Handmade Jewelry Projects (+ How To!)

As an emerging sweet lolita, I am realizing that jewelry is quite important in sweet style coords. Rings, necklaces, earrings, brooches, and hair clips make the main piece pop and bring out all the more cuteness. I was torn, though, as jewelry (even second hand) can be quite expensive).

I was cleaning out my craft cabinet the other day and found a set of very cute plastic charms. I ordered them off of Amazon a few years ago when I was interested in decora, but I soon realized the style wasn't for me. As I looked through the charms, I thought that some of these would be perfect to make accessories out of!

My first project idea was to make rings. They turned out wonderfully and I'm so pleased. I also really enjoyed making them! Here's how I did it.

What you will need:

• Cute plastic charms. I got mine on Amazon (search "slime charms" or similar) but you can look at your local craft store or make your own with polymer/air dry clay! I might recommend glazing them if you do make your own.
• Ring blanks. I purchased mine from Bead Landing at Michael's (American craft store). They were $4.99 USD for four rings in gold and silver. There was a cheaper option but the quality did not appear as good.
• Bead glue. I used Beadalon BeadFix Gel from Michael's. Super glue or hot glue will not work in my experience.

Assembling is very easy once you have the materials! Read and follow the instructions on your bead glue. My glue instructed me to apply it on one surface and hold it both items together until it sets. It also instructed me to protect surfaces, so be careful with your clothes and work areas.

I additionally purchased alligator clips to make some clothing/hair clips! I modeled some after some of my new pieces and some for just general cuteness/motifs that I enjoy :) To make the gluing process easier, I clipped the alligator clips to the plastic card that came with the ring blank packaging. That way, I didn't accidentally glue the clip shut and there was less of a chance of me getting it on my hands.

My second project was bead bracelets inspired by my dresses! I have done this once before with my To Alice Ice and Snow Doll JSK but now I've gotten more skilled in sizing the bracelets correctly. I used a bead kit that I purchased from Amazon (again, it was meant to be used to kandi/decora accessories but I found the style wasn't for me). I used text beads to "write" the name of the dress or motif and decorated it with matching colored beads. Why can't sweet lolita coords include kandi style bracelets? I don't see why not, I'm going to try it!

"Little Bunny" for AP's Little Bunny Strawberry OP, "Rosita Cherry" for Bodyline's Rosita Cherry Heart JSK, and "strawberry" for all my strawberry prints <3

My third ongoing project is a necklace. I got a resin advent calendar as a present for the holidays. Each day you could make a new resin ice cream! I found a lavender ice cream set and made that one, sticking an anchor hook in the top before it dried so I could hook it to a chain/string.

Give it a try! I hope you enjoy making your own jewelry too.

With love,

Poppy

Lolita Fashion: More Than Shopping and Dressing Up

Hello everyone! I am falling hard back into lolita fashion after more than a year of hiatus! However, I have spent a lot of time and money shopping lately as I haven't been able to dress up. This made me think: what can I do with lolita fashion that doesn't involve shopping or dressing up? I created this list in hopes it can help you and me!

I tried to make this list as lone-lita friendly as possible (as I am a lone-lita). There are a few suggestions that involve more than one person, but the majority of the list should be things you can do by yourself or as a group. I hope you enjoy it!

1. Plan coordinates. Look here to get inspiration for categories. Thank you Fluffy Tori!
2. Create flatlays and/or dress up your mannequin
3. Organize your wardrobe
4. Photograph your wardrobe and make a digital version
5. Clean items and remove stains
6. Reflect on your previous coordinates. How would you make them better? Would you wear them again?
7.  Plan your next lolita outing. What will you wear? What will you do? Where will you go?
8. Prioritize your wardrobe. Then, list any unwanted or infrequently used items on a second hand sales platform
9. Style your wigs (if you have any)
10. Create your own accessories
11. Find inspiration for your coords on social media, in magazines, or wherever you enjoy most
12. Chat with EGL friends
13. Join an EGL Facebook group or Discord server
14. Make/organize your wishlist
15. Make a scrapbook of your previous coords. Decorate it with cute stickers, tape, and souvenirs! If you don't have any cute stickers or souvenirs, doodle in colorful pens, crayons, or markers
16. Dewrinkle/steam items
17. Create a lolita fashion blog or update it if you have one
18. Organize/update your lolita social media account if you have one. Should your bio or links be updated? Are there any photos you want to delete or archive?
19. Edit photos of coords for scrapbooking or posting
20. Make a list of places you want to visit/events you want to attend in lolita
21. Plan a tea party (virtual or in person)
22. Plan a twinning with friends
23. Practice doing makeup/your hair in cute styles
24. Do your nails in a cute color/style (maybe match your favorite dress!)
25. Layout a coordinate in a style/color you don't normally work with (or with a piece you don't commonly wear)
26. Find a wardrobe challenge and answer the questions/prompts
27. Practice walking in your most difficult shoes
28. Mend pieces, i.e. any rips, tears, loose buttons, etc.
29. Practice styling accessories
30. Clean out your bag(s) and load them with lolita friendly essentials (makeup, tissues, water bottle, bolero, etc.)

