The Curator's EGL Goals 2025

To my fellow frillies,

    As we approach the end of 2024 I want to reflect on my first year with EGL fashion. This year's goal was acquiring enough pieces to build out a wardrobe and learning the basics of coording. However now that I am entering my second year of being a lolita, I can shift my focus to other things. Here are my new year goals for my wardrobe and my lifestyle!

♱ཐི ʕ.•ﻌ•.ʔ ཋྀ♱

Wardrobe Goals

1) Sell anything that does not fit

    This goal is pretty self-explanatory. One of my dream dresses was Moitié's Silent Moon OP. The bust measurement of the dress is eight centimeters too small for me. I was aware of this when I purchased it, hoping that the shirring would stretch comfortably. It did not. And I was devastated.

    I kept it anyway as "inspiration" to lose weight. Now let us all fess up; we have all done this at least once in our EGL journeys. But let me remind any beginners to the fashion this is a toxic habit. It encourages the idea that our bodies the problem and not the dresses. So I did a very brave thing and sold that dress in a comm sale. I do feel happier now that it is gone. Moving forward I want to focus on only buying things that actually fit my measurements and if it does not, sell it with haste!

2) Make a classic lolita capsule wardrobe

    This year allowed me to create a robust gothic wardrobe and a good-sized sweet capsule wardrobe. I am satisfied with the size of both. But I have still yet to explore classic. It is strange how in early 2024 I hoped to end the year with a gothic and classic wardrobe only to somehow dip my toes in sweet. This is something I never thought I would ever do! Funny how people change. So for 2025 I want to focus more on building out my classic capsule. 

3) Try aristocrat style

    One of my final purchases of the year was a long Atelier Pierrot bustle skirt that would make for a perfect aristo coord. I got inspired to make a coord with it and I loved it a bit too much, so I want to experiment more with aristocrat style in the new year. This means collecting more long skirts, full-sized hats, and coats.

4) Experiment with Mana blue

    Prepare yourselves, gothic friends, for I fear I may offend some of you: I do not like Mana blue. I know. Booooo! *tomato, tomato* Before you put my head on a stake, hear me out: my reasoning is simple: it does not make sense for my wardrobe. I am inspired by historical fashion and Victorian mourning wear. Blue dye was too expensive for the common person to afford and wear on the daily. So it would not be something seen worn in society. Plus, I do not think it looks as gothy or vampiric as shades of red do. 

    Blue as a color to me screams alien-like, or otherworldly. Supernatural maybe, but not Mana-sama's favorite shade. Natural shades such as bordeaux or green lends itself better to historically-inspired EGL in my humble opinion. That is not to say that I abhor anyone who wears the famous Moitié shade! Which leads me to my next point: I want to finally experiment with the color. 

    You can have your tastes without ever having sampled them. I have a tendency to rule things out without giving them a fair shot. So the healthy thing to do would be to try it out. Worse case, I come to find I still do not like Moitié blue and I sell any pieces acquired. No harm done! Who knows? Maybe by this time 2026 my entire closet is looking like an Eiffel 65 music video!

Lifestyle Goals

1) Host more meets

    In 2024 I hosted three meet-ups: two movie meets and one craft meet. All of them were wonderful! As a social butterfly and a Capricorn, I found it easy to plan a gathering in my comm. I want to host even more meets in the new year. If I had it my way, I would attend a meet-up every month! I am not sure that is possible, but at least I can encourage it.

2) Learn to sew a rectangle headdress

    At some point in the fashion, one will become compelled to create a wearable item of their own. I am no different. I own 13 copies of Gothic & Lolita Bible, all of them with extensive patterns and tutorials on creating your own garments or accessories. Yet somehow I never took the plunge and made something. So I want to start small. The timing is fortunate as well; I could use a few more rectangle headdresses. I do not own a sewing machine (see goal #5) so this will be a hand-sewn project.

3) Read Kamikaze Girls

    I purchased an English copy of the out-of-print novel off Lace Market. But I have a nasty habit of buying books only to never read them. This EGL goal goes hand-in-hand with my personal new year resolution of reading more. It is not a long book at all, so this is very doable for me. This also allows me to consume more lolita media, something I also want to do in 2025.

