Dunkelsüß - Member of the month // Animexx mod

Every month, our german Lolita website randomly choses a "Member of the month", where you get asked 10 questions about your Lolita life, which will then be featured on the website. After almost 8 years being a member, I was chosen for this month ^_^

Even if our website is not that active anymore, I still read those little interviews every month, because I find them very interesting, and I'm happy that I can finally participate too ^_^

You can read the article here => http://dunkelsuess.de/site/index.php/Comments/Blog458

It's in german only, however I don't say anything there what I didn't already have said here on my blog, so you don't miss anything xD

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Now some other news, not really interesting for you but I want to write it in my blog for my memory. Since 3-4 years, I was a mod for Lolita pictures on Animexx, where I controlled each picture if it can be uploaded in the Lolita category or not. However Animexx is dead for Lolitas, there are only 2 groups left who organize their Lolita meet-ups there, and which became the only ones who upload their pictures sometimes. I now stopped being a mod because I actually don't see any point in controlling the pictures when nobody even uses the gallery anymore, so noone cares if the uploaded picture is Lolita or not. I still had thought about this decision for months because it used to be important for me, but it's absolutely not anymore.

Thank you for reading,
Miuko~ <3

International Lolita Fashion Photobook

Yesterday a new e-Book got released by Ai Akizuki, which contains 200 pictures from Lolitas around the world. Several months ago, Ai asked on her Facebook page to send in some pictures for a book, and I also sent one which is used in the book. It is even used on the cover!

You can buy the book on Amazon for 4,61€ , it is a Kindle book but you don't need a Kindle, you can also download an App for your computer or mobile phone and read it there.

I bought the book, but I'm a little disappointed, since the pictures are quite small and you can't zoom in (it's nearly as pixelated as the preview...). Also they weirdly cut some pictures to have them all in the same size. And I think they didn't made any selection of pictures, they just put every picture they got into that book (I mean most pictures are good, but some are lacking quality).
Sorry, I sound a little critical, but those were just my first thoughts after flipping through the book. After all it's still a cute book, it contains some great outfits and the layout is nice. It's divided by continent and country, and it's always surprizing how many Lolitas live in countries you don't hear much about (like Israel, Colombia, South Africa).

Here is the page with my picture:

Thank you for reading,
Miuko~ <3

New year, new plans - and 365 Day Lolita Challenge

Dear readers!

I hope you had a nice start in the new year! I'm really excited for this year - I will turn 25 years old, and I really think I should celebrate this special birthday. Also I plan to go to Japan - maybe not so much for shopping but definitely travelling around the country. And I know what I will do for the rest of my life - I can start an apprenticeship in September where I will study some law stuff to be able to work in the city government (sorry if it sounds weird I'm not sure about the correct english words xD). Well I'm not that interested good in law stuff but after the apprenticeship I can work in a normal office job and this is all I ever wanted (well all realistic jobs I ever wanted xD). I secretly hope to find another dream job before september but I'm pretty sure it's not going to happen.

So yeah I'm currently in a quite happy mood, I'm very motivated to do stuff (for example writing job applications, loosing weight, learning japanese), but I know it won't last forever - but I try not to think about my bad days, I will just look forward to new happy and successful days.

So that's about my private life, now on to my Lolita life. I look forward to the Putumayo Tea Party and to the Under the Sea Tea Party. I already started to plan my outfits and to craft a new headdress for UtS. But I can't really decide what to craft - I don't want to make an OTT headdress that looks too far away from Lolita, but I also don't want to wear a simple headbow... I spend the whole december making that headdress and I already threw away several versions because I didn't liked any of them ^^''''. As for Paris in July, I don't know if I will attend the events this year, I plan to go to Japan earlier so I will just look if I have enough money after the trip xD. For Paris I can't book early anyway because AP usually announces the Tea Party only 4 weeks in advance, so no rush needed xD.

As for my blog, I want to post more this year and what is better than a new Lolita challenge? And especially one that you can do eeevery day! I will participate in the #365LolitaLifestyleChallenge, which is created by Lace a la Mode, and you can find the instructions *here*. However I will only do the challenges I really like, and I think that not every challenge will include writing blog post, so you certainly won't see a new post every day.

That's it right now, I'm also looking forward to many new blog post of you (a.k.a. of all the blogs I follow), so have a nice weekend and...

...Thank you for reading,
Miuko~ <3

My Lolita Year 2015

I found this questionnaire on egl and thought it will be fun to answer. I changed the questions a little bit, feel free to copy them from egl or from here.

