Little Devil Outfit Shot and new COVEN by Sonia Kang Updates!

Outfit: COVEN by Sonia Kang Braided Leather Hairband, XXI asymmetrical collar lace blazer, H&M tanktop, Danier leather studded belt, Le Chateau Short Velvet Pencil Skirt, H&M leg warmers, Aldo wedges, and COVEN by Sonia Kang bird skull clutch.

It is quite rare I ever consistently do outfit shots and this does sadden me a bit. But, it is a New Year’s Resolution of mine to try to take more outfit shots! I had actually just dyed my hair my synthetic red. I actually bought out the stock of this red at Pacific Mall when Palty (Japanese hair dye company) announced they were discontinuing it. So, that is the last of my synthetic red shade until I get another Japanese brand or find more of this color. So sad.

This outfit was for the first day opening of Underworld Awakening. I love nothing more then seeing women in catsuits in movies. Kate Beckinsale in PVC is no exception. I loved the movie and am so happy Michael and Selene have a child together. I hate how so many stereotypical fantasy-horror movie genres make vampires dead soulless sterile beings. Life would be so much more beautiful if they could have children with each other (or so the sappy romantic in me would like to think). Then again, there are probably a few sick vampires out there who would abuse this biological advantage. But, let’s not get into the technicalities. :) I definitely think the plot has been getting better as every movie is made in the Underworld series. I really wish I watched it in 3D now.

Another update with my COVEN by Sonia Kang line is that I have finally sewn chain on to the bird skull clutch. It looks amazing. So far, I have a waiting list of at least 5 orders (1 overseas) for the clutch and I have been recommended a couple boutiques to approach in Yorkville once I start production of it after all the testing and refining. Exciting news! I have also started a sample product that I made from scrap leather from the bird skull clutch. I braided the leather and made a really really cool studded headband (I’m wearing it in my outfit shot) which I want to sell very soon after I make a few more tweaks to it. What do you guys think about my new direction and re-branding?

Also, I feel like since re-branding COVEN by Sonia Kang I feel like I should add more black in my wardrobe. I spent two years removing it from my wardrobe and now I want to go back. The irony. 

Dolly Kei Swap - Finished Handmade Items and More!

Dolly Kei Swap items: the elusive Baroque HUE tights, handmade headpiece and handmade upcycled aboriginal hunted fur with removable bow and chains. 

I finally completed my Dolly Kei Swap items! My besfriend, Aya has been looking for those HUE tights since we saw it on the Anthropologie website. We've tromped though some of Toronto's best and high-end legging stores in Yorkville (3-4 stores to be exact) and never found it. It wasn't until we went to the iconic Bay on Queen-Yonge that we found a few pairs. Aya, Em, and I bought them out. Scary - herd mentality among friends. I bought two pairs: one for my Swap partner because she wanted tights and since we seemed to have similar tastes I went ahead with the purchase. It was a really really good sale. (You'll hear this a lot on here because it's my sad attempt to justify my spending habit). 70% off the original price. These are expensive and limited edition tights so it was really worth it. 

I just finished her headpiece since she liked Mori Girl (like myself) I thought a small and subtle headpiece would be good for both Dolly and Mori Girl. Finally, the epic fur tail. She requested for accessories and wouldn't mind fur. It's upcycled fur - it's not new nor vintage. It's aboriginal-hunted and it's a true wild fox. I cut the tail in half and gave her the top part. I hope she likes it. She stated maroon as one of her favorite colors. Since, I like that color too I had really expensive Mokuba (Japanese-imported) ribbon with a medieval feel, made a rose, and added some Dolly Kei-esque charms and viola! Done. The bow and chain is removable so she can use it in her Classic Lolita outfits, too. Versatility is key to whatever I make. 

