The Scissor Aristocracy

winter nostalgia.

2011-06-08T17:13:00.000-07:00

Digging around my harddrive I found some old photos my photographer friend Lauren took of my this last winter. Thought I'd take the time to post them. Gosh, look at all that snow...funny to think about snow when the weather is 90 degrees now~ *___*

Outfit rundown:
Blouse, Skirt, Purse, and Hat: Bodyline.co.jp
Fur Stole: vintage from my grandmother♥
Jewelry: pearl and cameo necklace from Forever21, silver choker bought on Mallory Dock in Key West, and candy bonbon ring (which is a Chocomint replica) bought at the Temptations accessory store in the mall
Tights and Boots: offbrand, from DSW and Kohl's (I think...)

Learn more about my photographer friend Lauren Phil. . . .
Tumblr.
Deviantart.

♥ 'Precocious Princess' for summer. ♥

2011-03-13T09:07:00.000-07:00

Sources:

little girl at the pet shop gif, on deviantart, bunny print granny panties, candy hearts, lavender scrunchie, magical girl shojo illustration, candy-colored balloons, Lily Cole for playboy, Allison Harvard, Angelic Pretty satin sleeves, girl climbing tree, seashell bracelet, Angelic Pretty bustier ♥

I feel the weather is slowly starting to get warmer here in New England, and the several feet of snow we've had is starting to slowly melt away. And, of course, every fashion magazine all over the world is already stressing spring/summer trends. I only have about three or so months left before I graduate highschool, and it's become harder and harder to stay focused on schoolwork...summer is already on my brain. And, with that being said, I'm already planning summer outfits to wear out-and-about and for playing in the woods like a fairy again...I've been collecting images for mood boards and playing out little stories in my head. This is just a preview of the ideas I've been soaking in like a sponge lately~ ♥ I'll do a more official blog post on this 'precocious princess' vibe I've been infatuated with lately, I was just so excited that I wanted to share some of my inspiration pics with you all~ :]

Stay lovely, dreamchildren~~ ♥ ♥ ♥

"DreamV" gyaru webstore on Youtube! ♥

2011-02-13T08:58:00.000-08:00

I have amazing news for those of you dreamchildren who are gyaru-inclined: the adorable gyaru webstore "DreamV" has started a Youtube account, showcasing its products! I'm not a hardcore gyaru myself, but I think DreamV's products are adorable, and its new Youtube channel is the epitome of cute~ ♥ DreamV caters to many kinds of gyaru sub-styles, from the romantic floral prints and delicate lace of "himegyaru" (princess girl) to the sexy black lace and bow-covered numbers of "ero-kawaii" (erotic cute...a.k.a. sexy cute), to even children's clothing, pajamas, and cute lingerie for the bedroom...

DreamV's videos provide an excellent look at many of their product, with beautiful clear videos of their detailed garments, and looks at each color each product comes in. And the models--oh the models--are adorable, and super-inspiring for any Japanese fashion enthusiast! ♥

Because the Youtube channel has over 200 videos at the moment, I've chosen some of my favorite product videos to share with you all, to make your video-searching easier~! DreamV's infamous heart-shaped heels are given a lovely spotlight on the Youtube channel...They come in a ton of different colors, from pink, to black, to even mint, so that you can match them any way you like! ♥ Very cute--perfect for himegyaru, and maybe even sweet lolita! Also, if you like these, check out this version with an extra pound of lace and diamond rhinestones---gooorgeous~! ♥

An adorable himegyaru coat, with a cute fur collar with giant fluffy pom-poms...looks nice and warm--a perfect way to stay looking sweet even during the winter! ♥ Also, cute model is cute~ :3

This"sexy cute" style blouse is classy, but still with a pinch of adorable sex appeal~ ♥ The ruffle in the front and the sheer lace open back is charming! Lady-like and sophisticated while still perfect for partying the night away... ♥

This adorable sweater dress is sexy and cute for both himegyaru and other style gals...The gathered front is very flattering, and the big bow and the layered lace skirt is just so cute! Love it!! ♥

Here are some sexy versions of DreamV's heart-shaped heels, decorated with lace and delicate fake roses~ They look hot in black, don't you think~? ♥

This flirty onepiece with the open lace back is perfect for a sexy party girl. Unfff. The model here is really stylish, too~ ♥

A sweet, floral print dress in the style of gyaru brand Liz Lisa...just precious! I love the bow--it looks as if it's detachable, so you can pin it wherever you like on the dress. Cute! ♥

This sexy, plaid print mini skirt has the best "rock" vibe! I love the gold chain detail and the lace trim...I think there might be little shorts underneath it too--which allows for easy-wearing, and no worrying about panty flashes! Haha! :]

For more DreamV...
♥ Official website ♥
♥ Official Youtube Channel ♥

I had this dream the other night. . . {part one.}

2011-02-11T11:12:00.000-08:00

Once upon a time. . .

There was a girl wandering alone through a large crowd of people. There was a grand celebration happening that day--thousands of people had shown up for the event, dressed in wild costumes and causing a great commotion...it was quite a sight.

The girl wasn't sure how to feel about the chaos of the celebration. She wanted to be a part of it, but at the same time, part of her knew that she didn't belong there. She decided that she would make her way down to the shops instead, in hopes of escaping the wild celebrations and finding something more interesting.

And so she made her way down to the shops, where the bright stall lights and colorful banners made her very curious. She weaved her way through and observed all the different goods being sold--jewelry in the shape of pastel-colored sweets, mirrors covered in pink rhinestones, and lovely frilled dresses made out of rainbows and pink glittery chiffon. She was drawn to the luxurious things, picking them up eagerly, but she sadly found that her wallet was almost empty, and decided that if she were going to buy something that night, that it would have to be magical.

