Jun
29

coordinates for summer1

Though I put up many gorgeous dresses for winter and spring before, I show you simpler but stylish ones for summer this time.

See the first one of them today. The camisole and the skirt are from Jane Marple, my favorite brand. Camisole is usually a simple item but with cotton laces, it looks feminine, isn't it? And the skirt! I love it very much.

You may see that the skirt is only a simple red check one but it's made of Jane's special original cloth.

As 4 marks of cards, means hearts, diamonds, spades, and clubs, are weaved into it, the long skirt looks very elaborate in reality. A large ribbon which is made of the same cloth is attached on the back. I think it looks cool, yet very feminine set suitable to summer going out.

The skirt is one of the items from Jane's original series called "trump pattern series". Those marks of cards are related to the story "Alice in Wonder Land", it's one of the favorite patterns of lolita girls.

Not only red but also there are black ones. But I think the items of the series were sold out as soon as it was on sale because it was very popular. So I got this skirt through an auction site. It was a few years ago, I still want the black one. I check Yahoo! auction from time to time to get it. Though there was none until now, I won't give up! (laugh)

In addition to the main items, how about the red check bag, sandals, and the red necklace in the following pictures? The bag is also from Jane Marple but the shoes are very cheap one which I happened to find at a small outlet shop. In spite of a non-branded item, don't you think it extremely fits to the set?

And the necklace. It's made of many natural red stones and beads. I bought a handcraft kit and made it a few years ago. The kit was from a series, so there is a same style ring which is also in the picture. As beads accessories were very popular in those days, there were many fine kits everywhere. Though the handcraft boom has died down here recently, many people still enjoy making accessories with beads. The finished pieces look superior by using natural stones like this with beads.

This is one of my special sets for summer. But I also have many stylish sets which I want to show you. So I'll put up them in the mean time. Just wait'n see.

Categories: fashion

May
13

Coordinates for spring2

The JSK is named "Rose Princess Doll" and it's from Angelic Pretty again. There are three colours of them, white, pink and blue.

As AP usually makes some variations using the same material, there exist a one-piece type dress and a skirt. I have a one-piece type, too.

The white based orange flower print in the picture is graceful, while the decorative design is very gorgeous. I think it's one of the typical AP dresses.

See the lace and printed cloth layered frills at the bottom and a big ribbon on the front. Ribbons are also on the back. Moreover, some of them are covered with lace, which makes the dress look all the more luxurious. It seems that this kind of detail is effective to impress the quality.

Do you see the round shaped head dress at the top of the torso? The hd is made of the same material of the dress itself.

And the blouse with a big bow is made of cloth called cut boil, which is sheer and lacy with small dots are embroidered all over the surface. Not only the cloth but also the design is very beautiful and elaborate. Layered chemical lace is around the stand collar neck and the satin ribbons are lace-uped on the side of sleeves.

Though the designs are very decorative in this way, the colour combination of white and orange is light and refreshing. It's suitable for spring, isn't it? I love the colour, and of course, the designs very much. This is one of my favorite AP coordinates.

The white boots are an easy choice for this set but it's also good to match the strap shoes named "classic ribbon shoes". This type was reproduced many times in the past because it's easy to coordinate with many dresses. The colour variations are white, black, red, pink, wine and blue. Though I cannot imagine what kind of socks are the best match for this set yet, I think small flower printed ones would be appropriate.

The strap shoes are from AP but the boots are from a lolita brand called Baby SSB, which is also popular among lolita girls.

Many lolita brands tend to make simpler dresses recently, but I love the decorative and elaborate ones like this. I hope they make more of them as before.

Categories: fashion

Apr
22

bunnies

This is a stuffed bunny and also a pouch/pochette. However, as you can put only small things into it, it's rather an accessory than a pouch or a bag in reality.

Stuffed animals are a beloved item for lolita girls but those are fundamentally for children. It's funny for a grownup girl to walk around outside with them, isn't it? Still, favorites are favorites. So those camouflaged items are needed. This is a pochette, not a stuffed animal. Isn't it OK for us to hold them and go out?

Angelic Pretty produces this kind of bag-camouflaged stuffed animals from time to time and it's always a hit.

This white bunny was sold out as soon as it was on sale. As I usually check the AP's shop blogs, I caught the information and telephoned to keep one of them. When I went to the shop next day to get it, all of them were already gone except for the one I reserved.

The back style is also cute. See the round white tale and the pink bonnet! The bonnet can be removed.

It seems that the bunny type pochette is a series and reproduced a few times in the past. The one in the following picture is the first type as long as I know. I think it's very rare. The face is rather simple than the recent versions but I like the gentle and soft atmosphere very much. I got it through an auction.

And see the following pictures. Those bunnies are bigger than the former pouch type ones because they're rucksacks. But there exist pochettes which exactly the same design of those rucksacks. As I'm a collector, I have all of them.

Well, do you notice the bunnies in the pictures are holding a soft cream? They're called "ice-cream bunnies". (laugh)

Categories: fashion

Mar
24

Coordinates for spring1

It's not warm yet but spring is almost in sight.

