Vintage Fascination - The Beginning

I don't know exactly what it is but I've become fascinated with Vintage fashion.  I think part from the bleed-over from Lolita Fashion and part my love for costumes.  
I now own a few pieces that I'm very excited about and can not wait to wear out on a date or for a special event.  
I now go to a few period based events that either require or greatly encourage dressing up legit. The Gatsby Afternoon, Film Noir, etc.  I have also become a member of the local Costumers Guild so I hope to be getting more information to local events that I can attend and make/ wear new outfits to.  I would like to be as period as possible for these, as well as bringing in elements of the Lolita Fashion to these events as much as possible.  Its always good to bring the cute! 

Here is a list of various Vintage shops in the California Bay Area.  I hope to visit all of them and write something on each place in later blogs.  I'll be visiting all of the following and hopfully not breaking the bank too much...

San Jose

Moon Zoom

1630 W San Carlos St
San Jose, CA 95128
(408) 287-5876

Black and Brown

850 The Alameda
San Jose, CA 95126
(408) 298-1970

Crossroads Traiding Co.
1959 W San Carlos St
San Jose, CA 95128
(408) 292-6100

Black Cat Collective
751 W San Carlos St
San Jose, CA 95126
(408) 292-6578

Park Place Vintage
1318 Lincoln Ave
San Jose, CA 95125

Santa Cruz

All Shook up & Once Around Lightly

861 41st Ave
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 465-8393

Moon Zooom

813 Pacific Ave
Santa Cruz, CA 95060

(831) 423-8500

Cognito Clothing

821 Pacific Ave
Santa Cruz, CA 95060

(831) 426-5414

Crossroads Traiding Co.

811 Pacific Ave
Santa Cruz, CA 95060

(831) 458-0555

Servery - Lolita Level Up status

I found this on Jobiberry's blog and it looked interesting and a bit fun so I wanted to do it as well. Its an average servery type thing but, yeah..

LOLITA LEVEL START!