4) Continue to decorate my room in lolita

    I think I did a good job of decorating in 2024. My room is starting to look like a Baby, the Stars Shine Bright showroom. But it could be even more frilly I fear! My ideal room would have framed artwork on the walls. I want to get more picture frames for the stack of art prints sitting on my dresser right now. I think a framed piece of artwork is much more elegant than a raw print washi-taped to the wall instead. Not that there is anything wrong with that! I have certainly done that before.

5) Buy a sewing machine

    My best friend in the comm pesters me to finally get a sewing machine. It is a logical purchase. Eventually with enough time spent in the fashion you will to want to make your own pieces, especially if you are plus-sized like me or are looking for something specific that you cannot find elsewhere. I used to know how to sew in high school; I miss making clothes if I am to be honest. Someday I will find the time to do the necessary research to determine which kind to get. I see an online favorite is the Singer Heavy Duty. Let me know if you have any suggestions for a beginner!

6) Visit Kei Collective in Phoenix

    I want to visit Kei Collective in Phoenix. Despite Arizona's population, we do not get "cool stuff" like other nearby states do. It feels like only in the past ten or so years we are starting to see new interesting businesses pop up. Arizona does not offer many physical J-fashion shops, but we do have Kei Collective, catering to Japanese and alt fashion right here in the valley. I have visited their booth at 2024 Saboten Con but never their physical shop. So I will make it a goal for 2025 to see them!

♱ཐི ʕ.•ﻌ•.ʔ ཋྀ♱

What goals do you have for your EGL wardrobe? Do you have any goals for your J-fashion lifestyle as well? Do tell, readers. I look forward to hearing from you~

Love & Lace, 

♱ Sara ♱

The Curator's EGL Wardrobe Tour 2025

 Dear my frilly friends,

    The time has come for the annual EGL wardrobe post. It is especially exciting for me as it is my very first wardrobe post! I started collecting and wearing EGL exactly one year ago as of the writing of this post. It is almost scary how many pieces I have collected in just one year's time. 

    It is exciting to be able to capture my closet as it is in my first year of j-fashion to be able to look back on. I have acquired every piece with the intention that I will be wearing it for many years to come. Let us see if that comes true! Please enjoy my EGL collection, modeled by my ever most handsome Rilakkuma bear, Ruthven the Adorable.

♱ཐི ʕ.•ﻌ•.ʔ ཋྀ♱

One-Pieces (OPs)

Baroque Sleeping Lily OP in black

Atelier Pierrot Princess Sleeve Babydoll OP in ivory

Antique BeasT Dionea OP in black

Ista Mori Nameless Poem OP in black x white

Enchantlic Enchantilly Rose Castle Invitation From The Duke of Bat OP in black x bordeaux

Total OPs = 5

Jumperskirts (JSKs)

BTSSB Karami Triple Tiered JSK in black

Angelic Pretty Lacy Princess JSK in black

Metamorphose temps de fille Pintuck Tiered JSK in black

Atelier Pierrot Decay Gauze JSK in black

Lady Sloth Nevermore JSK in black x red

AATP Oath of Rose ~Rondo of Love and Betrayal~ JSK II in black x bordeaux

Knight Night The Saint Priest JSK II in black x red

Atelier Pierrot Labyrinth Lace JSK in black x bordeaux

axes femme kawaii Dolls' Circus JSK in black

Bodyline Charlotta JSK in black x white

Miss Danger Eternal Gothic Cathedral JSK in black x silver

Innocent World Violets Inside Mansions High Waist JSK in black

Innocent World Teddy Bear Story Tiered JSK in wine

BTSSB Tartan Check Mini Sleeve JSK in red x white

axes femme kawaii Rosy Bear JSK in ecru

axes femme kawaii Fluffy Bear JSK in pink

Angelic Pretty Cream Cookie Collection Switching JSK in pink

Mystery Kingdom Dessert Graduate JSK in sax

Total JSKs = 18

Skirts and Salopettes

Marble V-Shape Tiered Frill Fishtail Skirt with Lace in black

Atelier Pierrot Three-Tiered Ruffle Chiffon Skirt in black

Vallée lys Pivoine Frill Skirt in black

Miss Danger Lilies Gothic Cross Skirt in black x red

Atelier Pierrot Long Bustle Skirt in black

Angelic Pretty Bear's Chocolaterie Salopette in ivory

Total skirts and salopettes = 6

Capes, Boleros, Cardigans

WireHead Capelet with Collar in black x white lace

Little Dipper Bolero in light pink

Antique BeasT Campanula Bolero in black

Metamorphose temps de fille Plus Size Heart Openwork Short Sleeve Bolero in black

