Verum Tights/short socks & Shopping Service Review ^_^

I absolutely LOVE the Dolly Kei fashions, so every so often I check out the Grimoire blog & online store...just to get outfit ideas & see what they have XD  

http://yaplog.jp/grimoire-blog/
http://www.grimoire-onlineshop.com/

One of the most popular items has been the introduction of Verum tights & just this summer they came out w/ Short socks...in a variety of beautiful designs ;)

The tights were featured as a wonderful addition to Lolita outfits & appeared all throughout vol 44 of the Gothic Lolita Bible!  So, naturally, I figured these would be unattainable for me...or i'd have to buy 2nd hand from someone & pay a lot more than the retail price... :/

So, I put this thought on the side & instead, I checked out reviews for the tights & checked out outfit ideas...& then...one day I was checking out the Grimoire online store to see if the short socks were in stock yet...& i saw that the SOCKS & TIGHTS were IN STOCK ^_^  

Then, after I had asked a fellow Lolita/Dolly Kei girl about the shopping service she went through to get her pair of tights...I contacted the SS to see if she could order some items for me...& she replied RIGHT AWAY XD

This is the SS: chibi_tenshi's post w/ links to policies, order form, etc:
http://chibi-tenshi.livejournal.com/163340.html

& It was so easy going through this SS ^^
Mon: Sept 3: SS placed order for me through Grimoire site.
Sat: Sept 8: SS received items & then invoiced me w/ total including shipping. 
The breakdown is: 
Total cost of item(s) (& this includes shipping from site)
+ Shipping from SS to me
+ shopping fees
It was pricey, but the breakdown made a lot of sense to me, so i was ok w/ it.
& then:
Mon or Tues: 10 or 11: SS shipped out items to me & gave me tracking info ^^
Fri: Sept 14: Package arrived in perfect condition XD

& now...some pics ;)

 After I destroyed the super secure packaging...I pulled out the plastic bag w/ my goodies...& found a nice note from my SS

 I bought the Un ange dans le dreamland short socks & the Un ange tights XD

 These are the softest, most comfortable socks i have ever worn...& it's sooo much more beautiful in person XD  The quality of the socks are really good too...probably won't tear or run unless i really snag it on something ;)

 It's the perfect length on me hitting right @ my calf...which is how i've been liking my socks for summer to be ^^

 I just tried them on w/ the peach dress I was wearing & then i added the awesome red flats i found @ goodwill the other day & everything matches PERFECTLY XD  

 & now the tights ^_^  These are soo soft as well & extra durable...i have big calves, but b/c i'm short I still managed to get the tights on...& they're so comfortable too ;)

 This might be showing a big too much of my leg, but the design on this is soo beautiful...plus, it shows how non-see-thru these tights are ^^

 Again, it matched pretty well w/ the dress i was wearing ;)

And FINALLY, a coord ^_^  @ first I was just going to wear one of my vintage finds...but then, i thought about the GLB & wanted to try the tights on w/ a Lolita print...& Lo & Behold! It matches PERFECTLY w/ my new Victorian Card Print dress XD  

Overall, I'm Extremely happy w/ my purchase & even though it was a bit of a splurge, i'm really glad I ordered these & I can't wait to start wearing them...I think i'll use my Victorian Card print coord for a future photoshoot ;D

My Very First Yukata ^^

 I am a Yonsei(read more here) or 4th Generation Japanese, which could be why i know or own so little of my culture :/  One of the main items is a Kimono(formal wear)...or Yukata(light summer wear) & I actually went through most of my childhood never owning my own Japanese clothing until all us girls got to choose a kimono & obi from my Uncle's mother's collection ^_^  And so I did...but...it's real silk(or vintage) & white/cream, so I really don't want to wear it out...which means it just sits there in my closet & collects dust :/

Then, a bunch of years later, I got into Anime/Cosplaying & i had to sew my own Kimono outfit for my char, Lukia from Godchild:

 

 But it had to have a victorian/european look...& I still feel like I wouldn't be able to wear it out much, especially to bon dances... :/

THEN FINALLY, earlier this month...I found myself @ Shirokiya, a store that carries japanese goods...&...there was a SALE on YUKATA ^_^  So, naturally, with what little money I had, I scoured the racks & picked out a print that didn't have too much pink, but still matched my style ;)

*side note: we went to Shirokiya after seeing Septime Webre's Alice in Wonderland ballet, so I was dressed in Lolita at the time...which is not the best thing to wear when picking out yukata ;P *

I got the cheapest cotton Yukata, which was about $70 & the sale was for 30% off, so adding in the tie I needed, I paid about $55 for everything XD  It was such a good deal & luckily, I found a print that matches the Obi I already own, so now I'm all ready for the many Bon Festivals around the island ^_^ It's just too bad that the season is ending soon, but I'll definitely be able to wear it to at least one @ the end of the month ^^  

All I need to decide on now is how to style it ;)  I'm definitely wearing a camisole & skirt underneath (per my friend's suggestion) but I don't know if I should go traditional style or try something a little different...here's some ideas I had:

This was in the Gothic Lolita Bible vol 44 & I've been so in love with Juliette et Justine prints lately!  I really love the classic feel to it & even though I don't have the same amazing print, I like the idea of wearing lace gloves & putting a giant corsage on my obi...Then again, I'm also a huge fan of Dolly-Kei, so I thought of hanging a tassel  from the Obi instead & keeping the accessories vintage looking ;D

here's an example with a tassel, but it's a somewhat "Sweet Wa-Loli" look, which I actually like as well XD

