Pink lace + Glitter's 2nd Birthday

I can't believe it has been two years since I started writing this blog. At the beginning, I was a girl trying to wear Lolita, who wore her first Lolita coordinate that was average during the first time Misako Aoki came to Australia in December of that year (2013). Today it has been more than six weeks since my first brand event in Japan. In between that time, I attended a few local meet ups as a member of my local Lolita community.

As for my blog, there has been some growth, including one follower (that is just from Blogger but I believe that there could be more). While I have been busy for the last few months of my degree as well as having difficulty thinking of what to write, I see Pink lace + Glitter growing in 2015. If anyone has anything to say/suggestions for blog posts, please feel free to comment. One thing that I would like to do is create more outfit posts.

While I did a series, my 30 day random challenge in 2014, I would like to do one where the posts connect to each other better. Maybe there will be a series in 2015.

To celebrate the 2nd birthday of Pink lace + Glitter as well as my trip to Japan, which happened in December, I would like to present some yatsuhashi, which are one of my favourite sweets. Just writing about it makes my mouth water (I would have bought some to take back to Australia if they did not have a shelf life of a week from production).

Above: Nama yatsuhashi (I only tried this type in Kyoto). Source: Time.com.

 

A letter to myself in the Loliday of June 2015

For the Loliday of June 2015 letter, click here.

Dear Kalle,

When you look at yourself in the mirror, what do you see? Today (31/1/15), I see a University graduate who is taking a gap year in between her pass degree and Honours due to circumstance. As a Lolita, despite more than a year of experience, she is still developing as one.

During the gap year, have you found a job? If so, was there anything special that you spent some of your first pay on? There does not seem to be much available as a life sciences graduate (if only science was better supported/funded in Australia). However, there should be something there. Speaking of Honours, how are the chances of doing it in 2016? Did your last minute decision to give up on Honours this year for something better next year pay off? I hope so. Also, with the extra free time gained by not doing Honours, are you going to apply/applied for the JLPT and study for it?

As a Lolita, do you feel that you have improved since January? Can you fit into the Dramatic Rose skirt that was too small for you? I hope you do and if so, you should grab the next Milky Planet JSK/OP that is available within your price range. After all, I do not want you to have to farewell another Milky Planet dress as I had to do in Tokyo. Speaking of, do you have any plans for a next Lolita purchase? Regardless of your next Lolita purchase, you should continue sewing and expand your Lolita wardrobe in that way as well. Also, have there been any big Lolita events you have attended this year or are planning to attend?

Even though things are going to be hard, do not give up on being a Lolita and developing as a young scientist. While you are living in a country that may not be perfect and seems to be against you at times, just remember you are unique in a good way.

Love Kalle Sweet of January 2015

P.S. How is Australia? Is it still claiming to give everyone a "fair go" when it is not?

First Brand Event

While I was in Japan, I attended my first brand event, which was Angelic Pretty's Princess Dreamy Carnival. For the event, I wore my first piece of brand clothing, which is Angelic Pretty's Cream Cookie Collection JSK.


Above: Princess Dreamy Carnival Coord. JSK and necklace are from Angelic Pretty, hair clip is from me% (a store in La Foret), shoes are from An*tai*na and everything else is offbrand. This was taken after the event. 

Given that I wore a JSK that I bought less than a week before this event and as a result, had limited time in which to create a coord, I thought I did a pretty decent job with some new purchases as well as some items which I packed for a back up coord.

The event consisted of a five course dinner (I skipped one course as it had beef), a fashion show, free time for taking photos (was not fully aware of this but if I ever attend a brand event again, I will take advantage of this time), a raffle and prizes for the best dressers. However, I did not take pictures of the best dressed winners and of the fashion show.

The entree

The soup

The fish course

The custom dessert, which was based off Sugar Dream Dome.

The Christmas cake. Interesting how the Japanese celebrate Christmas despite being Buddhist/Shinto.

The dinner consisted of an entrée, soup, fish course, meat course (which I did not eat) and a dessert. After dessert, there was a Japanese style Christmas cake, which is a sponge cake decorated with cream and strawberries. The drinks I had were iced oolong tea and normal tea.

In between the meat course and the dessert was the fashion show, which showed the upcoming prints from the 2015 Spring/Summer collection. There were some prints that I loved and would consider buying if I had the money. After the fashion show, there was an opportunity to have a picture of yourself with the guest models. It was a very long line as everyone seemed to have wanted a photo.

A short while later, the raffle prizes were drawn and I won a Dramatic Rose skirt. I would not buy AP skirts because they seem to be too small for me and I was right as it was too small when I tried it on. But I do want to wear it some day.

Above: Stock photo of the Dramatic Rose skirt. This was the colour of the skirt which I won. Photo from Lolibrary.

Overall, this was a nice event to go to and I would like to attend a brand event in Australia (If it does happen) or in Japan, if I do go there at the right time.

All photos were from my camera except for the photo of the Dramatic Rose skirt.

International Lolita Day December 2014

Sorry for not blogging for a while but I have been busy. Today was International Lolita Day and while I did not do anything special, I will talk about the goals I set on the previous Loliday.

Lose weight and wear Lolita again

I did lose weight by watching how much I ate and by exercising more often. Before this, I would normally exercise for 1-2 days a week but I exercise almost every day as a result of aiming to lose weight. As a result of this, I have become more toned and was able to fit into my Bodyline JSK better than I have before, in my opinion. However, I will try to lose more weight. I have also worn Lolita once since the previous International Lolita Day.

