Goth-cation in Richmond: The Black Pine, The Poe Museum and More

 This Pi Day marked a significant milestone for me: I have reached the ripe old age of Thirty years old. 

In a life Pre-Covid, I would have probably celebrated it enjoying a local club, or gathering with my friends for a "Funeral of my Youth". (I do, after all love to put the 'fun' in 'funeral'.) 

But being that we are all trapped inside, and have been for quite some time, I found my options limited. 

The seed for The Black Pine was first planted in my head by a fellow author, and lover of all things weird. She sent me a link to the aforementioned Air Bnb, enthusiastically pointing out how close by it was. I had just moved to the state of Virginia, and a one hour drive to Richmond seemed feasible. 

I fell in love with photos of the decor. I could imagine a leisurely stay-cation there with my husband, drinking wine and making the rounds to local Goth and Alternative sites. 

One night after opening the Air Bnb site for the umpteenth time, I had an extra glass of wine, pulled out my wallet and booked The Black Pine for my birthday weekend. I had no plan to get there, no one to watch my kids, and wasn't even sure if it was in my budget.

Luckily, the Black Pine has two bedrooms, and is very affordable when split between four adults. Babysitters are impossible to find, much less after moving to a new state; but my mom agreed to fly out and watch the kids. And much to my pleasant surprise, my husband gave the green light to go. 

I was ecstatic. It was time to pack my Goth best and start looking up things to fill the itinerary.


Day One


It feels hideously unnatural to leave your kids, even with your own mother. I've been a stay-at-home mom since 2018, excluding post-bedtime romps spinning at a hole-in-the-wall Goth Club. Add to that a full year of being quarantined with two small children, you could say I'd become protective. 

That being said, I needed the break. As we pulled away in our truck, waving goodbye to my daughter as she colored with chalks on the sidewalk, I felt a sense of weightlessness and freedom. I feel guilty even typing that.

The drive was just over an hour from our home to The Black Pine. Our friends from DC, room mates for the weekend, were close behind us. 

The Oregon Hill area is just urban enough to remind you that you are in a city, but it is quiet and calm. Rows of old houses stand flank to flank on narrow two-way streets, with parking on either side. I noticed some addresses had half numbers, such as our Air Bnb. It made me wonder if the original houses were split down the middle, or if new additions were built on after. 

Entering the house, I was hit with a comforting smell of lavender. It wasn't intense like incense, but subtle, clean and welcoming. 

The front sitting room had a green velvet sofa and two matching armchairs, where we passed many conversations that weekend. The far wall was hand painted with a mural depicting scenes from nearby Hollywood cemetery. There was an old fireplace, stacked with electric bulb candles, and above it, a mirror encircled by a coiled gold serpent. 

There were tasteful curiosities throughout the home, such as a porcelain palmistry hand, iron bats, a tapestry of moon phases, antique hard cover books, and old photos. There were some animal skulls used as decor, but no specimens or taxidermy. The longer I spent in the house the more it felt like home; each detail was lovingly curated, and told a story. 

I stashed my suitcase in the master bedroom, which sat on the front of the house. Looking out the velvet curtained windows, I could see the early first buds of a sleeping tree, and beyond that, the looming facade of a church. 

Once all were settled, we decided to make a trek to The Poe Museum. As an avid fan of Edgar Allan Poe, it seemed fitting that should be my first pilgrimage in Richmond. My friend selected an all black Gothic Lolita outfit for the occasion, and I wore an ensemble of Triple Fortune, Atelier Boz and Alice and the Pirates to complement her. Piling into the back of a nondescript Honda, I'm sure we made an interesting sight, the goth version of a clown car; especially as we emerged in a flurry of black, petticoats and Vivienne Westwood.

The Poe Museum was only about 10 minutes away, our trusty Honda steed hindered only by cobblestone streets. The museum appeared abruptly, protruding out of place in a bustling downtown area. Parts of the museum and surrounding stores were boarded up, possibly from demonstrations the previous year. Although glass windows were covered by plywood, they were decorated with neon murals.We followed the clashing trail past a black iron fence, turning into a small, neat brick building that was the Poe Museum. 

To enforce social distancing, the museum was on timed entry allowing only groups of 6 at a time. To be honest that was a lot of people for the small rooms of the museum. The exhibit was divided between three buildings, each with a different theme in Poe's life: his humble beginnings, his writing career, and his mysterious death. 

As a former denizen of Baltimore, I thought I knew a lot about Poe's life and death; I was surprised that even I learned a few things. 

