Christmas Reflections

First a reminder: This Saturday is the deadline for ordering the lolita t-shirts!  Please help us make this a success!

Also coincidentally, the "Neptune's Domain" line is being retired being retired on Saturday as well. 

Originally I had planned to do a post about Christmas during the 12 days of CHRISTMAS!!  I was apparently too busy messing about with presents and enjoying delicious goodies.  

Sooo each day of procrastinating makes this post that more silly.  That said, it's not Lent yet, so victory there!

Here's some pretties from this year's Christmas:

This was the first Christmas my family celebrated since I inherited my great grandmother's china and green stemmed crystal.   They were usually used for Christmas dinner when my Mom was young so I was very excited and nostalgic to be able to use them.  

They are so elegant and pretty.  The set is Floreal made by Noritake and is proably from the twenties.  I'm going to keep my eye out for more pieces; I have tons of saucers but sadly few tea cups!  

An artsy photo taken at the Hagley estate on St. Stephen's day (Boxing Day).  One of my presents was a very surprising DSLR camera from my parents.  I'm making an effort to make the transition from a basic point and shoot to understanding all the new advantages of the DSLR.  I'm very excited for taking photos of my future lines with it!

Of course the stark and very functional black/white/red strap the camera came with is not at all too my tastes. I'm in the midst of tatting a new one with some very sturdy cream cotton yarn.   The pattern you see will be mirrored when I'm done.

And finally some photos of a Coord I wore to a Christmas party.  I just love dancing in this dress!

This look on Lookbook

The Headpeice is actually the vintage Linser necklace that I got for my birthday this summer!  

I hope You all had a wonderful Christmas and are enjoying a good New Year so far!

Daily Outfits: Halloween

I have to admit since fall started I have been a bit more lax about updating this blog.  I have been rather busy with "Neptune's Domain" orders and various other projects (more about that in later posts).

I have vowed to post about my Halloween outfits before Thanksgiving! 

But first an update about the Inklings/ Lily of the Valley t-shirt collab:  The two "winning" designs were the bow and crown.  I am in the process of editing them so that we can print the example shirts!

Back to coords!

I wore this for a Halloween party a few days before the actual Hallow's eve.  I decided to be a "Rosebud Fairy" because my "Fairy Formal" dress I made last spring is so very fun to dance in!  I tried to lolita-fy it up a bit with bow shoeclips, rose print socks, a petticoat, and the frilly "peasant" blouse I made for the Otakon fashion show.

This coord on lookbook.

I'm also wearing the Lalique necklace I posted about a few posts back.  I decided to suggest wings with some chiffon scarves rather then wear more traditional ones.  I can't poke peoples eyes out with these ones!

With my current line how could I not dress as a pirate for Halloween Day!  I have to admit all day I was giggling about  how the new vest and hat came out!

This coord on lookbook.

Yes this is a small preview for the next release from the "Neptune's Domain" line, it will include a skirt, vest, and tricorn hat.  

And ahem... here is another lolita look that I wore in the summer and haven't posted here yet.

I wore this for my birthday dinner with my parents.  Looking at this makes me long a bit for warm warm weather!  

This coord on lookbook

Details of the accessories.  The roses were made of some fabric scraps.  I'll have to post a tutorial for them sometime soon!

I wore this vintage cape for the chilly air conditioning!  It was one of those great thiftstore finds!

Vintage Treasures

A while ago (quite a while ago) was my birthday, and some of my friends; knowing my love of vintage accessories so fit to generously shower me with some!

They are just so pretty and neat that I can't but share them here!

First is this beautiful blossom demi-parure that my Mom and I found at a Vintage shop in Philly.  I liked it so much that it ended up as an early birthday present!  

When I got home  I decided to check the makers mark and found out that it is a Lisner; a popular costume jewelry company from the 50's.  They are most famous for their "oak leaf" necklaces, but most of the pieces are fairly collectible.  The name sounded familiar so I check my other jewelry and found that the leaf pin I found a while ago is also a Lisner.

What really peaked my interest with the set was that with some careful pinning I could wear the necklace as a tiara of sorts!