:Key:X= yes__= no

X-You've been to egl.
X-You've posted on egl, without an onslaught of 'USE THE MEMORIES' and likewise.
X-You've bought a lolita mook.
X-You've picked a favorite brand.
X_You've ordered your first item.
X_You've worn a full outfit.
X-You've worn a full outfit out in public.
X-You've worn a full outfit and posted photos of it on the Internet.
X-You know what JSK, OP, and cutsew all mean.
X-You've bought your first brand piece.
__-You know your measurements.
X-You know you shoe size - in American, European, and Japanese.
X-You know who Mr. Yan is.
X,X,X-You know who Mana is. (+1 points if you know his band. +2 points if you know his brand. +3 points if you know why he's featured in every GLB. +4 if you have a shrine to him in your closet.)
X,X-You know who Maki and Asuka are. (+2 if you've met Maki and Asuka).
X-You've watched Kamikaze Girls. (+1 if you know the real name of this movie. +2 if you know who wrote the book this was based on. +3 if you've also read the manga or novel. +4 if you love the author despite his criminal record).
X,X-You own a wig. (+1 if you own more than 2.)
X-You own a pair of falls.
X-You can identify lace on the spot.
__-You can identify an item's brand on the spot.
__-You can identify the year a dress was made by a specific brand on the spot.
X-You can name several different dresses or prints.
__-You answer stock photo requests.
__-You mod a lolita community.
X,X-You decorate your nails. (+1 if you wear fake nails. +2 if you make fake nails.)
X,X-You own a pair of a rocking horse shoes. (+1 if you know their abbreviation.)
X-You've made your own rose corsage.
__-You've made anything out of your brand dress's waist ties.
__-You've made anything out of a matching eco tote. (+3 if you were the first one to do it, you think).
X-You know how to apply false eyelashes.
X-You know how to pronounce shirring.
X-You know how to pronounce Moi-meme-moitie, or Metamorphose tempes de fille.
__-You know a reliable shopping service.
__-You bid on Yahoo!Japan or Mbok.
__-You've been to a meetup.
__-You've planned a meetup.
__-You've planned a meetup with catering or more than 20 attendees.
__-You've met up with lolitas while on vacation to foreign or faraway locales.
X-You've seen a lolita fashion show.
X-You've seen a brand fashion show.
__-You've modeled in a lolita fashion show.
__-You've modeled in a brand lolita fashion show.
X-You wear bloomers.
X-You know how to make bloomers.
X-You tell other people to wear bloomers.
__-You draw lolita art, write a lolita blog, or provide the community with some sort of creative services.
X-You've taken purikura in lolita.
__-You've decorated your room/house/apartment in lolita style.
X-You've listened to lolita music.
__-You've learned kana.
__-You've learned enough Japanese to read a magazine. (and make the dresses from the patterns!) (aha!)
__-You wear or own circle lenses.
X-You've been called a princess by a young child.
X-You've dressed up a friend.
X-You've convert a friend.
__-You've been in media (television, newspaper, magazine). (+2 points if it's Japanese media.)
X-You've learned a handicraft, like jewelry making, embroidery, or sewing.
X-You've become a lolita mentor.
X-You've attended lolita events at an anime or multi-genre convention.
__-You’ve organized or presented lolita events at a convention.
X-You've visited a brand shop.
X-Trip to Japan!
X-You've dressed up and gone out alone.
X-You're prepared for inclement or colder weather in lolita (coat, parasol, boots, gloves, other climate-specific items.)
X-You've learned face contouring.
__-You've made a lolita valentine.
__-You've got a lolita pen pal or online lolita friends.
X-You have local lolita friends.
X-You know how to modify clothes that don't fit you.
__-You know how to dress for your body type.
X-You've been in a street snap.
__-You've been to multiple world locations of the same brand store (BABY Paris, BABY Tokyo, BABY San Francisco, etc.)
__-You've created a makeup/hair/sewing tutorial.
X-You've sold hand-created lolita goods.
__-You have your own lolita fashion line.
__-You've gotten a lolita haircut, style, or color.
X-You've mixed other street fashions with lolita.
X-You've thrown a lolita party/had a lolita wedding.
__-You've dressed your child/small children in lolita or kodona style.
X-You've successfully cross-dressed in lolita style at least once (boystyle for girls and girls' clothing for guys).
X-You've lolified or made sure all the contents of your purse are cute (wallet, lipgloss, keyring, etc.)
__-You have a lolita pet (small dogs, cats, rabbits, exotic birds, fancy fish) or have dressed/accessorized your pet (bows or pet clothes).
__-You've dressed your significant other or dated someone who dresses in J-fashion/alternative fashion.
X,X,X,X-You've read Alice in Wonderland. (+1 if you've seen the animated movie or other variations, +2 if you've seen more than one variation, +3 if you own more than one variation)
X-You've dressed as Alice or another Wonderland character in lolita style, or own Alice themed items.
X-You've made something from a Japanese pattern.
X-You've found, bought, or made lolita underwear (bras and panties).
X-You wear lolita daily, or have gone 7 days straight wearing only lolita.
__-You have lolita calling cards or business cards.
__-You play a lolita instrument (i.e., piano, violin, harp, French horn... well any instrument really.)
__-You can translate yen to your country's currency in your head. (+1 if you can convert other currencies you shop with as well. +2 if you read the news to know how the yen is doing.)
__-You've sold lolita clothing online (secondhand, egl_comm_sales).
__-Your article or entry has been put into the egl memories.
X-You take photos of your outfits/daily outfit photos.
__-You’ve posted to daily_lolita.
X,X,X-You own a petticoat. (+1 if you own more than one. +2 if you wear three or more at a time).
X-You’ve bought a lucky pack.
__-You keep a style diary or look-book.
X-You can put together an outfit made entirely from offbrand.
X-You’ve bought offbrand or non-Japanese brand.

Adorable Admirer (lvls 1 - 20) You've started studying or liking lolita but haven't taken that leap of faith yet. Good luck!

Resplendant Rufflebutt (lvls 21 - 40) At home within the land of the rufflebutts and spilling frills from every edge.

Victorian Maiden (lvls 41 - 60) A classy lolita of taste and experience, who knows her way around the lolita social set.

Starry Celebrity (lvls 61 - 80) On page six of the lolita world, you've risen to the ring of the upper crust.

Pretty Princess (lvls 81 - 100) Lolita royalty, truly versed in the ways of the lacey ones, the lolita princesses have achieved a special level of enlightenment.

Ultimate Lolita (Boss Fight!) (lvls 100+) Wow, you've gotten over 100 levels? You're the ultimate lolita with unlimited hitpoints. That's actually a little scary...


I scored a 72.  Some of the things look like things I can start doing though, like the look book.  *nod*

Lolita Closet - Shoes 1

Oh my Oh my!  Such pretty things...

