/cgl/ - Cosplay & EGL

Is there a certain list of requirements you have to meet in order to be considered a lifestyler? I've heard the term before plenty of times but I'm unsure as to what actually makes one a lifestyler.

Seconding bone china links. I've been wanting a nice bone china for drinking tea in for quite a while.

>>8614392
Depending on where you're from, Laura Ashley (a UK shop) does great bone china tea sets.

>>8614392
I would recommend visiting your local antique swap meet, there's always lots. If it seems a bit overpriced, you can always talk them down. Etsy can be good, but there's something nice about being able to get a feel for the cup before you purchase.

I just bought my first set and I can't wait to add more, I'm planning on bringing a cheap set to work in a very shiro bakko manner.

>>8614201
They are pretty subjective but let's start!
- Buying more items to frillify your daily life, like objects you use often (glasses case, stationery, wallets, frilly or cute home clothing/roomwear, etc)
- Listen to lolita appropriate music or stuff that has a lolita vibe to you, some visual kei and dark electro music are my taste, for example.
- Collect items of your favourite character. Mine is My Melody.
- Modify your casual wear to make it lolita, otome or other frilly styles if you don't feel to wear lolita at work or outside in non appropriate settings. I followed the otome route for casual wear to make myself used to wear lolita daily.
- Read classic, horror books or even children vintage story books with cute illustrations
- Watch movies in historical settings like Victorian or first 1900s
- Learn a bit of etiquette
- Drink more tea and cooking sweets
-Getting into dollhouse and miniature collecting
- Going back again into making kawaii jewellry
- Redeco my study and bedroom

>>8615166
welp I'm a lifestyler.

I'm planning on watching the bbc pride and prejudice, looks hawt.

>>8615355
Only acceptable version, best version.
no sexy kissing or anything happens in it though

How did "lifestyling" start, anyway?

AFAIK lolita was originally just a few brands with girlish dresses, got more solidly defined by Mana (and then worn mostly by his/Malice Mizer's fans), and then I think all the "elegant tea-drinking knitting vintage art loving" stuff got pushed by brand ads and really brought to western lolita communities by Kamikaze Girls (because of the way Momoko wanted to live an idealized Rococo-inspired life).

Is there anything that really connects these hobbies listed in-thread to lolita at all, outside of prints and advertisements?

>>8615355
you should check out The Young Victoria after you're done with that.

>>8615385

Interesting question! I would trace it back to the gothic & lolita bibles. They feature(d) the brand ads anf such but also orginal content on decorating, music, art, etiquette etc. As well as articles about a sort of lolita "philosophy", primarily by Novala Takemoto (Kamikaze Girls author). I haven't kept up with recent issues but in earlier ones there is a significant portion devoted to these lifestyle topics, not just fashion. You can look for old scans of the GLB and translations of Novalas writing to see what I mean. That's directly where the "lifestyle" concept in the western community arose from, not just the movie.

Why the GLB included those things is another question... most practical, I think it's common for fashion magazines to include some lifestyle/culture content in order to not be just a big advertisement for clothes (lol). But I think it makes sense because there are common inspirations among the brands (victorian era, alice in wonderland, dolls, goth- not all at once or in all the brands, but enough to say those things inspired and influenced lolita as a fashion) so it makes sense for the lolita magazine to explore and expand on them. But then as the fashion grew it does seem like we moved away from that, I don't really have any theory why... okay I do think Novala's fall from grace didn't help, and you'll notice back then (old school lolita) the brands looked much more similar to each other, now there's so much more variety in lolita there's less common ground in inspiration and interests.

But that's my speculation, sorry I get a bit carried away discussing this stuff! I love the old GLBS and all that "old school lolita culture."

>>8615599
now this one has some sexy bits

>>8615385
Well if lolita is a fashion/ an extension of one's personality, wouldn't it make sense for someone to incidentally have hobbies with a similar aesthetic with how they chose to dress? I don't actively try to be a lifestyler, but I'm into hobbies such as cooking, sewing, art, walks in the country. I think it's just a natural thing in some ways.

>>8615599
And Jane Eyre if you want to see something really raunchy.

>>8615621
yes so much yes

>>8615610
it's my favorite movie

Damn, I'm so excited to watch these movies, thanks for the suggestions!

>>8615355
The first time i watched it with my mom we flipped our shit. 5 hours of the most intense sexual tension.
>just fucking kiss allready damn it
5 hours later it ends
>are you kidding me a waited 5 hours for a fucking peck what is this shit

But really, it's amazing. And that's aside from the fact I have a huge raging lady boner for Collin Firth. Great story, great acting, sexy men in uniform and period clothing. I also really dig the movie version of Persuasion.

Itv made a trio of costume dramas once that are amazing. Start with northanger abbey (2007), lost in austen is great, too.

>>8615677
I like the Sense and Sensibility movie
>dat Alan Rickman

>>8615621
>>8615599
>>8615355
I love the weird mindlink 4chan gets sometimes. I was really just going to watch some of these yesterday. Recommend me some more movies or TV series akin to these, anons?

>>8615355
>tfw i mistook Jennifer Ehle for Isabella Rossellini, who played Joséphine de Beauharnais in the Napoléon mini TV series
I also enjoy Marie Antoinette 2006 (my favorite because of how unnecessarily lavish and fancy it all is) and The Duchess. Farewell, My Queen and A Royal Affair were simply 'okay' while we're on the topic of films and such.

>>8615876
Oh I liked The Dutchess as well! Lots of sexual tension and some steamy scenes. I also loved all the costumes.

>>8615166
Well... it seems I am on my way. I started to wear burando skirts to my daily job, and when I know I will be the only one workin (staying late during weekends) I wear OPs or JSKs. Specially oldschool.

I have worn some coords to formal parties, christmas, and little by little making my colleagues used to frills.

