The Prejudice Against Raschel Lace

Recently Baby the Stars Shine Bright has put out a few pieces with raschel lace overlays, and while something like this is entirely a matter of taste, I can't help but get the feeling that some people instantly decide the dress is not something they would ever want touching their wardrobe is simply because of the fact that it is raschel lace.

This is the dress in question, a recent release from Baby. There is nothing wrong or un-Lolita from a design point of view with this dress, and pretty much no one could argue that this dress is ugly or un-Lolita if it were made from all cotton. But because of some lace it goes from good to Queen of the Itas. Of course, as I have said before, bad lace can make or break a dress, but I honestly don't think this is one of those occasions, even though this dress is indeed covered with raschel lace. Why? Because not all raschel lace is created equal. Lets take a look at some close-up shots.

The lace that this dress is made with, even though it's raschel, looks soft, delicate, and pretty, and yet so many people are willing to cry "Ew! Raschel lace?!" Now, this isn't a "Well, a brand is doing it so it's OK no matter how ugly it is," this is sort of the opposite, people instantly disliking something because of a material used in it. Much like satin, raschel lace isn't always bad just because poor quality satin and raschel lace is often used in cheap, poorly made ita wear. There is good raschel lace out there, and honestly this dress looks like it's made with some damned fine lace, regardless of the name of said lace.

These dresses are not equal!

You might not like the BtSSB dress, you might find it ugly, but if your opinion was fully formed before you really got a good look at the dress, that's really not fair.

So, dear readers, what is your opinion on this dress and raschel lace in general? Do you feel better avoiding it altogether or are you more than willing to add some to your wardrobe provided that it is soft and pretty? Personally, I love the look of the raschel lace overlay on the BtSSB bodice. I'm not too much a fan of the skirt tiers, it's just not my style, but I think it does look pretty and creates a very frothy poof to the skirt.

BJD 101: Ball Jointed Dolls For Beginners

I'm going to deviate away from Lolita a bit with this post and do a little bit of talking about ball jointed dolls, or BJDs (sometimes abbreviated as ABJD which means "Asian ball jointed doll")

Before I start with this post, let me make it clear that you do not need a BJD to be a Lolita. Some people who are new to both BJDs and Lolita who seem to think it is a requirement, but it's really not. It's just a hobby that overlaps nicely with Lolita, as BJDs are cute, fancy, and are pretty much the perfect person to twin with. If you are interested in dressing up your BJDs in Lolita, check out this post for some places to buy Lolita clothes for dolls. I am not making this post because I am claiming you need a BJD to be called a Lolita, I am making it because many Lolitas are interested in getting one, and I just really like them myself and have been collecting them for a few years. This may seem like a lot of info to take in if you are a BJD newbie, but hey, BJDs are a big investment, I think it's worth spending a few minutes learning about them before you buy one.

Okay! Now that that's out of the way, onto the dolls! First thing's first and that is:

Proper terminology

Much like how Lolita's don't approve of using the term "Gothic Lolita" to cover every style of Lolita, BJD enthusiasts don't usually call all BJDs "Dollfies". "Dollfie" is a brand specific name, referring to various different types of dolls produced by the Volks company. Despite this, we still use the terms SD (which stands for Super Dollfie) to mean a BJD of about 60cm and MSD (Mini Super Dollfie) to mean a BJD of about 44cm. It really isn't a big deal if you call BJDs "Dollfies" it's just a bit confusing if you are talking about a BJD that isn't actually from Volks. The BJD hobby has even more terms and abbreviations than Lolita, nearly every doll company, of which there are hundreds, has one and I certainly won't be going over each and every one of them in this post! But there are a handful that you really should know.