Questions:

1. Favorite look

2. Favorite purchase

3. Least favorite purchase

4. An item you wished you purchased but didn’t

5. Favorite release

6. Trends you liked and didn’t like from 2015

7. Favorite event

8. Favorite picture

9. Achieved Lolita-milestones

10. Fashion goals from 2015 and did you achieved them

11. Fashion goals for 2016

1. Favorite look

Honestly this year I didn't had many special outftits, because of laziness, too small dresses, too hot weather and no meet-ups with photo-opportunities. But I think my favourite outfit is the one from Japan Day:

2. Favorite purchase

Definitly my Castle Mirage dress from Angelic Pretty. I never thought that I will ever buy a dress in lavender, but this shade of lavender is darker than AP usually uses, so I fell in love with the color.

3. Least favorite purchase

My whole Taobao order. Some items were quite nice, but I paid way too much money for them in relation to their quality. I would say from the order, the traditional hair piece is the least favourite, because it doesn't really fit to any of my stuff, even if it is beautiful (why did I bought it in violet again instead of pink???).

4. An item you wished you purchased but didn’t

I wished I had bought one of the Kimono-inspired dresses from Metamorphose. I missed the release of the Daydreaming Goldfish and I didn't liked Dozing Cat at first, but now I love it. Sadly, Metamorphose also became a target of the scalpers this year, so it is nearly impossible to get those dresses for a reasonable price 2nd hand. 

5. Favorite release

Of course Mirage Castle and Goldfish are one of my favourite releases, but I think the best dress released was the Pompadour dress from Angelic Pretty. The dress is so beautiful, but I also love that it is inspired by an original painting.

6. Trends you liked and didn’t like from 2015

Well it's not really a trend fashion-wise, but I like that some Lolitas want to revive the Lifestyle aspect of Lolita. I'm happy that egl is somewhat active again, however I'm disappointed by the mods of egl, who still don't care about the website, so I barely check egl anymore. But I enjoy the general vibe in the community and wish to contribute more to it too.

Fashion-wise, I actually can not remember any new trend that started this year?! Or I guess there was no trend that I really liked or really disliked.

7. Favorite event

Can't really choose one event because all moments I spend with my friends and lovely Lolitas are special, but my trip to Paris was definitly a highlight!

8. Favorite picture

While flipping through my pictures from this year to find my favourite one, I had to realize that I barely took any pictures this year D-: I really have to change this!!! So I don't have really pretty pictures from a special photoshoot... but I chosed this picture as my favourite one, because I find it so awesome that I have worn the same dress in the same color like Maki ^_^

9. Achieved Lolita-milestones

- anniversairy: wearing Lolita for 5 years

- bought my first Pullip

- first post on Daily Lolita

- first order from Taobao

- started to collect Bibles and Keras (I already bought some issues in the years before, but this year I started to buy every new issue)
- found two wishlist items (crown headdress & bow bag from Btssb)

10. Fashion goals from 2015 and did you achieved them

I didn't made any goals last year, but if my goal was "buy tons of dresses", I guess I achieved it xD

11. Fashion goals for 2016

- buy more blouses (I barely own any Lolita blouses, it's horrible)

- buy a big Lolita bag (I own several Lolita bags, but they are all so small)

- don't buy anything that doesn't fit you 100%

- don't buy random things just because they are cheap
- don't buy crafting supplies / an item if you don't have a specific project / outfit in mind

Thank you for reading,
Miuko~ <3

Christmas time with my doll

A few weeks ago I bought my first Pullip doll! I wanted one for YEARS, and finally I was ready to spend some money for them. They are quite expensive, and the quality of the clothes is not what you would expect for that price, but none the less I am very happy with my doll and I can't stop looking at her beautiful face (ﾉ^o^)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

I bought the Favourite Ribbon doll a.k.a. Misako Aoki. It even came with a nurse costume as Misako is also a nurse. And the best thing is, I even bought the Favourite Ribbon JSK for myself, so I can twin with my doll *\(♥o♥)/* I always dreamt of having a doll and wearing the same outfit myself. But I have to wait until March when the rerelease arrives.

Yesterday I decorated my christmas tree and my doll is also part of the decoration (^o^)* So I used the opportunity and took some pictures!

Thank you for reading,
Miuko~ <3

My first post on Daily Lolita

Hello cuties!