She wandered deeper into the market, as the sky grew darker and darker. Night was beginning to set, and the air chilled her skin. The town was as wild as ever, as the celebration went on into the night. There was the thrill of excitement in the air, as the girl entered the maze of black tents where more of the shops were held.

The tents were lit by dim fairy lights and little white candles, and each stall was decorated with all kinds of wild fabrics and carpeting. The girl wandered the dark maze of shops, each one of them lavishly decorated in its own unique way, one filled with fake silk roses and feathers and another filled with antique dolls and ornate lamps. She found herself becoming lost inside the billowing tent walls, the path between the shop stalls bending this way and that, and every shadowy hallway becoming a dead end. She made polite talk with the shop vendors who called out to her as she made her way through, but worried about finding her way--would she ever see the night sky again?

She soon found herself running through a dark, deserted section of the huge tent, where almost no stalls were set up, and the only things lighting her path were the small fairy lights near the tent ceiling and the flickering white candles by her feet. She ran, ran, and ran...

Until the hallway she was in took an abrupt turn, and she almost tumbled into a very mysterious stall.

A man with long dark hair and pale, ivory skin stood behind a table draped in red velvet. Dark rings of black paint sat around his, and his crimson lips quietly beckoned the girl over. She obeyed nervously--she found him strangely beautiful, and found herself yearning to learn more about him. She approached his little stall, becoming more and more curious. What interesting things he had! Beautiful porcelain figurines of bleeding carousel horses, golden crosses encrusted with rubies, and elegant broaches made from bird talons.

His long, pale fingers pushed forward an intricate music box. He opened it as the girl bent her face down to observe it more closely, enthralled with the beauty he had unleashed. Inside the music box was a teeny-tiny little stage, looking like it belonged in a miniature opera house. Golden cherubs lined the red curtains that were trimmed with gold fringe. As the curtains parted, a little mechanical doll took the stage. The tiny porcelain girl was dressed in a dusty pink gown with a wide, gathered skirt decorated with black roses. Brunette hair tied up with ribbons curled over her shoulders, as her long lashes batted over black eyes. The doll made a flourish, and opened her tiny lips to introduce a sad love story of a prince being forced to marry, in order to stop a dreadful war that was plaguing his kingdom...

The girl looked up to the beautiful dark gentleman of the stall and asked the price of the music box. She believed that this music box was going to be her magical find of the night.

Suddenly the music box shifted and changed into what seemed to be a mechanical picture book, the miniature stage folding away like parchment pages and opening up to grassy green fields spattered with daisies, and then to a quaint little town full of red brick houses and growing street lamps, as the soft tune of the music box bells chimed on...

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I had this crazy dream the other night and it struck a chord with me. I haven't updated this blog or several of my other websites in a while (lookbook...*cough* haha), and I've been struggling with a horrible creative block the last few weeks. It's been so annoying. I think this dream is a good sign, though--hopefully it means the end of my creative block! ♥

Anyway, this is only part one of my dream. Sorry if all this personal stuff is annoying...I just felt like this was really special and that I ought to share it with other dreamchildren...It has a very 'dreamchild' vibe, don't you think~? :]

Want some mood music for while you read?
I wrote this listening to...
Watashi no Gakudan -- Kokusyoku Sumire ♥

C is for 'Choco Nyan' ♥ {The ABCs of Japanese Fashion.}

2011-01-26T17:59:00.000-08:00

C is for 'Choco Nyan'. ♥

Not much is known about the elusive Choco Nyan. She doesn't have a blog showcasing her daily outfits and activities, like most fashionable girls these days do...But that doesn't stop her from being an incredibly inspiring lolita icon. Her pictures appear often in the Gothic & Lolita Bible and KERA magazines, and she's been seen once or twice in Japanese fashion documentaries and chatting it up with the occassional foreign celebrity....But no one really knows any of the nitty-gritty details about her. How on earth did such a hard-to-track girl become so popular?

Choco Nyan and her parter-in-crime Jun strolling with famous burlesque dancer and model Dita Von Tease. Oh my! Too much awesome in one picture! ♥

What we do know about Choco Nyan, or 'Ayana' (the other name she uses for herself), is that she is a young, up-and-coming fashion designer herself, and is often photographed for street style spreads in magazines for gothic and lolita styles. She is either seen by herself, or sometimes with her also-dressed-up boyfriend (or ex-boyfriend, so I've heard) Jun. Her outfits are very memorable and unique, usually mixing classic and gothic lolita elements, making her a style icon for girls in Japan and all over the world.

Choco Nyan and Jun dressed up in matching tartan and cute green berets~ ♥

It's really hard to say anything else about Miss Choco Nyan. Not much else is known. But her pictures really speak for themselves. ♥

Choco Nyan and a friend looking elegant in classic lolita.

An entire spread on Choco Nyan and her matching boyfriend.

Choco Nyan getting experimental in a gothic and ero-loli inspired outfit. Fun! ♥

The ABCs of Japanese Fashion...

------------------------------------------------
A is for Angelic Pretty ♥ B is for Baby, The Stars Shine Bright ♥ ...more coming soon!!

"X O X O" ♥ A visual circus with Miliyah Kato.

2011-01-22T15:54:00.001-08:00

So I had this Jpop song on repeat the other night. I'm not one to really listen to Jpop, unless something really catches my attention...and somehow, this did. A golden carousel horse opens up the video for what becomes a Queen of Hearts-style, circus-esque scene. The quirky but fascinating singer belts out a cute pop ballad, accompanied by her equally wild-looking backup dancers with some wacky choreography, as if the video was some kind of Asian Lady Gaga short. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the whimsical show that is Miliyah Kato's "XOXO".