I just bought a cup with Van Gogh Almond Blossom. However, I cannot fix my room too much since I rent.

>>8616016
sorry for spaghetti writting, I haven't slept.

i'm starting to slowly transition into true "lifestyle" lolita, mainly just replacing material objects and clothing articles that seem too "normie" with things that make me feel more kawaii~ for now. my maaain issue right now is roomwear. i don't leave the house v often cos i work from home, so i'm in PJs 90% of the time. needless to say ratty pajama pants and my boyfriend's old t-shirts are not very lolita. anyone know where i can get some like in the picture? i believe these are from victorian maiden and way out of my budget. like $30 us or less for a set would be more my range since i'm trying to stock up.

>>8616534
I used to be in the same dilemma. As I too, am in my house a good chunk of the week.
I have some nightgowns that I found in a vintage store. One is pink made from a soft, silk material. It has lace, cap sleeves, a tie in the back, and little roses sewn on it. I have another that is white, made of cotton with lace on the bottom and on the ruffle sleeves. I pair them both with frilly bloomers.
I also have a matching My Melody pj set (bloomers + the shirt) that I bought from sanrio haha. Pink with bows on them.
I suggest checking taobao and vintage stores, overall. I found some fantastic looking night gowns from a taobao lolita store. Probably going to buy one with my next paycheck.

>>8616534
I think you can commision something like that for cheaps. It's not very difficult to make.
Or you could just stock up on bloomers and cutsews

>>8616534
ha, are you me? I have all these gorgeous clothes but going around scruffy in pjs and my hubbies fleece.

>>8615887
Also suggest The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde!

>>8616599
Can you or anyone else recommend where to commission items like these? I agree they don't look especially hard to make. Maybe there's an etsy or something with sleepwear and roomwear akin to this?

>>8615614
I'm used to have some lolita-able hobbies or interests, but entering into a lifestyler would expand the possibility to new related hobbies.
Ah, i believe most of the hobbies considered for lolita lifestyle are indoors rather outdoors. My hobbies are all indoors like jewellry making, collecting cute items, reading, etc. I love more a calm and collected life.
>>8616016
That is awesome your job allow you to wear lolita!I don't have a job (well... i sell items online) and for now i don't have this problem but creating a lolita/otome wardrobe just for work sounds really good.
>>8616534
I have a pink bear kigu and another bear face with flapping ears pj for winter, not super frilly but still cute. My summer pj has shorts that look similar to bloomers, they are mint color with cotton lace. I need more cuter pj, i wish in black but they are SO hard to find!
I suggest to check Aliexpress to find frilly pj.
I found this for example:
>http://www.aliexpress.com/item/High-quality-pijama-feminino-Fashion-Pastoral-Lace-Pajama-Sets-Long-Sleeve-women-Sleepwear-100-woven-Cotton/32432996644.html?spm=2114.031010208.3.32.1TTz3W&ws_ab_test=201526_5,201527_4_3_2_1_5_4_71_72_73_74_75,201409_1

>>8615870
Middlemarch, I haven't seen it yet but it's got those same feels, victorian era, woman protagonist.

>>8616789
pic related

>>8615870
duchess, anna karenina, belle

>>8615870
downton abbey, belle, annna karenina, duchess, marie antionette, atonement, no water for elephants

>>8616835
>downton abbey
upstairs downstairs

>>8615876
>Farewell, My Queen

Farewell, My Queen was so disappointing. The book is this rich and lush look at a decaying world and then the movie was just sort of... eh. I think the director was so focused on forcing the idea of a love triangle (which didn't exist in the book) that he ignored what made the book so beautiful.

>>8616789
>>8616830
>>8616835
Thank you! I'll look into all of these.

Anyone have ideas on how to incorporate lolita into their wedding without alienating your future husband or looking too much like a child bride ?

>>8616925
One thing I'd do is go for a more elegant classic styled dress instead of anything too cupcake-shaped or childlike. Also go for an updo instead of having your hair down.

Aside from that just think about what color scheme you want for your tables/centerpieces/flowers, maybe do teacup centerpieces for the tables? stuff like that

I like reading books to put me in that lolita mindset. Obviously there is Austin and Bronte. I kinda like trashy historical stuff like Phillipa Gregory. I tried getting into Outlander but the main character made me want to barf.

>>8615355
Hnnnnnnngggggggg

Would anyone be interested in a lifestyle youtube channel? If so, what would you be interested in seeing?

>>8615355
Gulls, I'm one episode in- so. good.

>>8617292
What the fuck is that picture and why is it on your harddrive?

>>8617327
Please, please, please do so. What I'd want to see depends on your fashion. Classic or sweet, I assume?

I can tell you what I don't think you should do, though. I really recommend is stay away from the staples of most channels. Pick any big name lolita and go through, seeing videos that repeat on almost every channel. (Lolita 101, clothing hauls, reviews, etc.) Avoid them like the plague or only do them if there's a real lifestyle twist on them. It's fine to talk about your wardrobe, but don't do mindless haul videos or junk like eating kawaii candy. Talk about what your wardrobe and pieces mean to you and put some heart into whatever you do.

I think that's why I can't stand most lolita Youtube personalities. I know a lot about the brands they love and how they get massive hauls, but I have no idea why they got into lolita usually other than "it's cute".

>>8615355
Omg where is Jane from, I can't remember where I've seen her face it's driving me nuts.

>>8615621
I'm more of a fan of the mini-series. Mostly because of the inclusion of the Gypsy scene. I haven't seen any other version that keeps it.

Manga classics tho

>>8617409
Different anon, but you must be new to the Internet.

>>8617537
What, is this some well known picture or person? I've seen plenty of shitty studio pics like this though.

>>8615355
Mr Hill is best husbando
>>8615366
Yes, as someone who hates PDA this is probably why I love it so much.