So today, I'd like to show you a spring set using an Angelic Pretty dress and some pink items.

The pink cloud like lacy dress is very beautiful, isn't it? This is a typical Angelic Pretty dress and it's really for spring. Pink is also their brand colour.

Pretty makes a lot of simpler clothes recently but first of all, their concept is "dreamy dresses" which are just like for fancy dolls. So their essence is this, dollish, gorgeous, and luxurious. All the girls can become a princess by wearing their dresses.

See the following picture. The back style as well as the front is voluminous. I think the round pink bag and a pair of pink boots are suitable for the dress.

You can see two silver charms are attached to the bag in the picture. Those are very small but this kind of detail is one of the fascinating parts of the lolita bland items since those are influential to the total atmosphere. Pretty sometimes attaches these metallic accessories to dresses, too.

In addition to the dollish pink boots, a headdress and a pair of cuffs are essential to the set. All items are pink just like cherry blossoms. Walking under the blue sky in this dress, cherry blossoms are all around, just thinking of it makes me happy.

If you want to make it more fancy, how about the pink pumps with pearl accessories and the printed socks? These printed socks are also popular items for girls who love the lolita style. You can enjoy some different tastes by changing the socks but it is difficult to choose the right one which is suitable to a dress. So boots are a safer choice for beginners.

Pretty's dresses and other items are enjoyable not only for using but also for collecting. As they usually make some colour variations for a design, there are white and black versions of the pink dress. I have a black one, too. Pink is very cute colour but black is more graceful. The atmosphere is totally different, which is amusing for a collector. I'll show you the black one, if I have a chance.

Anyway now spring is approaching after long winter. Just enjoy the best season!

Categories: fashion

Feb
17

Coordinates for winter2

Today, I'd like to introduce another lolita brand called Juliette et Justine. Though Juliette is also a maisonnette brand, it's much newer than Jane Marple.

After Juliette separated from a brand called Victorian Maiden almost 10 years ago, it is well-known by the characteristic gorgeous dresses in the so-called lolita fashion world.

There is no other brand which can create this kind of luxurious and feminine style dresses. Those are certainly special dresses for special times.

Similar to Jane Marple, Juliette does not produce their products in bulk. But the number of dresses for a design is far fewer than Jane. It's almost made-to-order.

The set in the pictures use a long one-piece from Juliette and a blouse with a triple ribbon bow from Jane Marple. The olive ribbons and the beige based flower print are a good match, aren't they? The back style is simple but very elegant.

I coordinate a superb Gobelin coat with far hemmings to the set in winter. The pattern is very beautiful. The coat is heavy but I like this dignified atmosphere.

I got it through Auction after competing with a persistent rival. The bid was fierce. Finally I won but I lost another black one. It was a regrettable experience and I am still searching and waiting for the same one at Yahoo! Auction.

For the last, I think a pair of brown gilly boots is a good match for the set. The boots is also from Jane Marple. Jane's shoes and boots are always very expensive but I love those high qualified materials and. designs.

I don't have a chance to wear the set this winter yet. It is too gorgeous to wear in daily life. So the chance is seldom.

Categories: fashion

Jan
30

Coordinates for winter 1

A velvet based one-piece dress is from Jane Marple and a fox fur coat is from Jill Stuart. The bag is made of crocodile skin. This is one of my luxurious sets for winter.

The skirt part of the dress is covered with plenty tulle and a big satin ribbon is on the front. See the back style in the following picture. The same ribbon is used to tie the waistline. The design is simple but the material and its volume is gorgeous. I think the black enameled boots is suitable to this one.

Jane Marple is a Japanese brand which was named after Miss Marple, the old lady in the world famous mystery series. It was started as a small maisonnette brand about 25 years ago and now one of the popular dress makers in Japan. As Jane has its unique and original style, there are thousands of fans who are looking forward to their new collection every season.

I think Jane Marple is a dress maker, not those big apparel makers. The scale of the company is still small but they stick to their own style and continue to create characteristic dresses. They do not make countless of products for a design. Mass production is for big makers. So certain types of dresses, especially so-called "everyone's favorite", are often sold out even before those are on sale in their shops. That's because fans like me make a reservation to get those ones certainly.

As I'm one of the great fans of Jane Marple, their dresses will be appeared in this category from time to time. Just wait and see!

p.s. I wonder whether or not there exists a word "maisonnette brand" in English. But a small company which has their main office in an apartment building is called a "mansion maker" in Japan. In English the word mansion means a big luxurious residence but it means a big and rather luxurious apartment building here. So I think maisonnette is an equal word for mansion in Japanese.

Categories: fashion

Jan
03

Pony Cushion

It's a Pony Cushion! Cute, isn't it?

This is a special X'mas gift or a giveaway from my favorite shop "Angelic Pretty". "Pretty" is a Japanese brand which makes fine dresses and accessories. They develop some American and European branches recently, so some of you may know the name as a "lolita brand".

It's difficult to get this kind of X'mas special gifts, because those are very rare. So if you're lucky, you'll be able to get them. Well, I'm lucky this time.

Categories: diary , fashion