My favourite item of note was a set of illustrations to Poe's "The Raven", drawn by James Carling. They are intensely dark, with images many would have thought strange and unusual at the time. The Poe Museum acquired the pieces, and displays two at a time to preserve the work. A plaque on the wall reported that Carling died poor and was buried in a mass grave, not too unlike Poe himself. 

We were through the museum in less than an hour, even taking time to read each display at leisure. I'd read before that the museum was "disappointing", for it carried very little of Poe's true possessions; but I found it enlightening. It was a heartfelt homage to the author. 

Post-Poe, we set out for some destinations on our hit list: an alternative secondhand shop called Saturn Return, and a music shop called Wax Moon. Much to my surprise, there was a poster of Mana (Moi Dix Mois era) behind the cash wrap of Wax Moon. "That's a deep cut," the tenant said, "Not many Americans recognize him."

Our get-up should have given it away. 

I found a vintage vinyl of The Mission UK, and 45 Grave. Praised be to Mana. 

For dinner we visited The Answer Brewpub. 

In the words of the shop tenant who recommended it, "Try the Joose."

And for the love of god, you do not need more than a flight. 


Day Two

 

I awoke happy that I'd avoided a hangover, and that I was no longer bursting with food and sweetened beer. I was glad to walk off our overindulgence at the nearby Hollywood Cemetery

Being that I was three decades old, it was high time to shop for crypt real estate. 

I'll spare you the tasteless cemetery jokes from here on out, as it is an active and beautiful cemetery. Although dressed for a funeral in a black velvet dress, round sunglasses and large brim hat, I was on my best behavior. We watched a funeral procession of cars pass, to where an interment was about to begin; a solemn reminder that this was still an active site of grief. 

We followed winding paths to President's Circle, the site of former US President James Monroe's tomb. As we reached the crest of the hill I noticed huge white blocks strewn along with walking path, and two more crosses were knocked to the ground. At first I wondered if it was an artistic choice, but there was a news reporter and a cameraman observing the scene with bewilderment. 

The site had been vandalized the night before; which is a reserved term for the damage caused. Graves were grossly destroyed beyond recognition or repair. Unfortunately there was no way to tell who had done it or why; all we know was that it occurred the night of Friday, March 12th.

If you visit Hollywood Cemetery's website, they are collecting donations to restore the damage. It states that authorities are still investigating the crime.

With that to chew on, we realized the walk freed up some room in our stomachs. Armed with Google Maps and good internet reviews, we set off for the nearby 821 Cafe

It had outdoor seating, many tempting options, vegan fare and- mimosas.

I'll be completely honest- it had been so long since I went out to brunch, I forgot that mimosas exist.

And they had several!

I opted for the Lemon Basil mimosa, and a Smoked Salmon BLT. It was served on a soft, fresh baked Everything Bagel, and a side salad drizzled with garlic tahini dressing. It was my favourite place we ate the entire weekend; it was delicious, refreshing, and frill-free. I recommend it for a casual outing with friends, especially when bottomless mimosas are a thing again. 

Afterwards we made a mandatory visit to local oddities extraordinaire, Rest in Pieces. It is a small but well curated curiosities shop, featuring occult wares, texts, wet specimens, and taxidermy galore. It is not for the faint of heart; as it is proudly emblazoned on their shop merch, "It makes me physically ill to walk by your shop".

I pondered if $299 was reasonable for a stuffed coyote.

It is. 

That in mind we headed "home", making a pit-stop at Vinyl Conflict record store. I picked up a Joy Division EP, wishing The Black Pine had a record player to play my recent acquisitions. 

The Black Pine does not have a record player, but it does have a wireless speaker. I believe this is the playlist we chose for our evening in. 

As we were all a bit knackered, we passed the night playing board games stocked by the Air Bnb hosts. 

The only spirits that night were imbibed. 

 

Day Three

 

If you want to feel old, venture into the VCU area on Sunday morning, hungover and searching for smoothies. 

I felt as if Thanos snapped his fingers and I was turning to dust, surrounded by thin, attractive twenty-somethings dressed head to toe in Forever 21. With raccoon eyes, my black mask, and a bomber jacket that screamed "FUCK CANCER" in white letters, I received a pretty wide berth. 

I will not name drop the juice place, because it was not good. 

If I were a young, attractive twenty-something still, I would have probably been up for exploring the cute college area. However I am now a grumpy geriatric, and had two small children I was dying to see. We gave our friends a tearful goodbye, insisting we would do this again soon, "Once Covid is over".

