Coat Review: Btssb's Teddy Ribbon

My search for a new lolita coat proved to be a lot more dramatic than I was anticipating. I stalked the comm_sales for weeks and looked on every lolita website I could think of, and I still couldn't find anything that I both liked, and thought would actually keep me warm.

I finally got a break mid October, when a gorgeous pink coat came up on the comm_sales-- the Teddy Ribbon Coat by Baby, the Stars Shine Bright! Yes!!!

I really wanted something that was sweet but not over the top, and didn't have white faux fur all over it like a lot of sweet lolita coats I've seen. To me, this coat looked adorable and yet fairly simple and understated.

When it arrived it was just as gorgeous as I hoped it would be!

It actually has two pockets, behind the ribbons on the sides! It is heavy and has kept me warm in 3 degrees Celsius weather! I'm sure it could handle freezing temperatures though without too much layering.

The coat is really soft and lovely to the touch, and is heavy. It's really well constructed.

I love the asymmetrical collar! It buttons in place with a little plastic popper. The lace is thick and sturdy.

The ribbons themselves are so gorgeous! They have a checkered texture and are thick and high quality. The ones by the pockets are not detachable but the one of the back is (and I have detached it because it didn't really serve any purpose and I was worried it would get lost hahaha!)

Another thing I'm really fond of is the secret plastic poppers! Despite the fact the coat's buttons stop halfway, you can still seal the coat from flapping open with these hidden buttons. Pretty nifty stuff.

And here's a photo of me decidedly not making use of the nifty buttons! Unfortunately my legs aren't in the picture but the length of the coat is amazing. I'm 5'6" but it hits nearly below my knees and covers the entirety of my dress/skirt. Brilliant!

What has your experience been like with finding the perfect lolita winter coat? ❤

Book Review: Fashioning Japanese Subcultures

After seeing a post on egl about a book about Japanese subcultures, I knew I had to buy it.

Generally speaking, books on this subject haven't been too great. They've been picture-heavy (often with incorrect pictures to represent certain styles) and devoid of information.

Fashioning Japanese Subcultures by Yuniya Kawamura is very different. It is almost entirely text, with in-depth analyses of various subcultures such as lolita, gyaru and mori girl. Instead of simply describing what these styles consist of, Kawamura has delved into the communities of these cultures (taking a Japanese insider perspective which can often clash with those of western followers of these fashions and subcultures) and has quoted many people for their personal opinions.

The book is very well referenced, suggesting Kawamura spent an awful lot of time and effort on her research.

What I found particularly interesting was the first section of the book, which handles an investigation into the economic climate of Japan, shedding light on the mindset of the people. Kawamura then makes connections between how the changing and increasingly bleak Japanese economy has impacted the way people view their lives, and caused the development of subcultures.

Those interested in the fashion industry as a whole will enjoy the chapter on the deprofessionalisation of fashion. It makes note of some obvious things I never really paid attention to-- how it is young people in these subcultures creating the fashions and making the rules, rather than waiting for high fashion brands to tell them what to wear.

Where the book falls down is its inclusion of photographs. There are a handful of colour plates shoved in the middle of the book that really don't need to be there, with one being a repeat of the book cover, and others being poor quality, cheap digicam pics that add nothing to the book whatsoever. If photos were to be included, they should have been carefully chosen and integrated with their appropriate chapters to make the book more cohesive, and add a visual appeal which is definitely lacking. This is not a book you can flip through to gaze at the pictures, but first and foremost an academic research book.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in Japanese subcultures, or who considers themselves part of them already. Yes, there are moments where the commentary is a little vague or downright incorrect, but I have not been able to find anything else out there that comes close to what Kawamura is giving us here. Plus, the cover is pretty damn cute.

I rate this book with 4 hearts out of 5!

 ❤❤❤❤♡

Anna House Review: Blouse 016-1347 in Black and White

Hey everyone! I recently made an order with Anna House for the very first time.

I really needed a new black, short-sleeved blouse (I was very unimpressed with a certain Bodyline one that people rave about. The material was so...plasticy), and I've never owned a short-sleeved white blouse so Anna House seemed like the perfect place to buy them. Their prices are very affordable, and their quality seemed far superior to the Bodyline equivalent, and yet were the same price. Onto the review...
I ordered on Friday 14th June, and my package arrived on Friday 21st June! I didn't get charged a customs fee because Anna House marked the package as a gift, and of $20 value.

I opened the package (a sturdy cardboard box, with the blouses inside wrapped with bubble wrap and plastic packaging) and was greeted with two lovely blouses.

