Saturday, October 26, 2013

KUMA KUMYA CHAN!! ^_^

Now, I've been a fan of Baby The Stars Shine Bright since looking at the GLBs & watching Kamikaze Girls (i watched it way later ;P )...but...I'm not a huge fan of pink, so...I didn't really want to own or buy a lot of the prints and preferred more of Alice and the Pirates instead XD

But, starting from beginning of this year...I started accepting little bits of pink & sweetness into my Lolita Wardrobe...and one of my ULTIMATE temptations is Teddy Bears ^_^

So, Naturally, I liked the idea of BABY's Usakumya Chan, but could not quite bring myself to buy it...until...I found a super cheap one on Closet Child...and gave in & bought it ^^

It's the Pochette version w/ the beaded handle and kiss lock pouch, which i've already had fun using with one of my Lolita coords ^^

The chain is so delicate, so I decided to shove the pochette into another bag...& I can still use both to hold my items ;)

Plus, I felt I had to buy this after Midori & Misako did the walk through of the Harajuku Store & used the very same pochette as part of the coord they put together ^_^

Then, after I was feeling pretty satisfied...I started thinking I should upgrade my pochette & get the one w/ the sturdier strap...but then...

A new one came out...The Kuma Kumya Mini Rucksack...& it wasn't in pink for once ;)
I normally don't do reserves, but I felt I just HAD to get this one...especially since I had just bought one of IW's latest Teddy Bear prints & the bag would match with it ^^

So, after waiting for reservations to open on the BABY SF site...i realized I'd be at work when it starts... O_O
Quickly, I msgd a friend & after asking if the reservations started yet...I asked her to act as my Shopping Service & she reserved it under her name & I paid her for it after...and...after some time...we finally got the confirmation email that my reservation DID go through ^^

The bag wasn't going to come out until the next month or so, so I patiently waited...and then...BABY SF announced that the store would be doing renovations & wouldn't re-open until after several weeks O_O  It was nearing the "release date" of the bag, so...i wasn't worried...but...slowly I started seeing pics on tumblr of girls with the bag already...as well as a listing on mbok...

But, I knew the SF store wouldn't be ready yet...so, i kept waiting more...hoping that SOON it would come...or my friend would get the email...After the SF store was up & running again, the fb page announced that they would ship out the first reserves, so I started getting excited...and then...earlier this week, my friend got the email that they shipped the bag ^_^

Of course, it shipped quickly and after it arrived today in the afternoon...my friend stopped by tonight & I opened it while she took pictures...and so...here're the pics XDD
 carefully opening the box...
 take out the Pink BABY bag ;)
 And TA DAH! My new Kuma Kumya bag in all it's glory ^_^
It can even go from a backpack to a cross body bag ;D
 It's totally the perfect size too ^_^
And most importantly...IT'S SOOOOOOOOO CUTE!! ^_^
I can't wait to make coords with it ^^

Friday, October 18, 2013

NEW STUFF!! CLOSET CHILD ORDERS XD

Soo...after my super long hiatus from blogging on here...I finally decided to do a blog on my favorite thing, Shopping ^_^

Which translates to New Lolita Goodies XD

But, it won't be just pictures...there's an important story too...& it all started in August...

I did my usual checking of CC updates weekly...and then...I saw something awesome that i wanted, so I added it to my cart & started my Hold for the month ;)  I'm a frequent buyer, so they did the hold for me...which was good b/c i ended up adding 4 more items before my order was complete...this is probably my most dangerous shopping ;P

Anyways, so, September comes around...I got the confirmation email for my order along with the total & to let them know when i'm ready to be invoiced...like usual...and around the due date (i may have been a day off), I replied to the email saying that they could invoice me...and after a few days of no reply (i usually give them a week to reply)...a friend of mine told me about a notice they got:

CLOSET CHILD IS NO LONGER DOING HOLDS! 

Immediately I got worried O_O  but...my order went through, right? So, it'll still be processed?
Sadly, it was a lot more complicated than that...basically, they got so swamped with online orders, they couldn't keep up & had to stop the hold system...