I remember Miliyah's name being thrown around a year ago, when she was just becoming a recognized in the music scene. Gyaru magazines locked onto her immediately and began documenting her unique fashion style. She became a style icon for months to come for gyaru gals everywhere. I, too, was fascinated by Miliyah's quirky, experimental style, even though I didn't really know any of her music...

Until recently, it seemed that Miliyah Kato had become rather quiet, and I had not heard anything new from her in a while...No new music video singles, no new magazine spreads...Until now. I caught wind of her new single "XOXO" and looked it up out of curiosity. I was pleasantly surprised with what I found! Miliyah is just as beautiful and inspiring as ever, in her wild outfits in a color scheme of gold, red, and black--I especially love her soft curled bob with her fancy pirate-style hat...Looks so cool! ♥ And of course her little curly buns sticking out from the sides of her head, paired with striking red lips...soo lovely~

The rest of her video is just as visual as she is. Her giant costumed animal friends and the circus-style pedestals are a very nice touch...I especially like the last scene--with her and her dancers posed around the golden carousel horse, wearing black face masks--slightly dark and sooo cool-looking! ♥

All that being said, Miliyah Kato is a trendy gal with enough personality to keep anyone interested. As a singer, she definitely delivers--she has a beautiful voice that's ranges from soft to powerful, and full of emotion--definitely worth checking out! ♥

B is for 'Baby, The Stars Shine Bright' ♥ {The ABCs of Japanese Fashion.}

2011-01-21T13:12:00.000-08:00

B is for Baby, The Stars Shine Bright.

(I apologize for my font randomly changing sizes. Blogspot likes to give my trouble whenever I make a big post....)

Like many lolitas, I have a soft spot for the novel/film "Kamikaze Girls". Written by the lolita cult-classic author Novala Takemoto, Kamikaze Girls tells the silly but sweet story of unexpected friendship between a dedicated, Rococo-loving lolita girl and a tough Yanki biker girl. Much of the story revolves around the lolita girl's love for a fashion brand called "Baby, The Stars Shine Bright", which is actually a real lolita fashion brand that many girls have been wearing since the 80s. . . ♥

Baby, The Stars Shine Bright is another lolita brand that stared sometime in the 1980s by a man named Akinori Isobe and his wife. Like in the last 'ABCs' article I did, Baby is another brand that caters to the "sweet" lolita style, putting out dresses covered in expensive lace, all in pastels, and often using printed fabrics portraying delicate floral prints and cute food items. Unlike its rainbow, glittery, "deco loli" counterpart Angelic Pretty, Baby makes more subdued, but equally "sweet" pieces that are more delicate and soft-looking compared to Angelic Pretty's loud colors and wild design choices. Baby is considered a very classic "old-school" sweet lolita brand among girls of the lolita fashion scene--the brand still has a very innocent, girly, princess feel that is similar to lolita style back when it started in the 70s, making it stand out from the in-your-face colors and extreme overload of cuteness that is the modern-day sweet lolita world. Despite this rather "out-of-date" sound, the brand has a huge following of very dedicated fans all over the world~

Novala Takemoto, the infamous frilly author that wrote Kamikaze Girls and many other lolita-themed stories and poems. He's quite dapper when he's not dressed in girl's clothes, I swear. . . xD

Baby is probably one of the most famous lolita brands outside of Japan--it has set up shop in both Paris and the United States, and plays a major role in both Novala's Kamikaze Girls, and also the up-and-coming short film "Mr. Rococo"-- the story of a lolita girl who has spent her whole life loving only "cute" things, and ends up falling in love with a professional wrestler who only loves "tough girls"...thus starting her journey of becoming a frilly wrestler! (I don't even know....lol! from the looks of it, though, the movie looks pretty amusing, despite the bizarre storyline...)

Several collaborations have also been done with this brand, from accessories made with Hello Kitty's pet cat 'Charmmy Kitty', aprons and purses in the shape of Gloomy Bear, and many other things. Novala Takemoto himself even designed a line with Baby called "Pour Lolita", with the memorable catchline "God Save the Lolita". Unfortunately, the cult author's line got canned after Novala got arrested for smoking marijuana...which caused a bit of a scandal in the lolita world, though he continues to still have a huge following....myself included~ ♥ xD

A darling magazine advertisement for Alice and the Pirates. Check out that treasure chest purse! ♥

Baby has another separate clothing line under it's wing, titled "Alice and the Pirates", that makes whimsical nautical-themed lolita clothes with a punk-pirate twist. The brand concept is literally "Alice in Wonderland meeting a bunch of cool pirates", which is quite fitting. Fanciful blouses with frilled jabots, long trenchcoats with oversized collars and dripping with golden chains, and cute purses in the shape of tiny treasure chests are a common sight for this line. Different from the sweet lolita vibe of the original Baby line, Alice and the Pirates is slightly darker, and is popular with girls who are more interested in the gothic side of lolita.

The designer of Alice and the Pirates, looking elegant in black and red.

Overall, Baby, The Stars Shine Bright is a memorable and iconic brand that is considered very special in the hearts of many lolitas around the world. It is known as one of the very first lolita-style brands, famous for its huge lace accents and beautiful, elegantly-sweet designs. Baby creates a whole new world for girls to divulge in--a world of sweets and soft fairytale princesses. And a little pirate-edge, of course. ♥

Let's see more~! ♪

**Links...
♥ The official Baby, The Stars Shine Bright website. Mostly in Japanese, because Baby doesn't have an official English web store. But it does ship overseas! ♥

♥ One of the various shop blogs of one of the Baby, The Stars Shine Bright stores that are across Japan. All in Japanese, but includes great pictures of newly released products!

