Versatility Time!

In the past few days I have been nominated by 3 lovely bloggers- A Mortal Doth Approach, The Neo-Victorian Parlour, and The Walrus Room ...so I figure I should finally do one of these!
I should warn you that one of my cats is currently lying across my arms and part of my keyboard, so my spelling may be drastically off.
So, seven random facts about me...

1. I am a natural redhead, and despite popular assumption, I am not Irish (I'm half Finnish actually).
2. I have lived in 5 different cities.
3. 3 of my great-great-great uncles died on the Titanic.
4. Despite my general loathing sports and being in the sun, I am quite proficient at horse-back riding, kayaking, and swimming.
5. I'm a vegetarian.
6. I am a much bigger nerd than I let on. Even my boyfriend didn't know until after several months of dating.
7. Bittersweet/black colorways of sweet prints are my secret weakness (not so secret anymore!).

Aaand I nominate...

Aristocratic Elegance of Aristocratic Elegance
Duskrose_Dreaming of The Midnight Ballroom
Akumaxkami of Les Fleurs Noires
Kaitlyn of If Alice Were Into Platforms

Lolitas In Hot Weather

Being that it's still April, this might seem like jumping the gun, but my mortal fear of heat and humidity already has me diving for my parasol. Summer is a hot and torturous affair here in Baltimore, so keeping cool is a major part of my spring/summer wardrobe. Here's some tips to keep your cool this season.

1. Carry a parasol! A very popular accessory in all seasons, the parasol is a godsend in hot weather. Not only does it keep the sun off your skin, the shade it provides lowers the temperature of your personal bubble by several degrees. I carry one everyday when I walk to college. Brand parasols run anywhere from $50-200, and there are a variety of offbrand ones for around $40.

2. Wear a JSK with a bolero instead of a blouse. The debate over blouseless JSKs still rages on, but no one will fault you for going blouseless with a cute short sleeve bolero. Removing that extra layer of a blouse makes a huge difference. I think some JSKs can look nice without any shoulder coverage, but that's up to personal preference.


3. Wear square and scoop necklines. The classic Peter Pan collar can be constricting in high temperatures, so look for blouses with an open neck. It's also very easy to find OPs in this style.

4. Do an updo! Continuing with the principle that the less material touching your skin the better, keep your hair out of the way too. Try victory rolls, bouffants, teased pigtails, buns, braids- there's bound to be a cute updo within your skill range (this is coming from someone who only recently learned how to use a curler). I personally love the braided headband style.

5. Forgo kneesocks and tights for shoes with straps or laces that go up your calf. The straps provide elegance and visual interest and let your legs breathe more. To keep your feet from getting sweaty, wear heel socks.

6. To avoid the dreaded "driver's tan", keep elbow gloves or arm warmers in your car. Obviously, this only applies to those who drive. There's not much you can do to escape the sun coming through your window when driving, so keep armwear in the glove box to avoid that icky uneven tan.

Or you could, y'know, hibernate and reemerge in the fall.

A Visit to Poe's Grave

I adore Edgar Allan Poe's work, I am (so very stereotypically) known to visit graveyards, I have lived in Baltimore for 6 years, and yet...I have never been to Westerminister Burial Grounds, where Poe was laid to rest over a century ago. It's even more sad given that I work downtown less than a mile from it. But! I made it out yesterday. I was actually given a "field trip" assignment for a class, to go somewhere meaningful and new to me, so it seemed like the perfect occasion.

Westminster was even more beautiful and interesting than I imagined. I love unexpected, tiny graveyards, like the single grave in Towson, I like to think of them as enchanting vignettes of normal cemeteries. There's something surreal about a graveyard nestled in the middle of the wilderness, or in the midst of office buildings. Westminister is quite small, just sort of springing up on the block, with uneven ground and crumbling mausoleums. A very fitting resting place for our Master of the Macabre. The cherry blossoms are in bloom now, the effect was quite lovely.

A Peek Into My Sketchbook

I've always intended to scan some pages of my sketchbook. I don't sketch nearly as much as many of my friends, but it does accumulate over time, and I find it fun to look back at the things I doodle during class. Hopefully some of you will to! I edited my scans down to include my favorite spreads, as well as the more lolita-related ones.

 Just had to include some Jareth ;)

I've also been working on "Lolita Styles" sketches. I think I may end up coloring them digitally, which I am trying to get some practice at.

Mini-Post: Labyrinth Lolita!

It's Only Forever by OpiateVampire featuring a chain necklace

Guess what my boyfriend and I are doing for one of the days Otakon this coming summer?
 Jim Henson's Labyrinth is a favorite of many lolitas, I've noticed. But who could resist glitter, poofy dresses, and David Bowie? My boyfriend introduced me to the movie when we first met, and I've been a devoted fan ever since.
I've been wanting to do lolita coord inspired by Sarah's ballgown for some time. We've cosplayed the regular versions of Sarah and Jareth before, but that gigantic ballgown is such a pain to get around in. This also solves the problem of deciding between cosplay and lolita!
I don't know if I'll use that F+F dress (or buy a different one) or make my own. I'm also undecided about footwear. What would you ladies recommend? Victorian boots, mary janes, tea parties?