Mist Cardigan in dark brown

Moi-même-Moitié Cross Patch Lace Cardigan in black x white

Moi-même-Moitié Hemera Sailor Cardigan in black

axes femme Cardigan in cream

Total capes, boleros, and cardigans = 8

Jackets & Coats

axes femme kawaii Chocolate Bear Short Coat in brown

Total jackets and coats = 1 :(

Blouses

Bodyline Honey Parish Blouse in black

Moi-même-Moitié Cross Arch Shirring Blouse in black

Atelier Pierrot Puff Sleeve Shirring Blouse in black

Vallée lys Blossom Breeze Blouse in black

Neo-Ludwig The Whale Bones Bay Blouse in black

Atelier Pierrot Shirring Princess Sleeve Blouse in bordeaux

Enchantlic Enchantilly Noble Ribbon Tie Blouse in bordeaux

Metamorphose temps de fille Stand Collar Bishop Sleeve Blouse in antique white

Niu Niu Plus Size Lolita Blouse Oversized Short Sleeve Shirt in light pink

Bodyline Francine Blouse in pink

Enchantlic Enchantilly Noble Ribbon Tie Blouse in creamy blue

Xilia Lace Collar Cotton Long Sleeve Blouse in white

Bodyline Shirring Lace Blouse in white

Total blouses = 13

Petticoats & Bloomers

Aurora & Ariel 60cm A-Line Daily Wear Petticoat in black

Aurora & Ariel 45cm A-Line Violent Petticoat in black

Atelier Pierrot Mini Pannier in black

Candy Sweet Cotton Bloomers in black
Metamorphose temps de fille Bloomers in antique white