♥ Another Baby shop blog. More great pictures of new products~

♥ The shop blog for Baby, The Stars Shine Bright in San Francisco. Finally, a blog in English! Get info on the shop's newest releases here, along with shop events, pictures, etc.~

♥ Baby, The Stars Shine Bright on twitter. In Japanese, but often posts cool behind-the-scenes pics of models, new products, funny pics that the Baby staff takes, etc.

♥ Baby, The Stars Shine Bright (US) on twitter. The twitter for the Baby San Francisco store. In English, and also posts important store info, new releases, etc.~ sometimes posts cute customer snaps too, which is cool! ♥

♥ The official website for the in-the-works "Mr. Rococo" movie, that's being filmed in a real Baby, The Stars Shine Bright store and featuring real Baby clothing. Really nice website--the layout and graphics are really cute, and the trailer (though in Japanese) is right on the front page.

♥ The official website for Novala Takemoto Mostly in Japanese, though there is a badly-translated Engrish section under his "Novala" page. Thought it would be worth including though, because of all his past involvement with Baby~

**Videos...
♥ Part 1 of the San Franscisco Baby, The Stars Shine Bright fashion show. It's really nice to see Baby getting some overseas attention, though the girls in this show are a bit...tedious. Beautiful clothes though--and also a quick appearance from famous lolita model Misako Aoki! ♥

Misako Aoki joins American lolitas in modelling for Baby, The Stars Shine Bright overseas.

♥ Interview with Baby's latest designer, Kumiko Uehara, during the Baby event in San Fransisco.

Kumiko Uehara being a cutie during her Q&A in San Fransisco~

♥ An internet special featuring popular lolita-style musician Nana Kitade and a visit to Baby, The Stars Shine Bright. Nana Kitade brings her host to a Baby store and explains lolita fashion to him...and he attempts the look himself. It's a very silly and charming video--it's so nice to see someone male being genuinely curious about the fashion and not just "hurr durr you're going to be raped by a pedophile". very sweet~ ♥

Punk lolita singer Nana Kitade explains lolita fashion to her interveiwer.

♥ A short video taken in the Baby, The Stars Shine Bright store in Paris. Darling room decor...and, of course, beautiful clothes + accessories!! ♥

A screencap of Hannah's favorite thing---shoes!! ♥

♥ The first scene in the Kamikaze Girls film adaptation that features Baby, The Stars Shine Bright. The translations aren't a 100% perfect, but they're pretty close. It's still a nice look at this silly and charming movie~ ♥ (Also, for those interested, you can buy the DVD--that includes English subtitles--and the original novel by Novala Takemoto both on amazon.com...I own both and I love them so much!! ♥ )

The lolita herione of Kamikaze Girls explaining how she discovered the Baby brand.

♥ A wonderful in-depth look at a Baby, The Stars Shine Bright store, where lolita model Misako Aoki interviews a Baby staff-chan about the brand's latest releases. Beautiful video quality, and both Misako and the staff-chan are too adorable!! ♥ Even though the translated subtitles are a little...off, it's still a very entertaining and informative watch!

Hehe..."race".... xD

♥ The trailer for the lolita-themed short film, "Mr. Rococo", that is now being filmed. This version has English subtitles, so the story should be a little more understandable to English-speakers. xD

The ABCS of Japanese fashion...
-----------------------------------------------------
A is for Angelic Pretty ♥ ...more coming soon!!

Alice lost in Winter Suburbia. ♥ {personal photoshoot.}

2011-01-01T08:00:00.000-08:00

As promised in my little holiday preview, here are more of the photos from the shoot I did with my personal photographer friend Lauren~ ♥

It was a really fun day. I went to my local library, which is a cozy little building in the center of town--and also one of the main teen "hanging out" spots in my area, hahaha~ I met up with a bunch of friends + Lauren there, and we went out around the center of town, taking pictures in abandoned snowy playgrounds and empty parking lots. When it started to get dark, the town square and all of the trees in front of the library were covered in Christmas lights, giving the whole area a magical and mysterious 'winter wonderland' feel~ ♥

There was something very nostalgic about the shoot. Maybe because we were taking pictures in the playground I played in when I was a little girl, and wandering the sidewalks I wandered for so many years growing up, but I felt it was very magical--and I think that shows in the pictures too! ♥ I kind of had the idea of an "Alice lost in a suburban winter Wonderland" going through my head, matching the cozy and warm sweet lolita outfit I had on that day, complete with delicate pearls with pink cameos, fuzzy sweaters, and giant fluffy earmuffs from Bodyline! ♥

Also a lot of credit goes to my photographer friend Lauren too--her photography + editing is always superb~! Thanks so much Lauren!! ♥ :] Hopefully we'll be getting together next week and doing a gothic lolita themed shoot next . . . ! ♥

"We are but older children , dear,
Who fret to find our bedtime near."
-- Lewis Carroll, in the opening poem of 'Through the Looking-Glass'
♥

all photos here are (c) Lauren Phil
check out her facebook page to see more of her work! ♥

A is for 'Angelic Pretty' ♥ {The ABCs of Japanese Fashion.}

2010-12-30T10:52:00.000-08:00

A is for Angelic Pretty. ♥

Any girl (or boy!) who has taken interest in Japanese lolita fashion has probably seen the work of the infamous lolita brand Angelic Pretty. Brightly-colored, seizure-inducing, and more candy-themed prints than you can shake a parasol at--this brand defines the term "sweet lolita".

One of the earliest magazine advertisements for Angelic Pretty, back when it was merely called "Pretty".

