir de Noir, which I'm
also a huge fan of - and this is like 10 times cheaper! Brimstone is the
perfect name for this fragrance. I think it's best suited for autumn or
winter. It had great longevity through the day and faded to a nice, lightly spicy smoke scent with a little bit of dark chocolate.
Fun fact: Ostara is one of the Wiccan Sabbat holidays celebrated on March 21st at the Spring Equinox. The word Ostara comes from Ēostre, a Germanic pagan goddess of spring and dawn. The word "Easter" comes from Ēostre, too!
Ostara ("sweet rose buds, juicy apple, ripe melon, plumeria, raspberry") is a delicate, girly spring floral. It smelled very strongly of apple candy and sweet rose when first applied, with the apple settling down quickly to make way for the florals. There's a raspberry scent underlying it all, but I couldn't really detect the melon note at all. It's mature and feminine, but still very sweet. I quite like this scent, even though it's not what I'd usually go for in a perfume. It's a very elegant scent and I'm...not, so I'm going to give this one to my mom instead. The longevity on me wasn't as good, but the scent didn't change too much throughout the day either.
Aura ("lychee, rose, honey plum, white patchouli") is another feminine floral scent, this time fruity instead of floral. And it's soooo fruity! It smelled like straight up lychee when I first applied it. It quickly faded to reveal the rose and plum, and the patchouli started to come through within minutes. It ended up being a rather subtly fruity type of scent on me, and lasted a long time too! The pajamas I was wearing still smelled like it the next day. I can definitely see this becoming one of my everyday scents.
I
also ordered their take on Dragon's Blood ("damask rose, cloves and spices, bourbon vanilla, black patchouli"), an iconic scent that
every goth who lived through the 90s will instantly recognize. You know how they say that scent is the sense that is most strongly linked to memories? This scent immediately transported me back to the neighbourhood Wiccan shop I used to frequent as a teenager. It smelled of incense, dusty books, and patchouli with the sweetness of roses and just a little bit of vanilla underneath. So nostalgic and lovely! This perfume oil had the best staying power of all, even though the scent became softer and lost its incense notes by the end of the day.
They also included a free sample of Brigid's Wisdom ("candied strawberries, tart rhubarb, warm amber, sensual musk") which sounds like something I'd enjoy based on the description. I liked the scent in the bottle, but unfortunately, this one just didn't agree with my body chemistry at all for some reason! I got faint strawberry candy and rhubarb notes, but it smelled oddly plasticky on me. Still, I appreciate the thoughtfulness of the shop including a sample, especially because my order was so small.
I also received a discount code for my next order. I definitely plan on purchasing more since I'm incredibly pleased with what I've gotten so far - lovely scents and great service! The price point is If you like witchy scents, they have a wide variety of scents to choose from.
Hello bats! I've just returned from the airport and I'm trapped in bed with an awful cold and a stomach bug, so I figure now is as good a time as any to write up my trip report. As many of you probably already know, my friends and I flew to Finland for Eternal Twilight (Hellocon 2018), an annual lolita event held in Helsinki.
I was hoping to attend the Moitié tea party and model at Sakuracon in Seattle earlier this year, but I wasn't able to make it...so I jumped at the chance to go to Eternal Twilight when it was announced that Moitié would be their special guest. I survived the ticket bloodbath and snagged a VIP ticket that would allow me to meet Mana, and I was also chosen to model for the Moitié fashion show and for Puvithel in the indie fashion show.
This was my first time attending a large, exclusively lolita event, and it was also my first time in Europe. Actually, it was my first time taking a major trip without a family member...I've gone on trips to other provinces or to the USA by myself, but never overseas. It was a bit stressful, but everything went pretty smoothly!
Opening Ceremony Mana Q&A
Instead of getting a paper ticket or plastic card pass, we got a cute Mana pinback button as a ticket. Different ticket tiers had different Mana portraits - I wish I could have grabbed the other ones! The blue pin was for VIP ticket holders. VIPs also got a tote bag with some stickers and flyers inside.
The bat clips are mine, and the Gothic Arch clear file is from another event.
They got his resting bitch face down pat.
The programming of the day began with a Q&A with Mana and his staff. The questions were not very spicy. A lot of it was kind of stuff we've heard many times before - "what inspires you?" "Why do you like blue?" etc. The highlight of the Q&A was actually a special surprise - since Mana doesn't speak, Kamijo was invited to recite Mana's answers instead! He kept making the Japanese equivalent of dad jokes and hearing him say "Kawaii!" was precious. Sadly, I had to take off halfway through the Mana Q&A to get ready for the fashion show.
Mana Q&A session. Mana is wearing Demonia Stacks, haha! Taken from the MMM official twitter.