Total petticoats and bloomers = 5

Belts, Corsets, Bustiers

Atelier Pierrot Frill Short Corset (Plus Size) in black

Eat Me Ink Me Lover's Eye Belt in demon eye

Eat Me Ink Me Carmella Belt in bordeaux

Offbrand corset belt

Offbrand leather harnesses

Total belts, corsets, and bustiers = 6

Hats

Starlust Hats Vampire Summer Grand Pamela in black

Victorian Maiden Elegant Ribbon Canotier in black

Triple Fortune Doll Bonnet in black

Moi-même-Moitié Candlestick Logo Embroidered Beret in black

Offbrand bat beret in black

Offbrand old school bonnet in black

Antique BeasT Black Heron Bonnet in black

Estrellas Original Mini Hat in black x bordeaux

Triple Fortune Nun Headdress in white

Xiaogui Handmade Forest Bow Straw Hat in cream

Xiaogui Handmade Wool Beret in milk white with pink bows

Innocent World Ribbon Lampshade Hat in brown

Vintage wool hat in brown

Total hats = 13

Head Accessories

Baby, the Stars Shine Bright Karami Headbow in black

Offbrand rose headband in black

Morun x Munna Stoik Velvet Ribbon Hairband in black

Sakura House Lace Triple Bow KC in black

Atelier Pierrot Rose Lace Headband in black x bordeaux

Baby, the Stars Shine Bright Tartan Check Head Bow in red x white

Angelic Pretty Side KC in brown

Sweet Dreamer Miss Canary KC in pink

Baby, the Stars Shine Bright Cameron Headbow in white x white lace

Pina Sweet Collection Rose Line Headband in ivory

Bodyline KC in sax

Estrellas Lace-Up Horn Headdress in black

WireHead Gobelin Headdress in black

Atelier Pierrot Gothic Lattices Headdress (Clip Version) in black

Offbrand rectangle headdress in black

Antique BeasT Cat Headdress in black

Antique BeasT Cat Headdress in white

WireHead Heart Headdress in black

axes femme kawaii Dolls' Circus Ribbon Headdress with Tassel in black

Moi-même-Moitié Coffin Lace Headdress in black x white

WireHead Heart Headdress in tartan

Atelier Pierrot Gothic Lattices Headdress (Clip Version) in white

Antique BeasT Horned Lizard Barrettes in black

Baby, the Stars Shine Bright Princess Drop Swing Ribbon Combs in black

Baby, the Stars Shine Bright Rose Lace Ribbon Combs in black

Atelier Pierrot Ribbon Cross Charm Clips in black

Moi-même-Moitié Cross Logo Charm Ribbon Comb in bordeaux x black

Baby, the Stars Shine Bright Rose Lace Ribbon Combs in off-white 

Xiaogui Handmade Bow Clips in coffee

Cheese Cat Polka Dot Bow Clips in pink

Cock's Robin Songs Grosgrain Bow Clips in light blue

Offbrand floral clips in red

Sweet Dreamer Bear Bow Clip-In Ears in brown

Offbrand biscuit clips

Offbrand floral corsage

Kurotokage Tei Odile Clip in black

Total head accessories = 37

Chokers & Necklaces

Majority are vintage or offbrand, but some notable brand items are Néant Glass Floral Coffin Rosary in white, Néant Glass Coffin Rosary in bordeaux, Wax Poetic Black 3-Strand Cameo Choker, Néant Glass Claudia Coffin Choker in white, Automatic Honey Bat Wing Planchette Necklace in black, Moi-même-Moitié Rose Cross Rosary Necklace in bordeaux, Sheglit Sacred Rosary in black, Sheglit Sacred Tiny Rosary in black, axes femme kawaii Bow Necklace in antique gold, Moi-même-Moitié Logo Cross Necklace in gold, Puvithel Crystal Heart Choker in red x gunmetal, Raspberry Mazohyst Chokers, and Moi-même-Moitié Crystal Candelabra Necklace in silver x red/gold x red. 

Total chokers and necklaces = 34

Brooches

From top, going clockwise:

Vintage cameo brooch

Morun x Munna Stoik Corsage in black

Neo-Ludwig The Whale Bones Bay Brooch in black

Lady Sloth Nevermore Rosette in black x bordeaux

Atelier Pierrot Rose Corsage in black

Mossbadger Portrait Rosette in black

Néant Glass Floral Coffin Brooch in white

Total brooches = 7

Rings

I am not going to attempt to label each and every ring, but some notable ones are Néant Glass Coffin rings, Sheglit Sacred Cross ring, Moi-même-Moitié Bat ring, Automatic Honey Bat Wing Planchette ring, and Halloween cabochons made by my friend.

Total rings = 29

Earrings

Majority of these are offbrand or vintage. A few notable brand ones are Alice and the Pirates A/P Cross Pierced Earrings in silver, axes femme kawaii Ribbon Earrings in antique gold, Néant Glass Coffin Earrings in black/white/bordeaux, Puvithel Crystal Heart Earrings in red, Moi-même-Moitié Crystal Candelabra Earrings in silver/gold, and Sheglit Sacred Tiny Earrings in black.

Total earrings = 25

Glasses Chains

Offbrand coffin glasses chain 

Offbrand glasses chain

Moi-même-Moitié Cross Accessory Chain in bordeaux

Total glasses chains = 3

Bracelets, Wristcuffs, Gloves, & Arm Warmers

Some notable bracelets are Sheglit Sacred Cross Bracelet and Moi-même-Moitié Candelabra Hand Chain. 

