Rococo Inspired Picnic + Handmade Stays + Skirt

In April, I helped organized a photoshoot/picnic day with some comm members and my photographer friend.We took a lot of very lovely pictures and I didn't post them all to instagram, and they're also prettier in a larger format, so this post will help me figure out this site and share the photos in a larger format.





Though I started the stays +skirt about a year before this shoot, I think I only worked on them for a week or two total. I put the project away after trying (and failing) to bind the bottom of the stays flawlessly. After seeing many other more advanced and experienced historical seamstresses/costume makers' projects, and their ability to accept imperfection, I decided I was going to finish them, even if they weren't flawless (and they aren't). The skirt I had already sewn together during my first 'attempt', but it was too full, and looked odd. I removed some panels from the side and it is a much better fullness now.





Because the whole thing is made out of a vintage (linen?) tablecloth, the pattern was very close to the edge, so I bound the bottom of the skirt with the same double fold bias tape used on the stays.





The weather on our photoshoot day was lovely, I'm glad it was a comfortable temperature! It's very hard to look and feel cute when it's hot!




Though i've passed on all my other cropped chiffon taobao blouses as they don't match anything in my wardrobe, I'm glad I kept this one around! It's been waiting patiently in my wardrobe for this outfit to be finished.
I was inspired by the many rococo photoshoots that have been happening recently, and I decided that planning this one would force me to have a deadline to complete this 'ensemble'.




The boots were a thrift find a few years back, and one of the heel taps fell off during cleanup! Luckily it was spotted and has since been reattached.





I altered this aliexpress hat a few minutes before we left, it was flat and looked odd. Luckily with a few strong stitches it became a makeshift 'bergère' style hat. The ribbon was a very good model, and though the wind kept pulling the hat off my head it made a good prop when I wasn't holding it on.






Very thankful to my partner who picked out all the goodies from Trader Joe's and set the spread up so beautifully.




I hope you enjoyed looking at the photos, and maybe gained some motivation to finish a project, or even have a fancy picnic of your own!

45 lolita questions (minus a few)

L
Link to the original 50 Questions on Livejournal

1. Please tell us your Hand Name (name that’s used ONLY in internet.) and hometown.

I go by tempe!

2. About how long is your history as a Lolita?

I first saw images of the fashion probably around 2007, a friends mom gave me one of the Phaidron fruits compilation books to look at on the drive home from school. One of my most vivid memories of early middle school! In 2010, I managed to convince my mother to let me order from Bodyline, and I bought this dress in sax:


I tried it on, and hated it immediately. I gave up on the idea of lolita for a few years, and wore exclusively vintage for most of my time in high school, though I did buy cosplay stuff from taobao using the advice from the egl livejournal, and watched shelby cloud videos with envy.

3. What first motivated you to do Lolita fashion?

The fruits book! It was the coolest stuff I had ever seen.

4. After knowing Lolita fashion, have you had any time-gap or resistance till you actually started to be Lolita?

I had a long period of on and off with lolita, and I was scared to be seen as 'ita' when I first gained an interest in the fashion. Wearing vintage was a good way to grow my confidence, and now, even if someone hates my outfit, it doesn't bother me! We all have different taste, and if someone doesn't like my style it means we both have one less competitor during auctions.

5. Please define your Lolita style as much as possible. (eg. gothic Lolita, sweet Lolita, white Lolita…. Etc).

Sweet and Oldschool! I love shiro and kuro but I def don't have enough monochrome coords to consider those my substyle. I also have a soft spot for hime!

6. About how many Lolita friends do you have?

I don't know! I'd like to think all my comm members are friends, and then there are people I chat with online that I consider friends too!

7. What is the best thing about doing Lolita?

Feeling cute, having fun coordinating outfits, meeting friends new and old, chatting about new releases or ways to coord something in a new way!

8. Conversely, what's the worst thing?

Can be uncomfy and hot, but I get uncomfortable and am hot quite often so at least in lolita I feel pretty.

9. Which Lolita Brands do you like?

The only major brand that is regularly releasing pieces I would want at the moment is BTSSB, but pre 2006 Meta and pre 2010 AP are faves on the secondhand market.

10. What was the first Lolita item that you’ve owned?

The stupid bodyline dress

11. What is the “must have!” Lolita item?

I feel it really depends on one's personal style. But a blouse that is always comfy and always works is a good thing to have! Mine is this bodyline blouse, its got a nice big collar and its a nice neutral white.

12. Do you wear drawers?

I usually just wear lil shorts unless I'm wanting bloomers to show as part of the outfit.

13. Do you have any favourite Japanese music?

I don't really listen to Japanese music, I've got a couple Kanon Wakeshima songs saved on spotify but I'm currently big on Orville Peck.

14. Where do you particularly visit as Lolita?

Places with AC, the museum is a classic. I think going to the aquarium would be fun, usually I just wear lolita to do normal things if the weather is nice.

15. About how many times per week do you dress as Lolita?

Once or twice when it's a comfortable temperature, none if it's hot. The heat just started to be more consistent here a week or two ago so I think I won't be wearing much lolita for a minute, maybe for small AC'd outings.

16. Please tell us about one embarrassing episode from the time when you were
just beginning Lolita.

I wore that bodyline dress and a random cardigan with probably my marching shoes to go to a museum when I first got it. Hated every moment, felt awful!