I'm not sure what I'm going to do with the earrings as I don't wear clips then they are a tad large for my tastes.  Either make them into posts or hair pins.

There is also a brooch to the set, so I'll just have to keep my eye out for it!

This crochet collar came to me through a friend from ebay.  It's just so dainty and pretty.  

Vintage collars are such a versatile accessory.  I've already worn it several times already.

This vintage hat is just ridiculously precious and sweet!  I don't have anything to wear it with yet, so I'll just have to make something!  I received this from Kristina of the impeccable taste!

One of the most delightful presents was a small shopping spree at some local antiques mall.  I just love poking around through there and seeing what is to be found!

Another hat!  I had actually seen this hat and tried it on several times before.  It's so cute and a really classic shape.  Since it's probably from the 80's or 90's judging by the tag inside I'm going to exchange the dark dark blue ribbon for a bit more of a brighter hue of navy; while still feeling guilt free!

I think these might have been the find of the trip!  Beautiful white kid gloves with exquisite cut-work embroidery.  That Fit My Hands!  I've wanted some vintage gloves for a while, but I have rather long fingers.  

And finally a little scrap of tatted lace.  Tatted lace is really hard to find any examples of so I was sure to snatch this up!  I'm guessing it's rather old as it's just rings connected with crochet (and embellished with some whitework "bullseyes" in the center).  

Not exactly sure what I'll do with this, it's just so interesting and pretty!

Look for some of these peices in some future coords of course!

Do any of you dear readers have a favorite vintage peice in your wardrobe?

Otakon Lolita Fashion show 2011 Looks

As promised, here are the three looks I showed at the 2011 Otakon Fashion show.  I know the photos aren't the best, I took them the night before I shipped the looks to Carla.  Not the best lighting!

The first look to go out.  If your familiar with my "work" previously to this blog, no your eyes do not deceive you, this isn't a new piece for the show.  It's a dress I made last summer that was just too pretty to not end up on a runway.

I did edit it a bit, shortening the skirt lining and moving the ruffle up.

It's worn with a "peasant" style blouse I've been wanting to make for a while, a rose corsage, glass pearl choker, and a vintage hat that belonged to my great grandmother.

I just love how it all came together on the runway!  I call it my "Peaseblossom" dress after the fairy from "A Midsummer's Night's Dream"

Of course you have all see the "Neptune's Domain" jumperskirt.  Here it is rather simply coordinated.

Since it's being released in late summer I decided to try for more of a fall coordinate with a long sleeved blouse.

The crown emblem pin/hairclip is pinned to a headband and is then pinned onto the skirt of the jsk  since my dummy has no head.  I originally wanted to pin the emblem to a blue beret for the fashion show, but no blue beret was to be found in the middle of summer!

I can't wait to get this dress back and wear it!

The final look was the "Garden of Eden" dress.  Cream lace paired with black velvet and cotton!  Accented with some black gloves (which are kinda funny the way I pinned them here!), cream rose corsage, and another vintage hat from my Great Grandmother.

I have to say this cream lace is one of the most amazing fabrics I have ever bought!  It's hard to show in photos the epicness of it!  Flora and fauna arranged in a very William Morris way.  Unicorns and stags, birds and squirrels, Adam and Eve themselves, and more!

Sadly I purchased it years ago, and not that much of it.  I have enough after this one to make myself a dress.

This dress will be for sale in the couture section of my website as soon as I get it back

For those interested, you can view some photos of the fashion show here:
http://purpleskymagazine.com/2011/08/photo-ultimate-lolita-fashion-show-otakon-2011/

All in all I think it turned out very well!  I couldn't have done it without my wonderful models and Carla's help!  Thank you so much!

Spring 2011 thrift store finds

For those who know me; know that I love thrift stores!  At least one third of my wardrobe must be second hand, and several of my favorite dresses were made out of reclaimed sheets.

I live in a University town, and the best time to rummage through the racks is when all the college students leave!  Of course you often find somewhat shocking stringy tops, no doubt worn to a local bar; but there are other surprising treasures if you make an effort.

I always enjoy seeing what other people find, I hope you enjoy my "haul".

First off are some somewhat plain but rather versatile tops.  What I like about them is the little details that make them stand out.  