Here are some close-ups of the handmade items:

 

And...some pictures of the process of making my flowers:

I hung out with a friend and we went to Zara. He ended up buying a pure leather jacket for a awesome price of $59.99 - so jealous! I bought that pink top and the teddy bear top on sale, also. $6 and $10, respectively. The skirt was an early 2011 buy for $10 at H&M which I knew I could coordinate into Dolly Kei. Oh, and there are my pair of Baroque tights by HUE from The Bay. 

 Lastly, a picture of my coordinate for yesterday. I toned down the eyeliner and I forgot to put on my glasses as I had by sister take this picture with my iPhone before she went to work. Tehehe. I have a fatty face and I'm beady eyed without my glasses. One thing I can say about this coordinate is that playing with 5 colors in Mori Girl is hard.

Headpiece: Handmade by Marionette - my brand 

Cardigan: Costa Blanca

Necklace: Handmade by Marionette - my brand 

Ruffled Lace Top: Shopruche.com

Long Shirt Dress: Shopruche.com

Skirt: Pmall

Belt: H&M

Tights and Boots: Aldo

New Handmade Creations, Buys, and Outfit Shots!

I tend to do my posts in a giant conglomerate of my whereabouts, buys, and creations every so often. Which, isn't quite that often. I've been ill a lot recently with frequent trips to doctors. Let's hope the blood test today I will be doing will tell me why my immune system has been so lacking of the late. I may have cut back on some shopping it hasn't stopped me from adding to my Dolly and Mori Girl wardrobe. Been shopping SALE areas of my favorite stores and gathering inspiration from what I see around me. Lately, the inspiration been from texture, soft Spring colors, and pompoms. 

  

Here is one of my first buys for 2011. I found a Gunne Sax looking 60's dress at CTS (a local vintage store located at Spadina-Queen) for $9.99. You could have imagined my joy at the fact ALL their vintage dresses were $9.99 and I found one that fit me perfectly (except for the height part) and was the same era as my Gunne Sax dress. It's a Canadian brand called Shamash & Yofi which used to be sold at the Eaton Centre during the 60's. It had slight spot stains on the netting but it all came out during a light hand washing. I tried my best to coordinate it and it came out pretty Mori Girl with my new bag especially.

Here are some of my next purchases. The bag is from a local strip mall I found for $10 flat. A nice brocade with gold thread weaved dress from Urban Outfitters on sale for $29.99, a butterfly headband on sale for $4.99, a lace tanktop from Dragon City shop in Chinatown for $19, and organic yarn for my mom at $15. All of which I coordinated in the outfits below:

This outfit is my 2nd attempt at Dolly Kei. The first one can be viewed here: Dolly Kei Coordinate. This one has a non-Lolita silhouette. Items used:

Headband: Urban Outfitters

Necklace: Curious Oddities

Cardigan: Anthropologie

Scarf: Gift

Dress: Urban Outfitters

Bag: Random store in strip mall

Puff: Marionette - my brand

Tights: H&M

Shoes: Aldo

 

This outfit is one of my many attempts at Mori Girl. At least I photographed this because I didn't have a tripod until recently - yet another 2011 buy. Haha. Mori Girl plays on textures, layers, and softness. I have always loved the first kind of Mori Girl that uses excessive layers of creams with occasional use of other colors. The dark beige ham sleeved cardigan was bought two days ago at the sale rack of Costa Blanca in Yorkville (PATH Mall) for $4.99. Usually, not a fan of acrylic but for $4.99 and 10% lambswool I think it was worth it. Oh! And those khaki colored boots are from Aldo purchased 2 days ago online for $19.98 on sale down from $70. :D Awesome!

