Dresses I Hope to Obtain in 2017

I don't plan on buying them all at once, of course, but these are some dresses I really want that are actually within the realm of possibility for me. I probably won't get all of them, because money, but here's hoping.

1. Ista Mori's "Nameless Poem" OP

Why I want it: I know this dress has been seen many times on CoF, but I don't care how popular or unpopular a dress is. I want it. However, it is currently out of stock in the black colorway in my size. I love the collar. It reminds me of the lace collars worn on Versailles, which is a show I am currently obsessed with. (I LOVE period dramas, especially ones about royalty.) I also love the sleeves - the lantern sleeve is something i am fond of. I like the simplicity of the embroidery as well. The fact that the collar is removable makes this OP more versatile. I would really like to have at least one "nun dress." This is a dress I definitely want to add to my wardrobe this year.

2. Baby the Star's Shine Bright's "Searching for Baroque" JSK

Why I want it: I love classical art. I love the Baroque period, even though this also evokes the Rococo sensibility. I do have a slightly similar dress already, but I don't care. I think the detailing with the ribbons is gorgeous. I love the chiffon ruffles. This is definitely a dress i would have to save up for, as it sells for over $300.

3. Innocent World's "Moonlight Church" (in any cut, in black or wine)

Why I want it: I love the ombre fade effect. I love the look of gothic churches. I would really love to have the tiered JSK which is an underbust cut, but if I could get my hands on any cut, I would be happy. This is another dress I would have to save up for, but it would be a lovely addition to my wardrobe. (It is on sale right not but not available in black in the large size in the specific cut I want. Of course.)

4. BtSSB's "Maria Catholic" Nun OP

Why I want it: I guess you might have noticed at this point that I have a taste for religious themed dresses. Being that this is a sack dress, it would definitely fit. That's a plus. I have a larger bust that I squish down to fit into my brand dresses, but I still need to be mindful of sizing, usually opting for plentiful shirring. I absolutely love this dress, but only in the black colorway. This is a dress I am more serious about obtaining. Hopefully it will be mine by the end of 2016. *crosses fingers*

5. Neverland Lolita (SouffleSong) "Rococo Story" OP

Why I want it: It's got aristocratic portraits on it. That lures me in right away. I love the OP cut of this style because of the lace detailing. I have been wanting this for awhile, but I always end up buying a Japanese brand dress that is on sale or going for a good price on Lacemarket instead. Hopefully, it can be mine soon.

What I would also like to obtain this year: A few more blouses in black and cream, a cream skirt or dress, and some lolita tights/socks, since most of what I use now is solid black.

It will be fun to look back on this post at the end of the year and see if I got anything that I wanted or if I strayed from the list. :)

Review: Infanta "Hime Sleeves Mesh Blouse"

Infanta's stock photo. Photo Source: Lolitawardrobe.com

I purchased this blouse back in August in anticipation of Otakon. I purchased it from GlitzyWonderland, which is a Taobao reseller. (This is not a sponsored post.) I knew it was going to be pretty hot at Otakon, so I wanted some breathable blouses to wear with my coords for each day. I'd just like to say, it was disgustingly hot. Just gross. 

This blouse comes in five colorways. I opted for black. The material is not chiffon, but instead a stretchy mesh -- kind of like a tighter knit fishnet. It's not super obvious unless you look at the fabric closely. The sleeves are "hime" style, three flounces in total on each sleeve, with the last tier being embrodered lace. Around the neck, are two layers of ruffling: one in lace, and the second in the mesh material. The bottom hem is finished with a mesh ruffle, the edges of which have been overlocked to prevent fraying. The neck, the sleeves, and the waist all have a band of elastic sewn in to provide a more fitted shape. This blouse can be worn over a JSK or skirt as an overdress, or under a JSK or tucked into a skirt like a traditional blouse.

Price: $32.00

Pros: The mesh fabric is fairly soft. The lace is also soft. Nothing on the blouse is itchy or scratchy. The mesh is really breathable and lightweight. This blouse is plus-size friendly as it will accommodate a bust of up to 110 centimeters (which is approximately 43.3 inches). It has a lot of versatility since it can be worn as a blouse or an overdress.

Cons: It only comes in one size. The elastic bands around the sleeves and waist roll and twist up, which doesn't look nice and also causes the sleeve flounces to hang strangely. The elastic they used is very, very thick. While it can accommodate a larger size bust, you may find that the elastic digs in to your arms and / or waist over time. This can be fixed with different elastic, but that requires work on the buyer's part.

All in all, I like this blouse and would consider buying it in more colorways in the future. I do plan on swapping out the elastic with a non-rolling variety, because that really annoys me.

