Lolita Level Up

So I found out about this fun little 'test' over at Teacake Time Machine, and I thought it sounded cute and wanted to give it a shot. I've been attempting to immerse myself into this fashion for awhile now, so let's see just how well I fare. Onward!

LOLITA LEVEL START!

You've been to egl.

You've posted on egl, without an onslaught of 'USE THE MEMORIES' and likewise.
You've bought a lolita mook.
You've picked a favorite brand.
You've ordered your first item.
You've worn a full outfit.
You've worn a full outfit out in public.
You've worn a full outfit and posted photos of it on the Internet.
You know what JSK, OP, and cutsew all mean.
You've bought your first brand piece.
You know your measurements.
You know your shoe size - in American, European, and Japanese.
You know who Mr. Yan is.
You know who Mana is. (+1 points if you know his band. +2 points if you know his brand. +3 points if you know why he's featured in every GLB. +4 if you have a shrine to him in your closet.)
You know who Maki and Asuka are. (+2 if you've met Maki and Asuka)
You've watched Kamikaze Girls. (+1 if you know the real name of this movie. +2 if you know who wrote the book this was based on. +3 if you've also read the manga or novel. +4 if you love the author despite his criminal record).
You own a wig. (+1 if you own more than 2.)
You own a pair of falls. 
You can identify lace on the spot.
You can identify an item's brand on the spot.
You can identify the year a dress was made by a specific brand on the spot.
You can name several different dresses or prints.
You answer stock photo requests.
You mod a lolita community.
You decorate your nails. (+1 if you wear fake nails. +2 if you make fake nails.)
You own a pair of a rocking horse shoes. (+1 if you know their abbreviation.)
You've made your own rose corsage.
You've made anything out of your brand dress's waist ties.
You've made anything out of a matching eco tote. (+3 if you were the first one to do it, you think).
You know how to apply false eyelashes.
You know how to pronounce shirring.
You know how to pronounce Moi-meme-moitie, or Metamorphose tempes de fille.
You know a reliable shopping service.
You bid on Yahoo!Japan or Mbok.
You've been to a meetup.
You've planned a meetup.
You've planned a meetup with catering or more than 20 attendees.
You've met up with lolitas while on vacation to foreign or faraway locales.
You've seen a lolita fashion show.
You've seen a brand fashion show.
You've modelled in a lolita fashion show.
You've modelled in a brand lolita fashion show.
You wear bloomers.
You know how to make bloomers.
You tell other people to wear bloomers.
You draw lolita art, write a lolita blog, or provide the community with some sort of creative services.
You've taken purikura in lolita.
You've decorated your room/house/apartment in lolita style.
You've listened to lolita music.
You've learned kana.
You've learned enough Japanese to read a magazine.
You wear or own circle lenses.
You've been called a princess by a young child.
You've dressed up a friend.
You've convert a friend.
You've been in media (television, newspaper, magazine). (+2 points if it's Japanese media.)
You've learned a handicraft, like jewellery making, embroidery, or sewing.
You've become a lolita mentor.
You've attended lolita events at an anime or multi-genre convention.
You’ve organized or presented lolita events at a convention.
You've visited a brand shop.
You've taken a trip to Japan!
You've dressed up and gone out alone.
You're prepared for inclement or colder weather in lolita (coat, parasol, boots, gloves, other climate-specific items.)
You've learned face contouring.
You've made a lolita valentine.
You've got a lolita pen pal or online lolita friends.
You have local lolita friends.
You know how to modify clothes that don't fit you.
You know how to dress for your body type.
You've been in a street snap.
You've been to multiple world locations of the same brand store (BABY Paris, BABY Tokyo, BABY San Francisco, etc.)
You've created a makeup/hair/sewing tutorial.
You've sold hand-created lolita goods.
You have your own lolita fashion line.
You've gotten a lolita haircut, style, or color.
You've mixed other street fashions with lolita.
You've thrown a lolita party/had a lolita wedding.
You've dressed your child/small children in lolita or kodona style.
You've successfully cross-dressed in lolita style at least once (boystyle for girls and girls' clothing for guys).
You've lolified or made sure all the contents of your purse are cute (wallet, lipgloss, keyring, etc.)
You have a lolita pet (small dogs, cats, rabbits, exotic birds, fancy fish) or have dressed/accessorized your pet (bows or pet clothes).
You've dressed your significant other or dated someone who dresses in J-fashion/alternative fashion.
You've read Alice in Wonderland. (+1 if you've seen the animated movie or other variations, +2 if you've seen more than one variation, +3 if you own more than one variation)
You've dressed as Alice or another Wonderland character in lolita style, or own Alice themed items.
You've made something from a Japanese pattern.
You've found, bought, or made lolita underwear (bras and panties).
You wear lolita daily, or have gone 7 days straight wearing only lolita.
You have lolita calling cards or business cards.
You play a lolita instrument (i.e., piano, violin, harp, French horn... well any instrument really.)
You can translate yen to your country's currency in your head. (+1 if you can convert other currencies you shop with as well. +2 if you read the news to know how the yen is doing.)
You've sold lolita clothing online (secondhand, egl_comm_sales).
Your article or entry has been put into the egl memories.
You take photos of your outfits/daily outfit photos.
You’ve posted to daily_lolita.
You own a petticoat. (+1 if you own more than one. +2 if you wear three or more at a time).
You’ve bought a lucky pack.
You keep a style diary or look-book.
You can put together an outfit made entirely from offbrand.
You’ve bought offbrand or non-Japanese brand.