Face-up: The paint job on the face. Even if your doll isn't going to be wearing "makeup" your doll will still need a faceup to give the head mold realistic details such as natural blushing, defined shadows, and eyebrows.
Resin: What BJDs are made of. It's like a very hard, dense plastic.
SD: Short for "Super Dollfie" which, as I said above is a specific brand of doll, but the abbreviation is also used to refer to dolls that are around 60cm in height, or the size of Super Dollfies.
MSD: Short for "Mini Super Dollfie", the smaller version of Volk's Dollfies, it is also used to denote the dolls approximate height, MSD being around 44cm tall.

BJD basics

If you collect BJDs you pretty much never stop learning about them, there are always new sculpts and companies coming out and just so many different techniques for customizing your doll, but there are some basic things you should know about BJDs before you are ready to take the plunge

• BJDs are expensive. This is something everyone is aware of XD The first time you find out how much one of these dolls cost, you kind of do a double take. The average larger BJD, which is about 60cm (or 24") will, on average, set you back about $500, smaller BJDs of about 44cm (or 17") will cost about $300. Of course, just like everything, there are some that are cheaper, and some that are more expensive. It is possible to find a large BJD for around $300 on the second hand market, but, at the same time, there are some BJDs that will cost several thousand dollars.
  
• BJDs are not like Barbies. That is to say, unless you buy a full set, which are usually limited editions and very pricey, you are not going to be able to just pop one in your shopping cart, open it up when you get home and immediately be able to play with it. Most BJDs are sold nude and unpainted without even eyeballs or wigs. You're going to have to buy all that, as well as clothes separately. On average, if you are looking to get a hold of good quality accessories (and you should, you are already spending a ton of money on a doll, there's no reason why it should wear dresses made out of old socks), you're going to be spending around $100 for all the basic stuff you need for your doll.
  
• You get what you pay for. As Lolitas, we know this very well. Just like with frilly dresses, sometimes prices can be too good to be true. There are bootleg BJD sellers out there, and this is no where near acceptable as it is with clothes knock-offs, bootleg BJDs are often made out of very fragile and sometimes toxic resin. You're still going to be spending hundreds of dollars, even on a bootleg BJD, but it's most likely going to be made out of completely garbage materials that are very likely to break or even make you sick. As long as you do a bit of research about what company you plan on buying from, and try to avoid buying from auction sites, you're most likely not going to accidentally end up with a bootleg. Besides obvious bootlegs, there are a few companies who produce very cheap dolls. While a cheap doll may sound like a good idea for beginners who don't know if they are ready to drop big bucks on one doll, remember, that you are still getting what you pay for. Some cheap dolls have a certain "look" about them that is from a sculptor not being very talented. The eyes might be too far apart, the facial proportions might seem a little "off", or the doll might pose very poorly. A lot of cheaper doll companies seem like they are just jumping on the bandwagon and trying to make a few quick bucks by pumping out very rough dolls, and that's not really going to lead to very attractive dolls, certainly not something you would want to drop a couple hundred bucks on. But, of course, not all cheaper BJDs are "ugly", it's all a matter of personal taste. I'm just saying don't limit yourself to a very low budget, because you might not like your options. If all you can afford at the moment is something from a company you feel looks a little weird, or isn't the kind of doll you want, keep saving up. Only $100 more can usually buy you a doll from a whole new level of quality. I hope this doesn't come off as sounding BJD-elitist XD but it's true that you shouldn't buy something of lesser quality just for the sake of having it.
  

How to find the perfect doll for you

I, of course, can't tell you what the perfect doll for you is, I couldn't even begin to give you recommendations without knowing what it is you are looking for, but I can show you where to go to educate yourself on all the different kinds of dolls out there. The first step would be to join Den of Angels, DoA is a massive BJD forum and it's going to have, somewhere on it, pretty much everything you need to know about BJDs and choosing the one for you. Once you have signed up for DoA I would suggest lurking the Gallery or Database sections of the forum and just do some window shopping for a while, soon enough you'll start coming across dolls that you like. Do a bit of searching for more of the same sculpt owned by different people. You may find yourself loving one person's doll only to find out that what was really doing it for you was all in the photography and the way it was customized. You'll soon come to realize that the same sculpt can look dramatically different depending on what the owners do to it.

