Japan Expo, Lolita Convention, and Shopping

This year again I went to the Japan Expo in Paris. I love this convention as I get the chance to meet up with friends I otherwise rarely see, and this year I was determined to make new ones as well.

 It was my luck then that upon setting foot out of the train on Thursday, I ran into three lolitas, with whom I thereafter spent the day! Naomi, Becha, and Emmy are absolutely lovely girls, and one of them actually lives really close by! It's a shame I'll be moving soon, but I'll make sure to see her before that!
The day was spent roving the booths of indie designers, Japanese imports, and groups of photo-happy lolitas! We also listened to Sebastian Masuda's conference about Harajuku fashion, which was fascinating, and had the opportunity to take photos with him after that!
 It was my first encounter with the french lolita community as before I had never had the chance to patricipate in any organised event and it proved lovely!

The other two days, Friday and Sunday, I wore my Princess Cadence cosplay and debuted another one, which isn't entirely finished so I won't say much about this. Cadence though was great fun once again! I came across several other ponies and may have a photoshoot planned soon.

 In front of the MameshibaxKyary mascott with my best friend

 Posing with Sebastian Masuda. Argh, bad face...

The annual Lolita Convention followed right after and it was fantastic! I went there for the first time, since I had always been too tired after the Expo, not to mention shy. But meeting the community motivated me, and here as well I met wonderful people. The fashion show was the climax of the event, and I particularly liked Clara Maeda. A few notable people were there, including Minori whom I missed, sadly, as I had to leave early. But I met François Amoretti, author and illustrator, the wonderful team from Roccoco Daze, and of course saw my new friends. We had a very unexpected but insanely fun time shooting in a lauderette!
I got myself a pair of AP socks and a pair of tights at the second hand booth, but a lot of it was really tempting!


 This was such a fantastic four days which I had been looking forward to so much, and I'm happy to say that rather than feel lazy now that it is over, and I am all the more determined to work harder. So I made a lolita skirt and am started on a dress; I am also continuing my cosplay.
Today was fun as well, I went shopping and enjoyed it for the first time. My mom and I had a fun afternnon and I picked up two very cute dresses for a more gyaru/ kimokawa casual style, which is nice once in a while when lolita is too much of a bother!

François Amoretti's gorgeous and poetic book about lolita; 

my new handmade skirt and a dress in progress; and a roll of lace!

H&M starry dress; Cache-cache flowy mint gyaru-style dress (the color didn't turn out well)

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

Summer International Lolita Day, 2013 Edition

  I was looking forward to wearing lolita these past few weeks, as I barely had the opportunity to wear a proper JSK coord. I have been spending most of my days in th 'shop for my course hand-in (making samurai armour samples and stuff), or in the museum doing research, where lolita was hardly appropriate.

  Since it's the end of the course year here, I had a whole day going out and just hanging around! TT.TT Bliss!
  I headedout in the morning going to the Boscombe vintage market with a few friends, including my best friend who came specially from France to visit! There were such nice tidbits, and even a lolita selling dresses and hats! But why am I so broke at times like these? I did get a copy of Lucy Barton's Historical Costume, which was a lucky find and will come in handy! And I couldn't resist a saucer, because I recently bought a very delicate teacup which it was lacking. I enjoy mismatched wares as much as sets, it has a quirky feel I like, and I just go for what I think is pretty!

We also took a look in a comic book shop; I wasn't familiar with the quantity and diversity of comics around! To be honest, I thought comics barely existed anymore ^^' We visited a military surplus store (believe it or not, I was the one who wanted to go in), and finished with Geek Boutique, a shop that sells, well, anything geek-related. There were vintage bedsheet dresses with a 60's cut (which my friend wanted and I offered to make one for her birthday), acrylic jewellery, plastic toy brooches, old toys, and a few ponies! I am pony obsessed at the moment, ever since MCM Expo - of which you will soon have a report - but none of them caught my eye. I'll have a rummage in my own old toys when I get home, a lot of it was inspiring!

After that, Penny and I joined some other friends at Day's, our beloved asian buffet in Bournemouth, where we all ate enough for a whole week! It was delicious, and fun!

Finally, we all went over to one of our places to play video games! We kicked butt at Street Fighter (Cammy is definitely my fav to play) and Mario Chase, and before we knew it, it was 9.00 in the evening and we had to forgo relaxing on the beach. Really I was asleep half the time, when I wasn't actually holding the control! But it was the nicest day and it felt good to finally go put with my friends after all this time.

My outfit was relaxed enough for a day out walking, eating, and lounging in sofas. I wanted a bit of the fairy kei dynamism in there, so I chose my sneakers and long jumper, with lots of accessories, and the lopsided tail. Half the outfit is courtesy of Amber, who gave me a lot of clothes that she doesn't wear anymore. I especially love the rabbit eared jumper, as I never seemed to find one that suited lolita! I added the bows and perl string at the front as well.

