Tea Time with a Lolita

 Two cupcakes, mugs of tea and hot chocolate, ready, action!

I have recently been involved with a project that has been ongoing for several months now. My friend and housemate Alizée Musson has started filming a documentary about myself and lolita. I began as part of a university project, which she has taken further into a full-fledged mini-doc to be sent to festivals!

There are few documentaries about lolitas, and I refuse to count in the odd opint-the-finger "documentaries" which amount to little more than modern freak shows (I'm staring at you, afternoon TV reports).  The director, Alizée, was genuinely interested and excited about documenting lolita, so it was great fun to help create this. We discussed the best way in which to convey the information, I gave her links to various blogs or forums that would help her, and I really appreciated that she completely involved me in the project, not just as a subject.

Just a few years ago, when I was still a little budding rufflebutt, I watched with amazement the girls talking about the fashion in Frilly in the City or Loligirls, without an inkling that I might one day be in their shoes... It was a daunting, scary, exiting, fun, and challenging experience, and one that I enjoyed more than I can tell.
It was most pleasant to be faced with a director who was genuinely curious and came to me without preconceived ideas about lolita. She asked me for links to information beforehand, and her questions during the intervew were invariably on key. As I said, I had not seen the questions beforehand - though I expected some of them-, so I was suprised and really delighted when Alizée asked me about ILD - it just served to show how much she had invested herself in the preliminary reasearch. (As you now know, I spent ILD lounging in fairy lolita eating at an asian buffet and playing video games...)

A formal interview was the first sequence she chose to film. It was a great honor to be able to give voice to what I feel for our fashion and subculture. I know I was nervous, and sometimes I'm not sure I was quite making sense, but Alizée assures me it went fine. Being interviewed is actually really difficult! You may think you know what you do and why, but expressing it is rather hard! And I kept thinking after the event of something I wanted to add... Alizée was great and let me amend a few sentences though, but I hadn't seen the questions beforehand . As a result I was always "umming", which was certainly a nightmare for editing! She also had to cope with how long it takes to get ready, especially when you tell her "take your time"...

 The funnest part was the stop-motion, which I think was a great alternative to the usual lolita transformation video! It  was a long and difficult process but the result is so cute! Other sequences were a make-up/ casual interview, a mannequin coord exercise, a photoshoot, and the opportunity to pick a lolita pastime of my choice and indulge in it for filming! I couldn't believe it. I was pretty much told that doing what I enjoyed would be of interest and help to someone else. Actually, that goes for the whole documentary. No wonder I was a bit giddy with excitement throughout!

In the full documentary, expect animated cupcakes, photoshoots, and decoden galore! We are also involving an illustrator friend for the graphics in the movie, and animated sequences.

 We considered organinsing a tea-party or meetup in London during the MCM Expo, but due to complications with locations, we gave up on it. I would still love to host a meetup someday, but now I know how much organinstaion goes behind it all!

I am looking forward to the full movie - I'm tremendously excited! So to give you a taste of what is to come here is the teaser!

I give you: Tea Time with a Lolita!

  (Sorry I couldn't embed the video >< Please click on the image to follow the link!)

Please remember that neither the director nor I claim this to be an extensive definition of lolita - in fact the cue for the assignement, to be honest,  was to present someone passionate about something. So...it's actually a documentary about me as a lolita;  this is my opinion, and only engages me. Regardless of whether you agree or disagree with my statements, please keep in mind that this represents someone's efforts to create a piece of work for their learning and career, and we both did our best.


That said, I would be glad to hear about what you thought!

Yours,
Miss Milly

Lolita Carnival: Lolita Playlist

It's really exciting to be participating in the Lolita Blog Carnival for the first time, and this subject is one I particularly appreciate, as you will know if you have read my previous posts!
Here is the chance for me to add to the growing number of lolita tracks that I already suggested. It also encouraged me to forage for songs new to myself!
I chose to share my gothic lolita playlist to keep in sync with the recent celebrations, and because I already touched upon the sweet side of life.

