Yearly Wardrobe Post!

2011 Warbrobe post: http://principessadellafortilizi.blogspot.com/2011/02/my-lolita-wardrobe.html

I really in earnest started wearing lolita in 2009 when I finally took the plunge but before that I'd been doing lolita inspired since 2002ish (I can blame Cardcaptor Sakura for me finding/getting into lolita actually). I wish I'd done a wardrobe post in 2010 but I don't think I did. I did take pics so maybe in the future I'll do a retroactive wardrobe post.

But 2011 was a big year for me, I moved into some permanent digs so now my whole darn wardrobe is unpacked and I won't be moving for a few years (as opposed to at least once per year since 2006 which was strange since I'd never moved prior to that). Yay starting my professional, adult life. I also got to visit a brand store, the Baby store in San Francisco which was cool, discovered the gospel of socks. I also got off my duff and did some more sewing.

So, without further ado...

I wish I could paint my walls, stupid apartment rules!

My closet! I had some organdy and organza I'd wanted to use in home decor and thought that jazzed up my closet nice. My color theme for my bedroom is gold and navy and maple-ish furniture. On the shelf at the top of the closet are my two sterlite costume boxes to the sides, my petticoats chill on top of the left one, my bloomers sit next to it with my corset the the middle box holds my purses, shawls and assorted stuff (sling, suspenders, that kind of thing), next to that is a bag with the embroidery attachment for my sewing machine, then on top of the right most box are my wigs and wig stuff. My lolita stuff hangs mostly to the left, but there is some scattered in with the rest. And hidden to the left end of my closet is a hanging shelf thing with not hanging stuff... Some not interesting cutsews, stockings and such which I won't be taking pics of. But let's get on to the clothes:

JSK

Antique/Vintage

This is older, not sure how old but it is from Austria and at least older than the 50s from the tag design I think. I got this from Buffalo Exchange in Austin, TX. I saw it and was in love and didn't notice the butcher job on the skirt. In the top corner you'll see the roughly cut and horribly sewn hem. The back of the skirt is also way longer than the front. Whoever did such a hack job, shame on you. It is now one of my projects to fix. I'm thinking I'll end up bustling the front after I completely redo the hem.

This is vintage, I got it from Vintage Dreams in Covina, CA. It was a little more than I wanted to spend and I had to let the straps out the absolute most they would go but I love it. It is far more country lolita than the rest of my wardrobe but it is fun to do that sometimes.

Handmade By Me

Corvette JSK! The belt and the bow are new. Using those scraps! Still one of my favorite lolita pieces of all and it was one of my first (made in early 2010), especially since I got that navy Converse blouse.

Valentine's Travel JSK, made for the North Carolita's Valentine's meet last year. It is the only heart shaped neckline I've done and I'm neeever doing it again. Also my first adventure in shirring.

Siren Una Spia style JSK and Bolero, the top photo is with flash, the bottom is without. I like it but as it is a prototype it is a bit rough on the inside. I made it for (the I swear this time really is my last visit to)ElecTRONica and graduation. I have worn photos and photos of in converted here: http://principessadellafortilizi.blogspot.com/2012/01/tron-loli-and-ootd.html

Handmade By Others

This was made by Pomelosplace and I bought it off the sales comm. I commented how pretty it looked and wished it was my size and she took it in free of charge. I had to take it in a little more when I got it but so worth it. A def favorite. I need to figure out where I can let out some length though since I grew like 1/2" and now it is too short. :/

Offbrand

Before Converse stopped making their skirts so nice and able to hold a petticoat. It is great in summer.

Another Converse one, it is so pretty and really comfortable and even has waist ties included! It also works great for coords inspired by my favorite Transformer. :3

Bodyline

L136. I'm really not much of a sweet person but this is so cute. And I love stripes and this doesn't have any polkadots. I replaced the bottom lace with rose venice lace made all the pink bows detachable and removed the crystal buttons. I like it, it is great for the random times I want to do sweet. I want the new Alice dress in black and pink but I just ordered a bunch of Transformers. So it'll have to wait.

Brand

Alice and the Pirates Operalia! I bought this when I was visiting the Baby SF store. The waist ties are crap, as you can see they just did a rolled hem and didn't do two layers of fabric like Bodyline, Converse and everyone else in the universe does. BUT IT IS HUNTER GREEN. And it was part of what I bought to celebrate getting my current job so I'll probably always keep it. Unless someone wants to trade me for the other style, Operetta, in the green colorway. ^^0

OPs
Offbrand

White Lace OP. I reminds me of IW's Frigga jsk but in shirtdress OP form.

