I love to look at other people’s “What’s in your Bag?” posts and thought I’d make a small guide detailing some of the important things to keep with you at all times, in lolita or out. Besides the very basics, these are some things you should try to keep with you at all times!

 A small mirror compact, you can get cute ones at places such as Claires and Forever21.

 A camera is always handy, and you never know when a photo opportunity will arise, especially if you’ll be at a meetup. Its better to keep one with you than to think “Oh, I wish I had a camera!”

 If you’ll be wearing false eyelashes, remember to bring a small tube of eyelash fix glue.

 Other things to keep in a small makeup bag include chapstick or lipgloss, and a small concealer and eyeliner for touchups.

 A cute pen and matching stationery. You never know when you, or someone else, will need it!

 A small stain remover, such as a Tide-to-Go pen. I always keep one with me, and its saved me countless times. Be careful when purchasing one however, you don’t want to get one with bleach in it.

 A small bodyspray in your favorite scent.

 If your lolita purse is large enough, carry a small sketchpad, paperback novel, or Nintendeo DS with you. 

 Keep in mind that many lolita purses, even though they’re cute, won’t have much space for your things. If you need to carry more than the absulote essentials with you that day, consider carrying a cute print totebag as well.

Sorry for spamming your dash with two posts in one day!

 Read books besides the Gothic Lolita Bibles! Read novels that inspire your way of life, books about princesses who live in far away fantasy lands. You could try reading classic novels as well, including Little Women, Little House on the Prairie, and Ella Enchanted.

 Keep a diary, or a blog. Post photos of your outfits and things that inspire you. Show off your projects and personal accomplishments as well, be it sewing, baking, or arts and crafts. Try to update on a regular schedule, once or twice a week.

 Put together a lolita playlist to wear while getting dressed. It doesn’t have to be just j-rock or classical music, as long as it makes you think “Oh, this is lolita!”

 Try decoing your phone, and then move on to other things such as your DS or ipod. A great place to buy supplies is Sophie & Toffee. There are a lot of tips and tutorials to find online, if you don’t know where to start join the decoden livejournal community.

 Spend some time every day to paint your nails. Push your cuticles back and purchase a few cute colors of polish that you can coordinate with any outfit or decorate press on nails with small rhinestones.

 Studying etiquette from Victorian times can be fun and interesting, but don’t neglect practicing your manners in the present day! Besides the basics, lean new things such as proper table setting and how to format a written letter.

 Take pleasure in the tradition of gift giving and give small handmade presents to your friends and family. Baked goods and small crafts are always well-received. 

 Create a lolita photo collage on your bedroom wall with photos that inspire you, pictures of lovely coordinates, and anything cute! Include photos of yourself with your friends, as well.

 Being a lifestyle lolita doesn’t mean being something that you’re not! Never give up anything you like or stop doing things that you enjoy to become a better lolita.

I hope you enjoyed these tips, and I know they were all fairly basic. Sorry! But I plan to make this a monthly post, so look forward to more in the future. 

Bodyline is a cheap and safe alternative to other websites for a first-time lolita. The Bodyline website can be found here and it is an amazing starting point for building your lolita wardrobe, if you know what to look for and what to avoid. 

 When something catches your eye on the Bodyline website look at it closely and think, does this look like something your favorite brand would sell? If not, don’t buy it! Nothing from Bodyline is going to be exactly brand quality, but if you keep this in mind it should help you avoid purchasing something that looks awkward or costumey.

 This has been mentioned over and over again, but it bears repeating. Stay away from the separates section! Most of the pieces in the separates section look very costumey and not at all lolita.

 Use bodyline to pad out your wardrobe! Pieces like blouses, shoes, and coats can be very expensive in brand shops. With a few Bodyline pieces padding out your wardrobe you can have a lot more versatility with your coordinates without the commitment of buying an expensive brand piece.

 Bodyline original prints have improved a lot in recent times. Whereas Bodyline used to do mostly knock-offs, they’ve been making a lot of lovely and cute print dresses that are comparable to brand quality. These dresses are really affordable (from $30 to $60, generally) and are great for a first lolita purchase or to pad out your existing wardrobe.