Feel free to add your own ideas to this list as well! Be creative and have fun!

With love,

Poppy

How To Make The Most of Lace Market

Lace Market is a selling platform specifically designed for lolita fashion. You can find both new and second hand items here. It's a great sustainable place to shop in my experience! Whether you are new or experienced with this platform, I hope this information can be helpful to you.

Lace Market logo (Credit: Lace Market Circlly)

1. Use the filters (especially with a key word)

In my experience, I've learned that filters are your best friend when browsing Lace Market. There are so many filters to choose from and you can use them in combination. Some of my favorites are color, seller location, and price.

You can turn on filters via "Advanced Search" (no search term required) or "Filter Results" (search term required).

I recommend selecting no more than three filters per search. If you select more than three, your search may be too narrow and you may not find the items you seek. In contrast, too few or no filters may cast the net too far so to speak. If you find your searches producing too little or too many results, try adjusting your filters.

I also love using filters plus key words. My personal favorite is "strawberry" (no surprise there) with color, location, and price filters on. Try this yourself! Search a motif you are looking for (bunny, toy, perfume, etc.), select your filters, and search. You may be surprised at what comes up!

2. Look for the "Make Me An Offer!" button

This button is often very subtle or not present in most listings. However, this button is your friend when you can find it. (It can be found in lavender lettering to the upper left of the "Place Bid/Buy It Now" buttons.)

This means that the seller is open to negotiation! Before messaging the seller, be sure to draft a polite offer. Below is a sample I tend to use when offering:

Title: (Item Name) Offer (or Inquiry)

Hello! I am interested in your (item name). May I offer (desired price)? Thank you for your consideration!

Additionally, be respectful. Low balling is disrespectful to both the seller and yourself. Always review the terms of sale of the seller before sending your offer as sellers may have unique terms regarding negotiations. If they refuse, thank them and move on. It may be upsetting, but it is the best course of action.

I've only worked up the courage to offer recently. My first attempt worked and I hope it works for you! You may be able to negotiate a great price for a dream item!

3. Visit the Lolibrary links if they are provided

The Lolibrary links have saved me a few items from purchasing prints/cuts I didn't necessarily like (they can have better quality photos of the print/design than the seller), but most importantly, items that would not fit me.

Sometimes sellers display the print but not the size to hook you. I've found two early 2010s AP skirts that I would love to own, only to look at the Lolibrary links and find that they would not fit me. Neither seller listed the measurements in their listings, so I'm glad I took a look and didn't end up disappointed.

You can also look at the original listed price of the item to make sure you aren't being scalped or excessively overcharged for an item.

If you like the print but don't like the cut, you can also search Lolibrary for a different cut of the print to add to your wishlist.

4. Use the "Watch This" button

The "Watch This" button is basically the "you're too expensive to buy now but I'd love to buy you if you're less expensive later" button. Or, it is the "I'm not entirely sure I can commit to you but I'll keep you in mind for later". Perfect for both scenarios!

Lace Market with send you emails about price drops for watched items. Furthermore, all watched items become part of a private list just for you that shows you the time left in the auction, the price and price drop (if applicable), and if the item is ever sold/unsold.

It's really a great feature for everyone of any budget and style!

5. Browse "price drops" and "ending soon" categories

My logic: price drops and ending soon auctions will likely have sellers who are more willing to negotiate. These categories can both be found if you scroll down on the home page. You might also find some great deals! Be careful, though, and don't make offers to anyone who lists in their listings and/or terms of sale that they are not open to offers.

Even if you can't afford the item, put it on your watch list for later. Then, when the seller relists it, you will be notified on the chance the price drops. In my experience, not every auction but a good amount of them drop prices on relists. Then you can snatch it up!