Voltaire -Death Death ... Song  and Happy Birthday

I love Voltaire and how he seems to be a very approachable artist, never full of himself. He really works on making the goth community understood by mainsteam and his songs reflect the conflicts that often arise between mainsteam and subcultures in a humorous way. He also makes amazing stop motion animation with Danny Elfman. And he has amazing style. Wait... Could he be the perfect man? I am always rolling on the floor when I listen to the first song, there is nothing like a bit of self-mockery! The second song has officially become my birthday hymn, completely replacing that awful little ditty traditionally sung. The whole local lolita community gathered to make the video and it all looks like so much fun!

Kerli - Walking on Air

I already mentioned that I really loke Kerli's style, and this song and the PV are perfectly, well... creepy.

Maximum the Hormone -Rock'n'roll Chainsaw

I can't begin to describe how much I like this band! The fact that all the musicians sing, the contrast between the cutesy childish tunes and the metal, the outrageaous lyrics... They make great music!  The AMV with Dead Karl is just a personal favorite... They were just made for each other.

Obsidian Shell - Fear
 

Porcelain Black - This is What Rock'n'roll Looks Like

Porcelain Black's voice is incredible; she has such a wide range! And I love how she keeps it rough and doesn't try to make it like most of what you hear in this kind of music at the moment. I also love the split hair, the style, the whole aesthetic! She also has interesting things to say about her music and about being different.
 
Marilyn Manson - mOBSCENE

Couldn't not mention him, especially with the recent album!

Rasputina - Transylvanian Concubine
 

 In case I hadn't made it clear I love cellos... Rasputina's music is indescribable and somehow just perfect.

Rob Zombie - Living Dead Girl

Hugo - 99 Problems

I like the rythm there!

LM.C -  Bell the Cat

I think this is the first song I heard from LM.C; or maybe it was John. In any case, I fell madly in love with this band, and went to see their concert in Paris. Definitely one of my best memories! Their music is so cute and makes me really happy!

Nightwish - The Wishmaster

The sound from Nightwish is incomparable to anything, and I must say that to me Tarja was the one who created that difference, so eber since she left, I just repeat the old albums over and over.

Hayley Westenra - Dark Waltz

Hayley Westenra's voice sounds so pure and the song so soothing, it has to be on my playlist!

McFly - Transylvania

I find this song so much fun! The video has been taken down from Youtube, sadly, but it had some great crossdressing and costumes going on!

My Chemical Romance - Welcome to the Black Parade

 Wow, special love for the costumes there. I love the skeleton effect on the jackets and the  makeup!

Aural Vampire - Darkwave Surfer

Exo-chika really rocks her fangs and pulls off the greatest vamp style ever! I love the mix of ero/aristocrat and electronic music.

Shiny Toy Guns - Ghost Town &  Nightmare Before Christmas

 Head banging, burning zombies? I approve! Nightmare Before Chrismas reprise? More of this, please!

 Diablo Swing Orchestra - Balrog Boogie

 So maybe some of my playlist relies more on the videos that really good music, but this is different. What other band would mix cellos, didgeridoos, epic guitar rifs, and opera singing? I rest my case.

I almost forgot this one, though:

 
Yes, it is on my playlist. And our choir is putting on for a concert in November!


I hope you will have found at least one track to add to your own playlist and I can't wait to read and listen to what all the lovely frilly bloggers will have posted!

Who's participating?
 KiraKiraShoujo - Swirly Purple and Green Crayons - Pop Princess - Commercially Alternative - La Petite Princesse - Parfait Doll - Sweet and Simple - Sweet Lolita Doll - Ramble Rori - Geisha Baby - Princess Palace - Dollhouse Diaries -Stranger and Stranger - Hello Batty - Päivänvarjon alla - Puppenschloss - Princessly  Living

Päivänvarjon alla

Lolimedia : A review of loli-worthy material #1: Gosick

   I occasionally come across (or rather deliberately go out of my way to get into my hands) a very lolita-worthy piece of work, whether a book, manga, movie, anime or drama. Since I'm always in search of new ones myself, I'll review what I find in the hope that other lolitas may take their favorite fashion to a new level. I also hope in time to create a vest "loli-library" (lolibrary was already taken...)comiling titles of interest to lolitas.