So, after waiting a bit longer, I sent a new email asking about my invoice for my (rather large) order...no reply O_O

Now, I was really worried...after learning that LOTS of other people had the same problem, I continued to wait...but...I kept checking the updates...just to make sure my items weren't re-listed :/

Finally, we reach October...I didn't have funds or interest in purchasing anything new from CC with their new "pay now" policy...until...I saw something that was super cheap & i had to have it XD

So, I added a couple items to my cart & paid for them right away ;D

And, not too much later, I got the confirmation email saying they'll let me know the tracking when they ship it out ^^

And then...I got another email...

And it said, "You have an outstanding order, we have invoiced you, so please pay this right away "
Which means THEY STILL HAD MY STUFF ON HOLD ^_^

I was sooooooo happy...& after I paid for it, my first order arrived ^^
And then, just yesterday, my 2nd big order came...but no one was home to sign for it :(
So, my mom picked it up for me today & after I warned her there would be customs since it's so big & expensive...THERE WERE NONE! XDDDDD 

But, really, i'm just so glad I have all my items now & I'm fine with the no holds system...it's more organized & probably a lot better for my spending habits too ;D

And finally, after all that...here's my loot ^_^

First, up, the Oct order ;)
Now, I had always stayed away from Angelic Pretty...mainly b/c I don't like Pink...or super sweet things...but...i had also always wanted a main piece...just one to add some fun to my somewhat classic wardrobe ;)  And I have a replica Chess Chocolate, but, that one's pretty toned down as far as a bright print...

Anyways, at first, I really wanted DDC...but...after that craziness...I gave up on it & decided to just keep checking sales & see what people post...but...it was still too pink or too expensive...and then...closet child updated with a popular & pretty cheaply priced print:

Holy Night Story OP in White
I almost fell out of my chair when I saw the price & I wanted white after watching Deka Wanko ^_^
 Needless to say...the details on this dress are AMAZING! from the lace-up on the neckline...
 the super cute lace that says AP ^^
 And b/c I just COULDN'T resist...I added the newest Chocomint Moon Star clip to my order...seemed like it matched well ^^
Another fun thing is I had bought the AP accordion ring a while ago & now I can wear it with this print ^_^

And finally, my bigger order...full of bears & halloween ^_^
 I just love their giant boxes...of doom ;D
 The loot all nice & safely packed ^^
 #1) AP Shy Bear Salopette with Hood
There are no words...to express how adorable this piece is....
 Bear button ^_^
 And of course the Shy Bear patch ^^
 And the best thing is it goes with my AP Shy Bear Pochette ;D
Plus, it can be a casual piece too & i've been wanting more casual Lolita items ^^

 #2) Peace Now hoodie ^_^
It's bear-eared too of course...my obsession ;)
And it came just in time for Halloween ^^
 #3) It's a BTSSB collab piece with Macross's Ranka supposedly, but...I have other fun cosplay plans for this...& it will be a halloween photoshoot XDD
 These collab pieces are pretty rare, so i'm really glad i found one w/ the headbow for a really good price XD
And, there's one more item, but it's a gift, so I can't post it ;)
BUT, i'm just soo glad I got all my items & now I don't have to keep checking the updates wondering if they were re-listed...then again, I probably will anyways...
I LOVE CLOSET CHILD ^_^
p.s. I put on the hoodie just for fun & to take this pic...but i'm actually still wearing it as i'm typing...it's super comfortable XD

Friday, August 9, 2013

LBC: Your First Lolita Fashion Piece ^_^

I've been waiting for this topic for a long time...mainly b/c I just acquired something that goes with my first ever Brand Lolita Piece ;)

But first, how my first purchase came to be ^^

I had been collecting the English Gothic Lolita Bibles and slowly started finding the imported ones at conventions & on ebay XD

But then, my friend went to San Fran & bought for me the latest volume for Christmas that year (2010) ;D
It was volume 36
I couldn't wait to look through it, so after opening my gift, I quickly flipped through it & put post-its on the pages I liked ^_^  Along with wonderful coord ideas, it showed all the latest prints and this was before I started keeping up with releases online, so I was very excited to see what was out there at the time ;D

And then...BABY and A/P were having some AMAZING prints that I INSTANTLY fell in love with...In Particular, THIS spread piqued my interest XD
The one on the left mainly...b/c i'm not a huge fan of pink ;P
But YES! AATP's MASQUERADE THEATER in Red caught my eye ^_^
Mainly the print was tempting me...because I LOOOOVE Phantom of the Opera!!!
And, naturally, I wanted the OP, but realistically, I couldn't afford it...