So many choices...but either way i'm happy I finally got a Yukata & I can't WAIT to wear it out ^_^

Also...It looks like there's a site for Shirokiya...I had no idea ;)

http://www.shirokiya.com/

My First Innocent World order ^_^

I've ordered from BTSSB online before...& did Meta and Closetchild, but I've always wanted to order from Innocent World @ least ONCE...just to see how it went...& unfortunately, because of the timing, I have to say i'm half/half on my ordering experience :/

Here's how the transaction went...& keep in mind I did mine during their Summer Sale...which could be why things went wrong...sigh...

July 10: Start of sale, items posted on site

July 11: Placed order.

and then...they were "on holiday" so no confirmation would be sent until after...but almost a week later, STILL nothing :/

July 19: I sent an email inquiring about my order.

They IMMEDIATELY replied saying that they were swamped (understandable) & that one of my items was sold out...sigh...shucks... Then, after they sent me an invoice for the in-stock items, they asked if I wanted to replace the one i couldn't get with the same print, but different color, so I said YES & replied right away to the email.

July 23: Sent new email asking if they got my reply email/added on item...

July 24: Decided to pay first invoice without extra item (couldn't wait any longer since i like to keep track of my purchases)

July 31: I get an email saying that their servers crashed around the 26th & they lost some invoices...asked if i STILL wanted to add on my item & they'll send a new invoice with the difference for shipping...which i decided yes...since i did STILL really want the item even if it wasn't the color i originally wanted ;)....but...i spent all my spending money on my bus pass, other stuff...so i waited until the deadline to pay...

Aug 7: (after payday), FINALLY paid the rest of the IW order ^_^

Aug 9: Order shipped out

Aug 14: (Today): Received package & now i'm sooooo glad i bought through them...even though at first it was such a pain...sigh...

 Yay!Another IW bag ^_^ I think i'll give this to my GO buddy since I already have one XD

 SOOOO glad I ordered...this stuff is BEAUTIFUL ^_^

 The colors on the socks are way different, but still workable ;)

 And this FABRIC is not plain cotton...it's super thin & delicate...maybe polyester? & there's a brocade design within in the print ;D

 THIS was the item that was sold out in the color i originally wanted, Sax...but the Beige is super pretty too...now i'm glad i re-added it...totally worth it XD

And the socks are super stretchy (even over my big calves) & they fit me like how they do the Lolita models...over the knee & almost thigh high...but they won't roll down...perfect XD

 

BUT! the main reason for buying the JSK was to have something to match my new Blue VM~like shoes that i HAD to have ;P  Which it does perfectly ^_^  &...most importantly, the JSK FITS XD  I debated forever about getting the long version & now i'm glad i did...it has such a grown-up feel to it...even though there are Teddy Bears on the print XD

Overall, the beginning was rough, but i'm SUPER HAPPY with my purchases & maybe i'll order from them again....just not during a sale ;P 

Also, I just found a lovely note thanking me for my order...i always love the small notes...& extra stuff...like the free hanger i got for my jsk ^^ 

 

Taobao Brands ^^

So, i've been REALLY into Taobao brands lately...& first I bought a Chess Story jsk from someone on the comm sales, which i LOVE ^_^ And so, my "latest" purchase was from Haenuli, which is a Korean Brand that carries original prints as well as some Taobao brands XD

I ended up getting a very cute JSK & headbow from Dolly Berry ^_^

 the tiniest box is came in ;P

 I did a payment plan for this, so they held it for me XD

 Soooo amazingly cute print & the fabric is just gorgeous XD

It also comes with a ribbon waist tie ^^

 Closeup of print & a pic of the lining.

 It also came with a matching headbow ^^

 Worn pic ;)  It was hot, so I just put the dress over my black capris & socks...then added the heart bag that came w/ my Baby catalog (maybe that'll be in another post)

The fabric isn't super see-thru, which I like & it's super light & flowy...overall, i'm very happy with it ^_^

GLB vol 44 Review ^_^

There is soo much epicness in this vol, i'm going to post a gazillion pics XD So...here we go:

 This is the summer vol, so the cover is with a super cute kimono ^_^

 A few standout prints, like Meta's newest Swan Lace ^^

 Innocent World's newest prints

 There was an Hangry&Angry page :)

 But the newest trend....the models are wearing the Verum tights from Grimoire XD

 I'm also a Dolly-Kei fan, so I know these tights well...but...they're made for skinny legs, so i shall sadly never own a pair...but i can admire them XD

 And Look! It's Kaori from Grimoire ^^

 Then, there's the usual Hair tutorial: Lolita

 Prince w/ Akira...of course XD

 Gothic

 As always, Mana's latest creations

 &...something I don't see too often...a Japan Steampunk group...i guess it's finally spreading ;)

 The patterns were for Juliette et Justine items...& that's how my latest obsession for this brand started...i love their prints XD

The kimonos are sooo pretty as well ;)

And now, some cool things:

 my mook came w/ a big poster

 & Grimoire Stickers ^^

I also really liked this accessories section ;D

As well as this section on doing makeup like BJDs ^_^