The plain white one has cute little scallops at the neck and sleeves: perfect for layering with a jumperskirt for a casual lolita look.   I haven't figured out what to do with the dark red one, but those puffed sleeves were too good to pass on.

The white one with the blue flowers is my favorite!.  I had been hoping to pair it with my Sweet Matyroshka jumperskirt, but it ends up too busy!  I really like it for adding a bit of color to mori looks.

Ah sweaters,  I wear sweaters year round; layered over a turtleneck in the winter or worn with a light dress in the summer.  

I'm planning on wearing the cream long one with a long skirt, and brown belt.  I wasn't sure about the teal one, but it's quickly become my new favorite piece of clothing.  Brown is a staple of my wardrobe so the 3rd one should work out one way or the other.

I also picked up a plain white braided leather belt, a simple piece.

I couldn't pass up this tapestry purse, even though the colors (other then brown) matched nothing in my wardrobe.  Then I realized that the striped heavy cotton I had picked up to make a fall/winter dress was the exact same colors. 

And finally the brooch I worn in my hair with my "fairy formal" dress.  I actually have acquired quite a vintage pin collection.  I was all hep on the idea of collecting vintage hats (I have a few), but recently realized that I already have a vintage collection!  I might have to see if I can get them all together at some point and post it here!

Did I say finally?  Well I actually found this at an antiques store, not a thrift store.  It's a sweater guard, and I bought it on impulse because I had just recently found out about them.  

And I wear it all the time!  It's so great!  It's usually either being worn, or kept in my purse.   It's so classy and elegant, and makes all of those cardigans that like to slip off of my shoulders when I work stay put!

So look forward to some coords with these pieces soon!

Have any of you found anything great at your local thrift store lately?

Daily Outfit: Teens Exhibition

Last Wednesday I went to an exhibition at Drexel University of clothing from the Teens (1910-1919).  I took advantage of both the beautiful weather and occasion to dress up a bit.  I've been wanting to wear this coord from the  10 item 7 outfit challenge, and it finally got warm enough to.

We stopped at Terrain on the way home; it's a hipster garden store run by the same company that owns Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters.   Very pretty and worth the stop, but everything is really insanely expensive!

This is my favorite outfit I've worn with this jsk so far.  It's rather Otome I think.

This coord on Lookbook.

The exhibition was really wonderful.  16 outfits in all, with tons of wonderful details.  The teens are one of the fashion eras that I am not as familiar with, but I found tons of inspiration.

I took lots of photos; no flash allowed of course, so it was a bit of a challenge to get good photos.

Daily Outfit: Easter

As someone with a love of vintage hats and a small but hopefully growing collection how could I pass up the chance to don a appropriately Easter 'bonnet".

Please excuse the mirror photos, I usually try not to use them, but we had 12 people for Easter dinner, and I didn't have my tripod; so these will have to suffice.

My most appropriate vintage hat is a difficult to match spring green.  I really like it even though it could probably be mistaken for half a head of lettuce instead of a hat.

I chose a 50's inspired dress I made quite a few years ago to go with it.  It's actually made out of an old bed sheet I saved from the rag pile.  It has such cute tiny green polka-dots all over it.

Like most of the things I made years ago, this dress no longer really fits.  So hence the cardigan even though it was really really warm!

I think my favorite thing about this outfit is that other then the petticoat (which you can't see) nothing is new.  The pin and hat are vintage,  the shoes and cardigan are thrifted, the dress is made by me, and the pearls were strung by my Mother.   It was a sort of exciting thing to realize.

For those wondering these photos were taken at my Mother's vanity table; it's so lovely!  If you squint you can see a littler version of me in the frame in the first photo.

Detail of the top of the dress and my hat.

This Coord on Lookbook

Since the dress doesn't fit me anymore, and I still have some of the sheet left, I'm planning on remaking it when I have the time.

I want to keep the 50's feel with the full circle skirt, but add some additional sailor lolita charm.

I am editing the images for the Sweet Matryoshka skirt release and hope to release them either tomorrow or Thursday.   I also have quite a few irons in the fire for this blog: tutorials and recipes.  As usual, please let me know if you have a specific request!