Moi-même-Moitié Fashion Show
During the first model fitting on Friday, Mana himself showed up! He kept to himself in the corner, staying on his phone and talking to his staff quietly. He was wearing his "casual disguise" (hat and sunglasses) and was probably pretty tired and jet-lagged, like us. I was so surprised to hear his real voice! It didn't sound like I imagined it would - I always imagined it would be one of those super dramatic, resonating voices for some reason but it was actually more high-pitched and slightly nasal...so a very normal Japanese male voice, pretty much. It was very cute.
I remember one of the Wunderwelt staff telling me that normally they wouldn't put someone in a dress they already own, but they really wanted me to wear white, so I was chosen to wear the short version of the new Cross OP in white. I'm happy I got a light and comfy dress since it was very hot backstage...some of the poor girls were wearing long-sleeved blouses under OPs with wigs. Mana was present during the backstage preparations, which made us all a little bit nervous!
Unfortunately, we were not allowed to take photos/videos during the Moitié fashion show (we were allowed to take photos from backstage and post them on Instagram, so check the #eternaltwilight tag!). We were pulled aside afterwards to take individual shots of the outfit with the event photographer, Sanni Siira, so I'm sure that they will release some more official photos/videos at some point.
For styling, I was asked to do my makeup in light gold with blue accents like a "messenger from God" (how fitting for a heathen like me!) and to put my natural hair in twintails. I used ABH Modern Renaissance eyeshadows, Nyx's Pinched blush, and Sephora's Lip Creme in Marvellous Mauve.
The accessories I got to wear were pretty awesome. Rose Cross Original Lace Headdress and the matching Rose Cross Original Lace Choker, both from 2007. I've been wanting this headdress for a long time but I've never seen it in person. As you can see, it's absolutely massive, even on my big head. I also wore the Holy Cross Lace Up OTKs in white, which I desperately want and will probably never touch again. Haha~
The runway was shaped like a cross and decorated with crosses and bats.
All of the models lined up on the blue cross stage, with Mana at the centre. Taken from the MMM official Twitter.
Posing in Paasitorni's stairway after the fashion show with Mana! Taken from the MMM official Twitter.
We got a sneak peek at 3 new releases during the fashion show. Firstly, we have two new colourways of Sleeping Garden, which will be available in a long and short version. The first colourway is a pinky-orange to purple gradient, and the second colourway is green. It has been officially confirmed by WW staff but no official photos have been released yet. It was really exciting to see them in person. The green blouse with the frilled collar/jabot worn by Mana is also a new item that will be available soon.
I also hope that because Silent Moon was included in the fashion show that they're hinting at a re-release, maybe? Possibly? I'm trying to collect every cut and colourway. Right now I only have black x gold and black x blue so I would basically die of happiness if this were the case!
Update: Apparently when someone asked if they could buy one of the Silent Moon dresses from the fashion show, staff indicated that a re-release of Silent Moon is in the works. My prayers have been answered!
Overall, the fashion show was exhausting but rewarding. I hope Mana was happy and proud to see all of the models looking beautiful in full Moitié. I was so excited to see that a lot of the models were girls that I follow on Instagram, and everyone made friends quite quickly after the initial shyness wore off. ❤
Indie Designer Fashion Show
After the Moitié fashion show I had about 20 minutes before I had to rush backstage again and change into my outfit for Puvithel. There were tons of designers in the indie show so everything was very last minute. Some of the designers present included I Do Declare, Cloudberry Lady, Lady Sloth, Miss Danger, Advent, and Li Paro.
Unfortunately I don't have clear photos of the fashion show, so I hope this video gives you guys a good idea - thanks to FreakyAngel for compiling the video! Click here or go to 11:43 to skip ahead to the fashion show. You can see how I completely fucked up the timing at the end of the Puvithel walk and turn around like an idiot. This was my first time modelling so I was a little bit (read: terribly) nervous as we didn't have much chance to practice.
I really like Puvithel's designs.She is really creative and I love how she pulls off decora, menhera, and lolita so well! I modelled her Slaughterhouse JSK in white. She also made the beautiful iridescent pink heart necklace and waist chain in my outfit!
Ending Ceremony and Mana Meet and Greet
At the end of the fashion I finally had a chance to rejoin my friends and sit to watch the tail end of the programming but I was totally exhausted since I hadn't eaten all day and my allergy meds were kicking in hard. I ended up drifting in and out of sleep during most of this part, basically only waking up to sneeze...damn Finnish trees!
The host announced that there were two coordinate contests. The first contest was for whoever's coordinate photo posted in front of the Wunderwelt backdrop got the most likes on Alice Holic app. and the second contest was for the best Moitié coordinate, as chosen by Mana himself. Some random person on Alice Holic who wasn't even at the event used the #hellocon #eternaltwilight tags in her photos...? It was pretty funny, so they gave the prize to the person with the second-most likes who was an actual attendee.