The Angelic Pretty brand started in the 1970s as one of the first few lolita clothing brands. Along with now-popular names such as Milk and Baby, The Stars Shine Bright, Angelic Pretty was leading the way for a fashion that would change many girls into frilled, lacey princesses all over Japan. The items that came from this brand back then, when the infamous AP name was just known as "Pretty", are barely recognizable against their more modern, cavity-inducing comrades. Consisting of subdued hues of red, black, dusty pinks, ivory, and granny-style floral prints galore, this elegant Victorian-like style is hard to comprehend when comparing it to the modern-day, neon rainbow creations that AP puts out now. (That being said in the most loving way, of course~ ♥ )

The designers behind Angelic Pretty: Maki (left) and Asuka (right), sitting in their pink-filled stores, dressed head-to-toe in their wares, and posing among cute stuffed animals, the store's famous plush purses, and dolls in miniature Angelic Pretty outfits

Nowadays, Angelic Pretty is ran by two head designers--Maki and Asuka. Asuka is in charge of the clothing designs, while Maki is the brand's illustrator, who creates and draws all of the whimsical prints that are ever-so-common in the duo's sweet lolita products. Like other brands who seek to create sweet lolita style clothing, the prints used almost all of the dresses often consist of things like sweets and candy, flowers, Alice in Wonderland motifs, and fluffy little cartoon animals. Just over the last few months, Maki and Asuka have put out some rather interesting prints, using carnival motifs, 1950s-inspired perfume bottles and makeup brushes, and even some Christmas-themed motifs for the holiday season~

One of Angelic Pretty's more experimental pieces: an over-the-top bonnet edged with fur and topped off with giant bunny ears. As much as I love Angelic Pretty, this certainly isn't one of my favorite designs by them, lol~

Though Angelic Pretty is extremely popular in both the Japan and Western lolita scenes, not everyone this world of pink tulle and cake. There are those who find Angelic Pretty's embellished "deco lolita" creations rather tacky and ill-designed. The brand is pretty famous for some odd rainbow-tulle covered creations, badly-placed bows in huge amounts, and enough satin and plastic pink lace to make a normally decent sweet lolita dress into a rather fetishistic-looking "sissy" dress. Part of the problem may be Angelic Pretty's marketing process: AP is has a clever marketing plan where they don't just focus on selling their clothes to lolitas, but for other fashion subcultures as well, such as the playful and sexy 'gyaru' and the 1980s-inspired 'fairy kei' girls. So, maybe not all the short bloomers with garter belts attached and pastel lace fingerless gloves aren't every lolitas dream item...But for a himegyaru "princess girl" or a trendy gyaru gal with a taste for pink, it could be.

Famous gyaru model Tsubasa Masuwaka takes a try at lolita, in a lovely pink Angelic Pretty number (the dress design is called "Frill Princess", if I remember correctly~) with a matching "Milky the Fawn" deer purse.

Some lolita fans also dislike the "clones" who are often directly connected to the Angelic Pretty brand. These girls are popular models and trendy frilly ladies with popular blogs, whose pictures have been tossed around the internet too many times to count. These girls are always dressed their sweet loli best--but the funny thing is, they're always dressed the same! The weirdly-similar-looking group takes the idea of "twinning" (dressing in the same outfit as your friends) to the extreme...Every single one has the same dress--either in different colors or the same--the same socks, the same shoes, same purses, same pastel-colored wigs decorated with mini-top hats and head-eating bows...looking like little manufactured dolls...Hence why they're nicknamed "the clones" And their favorite brand? Yep, you guessed it...Angelic Pretty. Because of this, some lolita fans believe that AP is marketing this "clone" look and sucking the creativity out of the frilly scene...but, like all fashion, it's all open to interpretation.

The most famous group of twinning "AP clones", all wearing Angelic Pretty's "Magical Etoile" print. Pretty cute, I have to admit. ♥ This photo is from Sae's blog, who's one of the more popular girls in the group~

A close-up on another famous "AP clone" named Takulu (her blog here), showing off her intricate doll-like makeup and super-accessorized sweet outfit that's enough to give you a cavitiy. ♥

Other than these small factors, Angelic Pretty has a huge fan-base all over the world. The brand has become amazingly successful, and still continues to grown--AP has stores all across Japan, in Paris, and just recently set up shop in San Fransisco, California. There will always be the girly-girls at heart, who swoon at the sight of pink bows and pearls; who decorate themselves in colorful sweets-themed jewelry in the shape of cupcakes and ice cream cones; those with sweet hearts and over-the-top sweet exteriors, who faithfully follow Maki and Asuka's whimsical creations down to the bow-tipped "Tea Party" shoes. (Myself included! ♥ ) What else can I say? Angelic Pretty is going to be in business for a long time. . . .♥

Let's see more~! ♪

**Links. . .
♥ The official English website for Angelic Pretty. Ships overseas! Only downsides are the expensive shipping costs, and that Angelic Pretty usually doesn't update their English website as fast as their Japanese store and blogs. Nice layout + pictures though~

♥ The official website for Angelic Pretty in Japanese. The official Angelic Pretty website in Japanese. Doesn't ship overseas, but updates with new releases faster than the English site does. Even if you're not fluent in the language, it's a nice look for any hardcore AP fan, with lots of pretty graphics and gorgeous product photos~ ♥

♥ The Angelic Pretty shop blog ran by Maki and Asuka. The designers of Angelic Pretty themselves run this official shop blog! Even though it's all in Japanese, the navigation is relatively easy, and the blog is filled with all kinds of lovely pictures~ Check it out to see the latest products, photos from fashion events, modelling sessions, and store decor. Lots of gorgeous frilly eyecandy!