 

   Starting off with the anime Gosick! First off, there will be some mild spoilers in my review, but I will also warn you of any major spoilers ahead, so pay attention!


   Very briefly, Gosick (japanese pronunciation of "gothic") takes place in 1924 in the imaginary counrty of Saubure and is the story of Victorique De Blois, held captive in a tower/libary by her father the Marquis, and of Kujo Kazuya, an exchange student from Japan at the Sainte Marguerite Academy. Together, with Kujo's talent for stepping into trouble and Victorique's intellect, they solve mysteries gravitating around folk tales and the elusive Gray Wolves, of which our gothic heroine is a descendant. But they slowly uncover a much darker plot to reshuffle the axis of power in Europe...


   What Gosick is first and foremost, is a hop on the recent trend of europeo-christian gothic fanservice which followed the success of Kuroshitsuji. Nothing wrong with that, and I watched the anime for that reason (thankfully though, it had nothing to do with masters and butlers). So the series starts out on a Sherlock Holmes-y feel - Victorique even has a pipe; you've got to love the un-lolita hoby! It is pleasant, but unfortunately the problems were sometimes too easy to solve. It results in our heroine stating the obvious to a mildly impaired Kujo, and lacks suspense. Little by little the overarching plot is put in place, but always in little bits which were never enough to truly whet my appetite, until the series reaches its conclusion and everything spills forward, making the plot inequally distributed.
However, while this plot is revealed, some very interesting and unusual themes are broached, mostly due to the historical context: war, the occult versus science, slavery, abandon... *Spoiler* and the heroine being born of a rape is extremely unusual coming from the world of general public animation. *End spoiler* I would say those deeper themes are due to the series' light novel origins. Certain arcs were also good finds like Victorique's mother and the Roscoes, the Queen's murder (her name is Coco Rose! Find the pun?). But most of this is developped in the last two episodes. These are the two most interesting for treating the overarching plot, and would have benefitted from more consideration.
My thoughts after watching Gosick were that the plot would have been a lot more exciting if they had scrapped the 'mysteries' and started with episode #23 (before last) and developped the story from there into the #24 episode, if you follow my thought. There were so many more great ideas and finds in those two episodes that a whole plot could have been spun from them. I'll admit it's not much use making a review of what the anime is not, but that is how I felt.

   Now to be a little more positive! What I did like was doll-like Victorique being absolutely beyond stubborn and acting like a spoilt princesse, which is an interesting contrast with her past once it is revealed to the audience; it makes her character seem to be a shell she built around herself rather than innate. What really did it for me though was her seiyuu, Aoi Yuuki. I love her voice, as well as other characters she has voiced, and I think she is an amazing actress. She gives Victorique an undeniable uniqueness and portrays her emotions beautifully. Of course I also liked Victorique's wardrobe, usually doll-like gothic with occasional classic. I wish the dresses in the ending video had been featured in the animation! Perhaps the best thing about her is her house. The perfect pink dreamhouse in the middle of a labyrinth, filled with delicate white furniture and a canopied bed - a dollhouse! Victorique is actually often compared to a doll in the animation.
Sadly I didn't much like Kujo, always a little too naive, whether about their relationship he continually claims is friendship or the mysteries they solve, and his character is only ultimately redeemed in my eyes after he goes to war. (It didn't help that I didn't like his seiyuu either).

A glimpse at Victorique's extensive wardrobe

Her dream house

   Probably the biggest problem with this animation is that that it tries to have a finger in every pie: it is both light and inconsequential with the problem solving cases, but also goes for a world-wide conspiracy over the war that takes place and broaches darker subjects requiring a bit of thought. Yet this proves too much and the result isn't consistent.