This is the white blouse (obviously...) It has a really flattering shape to it, nipping in at the waist and flaring back out at the hips. It's a great length, so you won't need to worry about your blouse riding up or your tummy being visible.

The lace details on the collar are beautiful. It is detailed but not excessive.

The puff sleeves have lots of stretch to them so they will be comfortable on a range of arm sizes. The lace used is soft, and doesn't irritate the skin.

The buttons are like little roses-- so cute! You can see the soft cotton lace better here.

The black blouse is exactly the same.

The blouse is a true black, but it's quite hard to photograph and still capture the details.

Again, very pretty lace details at the collar, adorable buttons, and soft lace on the body of the blouse.

I'm really impressed with Anna House. These blouses cost just $41 each! Very good value for money, and I highly recommend them.

Bodyline Review: Jacket L502 and Cutsew L146

Hey everyone! I managed to survive my end-of-term exams, and I'm currently on my summer holidays so I can get back to blogging again!

This week, after waiting around for my package which was apparently stuck at the Langley HWDC, and paying a customs fee (grrr...) I finally received it! I only got two items this time.

First off, the black jacket.

I love this! It's much better quality than I'd been expecting. The fabric has a nice soft, yet very sturdy and with a smooth feel to it, plus the small amount of lace trim used is thick cotton. I normally buy Bodyline items in size M but I opted for 2L with this one, so that if I wanted to wear layers underneath I could. 

The buttons have a fabric layer to blend into the rest of the jacket, and there are two bows going up the front to add a little extra cuteness. The back of the jacket also has one of these bows.

Overall, I am extremely pleased with this jacket! I think the blazer style is really flattering, and adds a classy touch to any outfit.

Next up, the pink cutsew.

I thought the cutsew was cute at a first glance until I began to pick up on a couple of details that bothered me.

What is going on with the random cream lace? It doesn't go with any of the other white lace, and ends up making the cutsew look like it's dirty. The lace along the collar seemed pretty unnecessary to me, too. I decided to do away with both of these dodgy details.

Much better, don't you think? It was all a bit too much for me before, but I find it to be more wearable this way. The fabric feels super soft, and it's nice and loose on me (I went for size 2L on this item, too, so I would have lots of breathing space if I wanted to wear it on a really hot day).

The sleeves have just the right amount of puff, and cute pintuck details. There's a little bow on each sleeve, same as the ones used around the collar and they're very well made. I found the fit just right for me with a max arm circumference of 27cm, but if you have bigger arms, you will not fit this cutsew. The sleeves have no give whatsoever.

I'm looking forward to wearing this cutsew, paired with a skirt on a hot summer's day.

Thanks for looking! ❤

Metamorphose Vintage Poodle JSK review

I recently purchased a jumperskirt on egl_comm_sales. I'd never bought anything by Metamorphose before as their prints had rarely appealed to me. I have always fawned over Angelic Pretty's many marvelous releases, and occasionally checked on Alice and the Pirates as the style of their dresses is interesting to me. But recently, I was browsing Hellolace and finding a few dresses by Meta that I really liked! Anyway, when I saw the Vintage Poodle Tiered jumperskirt in pink I fell in love with it.

My dress was shipped to me super quickly (just three days from Germany to England) and when I opened my package, it looked even lovelier than it had in the seller's photo!

This dress is super versatile. The collar is detachable for a more toned-down look, and so is the belt. 

The collar has super pretty embroidery of the brand name on it. 

The collar detaches by a series of buttons on the underside of the bodice. The shoulder straps are also attached by a button. I'm not sure if this is so you can cross the straps over at the back, or to give you the option of adding more button holes to adjust the length of the straps. In the end, I added some stitching to the straps so that the buttons would receive less stress from the weight of the dress.

The jumperskirt has soft, pink lining and a built in petticoat. The dress actually has a fair amount of volume without adding your own petticoat.

So far I think it looks nicest coordinated with white. I added my new wristcuffs to a simple white cardigan to see how it all looked together and I liked it. I think I'll try to make a complete outfit incorporating these things.

I love this dress! It has a really nice retro/50s vibe, and has lots of options for how you can wear it.

Bodyline Review: Wristcuffs ACC1031, Bolero L062 and Bloomers PAN031

Today, my newest Bodyline order arrived! I used AIR shipping and it only took 11 days so I'm pretty pleased. Plus, I didn't get charged a customs fee! I feel very lucky as they seem to be hitting people right, left and centre at the moment.