>>8617292
Not very lavish but Longbourn is a good read if you miss Pride and Prejudice but don't want to actually read it again, it's essentially a well written fanfic from the servant's side.
I'd love recs for books about fancy ladies that aren't just tacky bodice-ripping affairs.

This week I've been sewing whilst listening to Jane Austen's "Persuasion" through headphones, feels lifestyle as heck even if I'm not a lifestyler or really enjoying the story.

>>8615876
Have you seen Belle yet? It's a nice Sunday afternoon movie

>>8617327
Yes, please do that.
I'd like to see tutorials about how to incorporate the lifestyle into everyday life or other lolita related tutorials that haven't been shared everywhere already.
If you have a lot of cute items at home, you could share where you found them.
Or make simple vlogs about your lolita lifestyle activities.
You could also make "Top 5" lists, i.e. movies, books etc. that fit with the lifestyle and review them.

And I agree with everything >>8617420 wrote.

>>8617327
Well what are your hobbies? If you like to craft or sew you could do lolita crafting tutorials, which could be fun. Show us your collection of tea and tea sets, if that's something you do. Give us nicely filmed detail shots of dresses done in good lighting (please, every lolita youtuber, do this!).

Do you consider yourself like a dedicated lifestyler already? Maybe make a video with simple tips for loli-fying your daily life. Take us on a room tour of your cute/gothic/whatever bedroom. Show us your very favorite dresses and explain their meaning to you and why you love them.

I agree with >>8617420 and >>8617737. Top five lists could be cool, especially.

>>8617429
Oh shiiittt, I remember now, she's the journalist from the british version house of cards, really good, I recommend it.

>>8615166
Can I just say that frillify is cringey as fuck?

>>8615870
don't know if you're still here but North and South was amazing. It doesn't have that nice, pretty, historical feel but is based more on the non-glamorous wealthy people of the 1800's. It's so good, and only 4 episodes so not a big commitment. And obviously, I second (third?) downton abbey.

>>8618865
Still here, always open to more suggestions! I'm watching through some of these and am having a great time. Watched 2011 Jane Eyre last night and it was beautiful. I'll definitely give these a look. Thank you, anon!

>>8616844
Speaking of, I think people here might enjoy reading "Upstairs Downstairs" - it's a non-fiction/historical account of the people who've worked for wealthy families in the Edwardian era and even includes photos.

I think this is pretty cool too. I wish that American reality tv was more like this.

>>8617499
Ooh yes. Emma, a Victorian Romance is good, too (Oddly enough, I preferred the anime).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNHyNJrgTic
>>8617546
I'm sure that anon was just using it as a joke.

Question--I cross stitch and make my own patterns. I've been thinking of putting together cross stitch kits, the kind that come with a pattern + all the materials to make it. I'm trying to do some stuff with AP-style motifs but mostly right now I'm making patterns of quotes from Kamikaze Girls. Would anyone be interested in buying?

Why does this always end up being about "ways to frillify your life"? It sounds like an act if you put it like that. I completely understand if you enjoy for example learning about Victorian history and that's why you read old literature, watch period movies and some of it influences your interior decoration. But these threads end up reeking of insincerity.

>>8619189
lolita at the the core only refers looks looks. To "frillify" creates an aesthetic.

>>8619189
I wouldn't think too much about it. It is a weird way to put it. I don't think you can do any kind of blanket lifestyle blueprint with lolita anyway. Being modest and drinking tea isn't necessarily lifestyle. Arguably, just about every lolita does that. It should really be your own unique fingerprint.

>>8615599
>The Young Victoria
>>8616830
>Belle
>Duchess
>>8616835
>downton abbey,
>>8618914
>Ooh yes. Emma, a Victorian Romance

I loved all of these. So lovely. Such clothes porn.
Sometimes the proof that had I been younger I would have been a lolita is blatant.

Thank you for that youtube link too. I'll be watching that.

I also reccomend Lost In Austen cause it's kinda hilarious how they twist the plot.

>>8619226
More Lost in Austen visual porn.

>>8615385
>>8615602

I think don't think the GLB and Shimotsuma Monogatari treated "lolita lifestyle" seriously.

This page is from GLB 4, someone on egl once translated it -- it says the gothic girl wakes up at sundown (6pm?), eats spam and pickles, and I think one of the time allotments is for scaring little children. The sweet one is equally silly, I forgot what it was.

Note the sidebar listing where to get the clothes. Seriously these things were more themed photoshoots to show off the clothes, not lifestyles.

Similarly, Momoko's rejecting everything that's not sweet had her holding a bowl of jellybeans instead of a bowl of rice in the movie. There's no way to take that seriously.

Even in the movie where the lolita becomes a pro wrestler you can still see the joke, the lolita's list of likes and dislikes is entirely too lulzrandom to be serious.


The first place where I saw people taking lolita lifestyle seriously is when some young newbies tried to join egl, saying they didn't own ANY lolita clothing at all. Zero, zilch, none. But since they liked "lolita" activities like reading and being a princess, they wanted to make lolita friends and come to meetups because their lifestyle meant that they were "lolitas at heart". Most of them were inspired by Princess Skye of Princess Portal.

Things did not end well for these newbies, they were not welcome (duh).

If an elder lolita gives you weird looks and starts acting wary when you tell them (non-ironically) that you aspire to be a lolite lifestyler, you'll know they remember those days when "lolita lifestyler" was shorthand for "special snowflake with no real interest in the fashion and wants to play princess".

The second place is on here. It's actually going much better than the newbie invasion version, let's hope it continues being serious. Though if it took this long to get this simple answer on history, I wonder if the older lolitas are already rolling their eyes while keeping out of this thread.

>>8616754
Yeah. I'm basically sitting all day in front of a computer, in a shared office. During the week I got peers there, during weekends I am alone.

