Daikanyama

Hello dear readers! How are you?

The other day I went to Daikanyama for the first time. There's no BABY store there anymore sadly, but there are vintage and second hand shops, and it's a nice area.

Here's my outfit, taken near CouCou, a really cute 300yen shop!

JSK: Metamorphose

Ribbon: Jane Marple

Fawn collar: H&M Kids (modified)

I was aiming to achieve a sort of fairytale maiden look with this outfit. I got the fur collar ages ago but it's only recently that I started to wear it regularly. Some items are hard to get the knack of, aren't they? I think it helped to replace the pink satin ribbon with a cotton lace one, it goes fits in much better with my wardrobe now.

The first thing I did was to stop at a cafe for lunch. I couldn't resist having a cake afterwards too! We were provided with coasters that featured a bespectacled gentleman exclaiming "WOOOW! TASTY!!", which was rather strange and amusing. It was all very tasty though, so he was quite right.

Daikanyama's streets are wide and quiet and the shops are widely spaced out. This gives it a very relaxing and peaceful atmosphere. I do sort of wish there were more shops, but it is such a pleasant place to walk around, so light and airy. Tokyo Metro recently had some improvements, so now Daikanyama is very easily accessible. If you fancy a quiet but stylish day of shopping and cafes, I do recommend going. And the 300yen shop is definitely worth a visit for cute cheap things.

I hope you enjoyed the pictures, see you next time!

Sapphira

xxxx

Day in Shibuya

 Hello dear readers, how are you?

Did you hear about the dust cloud that turned Tokyo's sky into a horrible yellow-brown haze? I was in that! It was so scary, I'm glad it didn't stay for too long.

Anyway, today I have a few photos to share from a day out in Shibuya. I don't go to Shibuya often, but I think I will start going more since I found a few interesting places on this day.

First, here's my outfit:

Blouse, skirt: Vintage

Bag: Metamorphose

Tights: tutuanna

Others: Offbrand

Not lolita today! I got this red and blue tartan skirt in a vintage shop in Koenji. It was less than 500yen! I really love it, it's become my lazy day skirt. Actually that sweater is my lazy day sweater.... I guess it was a lazy day!

The main reason for going to Shibuya that day was to try a particular restaurant that was recommended to me. At this restaurant, you order a main dish (fish or meat) and then help yourself to all sorts of vegetable dishes as much as you like.

The name of the restaurant is ぷんらく(Punraku) and it is situated on the top floor of Tsutaya, which you will see as you leave Shibuya station by the Hachiko exit. 

I thought it was really good! The main dish was a white fish of some sort with basil sauce, it was so delicious. The flavour of the fish was the main attraction, rather than the basil sauce livening up a boring piece of flavourless fish. 

As for the vegetable dishes, there were lots to choose from and quite varied, between salads, cooked vegetables, different types of beans and so on. All very nice! There's also unlimited drinks, including teas and soft drinks.

After such a healthy lunch I did some healthy shopping (healthy for my wallet because I didn't buy anything) and then... had chocolate cake!

It was at a cafe called Kiefer or perhaps Kiefel,  depending on which menu you happened to receive. Anyway, it was very nice! The cakes are not particularly outstanding perhaps, but it's pretty inside and not expensive. It's to the left of 109 as you approach it from Hachiko.

So that was my day in Shibuya! I hope you enjoyed the pictures.

See you again soon,

Sapphira

xxxx 

Popteen x Cando Collaboration Lashes

Hello dear readers! How are you today?

Just a small post this time about a new range of false eyelashes I came across the other day.

I expect many of you will know the gal magazine Popteen. They recently produced a collection of false lashes, eyelid stickers and lash glue for 100yen shop Cando. That's the 100yen shop I most frequently visit since it's closest to my house!

There's lots and lots of different styles in the range, including top and bottom lashes, half type and full type. I decided to try out the half type lashes because that's my favourite style but I can seldom find much variety. These are styles 03 and 04.

The lavender on the left is 04, the yellow on the right 03.

I've yet to try 03, but here are the results of 04 (top left is before putting lashes):

In spite of being half-type they are actually quite huge, and I felt a bit self-consious of them when I went out. Having said that the actual sensation of wearing them is comfortable because they are on a clear, flexible band and the lash hairs are soft and feathery. They do have a really nice impact in photos (in my opinion anyway) so maybe I will keep them for photoshoots and big meetups.