Attend another meet up

I did attend a small meet up a few months ago but not any more due to a variety of reasons but am hoping to continue attending meet ups and one day I may attend a brand event.

Build my Lolita wardrobe

Unfortunately this did not happen but am aiming to buy more Lolita items, perhaps even buying brand. One thing that will help with this is going to Japan before June.

One other thing I hope for by the next International Lolita Day is that my Lolita life does improve and that I can blog more often (no guarantees though).

Angelic Pretty's Cream Cookie Collection

It's been a long time since I have done a print review. This one will be about Angelic Pretty's newest print: Cream Cookie Collection.

 

First is the ribbon JSK, which only has the print on the skirt, which is unusual for AP but it does make the JSK more elegant. What makes the JSK well suited to different body shapes is the bodice of the JSK, which uses princess seams and has ample shirring. The simple bodice design, with a bow at the waist and lace at the top ensures that even if you have a bust, it is not going to affect the look of the JSK dramatically. Personally, I think it is a nice JSK to wear if you have reservations about wearing a print or are more of a Classic Lolita but do want to wear something Sweet.

 

 

 



Next is the OP, which is long sleeved and does not have shirring. While I think it is a nice OP with a Sweet feel that seems old fashioned due to the print, it is not very versatile due to the sleeves and lack of shirring. While a replica of this OP would be nice for those who would not be able to fit into the OP, I do not think replicas are good because they copy the creative property of the brands and limit the creativity of indie brands. While I understand that it is autumn in Japan, I would prefer if the OP had detachable sleeves so it could be either long or short sleeved in order to make it something that could be worn year round.

Overall, the Cream Cookie Collection print is Sweet but has an old fashioned feeling which is unique in using a motif that is something that could be made at home or bought. The use packaging in the print is unusual but does have biscuit containers that could be used as a collector's edition today in order to celebrate the anniversary of a type of biscuit. The "mini bear cookie" squares remind me of Tiny Teddies, which are a well known Australian biscuit that has been around since the 1990s. The grid pattern used in the print is effective because of the resemblance to a biscuit or chocolate gift box. I would buy Cream Cookie collection in any of the colours except for  brown because I think the other three colours work well with the biscuit motifs and create a Sweet feel.

First Shiny Pokemon

Yesterday, I got my first shiny in Pokémon X, after a few days and 424 eggs, I hatched a shiny Skitty via the Masuda method. At first, I thought that it would be something that could be done in 2-3 hours, but I was wrong even while carrying a Pokémon with Flame Body. Around two thirds to three quarters through the constant egg hatching, I just wanted to give up but the shiny at the end was worth it.



Above: Akane, my shiny Skitty. This is the best I could do since Miiverse does not allow Pokémon XY screenshots :(.
 

 I named my shiny Skitty　あかね　(Akane), which means "red child" in Japanese (I set my Pokémon X game to Japanese, which is why she has a Japanese name). She is female, has an Impish nature and Normalize as her ability. I would have preferred Cute Charm but a shiny is too rare to worry about it's ability.

Furthermore, thanks to her English Quilava father (her mother came from my game, which makes her Japanese), she has a perfect attack IV according to the stat checker in Kiloude city. I now have plans for her and it will relate to my Lolita life in some remote way. Feel free to guess what it is.

 

 

 

3 Whip Show Case coords

Angelic Pretty's Whip Show Case is a print that I would like to own one day. Because of this, I will be looking a three different coords that feature Whip Show Case.

Above: Coord number 1. Source: ten4ward.

 

 

First is a coord by ten4ward. This one seems to be suitable for Autumn/Spring due to the tights and long sleeved blouse. The blouse has lovely bell shaped sleeves and the use of white and pink items to coordinate with the JSK helps bring focus to the JSK while leaving the rest of the outfit relatively simple. This is a nice Sweet coord that is fairly simple.

 

Above: Coord number 2. Source: Hina Collection.


The second coord is from a Japanese Lolita. It is also suitable for Autumn/Spring (this coord was worn in Spring). The blouse and shoes are both blue and are both simple for Lolita. Also, the hands seem to be fairly heavily accessorised. One unusual aspect to this coord is that the JSK is pink but the other parts (except for the head bow) are not, which creates a contrast between the JSK and the rest of the outfit. However, the outfit as a whole is still harmonious due to each item matching a colour that is featured on the JSK. Overall, this outfit is simple but still eye catching.

 

Above: Coord number 3. Source: Satominyon.

 

The third coord is also from a Japanese Lolita. Unlike the other two coords, this one is suitable for Summer (It was worn in that season). It uses a white blouse and is very simple. This coord would be suitable for an occasion where you would want to wear a simple coord. While there are no shoes in this photo, a pair of Tea Parties or ballet flats would work well with this coord. This could also be used when you have limited time to dress into Lolita.

 

While these three outfits are quite different, they are all nice examples of how to wear Whip Show Case. From these three, one coord that I would try if I got the print is to use a simple pair of socks/tights and a pair of Tea Parties. The coord would also contain a headbow (either a basic one or the matching one) and would consider using a blouse in order to avoid covering up the bodice of the JSK. However, I am not too sure on how to coordinate the accessories. Out of the three coords, my favourite would be coord number 2 due to the use of different colours for each item.