Bonus: Use saved searches

Saved searches saves time and button pressing. If you find that you search something frequently, set it as a "saved search". Saved searches are stored on your account so you can easily click two buttons versus five or more setting filters. You can choose whether to be notified or not, and Lace Market will send you emails on your set schedule (from daily every three months, I believe) containing the results from your saved search.

I sincerely hope these tips and tricks help you! I wish you all your dream pieces at the right price just for you <3

With love,

Poppy

Where to Buy Lolita Fashion

After seeing an amazing reel the other day by Instagram user @sweetmaybelle, I would like to share it here as well as the shops she mentions! I added a few of my own additions, too. All credit for the reel goes to her.

This list is only a small fraction of the shops out there, so be sure to do your own research! If you would like to add a shop or brand, please let me know and I will gladly do so.

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Big Brands

• Angelic Pretty Japan (@angelicpretty_official)*
• Angelic Pretty San Francisco (@angelicprettyusa)
• Angelic Pretty Paris (@angelicprettyparis)
• Baby, The Stars Shine Bright Japan (@babythessbofficial)*
• Baby, The Stars Shine Bright San Francisco (@baby.aatp)
• Alice and the Pirates San Francisco (@baby.aatp)
• Metamorphose Temps de Fille (@metamorphosetempsdefille)*
• Innocent World (@innocentworldofficial)*

*shopping service may be required

Taobao Brands (CC Cat, Diamond Honey, Dear Celine, etc.)*

• Glitzy Wonderland (@glitzywonderland)
• Lolita Wardrobe (@lolitawardrobeofficial)
• Devil Inspired (@devilinspiredofficial)
• All of the above websites have limited supply. To buy off of the official Taobao website, a shopping service is required.

*As mentioned by sweetmaybelle, some shops that sell Taobao items offer big brand replicas. Please do not purchase them! It is art theft and all profit goes to the thief, not the original designer. For more information, please see number eight on my post Ten Things a Beginner Lolita Should Know.

Indie/Small Businesses

• Lady Sloth (@ladyslothshop, Poland)
• Violet Fane (@violetfaneshop, Italy)
• Sleepyland Shop (@sleepyland.shop, USA)
• Meltywish (@_lizjuice_, Germany, for jewelry)
• Melikestea (@melikestea, Brazil, for petticoats)
• Cotton Candy Feet (@cottoncandyfeet, Brazil, for shoes and bags)
• Peppermint Fox (@pepfox, Australia, for pins)
• Dream Holic (@dream.holic/@dream_holic_usa, China, for wigs) (?)
• Lollipop Lullaby (@lollipoplullaby)
• Lily of the Valley (@lotvdesigns, USA)
• Fuwaya Lolita (@fuwaya_lolita, Singapore)
• Glitter Tale Lolita (@glittertale.official, Vietnam)
• The Black Ribbon (@theblackribbon, USA)
• The Angelic Forest (@angelicforest, USA)
• Eat Me Ink Me (@eatmeinkme, Latvia)
• R.R. Memorandum (@r.r.memorandum, UK)
• Lolita Collective (@lolitacollective, USA). A great place because they specialize in collaborating with numerous small/indie lolita brands and ship worldwide!
• Check Etsy! Some small brands have Etsy shops. One of my favorite Taobao brands, Magic Tea Party (@magicteapartyofficial), even has an Etsy store.

Second Hand

• Harajuku Closet (@harajukuclosethamburg, Germany)*
• Closet Child (@closetchild_online_shop, Japan)
• LaceMarket/EGL Circlly
• Onegaishi Shop (@onegaishi.shop, USA)
• Facebook sales groups
• Instagram highlights
• Discord sales (within community servers)
• Vinted
• Mercari
• Depop
• Japanese second hand markets (Fril.jp, Yahoo actions)**
• Chinese second hand markets**

*They sell new items, too!

**shopping service required

Shopping Services

Most Japanese shops and some Chinese shops don't sell to people overseas. Therefore, a shopping service will offer to purchase the item for you for a fee and then ship it to you. I highly recommend reading more here. Always review a company's policies and fees before doing business with them!

Japanese Shopping Services

• Buyee
• Celga
• From Japan
• Japonica Market
• Tenshi Shop (@tenshishopss)
• Tenso
• Zenmarket

Taobao Shopping Services

• Glitzy Wonderland (@glitzywonderland)
• Superbuy

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Note: All social media handles listed in this post are associated with Instagram.