As for the quality, obviously it's not fantastic but for 105yen it's fine. I have a lot of those Daiso lashes that come in pink boxes and I think the quality of those is kind of better in that they are sturdier and shed less fibres, plus they come with glue and I think the Popteen ones didn't. I use a different glue anyway so it doesn't make a difference to me but it's worth noting. 

However, I really prefer the style and variety of the Popteen ones. Although the quality is lower they mimic the look of more expensive eyelash brands with cute and imaginative styling and matte, natural looking lash fibres. 

 I'll show you the other pair next time, they are smaller so I think I'll prefer them. Do give this range a go if you see it, these lashes are definitely worth a try!

CANMAKE Candy Wrap Lip

Hello dear readers!

Do you know the cosmetic brand CANMAKE?

It's a popular Japanese brand, with cute packaging and reasonable prices. 

Since we got into the often grey days of autumn I feel my complexion looks a bit dull, so I went shopping for some lip gloss to cheer it up. I haven't tried CANMAKE before, but I always thought their products look very pretty. This red gloss (the colour is Lady Strawberry) caught my eye. Red lipstick is quite difficult to pull off, at least in my experience, but somehow a gloss is much easier and has a far softer effect. 

What do you think? The top picture is without the gloss, and the bottom one is with. I definitely think my complexion looks brighter with the lip gloss! You only need to apply a little to to get this colour and it has a nice moisturing effect since it's formulated with hyaluronic acid, honey extract and shea butter.

I'm sure I'll get something form CANMAKE again, perhaps an eyeshadow set since they also look so cute! Here's their English website, if you are interested:

http://www.canmake.com/en/index.html

****

I've been working on a few things lately, for example a new hair tutorial, photoshoots, and an autumn themed hat for the Triple Fortune Tea Party! Aviva and I are going this weekend, I'm so excited! Please look forward to these future posts :)

See you next time,

Sapphira

xxxx

下北沢 Shimokitazawa

Good afternoon readers!

How are you? My school started this week, and I felt an earthquake for the first time! I thought at first the boy behind me was kicking my seat, then I noticed that everything else in the room was shaking too. It's quite different to how I imagined; rather than the earth itself moving, it feels like someone has picked you up and is shaking you about! I was a bit frightened, but it was only a tiny one. At least I'll be more prepared next time.

Also, I got some cards from modelling and talent agencies... but I think learning Japanese takes more priority at the moment! These type of things can sometimes be scams, or the wrong sort of modelling, so until I feel more settled here it's best to be careful. I sure many foreigners in Tokyo get approached for the same thing, so if it happens to you, please take care.

However, if a lolita brand asks me I'm saying yes for sure!

(Just in case some designer is reading this....)

Today I wanted to share some pictures I took with my friend in Shimokitazawa. This neighbourhood is great for used clothing shops, and there's a branch of my favourite 300yen shop Mikazuki Momoko. It's also home to Grand Bazaar Lolita, which has lovely second-hand Jane Marple, Emikyu and Juliette, as well as bits and pieces of other loli brands.

Here's a rather washed-out picture of me wearing shiro loli outside the shop:

~Outfit Rundown~

Onepiece, ribbon: Handmade

Bag: Metamorphose

Necklace: Innocent World

I just realised how funny the jeans on the right are! The lolita section of Grand Bazaar is only a small (but lovely) part of the shop, the lower floor has brands like Journal Standard, axes femme, franche lippee and sometimes Jane Marple Dans le Salon (although that also lives upstairs with the other JM stuff). There's also a mens floor and some higher end brands.

The purikura near the station is only 300yen! I really like this machine called "Milk Beauty". Magically I became 10 years old, with super-fair skin! My friend wrote "Who do you think we are" as this machine completely transformed her face... I think the real one is better, but this is also very cute! Since it was so cheap, we also tried "Lady in Tokyo" but I prefer the other one.

Have you ever seen this cleaning robot?

It's sooo cute! It scoots around the floor by itself, polishing as it goes. It made the floor of this arcade very shiny indeed. Good work, cleaning robot!

You can find Grand Bazaar Lolita's homepage here:

http://www.grandbazaar.jp/lolita/

I hope you enjoyed this post! See you next time~

Straw half-bonnet tutorial

Hello readers! How are you? 

As you can see, I've changed Elegant Poupée's appearance a little. It still needs some work though.

Today I've put together a tutorial for you. I'll explain how I made the straw half-bonnet I wore for my recent photoshoot (it's very simple!) as well as sharing some general bonnet tips.

