Happy New Year! 2014 Wardrobe Post

Happy New Year, Bonne année et bonne santé, and 明けましておめでとう, Darlings!

Thank you for all of your support in 2014, with my first two fashion shows at the Hawaii Horror Ball and RAW: natural born artists Honolulu! I hope to improve very much this year, make very many commissions, work on my time management and have many more creative shows for you!

今年もよろしく!

There is one Lolita meme I enjoy doing every year, and that is to post my wardrobe. It has changed very much over the past few years I've done it. The first year I did it, I kept my photos on Photobucket, but they are all gone now. That year was the year I studied abroad in Japan, and I had quite a few bright Angelic Pretty prints, leopard print accessories and bright pink motorcycle jackets.

The year after became a bit more muted and slightly mature, with still a few sweet elements. (Check it out here, Wardrobe Post 2013!)

This past year, 2014 was really when I started forming my personal style, and collecting pieces that truly reflect my personality and taste. As you'll see, I definitely became fond of Atelier Pierrot, and there's barely a trace of sweet Lolita to be found. I am very happy with my collection, which reflects classic themes, military and uniform influences, and lots of jewel tones!

Without further ado, and with firecrackers popping overhead as I write, my main wardrobe pieces of 2014.

Alice and the Pirates

St. Helena Jsk
(Pin: Miho Matsuda; Blouse: offbrand)

In comparison to last year, my collection of Alice and the Pirates has really thinned out. Still, I kept this Jsk, because it is one of my absolute favourites.

Firstly, navy blue is my favourite colour. It is so versatile, with the ability to compliment many different colour schemes and skin tones. I especially like wearing it with cream and gold accessories. I also adore uniform styles, so it is my go-to piece when I have no idea what to wear. I love it, because it can be styled classically, gothicly, or as a school uniform. I hope one day, to track down the matching capelet!

Cock Robin Jsk

I'll be honest. Though the design of this dress is very elegant, I mostly bought it because one of my favourite bands is called cocklobin, lol. I had the pleasure of watching them perform at Takadanobaba AREA just before they disbanded last year. Check them out, if you're into Nagoya-kei!

But back to the dress! As an avid collector of jewel tones, I appreciated the unique burgundy colour. I am also a fan of the ruffle on top of the bodice.

My latest purchase, still waiting for this one to come in from Closet Child.

Angelic Pretty

Wrapping Ribbon Jsk

I have long been skeptical of Angelic Pretty, because pastels just don't suit me. But I've wanted this particular print for a while, especially with the dark purple colour combination. On top of that, the chiffon is lovely, and the cut of the dress is quite comfortable. 

Atelier Pierrot

Halter Vest Jsk

 

I always wanted an all-black Atelier Pierrot Jsk. When my friend happened to be selling hers, I couldn't resist! I got it for a steal, because the zipper had broken off the track, but my husband fixed it for me in a jiffy. I am looking forward to so many different looks with this Jsk!

Eden Jsk

Definitely another one of my favourite Jsks. I bought it at Onicon Hawaii in 2012, the first year Atelier Pierrot came to Hawaii. I adored the green colour and had stalked it online for weeks, but it was sold out everywhere. I held on to my con savings with the faintest hope Atelier Pierrot might bring one for sale. As soon as the booth opened, I was there waiting, and watching... and there it was! I snagged it right away. I also modelled in the Atelier Pierrot fashion show that year, so this piece is also very sentimental to me. I don't think I'll ever get rid of it!

Cage Skirt

For as long as I could remember, I wanted a black cage skirt! Imagine my surprise and excitement when I found one at Closet Child in January for only about 6,000 yen. Score! 

Charcoal Capelet

A versatile mantle/capelet with faint pinstripes. I sometimes decorate it with a broach, corsage, or military-like ribbons, depending on the look. I got it in an Atelier Pierrot lucky pack last January. I got to see Yuko in Harajuku again the day I bought the pack, and she remembered me from Onicon, which made me very surprised and happy. 

Cream Pintuck Apron

A versatile and classic apron with many delicate details. It can be coordinated in many different ways, which is why I love it. I also got this from my lucky pack last year. 