Once you have a vague idea of what kind of doll you want there are a few questions to ask yourself before you take the plunge, especially if you are on a tight budget.

• What is my spending limit? One of the most important questions is how much you are willing to spend on a doll. Don't cut your budget short, if you don't think you can only afford a very small amount, start saving up now and try to surpass that goal, because like I said before, you get what you pay for. Don't forget to think about things like clothes, wigs, shoes, and eyes for the doll. You might actually want to consider buying the little things before you even get the doll, so it's not going to be sitting around naked, bald, and eyeball-less for a while. Having a few pieces of doll accessories around, before you even have a doll, is a good reason to save up faster! Be careful though, because not all clothes will fit all dolls, just doing a little bit of researching or asking will save you time and money.
• What size do I want? There are a few sizes you can pick from, all the way from little BJDs that are hardly more than 10cm tall to ones that are a whopping 90cm. The typical sizes though are about 44cm and around 60cm, so those are the sizes you're going to have the easiest time buying clothes, shoes, and wigs for.
• How much work am I willing to put into the doll? BJDs are very customizable, and that's often half the fun in owning one, but if you don't feel like you are up to the task of doing things like face-ups, body blushing, or modding the doll, it's best to either pay the company you bought the doll from to do the aesthetic work, or to find someone on DoA who you can commission to do it for you. In addition to aesthetic work, there are other things to consider like eye color, eyeball type (glass, acrylic, or silicone!?), wigs, clothes, shoes, and accessories. Unless you are already skilled at sewing small things and doing delicate paint jobs I would advise against going gung-ho for your first doll and doing everything yourself. If it's your first doll, spoil it a little bit by buying it with a face-up and buying a nice set of clothes for it to wear in case you discover that you are not so good at working on such a small scale.
  
• What kind of character do I want? It's always best to have an idea of what kind of doll you what before you buy one! Do you want your doll to be sweet and innocent or sultry and seductive? Because obviously some molds are going to be better than others for certain looks. A baby faced doll with big innocent eyes is going to look a bit weird in a PVC dominatrix outfit. If you fall in love with a certain sculpt that doesn't quite fit the character you have in mind, try to find a look that works with the sculpt instead of forcing a look on your doll that just doesn't suit it.
  

What about Obitsus?

Obitsus are great! I finally got one of my own and I just love her and am really looking forward to adding more to my collection. But, Obitsus are not BJDs, even though they share a similar aesthetic, and they even make 60cm Obitsus. When it comes right down to it, they are not made of resin or ball-jointed, so they are in an entirely different hobby, a hobby that I am not too familiar with. But, they are still very similar to BJDs in that you typically buy Obitsus nude and without a face or hair (actually, you usually buy them without a head!) and you go about customizing them yourself. But in the case of Obitsus, they are much cheaper than BJDs, around $30, but this is because they are much smaller, about Barbie size, and are made of a much less expensive material, vinyl. But they are a perfect hobby if you really are interested in the painting, dressing up, and posing aspect of BJDs. If you want to learn more about Obitsus, check out this page, it has just about everything you need to know!

I am using the word "Obitsu" to mean any of the small, poseable, action figure-like dolls,t because that is the company you see the most, but there are a few other companies that make similar types of dolls.

What about Blythes, Pullips, and other dolls with great big heads?

Just like Obitsu, Blythes, Pullips, and other similar dolls are another great hobby to get into if you want to customize, dress up, and pose cute dolls. For these kind of dolls you can usually more often find them sold in full sets, I actually don't think Blythes or Pullips are sold as nude dolls. They are also a bit more expensive than Obitsus, running around $100. I know even less about these kinds of dolls than I do Obitsus! I actually am looking to buy my first Pullip sometime soon, I've been really eyeing their h.NAOTO collaborations.