Atelier Pierrot Rose Ribbon Lace Wristcuffs in black

Offbrand pearl wristcuffs

Handmade wristcuffs from my friend

Offbrand crochet gloves

Metamorphose temps de fille Short Lace Gloves in black

Offbrand wristcuffs

Offbrand fingerless mesh gloves

Atelier Pierrot Enchanted Arm Covers in black

Marble Long Gloves in black

Total bracelets, gloves, and arm warmers = 20

Misc Accessories

Total miscellany = 

Bags

Atelier Pierrot Heart Frill Tote Bag in black

Angelic Pretty Bat Coffin Bag in black x bordeaux

Vintage evening bag

Victorian Maiden Victorian Lady Bag in bordeaux

Moi-même-Moitié Bat Bag (genuine leather) in black

axes femme kawaii Dolls' Circus Tent Bag in black

Excentrique Moira Doctor Bag in black

Victorian Maiden Satchel Bag in brown

Baby, the Stars Shine Bright Kuma Kumya Pochette 

Loris Heart Bag in white

Total bags = 10

Socks & Tights

The Black Ribbon Embroidered Net Lace Topped OTKs in black x black

The Black Ribbon Soft Raschel Lace OTKs in black x white

Moi-même-Moitié Cross Arch LAce Ribbon OTKs in black x white

Enchantlic Enchantilly Duke of Bat OTKs in black 

Baby, the Stars Shine Bright Ribbon Knee Socks in black x white lace

Moi-même-Moitié Rose Diamond Socks in black x white

Atelier Pierrot Orchid Elegance Socks in black

Offbrand striped OTKs

Baby, the Stars Shine Bright Slow Motion Bouquet ~My Emotion on That Day~ OTKs in black x red

Morun x Muuna Stoik Rose Thorn OTKs in black x bordeaux

Moi-même-Moitié Diamond Print OTKs in red

Moi-même-Moitié Cross Arch Lace Ribbon OTKs in white x black

The Black Ribbon Soft Raschel Lace OTKS in white

Baby, the Stars Shine Bright Sweet Dot OTKs in sax

Marble Short Lace Socks in black

Marble Short Lace Socks in white

Offbrand ankle socks

An*Tai*Na Sweet Cotton Lolita Socks in pink

Baby, the Stars Shine Bright Lace Up Ribbon OTKs in pink

The Black Ribbon Soft Raschel Lace OTKs in pink

Innocent World Heart Crown Watermark OTKs in beige

Innocent World Ribbon Rose OTKs in beige x alice blue

Innocent World Small Flower and Ribbon OTKs in beige x sax

Innocent World Roses Blooming in the Field OTKs in beige x chocolat

Offbrand brown tights

Estrellas Memento Mori Tights 

Triple Fortune Rhinestone Garter Tights 

Total socks and tights = 27

Shoes

From top, going clockwise: 

Offbrand mary-janes

Metamorphose temps de fille Wood Platform Ribbon Shoes in black

Offbrand oxford heels

Cotton Candy Fantasy Charm Ribbon High Heels in brown

An*Tai*Na Tea Parties in pink

Metamorphose temps de fille Heel Strap Platform Shoes in off white

Sentaro Yellow Wine Vintage Cut Short Boots in black

Metamorphose temps de fille Heel Strap Platform Shoes in black

Total shoes = 8

♱ཐི ʕ.•ﻌ•.ʔ ཋྀ♱

    If we did some girl math, my top 5 favorite brands based on how many items I own from each is 1) Atelier Pierrot, 2) Moi-même-Moitié, 3) Baby, the Stars Shine Bright, 4) Néant Glass, and 5) Axes Femme Kawaii. I am not surprised by this at all. Based on numbers, my favorite gothic brands are Atelier Pierrot, Moi-même-Moitié, Néant Glass, Antique BeasT, and Marble. For sweet, they are Baby, Axes Femme Kawaii, Metamorphose, and Angelic Pretty. For classic, it is Innocent World, WireHead, Victorian Maiden, Triple Fortune, and vintage. 

    I prefer JSKs over OPs or skirts. I tend to buy from Japanese and Chinese brands over any other country. I prefer to buy new things than secondhand. The oldest dress I own is from 2011, Baby's Tartan Check Mini Sleeve JSK. The most expensive dress I have is Miss Danger Eternal Gothic Cathedral JSK (I paid in 2 installments so all together $440!) and my least expensive is Mystery Kingdom Dessert Graduate JSK (I paid $15 to enter a tea party raffle and won it). 