White Jsk (I forget the name)

My photo honestly doesn't do this dress justice right now. I am still working on a complete coordinate.

This was my dream dress for my wedding, or post-wedding party last year, but it was always out of my budget. When it finally went on sale a few weeks ago, I decided to snag it. You never know when you can do a romantic gothic photo shoot, or vow renewal. ;D

Baby, the Stars Shine Bright

Ma Cherie Jsk

Although I've considered selling this a few times, I just can't let go of this adorable Jsk. Though normally I avoid pink, I am fond of Baby's special shade of "cherry" pink. Not to mention, I adore the heart embroidered eyelet lace on the bottom. On top of all that, it is called "Ma Cherie", almost as if it was made for me! Even though I prefer darker colours, I feel it is good to have at least one sweet Jsk in your wardrobe, just in case. 

Baroque

Missing Letter, Key and Rabbit Jsk

I am not usually big into prints, but I adore the colours used in this print. It is a beautiful balance! I recently wore this out on a holiday shopping outing with my new chocolate brown mary janes.

Darkly Darling (my home-made items)

Enchanted Forest Jsk

A half-shirred Jsk with delicate pink tones and warm chocolate brown. I made it for a forest themed meet-up.

Rosemary Cream and Green Jsk and Bonnet

One of the first outfits I made when I got back into my sewing kick this year. I adore chiffon, it's my favourite material to work with! This was also my first successful bonnet that I made for myself.

Blue Lace Overlay Jsk

A fully shirred OP made of blue tafetta, fully lined with black lace overlay. It was one of my first experiments with fully shirred OPs. I wanted to make something in a bold sapphire blue colour, originally inspired by Beauty and the Beast, but it took a turn towards Moi-Meme-Moitie. 

I made a lot more items this year, but I think those are my favourites.

Excentrique

Green Halter Jsk

This was another dream dress, I dug it up at Closet Child for only 6,000 yen! I couldn't believe my eyes! I positively love Excentrique as a brand, and hope to collect more odds and ends from them in the coming year. I'd especially love one of their military styled jackets. 

Innocent World

Dot Shantung Jsk

I actually didn't get this in an oddment pack, I bought it by choice! As I said before, I love navy, and I also love polkadots, so this Jsk was just right for me. Not to mention, I prefer IW's longer hemlines. 

Antique Playing Cards Jsk

I love the metallic gold print, and how the pops of red surprisingly compliment the brown! The ribbon high on the bodice is also a cute touch.

Antique Cutlery Jsk

I love the reds and blues in the print. Though I am not usually a fan of prints, recently I have been coveting those from Innocent World.

Antique Tartan Jsk

Innocent World be like ANTIQUE ALL THE THINGS!

Obviously, I have become quite the fan of Innocent World, lol. I also enjoy collecting pieces with unique colours. Surprisingly enough this can be coordinated for either a Spring ot Autumn look.

Putumayo

Bear eared Jacket

One of the things I bought when it was freezing cold in Tokyo. It kept me surprisingly warm! I love the bear ears!

And last, but not least, some random accessory eye candy.

Welp, those are the main things I've added to my wardrobe in 2014! I feel it is a lot more cohesive this way, and reflects my personal style. It also shows how my taste has matured, and even fringed on gothic this past year. I am very satisfied with it!

Of course, I have some odds and ends such as Q-pot rings, brand necklaces given to me by friends, and one or two branded head pieces, but they're really not impressive enough to show off, haha. 

In 2015, I'd like to collect a Triple Fortune Bonnet, more Atelier Pierrot Jewel Tone Jsks, military items from Metamorphose and Excentrique, Innocent World's Rose Panel Jsk, and Btssb's Charlotte Baniran Jsk in red. Maybe I'll make a more extensive wishlist post later this week, for the Lolita Blog Carnival! 

I hope you enjoyed peeking inside my closet, and hopefully this time next year, I'll have more than twice as many handmade outfits by Darkly Darling to show you!

Xoxo, Cherie

Visiting the Gassho-zukuri

NUFS' latest excursion sent us blazing across three hours of open highway, to Shirakawa-go and Gokoyama. 

