Wednesday 28 December 2011

Your suggestions, please!

Hello everyone!

As I've mentioned before, I'll be spending new year in Tokyo. I'm so excited! As soon as I leave Japan, I start planning for the next visit. I've a little notebook full of lists of things to do, see and buy that I've been keeping for over a year! I hope I'll be able to tick off all the lists, and do other things besides.

Unfortunately I won't be able to blog while I'm there, though I may update Elegant Poupée's facebook page now and again. Of course, I'll be taking lots and lots of pictures, as well as extra special care not to drop my camera after what happened in Singapore. When I get back I'll tell you all about it!

You can look forward to hearing about new year celebrations, sales shopping, brands, bands, Disney Sea and hopefully my first visit to a cat café!

In the meantime, I wonder if I could ask you for a little favour?

I really love writing this blog, and I'd like to improve on it somewhat. I would very much appreciate it if you could comment with some of your thoughts about this blog; which posts you have enjoyed, what you'd like to see more of, what in particular makes you follow this blog, tutorials you'd like to request and so on. With your suggestions in mind I'd like to make this blog more fun to follow!

Thank you all so very much!

See you in two and a half weeks time~

With love from Sapphira

xxxxx

Sunday 25 December 2011

Merry Christmas!

Hello dear followers!

I'd like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas. I hope you're having a wonderful day!

~Two of my handmade cards~

Here's one of my favourite Christmas tunes, with an adorable dance routine:


I hope you enjoy it!

Sapphira

~xxxxx~

Sunday 18 December 2011

Nineties Nostalgia


Hello everyone! Christmas is getting close isn't it? I do feel Christmassy but... mostly I'm having an attack of 90s nostalgia!

When I saw D earlier this year it brought back my love of Visual Kei, which had dimmed a bit since I became more and more into Lolita. My favourite bands are the "vintage" ones (don't say has-beens!) like Baiser, SHAZNA, Raphael, LAREINE and of course MALICE MIZER. Mana-sama has been fabulous since the beginning! 

Of course, since I didn't even know of any of those bands until 6 or 7 years ago, my experience of the 90s had more to do with The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Clueless, the Spice Girls and losing my milk teeth. Still, Dionne and Hilary were pretty fabulous too! 

Looking at 90s FRUiTs street snaps is also really inspiring. I know I'm late to the party when it comes to reminiscing about old-school Lolita, but I'm not the sort of person to jump on a new trend (or revival) right away. Rather, I think about it for ages and finally incorporate it in some small way here and there. I like how 90s fashion had a bit of frumpiness to it, not as immaculate and shiny as these days. 

So with these various inspirations I put together this coordinate: 

~Rundown~
Hat- Vintage
JSK- Metamorphose
Necklace- Innocent World
Everything else- Offbrand

Remember Mana's loooong hair and big hats? And Kamijo's too! This is a wig, but I hope my hair will be this long in a few years. My tights were actually navy to match the hat. 


Thanks for looking!

Sapphira

xxxxx

~A note~
I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who "liked" my photo in the Lockshop competition. I was very pleasantly suprised to see how many likes it had received. It was not something I was expecting! I was so touched- no prize could be lovelier! Thank you.

Sunday 11 December 2011

Lockshop competition

Hello all! How are you? We put up our Christmas tree today- it looks so pretty! I hope you've been having a nice weekend.

I just thought I'd mention that I've entered a competition for a wig shop that's getting very popular with Lolitas- Lockshop. I wear wigs on occasion (for instance at the Brighton Japan Festival), and hair pieces now and then, but so far only in my natural colour. I'd really like to try brown next time, and I like the simple curly style that Lockshop has! What do you think? 

There's a lot of lovely entries to the competition! You can see mine here. Please vote by liking the picture! Thanks very much :D

Sapphira

xxxxx

Tuesday 6 December 2011

Sapphira's Ten Recommended Anime for a Classic Lolita

Today's post is a bit different to usual- no pictures! Instead, I'd like to write a little about Japanese animation, and tell you about a few examples you might like to watch.

Although Lolita fashion is somewhat associated with anime in the popular imagination of the West, it’s not always the case that Lolitas are particular fans of this media. Personally though, I am! Japanese animation covers a huge scope of subject matter, so I don’t think it can be so easily dismissed as something you’ll not like, even if the more well-known series don’t appeal. With this in mind, I’ve decided to compile a list of ten that might interest a Classic Lolita in particular. Some have historical themes, others are more mature examples of the shoujo genre, and most include a lot of roses. Whether you are new to anime or a long-time fan, I hope you’ll find something to suit you. Let’s begin!


1. The Rose of Versailles (1979)
ベルサイユのばら
A classic, and my personal all-time favourite! Versailles no Bara (BeruBara for short) tells the life story of both Marie Antoinette and of Oscar François de Jarjayes, a character created by the author (Riyoko Ikeda). Oscar, a young woman who was brought up as a man, becomes a high-ranking army officer and also a favourite of the French queen. It’s very romantic and affecting, and brings this famous period in history vividly to life. You are very likely to fall in love with Oscar, as many have. I also highly recommend the Rose of Versailles cosmetics line- I’ve been a devotee of the Oscar eyeliner for over three years!

2. Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo (2004)
巌窟王
Dumas’ epic of adventure and revenge is transported to a futuristic world that is half-period, half-science fiction. The innovative animation techniques used to create the decadent world inhabited by the Count and his fellow aristocrats are alone worth watching this series for. The beautiful design, intriguing plot and a soundtrack which includes Tchaikovsky and Debussy will I think appeal greatly to a Classic Lolita. I still need to read the giant novel itself!