♥ The blog of Sae. Sae is one of the popular blogging lolitas who is known for being in one of the most well-known "AP clone" groups. Despite the whole clone thing, Sae is very cute, with an adorable sense of style, and in between posting pictures of her and her frilly friends, she also posts her own gorgeous mori-girl style outfits. ♥

♥ The blog of Takulu. Takulu is another popular lolita, and also Sae's good friend. Another amazing deco lolita--and with matching company~!
**Videos . . .

Maki and Asuka being questioned about their whimsical designs.

♥ A wonderful interview with the designers, Maki and Asuka. The designers are very charming, and the interview is very informative on the history of the Angelic Pretty line. So cute. . . ;O;

♥ A slideshow tribute to Maki. Great pictures!! ♥

Maki opening up the Angelic Pretty segment of the Individual Fashion Expo~

♥Angelic Pretty runway show at the Individual Fashion Expo.
This has to be one of my favorite Angelic Pretty runway clips... ♥ The girls all seem really energetic and happy to be there--makes the show really fun to watch. And the dresses being shown are absolutely beautiful, too! (this has to be one of my favorite videos on Youtube, actually, hahaha~ ♥ )

♥ A very informative slideshow of Angelic Pretty prints. The designs featured in this video range from 2007 - 2010, along with a few older ones thrown in! There are even some interesting fun facts thrown in with each design, citing what the designer's inspirations were while making each print. Fascinating stuff!

Asuka being adorable~ ;O;

♥ A short video of the grand opening tea party for Angelic Pretty's store in Paris. Truly adorable~ Asuka is presented with...something...and cries tears of happiness. ♥ ;O; and speaks Japanese, French, and English! "Merci, I'm happy!" ♥ It truly warms your heart~ ♥

♥ More footage from the Angelic Pretty Paris tea party. Maki and Asuka speak French...also shows more of the crowd, too. Very cute!

A model wearing Angelic Pretty's "Melty Chocolate" print in pink.

♥ Angelic Pretty at the PMX '09 lolita fashion show. There are a lot more recent (and popular) designs in this show, including "Melty Chocolate" and "Powder Rose"! :]

♥ Videos taken at the opening tea party for the grand opening of Angelic Pretty in San Fransisco. There are actually a lot of high-quality videos of both the designers and the audience from this event! Very very cute...Maki and Asuka look beautiful in their latest kitten-themed print~ ♥ Check out more: A one-on-one with Maki (soo jealous!! omg!! , Maki and one of the girls blowing out birthday cake candles, Maki and her birthday cake and some of the audience drinking tea, and a short clip of Asuka (who doesn't really want to be filmed, lol poor thing~)

Famous lolita model Misako Aoki chatting it up with an Angelic Pretty staff-chan, observing the "Fantastic Dolly" print.

♥ Famous lolita model Misako Aoki visits an Angelic Pretty boutique, where she looks at some of the latest Angelic Pretty designs with a shop staff. Beautiful quality! Even though the subtitles are kind of weird, the video is still very informative, too~

The ABCs of Japanese Fashion...
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Check this spot in future posts for links to past letters of the alphabet! ♥

The ABCs of Japanese Fashion. ♥ {introduction}

2010-12-30T09:24:00.000-08:00

Hello dreamchildren. ♪ Today I'd like to introduce a new series of articles I've been planning since the days of my old "Mayhem in Wonderland" blog~

I write about Japanese fashion and culture often--it's one of my favorite fascinations and hobbies. ♥ But I've never really described everything I often babbled about in-depth. Certainly, many of you out there are probably pretty involved in the Japanese fashion scene yourselves...in fact, Japanese fashion is probably how you found this blog, haha. But what about the people that aren't? What about the beginner lolitas and gyaru gals, or just the curious who stumbled across this magical little piece of cyberspace by accident? With this new series, "The ABCs of Japanese Fashion", I hope to actually explain some of the interesting fashion styles of Japan that I often talk about in detail, while still offering something for those already deep in the world of J-fashion, like related images, links, videos, etc. I hope to make each post a mini-archive of information and media on all kinds of different things, from Japanese fashion styles, stores, designers, and more! ♥

I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I enjoyed making it~~ As for now...

Stay tuned!

Happy Holidays from the Dreamchildren. ♥ (+ winter lolita photoshoot PREVIEW!♪)

2010-12-27T05:12:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays everyone~! ♥
I hope everyone had an amazing holiday this year. ♪

While wishing everyone a wonderful holiday season, I also wanted to show a sneak peak at a lolita-themed photoshoot I did with a personal friend of mine. She's a really talented photographer , and it was so much fun doing a shoot with her! ♥ I'm going to make a big post about it soon, but I wanted to show you all a little something from it, so you can get a taste~ :]

Be sure to check out my friend's photography facebook page, too, at Lauren Phil photography! ♥

Lady of "Bubblegoth"♥ : Kerli's "Army of Love"

2010-12-22T14:47:00.000-08:00

"Moonchildren, prepare to take over the universe." ♪

Army of Love from KerliTv on Vimeo.

One of my all-time favorite singers, Kerli, has just come out with the music video for her newest single, "Army of Love". It's so wonderful that I just had to share it with you all~ ♥ Kerli's popular for her dark-but-whimsical music and visuals, but with her new CD, she's been telling her fans that she's trying out a new pop sound, while still using her old magical music box and harp-filled soundscapes, creating a new style that she calls "bubblegoth". I love the new rave, cybergoth-esque style that she's developed as part of her new look--it looks so cool!! *____* Just check out some of these gorgeous screencaps I took of her new video. . .

For more Kerli . . .
♥ http://iamamoonchild.net --> Kerli's official fanclub page
♥ http://www.formspring.me/bubblegoth ---> Kerli's formspring, that she checks often~

"'Twas brilling, and the momeraths outgrabe"(Jan Svankmajer's 'Jabberwocky).