Several days ago, I made my first Daily Lolita post. I wear Lolita since 5 years but I never made a post before. A few years back, when Daily Lolita was very active, I kinda didn't had the guts to do it, because if you posted a bad coord, the whole Lolita world would see it and everyone would knew, who you are D-: However there was a time, where I commented nearly every post on Daily Lolita! So I was kind of active there, but not with posting pictures xD

Even if the days of Daily Lolita are nearly over, I think that as a TRUE© Lolita, you should have posted at Daily Lolita at least once in your life. (Another thing I can tick off of my Lolita level up list xD).

So here is the glorious link => http://daily-lolita.livejournal.com/5835817.html

I actually think it's nice to have an overview about all the different coords you did! Actually, this year I haven't done that many different coords, due to lack of fitting dresses... but now that I bought new dresses, I can wear more different outfits again *_*

Thank you for reading,
Miuko~ <3

Karotaler achievement unlocked!

This is a super random post, but yesterday I achieved 1500 Karotaler at Animexx. Only german people will understand it xD. Well, Animexx is an old site for Cosplay and J-Fashion, it used to be very active, but it died. I only visit it because I'm a mod and control all Lolita pictures which are uploaded there. And every day, you can collect 1 Karotaler, like the ribbons on Poupee Girl. And after so many years, I collected 1500 of them xD. Like I said, super random post xD

Animagic & MPS (Mittelalter Spectaculum)

This year my visit of the Animagic was quite short and unspectacular. I didn't bought an outdoor ticket because it costs 15€ only for 1 stage with bad program and 1 shopping booth. I tried to get a ticket from other persons but I wasn't lucky xD.

I went there on Saturday and I met with Ami and we just spend the day walking around at the river promenade where all the other people without a ticket were. Honestly I think it was quite boring xD. Of course I had fun talking to my friends but attending a con without a ticket is just not interesting for me, I probably won't do it again.

Here is my outfit:

Picture by Ami

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On Sunday I went to the MPS (Mittelalter Spectaculum). It's one of the biggest medival festivals in Germany I think. I wanted to go there for years but I never came around to do it. This time I decided it very spontaneously because the weather was great and I wanted to do something outside. And I read on their facebook page that you also could swim there in the lake, so I just had to go xD. I think it was quite funny going to an event and just in the middle taking a short bath in the lake xD. They had great music, delicous food and drinks and nice shows. Even if I went there alone, I wasn't bored at all. Next year I will definitly visit it again!

Source

Thank you for reading,
Miuko~ <3

Lolita Event Plans for 2015

I recently bought my first Tea Party ticket for 2015, so now the Lolita Event season can officially start! I'm happy that we have more and more events in Europe, however it makes the decision which event to attend even harder, because it's impossible for me to attend all of them D: #firstworldproblems

My plans are:

~*~ May ~*~
23. - 24. Dokomi
30. Japan Day

~*~ June ~*~
19. maybe Hamburg Tea Party on Friday (if it will ever get planned...)

~*~ July ~*~
PARIS! Already bought my ticket for the "Classical Tea Party", but I'm hoping for an AP and Btssb Tea Party too. And Japan Expo!

~*~ August ~*~
1. - 2. Animagic

~*~ September ~*~
empty O_O

~*~ Oktober ~*~
17. Metamorphose Tea Party in Vienna

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I will definitly not get bored this year!

Which events are you attending??? I'm looking forward to meet all my fellow Lolitas again and maybe make new friends <3

Thank you for reading,
Miuko~ <3

Lolita Level Up 2.0

Just a few days ago, Caro from F*Yeah Lolita made a different version of the Lolita Level Up game. I made this one too for fun! I think both games focus on different aspects. So I would do both to get the best Lolita achievement overview xD.

You can find the original post here: http://fyeahlolita.blogspot.de/2014/12/lolita-level-up-quiz-20.html
Or a version which directly counts your points: http://www.beyond-kawaii.com/2014/12/f-yeah-lolita-level-up-quiz-20-form.html

All levels I reached within 4 years of wearing Lolita are bold:

LOLITA LEVEL UP

• You have a favorite brand
• You own a petticoat
• You own multiple petticoats in different cuts and/or lengths
• You own a parasol
• You own an item from a brand
• You own a novelty item from a brand (plates, mugs, stuffed animals, home decor, and other "non-wearables")
• You own an item from Bodyline
• You own an item from a Taobao brand
• You own an item from a Western indie brand
• You own an item you bought of eBay, Amazon, or a shady website and it came out okay
• You've bought brand directly from their official store
• You've bought a lucky pack
• You bought an item in reserve
• You own a complete Lolita outfit
• You've worn a complete Lolita outfit in public
• You've worn a complete Lolita outfit in public and it wasn't even on Halloween or at a convention