I love how tenacious hope is. 

 

After this trip I was left with a few thoughts. First, it is important to 'get away' if you can, especially if you have kids. I realize it is near impossible now, and I consider myself extremely fortunate. But I hadn't realized how tired I was, and that I hadn't felt like myself in so long. It was nice to wear my fancy clothes again, however tight they were, and remember who I am. 

Next, I felt completely refreshed and inspired by The Black Pine. Having just moved into my new home, I returned from Richmond raring to go antique shopping, so I could bring a bit of that ambiance into my own living room. 

I felt thankful for my friends who traveled from DC to celebrate with me. Given Covid-19 and the size of the house, we could only take two companions; but I'm glad they were close friends and people we trust. We were all careful and quarantined before and after the trip. 

I'd love to start browsing Air Bnb for my next adventure, but I have a hard time believing anything will be as beautiful and unique as The Black Pine. The home was sparkling clean, and the hosts anticipated every need. If you're ever in the Richmond area I can't recommend them highly enough. 

Lastly, Thirty is not as bad as I expected. 

I imagine at Thirty, you can even buy a stuffed coyote if you want.

No one can stop you. 

 

Cheers,

Erica


PS- I will edit to add my photos later, when not possessed by a midnight endeavor to write down my thoughts.

Parlor Nevermore

 Good afternoon darlings,

Some of you may know that I started working as a DJ about three years ago. I started working as a resident DJ at the local goth club, Club Orpheus in Baltimore and went from there.

In about October, I learned that our goth club was sold right under our noses. I'd rather not get into the politics, but all you need to know is that none of the current staff, not even the current General Manager knew that the club was sold. By the time we knew it was already gutted and delivered. 

You could chalk it up to the 2020 pandemic, but the truth is that the owners sold the club with no regard for the people keeping it alive.

Since then, I've taken to live streaming DJ sets for both charity and practice. Earlier this year I organized a live stream for "Goths Supporting Black Lives Matter", with all proceeds donated to BLM related movements. This past Saturday 12/26, I raised money for my childhood friend's cancer treatment costs. 

All this to say, I have a large part of my life circling around gothic culture, including music, literature and film, and it is not accurately encompassed here in a Lolita sphere. 

For almost 2 years now I've considered starting a separate blog strictly for set lists and music recommendations. The domain has been reserved but remained unused. 

I think starting in 2021, I will move towards posting there on Parlor Nevermore. It seems more fitting that I separate these interests, since some events, music, films and subject material are 18+, and the Jfashion community often attracts a younger audience.

I will be happy to report the first post here when I decide on the theme. For now feel free to bookmark the page or subscribe for blog post notifications.

You can also find my DJing information below:

I am moving to the Norfolk area in the next few months and am looking for local goth clubs and goth nights I can join. 

Currently I am streaming "The Caterpillar" online through my public library system. It is an eroguro story based on the work of the same name from Edogawa Ranpo. I read a collection of his short stories this year, and greatly enjoyed it. This is the sort of media I would like to talk about on Parlor Nevermore.

Screen cap from the film

Until then, let's keep enjoying gothic culture through Gothic Lolita here.

Sincerely,

Erica

How to do Boy Style: Three Visual Kei Looks

In honor of this blog's 10th anniversary, I'd like to publish a post that's been sitting in my drafts since 2016. I never published it because I felt "Boy Style", or dressing to look more masculine on purpose, would be frowned upon. 

In the past few years it's become a part of me, and a regular style. I think it reflects my current self more than ever. So I present to you, largely unedited, how it looked to me four years ago.

...

 

 
To me, Fashion is about wearing who you are on the outside, or expressing an abstract part of your personality in a concrete way. 

Of course, there are as many different examples of this as their are different kinds of people; but today I am choosing to focus on one in particular. 

Today, I am going to talk about... Boy Style!



In the above images, you can see four different people at first glance- but if you look closely, you might notice subtle similarities or facial features.

They are, in fact, all me- just different "versions" of me.

The top two images are my Lolita self, and the bottom two have a more androgynous feel, leaning towards a more male aesthetic. (Or at least, I hope so.)

Just like I dress in Lolita, or apply girly makeup to feel a certain way, I dress in Boy Style to feel a certain way. 

I don't consider it as cross-dressing or cross-playing, but just another different kind of clothing I like to wear to express a part of my personality.

However, this style does incorporate some elements of cross-dressing to achieve my aesthetic... and it is a lot of work, taking much trial, error, and experimentation! 

