Harajuku Fashion Walk/Vampire Cafe

Hello dear readers! Sorry for the lack of updates recently. I've been busy, but I will try to catch up from now on! I have lots of nice posts I want to write :)

This post about Harajuku Fashion Walk is very belated, because I wanted to time it with the broadcast of Cool Japan, who were filming it. It turns out that they didn't feature the walk very much in the program though, but there is apparently a glimpse of my friends so I will watch it later.

Here are members of the Tokyo International Lolitas that attended the walk (photo wickedly stolen  from Tokyo Fashion)

We all tried to go for a vampiric theme in honour of Ni (the beautiful gothic lady in the centre) as it was her last Fashion Walk before leaving Japan to continue her studies. I miss her!

I don't have much gothic in my wardrobe, so I tried a sort of retro/aristocratic look instead. 

I did something slightly different with my make-up too. I usually do a 'cute' look but this time I tried to make my face look sharp. I angled my brows a little upwards and drew thick winged eyeliner without any shading on the lower lid, to focus attention upwards. I also put blusher only on the outer part of my face to look a bit paler, and used red lipgloss for a vampiric look.

Well, I have to admit I don't particularly look like a vampire, but I quite liked this outfit!

Hat, stole, gloves: Vintage

Earrings: Vivienne Westwood

Onepiece: Handmade

Others: Offbrand

Here we are all walking down Omotesando:

And near the station, which is the first meeting point:

Top hats! 

Amazing ladies! I want to frame this picture to always remember how wonderful Lolita can be <3

The camera crew filming:

After the walk a couple of us got crepes. This was the first time I had eaten a crepe in Harajuku, can you believe it?

It was Ni's farewell party at the Vampire Cafe that evening. It was too dark for my camera to take good pictures, but I have to say it wasn't the most fantastic place I have ever been. Apparently we weren't in the best room, but I don't know that it would have been a great deal better. Also the waitress almost set me on fire by creeping up behind me with a flaming desert that ended up tasting of lighter fluid or something....

The menu was a bit unimaginative too (they just added 'vampire' to the name of the dish, or set it on fire it seemed), but at least my pasta was yummy! It had a tortilla bat on it. You can also see the coffin-shaped drink menu in this photo.

It was a very nice day, even if the restaurant wasn't quite up to scratch and even if we are not famous tv stars now! I hope you enjoyed reading about it.

See you next time,

Sapphira

xxxx

Lolita Trip to Yokohama (part the second)

Hello readers! It's time for the second installment of the Yokohama trip.

After the exhibition, we visted the Yamate district. Regular readers might recall that I went to the same area earlier this year, and I really recommend it! 

On this day, we visited one of the buildings I didn't go to before, Bluff 18 Ban-Kan.

There was a wedding fair being held inside, so there were a lot of lovely floral arrangements displayed.

These remind me a little of my outfit that day!

A cosy looking room....

We took outfit shots in the house, but we had to wear slippers inside!

After that, we walked down the famous Motomachi Street. That area had a big boom during the Showa era, and there are many foreign shops and boutiques located there which you won't come across elswhere in Japan. 

To be honest, it was such a strange feeling walking that street! The style of the buildings and the names of the shops were in many cases identical to ones in England. I felt as if I was walking down an ordinary English high street on a Saturday afternoon. Except all the shoppers were Japanese!!

They have Next! I never thought I'd see that in Japan....

A mock-Tudor building, what could be more ordinarily English?

It was great to visit somewhere outside of Tokyo for a change, I had a great day with the other lolis!

We took purikura after returning to Tokyo.

Thanks for a lovely day, everyone!

Sapphira

xxxx

Lolita Trip to Yokohama (part the first)

Hello readers! I'm going to split my photos from last weekend's outing into two posts, so here is the first:

So, last weekend, the Tokyo International Lolitas travelled to Yokohama to see an exhibition about the life of Marie Antoinette. Here's our group!

Many thanks to Sarah for the photo! I loved her tricorn hat and perfectly rococo hairstyle <3

The exhibition was very nice indeed, with a varied selection of things related to the queen, including portraits of her family, prints and engravings recording events of the time, small items like jewelery boxes and watch chains, some rather puzzling 'almanach des erotiques chantantes' (something like that) and some gorgeous reproduction dresses, which we were allowed to take photos of. I'll share them here!