With love,

Poppy

A Lolita Fashion Dictionary

Photo credit: Cat Can Lolita

I have compiled what I believe are the most common terms used in lolita fashion and created this post for newbies and experienced lolitas alike. I hope you enjoy it. If you would like to add a word or submit a correction, please DM me on social media!

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Big Brand: A lolita fashion brand affiliated with a major company. Opposite of indie brand.

Bolero: A light jacket usually worn over a JSK for modesty or to keep warm. Used in spring, summer, and fall.

Community: A group of lolitas that live in similar geographical areas or share similar interests or styles come together to form "communities". These communities often have meetups and tea parties together, online or in person.

Coord/Coordinate: An outfit a lolita puts together, usually including a JSK, SK, or OP; blouse (if necessary), bag, accessories, legwear, and shoes.

Cutsew: Abbreviated form of cut and sewn, referring to clothing made out of jersey fabric.

EGL: Elegant Gothic Lolita; the branch of fashion that lolita exists in.

High Waist: Some lolita dresses come in a variety that is considered "high waisted". There are usually two types of high waist: regular and breast high. This waist type is usually created with an Asian body type in mind.

Indie Brand: A small, independent lolita fashion brand that is not affiliated with a major company. Opposite of big brand.

JSK: Jumperskirt; the most common type of lolita dress (usually with thin straps) that a lolita wears a blouse under. It can be long or short length.

KC: A headband, often with a large bow. They are usually designed with the same pattern of a dress and are therefore sold together. It is short for katyusha.

Low Waist: Also known as drop waist or normal waist, low waisted dresses typically align with the waist of an individual with a Western body type. In other words, the bodice is longer than in high waist dresses.

Meetup: A casual gathering where two or more individuals wear lolita together to go shopping, go to museum, have tea, or similar. Sometimes, this involves a theme, matching coordinates and/or dresses, or both.

Offbrand: An item that is not of any lolita fashion brand. It may originate from a second-hand store, Amazon, dollar store, etc., but it still holds the lolita aesthetic. These items are commonly used in daily coords.

OP: One piece; a dress that a lolita may wear without a blouse underneath.

OTKs: Over-the-knee socks.

OTT: Over-the-top; refers to lolita coordinates that contain more elements than what is considered typical, for example, the inclusion of extravagant petticoats, wigs, and accessories.

Print: The design on a lolita dress.

Salopette: A dress-like garment usually with two straps that are able to detach and adjust, similar to a pair of overalls. Usually, it is seen as a less formal version of a main piece.

SK: Skirt; worn with a blouse. Like salopettes, they are often seen as less formal than a JSK or OP.

Tea Party: A mass formal gathering of lolitas, usually involving a tea party and a fashion show. This can also refer to a smaller (but still formal) gathering such as a birthday party.

Twinning: When two or more lolitas wear the same coordinate or dress. This may be planned or unplanned.

Styles of Lolita

All credit for the images above belong to their rightful owners. Left to right: classic lolita, sweet lolita, gothic lolita.

Now that you are an expert in casual lolita expression, now I can elaborate on the various styles of lolita. There are numerous styles, but they are usually grouped into three common categories:

Classic: Classic lolita fashion is best described as mature, elegant, and refined. It is additionally more historically inspired than other styles. Solid dresses are common, but classic prints often include themes such as crowns, portraiture, classical paintings, flowers, music, and scenery. Common colors include burgundy, navy, brown, green, cream, and ivory. Popular brands that produce classic pieces include Victorian Maiden, Mary Magdalene, Innocent World, and Juliette et Justine.

Gothic: Gothic lolita is inspired by, hence the name, goth culture. It is mature and dark. Black is the most common color, but other dark colors are also included on occasion. Common prints include ravens, crosses, graveyards, dolls, and classical paintings. Moi-Meme-Moitie, Atelier Pierrot, and Atelier Boz all produce gothic pieces.

Sweet: Sweet lolita is the possibly the most common style of lolita. It is a whimsical, "kawaii" way of dressing. Prints often include cute motifs such as animals (notably bunnies and cats), desserts, seashells, girly objects (perfume, makeup, etc.), ribbons, fruit, and toys. Common colors include lots of pastels: lavender, pink, light blue (sax, short for saxon blue), white, yellow, and mint; black and brown are less common. Popular brands that produce sweet lolita include Angelic Pretty, Baby, The Stars Shine Bright, and Metamorphose Temps de Fille.