For example, sometimes, my face is too feminine to do the clothes justice, so I will contour my nose, cheek bones, and jaw lineto achieve the full effect. 

Also, being a rather busty individual, I use a safe, medical-grade binder to get the perfect fit for button downs, blazers and vests. 

Since I don't want to cut my hair short, I use different short wigs depending on the look I am going for- but I also try to learn about different boy and visual kei hair styles, to make the wigs look more realistic.

There are several kinds of Boy Style, including:

  • Ouji/Prince or Dandy Style
  • Elegant Gothic Aristocrat
  • Casual Visual Kei
  • Stage Visual Kei/Kotei Kei

Today, in the interest of helping someone find a comfortable, every-day style, I will be focusing on "Casual Visual Kei". 

I find that this is what I wear the most often, when I do Boy Style. The clothing pieces are also relatively easy to find, whether you are in Japan or not; and unlike Ouji and EGA, it doesn't require strict guidelines or branding to achieve the complete look.

There are even publications out for this more casual form of Boy Style, drawing inspiration from Punk, Grunge, Rock, Glam and Visual Kei. This publication, called "Boku" (a masculine pronoun for "me") features female Boy Style icons such as Oni, vocalist of Ganglion; Akira, vocalist of Disacode; and Root, who has recently risen to fame as a model in Kera magazine.

A cover of "Boku" magazine  

I remember writing a report on this magazine a couple of years ago, examining the social phenomena of females using masculine pronouns to refer to themselves while dressing in Boy Style. That might be a bit too dry a topic for now, but what you should know is that years later, this publication and style are still going strong. 

If anything, the amount of girls dressing as boy models in publications or in bands, and "everyday" people following suit has risen.

Without further ado, let's take a look at my style inspirations, and how you can come up with a couple of looks, probably using things in your own closet!

For my first example, I'd like to start with one of my favorite boy style inspirations, Mitsu, vocalist from the band Dolly (named after the cloned sheep, not the toy). I've written about Mitsu before here, in "10 Style icons". Five years later, he still remains an icon for me. 

Since I first saw him in Cure magazine years ago, something about his unique layering of clothing, and the flavour of his style appealed to me.

Mitsu, Vocalist of Dolly
 
Finally in 2012, I got to see Dolly perform live in Nagoya (read about that here!).  Upon seeing them live, I really came to appreciate the band's distinct style and atmosphere they set with their clothing. 

It seems loosely Dandy, Ouji, or even Dolly Kei inspired, but with Visual Kei flair such as layers of eclectic accessories, tapered leg pants, mix-matched patterns and of course the iconic blacked-out eye makeup. 

To get the look:

My Polyvore

  • For tops, select slim-fit blazers and collared shirts, with longer hemlines if possible. 
  • Avoid blouses and jackets cut for a woman's body, which may emphasize curves. 
  • Dress up tops with broaches, scarves, ties, or jabots. 
  • For pants, select a skinny colored or patterned denim; or if you have more full hips and thighs, try a straight-cut pant that doesn't hug your curves. 
  • For shoes, select an oxford with a pointed or slightly pointed toe. This will elongate your foot and your leg, giving you height and adding a slight slimming effect. Rounded toe shoes will make your feet look smaller, more feminine, and potentially emphasize any curves you have in your legs or thighs. Heels should be one inch or less, and never pointed. 
  • For Mitsu's look, feel free to mix different patterns and colors. But to avoid looking like a hot mess, stick to a certain color palette- warmer tones like tan brown, bronze, red, and warm grey can pair together with black and gold. Cooler tones like blue, burgundy, cool grey and crisp white pair better with black and silver. 

For the next look, I opted for a more gothic-casual inspiration- San, guitarist of Nega, who have unfortunately disbanded. Though the band may have gone their separate ways, their older songs remain popular to this day, along with their gritty sound, lyrical imagery and fashion sense.

San, guitarist of Nega (disbanded)

I opted for San for two reasons: first, I remembered how tall he was when I saw Nega live in Nagoya. I thought, if he can find nice, stylish clothes that fit him, then I should have no problem! Another reason I chose him was for his unique taste. At lives he often wore unique things not usually seen in Visual Kei, such as hip scarves and sandals with black saurel/harem pants and gothic tops. 

For a disheveled-goth chic that is comfortable and easy to wear on the daily, I present you with San's style. 