I wear black blouses, completely normal, office-like, then some gothic skirts and black thights and office ballerina heels (2 cm). Now I got some boleros. Today I wore an OP and hid the top under a VM bolero.

I am getting used to it and started to realize the weird looks are mostly in my mind.

>>8619189
I also consider this is nothing to think too much about it.

What I find insincere is when people make a blog of their daily lolita lives and pretend to record every single point in their routines. When you look at the whole routine, it just does not make sense.

>>8619246
FYI I wasn't referring to Momoko's eating habits for lifestyle, just her obsession with Rococo and wanting to live like that/in that era.

>>8619317
Your work coords are perfectly acceptable and "normie proof" approved in my opinion, that is what matters!
You can use high collar cutsews with some frills if you want a work coord more interesting. I believe in Japan or China people is used to have frilly clothing at work, when i find stuff on Aliexpress some blouses or cutsews with lace are labelled as office lady clothing.
>>8618070
Your opinion, anon.
>>8617420
I assume some YT lolitas are into lolita because it's somewhat popular or trendy and attracts many watchers.Not to mention these people earn a lot of money/have rich families or husbands to cash their fashion, not a thing that everyone have in their lives, many can't spend all their money on lolita (bills, loans, etc). It make you feel like you haven't enough in your wardrobe, your coords are too bland, boring or lacking, etc. I would like if people think about less hoarding lolita and more "isn't just cute clothing, it's more". Making a kawaii cooking channel in lolita for example would be a great idea, without forcing a uguu personality of course.

>>8614201
I don't think you can make an actual list about requirements you need in order to be a Lifestyle Lolita. If you incorporate Lolita into your daily life and just "feel" Lolita every day, you are a Lifestyle Lolita. You don't need to hear classical music and drink tea; if rock music gives you a Lolita vibe, then that's your Lolita Lifestyle.

8615602>>8615602
A friend told me that many fashion magazines have lessons how to do the fashion right an how not (you will also see this in "normal" fashion mags). So also the GLB has this. I'm not sure on the following one but isn't that japanese Lolitas take their fashion really serious? Like you need all the rules and etiquette to be considered a real Lolita.

>>8619246

You're right about that particular photoshoot, it is certainly tongue in cheek. You know how (western) goths like to poke fun at the stereotypes about them even if they fit the stereotypes to some degree also? Like you can joke about something, but it doesn't mean you think the whole thing is a joke. The etiquette parts may also have been not serious, I don't know enough about Japanese to tell. But there were room decorating projects, themed/cute party foods, music and artists, one I remember about pets... that's more what I was referring to. It wasn't like "these are things lolitas have to do" but more like "if you like lolita, here are other things you will like to incorporate into your life." Which is how I think "lifestyle lolita" should be.

BUT you're right about the lolitas at heart thing, and girls coming on EGL acting like it was a role play. Actually only a few years ago I met a girl at a tea party who was using an obviously fake cutesy voice and I was really surprised because I thought that "lolitas should be lovelies" thing died out a while ago. Sorry I'm getting off track- what I'm trying to say is I agree with you in part, I don't think the GLBs/Japanese lolitas had the same concept of "lifestyle lolita" as we ended up with, but they did have the idea of incorporating lolita-fitting things into your lifestyle and having fun with stereotypes about lolitas, and I think our western lifestyle lolita has its roots there. Unfortunately yes idiots ruined it for everyone, I don't call myself a lifestyle lolita because of that. As far as I can tell those "lolitas at heart" ended up leaving the community pretty quickly, or getting some actual lolita clothes and getting over it, but they/ the backlash really pushed the western community from "lolita as a subculture" to "lolita is just clothes." Which isn't wrong at all, it is lacking in some aspects to qualify as a subculture, I just personally love the subculture/lifestyle bits so it's too bad for me!

>>8618993
I actually would be very interested in this.

>>8619189
I think there just isn't a better term yet for what we're talking about. It isn't disingenuous to want a cute bedroom, or to enjoy a specific time period and have hobbies that reflect that interest. "Frill-ify" and "loli-fy" are stupid words, I agree, but the idea they encapsulate in and of itself isn't necessarily stupid or insincere.

>>8619229
This is straight-up gorgeous, I'll give it a watch this weekend.

>>8619676
There has always been a lot of misinformation and rumors about the mythical true Japanese lolitas, so I would take everything you hear with a grain of salt. I've heard that Japanese lolitas are more strict than the western comm, and that they are more creative and less focused on rules, so what is the truth? Probably a mix, just like we have really dedicated lolitas who take it very seriously and girls who just wear it occasionally for fun. I don't know any Japanese myself so I don't really know either, but if you look at things like this video- https://youtu.be/kyqR5onm0nI

It's clearly not super serious, it's extremely tongue in cheek. At the same time, it's pretty good advice to do your hair and makeup when you wear lolita or to have good posture. So it's having fun but still shows there are expectations of how to be a good lolita. So not too serious, not really crazy requirements (some of those are purely jokes) but yes there are some rules/expectations. I'm not sure I made a lot of sense but I hope that helps!

>>8619791
I think a lot of these things come naturally with the clothing. My posture is completely different in restricting, structured clothing just because I'm forced into it.

>>8619791
Yeah that's true, you can't take all the rumors for granted. (The japanese culture is very disciplined and strict, so I always assume that japanese Lolitas are also strict about their fashion)

>>8619741

I could get behind the idea of the magazine trying to sell related items because the lifestylers already have an affinity for it. So if lolitas like cute clothes, sell cute jammies. If they like dresses with cookie prints, print cookie recipes to make the magazine more saleable. I can't get behind the idea that GLB and brand were pushing it, though. Seems like they simply made things would appeal to the same aesthetics to sell.