Love & Lace, 

♱ Sara ♱

Interview with The Curator

Hello my dark darlings ~ 

The Curator is back from the grave to post a "lolita level" challenge while I try my damn hardest to make it through a no-buy. I think my wardrobe is at a place now where I have mostly everything I need so it is time to cool off the spending and start enjoying what I have. I came across this challenge from lolita YouTuber Pinkfakeflowers and thought it would be fun to do now that I am just past the six month mark in my lolita journey. I am by no means an expert and certainly not an intermediate either. Maybe I will do this challenge again at the one year mark to see how far I have come!

Would Mana-sama be proud of my collection?

♱ཐི ʕ.•ﻌ•.ʔ ཋྀ♱

Lolita Journey ♡

How did you discover lolita fashion?

When I was in high school, I came across a Lovely Lor video on YouTube that exposed me to the fashion. I think I was searching for maid cafe content because I was going through a slight "weeb" phase. I have no idea why the algorithm thought this would be adjacent content.

How has your style changed since you discovered the fashion (if it has at all?)

There was a period of years from when I first discovered EGL to when I bought my first piece (and then a few more years before I started collecting pieces and building a full wardrobe). At that time I was a strict gothic lolita. I had zero interest in any other style. Now I am starting to explore classic and old school sweet. Someday I want to explore ouji and aristocratic as well.

What was your first main piece? Do you still own it?

I have discussed this in my introduction post, but my first piece was Atelier Pierrot's Labyrinth Lace JSK in the black colorway. I sold it to a thrift shop as I eventually lost interest in the fashion. But recently I purchased the red colorway so my baby has returned to me!

Can you show us a picture of (one of) your first coord(s)?

Looking back, I do feel like my first coord was rather plain. And it barely read as gothic if it were not for the pops of red. It is basically a kuro look, which is wonderful but was not my intention. My comm seemed to love it however. To quote one member: "How does it feel to completely skip your ita phase?" It is so fascinating to look back on photos taken only six or seven months ago and already have so much more knowledge and expertise. I am proud of the coording progress I have already made in such a short period of time!

When you joined the fashion, what was the most active online community?

Facebook and Instagram; I joined in 2023 so by that point, the LiveJournal community was already sort of dead.

What is something that was popular when you joined, but isn’t any more?

I think casual coording is super popular right now. I see many blouse-less coords on Instagram lately and I love it. Especially here in Arizona, it is too hot to always be wearing a blouse. It is nice to see this has become more socially accepted.

What was the most popular ‘look’/substyle when you joined?

Sweet is still the most popular, in the community as a whole and in my local scene.

What was the least popular ‘look’/substyle when you joined?

Personally I think old-school and classic are less popular right now in the overall community. In the Arizona comm, gothic is not very popular. I simply cannot imagine why † ཐི❤︎ཋྀ † So I guess you can say I am my comm's "go-to goth".

Have you noticed a change in the community’s values/beliefs since you joined (this could be related to the fashion like the community stance on replicas or to ‘politics’ like more open conversations on discrimination)?

It is too soon to say. In the half-year I have been wearing lolita, I do not think much has changed in the community's beliefs. I do see more and more lolitas posting advocacy for marginalized groups on their lolita-specific Instagram accounts. It actually makes sense; the fashion itself is a feminist movement. I hope this trend continues.

What is a current lolita goal you have?

I have so many ㅠ_ㅠ But a main one at the current moment is to build a classic capsule wardrobe. So far I only have one coord, sans legwear. I will return to this goal when my no-buy is over.

How has wearing lolita changed you or your lifestyle?

(TW/CW: ED, disordered eating, mental health) I do not mean to get too personal on this blog, but in some ways lolita has improved and harmed my self-image. I am always someone who feels better about myself when I feel pretty. So lolita has helped me with that in many ways. Coming home from a long day at the office to throw on a frilly dress and a silly headpiece just to sit on the couch with my roommate's cats is one of my life's simplest pleasures. Conversely, being a plus-size lolita has done a lot of harm to my perception of my body. I have always struggled with my weight but wearing lolita has triggered some old disordered eating habits as majority of my gothic favorite brands do not cater to my size. Does that make me any less of a lolita? Hell no. Am I working with a therapist to combat these negative thoughts? Hell yes. Should you seek care if you too find yourself struggling with negative self-image? Yes to infinity!