Handmade

Wish for a Home Town OP. I love shirtdress OPs, they are comfortable and easy to coord both full out loli and ala mode AND they can be used as a blouse with a skirt or JSK if you really want. :D

Jane Eyre 'For Miss Temple's Wedding' OP. Not in a proper coord here but it looks terrible on the hanger. It is a purple, grey and white stripe shirting and has shirring in the back. I've got plans to make 4 more Jane Eyre inspired OPs once I find the time.

Skirts

Handmade

C-4 Skirt and Bolero. Last year I took a pic of the back so here is a pic of the front. It is in desperate need of an iron and starching. My very first homemade lolita anything from way back in summer of 09.

Victorian Ice Skaters Skirt. Fell in love with the fabric, still wishing I could have found a more copper/brass colored fur trim.

Autumn Skirt. I was so excited to find a border print, I really miss having a Hancock fabric near since they always had seasonal border prints. Whenever I am near one I go. And here it is worn, though at the time it had the original Bodyline lace from my Alice jsk at the hem: http://principessadellafortilizi.blogspot.com/2012/01/classical-autumn-coord.html

Green Hornet skirt. Still not done. But close. Just the edge by the car's roof and the bit on the waistband left to applique.

World Map High Waist Overskirt. I bought the fabric for this waaay back when, before I actually really figured out how much things generally needed. So I only had a yard. I've got a yard of stripe fabric I'm going to make a basic skirt out of... I've just been putting it off. Yes that is the story of my life.

The User Skirt. My other Tron piece, I had the design idea then I worked my butt off so I could have it for the final push of the Flynn Lives ARG and premiere of Tron: Legacy. I love it. It was a go to for that brief month I live walking distance to Disneyland. If I had a teleporter I would go every night to ElecTRONica.

Offbrand

First Lolita Skirt. Bought from Forever 21 in the mid 00's. 2004 maybe? The hem is a little wonky but now it is sentimental.

Green Feathers Skirt. Got it at Target. It is actually a size 11 (lol!) so I took that thing in like a badass aka with a big old pair of box pleats in the back held in place with safety pins. I should probably take the two secs and sew it.

It is a bubble skirt so for day to day it doesn't even need a petti. It goes swish swish swish in an almost deafening way when there is a petti though.

I love this skirt, it is a lazer cut/screenprint like design so you see the petti underneath (I slipped a piece of paper in to show that) and since I have pretty colors of pettis it is a nice effect. I really like it with the navy petti the best.

Tea length skirt. Got it from Anthro, really lovely for Gothic though it is navy and not black. It has pockets. And is really heavy.

Vintage tea length Army skirt. I've been wanting to branch into EGA/try working different skirt silhouettes into my lolita. Still working on it.

Bodyline

L127. Don't tell anyone but it is from the seperates section. It is so cute though, super comfy and was so cheap I don't worry when having fun in it. It came with a blouse that was huge and uncomfortable like those school uniform (French Toast?) blouses so I tossed that the way of Goodwill back in early 2010 I think.

L120. LOVE IT. When people say Bodyline is brand quality they are talking about items like this. Bodyline has crap but there is this sweet spot in their timeline where the quality was fantastic. The Alice JSK was from that time and L127 is probably from right before as it is nice but not comparable to brand. BUT THIS. It had a spare button sewn in. That red underskirt is a full underskirt (but sewn to the waistband of the overskirt). The waist ties are two layers of fabric so you don't see an ugly fabric back. Oh hey these are all things which are not present on that AatP jsk up there. Oh man how bad is that? This is kind of actually better quality than my AatP jsk.

L305. I didn't expect to like the skirt more than the jsk like I do to be honest but it is flawed. It is too short and the zip is unwieldy but the fabric is a lovely stretch sateen and washs beautifully. I'm going to add a ruffle to the bottom to solve the length thing and added a hook and eye to help with the zip. If it drops to $20 I will so be getting the sax and pink colorways tbh.

Brand

My first piece of brand. VM, bought at AX 09. I love it so much. It is starting to wear so I'm keeping my eyes on the sales comm so maybe I'll find a back up for when this does wear out in a few years. It is a lighter green than I normally like but it works here and is great in spring coords.