As for the etiquette stuff, I don't know if it relates to lolita lifestyle, or it's simply a useful thing to put in a magazine whose reader who do have a lot of meetups and (brand) tea parties.

Personally I think lolita has a subculture, but maybe not the one everyone else in here is thinking of. We've got our own nomenclature, our own shorthand, our own "celebrities", things that only a fellow lolita would know. That's what strikes me as "fake" about a lot of the things in this thread, some "lolita hobbies" only superficially cross over with lolita, eg- knitting a lacey shawl seems more like a loliable hobby than an outright lolita one. Now, if we started talking about, say, what kind of tactics lolitas use to stalk brand releases, what hierarchy you have to achieve before organising a meetup, that seems to hit closer to lolita subculture.


>>8619331

The movie is about a lolita who became besties with a yankee. She scams her yakuza father for burando money using plotlines from Black Jack. There's a scene where her burando gets covered in blood and she screams bloody murder.

And the part where she says she would like to live in the rococo era? The movie juxtaposes it by dumping her into a cheesy themed cafe with some awesomely cheesy name.

I love the movie, and if you love it, that's great. It's supposed to be good and funny. But if you're choosing to actually take it seriously when almost all of the plot points are so completely overblown, sorry, I can't take you seriously at all.

>>8618070
>>8619749
What's wrong with these words? I think they're cute, no need to take them so seriously.

>>8619246
I don't understand why you'd want to disprove a lifestyler as though it's mythical. It clearly isn't, but lifestylers themselves like to exaggerate and poke fun at themselves, like this scan is meant to be and how >>8619741 said.

The same GLB had some quiz or something about "if you could live upon sugared flower petals, would you?". I remember laughing and answering yes I would to that.

To say there's no lifestyle or it's some big in-joke just shows a lack of information about the fashion, though. Lolita is considered much more of a lifestyle choice in Japan due to how much of Japanese culture it rejects and how romanticized it often is. Momoko is a pretty good example of that, even if she might appear a character in an over the top move to you.

I remember wondering why for so long that gyaru and lolita didn't have more crossover or more a hybrid fashion style. It was explained to me that lolita lifestyle and gyaru lifestyle were completely different and the overlap was practically nonexistent and this was due to lifestyle. Lolita was often girlish or lady-like with a romantic view and gyaru was much more a party girl image. If they were just clothes to people I'm sure they'd mix more, but a lolita goes to a tea party and a gyaru would go to ParaPara and maybe hang out with hosts.

Just because this didn't translate well in the days of early EGL and overseas doesn't mean lifestyle didn't exist. Confusing a newbie who thought being a lolita meant drinking tea and calling everyone "her rufflies" should not be confused with someone who's a lifestyler.

>>8620028
If I remember correctly there's some video on youtube with an interview of three japanese lolitas. It's getting a bit old now but those girls were very lifestyle. Three girls isn't necessarily every representative of what normal lolitas in Japan are like, but I don't think it's far from accurate. I think the reason lifestyle doesn't do so well here is because lolita has an added level of weeb culture that Japan obviously wouldn't have.

>>8620028
I think it's one of those cases where if you have to have the lifestyle explained to you, you probably don't get it and never will entirely.

>>8620028


I'm not really sure if it's just bad communication skills or you're getting defensive because you think I'm attacking lifestyle lolita.

To be very clear. The two comments I responded to heavily speculated that the GLBs, the brands and the movie were responsible for starting the lifestyle lolita trend. THAT is what I object to. The brands and GLB tried to sell TO lifestyle lolitas, the movie was a fun parody of lifestyle lolitas, but I don't believe they were the originators of the idea. They certainly didn't push it.

Since we're speculating on the ORIGIN of lifestyle lolita (and not whether it exists or not), I mentioned the pretend princesses as the first serious lolita lifestylers I've heard of. I'm also not lumping you in with them, I said I liked that this thread is going in a mature direction than pretend princesses.

Again, you think I'm trying to disprove the EXISTENCE of lolita lifestylers in Japan, but what I'm trying to say is the ORIGIN of the lolita lifestylers does not lie in the GLB or the movie. We're arguing two completely different things here.

>>8617685
Yes, anon! I haven't checked the thread in awhile, I'm a bad OP, so sorry! I liked Belle even though it was a bit cringey at times (because I imagined SJWs while watching it with the boyfriend haha,) but Gugu Mbatha-Raw was beautiful in it.

>>8619676
Just from observation, there are guidelines, but it seems like Japan is less checklist obsessed. Since they don't have weebs dressing themselves for the first time, you get a higher volume of people who actually understand fashion without needing it spelled out.. I blame the Lolita Handbook.

>>8620849
I don't quite understand what you mean? Do you mean the "lessons" in the magazines are only guidelines?

>>8615355
oh man throwback thriday

>be me
>at any given time between the age of like 6-15
>my mom would marathon this shit
>maybe every 1-2 weeks
>excruciating
>mom please can I play the N64
>mom it's the only TV in the house
>mom pls no it's 5 hours

completely ruined the complete works of Jane Austin for life for siblings and I, which sucks but I can't be assed to have anything to do with it whatsoever, even though I'd probably enjoy it as an adult.

>>8621411
to add on

>harry potter movies come out
>mom's flipping her shit
>ooooooooh Colonel Brandon oooooh
>oh my god
>Snape ruined forever

>>8621411
>>8621416

>>8617327
Please do lolita or lifestyle themed ASMR! Like, ASMR reading Kamikaze Girls or leafing through GLB's! I love ASMR but there's nothing very lifestle-feeling, only two vids by Lor...

>>8621396
Pretty much. The only rules in lolita are 1) wear the right kind of brand or brand-quality handmade and b) don't be stupid with coordinating. Remember how focused on labels most jfashions are.

>>8621473
No. Please no.