I want to make this dress! The embroidery and textile work was so detailed and interesting.

An "English style" dress. Much more subdued and dignified compared to the other dresses on show. I can imagine wearing it quite comfortably. I'll take it!

Chemise a la Reine. I based my outfit on this style (see below). Marie Antoinette requested 'something simple' to wear at her retreat, Petit Trianon, and her dressmaker came up with this. At first people were shocked at such unqueenly attire (it looks a bit like 18th century underwear or 'chemise', which is how it got it's name) but the style really caught on and was worn throughout Europe. I absolutely love it! I'll take one of these too~

Super duper fancy dress! I could not fit in my apartment if I wore it :(

Now I'll show you my outfit:

Inspired by the chemise a la reine, I went for a pink and white colour scheme. My make-up is pink too, and I pencilled on a couple of beauty spots. Rococo ladies used to stick on silk ones, called mouches. I think I read somewhere that they also stuck on eyebrows made of mouse skin, but don't quote me on that one....

Full outfit:

~Rundown~

Headdress, onepiece: Handmade

Others: Offbrand and vintage

Here's a close-up of my headdress. I like the little spray of pearls! I can feel them waving about when I walk, haha.

I hope you enjoyed the photos! Look out for part two, coming soon~

Sapphira

xxxx

Otona coordinate

Hello dear readers! Hope you're all well.

Did anyone catch the last episode of Kawaii International? They showed my picture a few times during the competition segment! I was so excited when I saw it, and luckily my father happened to be in the room when it was on and saw it too! I was super happy that he got to see me. Also, I realised how cheerful and smiley U Kimura is! I always thought she was cute, but after seeing her personality I'm a big fan of her now.

Today's coordinate is very simple and quite mature, which is why I chose the title 'otona'. Otona means adult, and Japanese fashion magazines use it to describe sophisticated, mature style. 

~Rundown~

Blouse, skirt: Vintage

Fur chou-chou: Mikazuki Momoko

Shoes: Offbrand

Although it's simple, I chose items with volume and texture to add interest to the outfit (fur, ruffles, pleats)

Well, I certainly won't dress like this all the time, but now and again I'll try something different and think about how I can incorporate a new style or item into a lolita outfit. 

Thanks for looking and see you next time!

Sapphira

xxxxx

Rock x Classic.... maybe?

Hello dear readers!

Thank you very very much for all the lovely comments on my last entry. I was so happy to read them all :D I'll keep you posted on any further news!

Today I have a new coordinate to show you. I really want to try some new things with my style, and try to incorporate different influences into classical kei lolita.

Now, I really love rock music, but my image is very much a that of a 'good girl'. Not just my image in fact, but me! Yes, I'm definitely a goody two shoes, not rock'n'roll at all. However, I think I can find a middle ground that I'm happy with, and try my version of rock style....

~Rundown~

Pierce, lace tights- Vivienne Westwood

Jacket- Topshop

Blouse- Vintage

Skirt- Metamorphose temps de fille

I wore a skirt with a classical print, and coordinated with a blazer for a masculine edge. I also wore a vintage blouse with deep ruffles for a gorgeous effect.

I made an attempt at mori (voluminous/piled up) hair; my natural hair has a fluffy texture anyway, so I did an easy version and just pinned it all to one side. I like the effect actually, if I do it again I'll aim for more volume at the top and add some hairspray.

On the 'hairless side' I pinned one pale blue and one dark blue rose to match the ones on my skirt. 

So readers, if you were in a rock band, which part do you want to be? Vocal, guitar, bass or drums? 

Personally, I'd like to be the vocal! And I would like a mic stand decorated with blue roses..... What a shame I have no talent at singing!

I hope you liked my coordinate.

See you next time!

Sapphira

xxxx

Classical Lolita Coordinate ~what does a blue rose mean?

Hello readers!

How are you? It's the Easter long weekend at last. I've been so busy at work I've really been looking forward to this little holiday! This weekend I will spend time on my Japanese studies, and also on making some tutorials to post here.