RESULTS

Adorable Admirer (lvls 1 - 20) You've started studying or liking lolita but haven't taken that leap of faith yet. Good luck!
Resplendant Rufflebutt (lvls 21 - 40) At home within the land of the rufflebutts and spilling frills from every edge.
Victorian Maiden (lvls 41 - 60) A classy lolita of taste and experience, who knows her way around the lolita social set.
Starry Celebrity (lvls 61 - 80) On page six of the lolita world, you've risen to the ring of the upper crust.
Pretty Princess (lvls 81 - 100) Lolita royalty, truly versed in the ways of the lacey ones, the lolita princesses have achieved a special level of enlightenment.
Ultimate Lolita (Boss Fight!) (lvls 100+) Wow, you've gotten over 100 levels? You're the ultimate lolita with unlimited hitpoints. That's actually a little scary...

A Resplendant Rufflebutt! Hmm, that sounds about right. I see I still have a long way to go in the world of Lolita though. We'll see if I make any progress in a year!

52 Challenge: Defining my Style

This is a post I've actually been wanting to write for awhile now, but I admit I've been pushing it off for a bit as my wardrobe still remains in a pretty intense state of flux. But enough is enough. I may be in a strange sort of transitioning phase, but that doesn't mean I don't know what I like or want. Quite the contrary, as I work through weeding out the old and carefully picking out the new, I feel that I have a greater appreciation than ever for the style I someday hope to emulate. So, without further ado...

5 key words that describe my personal style

Elegance

 I'm no spring chicken, this I know. And while some beautiful ladies have the confidence and desire to dress like a cupcake no matter what their physical age, I find that as I've grown both in Lolita, and just in experience, my longing to express a sense of sophistication and grace has only grown. Softer, dusty colors, understated jewelry and an emphasis on fabrics and construction rather than prints have become my new focus.

Cute

While this may seem like it contradicts the previous point, I personally don't think so. Although I am not a sweet Lolita, there is no doubt that most styles of Lolita contain and element of sweetness to them. I am not a hardcore Gothic or Classic Lolita, and I am not above adding small details of added cute to my coords to make me feel lovely.

Romance

While some ladies prefer a dramatic, glamorous or hardcore edge to their, I prefer a softer, overall gentler vibe. Romance, to me, represents so much more than a physical love between two people. It can be showcased through fashion by soft fabrics, delicate details and an overall look of mature sweetness.

Image from BitSweet on Etsy

Whimsical 

A bit difficult to describe, but I feel like a sense of light-hardheartedness is essential in my personal style.  Whimsy gives a sense of playfulness, a small detail that requires a double take and makes one simply want to smile.

 Modesty

It is true that modesty is generally an essential aspect of Lolita, but I find this is a stylistic trait that I've grown very particular about. While many Lolita have no problem wearing ankle socks or sleeve-less one-piece dresses, I try to steer clear from such clothing choices. Certainly there are very warm days where such options are the only ones that are reasonable, but overall I strive to retain a sense of modesty in all my coords.