3. Rozen Maiden (2004)
ローゼンメイデン
The story revolves around a set of elaborately dressed dolls (created by the toymaker Rozen) who duel one another in ‘Alice Games’.  Although I feel this series to be sometimes lacking in sophistication, it has a sinister quality (enhanced by wonderful music from Ali Project) which gives it distinction.

4. Candy Candy (1976)
キャンディ キャンデ
This series is the cutest I’ve ever watched! If you are fond of 19th century novels like Little Women, What Katy Did or Anne of Green Gables, you are sure to love this nostalgic anime, set around the same period. The Candy of the title is our heroine Candice White, a freckle-faced American orphan who often gets into scrapes but always tries her best.

5. Le Chevalier D’Eon (2006)
シュヴァリエ
A wonderful combination of the historical and the supernatural, Chevalier is loosely based on the life story of the French nobleman and spy d’Éon de Beaumont. The real d’Éon claimed in later life that he was really a woman, and was given permission by Louis XVI to live as a member of the opposite sex (the king even gave him money for a whole new wardrobe- lucky d’Éon!). In the anime, he is possessed by his dead sister, who was killed in a plot that d’Éon and his fellow spies try to uncover. Another one for 18th century history fans!

6. Paradise Kiss (2005)
パラダイス
Ai Yazawa’s works are wonderful love letters to modern Japanese street fashion, and in this series great care was taken over the animation of the various characters’ outfits. And quite rightly so, as Paradise Kiss is all about the student members of an atelier and the directionless highschooler Yukari who ends up as their model and muse. Whereas all the other series in this list are escapist, this is a modern day series that I think any Lolita will find particularly relatable.

7. Black Butler (2008)
黒執事
Set in Victorian England, this series follows the adventures of the young orphaned aristocrat Ciel Phantomhive, who makes a deal with a demon butler. The appeal of this series lies in it’s mix of real historical events (such as the Jack the Ripper murders and the Great Exhibition) with elements of horror, the supernatural, comedy, somewhat inappropriate sexual tension and a lot of fetching outfits.

8. Onii-sama e… (1991)
おにいさまへ…
Another Riyoko Ikeda story, both the plot and the dresses in this series will make your otome heart flutter! Although the animation was made in the early 1990s, the manga began in the mid 1970s and the fashions seem to be quite of that period- think neo-Victorian ruffles, high collars and puff sleeves. The story is set at the exclusive Seiran Academy, and the plot focuses particularly on the politics of the school’s sorority. There's a lot of heartbreak- storylines include incest, lesbianism, divorce, drug addiction and terminal illness. Watch it when you feel particularly feminine and tragic.

9. Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)
ハウルの動く城
I always find that Ghibli films are so lovely, it almost makes your heart hurt! This list didn’t seem right without one. I chose this Howl’s Moving Castle because of it’s beautiful setting, and because like Paradise Kiss, The Rose of Versailles and Candy Candy, it’s also the story of a young woman growing up. In this case the heroine, Sophie, grows up quite suddenly and dramatically into a 90-year old woman! Despite this setback she also manages to win the heart of the mysterious wizard Howl. The story seems to take place in a lovely European country during the early 20th century, filled with buildings both quaint and elegant, wonderfully stylish steam-powered vehicles, and very smartly dressed soldiers and sailors (well, there is a war on)….

10. Revolutionary Girl Utena (1997)
少女革命ウテナ
Another shoujo classic! After meeting one as a child, Utena Tenjou decides to live her life as a prince. At the Ohtori Academy she is unwittingly drawn into a duel over the Rose Bride (her fellow student Anthy Himemiya). The swordfight scenes are very elegant- to win one must cut the rose from one’s opponent’s jacket! You’ll enjoy the stories of school life, as well as discovering more about the legend of the Rose Bride. The shadow girls who act as a sort of Greek chorus and the imagery referencing Charles Rennie Mackintosh are also nice touches. It’s also a bit mad now and then, but that’s all part of the fun.



Well, that’s my grand list of ten. I could name many more that I love (Lupin III!), but I think these ones best fit the list. Dear reader, have you watched any of these? All of them? Have you any you can recommend to me? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Thanks for reading,

Sapphira
xxxx

Sunday 4 December 2011

Elegant Poupée on Facebook!

Hello everyone!

I decided to make a facebook page for Elegant Poupée so that those readers with accounts there can easily stay updated. I'll post a link each time I make a new blog entry, as well as posting small bits of news and so on. I look foward to seeing you there!

Please Like Elegant Poupée on Facebook!


Thanks so much for all your support!

Sapphira
xxxxx

Friday 2 December 2011

Casual classical lolita winter coordinate



  

~Rundown~
Headbow, socks- Innocent World
Blouse- Vintage
Jumperskirt- Jane Marple
Boots- Offbrand

Ah, I love this jumperskirt! The scalloped waistline is so pretty. I posted it before when I only had my webcam to take pictures, but now you can see it properly. You can click on the pictures to make them bigger! Since the dress has quite a mature appearance, I added a bit of cuteness by coordinating with Innocent World's Night Bear head ribbon and Antique Book socks.


My next Japanese lesson is the last of the winter term. We're going to bring in snacks, so I'm going to bring homemade onigiri! I'm going to make practice ones this weekend. I hope you'll have fun this weekend too!

Sapphira

xxxx

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