We spent the day visiting Gassho-zukuri, Japanese farmhouses which are at least 250 years old. They are made of wood from the tatami mats to the thatched roof, and completely sustainable. 

The best part is, you were able to walk inside some of them (removing your shoes first, of course). Some of them had exhibits and artifacts from every day life. To see the second level, you had to ascend a thin wooden ladder with steep steps. 

Shirakawa-go was mostly cheesy omiyage shops and cafes. On the map there was a lot to do, such as a nearby onsen, and a famous manor you could enter for an additional fee. However on our student cash and time limit, we barely had enough time for lunch.

My friend and I popped into this little hole-in-the-wall restaurant. The dining room was small, with service for about twenty people. Since the tables were full, my friend and I sat at the bar, next to an older man who was smoking a cigarette nonchalantly. There were just two tenants running the entire shop, including a window for ice-cream and kaki koori (shaved ice). 

My friend opted for the soba set, and I chose 'wild vegetable' udon.

Delicious! I am getting spoiled with this home-made Japanese food. 

I really want to return to the Gassho-zukuri houses on my own, so I can explore, observe and take the time to see it. I especially want to come in the winter, so I can see them covered in snow. I have seen photos, and they're so beautiful!

Wouldn't that be great to see such a sight? Then you could visit the onsen, and I here some of the Gassho-zukuri are run as simple inns where you can stay one night. Ahh, that sounds so cool, but also a little scary! 

To find out more about these amazing houses, visit this link! It explains their structure a lot better than I can.

And now, to move on with the lolita meme. Something I was craving during our sunny field trip!

Day Thirteen

... a picture of your favorite sweets.

photo source

Dango! I never had one until I came to Japan. Now, they are my favorite treat!

Oh, and in my last post, my friend Patrick asked about something on the Sakae Nova shop directory sign. There was something called 古いのコレクト on there, which I couldn't remember seeing. But I went back this week, and found a booth set up behind a curtain. A gothic lolita sat at a table, giving palm and tarot readings for a reasonable rate. There were diagrams of palms tacked on the walls, it was pretty cool! And so, that is what 古いのコレクト referred to.


I'd really like to have my fortune told! But maybe next semester, after my Japanese improves...

A Lolita's Day in Nagoya

Well yesterday, I suggested doing a photo dump to share some of the things I've seen in Japan so far. But as it turns out, today's Lolita Meme theme serves that purpose very well.

Day Eleven

... a day of your Lolita life in pictures.

It all started here, at Hongo station on our way to Sakae. 

We had lunch at Sakae station, where I had udon for the first time ever! It was really delicious! My friend recommended that I order wakame udon, if I wasn't very hungry. But I couldn't even finish this big bowl! I wish I could though! 

The order came with pickled vegetables and furikake rice. Furikake rice is one of my favorites from my home in Hawaii, so it was really nice! :)

It was sooo hot out yesterday. I stopped at the Ghibli store to pick up this cute handkerchief.

After lunch, we went to Nagoya Castle.

It was hot.

Really hot.

But at least the inside of the castle had air conditioning. I know they say the Japanese are advanced in their technology, but man... the Feudal Lords were geniuses...

The view from the top!

I got my BTSSB planner stamped. 

We found the Swimmer store at Sakae station! I wanted to look more, but it was pretty crowded. I picked up some Melty Chocolate headphones and Black Cat, Red Ribbon, and Gold Crown earrings.

The staff was super helpful, and helped direct us to the Nova building, where the Lolita shops are on the 5th floor.

I literally ran down the escalator when I saw Angelic Pretty's pink lobby. I have never been in Lolita shop in the four years since I started. It was like walking in a dream. 

The staff at Angelic Pretty were lovely! The shop tenant had peachy pink hair in pig tails, and wore the Chocolate Chess salopette with a cut sew underneath. It was a super cute coordinate for the sticky Nagoya heat we've had.

When I came in, I asked if they had the brown Honey Cake head bow, but they were out. Instead, I picked up a plain ivory side bow and continued browsing. The shop tenant came up to me with a much bigger, more elaborate head bow with ribbons, lace, and pearls, and said, 'I think this one suits you, and the pearls are really cute!' I was so surprised that she took the time to find me a head bow. I actually love pearls, and can't believe I missed that bow on the table!