   The animation itself can't be faulted; Studio Bones up to its reputation for quality. I loved all the art nouveau inspiration and how it was kept as a constant guiding principle throughout.Opening and ending titles can't be omitted, they were appropriately chosen and rank among my favorite tracks at the moment.

   All in all, though I may have seemed negative at times, I quite enjoyed this show, especially its atmosphere and the country of Saubure, but it generated quite a but of frustration and disppointement over what it suggests it could have been and it remains geared towards fan-service.

  The opening - to convince you to watch it!

Sweet Playlist - Continued

Continuing the playlist I started a little while back! Here's some more good music for you to enjoy:


Otsuka Ai - Sakuranbou

Crazy,sweet, cute, and upbeat song, just what we need for a good day! Unfortunately, I could't find a good video for this song, most have been deleted from YouTube, but do listen to it if you come across it!

The Unicorns - I Was Born ( A Unicorn)

Who doesn't wish for a song about unicorns? Without knowing them much, I have a feeling this band was pretty crazy! I also really enjoy other tracks from this album, there's a sort of messiness about the sound that I like.

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu - PONPONPON

Who by now doesn't know Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, fashion blogger turned celebrity? This is her single PONPONPON, released in 2011. The visuals are absolutely stunning, a psychedelic trip into kawaii culture full of vibrant colors, supporting Kyrary's cute voice and happy lyrics. The song alltogether is a perfect for when you're feeling ultra happy and energetic!

Tanaka Rie- Katakoto no Koi

The ending theme from Chobits is just so cute!

The Smittens - Half My Heart Beats

The Smittens are full of sweet and beautiful songs like these, gentle and kind. They are beautifully arranged and I love singing to them. We definitely need more of these simply cute songs!(Am I using the word 'cute' too much? Well, this is what the playlist is about, so I guess I'll not mention it anymore.)

LM.C - Sentimental Piggy Romance

LM.C! One of my favorite Japanese bands! Their songs are really lively and positive. There are two main members, Maya ( singer) and Aiji ( guitar)-there is also a  mohawked dancing skull you can see in some of their videos. They called their own style 'new century electrock', a mix between rock and electro pop.  The video suits the song very well, with its childish design. LM.C also has a second band called the Mad LM.C, where the roles are reversed and Maya plays the basse and Aiji sings.

Puffy - Atarashii Hibi

Puffy, or Puffy AmiYumi, has a very distinctive style which is hard to categorize but a lot of the songs I prefer have a ska influence to them, like K2G.

Supercell - Melt

Not only do I really like this song, I also admire this group which started out and became famous using Hatsune Miku for vocals, and brought popularity to the software. Now there are even Vocaloid concerts featuring their holograms! The group now has a singer, so check it out, it's really nice!

 Jay Chou - Princess Syndrome

I just recently discovered this song while reading Moar Lace please, and since it actually includes lolita in the PV, it could only feature in my playlist!

Winter Playlist

Want something to listen to while preparing for the holidays? Wish granted, here are a few nice songs to enjoy the festive atmosphere, with a lolita twist!

Enya - One Toy Soldier
Enya is definitely one of my favorite artists!  Try out more of her songs like Spirit of Christmas Past or White is in the Winter Night which are just right for the season.

 Kokia - Hallelujah
Kokia devoted a whole album, Cristmas Gift, to the winter season and her reprise of  Hallelujah is quite nice.
 

Tchaikovski - The Nutcracker
What would winter be without the Nutcracker? What's even better is if you can see it live! I wish I could!

Nightwish - Walking in the Air
The beautiful reprise by Nightwish of the classic song, with Tarja's amazing vocals!

Cocoon - Christmas Song
 Doesn't quite fit in with the rest, but this is also a cute song to listen to.

Carols
You don't necessarily have to be religious to enjoy the traditional Christmas carols! They always feel nice on a cold winter night. I even attended a carol service where my uni's choir sang and it was great!


I hope these will brighten your evenings and put you in the mood for the much awaited holidays! I tried finding what made me think of winter lolita, so enjoy!