• You've bought and sold on an online Lolita community
• You've paid retail price for a rare secondhand brand
• You've paid double the retail price for a rare secondhand brand
• You've paid less than 20% the retail price for secondhand brand (ex: you paid $40 for a piece that originally cost $200)
• You've bought from a Japanese auction
• You've ordered from a shopping service
• You wear clothes you've made for yourself
• You wear a print you've designed yourself
• You wear clothes you've had custom made for you
• Have had brand pieces altered to fit your size or style
• You've been wearing Lolita for over a year
• You've been wearing Lolita for over 5 years
• You've been wearing Lolita for over a decade
• You have enough Lolita outfits to wear a new one every day for a week
• You have enough Lolita outfits to wear a new one every day for a month
• You've converted an interested friend to Lolita

• You wear brand with your "normal" wardrobe
• You don't have a "normal" wardrobe because you only wear Lolita
• You know how to handwash your Lolita clothes
• You know how to wash a wig
• You've worn a wig, circle lenses, or false eyelashes
• You've worn a wig, circle lenses, and false eyelashes all at once
• You own a pair of rocking horse shoes
• You own a pair of tea party shoes
• You own a purse shaped like something ridiculous
• You own an old school rectangle headdress
• You own a bonnet
• You own Lolita roomwear or pajamas
• You own a Lolita item that was released this past year
• You own a Lolita item that was released over 6 years ago
• You own a Lolita item that was released over 10 years ago
• You own every item released in a favorite print/series

• You've worn something on your head that was never intended to be worn on a head
• You've worn a trendy accessory (deer horns, halos, peignoirs, eyeballs, etc)
• You've worn Sweet Lolita
• You've worn Classic Lolita
• You've worn Gothic Lolita
• You've worn Old School Lolita
• You've worn Boystyle
• You've worn one of the lesser worn Lolita substyles such as Punk, Ero, Wa, or Guro
• You know the difference between a JSK and an OP
• You can name at least 5 prints
• You can tell which items are from which brand just by looking at them
• You can tell which items are from which brand just by looking at them, even if they're not a print
• You can tell which year a brand piece came from just by looking at it
• You've taken Lolita outfit snaps
• You've traveled to visit a fancy looking place just to take outfit snaps
• You've started a trend that others have followed

• You own a Gothic & Lolita Bible
• You own every single Gothic & Lolita Bible
• Your picture is in a Gothic & Lolita Bible
• Your picture is in a Gothic & Lolita Bible because you're a model for a brand
• You own a Lolita sewing pattern book
• You've made something from a Lolita sewing pattern book
• You've seen Kamikaze Girls
• You've read Kamikaze Girls
• You've met Novala Takemoto
• You've met Misako Aoki
• Misako Aoki has made you an official Lolita ambassador
• You've met one of your favorite Lolita designers
• You've learned how to sew/craft just so you can make your own Lolita clothes/accessories
• You've decorated your house/bedroom to match your Lolita wardrobe
• Your Lolita wardrobe is part of your decor (ex: you display your hats on a shelf, keep a mannequin dressed up on display, etc)
• You've been interviewed for a newspaper/magazine article for wearing Lolita

• You've made friends through Lolita
• You've made friends in foreign countries through Lolita
• You've celebrated International Lolita Day
• You have a separate facebook profile just for Lolita
• You're known by a different name when you wear Lolita
• You've twinned with someone
• You've tripleted with people
• You've been part of a group of clones
• You've taken purikura in Lolita before
• You have a purikura app on your phone
• You've had to explain what you were wearing to a stranger
• You've been called a princess by small children
• Old ladies have complimented you and remarked how nice it is to see young people dressed so nicely
• You've been called Bo-Peep
• You've been asked if you were in a play
• You've been asked what you were cosplaying as, or compared to an anime character

• You're a member of online Lolita communities
• You're active in online Lolita communities
• You mod an online Lolita community
• You mod an online community of over 1,000 members
• You've attended a meetup
• You've attended a tea party meetup
• You've attended a brand sponsored tea party
• You've traveled multiple hours to attend a meetup
• You've hosted a meetup
• You've hosted over 6 meetups
• You've hosted a meetup with over 20 attendees
• You've been to a Lolita swap meet
• You've attended a large scale Lolita event or convention
• You've been on staff at a large scale Lolita event or convention
• You've been to a Lolita panel at a convention
• You've hosted your own panel at a convention