I decided to get a few wardrobe staples I was lacking.

First off, the wristcuffs! They're the first pair I've bought because I always found the brand and indie ones far too expensive for what they were. I didn't even know Bodyline did wristcuffs until I saw a review of them on my friend's blog.

I love them!

They are quite big and OTT with pearled ribbons, a row of lace at the wrist, and two more flaring out beneath. They look really great over the cuffs of a plain white cardigan, and are very comfortable to wear without.

Next I got a black bolero. The one I already had was regular cardigan length, which can be a bit awkward seeing as lolita skirts sit at the waist.

The fabric is soft and feels neither too thin nor too thick, quite similar to strong t-shirt/cutsew material.

I didn't expect to like the lace but it's very soft and quite cute. The ruffles everywhere are also a nice touch.

I finally got myself a pair of bloomers! I've been putting it off for so long!

Again, the fabric is lovely and soft, and the eyelet lace is wonderful.

There are a few rows of lace at the back, giving you a "rufflebutt" and adding the teeniest amount of volume to your skirt.The bloomers sit at my hips, and they reach about halfway down my thighs which I find to be a perfect length (I'm 5ft 6 for reference).

And, that's it! I'm very pleased with my order ❤ 

[Update 12/5/16: That bolero is still going strong and remains an important wardrobe staple, but those bloomers... ugh. They are very short and ride up when you wear them, with the leg elastic being so loose with barely any stretch that they don't really have a purpose, which naturally allows a lot of wedgies to occur. The fabric is 100% cotton, however it is untreated, and makes a crunchy sound when you move. For these reasons, I wouldn't recommend these bloomers! I make my own now, and they are so much better! If you are interested check out my shop!

Bodyline Review: JSK L031 in Purple

This morning my Bodyline package arrived!

I decided to buy a jumperskirt listed at £13. I thought, why not at that price? The lace looked good from the stock pictures, and I figured it would be a cute addition to my wardrobe. However, I wasn't really sure of which colourway I liked best. I already have lots of pink, blue doesn't suit me much, I already own a mint JSK, and I wasn't crazy about getting a brown dress. Then I noticed there was a purple option, but apparently no picture to represent this.

I have never seen a review of the purple colourway before. Despite this, I decided to take the plunge and buy it anyway! I paid in Japanese Yen, which meant the price (including shipping) became £16.32, which seemed pretty excellent to me. Then, I waited for the dress to arrive (I ordered on March 19th, so it took a little over two weeks with AIR shipping), figuring it would be a lavender type of colour. I was, however, very much mistaken.

At first I thought they'd sent me brown but I compared it to something else I own which is the same purple-- a very unusual shade. It's got a greyish tinge to it, and appears to be the same shade used in Bodyline's "Love Nadia" print. I wasn't sure how to feel about it, but then I fell in love with the details.

The bibbed area is absolutely gorgeous, with soft lace, a cute bow and ribbon detail.

The back has corset lacing, and a little shirring, though it isn't the most forgiving. The website states it should fit busts between 84 and 94 cm, but I would say this wouldn't be too comfortable if you're at the upper end of that range. In regular Bodyline fashion, the dress isn't lined, but the dress isn't thin so this isn't a problem.

The JSK comes with a detachable bow. It's pretty big, and can be worn at the waist of the dress, or perhaps turned into a hairbow. I decided to try the latter.

I had no idea what to wear it with at first. In the end, I decided on dusky pink, and white.

It's not the sort of colour I normally would have chosen but as it turns out, I really like it! I was surprised by how well it accommodated a petticoat, too, as the stock pictures made it look much more A-line. Luckily, it didn't look tight or stretched by the addition of cupcake floofiness.

I'm glad I decided to take a chance with this dress. It is great quality, so for that price you really are getting an absolute bargain.

Edited to add 24/3/14: Here's a post with a picture of me wearing the dress outside so you can see a more accurate colour.

About

I'm a dreamer in her mid-twenties from the south of England.

I have always been interested in alternative fashions and lifestyles. Lolita fashion was the first to truly capture my heart in a big way. It's been a huge part of my life and my wardrobe for a decade now, and while I'm no longer a lifestyler immersed in the community, it will always have a special place in my heart!

I also love vintage fashion and old decor, and dream of owning a very 70s home one day! I also have a massive appreciation for bell bottom jeans.

This is a personal blog where I record the goings on in my life, my thoughts on alternative fashion and subculture, plus everything in between.

I hope you will enjoy reading Teacake Time Machine!

[Last updated 26/4/20]