To get the look:
My Polyvore
  • Opt for thin, flowing, and comfortable layers, and don't be afraid to mix genres. Try a long, flowing vest over a comfortable tank top, under a structured jacket or blazer.
  • Stack on the Rock and Roll accessories- studded belts, scarves and thick, chunky rings are iconic. 
  • For bottoms, opt for slim-fit pants that lengthen and slim your leg. Or, try a pair of full, flowy saurel/harem pants. These fit a wide range of sizes and disguise fuller hips.
  • For shoes, boots are always acceptable; either mid-calf or ankle cut for a more masculine look. As with Mitsu's look, I would recommend a pointed toe over a rounded toe, for an extra masculine kick. 
  • San certainly wears a lot of black. Add dimension with different textures, patterns, and even subtle prints in tones of grey. 
  • For hair, San often keeps his natural dark tone, with bold color block of blue or violet. A layered or shaggy short style can emphasize this. If you're not into bleaching your hair, pick up some color wefts at your favorite beauty supply store, and trim them to blend in with your hair length. 


Last but not least, I wanted to select a look that was minimalist, yet unique- something someone with hardly any Visual Kei aesthetic might be attracted to or able to pull off. 

Lately I have been feeling very inspired by Kyo, vocalist of Dir en grey and Sukekiyo. Since forming Sukekiyo, and releasing Dir en grey's Unraveling and Arche, Kyo has been sporting a very crisp style of clothing that has come to grow on me. It is easy to deconstruct and steal for yourself, if you are searching for a stylish and classic Boy Style look. 


It's worth noting that these looks aren't strictly "Visual Kei". Kyo has departed slightly from that camp, but continues to dabble in abstract, thematic and dramatic clothing and makeup. At least to get this look, minimal makeup and hair styling is required; unless you would like to add some contouring the shape your face a little. (Kyo does have cheek bones, brows and a jawline to die for!)

To get the look:

My Polyvore

  • Kyo's recent style is about abstract, artsy things, a monochromatic palette, and clean lines. Though layers are used for contrast, he goes very scant on accessories and unnecessary layers. 
  • Play with the different volumes of clothing. Try a long, slim-fit collared shirt with a fitted blazer, and baggy pant. 
  • Play with hemlines and forms. Try a strict, slim-fit pant with an asymmetrical jacket and boxy-cut top underneath.
  • For accessories, keep it simple- a statement necklace, or an on-trend hat will do. 
  • For footwear, Kyo tends to go with comfortable sneakers, or an edgy-looking style of boots
  • This look is best suited to very simple aesthetic. If you normally sport a clean pixie cut in your natural color, or maybe you bleach it blonde; if you don't normally sport a lot of makeup, but may occasionally rock a smokey eye; this look will definitely work for you. 

Want even MORE Visual Kei inspired style? Check out my old post here, Steal the Style- Reita from the GazettE. 
 
 
What did you think of this little spin-off article? Was it helpful? Would you like to see posts about different alternative styles or Visual Kei in the future? Please feel free to leave feedback or concrit in the comments. 


...


It's interesting that four years ago, I was reluctant to post this, fearing clap-back for straying from Lolita and wanting to dress more androgynously. Now, this has largely become my style.

And yes, I even cut my hair short. No more wigs!

So my question to you remains: would you like to see more of this? 

Keep staying true to yourself; there's no need to question what you like. Even if you hide it, or keep it for your own enjoyment, it never goes away.

Sincerely,
Erica

Darkly Darling 10th Anniversary

 My Dearest Darlings,

I never thought I would be writing on this blog for ten years. To be honest it's been a patchy account of things, touch-and-go as life went on.

I started this blog as a college student, as a way to share my interest in Lolita and other Japanese fashions. It's interesting to look back at past trends, the way my outfits evolved, and little ways I incorporated by passions into my lifestyle.

From learning to sew, to attending cons, and even studying abroad in Japan, Lolita fashion and its related hobbies has shaped my life. 

 I'd say it was all for the better. 

The Lolita community has given me lifelong friends, and valuable connections. I've also found a sense of self-accomplishment that can never be replaced.

That being said, I think it is time to take a step back and focus on other things.

2020 has been a difficult year for everyone. I don't need to rehash our shared struggles, or elaborate on my personal ones. One thing this year has taught me, good or bad, is that Lolita is no longer the cornerstone of my life. 

Perhaps it was the lack of in-person meet-ups this year, or the lack of fluid income. Maybe the designs are a little too static nowadays, or maybe it's just me. Whatever the cause, I've pared back my wardrobe significantly- if I complete an annual wardrobe post, as in past years, you'll see how my style has become more simple; "back to black". 