Headpiece: Marionette my brand

Scarf: XXI

Necklace: Curious Oddities and Marionette - my brand

Cardigan: Costa Blanca

Chiffon Blouse: Pmall

Lace Tanktop: Dragon City

Belt: H&M

Skirt: Pmall

Tights: H&M

Boots: Aldo

Finally, I got my Xmas gift from my mom. It's a fox stole made from yarn. I saw one on the Anthropologie website for a whopping $380 CDN and got my mom to make me a similar one. I LOVE IT. It's a shame I lost the acorn scarf she made me or else these two scarves would be friends in my wardrobe. I am so glad I have such a talented mom who gave me her talented genes. :D I'll coordinate it once I can find a way to incorporate more gray into my wardrobe. My mom has already begun making me a new acron scarf but I want my next one to be made of godly materials and not acrylic. It'll cost me a leg but it will last forever. 

MARIONETTE SAMPLES FOR...

Ofelia Ljuv is one of my brands under Marionette Atelier. Marionette is owned by my best friend, Aya and I. But we have such distinctly different tastes that it conflicted with our visions. So, we split to sub-branches. I have a more gothic, nature-inspired, and vintage theme going on. While her tastes can only be described as super girly la-la land to me. Lately, I've been on this crazy hyperactive Mori Girl and Dolly Kei sewing bug and here are my most recent results:

Necklaces made from wool, chiffon, Japanese imported lace, pearls, chains, ribbons, and crochet flowers!

Detailing

A side headbow, a convertable pompom necklace that turns into a brooch, and a headpiece that can be used for Mori Girl and Dolly Kei. 

Detailing

A picture taken upon completion of the headpiece, yesterday.

Giant Posting: The past 3-4 months!

I have been MIA for a little while due to some personal and family issues. The most recent one happened the beginning of this week. I missed a week of school in an attempt to resolve it. Hopefully, things turn out for the better. :)

I have been pretty busy the past few months.

FanExpo Lolita: I took part in a friend's Lolita presentation and fashion show. I lent a lot of items and while it didn't turn out as I had thought it would be (measurement bloopers with people I was lending the items to) it was still an experience. Here are a few pictures and videos of it:

Got our pictures taken with a group of Storm Troopers.

Participants of the Lolita Fashion Show

A selca of Aya and I using my iPhone 4 and an additional complete outfit shot of our Hime Lolita coordinates. I look very tired because I had absolutely no sleep the day before. It's usually like this when I attend a local Lolita Meet and it's even worst when I set one up. I haven't hosted one by myself in over a year because of just how emotionally and physically draining it is. 

Lolita High Tea Meet: My bestfriend, Aya, set this one up at the Windsor Arms Hotel. Definitely, an experience that was unexpected. High tea is very fancy but I found most of the food to be overly sugary for my tastes. Next time, Aya and a few friends of mine will be going to a fancy Yorkville one with macaroons. Here are a few pictures of my outfit and hers:

Interesting angled photo from Aya's photographer friend, Shin.

Aya's gorgeous coordinate. The first time she's attempted Classic Lolita. 

Beautiful chandelier above our table. 

Creations: The past few months I have been having an on-and-off relationship with my creativity. It prompted these creations to be made.

Gyaru fur puff.

Hot pink Gyaru fur puff.

Weekly Outfit Shots since September: If I feel up for it I usually try to dress my best at least ONCE a week to feel as if buying all the (expensive) clothes that I buy is somehow justified. Here are a few that I managed to take photos of.

Danier leather jacket, H&M schoolgirl blouse, Bttsb Circus Tutu skirt that (gift from Aya), and Aldo boots (gift from SO). 

Aldo headband, H&M ruffle vest, Anthropologie dress, UP belt,  Aldo tights, and Zara boots.

Handmade headpiece, Pmall lace dress, XXI belt, and Aldo boots (gift from SO).

Handmade headpiece, H&M cardigan, Jane Marple tartan gown, UP belt, and Aldo boots.

XXI earrings, Zara dress, H&M leggings, and Aldo boots.

XXI wool hat, offbrand turtleneck, handmade necklace, offbrand skirt, Aldo belt, H&M leggings, and Aldo flats.