So...after looking up the print availability on the main japanese online shop site...and contemplating with my friend, who got me the mook, if i should get it or not...

I DECIDED TO GET THE SKIRT XD
And amazingly, Red was still in stock, so I quickly added it to my cart.

It was my VERY FIRST purchase on a Japanese site, so luckily, b/c the brand is soo popular, there were English instructions I could follow ^^

After many confirmation emails and invoicing emails, my skirt was shipped out & arrived super fast (by ems i'm thinking...which i didn't know at the time ;P)

 And when it arrived, i took it out & was INSTANTLY happy I had given in & purchased it ^_^
I was working Part-time, so even buying one item is a big chunk out of my pay check, but it was totally worth it XD

here are some pics from when I first got it and tried it on ^_^
 A REALLY quick outfit idea with all offbrand items ;) 
A classic look with ivory (but of course i didn't know my style back then)
And I wore it this way to see The Beauty and the Beast play ^^
 And seriously, this print is sooo beautiful in person...the fabric is absolutely amazing too ^^
I even tried a darker look...but...i've never actually worn it this way yet...maybe i shall...

This is a picture from later on when I was going to use the skirt in a photoshoot...and so, after acquiring a few more pieces...I did the shoot ^^
 I wanted to make my look kind of "Christine~like" and even made a mask to match ;)
A cape would have really completed the look, but I also liked that somewhat "aristocratic" look b/c of my BPN blouse ^^

Even now I STILL love my skirt & i've been trying new ways to wear it, especially after getting more items to match ^^

Like this great bolero ^^ The red ribbon really matches the red of the skirt...and this red is a hard color to match, so I was really glad I found something even though it's not from the same print ;)

But...at the same time, even though I loved the skirt soo much...finding things to match was hard & the one thing i was missing was the EPIC matching bonnet XP  I had the headbow for a short while, but it just didn't match me, so I sold it & then I spent a while searching for someone who was willing to sell the bonnet
to me,but in the end i had no luck and decided to just figure out other hair accessories...

But then, one day I was looking at the (then new) BABY SF facebook page and saw that there was a sale and that there was a lovely red bonnet in the pictures ;D

Immediately, I emailed the store & asked if they thought it would match my MT print...but sadly they said it wouldn't... :/  I had almost given up when they emailed me saying that they DID find a different bonnet that would match the print...and they knew it would because...One of the Sales Girls was Wearing the MT JSK...IN RED O_O  I couldn't believe the odds & my luck XP

So, the bonnet they found was a beautiful Cream one, which does match well with the lace on the skirt:
And so i was happy, but still never wore the bonnet with the skirt (it actually matches Hymn really well though ;D )

After a while, I just gave up & took it off my wishlist...I would see it either in a different color...or only being sold as a set...until...just recently...I was casually looking through the egl comm sales...and then...Someone was selling JUST THE BONNET...In Red O_O  I quickly Pm'd the seller & after a few discussions on price & shipping...I BOUGHT IT ^_^

Then, just last week...IT ARRIVED!! 