Contrary to popular belief, BJD owners do not look down on other kinds of doll owners, and Obitsus, Blythes, Pullips, and others, are not seen as "less than BJDs" they are simply a completely different kind of doll that not all BJD owners might be familiar with.

My Own Dolls

I have quite a few dolls of my own! I am the proud owner of 11 BJDs, 1 Obitsu, and 2 Hujoos, who are almost all dressed up in either Lolita, Dandy, or other fancy frills. I don't take too many photos of them, but I'd like to share a few with you now. Click for larger pictures.

This is my little Hujoo. Hujoos are like a weird combo between Pullips or some other big headed vinyl doll and a BJD. Hujoos are tiny little vinyl dolls, 24cm high, but they are ball-jointed. They are not everyone's cup of tea because they have such big goofy looking heads. I love them though, I think their expressions are so unique and full of character!

This girl is Alma, one of my MSD sized dolls. She is another girl with a rather unique look, she's from a now defunct head sculpt company called Plastic Flower, her head sculpt is Ma-u, and if you couldn't tell from her little horn, she's a unicorn girl.

Alma has a sister named Bathsheba, from the same company, a sleepy eyed Nia. Bathsheba is the only closed-eye head I have, it's kind of nice not having to buy eyeballs for a doll XD Alma and Bath are kept dressed in white with pale wigs. Bath, because of her sleepy sculpt, is usually kept in one of a couple fancy bloomers pajamas.

This girl was my first BJD, her name is Max and she's had quite a few looks, I usually keep her in pastels, with long pink hair, but recently I've changed her to a more natural look.

This girl is my Alice in Labyrinth Chloe named Asiadeh. She is another girl with a unique look, I love her heavy eyelids and big pouty lips. I'm just a sucker for melancholy dolls!

Well, I hope you didn't mind this little foray into blogging about dolls. I had been getting a few questions from Lolitas about BJDs, so I figured that would be a good excuse to ramble about it for a little bit!

Les Fleurs Du Mal: A Sopor Aeternus Inspired Coordinate

 A few months ago I made a Rasputina inspired Lolita coordinate, well, I'm back with another coordinate inspired by some of my favorite music, this time inspired by the music of Sopor Aeternus. I had a huge wall of text about here rambling about my love of Sopor Aeternus and me trying to explain it, but honestly, that is a lot of text, if you are curious about the long answer to WTF is Sopor Aeternus, check out the wiki page, if you want the short answer, well Sopor Aeternus is one of my most favorite musical groups, fronted by Anna-Varney Cantodea, a mysterious 50-something Goth. Musically, she is a bit Gothic, a bit Medieval, a bit tongue-in-cheek, and almost always over-the-top. In recent years Anna-Varney has gone from the grotesque to elegant, dusty Victorian finery, a change that has inspired a bit of my own wardrobe.

Anna-Varney's color of choice at the moment, when not simply black, is a pinkish lavender color, so I've spiced up a Gothic Lolita coordinate with Victorian accents with a few accessories, some as close to that lavender as I could find, that are inspired by various songs and images. A coffin ring, a black feather plume, an umbrella with a cathedral print on the inside, roses, and lacy fingerless gloves.

I, of course, can't end this post without having a Sopor Aeternus song up! So here is one off of the most recent album, Les Fleurs du Mal. This particular song "Some Men Are Like Chocolate" is incredibly catchy, upbeat, and generally optimistic for the majority of Sopor Aeternus songs out there, but I love it so much. If you haven't heard Sopor Aeternus before, well, this is as good as any to listen to at first XD Anna-Varney has a rather unique voice, that honestly boggled my mind a bit when I first heard it, but it has since grown on me quite a bit, if you couldn't tell.

Penpals of the Frilly Kind

Recently on the EGL community there has been a lot of talk about Lolita snail-mail pen pals. There is even a pen pal exchange going on (which closes tonight), or if you prefer to go at things your own pace and find a pen pal for yourself there is the rather active community, Lolita Letters.