Other substyles include, but are not limited to:

• Country
• Ero (love-inspired)
• Guro (grotesque)
• Hime (princess)
• Kuro (all black)
• Old School (original version of the fashion, before prints were common)
• Ouji (prince, boy-like style)
• Sailor
• Shiro (all white)
• Steampunk
• Wa/Qi (traditional Chinese or Japanese style)

I truly hope this helps! If you enjoy this post, please consider commenting or giving my blog a follow.

Remember, anyone can wear lolita fashion, regardless of body type, age, nationality, gender, etc. If you are interested in it, go for it! Do what makes you happy. <3

With love,

Poppy

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Sources and Further Readings:

Classic Lolita - Link

Sweet Lolita - Link

Gothic Lolita - Link

Ten Things a Lolita Should Always Carry

As it was highly requested via my social media poll, I have decided to compile a list of ten things I believe all lolitas should carry when they are out and about!

Please don't take this list as absolute. Everyone's lifestyle and view of the fashion is very personal, so feel free to change, leave out, or adjust the items on the list as you feel necessary. Enjoy! I hope this helps you.

All credit for the above image belongs to the rightful owner.

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1. Phone or Camera

This may seem like a given, but a phone or camera is essential for taking photos! No matter how many years you have been in the lolita fashion community, you'll learn that everyone loves taking photos of their coordinates, tea party, or twinning. Lolitas put a large amount of work into their fashion, so nothing is better than seeing it paying off!

2. Pins

Both clothes and hair pins can help you in a pinch. Wig slipping? Pin it! Zipper on your dress broke? Pin it! Windy day and a floppy bonnet? Pin it! You can also help your friends prevent embarrassing wardrobe accidents.

3. Bag

Where are you going to store all of these items? In a bag or purse of course! Just remember to choose a bag based on the occasion. If you are going shopping, bring a larger bag or pack other reusable bags to use if necessary. If you are just carrying your wallet and phone, a small bag is perfect.

4. A "No Photos/Video" Sign

Hopefully, you will not need to use this very often. However, if there is a suspicious individual that is taking pictures or videos of your without permission, it is always good to subtly slip out the sign as a warning. There are plenty on Amazon or you can make your own. I would personally recommend creating a keychain out of it to hang on your bag. Keep it to the inside, but if you start to feel uncomfortable, turn it outwards for the offender to see. Even if it may not stop them, it is a form of deterrent.

5. Umbrella/Parasol

You never know when you might need one! It can protect you from rain in spring and fall, sun in summer, and snow/sleet in the winter. It can also shield you from unwanted photos. I use a parasol that has both UV and rain protection for all occasions. If you are afraid of it being too bulky or it being a burden to carry, look for compact umbrella that can fit into your bag or purse.

6. Spare Shoes

I cannot say how many times I have heard of shoes breaking or completely disintegrating right in the middle of an event. Slipping a cute pair of flats into your bag can prevent you from the "most embarrassing behavior" of having to wear flip flops or normie shoes for the rest of the time. Then, you can just easily repair the shoes or toss them depending on the amount of damage sustained. If you are afraid about getting your other items or your bag dirty, use a shower cap and place the flats inside to catch all contaminants.

7. A Light Bolero or Jacket

Even though this is mainly for spring and fall, you never know when you need one! It's always good to be prepared. If you are chilly, slip it on. If you are hot, take it off. It won't take up much room in your bag and it will maintain your comfort while you are out and about.

8. Toiletries

This category mostly refers to makeup, as touch-ups are necessary if you want to look your best! However, even if you don't wear makeup, it is a good to have travel size versions of things like hand sanitizer, wipes, hand cream, etc. If you go to café, for instance, bring your lipstick or gloss. If it is an outdoor picnic in summer, bring powder, a hairbrush, and blotting paper. Also, carry a small mirror with you, because having your false lashes come off or lipstick smear without anyone telling you is quite embarrassing!

9. Water

Sometimes wearing lolita fashion can become quite warm! It is always good to have a small bottle of water with you to keep hydrated, especially at outdoor events. Purchase a small reusable water bottle from your local store and keep it in your bag when going out. Simple and effective.

10. Mints

This goes without saying. I recommend mints and not gum because gum chewing is (usually) not very cute. It is also good to have one after a meal.

Bonus: A Mask 

Still a necessity in several countries, masks are a health and safety requirement during this time. However, even if the mask mandate has been lifted where you live, they can provide protection against unwanted attention and photos. Simply slip on a cute designer mask (over your original when necessary) and enjoy your time!

Thank you for reading!

With love,

Poppy

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