I juuust took it out of the package, so I haven't put together a coord yet, but I love it sooo much & the seller didn't even wear it, so it's pretty much new...with tag still on...I couldn't be happier ^_^

Well, it's apparent that i've got lots of History with my skirt, so I will probably NEVER sell it XP
But instead, I can now have fun making a whole new outfit using the now matching bonnet...& maybe do another photoshoot ^_^

Now feel free to check out these LBCers first Lolita pieces ;D




Tuesday, August 6, 2013

LBC: My Favorite Brand

I'm a little late in posting this, but "this week's" topic is Favorite Brand & I've changed my mind about my favorite many times, but I've finally decided on one...or 3 technically ;)

When I first got into the Lolita fashion, my all time favorite brand was 
INNOCENT WORLD ;)
I fell in love with the designs while looking through my Gothic Lolita Bibles & dreamed of going to the store one day & trying on the dresses ;D

But...sadly, that brand was not meant to be...the fit is not that great for me now and I starting being drawn to lots of Prints more than simple classic pieces ;) BUT! I STILL Love Innocent World's 
TEDDY BEAR PRINTS ^_^
I'm a huge fan of Teddy Bears, so I love how they have sooo many prints with teddy bears ;D

  Sadly, I decided to sell a bunch of Teddy bear prints I had accumulated: Museum Bear, Chocolate Teddy Bear & British Bear, but I'm pretty happy with my 2nd IW print: Sweets Teddy Bear ^^
 My Now small IW collection: IW Sweets Teddy Bear JSK w/ headbow I made to match (I used the free tote bag w/ the same print), Rose Lace book bag in black (bought off Tokyo Rebel), and then, I HAD to buy my Namesake dress: The Aileen OP (I love how it has a nice Alice look as well ^^ )
 And I LOVE INNOCENT WORLD SOCKS!! They're super comfortable and the prints are versatile for even every day wearing ;D

So, with Innocent World a little too small & classic for me, I decided to try other brands...until...I found the one that matched & fit me the most ^^

And so MY FAVORITE BRAND became: 
BABY THE STARS SHINE BRIGHT & ALICE & THE PIRATES ^_^
I like to think of them as one brand b/c I have quite a bit from each...&...my collection is still growing XD

I have 3 reasons for LOVING this brand: 
1) The Fit ;)
out of all the brands, I can fit into MOST of baby/aatp...mainly the dresses though...the skirts are still too small, unless they're high waisted ;)

2) THE PRINTS!!
I really can't get enough of how intricate the designs are and the colors make it so much fun to create coords ;D

3) MIDORI ^_^
Yes, Midori is my all time favorite Lolita model & I've even bought several pieces that I saw her wear in the GLBs or KERAs...basically, if she's worn it, I start to want it ;)

Anyways, I wanted to do it, so...here's my collection of BTSSB & AATP items, ranging from clothes, headwear, jewelry, bags & accessories & just recently, shoes ^^

These were found on Closet Child, egl comm sales, fb sales, Mbok & ordering online through the San Fran site ^_^

 AATP: Victorian Card Print, AATP Hymn OP (ABSOLUTE DREAM PIECE), BTSSB Alice in Funfair OP (w/ Transparent Rose Bolero in Red)
Top Row: Paris no Mado w/ Raphael blouse in Lavender, Lace Frill JSK in black, Mirage in Paradox(Current Obsession) in Navy (w/ matching hair ties), Antique Wooden Sole Shoes in Blue
Middle "bag" row": Usakumya Pochette, Ribbon Heart Bag, Fairy Tales Pochette, Tent Bag
Bottom row: Double Lobelia JSK in blue, Masquerade Theater skirt in red(Another Dream Piece), Grimoire of the Moonlight Forest skirt in black, random bonnets, Gloria headpiece in red, random headbows ;D
 I've also been collecting some jewelry ;)
Hair pins & gold heart necklace & ring = mbok finds
Rosary, Usakumya ring: fb sales
Mirage pin: BABY SF online
Also can't forget my one brand parasol from BABY & some diamond otks in brownxivory
And here are some other pieces I forgot to take pics of  ;) 
 I forget the name...it's to match Mirage ;)
 Serenade Blouse in white

Lastly...b/c I could not afford the entire La Vert clair OP set...I settled for the Scarf, which is Absolutely Beautiful & it's a small tribute to Midori ;D

And now, b/c the collection is never complete...here are some items i'm waiting for...from my favorite brands of course...& interestingly enough...ALL TEDDY BEARS ^_^



Now here are more Favorite brands from the other members of the LBC ;)