I love the idea of having a Lolita pen pal! I used to write letters constantly when I was younger, sadly, that all changed when I got a computer. The slippery slope began with me *gasp* writing letters on the computer then printing them out! Then, eventually, just emailing people if I couldn't catch them on AIM. I have saved, even though it's probably buried in a pile of junk somewhere, a trapper keeper I had in 6th grade filled with all the letters I had received, as well as a couple that I never got around to sending! After seeing the post on EGL about pen pals I became a bit nostalgic for getting letters in the mail and started looking for a pen pal for myself again, even though I am very out-of-practice, my handwriting is not what you would call fancy and my hand starts to get tired after a couple sentences. Years ago I actually did have a Lolita pen pal, back when I was a lone Lolita and not even on Livejournal, I had found her through the pen pal section of a stationery site. She was the first other Lolita that I ever got to really talk to, as a lone Lolita at the time it was wonderful to have someone who knew and loved the fashion as much as I did. And besides, exchanging even the most polite and formal letters is so much more rewarding than exchanging Internet memes and witty one-liners with thousands of strangers on the other side of a computer.

If you have found yourself a pen pal, here are a few tips and ideas to make it even better:

• Be safe. The most obvious tip, don't just post your address to a Lolita forum asking for letters, only exchange addresses with someone you think you can trust, even if you have to send some emails back and forth first. Also, if you post an ad somewhere looking for pen pals, don't feel as if you have to accept everyone who asks. When I got my first Lolita pen pal I also got a variety of creepers asking for my address, who seemed to be under the impression that a kawaii stationery site was their personal dating site. The best place to find a Lolita pen pal would be from one of the Lolita communities, because you can always check up on feedback to make sure the person is who they say they are.
• Buy a book of stamps! Stamps are the most important thing you'll need, even more so than fancy paper. It's never fun to let your pen pal wait just because you have to hunt down a stamp every time you want to send a letter. Having a whole book handy is a good idea if you have an international pen pal too, since sending a single letter usually costs a dollar or more worth of stamps. Pick out some stamps that are particularly pretty or have a theme you love to wear in Lolita. I have a book of stamps from Valentines day that is done in king and queen of hearts card suite style.
• Buy some pretty stationery. I'm sure most Lolita pen pals are formed because Lolitas always manage to have a surplus of cute stationery that they are looking to get rid of! You can either go the uber-kawaii route and find some cute mascot stationery, or maybe something a bit more formal like high quality paper embossed with pretty flowers. You can even find places online to print your own stationery, or make your own.
• Seal your letters with a wax seal.  I love wax seals! They are just so fancy, and you can usually find stampers in any design you need, from cute shapes to your initial. If you don't like the idea of dripping hot wax all over your letter, you can usually find faux wax seal stickers in the scrap book isle of craft stores. They look just like the real thing, only less messy.
• Include a small flat gift with your letters. This should be something small and flat that would fit in an envelope, like maybe pressed flowers, an artist trading card, a sheet of stickers, or even a few pieces of large glitter shapes. If you go the glitter route, don't just fill an envelope with fine glitter though, that's just a mess waiting to happen.
• Decorate the envelope. Either cover it in stickers or draw something pretty all over it. If you don't think you are that creative, you can usually find places online with pre-decorated envelopes that you can print out, fold-up, and send out.
• Write your letter with unusual ink. My favorite out-of-the-ordinary pens are Souffle pens, they are a kind of gel pen that writes with a puffy 3D ink, and they come in a ton of great colors, including a lot of pastels. Or how about a calligraphy pen?
• Most importantly, write regularly! You don't have to always be sending out letters covered in stickers and glitter, so don't put off writing a letter if all you happen to have on you is some lined notebook paper! Once you get to know you're pen pal, you'll soon find the content of the letter, not the decoration or the stationary, is the most important and enjoyable part.