~STRAW HALF-BONNET TUTORIAL~

This bonnet was constructed from an existing straw hat. There are just five simple steps to make it.

I started with an ordinary straw hat. This one is quite small, meant for children to decorate for Easter. It's constructed in a continuous strip of woven straw, which makes it very easy to work with. This tutorial may not work as well for other types of straw hats!

1. The first thing to do is cut a slit into the brim and up to the crown. Then cut away the top part of the crown (half-bonnets have no back to them). Cut along the edge of the woven strip for a neat finish. It sort of looks like a half bonnet already, doesn't it?

2. Now we have to determine how much of the brim to cut away. I did this by cutting away at the brim bit by bit and trying it on until I was happy with it. This is what I ended up with. You can refer to the photo at the beginning of the post to see what size we are aiming for.

3. Of course, we are now left with rough edges where we have cut into the straw. We'll cover those up by stitching ribbon or bias binding around. As you can see, I incorporated the bonnet ties into the binding. At this point, the bonnet is basically finished! That was easy, wasn't it?

4. We are missing one important thing though, and that is a little decoration to make our bonnet pretty. Since it's a straw bonnet with a country loli feeling, flowers, fruit, cotton lace or gingham ribbon might be nice. I coloured in these white foam craft roses with marker pens to match my chosen colour scheme, and tea-stained the doilies I bought from Daiso in Singapore to make my bonnet adornments.

5. Since the shape of the bonnet has somewhat unsightly corners, it's better to arrange the decoration to cover them. Although, the corners are much less noticeable when worn. Sew or glue your decorations on firmly. Well done, your straw half-bonnet is finished!

My tutorial was the cheat's way to do it, but if you'd like to try something a bit more professional, how about taking a look at this lovely tutorial from Tyler of Lily of the Valley?

Bonnets take a bit of confidence to wear, so for now I'm starting small and simple. I would love to wear a more grand bonnet for a photoshoot or Lolita tea party! Maybe when I've gained more confidence I'll wear one for going to buy milk or post a letter.... There are a few brands whose bonnets make me dream of that day!

Triple Fortune http://3-f.jp/

The milliners that make a classic lolita's heart beat faster! I tried on a most beautiful pale blue bonnet in Atelier Pierrot two summer ago, I regret so much that I didn't get it. 

Ophanim http://ophanimgothique.blogspot.co.uk/

A brand run by Caro of Fyeah Lolita. Check the bonnet gallery for pictures of her wonderful creations! 

Kaleido Waltz http://yaplog.jp/kaleidowaltz/

The website hasn't been updated forever, so I suspect this brand is on hiatus. However we can still enjoy beautiful pictures of these lovely and intricate bonnets. Sumika-san, the designer, is so stylish! Perhaps you've seen her snap in KERA or Gothic and Lolita Bible?

Thank you very much for reading today's entry. I hope you found it useful and perhaps even interesting! Which bonnet brands do you admire? Do you know what happened to Kaleido Waltz? Have you made any bonnets?

See you next time,

Sapphira

xxxx

The name of the ROSE

Hello readers! How are you enjoying your weekend?

I'm having a photoshoot with Lauren Pinhorn Photography tomorrow, I can't wait! I'll share the photos with you as soon as possible.

Today I will tell you about ASAGI of D's original bath salts!

My friend Yami No Geisha recommended this product to me. She has written a very nice review of it which you can read here. I love to take baths, and I love roses, and I love D, so I had to try it!

As you can see, it's called "The name of the ROSE" like D's album and the pretty packaging features lots of beautiful red roses. The scent is "rose garden".

In the box you get five sachets of bath salts. Also included is a photocard of the band wearing their Schwarzschild costumes which is very nice apart from the awkward photoshop of poor Ruiza! He could carry a tea tray on his head if it was really that flat.

The ingredients include rose hip oil, rose water, wild rose essence, hyaluronic acid and collagen. Lots of lovely things for your skin! The last two seem to be very popular ingredients in Japanese skincare at the moment.

Since my friend had praised this product so much I couldn't wait to use it! I wasn't disappointed at all. As she said, the scent is very natural, a kind and gentle rosy smell. Sometimes rose scents can be too sickly sweet, like rose syrup, but this was very delicate.