I always told myself that I would never be a "shoe person" but I just love boots-- and lolita shoes are so ruddy cute!  I can't help myself :/  I need more! <3

This is the first installation of my shoe closet.  There will be various different types of shoes posted from sandals to boots to heels just so that I can later keep this as up to date as possible.

Bodyline: Sac Heels

I bought these heels back in 2009 when they only cost me $30.  Since then Bodyline has raised their prices.  Not bad compared to brand lolita shoe prices but still a little high for my liking.
I bought these shoes to be my fancy shoes to go with my first Alice and the Pirates dress.  Since they were both in the Sac Blue colour I thought that they would be perfect.  I love to wear them with it and have worn them on many occasions to many different events, when I have to look fancy.

Harajuku Mini: 2010 Christmas Shoes

These shoes match some of the prints that they put on when the line was first released back in the end of 2010.  I love the dress and am happy to have been able to fit into these matching shoes. They are flat and made of cloth with zippers down the side, they are very well made and comfy.

Guess: Red Ruffle Flats

I got this when I went to a friend's wedding in Iowa.  They are Guess shoes that I got for about $20.  I love them so much!  I want to wear them everyday but I don't want to ruin them by wearing them to work...

Converse: Green and Black

I had wanted Converse for a long time and really wanted green ones.  When I finally could get a pair there didn't seem to be any green or coloured ones around... then I found these.  I love the black!  I love to wear these with all the things!

Nana/ Rocking Horse Shoes

I shopped around and found the best price that I could online to get these shoes.  I've had them for about three or so years now and I do very much love them.  They have held up and that makes me happy.
The soles are made of a thick foam that makes them super comfy.


More Shoes to come in later posts!  Still got my AatP boots to show off! ~,<

Winter 2013 Angelic Pretty Lucky Packs + Opening

Angelic Pretty Lucky packs are know to be few and far between, however, they are my most favorite brand so it only stands to reason that I'd want to own one.  I've passed up the Lucky Packs in the past because it would be released on working days but this year the San Fran store had it on a Saturday.
These packs are an AMAZING deal that are very hard to pass up.  PLUS this time round it was a bunny print and I go crazy for bunnehs!

Onto what LPs were available! 

Dream Fantasy JSK Set

Dream Fantasy overalls Set

Set dream girl

Dream Fantasy Special Set

TOY MARCH Special Set 

*Link to Japanese AP luckypack site

Internet Sale

This event was a complete bust.  It took place on January 1st at noon and everything was gone in less then 60 seconds.  I had four people helping me camp the website to buy my LP.  One of my friends got the dress that I wanted in their cart when everything went gone.  There had to be the use of scripts for them to go so fast.  I like the fact that they make these specials available to other Lolitas that are not local and can not go to the store, however, it was ridiculous how fast they went.

LP Store Sale

Having not been able to get a Lucky Pack through the Internet sale, I opted for my second option, going to the store early on the 5th.  Living only an hour away it was an option that I couldn't really pass up this time round.  With a bunny print at stake I just HAD to.
My darling boyfriend and I went early to San Fran to sit out in front of the store and wait for their opening.  Dressing in many layers we waited for hours for the opening and sale.  I attempted to sew ponies while I waited and talked to my boyfriend about various lolita styles and brands while looking at the newest Gothic Lolita Bible Mook.
After losing some of the feeling in my feet and hands it was finally time to go inside and pick!  We were the second group in line and had the pick of the litter.

Shop Girl: "Which one were you wanting?"
Me: "The Pink JSK?"
Shop Girl: "That one is already taken."
Me: "The Blue JSK?"
Shop Girl: "Here it is"
Me: "Squeeeee!"

The credit card machine was down in the shop so most of us had to wait for it to charge up.  I was able to look around in the shop and oogle all of the pretty prints and dress designs and show them off to my wonderful boyfriend who had never been to the Angelic Pretty Store before.
I just out of the store with my LP in hand, jumping up and down, a grin from ear to ear and squeeing like a fool.  I opened my LP and looked inside and all the pretty things!
I absolutely adore the print on the dress and am so very pleased with it.  It is slightly mind blowing to think that there are so few of these dresses out there, especially in the USA. But, onto what, if your looking at this, you probably wanted to see in the first place.  The opening of the Lucky Pack and all that is inside it.

Picture Porn!

Opening of Dream Fantasy JSK in Sac