Lounging! I was wearing my bloomers, but censorship still applies ;)

 And sleeping! I told you I was tired! 

The brooch on the bodice is from the Expo; Penny listened for every item that I fauned over and went back and bought them as my birthday gift. Isn't that so lovely? The pony poster was her gift as well. The brooch is from the crazy cute boutique Roxie Sweetheart; check them out for pastel rainbow galore, with a touch of a darker edge!

LBC: The most un-lolita thing about me...

Hmm, so many un-lolita things about me...

Perhaps I'll mention my love for hammering things, rough sports, and armor-making (samurai armour, at the moment!).
I love lolita as a lifestyle as much as a fashion, and I can't think of nicer way to spend the day than having tea, or reading a good book, or embroidering, but thankfully I have never let lolita stop me from enjoying my other hobbies (as long as I don't risk any of my lovely dresses!). That could be roller skating, building things, hiking... I am a very do-it-yourself person, so I have never shrunk away from repairing my bike, making shelves for my room or using a saw just to see what I can do with one!

If I had to choose one thing though, it would be the armour. In my course we are in the midst of an independent project and I chose to make a historical costume. Everyone is quite surprised when I mention that I am replicating samourai armor (just the shoulder guards for the moment) rather  than an elaborate rococo dress! I just can't get enough of the freedom that comes from using and assembling materials other than sewing fabrics (but I like that too, don't get me wrong).
 To compromise and so that I can wear my favorite dresses risk-free, I created a transparent apron out of clear vinyl. It only came to me afterwards that it looks a little kinky...



Okay, and heavy metal. It helps.

Curious Wendy - Alice in Lolitaland - Teh Pastel Unicorn - Ramble Rori - Sweet and Simple

08/04 Outfit

Just a regular day at university today, nothing much.

 Fairy kei day! I made the salopette myself in September, I'm rather happy with it, and it is super comfortable! I also made the headbow and necklace, the rest I found in a variety of shops. I wore my lavender sneakers with this; I found them in a charity shop with my friend last year, lucky find!


Did I ever show you my sewing kit? Hello Kitty lunchbox...

 Tadaa! treasure chest! I made the heart shaped pin cushion on a crafty day, it has lace to tie it arounf the wrist. The snips' handles are pink with white polka dots!

Kimokawa Gyaru

A bit of change from lolita yesterday, for my housemate's birthday party. 

I wore my deco heels again! Along with the skeleton tights I also had my skeleton hand hairclips in my wig, my star hairclip and star belt, and a Bodyline crown pendant. This wig is so good people thought it was my real hair! I was also wearing circle lens, I really like those, and the ones I have are prescription so they are practical as well!

Have you noticed I turned my mirror into a permanent, real-life purikura frame? I just love it!

Lolita Blog Carnival: Frill-talia!

  I had to break hiatus with the weekly posts, and this theme really excited me! I have been rather busy, and neglecting my blog (blame tumblr as well, I have been spending too much time there...), but I want to try to post more regularly now. I have to stop overthinking and just write!

  So this week we decided to create outfits inspired by a certain country. Well, this was a simple choice for me: France! Creating a coordinate evoking a place necessarily involves pulling on tropes, archetypes, and symbols known internationally, and not only am I familiar with my country's symbols, I also really love them aesthetically! However, I also tried to involve a few elements that might not be as widely recognized, that is the silhouette and details from school uniforms in the 1900's: the peter pan collar, the puff sleeves, the high waist.

  The main piece is the JSK from indie brand Apricot. I just love these stripes and how the cut relates to old french school girls' uniforms. The sailor blouse also reminds of the uniform. I would even wear this despite it being blue!
  The Angelic Pretty biscuit bag and jumper were obvious choices, especially with the french flag ribbon on the brooch! Petit Beurre are biscuits so reminiscent of childhood afternoons!
  I chose this cute beret that I found on Etsy rather than any brand one I found because they always seemed overly decorated for this outfit.
  Finally the shoes and socks added the little retro finishing touch!
  The wig is more of a personal preference than anything else. I really love this lengh at the moment and I am hoping to get this wig soon!
  I didn't include jewellery in the collage but I would go for simple pearl bracelets and Angelic Pretty's matching biscuit necklace and hairclips to go with the bag, and the AP Metly chocolate brooch.


What would you wear if you were to represent your country? I can't wait to see!

Lolita Blog Carnival

Lolita in the Sky - Le Petite Princesse - Masquerade Doll - Alice in Lolitaland - The Bloody Teaparty