After, I decided to get a purse too. I couldn't choose between the last Honey Cake shoulder bag and the new Alice in Wonderland story book purse. I asked the shop tenant, and she recommended getting the Honey Cake purse, since it was their last one and it would be really cute with my Honey Cake series. 

(And as it turns out, both the bow and the purse are PERFECT with my Honey Cake Jsk.)

After paying, she gave me a stamp card, and hand-drawn information sheets for upcoming reservations. She packed everything, even my other shopping bags, into one large, convenient Angelic Pretty bag. Then, she carried it out of the store for me, bowing many times and saying "Arigatou gozaimasu".

The Putumayo staff were all so nice! They had about three tenants working, but they were all so friendly. When I chose a parasol I liked, they opened it for me so I could see the design. Then, they cut the tags so I could use it right away, and put them in a sealed Putumayo envelope. I asked for a little bag to hold my old travel umbrella, and they packed it for me!

On the way out, I spotted an adorable beret with bunny ears- berets and bunny ears, two things I'm a sucker for. After admiring it, one of the tenants said I could try it on if I wanted! They took it out of the packaging for me and let me try it on in front of the floor-length mirror. Ugh, it was too cute! It was almost 8,000 yen though, so I think closer to Winter, I'll go back for it. It will be perfect for cold days, and maybe, they'll have a sale by that time. Hehe. 

Things I was disappointed in- Alice and the Pirates and Baby the Stars Shine Bright. At Baby, the shop tenant was nice, but the store itself was pretty bare. I think it's because they just had a big Summer Sale, didn't they? At Alice and the Pirates, it wasn't as bare, but the tenants didn't even say "Welcome". They kept to themselves at the front desk, one tenant with their back to us. To me it felt like they didn't want my business.

Innocent World was the most cramped store, in a corner of the 5th floor. But the goods were amazing. They had some Autumn outerwear out on the racks, and lots of adorable socks. I saw the new Stained Glass print in blue in person, and it's stunning! I really want it for myself. 

Unfortunately time doesn't stand still in Lolita Land, and we had to leave. I felt like I was floating down the stairs and out to the train station.

Of course, that floaty feeling wore off fast, and as soon as I walked in the door of my apartment I wanted to crash.

My haul for the day.

But the best thing I received?

In my mail box, I received my first card from my mom. It was just the thing I needed to wrap up a perfect day. 

Field Trip Today!

Ohayou Gozaimasu folks! This morning is our first NUFS excursion, out to Nagoya Castle and Nagoya City.

It's pretty hot and humid, but I'm braving it out in Lolita, so please wish me luck!

Today's theme is "bears".

Since it is so hot, I put my hair up in two "bear ear" buns using bobby pins. With the matching British Bear headband, it is pretty cute I think! ^^

One of the highlights of this week was the Entrance Ceremony at NUFS. The really fun part was the reception afterwards, where clubs from the school put on presentations and acts. There are so many talented students here, from Harmonics to Jazz! 

Did I mention there was free food? Haha, I always took that for granted until I started buying my own groceries!

The best part of the reception was getting to meet the Japanese students! I made so many new friends. We laughed and talked about our interests, which as it turns out, are quite similar. (Go figure.) 

There's so much more I want to talk about, but so little time! And I don't really want to throw a jumble of text up here. 

So, today's Lolita Meme Theme is...

Day Ten

... What's in your Lolita bag?

You can click to make it a bit bigger if you like.

Contents:

• Rilakkuma wrist watch
• Nanette Lepore rollerball perfume
• Sephora mini lip gloss in light pink
• Bath and Body Works Lemon Blueberry chap stick
• Betsey Johnson glasses and case
• Floral Coin purse
• Last year's BTSSB planner (I keep business cards and receipts in it now)
• Little Twin Stars compact mirror
• Ruki! An amigurumi bunny my friend gave to me. I love to take him with me on outings and take blog-style photos.

Well, till next time! :) I have so many cool photos I want to share, maybe a photo dump is appropriate...?