• You've seen a Lolita fashion show
• You've modeled in a Lolita fashion show
• You've seen a brand fashion show
• You've modeled in a brand fashion show
• You own your own Lolita clothes/accessory line
• You've hosted your own brand's fashion show
• You have visited a Lolita shop
• You've traveled to another country just to buy from Lolita shops
• You own and run your own Lolita shop
• You're friends with a brand shop girl
• You are a brand shop girl
• You run a Lolita blog (traditional, tumblr, vlog, etc)
• You run a Lolita blog with over 1,000 followers
• You have been called "e-famous"
• You have been called "e-infamous"
• You've been featured on TV for wearing Lolita

RESULTS

I achieved 79 out of 128
That means I'm a "Experienced Lolita".


POINTS CHART

1-15 points: Curious Onlooker
It means you're familiar with the fashion and have taken an interest in all things frilly and Lolita. You've probably attended a few open events, maybe own a few pieces of Lolita, lurk the online communities, and you definitely are on your way to knowing your stuff! Your next step is probably buying the final piece for your first full outfit and finally headed to your first meetup!

16-40 points: Just starting out
It means you're just starting out in the world of Lolita. You may have been interested in the fashion for a few years but are just now getting involved in wearing the fashion on a regular basis and joining local communities. You probably have a couple full outfits but are still working on building a larger wardrobe. Alternatively, you have a larger wardrobe and definitely know your stuff, but you aren't very active in local or online Lolita communities and are perhaps more of a lone Lolita. Your next step is probably either finishing up adding a few more pieces to your wardrobe or to starting getting to know some other Lolitas.

41-60 points: Well-rounded Lolita
It means you're probably a very well-rounded Lolita. You have a fair sized wardrobe that allows a variety of outfits and some style experimentation, you have a few Lolita friends, and you've attended your fair share of meetups and even fashion shows. You probably have a few volumes of the Gothic & Lolita Bible hanging around your bookshelf and you've definitely taken an interest in Lolita hobbies. Your next step is probably to step out of your comfort bubble, try a new style you've always wanted to try, host your own meetups, or perhaps finally apply to be a model for a local Lolita fashion show.

61-80 points: Experienced Lolita
It is the realm of an experienced Lolita! You've probably been active in the fashion for a number of years, have a fairly large and diverse wardrobe, and have attended (and hosted!) your fair share of Lolita events. You're most likely well-known within your local, and online, communities. You're probably practically an expert on the fashion and have probably introduced, or at least guided, a few friends along the right path in the fashion. Your next step is most likely to do a closet cleaning or some wardrobe organization because you probably have a few years of accumulated clothes.

 81-100 points: Top of your game
You are at the top of the Lolita game. You've definitely been active in the fashion for a number of years, or possibly you've had a very intense first few years. You've gone out there and had the chance to do some pretty cool things that you always dreamed of doing back when you first got started as a Lolita. There's a good chance you're a leader in both your local Lolita communities and the online Lolita-sphere. Your next step is probably to kick a few more things off your Lolita bucket list! 
 
101+ points: Lolita royalty
You are within the ream of Lolita royalty. You probably have enough clothes to dress your own personal rufflebutt army, which you could very well easily raise with a wave of your very expensive burando scepter! You're well known by Lolitas both near and far, who are most likely green with envy at what you have in your closet, who you've met, and what you've had the chance to do. There are probably still a few items left on your Lolita bucket list that have been haunting you for a while now because you thought they've always been out of your reach for one reason or another (perhaps it's that long-distance shopping vacation, to complete your dream dress list, or to finally host the tea party of your dreams), but look how far you've come yet! Whatever it is you want to do, you can probably achieve it easily, or at the very least, you definitely have the patience within the fashion to stick with it for a while and work on getting it done.

My Advent Calendar

Today I could open the first door of my advent calendar! In case you don't know what it is: it's a calendar with 24 doors and from the 1st to 24th december, you open a door each day to count the days until christmas! Behind each door are small pictures, chocolate, candy or small presents.

My mother gives me one each year and this year she found one with delicious cupcakes printed on it. It's so cute! And even the small doors have a cupcake shape *_*

Do you also have advent calendars in your country? I read that it is a german tradition but some other countries have it too, so if you aren't from Germany I would be interested if you use advent calendars :)

Thank you for reading!
Miuko~