They then announed that they'd be choosing the winner for the Moitié coordinate contest shortly. A few moments later one of the organizers (I think it was the Swedish Kawaii Ambassador?) grabbed me by the hand, totally waking me out of my half-asleep state, and led me onto the stage to announce that I had won!
The face of internal panic.
My face was pretty stoic but in my mind I was like "aaaaaaAAAAAAAAA" while simultaneously trying not to sneeze/faint/die from excitement. I was kinda dazed at this point so I don't remember exactly they all said about my coordinate, but apparently Mana and the WW staff liked that I had coordinated some iconic Moitié looks together such as the black x blue, lace-up socks, Iron Gate, and curly twintails, and that my coord embodied the spirit of Moitié. It made my heart felt so warm ❤ The prize I won from the coordinate contest was pretty amazing! I won the Jewel Cross necklace in black, a phone strap with Moitie's signature silver cross and crystal beads, and a signed copy of the original catalogue.
Me with my prize from the coordinate contest! I was also carrying my black bat handbag, but it's not in this photo.
Headdress: Moi-même-Moitié and Antique Beast
Blouse: Moi-même-Moitié
JSK: Moi-même-Moitié
Corset: Sheglit
Socks: Moi-même-Moitié
Brooch: Custom Bara No Seidou brooch from Dream Cathedral
Jewellery: Moi-même-Moitié and offbrand
The highlight of this event was definitely getting to meet Mana in person! My friends and I all had VIP tickets so we got to go in ahead of the raffle ticket winners. We lined up outside of a small room and waited to be called in. Once it was my turn, the WW staff member gestured me inside and closed the door.
Mana was standing inside of the small room. Of course, he did not talk, but he took my hands very firmly in his and stared into my eyes very intensely. I was really anxious so I didn't have anything to say except "Thank you so much, Mana-sama!" like the awkward dork that I am. He the handed me a rose with a Moi-meme-Moitie ribbon tied around the stem (I immediately stabbed myself on the thorns because I'm dumb). His face was quite stoic the whole time, but he looked at me and gave me what I'd like to think was an approving nod, and he seemed to like my Bara No Seidou pin as well.
Everyone who had a VIP ticket or winning raffle ticket received a rose and a signed photo. You could bring other items for him to sign, so I asked for him to sign the cover of my Magnifique photo book. I had been debating between bringing a copy of GLB #1 or the book, but I was worried about the magazine getting squashed in my luggage, so Magnifique it was!
The spoils of war! My signed copy of Magnifique, signed catalogue, Jewel Cross pendant, phone strap, and rose.
I've never seen this phone strap before. Maybe it's a new item, or really old stock? They don't have a whole lot of them.
A few interesting pages from the catalogue. Pajamas, an apron, bloomers, and jewellery!
Shopping
I barely had time to browse the vendors because I was tied up with the 2 fashion shows back-to-back. Firstly, I picked up my preorder from Lady Sloth - the My Spooky Macarons OP in orange with the matching headbow. It's soft and lightweight, so not ideal for Halloween weather, but it's adorable and super comfy.
Lady Sloth My Spooky Macarons OP and matching headbow
Look at the cute ghost kitty necklace it came with!
Puvithel was kind enough to give me a goodie bag as a thank you for modelling!
Inside the zippered pouch were some cute pins, an iron-on patch, and these awesome syringe pens. I also bought the rose ring from her booth.
I also stopped by the Moitié booth and ended up grabbing the Alchemy phone case. Most of the items that they had for sale were things I already owned or didn't find too interesting, but I still wanted to get something from them.
The phone strap looks cute with the case! It juuuust barely fits my OnePlus.
Lastly, I grabbed a few small accessories: Metamorphose Fluttering Ribbon Lace OTKs, a black and gold headdress from Sweet Mildred, and a zippered pouch from Eat Me Ink Me.
I finally have a proper black x gold headdress after being in the fashion for...4 years now?
After the event wrapped up, people started heading out for the Kamijo concert and meet and greet planned for later that evening. I didn't get tickets because I'd already seen Versailles back home in Toronto pretty recently (I also ran into the band in a restaurant after the concert and got to talk to them a little bit, which was awesome!). In retrospect, I'm really glad I didn't go because I was so exhausted that I probably wouldn't have enjoyed it very much. Instead we got into comfy clothes and went to an Italian restaurant near our hotel, where we ran into Mana's entourage! He eats really slowly. It's precious.
That just about sums up my report on Day 1 of Eternal Twilight! I'll be back soon with a post about the Shakespearean Night tea party and the rest of my Finland escapades. Maybe after I recover...