>>8621619
That's true, my friend told me, that japanese Lolitas often buy the clothes which are popular, instead of the clothes which they personally like. That's why you always found an "recommended" outfit in the shop display, because the japanese Lolitas buy this outfits the most. However with the "lessons", my friend told me that they do have a teaching character and the GLB acutally do want to teach what is wrong and right. (I personally cannot proof it since I don't speak japanese, but when I read the outfit descriptions on the few english pages in the GLB, I also feel that they have a strong teaching-character).

I've been re-watching Downton Abbey and accidentally knitted my headphone cord into a lacey shawl I'm making. Felt lifestyle as fuck.

>>8615610
totally legit by the way, pic related

>>8620849
How can you blame the Lolita Handbook? It's (I think) not even a year old! Even with it's youth I feel like it is the most comprehensive guide to beginning lolita.

In Japan if you are interested in starting lolita fashion there are so many resources for you to get an understanding of how to do it. Even just spending a bit of time in Harajuku will give you some understanding as you can look at, touch and try on clothing. There are store displays to learn from, magazines readily available/ accessible in stores and even the odd lolita wandering around the streets. It is no surprise that we end up with horribly dressed weebs in the west as we don't have these resources to guide them; this is hardly the fault of the Lolita Guide Book hand holding at all, if nothing else, we need more resources like this so newbs can immerse themselves in learning like you can in Japan.

>>8624369
>not even a year old
>07 October 2006

>>8624369
Are you new? There was a Lolita Handbook from the earlier days of EGL that was hosted on Livejournal. It was put together because brand was rare and there was an influx of newbs who just didn't get lolita even with help from streetsnaps. Problem was, after that you could tell people were just going through the list and not actually learning what works and what doesn't. If you need handholding to understand, then you don't get it. That's why so many girls today still look off even if they're technically wearing a good coord.

>>8624406
>look off
I think most people forget that when you know the rules you can break the rules and that's when it starts to look good

>>8615876
>A Royal Affair
Worth watching for Mads Mikkelsen in period costume.

I particularly enjoyed the various BBC Austen miniseries, especially Emma. Death Comes to Pemberly is a nice watch if you like Pride and Prejudice.

I also have a deep guilty pleasure for watching the old lady detective shows like Miss Marple and Miss Fischer's Murder Mysteries (it's set in the 1920s).

>>8624431
You can tell the fashion is mostly nerds when no one understands this.

>>8624439
Emma is 10/10

>>8624439
i wasnt a fan of ARA because of mads. i can only see him as hannibal and tumblr, and i just dont find him attractive at all. but i did like the clothing. and i will have to check those out!

bampu

does anyone else think about being buried in lolita / what they'd want to be wearing in their casket ? like how does one go arranging that. im not sure i have any lolita friends who would take the initiative and my family doesn't really "get" it and don't like when i talk about dying since i'm not terminally ill (just clinically depressed.)

>>8630005
I've thought about it, and I actually have an OP (and maybe even a complete coordinate) that I'd like to be buried in but I'm just as clueless as you are about how to actually arrange that.

>>8630005
Sorry about your depression, by the way, I hope you're getting treated for it. Depression is godawful.

>>8630005
My parents would definitely cremate me, cheaper. They aren't really sentimental so yeah I couldn't plan that if I wanted.

>>8630009
thx. i am usually pretty stable due to proper treatment but it still flares up on occasion.

>>8624369
Wwwwwwow.

>>8630016
Can't you get cremated in a casket? That's what I want to do

>>8630169
Pretty sure people usually get cremated dressed and in a casket. Most of my deceased family/relatives has been cremated, but we've had the casket during the funeral first.

>>8630169
>>8630173
It's very common (and less expensive) for people to have a viewing in a casket, and then get cremated after. In those cases you 'rent' the casket for the viewing instead of buying it, which is still costly but not as much as buying it flat out.

Although most modern crematoriums don't cremate in caskets, but in special sealed containers which are safer for the workers and make clean-up easier. You can be cremated in clothing, it all gets totally incinerated anyway.

>>8630189
Well, my dream dress is going up in flames with me then.

>>8630005
I do this actually
I've thought about sketching the coord I want to wear and listing the items, and then hanging it above my bed or something so anyone could find it easily after my demise, but that seems a little morbid.
The only plus side of dying young would be that I could finally fit AP shoes, they could chop a part of my toes off and it wouldn't matter anymore. That's mildly exciting.
Cremating me would be cheaper but honestly personal appearance and fashion has been so important to me as an art over the years that I think it would be a good investment.

>>8630466
pls get help anon

>>8630466
This reminds me that I should add a print out of my wardrobe stock with names and original prices to my 'important documents' folder. I remember anons a while back wanting to do similar stuff just in case anything happens, so that their family know what everything is worth.

OT but they always say women who are about to an hero get their shit in order before to avoid inconveniencing their family, but whenever I do something similar I find joy in having achieved organising things or looking through my stuff, and i feel better again. It's a weird cycle.

>>8615865
> so glad I'm not the only one with the hits for Alan Rickman

Alan Rickman is bae

>>8630005
>mfw i thought if i die and become a ghost i would spook people in lolita
I'm not sure if i want to be cremated or not, but i hope my family dress me in lolita. I hope to die in an old age.

>>8624439
I fucking love Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. The costuming in that is so good, it's beyond. Definitely recommended even if it's not Victorian era.

>>8630005
You would put a provision in your will stating what you'd like to be buried in and what sort of funeral/service you'd like to have. You don't have to be old to have a will drawn up, but you do need to see an attorney.

>>8630533
W-why? I just watched sense and sensibility and I didn't see it, what's the attraction, is it the crazy deep voice? Hugh grant was gross, blinking a million times like he was missing a contact. I.. donno, the whole thing felt weird and mis-casted with so many stars shoehorned in, but I just watched pride and prejudice for the first time so maybe my standards are too high now?

