Not Quite Make-Up Monday

A slight deviation from cosmetics but since I just had to place an order to refill my favorite perfume.

It is L’Occitane’s Ruban d’Orange Eau De Toilette.

 

It is, unfortunately, discontinued here in the States but thankfully ebay has once again helped me out for about the same price as retail. Hopefully it is permanent in Hungary though since it is my signature scent and I've got a friend in Hungary. This scent has special meaning to me actually, I bought my first bottle while in Las Vegas for my 21st so every time I wear it I think of that wonderful trip.

The scent is a very woody with a citrus background. It is very classical lolita to be honest. The scent is sweet but just barely so and, as like all my favorites, has a scent like an old Provencal church. Were it not for the bright citrus it would be perfect happy as a gothic scent.

Price: $45
Size: 100ml
Packaging: 4/5
It is juuuuust inside the limits allowed by the TSA so it takes up space when I travel but the bottle is gorgeous. And luckily it isn’t any bigger so I CAN take it with me when I travel.
Quality: 4/5
It last for a decent amount of time but not quite to the end of the day. It does last in the bottle for at least two years though, maybe longer since I ran out before it went bad.
Value: 5/5
It is the first perfume I’ve ran out of before it went bad. Which is something considering most other perfumes I buy are much smaller than 100ml. The price for the amount is not bad at all.
Overall: 4.33/5
I wish they had offered a smaller bottle for travel and it would last on the skin maybe an hour or two longer but definitely my favorite perfume I’ve found.

Make-Up Monday: Chanel

Since lolita is about looking pretty I thought I might throw in some make-up reviews. I know I like reading about people’s experiences with different products so why not help out?

I’ll start with one of my favorite eye shadows in the whole world but I must preface this with a statement about my make-up buying habits. Anything which I know I will use a lot/everyday and will last I am willing to pay some serious money for. There really is something about using quality cosmetics in the morning which starts the day right.

My favorite everyday shadow is Chanel’s Les 4 Ombres in Tentation Cuivrée.

In English it basically means that it is a quad in “Copper Temptation”

I bought this somewhat on a whim, over the holidays my local Belk had the Chanel make-up artists over a few times and I was looking for something pretty for the holidays. As it turns out the “holiday special" has turned into my favorite and probably works better in my conservative career field than my previously regular charcoal briquette eyes. I’m actually surprised I like it so much since pink is something I avoid due to my face being a bit red.

What I was delightfully surprised by was the texture and how wonderful it is to work with. This is admittedly my first high end eye shadow purchase but wow! While $50 more dollars than I am used to spending on eyeshadow I am very happy with it. I’m not going to go clear out the Chanel counter of all their eye shadows but since I can try out shades before buying I can fall in love (or not) before handing over my money. I’m going to have to see if the nice girl at the counter will give me a few applicators next time I am there though since those can make any shadow nicer. It also doesn’t fade a bit, even at the end of the day it still is just like when I applied it (I do use an eye primer though but it is nothing too special).

So, here’s the breakdown:

Price: $56
Packaging: 5/5
The quad itself comes in a little velvet pouch and the shadows are held in place by a piece of plastic which is wonderful (as anyone who has had an eyeshadow brick turn into powder can tell you). Very nice and the gloss black packaging feels very sophisticated.
Quality: 5/5
Think of the finest and softest powder you’ve ever felt. That is what it feels like. It also stays on the eye.
Value: 4.5/5
It isn’t cheap but it is so nice. I’ll let you know how long it lasts, so far it has three months under its belt and has plenty left and doesn’t seem to be getting weird.
Overall: 4.83/5
It is wonderful, and if you’re looking for a warm toned brown/pink combo this is a marvelous choice.

Contest over at The Crow and the Powderpuff

http://ladycrowx.blogspot.com/2011/01/pretika-sonic-dermabrasion-facial-brush.html

It is a simple entry make-up give away. She posts a lot of pretty make-up looks too although they are not lolita. :)

I will also be starting a new weekly post on Monday with the theme of cosmetics.

Describing "Lolita"

Going off loliprompts, I felt this would be a fun one. When someone asks about lolita, what do I tell them it is?