 I don’t recommend buying their wa-lolita pieces. It seems to be a common mistake for girls that are new to lolita to buy these wa-lolita dresses and, sadly, they look more like costumes than lolita fashion. Wa-lolita isn’t a very common substyle and it’s very hit-or-miss. If you like the style and want to try wa-lolita in the future, wait until you’re more familiar with lolita fashion as a whole.

 As a final note, before making a purchase you’re not sure of, get other’s opinions! Search for reviews on the dress you’ve got in mind for photos and information about the fabric, lace, and construction of the dress. Its hard to go wrong if you do your research!

匿名からの質問: Can you wear lolita that is more casual?

Yes, definitely! Casual lolita is fairly common and pretty adorable too. ♥ Here are some quick tips for more casual coordinates.

 Wear a light petticoat for a bit of modest poof, instead of layering multiple petticoats for that gigantic cupcake shape.

 A lolita skirt with a blouse or a loliable t-shirt always looks cute, and many brands make t-shirts to match their prints.

 You could also wear a jsk with a light cardigan for a simple but romantic look.

Finally, daily_lolita has a casual tag you can look through for some outfit inspiration. 

I challenge you all to take this 30 day lolita challenge! I edited some of the questions for clarity. ♥ 

Day 1 – 10 things about your lolita lifestyle.
Day 2 – 10 things you love in lolita.
Day 3 – 10 things you hate in lolita.
Day 4 – 10 different kinds of food you like.
Day 5 – 10 items from your wishlist.
Day 6 – 10 things you can’t live without in lolita.
Day 7 – 10 people who inspire your lolita style.
Day 8 – 10 songs that inspire you for lolita.
Day 9 – 10 things you will never do in lolita.
Day 10 – What’s in your bag?
Day 11 – One day in your lolita life in pictures.
Day 12 – A picture or description of yourself before lolita came in to your life.
Day 13 – A picture of your favorite sweets.
Day 14 – A picture of your dream item.
Day 15 – A picture of your last lolita purchase.
Day 16 – Your outfit for the day.
Day 17 – What do you want more then anything right now?
Day 18 – A picture of your favorite lolita style.
Day 19 – What’s in your make-up bag?
Day 20 – A picture of a lolita friend.
Day 21 – Your favorite fictional lolita.
Day 22 – A picture of your room.
Day 23 – A picture of your handwriting.
Day 24 – A picture of you from a meetup.
Day 25 – Your favorite lolita themed artwork.
Day 26 – Your profile picture.
Day 27 – One song that fits your favorite lolita style.
Day 28 – A picture of the perfect lolita location.
Day 29 – A picture of a lolita you would love to meet for real.
Day 30 – A photo of yourself taken today and 3 good things that’s happened over the last 30 days.

View the challenge at its original source here.

 As seen on our banner model Kammie (mintymix@lj), split wigs are currently a booming trend in lolita fashion. A wig with a striking pink and purple split looks fantastic with most sweet coordinates, but for a more subdued cute try a milktea and darkbrown split. But because of their massive popularity they begin to look a little same-y, try styling your wig yourself into a cute updo or tease it until it resembles cotton candy… or go against the trend and show your real hair!

 At the height of popularity, as usual, are prints, prints, prints! And understandable so, brands are constantly releasing gorgeous, intricate prints. Its easy to coordinate an outfit with the main color of your dress, but don’t be shy to coordinate around small colors visible in the print’s details.

 Sweets deco jewelry is becoming increasingly popular, and can usually be found in many different motifs and styles. As well as stores such as Chocomint, there are many talented artists on Etsy, or you could try your hand at crafting some yourself. Good luck! 

 Another popular, versatile accessory are two-way clips. The star, heart, or other more unusual shaped deco clips can be worn in your hair, pinned to your blouse, or on your bag. 

 If its too hot in the summer to wear a blouse in your country, or just for a more simple, summery and mature look - go without one. If paired with simple accessories and a cute updo, a coordinate that shows your shoulders can look stunning.

 If you suddenly get the feeling your outfit needs a little more lace, try adding another pair of wrist cuffs to the pile of accessories already adorning your arms. Two pairs in different colors can look really lovely when they match the color scheme of your coord. If you find two pairs of brand wristcuffs are a bit over your budget, you can always try making your own simple pair.