This was originally a Facebook meme, but I felt this would be a nice wrap up for 2013 now that I have assimilated into the Boston Lolita sisterhood. Rachel Rene asked for 25 and 25 random facts is what you’re getting.
1. I first heard about Lolita when I was a Freshman in college. My friend, Indira, was really into it. She was introduced to it by way of visual kei / j-rock.
Anime Expo 2002 – Indira is the first in the bottom row.
2. My first Lolita outfit was back in 2004. I was a Junior in college. I ordered this from Fan Plus Fiend. This would be considered “Ita” by today’s standards, but this outfit holds a special place in my heart.
AniMagic 2005 – Photo by Eurobeat King
3. I was more into Asian Ball Joint dolls – I just let my dolls Cosette (MSD Mika) and Eponine (Kid Delf Nara) wear the clothes and look cute for me.
My resin dolls cosplaying from Bleach. I used to be really into Asian Ball Joint Dolls.
4. I felt I was on the outside looking in. I went to Asian Ball Joint doll and Lolita combo meets in Los Angeles. I admired the dresses from afar,but for whatever reason, I felt like I didn’t belong…
Wearing Princess K from World Ends with You at a hybrid ABJD / Lolita meet in LA.
5. …because I kept hearing horror stories from the LA Lolita community. The reputation it had among my circle is that it was just a bunch of “Lolitists.” A lot of us have been burned by someone in the LA Lolita community one way or the other. I already was dealing with exclusivity and cliques in cosplay – did not need more of it.
6. I went to Pacific Media Expo in 2010 as press. Yumi Fujiwara was a guest of honor. I attended her press conference. My favorite style was always classical.
7. Also at PMX 2010, Yumi helped pick out my first Lolita outfit. It was a very personal experience. It made up for all of the negativity that I kept seeing. She helped me pick out a skirt and blouse. I also picked up another skirt on Sunday. Many of the clothes were marked down at 40%. I also wore it to the family Thanksgiving party that year too.
Anime Conji 2011
8. In that same year, I bought another Innocent World dress from a friend. I wore it to Disneyland in 2010.
9. I don’t get offended easily when people say “nice costume.” I get it that mundanes may not understand. Some Lolitas like to get worked up and say they’re outright offended. However, I think the most interesting compliment I ever got was in Vegas. “I love your Katy Perry dress!”
Las Vegas 2011
10. I love visiting San Francisco. I consider it my second home. I bought my first Angelic Pretty dress and it was my dream dress!
Museum of Fine Arts 2013. Photo by HarmonyCloud
11. 2011 was a big year for me. I saw Lady Gaga with a friend in Anaheim. I wore Vanilla-chan there!
12. I had another dream dress from Innocent World – Little Lady in sax. I wore it underneath my graduation robes when I got my Master’s degree.
LMU Graduation 2011
13. Despite wearing Lolita, I was never really involved with the LA community. I did wear Lolita on occasion to cons.
PMX 2011
14. And I also wore Lolita to Broadway shows. One actor from Jersey Boys actor, Taylor Sternberg, recognized what I was wearing. “Is this Goth Loli? I LOVE Japan!”
Jersey Boys 2011. Las Vegas
15. I moved to Boston in 2012. I wanted to find a community where I could meet people close to my age. My first meet was the zoo. Most of my Lolita stuff had not arrived, but I got to meet some awesome people!
16. It took me a while to adjust, but I really started making friends at the first International Lolita Day at Upstairs in the Square. Moving to another part of the country can be taxing to find a new circle of close friends. Being a part of a community really helps that transition.
ILD 2012
17. I don’t consider myself an expert at figuring out coords. I welcome constructive criticism and I’m open to ideas. It took me a while to figure out how to coord this IW skirt that I bought at PMX.
Photo by HarmonyCloud. Sparkles by Terry H.
18. HarmonyCloud and I co-hosted a meetup in April,the day before the Boston Marathon Bombing. This experience just makes me realize how fragile life can be – one moment you’re having a great time with friends, the next moment that place can turn into a disaster area.
Photo by Harmony Cloud
19. I bought this JSK because it looks like Ahim’s JSK. Ahim is a space princess from the super sentai series, Gokaiger. She is often seen wearing Lolita.
Photo by HarmonyCloud
20. One of my favorite meet ups was Rebecca’s karaoke meet. I really enjoyed rockin’ out to 80s hairbands!
Photo by HarmonyCloud
21. During the September meet up, I felt I really got to know other girls in the community. I never realized that Lolita can be seen as feminist fashion. It was then I felt like I had a group of girls to have real girl talk without judgement.
Photo by HarmonyCloud
22. In late November 2013, Gothic Lolita Wigs featured me. Yay!
Photos by HarmonyCloud
23. I’m very excited that my long time friends in LA are getting into Lolita. I hope we can do a meet up sometime at Heritage Square. That’s my dream place for a meet up (a dream place that I can logically plan!)
24. I don’t have many dream dresses,but if it’s in sax and it’s classic, I’m always up for it.
25. I’ve met a ton of friends out here in Boston through the Lolita community. I’m very thankful to have met you all. I look forward to more adventures in frills and exploring more of this awesome city I call home. I feel much more confident now to mingle with the LA community (I’ve noticed that there’s been changes through the years) I always look forward making new friends everywhere!
Photo by HarmonyCloud