2010-12-18T07:14:00.000-08:00

I've been a fan of the Czech animator Jan Svankmajer for a few years now. I've been captivated by his work ever since I stumbled across his beautifully macabre adaptation of Alice in Wonderland on Youtube, and I've been forever fascinated by his animations. Years go, just after watching his "Alice", I heard of a short film he had directed inspired by another Lewis Carroll piece--the infamous "Jabberwocky" poem. Eager to see more of Svankmajer's dark and magical Carrollian-themed content, I immediately looked it up, and after some searching, found it posted online. And so I watched it...and, despite how beautiful I've always found Svankmajer's style, this one particular short left me feeling...extremely uneasy.

A few years later, I had almost forgot about the "Jabberwocky" short, until I was suddenly compelled to watch it again after becoming more familiar with the rest of Svankmajer's work. I was hazy of the details of it, and unable to remember why I found it so unsettling...So I searched for it, but this time, it was gone. It had disappeared. "Jabberwocky" was one of the few "lost" Svankmajer films that had not been released to DVD, or even VHS, and had been deleted from the internet. Until now. Someone finally got a hold of it, somehow, and uploaded it to Youtube in beautiful quality, where it now can be enjoyed in all of its bizarre glory. . .

♥ Click here for Part 1 ♥ Click here for Part 2 ♥

I have to say, now that I've seen it again after being more acquainted with Svankmajer's work, I don't find this as creepy as I originally did. It definitely has a mysterious, uneasy vibe to it though...like almost all of Svankmajer's films, it reminds me of the strange nightmares I had as a child--they were dark, bizarre, but somehow oddly comforting when looking back at them...but there's still that little something about it that makes you feel a little uneasy...That's Svankmajer's magic. ♥

It's such an entertaining watch--listening to a little girl's voice recite the Carroll poem, as an antique wardrobe opens up to reveal a bizarre playroom, watched over by a painting of an old man that comes to life. Antique porcelain dolls fall into meat grinders, and get eaten by bigger dolls. A tiny toy army gets defeated by a mere baby bottle, and school worksheets magically turn into paper airplanes and fly around. A dancing children's sailor-suit is the story's guide, while things get interrupted every so often by a mischievous black cat (which makes me jump everytime!). My favorite image of this short has to be in the very beginning, as a child grows into a young girl in rapid stop-animation, getting into dangerously creepy situations in a cluttered Victorian playroom. It happens so fast you can just barely catch it, but the surreal vision is just magical. ♥

The best screencap I could take of my favorite scene. It goes so fast, it's difficult to catch!

The director has supposedly described "Jabberwocky" as "a Freudian record of the development of a child through all of its stages: through homosexuality and Sado-Masochism, to rebellion against the father". If one were to analyze the short, this message is shown strongly throughout the surreal imagery, but even without a critiquing eye, "Jabberwocky" is a beautiful dream-like surrealist film that is sure to catch the attention of any dreamchildren at heart. ♥

♥ International Lolita Day! ♥

2010-12-05T06:19:00.000-08:00

So, as some of you out there (especially those who read my old blog) may already know, I have a raging, uncontrollable love for Japanese street fashion--especially the lolita style, hearkening back from the late 70s/early 80s, turning average girls into Victorian-esque princess dolls who wandered the streets of Harajuku, shocking and delighting tourists who constantly reported on this new fashion trend...

Soon enough, this style began to spread all over the world, when the designers who created these wonderfully over-the-top, frilly creations offering international shipping on their clothes...and these non-Japanese lolitas began forming groups of their own, and creating expansive frilly wardrobes that almost outdid their original Japanese counterparts...

Now, these lolita designers are even setting up shop overseas. Several brands have stores in San Francisco, and soon the world-famous "sweet" lolita brand Angelic Pretty (my personal favorite♥) will be the next store to start its own U.S. chain. The transformation since when the fashion first started out has been magical... ♥

Stores of famous lolita brands Metamorphose temps de Fille, Baby, The Stars Shine Bright, and Angelic Pretty. (websites included~)

Yesterday (this last Saturday) was International Lolita Day, a holiday set up for lolita girls all over the world, to dress up in their finest frilly duds and celebrate the wonderful fashion scene they've become a part of. There are actually two "Lolidays" a year--one in the winter and one in the summer, so lolitas can show off their best seasonal outfits for both kinds of weather. (very practical, huh? haha♥ ) I actually completely forgot it was Loliday this weekend--I always do, ugh!--so I didn't do any dressing up...I don't really dress lolita on the weekends anyways...I save my frills for during the week...but, I thought I ought to do some musing, just for the occasion... ♥

I actually don't really remember the time before I knew lolita fashion. I accidently discovered it through the 'net at the tender age of ten, through an anime chatting forum (gaiaonline, anyone? bahaha~) and was curious ever since. I always liked things over-the-top--Halloween has always been my favorite holiday; I loved creating elaborate costumes. But, day-to-day, fashion just didn't interest me. I lived most of my young life in weird, stretchy sweatpants....

But lolita saved me from that. It opened my eyes to a grand new world where clothes could be used to express things, other than the fact that you just couldn't run around naked everyday. Lolita taught me that it was okay to be over-the-top, that it was okay to be feminine and girly; ever since then, I've become fascinated with clothes...and now I'm getting ready to study fashion design in college, in hopes of starting my own line~ ♥

Asuka (left) and Maki (right), the designers of Angelic Pretty.
They're two of my biggest fashion inspirations. They're so innovative
and creative! ♥

Ever since then, I've been walking down the path of loli-dom...from my beginning awkward stages where I practically lived in Hot Topic and square dancing petticoats (ughh...), to my tough, punk loli phase where I loved anything leather, chainy and stripey...and, to my most recent love, over-the-top, in-your-face pastel sweet/deco lolita. I just can't get enough of anything and everything pink and sugary! Lolita has taught me so much, about myself and the world...and it saved me from those awkward stretchy pants! I wouldn't give up my petticoats for the world. ♥ It's as our frilly favorite author Novala Takemoto once said. . .