Mini Moo Cards and My Deco Adventure

I have been dying for a reason to get Mini Moo cards for some time now! And I've finally found a reason to get some, my blog and shop :D If you don't know what a Mini Moo card is, basically, it's like a business card, cut in half, only you can get them printed, both sides, in full color, using as many different pictures as you want. I purchased mine so I have something to include with orders from my shop, and because I go to a fair share of conventions, so now I will have something to give to people who ask about me or my bonnets, besides just a URL scribbled on the back of a schedule. As well as a pack of Mini Moo cards, I also got a keychain holder to hold them in, which, as you may have guessed from the title, I did a little bit of decoing to.

The packaging the Moo cards came in, so cute! I love how excited the boxes were for me XD

Oh my gosh, look at them all! Because the cards are really cheap, I went a bit crazy and ordered 100 of them.

All 6 different designs, plus what the back looks like. I have 3 for F Yeah Lolita, and 3 for Ophanim, even though I have links to both F Yeah, and Ophanim's blog and Etsy shop on the back.

And here's a picture of the little case! It fits about 15 Mini Moo cards in it, so I'll always have some on me.

Now, while the case is really cool, I think it needed something a little more Lolitastic, so I busted out all the deco supplies that I have been hoarding and got to work! While I have glued rhinestones and cabochons to things in the past, this was the first real decoing project of mine. And I actually found it really fun and I'm really satisfied with how it turned out. I was going for a "classy" look as opposed to a sweets look that many deco things have. Mostly because I am really not that great at working my silicone icing tube!

Here's a Photoshopped with fake sparkles and gaussian blur and everything picture of the finished case! The cameo and the cross keeps it classy and out of the tacky category right XD? I like to pretend it does.

A not-too-great-photography-wise closeup of the bottom part of the case. I added extra rhinestones to the big rose and even added a hanging cross charm.

Here it is hanging with my couple other cell phone straps, it's almost as big as my actual phone! And I told myself when I got this phone I wouldn't weigh it down with a bunch of junk. I've actually since taken this off my phone, as it kept clanging into a big pink pearl charm I keep on there and I'm really afraid of breaking it. So I guess I'll just be tossing it into my purse, or maybe taking the pearl charm off my phone.

This has really given me the urge to try to deco some more things. I am now on the hunt for little cases that I can slather in glue and rhinestones and plastic things!

Ask Miss Caro-chan: Adding More Color To Your Wardrobe

Today I'll be answering the first Ask Miss Caro-chan in a while! I had gotten reeeaaallly behind on the questions (as well as the interviews) in the month of May, so I'm going to try to get back on track with them this month! This question is from Manda, who asks:

How should one go about adding more color to their lolita wardrobe. I presently have a very gothic/classic wardrobe, but I am getting a little bored of the colors. Any tips?

Adding more color to a wardrobe is a pretty simple thing if you are starting with Gothic wardrobe, since pretty much any color is going to match with black. There are a few things to keep in mind when you are looking to color your Gothic wardrobe a little bit, and having several colorful coordinates, without having to buy a ton of stuff.