I paired this blouse with my Innocent World JSK. I weighed a bit more back then than now, so the sleeves fit and look better than they did here, but I was still happy with it. It kept me cool.

This was taken after wearing it all day at Otakon. As you can see, the sleeves got wonky from the elastic twisting and rolling.

2016 in Review: My First Year in Lolita Fashion

Hello! Welcome to the blog! This is the first post, so I thought it would be fitting to reflect back upon my first year in lolita fashion.

How I Started Wearing Lolita:

I have admired lolita fashion for over a decade. I remember flipping through Fruits magazines at the bookstore and being in awe of all the amazing Japanese street fashion photography. I never thought it was something I could wear, that is until this past year. I had a health scare in March of 2016, and had to get an emergency surgery that left me recovering at home for a few weeks. I had a lot of time to browse the internet. I was already planning to attend Otakon 2016 in Baltimore with my sister, but I had no idea what to wear. Scrolling through my tumblr feed, I came across a lolita coordinate post. Maybe it was the pain medication, but I was like "What the hell? I want to look like that." So, I started researching, and that led to sewing two skirts and making some accessories, and later I started investing in some burando.

My First EGL Coord:

My first coord ever... The petti is showing! :X

Here it is, folks. My first coord in lolita fashion. I put this coord together for the first meet I ever attended, which was a Harry Potter themed dinner hosted by the Philly lolita comm, Frilladelphia. I was terrified. I drove several hours to get there, and I had never met anyone in the comm. I had never been out in public wearing lolita (or attempting to wear lolita, I should say). I was surprised at how friendly and easygoing everyone at the meet was. It was a lovely way to dip my toe into the waters of Elegant Gothic Lolita fashion. There were pictures taken of the group, but they were never posted publicly, so I have no shots of my coord on my actual human body. 

The outfit breakdown (pretty laughable nine months later):

Blouse: Vintage 

Vest: Thrifted

Skirt: Handmade

Petticoat: Awful. Came from ebay. *cringe*

How has my wardrobe grown this year?

I started this year out with nothing. So, in that regard, it has grown quite substantially. I made two skirts for myself. One, pictured below, for a Harry Potter themed meet-up, and another using a marble print fabric. I altered a tiered thrifted skirt that serves as a nice staple in my wardrobe. I bought several brand pieces this year. My first burando item was a pair of Enchantlic Encantilly harlequin socks. I added a BTSSB cream bolero to my wardrobe that I will feature in a future post for a DIY project. I obtained three burando dresses: Innocent World's "Portraits from a Ruined Mansion" jumperskirt, Alice and the Pirates "Chocolate Addiction" one piece, and my most recent addition, Angelic Pretty's "Heavenly Cross" jumperskirt in black. 

What were my favorite coords from this year?

I put together some halfway decent coods since my first attempt. Accessories have really helped me make my coords more polished and fun. When I went to Otakon, I had absolutely zero hair accessories. I came out having bought a crap ton in the Artist's Alley. 

My coord for my second ever meetup! 

Blouse: Forever 21 (eyelash lace - not raschel lace!)

JSK: Innocent World, Portraits from a Ruined Mansion

Shoes: Funtasma 

Bag: Vintage

Rosette: Handmade

Casual Coord for a non-lolita event. That purse always pops open.

This outfit (pictured above) is completely vintage and/or thrifted, minus the shoes, which came from Forever 21 a few years ago.

Day Two of Otakon 2016. Much improved from the first iteration of this coord.

Blouse: Forever 21

Vest: Thrifted

Skirt: Handmade

Rosette: Handmade

Bow Hair Clip (has skeleton keys printed on it!): A. Gato Designs

My Halloween witch coord!

Blouse, Skirt, Vest, Velvet Jacket: Thrifted/Vintage

Tights: Ombre grey to black, offbrand

Shoes: Funtasma

Bag (not pictured): says "Black Magic" with a pentagram design, Dolls Kill

What have I learned this year?

-If a price seems too good to be true, it probably is. 

-Ebay is not a reliable place to find quality lolita clothing.

-Bodyline's photos are... bad.

-Lacemarket is a great way to get affordable brand pieces.

-Petticoats are vital.

-Don't get caught up in CGL or Behind The Bows. People are posting anonymously for a reason.

My goals for the new year:

For 2017, I hope to continue building my lolita wardrobe. I hope to sew some more pieces as well as acquire more brand. I want to only buy pieces that I absolutely love, instead of buying it because it's affordable. Most of all, I want to attend more meets and wear lolita fashion more often.

Hope your New Year's holiday was a good one! Coming soon: lolitable thrifting tips, DIYs, OOTDs, and much more. Stay tuned for more content!