What is one piece of advice you wish you could give to every new lolita?

When reading the measurements of a garment, understand that you will need to be at least 3~4 cm less than the maximum if you want it to fit comfortably and be able to move. If a dress bust is a maximum of 100 cm and your bust IS 100 cm, baby you do not fit :( This is the dress's problem, not you; how dare that dress! This may seem obvious to some, but I have beans for brains.

Wardrobe ♡

How many main pieces do you own?

17! Two of the dresses do not fit thought and I am planning to bring them to the next swap meet. So if those two do not count, then 15.

Outside of main pieces, what do you own the most of?

Headpieces and legwear. As it should be! A goth can never have too many lacy tights.

What is your favorite brand?

My favorite brand that I wear the most often is Atelier Pierrot. My favorite jewelry brand is Néant Glass. And my favorite brands for their aesthetic are Moi-même-Moitié and Antique BeasT.

Do you prefer shopping from Japanese, Chinese, Western or other brands for your main pieces?

I don't really have a preference, it just depends on what I need to buy. I do prefer the designs of Japanese brands more than Western brands.

Where do you do most of your shopping/do you buy more new or second-hand?

I prefer to buy new in general. But I noticed I tend to buy my main pieces and bags second-hand and almost everything else new. I buy majority of my things second-hand from Closet Child and Lace Market and new items from Wunderwelt and Atelier Pierrot's international website (as they are a retailer for many brands).

How many dream dresses do you have (and how many have you found?)

I currently only own one of my dream dresses, Ista Mori Nameless Poem OP. I have many other dream dresses but none of them would fit me at my current size, so I just admire them from afar ~ I am still on the hunt for

Gothic dream dresses:

• Krad Lanrete Transilvania Moonlight JSK
• Moi-même- Moitié Rose Cross Shirred OP
• Physical Drop Organdy Babydoll OP
• Innocent World Pearskin Doll Tiered JSK (in black)
• Haenuli Stained Glass: Saint Vitus JSK

Classic dream dresses (all Innocent World):

• Heart Rose Shirring JSK
• Antique Bouquet High Waist JSK
• Violets Inside Mansions High Waist JSK
• Maiden's Rose Garden Cross Ribbon JSK
• Lucienne JSK

Have you ever had anything custom-made for you?

Yes, way back when I bought my first dress I did commission an Etsy artist to make me a custom rectangle headdress to match. I still have it to this day. I also own an Antique BeasT bolero that I had Yuuki custom size to fit. Contrary to what her website says, she can actually custom size any of her pieces (her site says she can only change a measurement -/+ 5cm).

What was the most expensive item you’ve bought?

Probably Enchantlic Enchantilly Rose Castle ~Invitation From The Duke of Bat~ OP. I bought the re-release brand new for $325.

Personal ♡

How would you describe your own personal style?

Vampiric, romantic, lots of black, white, and bordeaux. With some Victorian influences and Catholic elements.

What are your favorite colors to wear?

Black, white, any shade of red (but especially bordeaux), and silver.

What is your favorite piece of clothing you own (at the moment?)

Angelic Pretty Lacy Princess JSK in black. It makes me feel like a princess.

How do you wash your clothes: machine, by hand, dry clean only?

Depends on the item but dresses I hand wash, almost everything else by machine.

When/where do you usually wear lolita fashion (outside of quarantine) Are you comfortable wearing lolita alone?

I am not comfortable wearing lolita to medical appointments or work, but almost everywhere else I wear it. I am comfortable wearing lolita alone, but it also depends on where I am going.

Does your interest in lolita influence your non-lolita clothes/home decor/hobbies.. Etc?

Oh yes absolutely! I have begin to lolify my bedroom to match my dark aesthetic. Before I started wearing lolita, I wore goth fashion. New ideas I get for gothic lolita coords create new ideas for goth outfits and vice versa. I also picked up knitting again. I eventually want to buy a sewing machine and start making things.

What is a pet-peeve or unpopular opinion you have about lolita (or the community)?