Today I'd like to show you the outfit I wore to visit Chichester with my father. The colour scheme was blue and white, with my Marie Antoinette skirt as the focal point. With the dandy style of the blouse and the smart double breasted waistcoat I intended to give my classic lolita outfit a bit of an aristocratic flair.

~Rundown~

Blouse: Vintage

Skirt: Baby, the Stars Shine Bright

Corsage: Handmade

Everything else: Offbrand

My father loves books, so we spent a lot of time in bookshops that day. I got a little book on the language of flowers, which I've been meaning to learn more about for the longest time. I discovered that roses especially have very pretty meanings, for example the Austrian rose means "Thou art all that is lovely", and the China rose means "Beauty always new".

But what about a blue rose, like mine? Blue roses aren't natural unfortunately, but owe their hue to being placed in coloured water. I was rather sad to discover this! Still, they are my favourite.

I hope you liked my outfit! See you next time,

Sapphira

xxxx

Happy Birthday, Elegant Poupée

It's Elegant Poupée's first birthday!

I can hardly believe it was one year today that I started this blog. It has gone very quickly. I also can't believe how many followers I have now. Thank you very very much to all 195 of you! It means a great deal to me to think that there are so many people from all over the world who read my words and share my love for Lolita fashion. It's been wonderful to get to know you through your comments and your own blogs, and I hope we'll continue to get to know each other in this way!

I love blogging, and I hope I'll get better at it as time goes on. I feel quite proud that I have kept it up for a whole year, and now it feels as if blogging is part of my everyday routine. Thank you for your suggestions on improvements- I have a list of aims and a list of posts to write now, which I'll be working on. Thanks for all your support, which keeps my enthusiasm going and inpires me.

Today I have an outfit to show you! I must say, I quite like this one. I went to a maid café event yesterday, and I decided to dress up a bit. Black and white and ladylike was my inspiration!

~Rundown~

Hat- Vintage

Onepiece and sash- Handmade

Everything else- Offbrand

I've long admired those 18th century ladies with classical white dresses and black satin sashes, so I had that sort of an image in mind, which is why I added the hat. I also wanted to use black and white striped socks to add something a little unexpected.

I tied the sash in a bow at the back and fastened it with a brooch:

It would have been nice if the sash was longer! 

I had a pancake and tea at the café. The cute and lovely maid, Merry, wrote my name on the plate in chocolate sauce.

I'm very impressed that she did it so beautifully, since my loooong name must have been quite a challenge! We did a spell to make the pancake more delicious- "Oishikunare, moe moe kyun!" It seemed to work quite well.

Thanks again for all your comments, follows and support over this past year, and here's to many more years of Elegant Poupée!

Sapphira

xxxxx  

Degas and the Ballet: Picturing Movement

At the weekend I attended a Lolita meet-up to see an exhibition of Degas' ballet paintings. I had such a lovely time! It was wonderful to meet some Lolitas who I hadn't met before, and well as friends I hadn't seen for a while. It's been some time since I went to a meet-up; I particularly miss the chance to see and admire others' outfits!

I made my coordinate a little dancer-like with pale tights and shoes and my hair in a bun.

~Rundown~

Skirt- Fairy wish

Knit- Vintage

Everything else- Offbrand

Ballet is generally rather popular with Lolitas, and I'm no exception! I started to take lessons when I was four, but I stopped when I went to university. I do hope to take it up again. When it comes to exercise, I'm really not enthusiastic, but I love to dance! 

~Accessories~

The exhibiton covered some very interesting aspects of Degas' work that I hadn't considered before. Previously I liked the pretty and charming dancers who look so dainty in their wide sashes, and the way he captured the atmosphere of the perfomance. Looking at a painting of dancers waiting in the wings, you can feel the anticipation and excitement. However, observing the work on display, one can see the artist's development from these pretty sort of scenes to more dynamism and movement (as the title sugests!) It was quite fascinating to see how advances in photographic technology helped Degas to develop his technique. There were even examples of Degas' own photography! A series of three that he took of a dancer were particularly beautiful. 

I really recommend this exhibiton! You can find more information at the Royal Academy website HERE.

Thank you for reading and see you next time!

Sapphira