>>8631574
Mostly the incredibly sexy voice, but the 18th century clothes don't hurt either. He's most famous for playing villains, so seeing him play a charming nice guy is fun.

>>8620225
It had sweet lolitas right? I just tried to watch it but it's blocked where I live (USA). Do you remember the ones with gothic lolitas?

>>8615602
Novala's fall from grace? Deets?

>>8631858
He got caught with weed which is worse than murder in Japan.

>>8624431
This. It's like learning to draw cartoons, you have to know the human figure before you can distort it.

>>8631574
>>8631590
Yeah, I would say it's the deep voice for me, too. Idk, I love him in his villain roles, too, and I really loved him in Dogma lol. He has this slow, deep, methodical way of speaking, and he enunciates so well... and I just adore somber-looking men (Adrian Brody is high on my list as well).

Did anyone here grow up with American Girl dolls and their stories? I think so much of that contributed to me adapting lifestyle. The real historical influence with dolls and not really being too fond of things like Barbies really made me appreciate things from other eras. I remember having the American Girl cookbook or something, full of really easy to make snacks from each girls era. Found my favorite from Samantha's here. It's really simple to make:
http://learntwocook.livejournal.com/632.html

There's some movies for the girls as well. (Avoid the modern girl line of trash movies at all cost.) There's Samantha, An American Girl Holiday (pic related) and Felicity: An American Girl Adventure. Going to watch them tonight hopefully! I think I'll reread their books as well.

http://www.americangirl.com/corporate/archives
Also, I hate Mattel eternally for trying to retire Samantha and Molly, my favs. I guess enough people screamed about Samantha because she's such a good doll, but seeing Kirsten, Molly, and Felicity sit there breaks my heart.

>>8632624
I did! I grew up with Samantha and Nelly. I absolutely /adored/ Samantha's clothes and would wish for a set of dresses and hair pieces like hers. I had her doll (which I am 150% positive was cursed) and a full collection of all her stories. I would pour over that book every night along with Grimm's Fairy Tales. Ahh, the nostalgia of my childhood.

Samantha, Felicity, and Kit were always my favorites. I've actually made a dress inspired by Samantha's birthday dress (the pink and white one) and I wish they didn't get retired. Same with Nellie, she was just too cute.

Though I do like the new doll Maryellen from 1954, pic related. She looks almost exactly like me, though if only her eyes were grey lol.

I like classic stuff but also enjoy other cult stuff too.

So that's why Pride & Prejudice & Zombies is going to get me the best of both world.

>>8633560
Did you read the comic? It was pretty lackluster.

>>8632624
The dolls were too expensive for my parents to easily buy, and I felt too old for dolls by the time I could have the allowance saved up for them, which wasn't a total loss since I was more of a plush person and began my weeb phase. I still love the stories, accompanying books like the crafting series, and their furniture. I've stumbled upon an article about their history and I'm bummed out about the Mattel acquisition. I think I'd like to take a trip to the library or bookstore and find all of these new girls they've added over the years.

I think my favorite girl is Kit, even though I identify with Molly the most.

>>8633012
Gah, I had Nellie, as well as Felicity and her friend Elizabeth. I really, really wish I hadn't sold them. I kept them in pristine condition, too.

>>8617292

"The Royal Diaries is a series of 20 books published by Scholastic Press from 1999 to 2005. In each of the books, a fictional diary of a real female figure of royalty as a child throughout world history was written by the author."

This series was published to be for teens but a lot of the issues written about are more mature than you would expect. I enjoy them for the first person aspect of going through fancy and mundane royal tasks in different parts of the world.

>>8630525
Not to sound too trendy - but - I read a passage in KonMari that reminds me of what you just wrote. I know when I'm really anxious about something (even if its just life in general and feeling like everything is worthless) I get the urge to clean things or organize things that have been messy for a while. It makes me feel better temporarily because I am getting immediate satisfaction from seeing things clean. However, its not actually addressing the problem of what was making me anxious in the first place. So, the depression or anxiety comes back. Maybe that is the cycle you are experiencing?

>>8632624
I'm with you, anon. I used to love Felicity and I had a doll where she came with a sapphire blue gown. When I started lolita, I ordered a dress from Anna House in light blue that looked similar to Felicity's dress to me (in my mind at least!)

>>8636786
I remember those! I read the Cleopatra one when I was a kid because I was obsessed with ancient Egypt.
My favorite book from my childhood is Ella Enchanted, it's not really lolita but it's a cute spin on a classic fairytale and the heroine does wear some fancy dresses. I read it when I'm feeling stressed out and it always puts me in a good mood.
Fuck Disney for making that shit movie though.

>>8617292

I know people have mentioned fairy tales, but does anyone else read/like Madame D'Aulnoy's stuff? You can read them on Sur La Lune. They're really long and romantic (although classist beyond belief)- my favourites are Princess Carpillon, Belle-Etoile, Gracieuse and Percinet, and Blue Bird.

>>8616925
I don't understand all these recent fucking child bride references whenever anybody mentions lolita wedding dresses. They are fucking elegant and made in an adult size, usually worn with heels rather than flats.

Also if you're planning to marry someone, they should probably know about and be okay with your love of lolita, so you shouldn't worry about alienating them.

>>8636786
>>8636830
I remember those books! I'm pretty sure I was obsessed with the Marie Antoinette and Queen Victoria ones. Any other good recs for historical fiction? One of my favorites is Queen's Own Fool which is about Mary Queen of Scots and her court jester.

>>8624369
>not even a year old
Oh, maaaaaaaaaaaaaan.

bumping for interest

>>8617292
the Marie Antoinette series by Juliet Grey might be up your alley. Gets a bit melodramatic (but what book about Marie Antoinette doesn't?) but still fun, lots of great lush clothing descriptions

>>8618865
I was going to suggest North and South as well. It reminds me a lot of Pride and Prejudice but grittier. Love love love this series. The Wives and Daughters mini-series is also good and the original book is by the same authoress Elizabeth Gaskill.