I hate to say it but sometimes when I am scrolling through Big Sisters of EGL Fashion (a Facebook group for newbies to ask questions of veterans), I hate seeing people ask blatantly stupid questions that could easily be answered if they did more research and planning. It always shows that they do not actually care to learn more and want an "easy" way into the fashion without understanding the context/history behind it. They do not seem to care why it can be so expensive, or why quality matters, or why you cannot just buy something off Amazon and call it a day. It is insulting to the fashion.

What is a current trend you love, and one that you dislike?

A trend I love right now is Angelic Pretty's all-over prints. I know most prefer their border prints (and that I do not even wear sweet!) but I think their newer designs are super cute. A trend I dislike is releasing sweet prints in black colorways; in my humble opinion they never look good :/

What is something ‘outdated’ that you wish would become popular again?

I wish gobelin was popular again so Meta would release something in it!!

Do you need to wear makeup with lolita for it to look good?

Absolutely not! That being said having your hair put together and makeup done really does change the look of a coord.

Do you think lolitas should behave in a certain way, or is it just clothes (attitude doesn’t matter)?

I think to a certain extent you should try to be nice to strangers when wearing lolita in public as this is a niche fashion and you walking around your local grocery store is going to be some people's first exposure to the fashion. Ideally yes you would want to set a good example since eyes are going to be on you regardless of your behavior.

How important is being creative/experimental in lolita?

Honestly I don't think you would have much interest in any sort of niche alternative fashion if you were not already a creative and/or experimental person.

What has been your favorite meet up or event that you’ve attended?

My favorite meet-up so far has been summer ILD with my comm. We went to a local tea house and exchanged handmade gifts. I made so many precious friends that day.

What is your favorite part of wearing lolita fashion?

Feeling like that rich Victorian widow my inner child always wanted to become. Also all the compliments I get from little girls whenever I am out in public.

Do you find lolita clothes uncomfortable, or tiring to wear?

As someone with a chronic illness, yes all the layers and the heat do get to me. The shoes can hurt my feet. My wig can give me headaches. My headdress or JSK straps might fall down. I still do it all again the next day.

Do you consider yourself part of a comm, or a lonelita?

I am a very happy member of the Arizona EGL Community! You can find us on Facebook.

What is your favorite ‘era’ of lolita fashion?

OTT sweet era was when I first discovered lolita, so it is nostalgic for me. I want the trend to come back.

What is your image of ~lolita perfection~?

I do not think I will ever achieve this (nor should anyone necessarily strive to) but to live the full lolita lifestyle, complete with living in a cottage or castle!

♱ཐི ʕ.•ﻌ•.ʔ ཋྀ♱

Love & Lace, 

The Curator ♱

The Curator's Lolita Checklist

 Hello my darlings ~!

The Curator has returned. It has been quite some time since my last post, so wanted come back with a short post inspired by one of my favorite old school lolita bloggers, Her Lumpiness. She wrote a post describing what her style of lolita looks like. It has been over half a year that I have been wearing lolita fashion so I think it has been enough time for me to get grasp of my own style. Here is a list of inspirations and preferences I have when it comes to my brand of EGL.

The Curator's lolita...

• Is gothic, classic, or old-school sweet
• Is vampiric (regardless of sub-style)
• Prefers to be fashionable over functional
• Heels > flats
• Consists of mainly offbrand dresses paired with brand accessories
• Likes to follow traditional "rules" of lolita coording (do not fix what is not broke!)
• Has long nails (claws perhaps, who needs to type?)
• Shows off her brand items because she is proud of her collection
• Has everything in her purse because you never know what you might need
• Wears glasses chains with (almost) every coord
• Always wears bloomers (even in Arizona heat)
• Finds inspiration through fashion history & historical films
• Short-sleeve blouses & boleros > long-sleeve blouses
• Likes to make a statement through the structure of a garment versus the print
• Wears long pendant necklaces, silly statement earrings, and lots of chunky rings
• Believes a look is never complete without hair and makeup done (at least minimally)
• Knitwear > jackets

♱ཐི ʕ.•ﻌ•.ʔ ཋྀ♱

Love & Lace,

♱ Curator ♱