It is very easy for me actually, I never call it lolita unless the person asking is asking in a way which expresses interest in joining the lolita community. To anyone else I simply say I’m wearing clothes; that I like pretty dresses. I could fully explain things, yes, but most of the time I’m explaining things in passing. They want a sentence or two and I don’t want to sound like a special snowflake in those two sentences. I mean, you never know when this person you’re meeting in passing may be the hiring manager you have to talk to in a few weeks. I’m not accidentally ruining my chances of becoming a curator for the Smithsonian or Kennedy Space Center if I can help it. I rather make my clothing choice a non issue, by responding sweet and simply I help others see that my clothes may be a little different but it is they that are making it weird and not me.

This is probably best illustrated when I tell my friends and family I happen to be busy on a given day for a loli meet-up. All of them are fine with the fashion but my family is a bit uncomfortable with the term lolita so I simply say:

“I’ve got a frilly, girly party to go to.” :)

While I love lolita and am happy to talk about it I am a Southern lady and know there are times when you say things in different ways to keep everyone comfortable and better communicate your actual meaning. “Bless his heart” is used to politely say someone has just done something not so bright; it keeps the peace. “Detailed oriented dresses with vintage/historic influences” keeps people from thinking I’m some sort of pedo as opposed to lolita. It is unfortunate we have this name which most people know from something unsavory and I think it is a choice all of us have to make as to when we address the fashion by name.

My Lolita Wardrobe

I'm not used to having such a small closet, most of my lolita is on the far left but some things I wear day to day is mixed in with the rest.

Let's start with tops:



All are off brand. Haven't used the navy regimental stripe one yet. Trying to figure out what to pair it with.



Again all offbrand



Offbrand too. Love both of them though.

And now to bottoms:



Vintage jodhpurs and an offbrand tea length skirt.



My first loli skirt and my first brand skirt. I absolutely love olivey/warm greens.



Home made skirts. The one on the right is a Victorian ice skaters print.



More home made skirts. The left I made solely so I could make use of the Green Hornet shirt I got at SDCC since L is huuuge on me. The one on the right is Tron Legacy themed. I wanted something to wear while doing ARG stuff and a loli skirt is easy to run in(easier than a Madame d'Pompadour costume anyways).

And here are my jsks:



Bodyline, vintage and one I got on comm_sales from pomelosplace



Home made. Okay, so a skirt/bolero set and a jsk but I liked having my Corvette stuff together. That is the back of the skirt since it is more fun than the front. It also needs a pressing and new lettering on the back (it mimics the rear of a Corvette so it should read Corvette between the brake lights).

Bloomers:



All home made. And yes, the bottom left are Corvette bloomers. Mayhaps you sense a theme concerning my interests?

Bags/feet/Accessories:



Both offbrand. I'm working on finding some better loli purses.



All offbrand. And all heels excepting the burgundy flats, grey/black booties and the riding boots.



My meager collection of off brand socks. I prefer stockings or leggings and those are boring to photograph.



Headgear and my stole. The black bow with netting, cloche and bowler (the flower is a clip I got in the craft exchange) are offbrand, the silver hat thing and autumn mini top hat are homemade. The other mini top hat and orange flower clip were gifts, the stole is vintage taken off my main loli coat (which isn't pictured but is a camel coloured wool wrap coat) and the fascinator I got at a craft fair at the Santa Anita racetrack.



The hankies and brown gloves are vintage, the others are offbrand as are all the belts and two of the ties. The other ties are Bodyline. I love the belt that looks like a vest a lot.

And Jewelry. Unless otherwise stated it is offbrand:



The Heartless brooch was a present from a friend of mine in college and the cameo is vintage.





The necklace with the Jerusalem pendant is handmade. The pendant was a Mont Gisard day present from a colleague/friend. My goal is to get a jewel toned blue and green and cornflower blue coord together just to got with it.



First is homemade, second was from the same craft exchange as the flower clip (and matches my blue/pink floral jsk fabulously) and third is one I've had for years and was a present from my grandparents. :)

And done! A few things didn't show up here, my petti and overcoat live in the coat closet and are pretty plain. My black short sleeve blouse and long sleeve white blouse are both in my closet, I just forgot them since they are mingled with my regular shirts right now and the green plaid skirt/capelet set from Bodyline is packed up somewhere. Probably the same place my Corvette brooch, Firebird emblem ring and sonic screwdriver wandered off to.

First Post: A Shiny New Layout!

I went with a Valentino Rossi lolita theme. It is February and with a name like Valentine Red how would it not be perfect?

And MotoGP is starting soon, can't wait for the season to get under way!

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