Instead, I've been really interested in kimono. I'd like to hear from you, if you'd like to learn more about the different types and formalities of dress, how to tie obi, and sewing lessons. 

I've also stepped up my participation in the Dir en grey and Visual Kei community. I've been a longtime fan, but also a wallflower. I finally overcame some social anxieties, and started networking with other fans online.

Lastly, I signed up for Dir en grey's fan club, -a knot-. I wanted to do this for years, but there were many hurdles causing me to procrastinate. If there is interest, I could write about how to enroll in the fanclub even if you live overseas. 

Though my focus is shifting away from the Lolita community, it is not entirely gone. I like to think of it as more of a kaleidoscope, the glass pieces changing colors and forms as they blend together into new designs. 

It is inseparable from my love of Japan and it's youth street cultures. It was the door that led me here. 

So 10 years since my first entry on this blog, I'm stepping back to say I'm sorry for my absence; and I hope you stick around a little longer. 

If there is more you would like to know about, in the fields of:

  • Visual Kei
  • Street Fashion History
  • Kimono and traditional fashion
  • Being a long-term Lolita

I'd love to hear from you. I may be the Captain of this ship, but I take itinerary suggestions.

Sincerely, and with gratitude,

Erica

Coord Roundup: February

Happy First of March!

As I begin this new month, I have a lot to look forward to: Rufflecon ticket sales starting, outings with friends, my birthday, and a visit from family.

February was a busy month for me, but productive. I started reaching out to vendors to get some of my handmade accessories selling at cons. Rufflecon also announced their theme for 2017, which got me brainstorming, and contemplating whether or not I can create a line for the Label contest.

For coords, I tried to break my record of 4 from last month, but was unsuccessful. None the less, it was a month of trying new things for me, and I'm happy with how my experiments came out!


February 5th: Metamorphose meets Pinup

This was a very simple coord to meet some lolis at the mall. I wanted something somewhat casual, and closer to every day wear. I thought this Metamorphose Gingham Cherry Jsk would be perfect. 

I like everything about this coord from the shoulders down; but if I could re-do this coord, I'd have put more effort into my hair, and chosen a different hair accessory. 

Bolero: BTSSB
Jsk: Metamorphose
Shoes: Vivienne Westwood x Melissa
Headbow: Innocent World
Everything else: Offbrand 



February 11th: Pastel Lolita

I almost never wear pastels, as I've adamantly said many times. But for whatever reason, on this day, I decided to give pastels a try. 

It was also the first day I've ever ruined a jsk beyond repair. It was a disaster. 

I met up with a friend to get boba tea- that much was wonderful! But we also stopped at a Korean cosmetics store, which had some sort of devil-spawn liquid lipstick smeared on the counter. The lipstick got on my purse, and when I put my purse on my lap in the car, it got all over my lightly coloured dress. (T__T) I've tried so hard to remove the stains, but they're impossible to get out.

So while this was a pretty look, and I feel like I balanced the pink and lavender well, I am extremely hesitant to wear light colours, or shop for cosmetics in Lolita ever again.

Jsk: Angelic Pretty
Bolero, Purse and Headbow: BTSSB
Everything else: Offbrand 



February 12th: Boz and Boystyle

I adore boystyle, and have taken a stab at it in the past, but I feel like this was my first serious, successful coord. I'm very proud of how this one turned out; and with a better wig and a few more staple pieces, I hope to wear boy style more this year.

Coat: Atelier Boz Roland
Pants: MAM
Socks: Chantilly
Brooches: Voltaire, Chocomint
Everything else: Offbrand



February 27th: OTT 

I think this was my favourite coord of the month! I got this Elizabeth I jsk a couple of months ago, and really wanted to coord it. I don't usually go so over the top with my coords, but I like the colour balance and all of the details in this outfit! Probably one of my favourite coords of the year so far. 

Jsk: Taobao (I think the brand was called "Makiro"?)
Blouse: The Floral Notebook
Headdress: Sweet Mildred
Shoes: Bordello
Accessories: Voodoodolly, Offbrand
Socks: Metamorphose

And thus wraps up another month in Lolita! I'm excited to see what March has in store; I hope it includes more chances to dress up and improve my coords! I think my latest on the 27th was much more put-together than some of my others so far. I'm also a fan of my Boystyle outfit and can hardly wait to collect more pieces! 

Here's to yet another month of frills!

Xoxo,
Cherie