"Sew frills onto the hem of your heart!
Put a tiara on top of your soul!"

Happy International Lolita Day, everyone~ ♪

P.S. For some 'mood music', check out Malice Mizer's "Goodbye Blood and Rose"--it's so old school gothic lolita it never fails to put me in a frilly mood~ ♥

"as we kill the night" -- Fairytale Ambience (Antihoney)♥

2010-11-29T14:13:00.000-08:00

Picture from Antihoney's official myspace.

With whispery, child-like vocals mixed with creepy, thumping industrial tracks and whimsical music box chimes, Japanese indie band Antihoney uses their unique sound to transport their listeners to a mysterious and melancholy dream world. The English translation on their band's myspace page describes their project as "Ambient color, plus music production. darkly multicolor vibrant honey. As impure as it is sweet and innocent." A very fitting description for their dark but incredibly beautiful work.

The band behind Antihoney is just as mysterious as the songs they write. They're practically untraceable, with only a simple myspace page and a small website in Japanese where their music can be downloaded for free...It seems strange that such a talented and unique band has next to no publicity, doesn't it? It's almost if they're part of some strange world themselves, beckoning you forward with their music but letting you imagine it for yourself. . .

One place where Antihoney is actually showcased in all their bizarre, magical glory is in a video titled "doll" by animator "PiroPito" (also known as nana825763 on youtube, where she's popular for her creepy, Silent Hill-esque videos). The animation she created featuring one of Antihoney's most beautiful songs, "Dove", is a fantastical trip into a beautiful surreal world full of wide-eyed antique dolls, crawling ladybugs, ornate Victorian cherubs, and fluttering butterfly wings. Serious eye candy for anyone who loves intense, trippy visuals! ♥ Just see for yourself on Youtube here. (Or, for a better quality picture, go to the animator's official website and watch the "doll" animation here.)

Screencap taken from the PiroPito animation "doll", featuring Antihoney's music.

From a dreamchild's perspective, Antihoney is a dream come true--their sound is soft and innocent, with a fairytale-like quality, but with a dark edge...One can imagine themselves wandering a grassy field under a star-lit sky, or exploring a mysterious forest to this kind of music. It has an Alice in Wonderland-like quality to it, that makes it very enjoyable to listen to, I feel...With soft ballads, such as the ethereal "Siren", to dark, chaotic sounding industrial style songs like "All Stars", to even whimsical, quiet, princess-like melodies in "Dream Ended This Way", Antihoney has a little magic to share with everyone. Definitely worth a listen! ♥

Scissors.

2010-11-21T12:29:00.000-08:00

(via.)
A screencap from Jan Svankmajer's Alice, a Czech adaptation of Alice in Wonderland.

Why scissors?

I can hear you asking that already. How on earth did the Aristocracy of Dreamchildren get put together with the word "scissors". . . ?

Scissors have a lot of mixed messages. As children, we are taught not to play with them, as we can easily cut ourselves on their sharp edges. Those fond of sewing and crafting often think fondly of scissor motifs, as scissors are often one of the most important tools in the creating process. Scissors evoke different kinds of emotions from people--sometimes good, sometimes bad, sometimes love, and sometimes fear. Maybe you sliced yourself on that polished blade when you were little, or maybe you remember that time you were cutting out fabric for your very first sewing project. They're a mysterious symbol, scissors. You never quite know what to expect from them. Just like the dream world itself--mysterious and unpredictable, beautiful and sometimes even dangerous...and also very different with each person's personal experiences. It's a symbol of both creation and destruction, having different meanings for each person that comes across them.

And this is why scissors are the Dreamchildrens' symbol--becuase of how special and unique dreams (and sometimes nightmares!) are from one person to the next. Scissors represent both sides to the fairytale--both sides of life. It's a celebration of life, creation, whimsy, and death--while still creating beautiful things, even in destruction.

Maybe I just have a special thing for scissors, I don't know, haha...But I'd like to hope that it becomes a comforting image for people who relate to the Dreamchildren aesthetic of this blog. After all, dreams are meant to inspire! ♥

The Dreamchildren.

2010-11-21T11:44:00.001-08:00

(via.)

"The dream-child moving through a land
Of wonders wild and new,
In friendly chat with bird or beast---

And half believe it true."

--Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

They are the inner children inside all of us that still want that "happily ever after" ending. They are the believers of magic, chasing rainbows in their mind. They are the ones who live for wandering mysterious forests, climbing around decrepit alleyways, and chasing white rabbits in hopes of finding Wonderland. They are the old "once upon a time" written in flesh-and-blood; the dreamy eyed kids with hopes as high as the stars. Weavers of fantasy in everyday life--whether they are the princesses, the princes, the monsters, or the circus freaks--They are the dreamchildren. Living the dreams we yearned for when we were young, in a 21st century world.

And you can be one, too. ♥

The Scissor Aristocracy is a blog for those dreamy-types who were never quite content with everyday life and seek to make it their own fairytale, just like in those old books that everyone these days seem to forget about. This blog is a resource for all things whimsical, including lifestyle ideas for a perfect princess or the best films for decadent gothic maidens. So forget what all those teachers told you about daydreaming during class--close your eyes and become a dreamchild. ♥