17. What's hairstyle and color that you think Lolita would suite the most?

I love chocolatey brown hair in lolita! and bangs are so cute. I think my red/ginger works well, but when I had yellow hair I felt like it clashed

18. Have you ever thought of stopping Lolita? The reason?

I feel like I've taken breaks before, so if I did again it would't be horrible. It'd probably result with the incorporation of a few favorite pieces into my lifelong wardrobe how my vintage collection did.

19. Please tell us your heart's bible as a Lolita. (anything like a book, magazine, CD, idol...)

It's cliche but Kamikaze Girls is my favorite. Seeing that movie as a young high schooler was definitely part of my queer awakening- in addition to being lolita inspo

20. Do you own a doll? Tell us your feelings about her intensely!

I have a Draculaura, does that count? I love monster high, it's so cute. If I didn't understand the suffering that goes along with having dyed black hair and wanting to change it i'd probably have a black and pink hair phase.

21. What kind of make-up do you wear when you wear Lolita clothes?

Pretty minimal/neutral usually. Sometimes pink-y sometimes brown. For a rare goth occasion I'll get inspired by mana and wear lashes. Lashes for hime too!

22. Have you ever secretly changed clothes in a train station bathroom on Lolita day-out?

Into pjs before a long drive home? Yes. Into lolita to 'hide' it? No.

23. Are you composed when doing Lolita all by yourself?

I think so, I don't really notice stares anymore. When I wore vintage I got a lot of stares, and when I had pink hair and was dressing full 1950s I also got stares. Now I'm fairly tattooed so I think people wanna look even out of lolita but it doesn't bother me. I'm not doing anything for attention so it doesn't matter if it happens or not.

25. What is the most expensive Lolita thing you've bought so far? How much was it?

The only item I've paid retail for was Scallop Tartan by BTSSB

29. Even if you sort of want to keep it a secret, please clandestinely tell us
about a private manufacturer that is the best.

My favorite place to get shoes is the taobao bodyline store! And there's cotton lace topped socks on aliexpress that are $3 and work for everything, you just have to put your choice of ribbon through the lace. Only complaint is that they're a cool toned white.

30. Is there a brand and/or an item that you think, "I could never get it! But I unreasonably want it!"?

Standing Collar Cross OP from 2002 by AP. Even if I found it and wanted to pay the $$ I don't think there is any way it would fit me.

31. What do you think about people who only do Lolita at music-lives or cosplay?

I'm interpreting this as asking about people who wear lolita as a costume: I don't care, if they're having fun and feeling cute then they should! If their outfit isn't 'true' lolita maybe they could refrain from using the #eglfashion hashtag but I think we will live if we see a few 'incorrect' outfits pop up on ig.

32. From what age to what age is it acceptable to do Lolita? Do you think that there's a state in which someone must graduate from
Lolita? (you can answer as ‘never graduate’)

Never graduate!

33. Is there a Lolita fashion or behavior that you think "I don't want Lolitas to do this!" about?

I think this question is in regard to etiquette which I don't care about, even if someone wants to be a horrible jerk to people asking nicely about the fashion it's their life haha

34. Is there something you think "Lolita has to be this way!" about?

It has to 'look' and 'feel' like lolita, but those are very nebulous definitions, and could change from person to person I suppose. Following 'The Rules' will probably yield a result that 'feels' lolita but once you understand that feeling I think you can explore more.

35. While doing Lolita, has something changed from earlier than you did Lolita?

Style wise? I'm oldschool sweet instead of (new school? neo?) sweet, but I think the disdain for oldschool in the 2010s is what kept me from really diving in, as many of the more modern pieces didn't give me the magic feeling that that fruits book did when I first saw it, so my drive to pursue the fashion was lower.
Wish I had realized that earlier so I coulda been snatching up the oldschool deals

36. Do you go to school/work as Lolita?

No, but I would if I worked a sedentary job or went to school irl.

37. Do you wear Lolita clothes as casual wear?

If the weather permits, and I'm doing an activity that suits it (studying at a cafe or something like that).

38. Do you have a boyfriend or partner (or husband)? Do you understand each other? (I think she meant “Does he understand you (as lolita)?”)

My partner loves it, we are both big on fashion and dressing up.

39. What do the people around you think of your doing Lolita? Do they accept it?

I don't think anyone around me cares! I've been dressing weird for a long time.

40. What kind of Lolita is who has impressed you the most up until now?

Those who wear interesting coords and look effortlessly cool!

41. Have you ever made your own Lolita clothing or/and accessories? If so, what was the best item that you’ve made?

I made this apron and skirt set that I feel is pretty decent.

42. If you have an ideal Lolita outfit or coordination, please tell us.

I think it's gotta be the momko-esque scallop tartan coord. This hairstyle is also a fave of mine.

43. Is there a motif that you think “this is a simple of Lolita”?

Symbol? If so crowns, angel wings, strawberries and other fruits remind me of lolita.

44. Would you want to dress your children as Lolita?

I'd put my pets in cute outfits but I won't be having children.

45. What's your image of the ideal Lolita?

My original inspiration is captured in this picture (I own that op now!!)


and my current inspirations come from street snaps mostly! Especially of friends hanging out, it's so cute to see lolitas hanging out together. The ideal lolita is someone who is having fun and is happy with their outfit!


 

I deleted any questions I didn't want to/know how to answer, so go check out the original post at the link if you want to do your own!