Hello bats! This is the first entry in a series of blog
posts I wanted to write about some of my favourite lolita brands. Today we’ll
be taking a detailed look at the mainstay gothic brand Atelier Pierrot. All of the featured images are from their Facebook page and social media (click to enlarge!).
✝Brand Info ✝
Atelier Pierrot (sometimes styled Atelier-Pierrot) is a small Japanese gothic brand headed
by lead designer and CEO Yuko Ashizawa. Their pieces have been featured in the
Gothic & Lolita Bible from the very earliest issues right up to the present.
While the brand is known for their distinctive bustled corset dresses and
ruffled blouses, they also design hosiery, jackets, corsets, petticoats, and headpieces.
Atelier Pierrot isn't
afraid to experiment. Many pieces are available in a range of unusual
fabrics and textures that aren’t seen frequently in lolita: iridescent organza,
shiny satin, brocade, and crinkled polyester to name a few. Many of their pieces are in unusual
colours like dark purple, ultramarine, or bright green, but their signature colours are simple black and white. The few prints that
they do release are range from simple, single-colour designs to technicolour
cats. Their
dresses vary in length from ero miniskirts to calf-length dresses better suited
to EGA, making it a very versatile brand.
Even though gothic seems to be experiencing a decline in
populartity, Atelier Pierrot has been going strong for 30-odd years and shows
no signs of stopping. Furthermore, they support the growth of other indie
designers by carrying their lines in their store and webshop. Even if gothic dies out completely someday, I have no doubt that they'll still be around because of the good quality and versatility of their pieces.
Of course, we can't discuss any brand without mentioning their staff. These ladies have amazing taste and coordination skills.
✝Signature Style ✝
Atelier Pierrot’s designs are very recognizable – no other
brand makes anything quite like they do. You can almost always tell one of
their pieces by the oversized details, drapey bustles with ruffles, chiffon
underskirts, and heavy layers of lacy ruffles on hems and sleeves. Big, frilly,
and OTT is their trademark style. However, unlike other gothic brands, they
aren’t known for their prints. Most of their pieces are solids or simply patterned
(often with stripes or harlequin diamonds).
The most popular Atelier Pierrot piece is their bustled
corset skirt design, which is released every season. The standard design includes
a plastic-boned corset, front and back lacing, several adjustable bustles, and a
ruffled chiffon underskirt. The variable details are usually ruffles, peplum
flounces, and trains. The design is incredibly versatile as you can lift all of
the bustles for a poofy OTT look, let them all down for a more classic look, or
lift a single one and for an asymmetric look. It’s easy to see why these skirts
have been re-released for years and years!
They’re also well-known for their luxurious princess-sleeve
blouses, which are also released every season. They typically feature layers of
ruffles and often rows of shirring up the sleeves for that old-school Michelin
Man kind of look. A nice thing about their blouses is that they’re often
shirred and loose-fitting with elasticated necklines, so they’ll fit both
petite and plus-sized people.
✝ Shopping Info ✝
The Atelier Pierrot store in Laforet carries not only their
own brand, but other smaller indie brands such as Sheglit, Enchantlic
Enchantilly, Pina, and Abilletage. If you can’t get to Japan, the webshop has
fantastic service - they waive taxes on purchases over 5k yen and offer free
EMS shipping for purchases over 20k yen. They have English-speaking staff who
have very kindly created a shopping guide to help you purchase through their
store, and they are prompt and available by email if you need help. It’s wonderful
to see a brand really making an effort to reach out to international fans!
Previously, AtePie was
available through the Lorina Liddell webshop which unfortunately
has been closed indefinitely. It’s a shame because Lorina Liddell also carried
indie brands brands like Excentrique, and offered similar support for
international buyers. Additionally, sometimes they had items that had already sold
out on Atelier Pierrot’s webshop and vice versa. Hopefully we see them open again
soon!
One of my favourite things about this brand is that if you
miss out on buying one of their trademark items like a corset skirt or princess
blouse, never fear – in a few months, they’ll release something very similar. These
staple items are always going to be available.
Secondhand prices for most AtePie pieces are quite reasonable.
Their signature corset skirts frequently auction for under 10k yen (I bought one
for 5k yen) and corset OPs can easily be found under 15-20k yen, depending on
the colour and cut. However, if you’re looking for a specific item they can be
very difficult to find (especially prints) because they are such a small brand
and they don’t manufacture many. If you do see a piece you like, you might as
well jump on it because it may never pop up again.
✝✝✝
That concludes my writeup on Atelier Pierrot. I hope you
enjoyed reading it, and I’ll be back soon with another brand spotlight! Until
then, stay spooky~