However, it does rather look like rose syrup (Malaysian and Singapore readers- it's like taking a bath in bandung!) Luckily this pretty shade of pink does not leave any trace apart from a delicious rose smell, but at the time I was worried that my mother would see the water and accuse me of ruining her bathroom! 

Although the colour looks strong, the bath was pleasant and mild on my skin and had a nice moisturising effect. Of course, everyone's skin is different but I do think that this is a high quality product. I had a lovely and relaxing bath and felt so pretty afterwards with this beautiful scent!

So there you have it, not only is ASAGI a talented musician but he makes wonderful bath salts too! Many thanks to Yami No Geisha for the tip.

You can buy The name of the ROSE bath salts from cooljapan store here, or if you're in Japan from ASAGI's brand Rosen Kranz.

Thanks for reading! 

Vintage Shopping for the Lolita Part One: Where to go in England

Hello dear readers!

How are you this weekend? I hope you're having fun.

Some time ago I asked for some suggestions about how to improve this blog, and there was a request for some more information about where I get my vintage items from. If you read the rundowns of my outfit posts you'll notice a lot of vintage pieces listed! I have always bought second-hand clothes and appreciated their history, and nowadays I think they lend themselves very well to the antique style of classic lolita.

Since this is a subject I have a lot of enthusiasm about I've decided to make a series of posts about Vintage Shopping for the Lolita. Of course, due to my personal taste I can't help things being more geared towards classical style, but I hope that these posts will have something to offer to all lolitas and also to any person interested in vintage clothes.

This first post is about my favourite places to go vintage shopping here in the south of England. I've managed to go to second-hand shops in more exotic locations too but I'll leave that for another time.

1. Brick Lane, London

This area has a huge number of vintage boutiques as well as weekend markets which are great places to find a bargain. I like Rokit which has a couple of shops close to each other. There's a mix of different styles and eras, the clothes are in good condition and are cleaned before being put into the shop (this is not always the case in Brick Lane!) and the prices are reasonable. The selection of dresses and bags is particularly nice. If you are looking for a really stunning vintage piece, I highly recommend This Shop Rocks. Their speciality is ladylike clothing, from beautiful, delicate Edwardian gowns to adorable 50s circle skirts. 

Rokit

101 & 107

Brick Lane

London E1 6SE

This Shop Rocks

131 Brick Lane

London E1 6RU

This polka dotted dress was bought at a Saturday market in Brick Lane

2. Lewes, East Sussex

This historical town boasts a number of flea markets, antique shops, antiquarian bookshops and a Norman castle. I like to go to The Needlemakers, where in the basement there are several antique/vintage shops. There's usually a Judy Garland record playing, another good reason to go! As well as clothes from every decade there are also ornaments, perfume bottles, books, records, make-up, costume jewelery and so on. 

The Needlemakers

West Street

Lewes BN7 2NZ

Black handbag from a flea amrket in Lewes

3. North Laine, Brighton, East Sussex

I grew up and live just outside Brighton, so this is my home ground. North Laine is quite a famous area filled with unique shops of every kind as well as cafes and even a toy museum. My old favourite is Snooper's Paradise, a flea market. I think it's getting nicer and nicer in terms of vintage clothing! The upper floor is now filled with lovely dresses and blouses and skirts and there are several clothing stalls downstairs too. In recent years there have been more and more vintage shops springing around North Laine. One of the nicest I think is Kate & Aud, which has lovely feminine items. The shop itself is rather pretty and classic lolita-ish inside. 

Snooper's Paradise

7-8 Kensington Gardens

Brighton BN1 4AL

Kate & Aud

27 Trafalgar Street

Brighton BN1 4ED

Bag from Kate & Aud

4. Charity shops, everywhere

Charity shops are a fixture in most British towns, and I love them! You never know what you might find- some days it will be nothing but sparkly tops with half the sequins off and giant bobbly sweaters, another day your heart will skip a beat when you discover among those sweaters a blouse with perfect lace or a beautiful summer dress.

I found this pretty dress among the Halloween costumes in a charity shop!

I hope you enjoyed this post! I know that not all my blog readers live in the UK, but if you have the chance to visit perhaps this might come in useful. The next time I write about vintage clothes I think I'll share some general tips for vintage shopping, what do you think? Is there anything you'd like to ask?

Thanks for reading and see you next time!

Sapphira

xxxx

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 キャンディ

This series is the cutest I’ve ever watched! If you are fond of 19^th 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 18^th century history fans!

6. Paradise Kiss (2005)

パラダイス キス

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 20^th 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