Richard Armitage as Mr. Thornton > Colin Firth as Mr Darcy imo

>>8624369
This is how we know there are newbs about in old school clothing claiming to be so experienced.

I've not even been involved in the fashion for all that long and I remember pouring over the egl handbook when I started and browsing it periodically years and years before I seriously considered wearing it.

>>8630525
very OT but so true about women getting their shit together before dying. My boyfriend's grandmother attempted suicide recently (as she has stage 3 lung cancer) and she did the dishes, groceries, laundry and cleaned everything before attempting. It's like she knows she would be inconveniencing her husband since he doesn't know how to do any of it.

(She's alright, for the record. Had a few-week hospital stay and is in much better condition mentally now.)

>>8633564
>>8633560

Novel was absolute garbage too IMO. It was required reading for a class of mine and even the professor admitted he didn't read the whole thing. Apparently I dealt with the most out of all of us, but I only read half of it.

It was a nice idea, but really poorly executed.

Bump! I'd love to hear more about how you all incorporate lolita into your daily lives.

>>8642491
I'm currently listening to John Jenkins while sipping tea, replying to a penpal, and wearing lolita.

I don't really take myself seriously over the lolita lifestyle thing, but I thought this would be a fun thing to do on my day off (especially when I don't to deal with strangers after doing so all week). It's kind of getting me in the mood to finish my letter.

I think there's a list of lolita lifestyle ideas floating around the blogosphere, but one thing I like keeping etiquette and posture in mind. I work with a lot of old people, so I have this fear of having a hunched back over time of slouching. Wearing lolita makes me feel constricted, but in a way that shapes how I should pull up my spine, and sometimes I imagine that I'm wearing lolita, or as my choir teacher suggests, imagine being a puppet with a string on your head and someone is pulling you up. I want to look like a confident person, even though I'm not, and this helps a lot (fake it until you make it). Sometimes I even step with a little bounce as if I'm wearing a petticoat.

Bump.

>>8644639
Don't do that.

Sage bc BS.

>>8631859
What really? They don't like weed that much? ...Isn't smoking ye olde cannabis a pretty victorian thing to do also?

>>8644650
LOL it had been a full day since the last post... salty much?

bumping. again /r/ing tea sets, i swear an anon posted a link to either a japanese/european based site that sold bone china and porcelain, but when i google for them i get shitty "modern" ones

>>8644699
On this topic, what would be some good lifestyle alcohols? I want to hold a 21+ meet and I don't want to just get a bunch of cheap alcohol for my friends. Anything kind of nice and would be something the higher class might drink.

>Throughout Victorian society “gin was the preferred spirit of the lower class, while wine and brandy were imbibed by the more comfortable citizenry” (Alcoholic Beverages 12).

Brandy was one of the first things that came to my mind, but I don't know many good brands to buy. I don't hate alcohol, but I hate boozing it up at a meet and doing trash like putting vodka in a teacup, which I've known people trying before. What kind of glasses would you get for finer alcohol? How would you personally make a nice, refined adult meet with alcohol? Do you think a sort of Victorian inspired mini bar would be cute?

>>8647116
>putting vodka in a teacup
Not a drinker myself, but you can instantly add class to any event with alcohol by serving it in the right glass. If you can afford the expense, at least some will notice.

>>8647116
>vodka in a teacup
Reading this shit really puts all of this threads talk about how lifestyle and ladylike and Victorian you act into perspective.

There are special brandy glasses just as there are special whine glasses. Maybe have a look at this and see if by chance you already have the appropriate glass? If someone nearly got away with the vodka incident you will probably get away with serving brandy or sparkling whine in a "regular whine glass" (the burgundy one). Buy those if you don't have them already. And don't serve fucking vodka to your Victorian lady meet unless it's Russian themed.

>>8647116
Absinthe. I've honestly never tried it before, but I read up on it and thought it would be perfect for the lifestyle lolita, especially because of the socializing involved and the beautiful drinking tools you need.

I feel like being a bit of a wine connessoir is something also appropriate for the lifestyle lolita.

>>8647116
If you're hosting, maybe a wine and cheese with decent wine and cheese?
Learn to pour properly, get the right wine glass for the different types, get nice crackers and other stuff to go with the cheese.
Victorian mini bar sounds tacky tbh, like that kinda faux classy you get with silver painted plastic cutlery. Brandy is kinda a more chill out rather than a social spirit for me, it makes me think of drinking with 1-2 friends after a stressful week.

Around where I live, there are a few vineyards where you can go for wine tastings - that might be a fun thing to do with friends.I love cocktails but only when someone can actually mix properly, so I tend to go to the nice cocktail bars for that.

Thank you all for the replies. I really feel like you can add lifestyle to more areas than people think sometimes. I don't think I've ever heard of alcohol plus lolita lifestyle ever come up quite like this.

>>8647139
Thank you for the image guide. I really only drink now and then socially, so I often forget about what each glass is for. Now that I've remembered there's a glass shape that's brandy specific, there's no way I'm going to serve it without that. I feel like it'd be a good alcohol for our adult lolita meetups and brandy glasses would really add to the classiness. Like >>8647134 and you said, vodka in the teacup was just terrible and tacky when someone else tried a similar theme.
>>8647154
Oh god, I completely forgot about absinthe! That's an absolutely great idea. I need some of us to try the Green Fairy at least once.
>>8647155
That wine and cheese tasting meet is a great idea! Vineyards make for beautiful backdrops.

>>8636728
same anon I had a kirsten that i sold when i was a teen and like "ugh i'm too old for dolls" and i regret it so much. i still have the "meet Kirsten" book that came with her though lol