NUIT BLANCHE: I actually was helping out a friend I met as a customer from work with his fashion show for the Nuit Blanche / The Art of Fashion event. I didn't take many pictures because for some reason one of his models bailed and...well...I got drafted to model one of his creations. It was fun and I loved helping him! Mark Aguliar, you are pure win. Hope we collaborate again someday. 

An interesting creation. But, the hem is uneven. By another designer. 

Could be a wedding dress. By another designer.

Selca of Aya and I at Nuit Blanche after the fashion show. 

 My outfit for Nuit Blanche. I was going with the Belle Epoch theme that The Art of Fashion event had going on...and there's a screenshot of the outfit I modelled for Mark Aguliar. His 'clown' costume. Had me all worried. But, it's actually reminiscent of those French porcelain dolls I had as a child.

SHOPPING / GIFTS HAUL: I make no mistake when I call myself a shopaholic. I love it and it's a bit of an addiction. Here's what I've managed to buy and photograph for the past...3-4 months.

 

A strange fabric I bought from work that I still have absolutely no idea what to do with and Aldo bow bag and bow flats as a belated B-day present from my little sister. 

Beautiful over-the-knee socks from Legs Beautiful in Yorkville. What can I say? I like my hose.

                                                                          

Anthropologie cardigan that reminds me of one of my favourite Japanese brands, Juliette et Justine and tights!

Giant MOKUBA haul. They had a sale recently and I spent $126 on over 70 metres of trims. Collectively, I've spent a little over $300 on trims there in the past 3 weeks. :'( But, you'll see why I did that.

A Gunne Sax muslin dress that I found at an Ossington/Queen vintage store and a beautiful $180 dress that my SO bought for me as an early Xmas present. :)

Crochet gnome houses my mom made for me a few months ago.

iPhone 4 - Facetime! I recently moved away and I don't get to see my dog or his owner much. But since we both have iPhone 4's I have been able to see Cookie daily. Including him in training sessions with food on his face! :)

Aya's Marionette creations for Happi Kiss her Gyaru line: We both love fur even though we previously didn't and I am glad to see her able to work with upcycled fur tails with me modelling them.

HALLOWEEN: My small group of girlfriends decided to go with a theme this Halloween. French Maids. Yes, I wore this to work and my whole department dressed up! Then, after work I had a dinner party at my sister's place in which we all cooked dinner together. :) Best Halloween ever, guys!

The Dinner.

My co-worker, P. and I.

Co-workers: P., M., me, and J.

 The Kapok Shop and Marionette (my lines: Ofelia Ljuv and Noirette) pictures: My mom does crocheting and here are her most recent creations compiled with older ones. While my own creations vary (I hate crocheting) and I've been quite productive of the late. I hope to post everything on Etsy very soon. I had planned to do it a week ago but my computer had erased a piece of itself while my SO was restoring it. I always use MOKUBA trims. Nothing but the highest quality for my products.

Cult of Kawaii!

Gnome Houses + Bags, Hybrid Pigs, Cactus, and Mushrooms!

                      Mori Girl headpiece and Russian Nesting Doll necklace! 

 Mori Girl Flower Headpiece with Narural-Kei earrings made from burnt chiffon.

Burnt chiffon necklace inspired by a paper rose necklace I saw at Anthropologie for $48 CDN.

 Dolly-Kei fur puff and Moite-inspired colored Gothic fur puff made from upcycled rabbit fur.

 Gyaru, Dolly-Kei, and Mori Girl styled fur puffs and tails.

 My latest creations. I revamped the first picture and the puff was inspired by Minnie Mouse.

Mori Girl inspired bag dangles. Hanging position.

Laying down on my bedsheets. Beautiful, no?

The leftover furs that I need to work with. Sorry for the blurry pictures. 

Finally, my most recent outfit: I had been meaning to do a Lolita closet purge and this skirt was one of the things I had been considering. But, now that I am able to coordinate it in Dolly-Kei style. I've decided to keep it.