• Pick a color. Just one color for the time being, try not to go crazy and just buy whatever is colorful and cheap, because you're just going to have to spend a bunch later trying to accessorize each different color. When I first started adding more color to my wardrobe I made the mistake of getting tons of different colored stuff that I never wear because I didn't bother to buy a bunch of matching accessories. Once I learned my lesson I settled on pink as my extra color, because nothing matches black better than pink! Once you have a workable wardrobe in your chosen color, then by all means, go crazy and start buying more colors. The smart way to owning Lolita is to really be able to make the most out of what you have, because that simply means you get to wear it more!
• Look for prints in a black colorway that feature details of the color you chose. This might be tricky if you want an unusual (for Lolita!) color scheme like black and green. But if you are determined you're bound to find something. A print, either as a skirt or a JSK, in a black colorway will let you wear the color of your choice without having to go out and buy any extra accessories since it will most likely match with black shoes, socks, blouse, and head piece. One thing to keep in mind when you are picking out a printed piece is whether or not you are planning to add things of a completely different style. If you plan on sticking with Gothic, try to avoid prints with super cute motifs.
• Pick out some all white pieces in your current wardrobe. Most Gothic wardrobes will have at least 1 white blouse. A white blouse will make a coordinate look a little more colorful, even if it is a black colorway with only a little bit of color.
• Don't be afraid to pair a colorful JSK or skirt with a black blouse. If you really want to add a color to your wardrobe, and add a lot of it, get a skirt or JSK in your chosen color, it can be print or solid, and wear it with a black blouse and black accessories. This might not always work with a JSK, it will usually depend upon the cut and color of the JSK, but a colorful skirt in pretty much any color usually looks good in an all black coordinate, and is something a little different and unique.
• Find a jacket or bolero in your color of choice. It's another quick way to add your color to an all black outfit.
• Accessorize! Finally, add some accessories in your chosen color to your wardrobe. Start with little accessories, like necklaces, rings, or brooches, or things you can easily get for cheap at mainstream stores. Then go on a hunt for shoes, purses, and headbows or other Lolita head pieces in a matching color. If you really want a frugal way to add color to a Gothic wardrobe, skip all the other steps except for this one. Just a few colorful accessories will really stand out in an all black coordinate.

If you have a more Classic wardrobe that may already have a lot of color in it, just in either classical prints or more muted colors, you're probably going to have a trickier time and you're really going to have to know which colors will match, but the basic steps are still the same, just add a little color at a time.

Here are the pieces I will be making a few coordinates with, up top are a few pieces from a Gothic wardrobe, and below are the colorful (I chose red!) pieces that can easily be introduced into a Gothic wardrobe, I have 2 pieces in a black colorway with red details (The bodyline JSK and the BtSSB skirt) a solid red skirt (Mary Magdalene), a solid red jacket (Forever 21), a red headbow (BtSSB), some shoes (Bodyline), and a purse and some random accessories. Now, of course, you should probably have your reds, or whatever color you picked, match, but I'm using Polyvore for this so it's a little hard to find exactly matching colors that have been uploaded.

 Here's an example of one of the easiest ways to add color to a wardrobe, a printed piece in a colorway that matches your current wardrobe, but has details of the color you wish was in your wardrobe. As you can see, besides a few matching pieces of jewelry, the rest of the wardrobe is basic black pieces. One printed piece like this can really go a long way, especially if you are on a budget or are simply unsure if you will like the color combo you have picked.

Here's an example of another, a bit bolder, way to add more color to a wardrobe, and that is solid colored pieces. A purse or a couple pieces of jewelry in your chosen color can help balance the coordinate a bit.

I haven't even used all the pieces in the sample wardrobe! There are still some shoes and accessories that can be played with to either make an outfit with maximum red, or a few more accessories that can spice up an all black coordinate a bit more.

Hopefully this has helped a bit! It's really not that hard, technically, to add more color to a wardrobe, I think the hardest part is just choosing a color and stepping outside your comfort zone.

Baby, what is this!?

I was checking out one of Baby's blogs this morning and noticed this. Now, I do know what this is, sort of. In gal fashion, at the moment, wearing a little twisted headband thing that sort of resembles bunny ears or a funny bow is trendy right now, but why is Baby making  their own, really awkward, version of these headbands? I have no idea XD while the gal version of this headband can look cute, check out this tutorial by Violet LeBeaux if you're interested, Baby's version just look silly. I would love to be proven wrong though, who knows? Maybe this looks awesome worn, but I'm not getting my hopes up!

Digi pointed out to me that these are called Usamimi, and below is a picture of what they are supposed to look like. Just goes to prove that Lolitifying everything isn't always best XD

Pic taken off of google,after I learned the name for the headbands.

So sorry, but I don't know where this pic is from!

Oh, Baby, why do you do this to me?