I readily admit I am not an expert in applying all of these elements in my daily outfits just yet, but they are all aspects which I strive to embody. They continue to inspire me and push me to become and portray the woman I want to be. 

Tight Wars

There's not a lot I like about winter-the gloomy rain, the freezing cold, super short days, dangerous icy roads...the too tight tights. 

Image from My-Lolita-Dress.com

 My battle with tights have been a struggle for me as long as I can remember. As someone who doesn't wear pants daily (I own exactly one pair of jeans that I use strictly for working with horses on the weekends), finding ways to keep myself warm during the winter is essential. For many girls in a similar situation, tights are usually the way to go, especially as they often come in a variety of warmer options such as fleece-lined and sweater knit. Perfect!

Except not.

I'm fully aware that I am not, nor will I ever be, an itty bitty petite woman. But without deluding myself, I like to think I run fairly average in size. That being said, I seem to have a horrendous time year after year in the battle of finding comfortable tights that don't make me feel like my midsection is being sawed in half.

I've tried it all. Sizing up one, or even two sizes. Cutting notches in the waist band. Opting for the supposed more stretchy sweater tights. Ignoring anything that says "control top". I've even tried wearing thigh high socks and pairing them with warm shorts under my skirts! Last year I was very excited to purchase a pair of the famous We Love Colors Microfiber tights that only seem to have amazing reviews online, especially from plus size wearers, about how comfortable they are. No dice. I ended up giving them to my sister instead. 

At this point I have about two dozen pairs of tights, all in varying shades of...solid black. That's it. I don't even bother purchasing any of the beautiful printed tights I constantly see on so many Lolita websites (or the drool-worthy ones that rest so temptingly in my fingertips when I visit the BtssB and AP shops in person), because I already know that despite their M-L size tags, they were intended to be worn by girls much smaller than I. 

A few months back I was so ecstatic to actually find a pair of XXL tights from Claire's-a pair of adorable, almost sheer black tights with little black velvet bows printed on them. I was well below the weight range listed on the back of the packaging, and I was thrilled to finally have a pair of tights in something other than plain black! But alas, I should have known. Even just attempting to slip one foot inside gave me a sinking feeling in my stomach, and by the time I finally managed to wriggle them on, I had never felt more ashamed of my size in my life. Clothes should never make you feel ashamed. I wore them less than an hour and trashed them the second I took them off.

I admit, it's depressing. And after so many wasted dollars on brands that inevitable make me feel like a beached whale, I'm nearing the point where I'm feeling ready to drop $50 on a single pair from Falke or Wolford, just to finally have a pair that won't cause stuffed sausage syndrome. Still, their selection of cute prints is extremely limited, and I can't help but still yearn to cover my legs in adorable little roses or an elegant, lacy pattern.

But, I'm writing this as a ray of hope. I have not given up yet. Last week, knowing my plight and desire for comfortable, adorable printed tights, my fiance surprised me with a pair of gray, heart printed tights from the brand Chinese Laundry. I was hesitant. Nervous. Scared I would once again feel that gnawing sensation in the pit of my stomach that I would be, as usual, too big to look cute. But with his persuasion, I tried them on.

Would you know it...they fit. I fit. They're beautiful, and comfortable and stretchy. I can move and dance and BREATHE in them. I literally have to do everything in my willpower not to run to the nearest store and purchase every single piece of Chinese Laundry clothing they sell.

Maybe other girls don't experience this type of struggle, or perhaps my midsection is just particularly sensitive to pressure. I don't know. But with this one pair of adorable, wonderful, not-too-tight tights, my determination has been rekindled. I will wear lovely tights this winter, and I will feel beautiful in them. The tights may have one the battles before, but now the tides have turned. Change is in the air and now, it's my turn.

Ever A Surprise

I'm engaged!!

I'm a little late writing about it since life has been such a whirlwind since then, but it happened October 31st by Snow White's wishing well at the Disneyland resort in Anaheim, California. Our happy place <3

Do you recognize the dress? Haha, it's the one I bought last month at the swap meet! I knew it was fate! And a close-up of the ring.

I love it!!! It's a .93 carat colorless sapphire set in white gold and tiny diamonds. I could not possibly ask for a more beautiful ring, it's so perfectly me. There's so much to do now, so much whirling in my head, but for now I'll just gush over my beautiful ring and amazing fiance because I'm engaged!!