Category: fashion

MARUQ at NYCC + Looking for Volunteers!

Spread the word: Liz Lisa is coming to the East Coast!

Japanese fashion is getting easier to come by thanks to the Internet. Lolita brands like Innocent World and Metamorphose were one of the first shops to create an English version of their website. You can go to San Francisco and Paris to buy Baby, the Stars Shine Bright. If you go to conventions a lot you can often spot h.Naoto goods at their official booth. 
Now MARUQ (the U.S. carrier of Liz Lisa) is testing out the convention circuit by going to New York Comic Con next weekend from Oct 10th-13th.  
They will be at Booth# 678 and are carrying items from LizLisa, Tralala, and LizaLisa Doll, as well as other Japanese brands.  If you are planning to go to NYCC anytime, they will also be handing out phone decals for anyone who stops by and likes their Facebook page (or already have)!
Let them know that you liked their Facebook page and get a phone decal!
In addition to a booth, they are currently looking for volunteers to help out at their booth!
Requirements:
  • Must be 18 years or older
  • Must be available Oct 9th – 13th (9AM – 7PM)
If you or know someone who loves Liz Lisa or a fan of Japanese fashion and would like to help out: send an email with your name, age, a short introduction, as well as a headshot and a full body shot to tiffa@shopmaruq.com
If you’re planning to attend NYCC this is another reason to break out your wallet.  Stop by 678 and say hi to the shop girls — maybe do some shopping too!  I know I will.

Impressionism, Fashion and Modernity 2/26 – 5/27

Women with Parasol – one of my favorite paintings.

Fashion and the Impressionism movement go hand in hand —  what with artists paying astute attention to how their subjects moves and particularly how their clothing moves before creating a more dreamlike vision.

The Metropolitan Museum opened up the exhibit to the public yesterday – “Impression, Fashion and Modernity.”  They pair various artworks with illustrations and actual pieces to examine how fashion greatly influences art and vice vera.  Already receiving good reviews, this is an event not to miss out.

Something to check out on a rainy day like today.

Impression, Fashion, and Modernity
Feburary 26 – May 27, 2013
The Metropolitan Museum
1000 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10028

I Spy DIY

via HonestlyWTF

New York Fashion Week has just begun, and while we all can’t get inside the tents at Lincoln Center nor wear the high-end designer brands, we can at least look like it.

And I don’t mean schlepping to Chinatown to buy fakes (because people who matter can often tell).

Sometimes all it takes is a glue gun, some creativity, and a trip to Micheals. I love sites like ISpyDIY, HonestlyWTF, Violet LeBeaux, and sometimes Cupcakes and Cashmere because they offer a lot of tutorials on making editorial-worthy projects with simple materials.  ISpyDIY and HonestlyWTF tutorials focus on items and projects that could be easily seen in a magazine spread but you could also make yourself with a few tools.

And they look just as good.

DIY is an ongoing trend amongst Lolitas and general fashion followers who want to make outfits even more unique and personalized. Not only that but incorporating DIY items can reignite your passion for Lolita fashion if it’s been fading for awhile.  It also can be inexpensive (depending on the project). And of course a fun project to show off to your friends and family.

In Gothic Lolita Bibles and JFashion mooks you can find patterns for dresses and accessories.  However sometimes they require a higher-level of sewing skill I don’t have. I do however crochet and knit quite a bit, and when wearing Lolita coordinates I try to include more handmade accessories for a more personalized touch.  Well done handmade accessories are not only small projects you can devote a day to, but they are often simple enough that anyone can do.

Plus it’s nice to brag about something you’ve made.

Here are a few of my favorites that are on my “Nothing-To-Do” list.

For those who crochet/knit, sites like Ravelry, Lionbrand, and Caron are great free resources for patterns (Note: For access to Ravelry and Lionbrand you would need to sign up for an account; plus side it’s free).  And if you are looking for specific patterns look towards Etsy and eBay – especially when it comes to finding vintage patterns and the like.

FYeah Lolita has a post on a long informative list of tutorials I simply can’t compete with.

Do you have any projects you’ve been meaning to work on? Whether it be a massive sewing project or something you’ve been meaning to try? 

Runway Looks, Lolita Style: Anna Sui

Images via Fashionista.com

Those who’ve passed by this blog, knows I have a soft spot for Anna Sui. And this collection also touches the Lolita fashion part of my heart. According to CBS, she was inspired by the Post-Napoleonic Era and Madeleine Castaing, a 50’s interior decorator.

For those unfamiliar with Lolita Fashion, which also inspired by French Rococo period, there’s sure to be some inspiration drawn from Japanese fashion as well.  Anna Sui was known to add her love of punk into her collections, so we’ll also explore a bit into Punk Lolita.

Leather and Lace.

Unlike other styles, Punk Lolita is a bit looser when it comes to the Lolita silhouette which allows more room for the punk to punch it’s way through with steel-toed shoes.

Putumayo anyone?

This spring collection is the first I’ve seen with which one could draw Lolita inspiration from. And not because of the cat ears.

Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette

The mismatch use of bold  and chiascuro use of colors at first do not go together, they somehow all work. I liked her use of lavender, teal, and pink wigs to bring out the bright colors of the clothes.

JSK: h. Naoto Frill “Melting Macaron”
Blouse: Thrifted in Hong Kong
Hat: Bodyline

 h.Naoto is a familar brand most associated with visual-kei, Punk, and Lolita fashion. h.Naoto Frill is classified under the Lolita branch of the brand. The jumperskirt reminds me alot of Miss Havisham’s cobwebbed cakes– true to the name of the “Melting Macaron” print.

NYC Nineteenth Century Extravaganza 4/27 – 4/29

It’s Elementary, My Dear Watson (Sherlock Holmes Museum, London)

Wish there was something more to steampunk than just gears and top hats? That’s where the New York Chapter of the Nineteenth Century Society comes in. This organization serves as a niche where the historically-minded can gather and appreciate, and, most of all educate each other about the goings-on during the 19th Century.

On the weekend of April 27 – 29th, the Nineteenth Century Society presents their first ever festival of the arts featuring historical presentations, workshops, walking tours, pub crawls, and a fashion show.

The “NYC 19th Century Extravaganza” is an event not to be missed.

Here are some select events going on:

Listen to the event organizers speak about their fascination with the time period on Cityscapes podcasts. 

NYC 19th Century Extravaganza
April 27th – 29th, 2012

Greater Astoria Historical Society
Quinn Building, 35-20 Broadway, 4th Floor
Long Island City, NY 11106

and

Old Stone House – Washington Park
336 3rd Street
Brooklyn, NY 11215

Runway Looks, Lolita Style – Ralph Lauren

Images via NYMAG

Ralph Lauren is sophisticated, clean, and European. So I suppose it’s know no wonder why he decided to use the theme to Downtown Abbey for his runway music (which I’m now desperately trying to find the video of).

Even without the video I can imagine the collection fitting with the music nicely what with the tweed and wool and lots of use of hats.

Anachronistic motorcyle outfits make a periodic outfit modern.

And I do love his use of menswear as womenswear.

A night at the opera or smoking lounge?

Periodic fashion is one of the core inspirations for Lolita.  Plus I love vintage, so this coordinate is inspired by a growing collection of vintage items.

Cloche from Strawberry – $25
Vintage jacket – $20
Vintage scarf – $10
Victorian Maiden blouse – $209
Metamorphose Tweed skirt – $100

Runway Looks, Lolita Style – Zac Posen

Images via NYMAG

Asian inspirations seems to be an ongoing theme. Zac Posen focused on Japan with dresses with stiff styled obis, folds and incorporated it into the more fitted looks he’s known for.

I’m a big sucker for Asian styled prints, and Posen uses peonies a bit.

Peonies symbolizes riches.

With the model’s hair styled in a slick bun with stiff swallowtail-like feather accents, Zac Posen made you feel like it was pre-war Japan.

Peekaboo shoulder sleeves suit her.

 
Unlike Jason Wu, I’m not going straight to a Wa-Lolita outfit. Instead I took kimono-like tops and layered them with a Chained Bouquet skirt.  The emerald green jacket plays off the jewel-tone colors I’m seeing in a lot of the collections.

Emerald Green Jacket – $10
Kimono shirt – $10
Kimono black sheer blouse – $60
Baby, the Stars Shine Bright Chained Bouquet Skirt (red) – $80

What Lies Beneath: Victorian Unmentionables 2/18

There’s a lot that goes into a Lolita outfit, but the things that make or break an outfit is the bloomers and petticoats. And a good petticoat can make your Lolita

“What Lies Beneath” takes a look at what was actually underneath the bustles and the skirts and possibly why men were attracted to table legs.

On Saturday, February 18th, Christine Scott will be speaking about Victorian ladies other wardrobe and the actually process of dressing. There’ll be tea and cakes and lots of talk about underwear.

What Lies Beneath: Victorian Unmentionables
Saturday, February 18th, 2012
7-9PM
Our Savior’s Atonement Lutheran Church
78 Bennett Ave, New York, NY

(212) 923-5757

Runway Looks, Lolita Style – Ruffian

Images via NY Mag

Lolitas should look towards Ruffian. There design concept is very Victoriana and very vintage (not retro) chic. And lots of tweed and wool.

I like this collection because it harkens to Sam Spade movies and the mysterious woman looking for a detective to solve her mystery.

Leather and tweed really sells the outfit. But the blue fedora takes the cake.

I’ll be honest Ruffian’s fall collection is an excuse for me to post outfits with fedoras.  However the outfits are stunning and I’m attracted to ready-to-wear that fits my personal style (not neccessarily Lolita, but works both way the same).

This coordinate was inspired by Ruffian’s ability to use one item to make the whole outfit pop – whether it is a gold belt on a all blue outfit or bright blue fedora on an all black outfit.

Bodyline heart jacket – $50
Mastina Blouse (from Hong Kong) – $10

Metamorphose Tweed skirt – $100
Angora fedora – $20