Shirts

All offbrand except the one noted.

Both from Anthro. They are go to pieces. Also, I love ruffle fronts.

The white one is handmade, I wanted to test making sleeves like on the pink blouse and had some eyelet left over from some bloomers. The pink is from a thrift store in Austin and according to the tag is white. Someone's laundry accident gave me the perfect pink blouse for my VM skirt.

Kohl's and Belk (girl's section).

Dorm's charity bin back in the day and Marshall's. The left one is insanely gauzey but has this chain striping. It is cute and great in summer but has to have something under it or be under a jsk.

Express and Target

Vintage from Buffalo Exchange (It makes me think Rocketeer and I love it but I don't know how to wear it) and Converse from Target.

Alice Temperly dress which is too short to be a dress. Works lovely as a 3/4 sleeve blouse though! Both are from Target.

H&M. It is like someone crossed a cutsew and a blouse. I want more colors but for only like $5 since they don't breath well. :3

Vests

Aha, don't doubt what you'll find in the girl's section. Both from Walmart looong ago.

My month long near Disneyland flatmate gave me the library vest she found when packing to move out. Corvettes and library things are my thing. The bee vest/bustier is handmade and one of my best examples of my fail at lining things.

Outerwear

Forever 21 from looong ago and handmade last winter. Velveteen is evil. So many little red fuzzems everywhere from when I was working on it!

Anthro cardigan and Walmart bed jacket.

A more recent Forever 21 purchase.

Mom got it for me? Maybe? It has been with me just about forever and goes great with the Victorian Ice Skaters skirt.

Assorted

I saw this in Kohl's and it reminded me of the Charlotte Mermaid Skirt and Blazer that VM did and it fit (which means the gods must have left it there for me since suiting never fits) and was on sale. I actually use the blazer a lot with my black coords.

I want to try Kodona this year. :3 I've had these since like 2006 but I've hardly worn them and it is a shame.

My vintage jodhpurs. Still love them to peices and part of my drive to do more kodona this year.

Lolita robe and nightcap. Because I like being loli at sleepovers. Night cap was made with the remnant of my eyelet from my shirt and bloomers and the robe I got at Buffalo exchange for a steal. It is such an over the top thing but so fun.

Under things, all handmade.The silver petti is a super poofy cupcake and the navy is an everyday a-line (and what I wore under my Jane Eyre OP).

Accessories

Hats parts 1 and 2. All offbrand. I love hats. And I buy lots of cloches (3!) but it is a hard style for me to wear. I wish good quality fun colored bowler hats were easier to come by. That's like my perfect style.

All offbrand. Stole, tiny purse, brown gloves and white gloves are vintage.

Socks part 1. All offbrand except the cream and floral which are Alice and the Pirates.

Socks part 2. Can you tell I jumped on the sock bandwagon? I expect if I buy any brand this year it will be tons of socks. These are all offbrand though.

The solid black and solid whites are my new ones! Well the black boots aren't. All offbrand except the AatP Justine boots up in the corner. Love those things. Another part of my Baby SF spree. What? I was celebrating.

Bags. Can you tell I forgot to take a picture? I'm going to be busy the next few days so I just collaged this together. They aren't very exciting anyways. All offbrand.

Headbands. All offbrand. That bar was in my bedroom doorway when I moved in so I figured why not use it to keep my headbands organized? You may notice my favorite gold laurel headband is missing. Sadly it fell off my head after I left Baby SF and snapped. I'm having a hard time finding a new one and I am very sad. There is no Icing in podunk.

Hair stuff part 2. If I could have my headbands chilling here too I would but so far no ideas on that.

All my jewelry. Not going to do a full catalog this year as this post is long enough. You can see my lapel pins clearly, I love lapel pins. And this isn't even ALL my jewelry. I have a coffin full of bigger things and things I don't wear so often. I keep photos of outfits I've liked and meet-up pics in this area to inspire me and remind me of all my fashion related friends even though I don't see them often.

Starscream normally chills next to my tea cup collection but had fallen in the previous pic. I just love how naturally he takes that butler-y 'how may I serve yo/you look fabulous' pose.

Things That Are Leaving

Currently part of my wardrobe but hopefully not much longer. They're taking up space. :x

And that is it!