March 19th - Happy Birthday !

On this day of the 19th of March, I officially declare this day to be the

今日、３月１９日になったと、私は

  Official International EGL/EGA day and celebration.

オッフィシャル全国EGLとEGAの日 

にしたいだと思っております！

Today is Moi dix mois' creator and leader Mana Sama's birthday ! He's turning X? years old today ~ 

今日はMana様の誕生日でございます！XX 歳になりそうです。（笑）

(Picture from Moi dix mois's Twitter)

I started the day early, put on ~Reprise~, and got out all my prepared items to bake a special cake ! I haven't baked any dessert in some years now.... I won't be able to send it to Mana, but at least I can show pictures ! (Sorry Mana Sama, I will have to share the cake with my friends...)

It took me a total of about 3.5 hours to finish it completely, woah ! 

First, I had to prepare a blue chocolate ganache to put in the middle of the cake :) 

最初から完成まで、３時間半ぐらいかかりました！ちょっと大変でしたね

まずは、ケーキの中で入れる青チョコレートガナッシュをつくりました。

Blue ganache !　青いガナッシュです！

The goal was a "Moi-même-moitié color" cake.

So I made a chocolate cake with white frosting, blue ganache and decorations ! (black, white, blue)
Moi meme moitieの色のケーキ作りましたから、チョコケーキで、青いデコレーションと白いトッピングしましたのです！（黒、青、白）

Preparation items, and the secret middle layer of blue ganache !

デコレーションの物と秘密の青ガナッシュ！

Then, I had to decorate the cake ! I had something better in mind, but I ended up not having enough frosting, and a lot of trouble with the piping bag ... So I had to change my mind a little ! 

I think it turned out nice ! It's white buttercream frosting, with sugar roses, silver edible beads and ....
!!! A real standing blue chocolate Iron gate !!!

実はね、違うデザインしたかったので、フロスチングが足りなくて、ちょっとムズイなことがおこっていて、このデザインにしました。
良い感じがしていると思います！バッタクリームのトッピングで、砂糖の薔薇とシルバーのデコレーションにして。。。

立てる青チョコアイアンゲートできました！

Mana Sama, Happy Birthday ! 

Mana様、お誕生日おめでとうございます！

Iron Gate ! ^w^ 

(It broke after a few minutes and lost a part ;_; )

Let's eat ! 

いただきます！

I spent the day at home cooking this cake, listening to Moi dix mois (and Malice Mizer too) and I dressed up as well ! I decided that I would myself, officially declare this day to be and forever be International EGL/EGA/Gothic Lolita day. I have found that gothic lolita style has had such a decline in popularity these last years, and it's with a lot of sadness we saw many stores closes, brands dissapear, even though we all know that a large percentage of us started at the bottom with the classic gothic lolita look, in the earlier 2000s. So spend this day to take out your pretty black dresses and revive the gothic lolita spirit ! 

今日家にMoi dix moisとMalice Mizerの音楽聞いてすごしました。今年から３月の１９日に国際EGLとEGAの日にしたいと決めましたんです。何年前からだんだんゴスロリとEGLスタイルが消えてきまして、ちょっと寂しいですね。すごく沢山の人が２０００年代にゴシックロリータからはじまりまして、今あまりゴスロリが見えないですね。懐かしいです。だから、３月１９日に皆一緒にEGLスタイルを着て遊びに行きましょう！

On my part, it has been just under 12 years now that I have found out about the existence of Malice Mizer (RIP) and Mana's work. Spring 2004 to be exact ! (Sounds like centuries ago) I remember thinking Mana was such an amazing talented beautiful and inspiring female artist....... HAHAHA. Took me just about two weeks to found out I had been fooled by make-up artistry ! 

１２年前にMana様のことについて見つけましたんで、感謝しています。２００４年にいましたです！初めての時にMana様が女の人だと思いましたですけど。。。まー,ごめんね！Mana様（笑）

I want to take time to say thank you, Mana Sama. 

In 2004, Mana's work and character gave me strenght to be myself, and to work hard on the things I love and believe in myself. I found out a large community of other girls like me too, other gothic lolitas, that gathered together and could talk about a lot of things, and share our passion, through reading about Mana's work also. 

(in 2008!)

I entered fashion school in 2006, because I wanted to design beautiful clothes I would feel like myself in, as Moi-même-moitie inspired me a lot. I'm still not working for Moi-même-moitie, but... ! (haha) Mana inspired me so much during these times and what he does really kept me on track and let me know that I could achieve something. I never ever thought I could learn japanese and go to Japan one day, ever. 

(Early 2010)

I started learning japanese in 2007 by myself, and then got a teacher. I wanted to finally understand what Mana's music meant, more deeply (I only could listen to the music, being unable to understand any japanese at all) and know why I'd cry listening to it (haha). And then, I told myself, i can DO IT ! And I graduated, went to university and went into a program to be able to go to Japan. And in 2010.... !!! 

I flew to Japan ! On october 31st, I finally met Mana. I almost passed out in the hallway before hand, and melted my make-up away with tears when I got out as I cried like a baby, but it was the most extreme form of accomplishment and dream I lived at the time. I never thought I could even go to Japan, and I got there, and I even got to meet Mana Sama ! I realised on that day too, how I think Mana is a generous and kind person. I was in the fanclub before, and it was difficult, because the end was near when I joined. I got my Mon+Amour necklace, and soon after, the fanclub closed. I was affraid for Mana's work ! But it didn't stop him at all and I'm glad. When meeting him I got a special little necklace, that I still own and wear on important occasions (exams in school, etc... hehe) 

Gothic Lolita has made me like and accept myself. I found I felt beautiful. It made me find new friends, meet so many nice people, and have so many nice experiences. Mana's music is also always there with me. I would get a new album and sit down to listen to it, and even though I didn't understand any word at first I would cry from finding it beautiful. During my year in Japan, I got the chance to meet Mana once, go to meet the whole band on december 18th 2010 for a signing for D+Sect's release, go to their Christmas eve concert, and even though the march 2011 earthquake struck and delayed the live, and had me go back home for a month for safety, I came back to Japan and could assist to what I thought would be the last live of Moi dix mois I would ever see in my life.... In June 2011. 

For the concert,
I decided to wear a ~jeune fille lazuli~ outfit. Blue, white, with touches of gold O_~ 

I remember Seth announced the next live would be on August 20th, and I was leaving Japan on August 8th. I swore to come back one day and see them again. 

(!!!) Dressed up in 37°C weather to go see Mana's exhibition in Shibuya, 2011

In between that time I fought for my health and studies and it wasn't going very well, but I kept dreaming that I could achieve my dream and kept hoping for the best, and I decided to take all the money I had saved, and in 2013 I could fly to Japan for two weeks in march to be able to go to Mana's birthday concert. As usual, I went to the concert and spent half the show crying from the beautiful emotions (I'm so lame haha). Everytime, I would know and feel how much Mana has inspired me and how far I've came from and it would give me a boost so I could keep fighting. I needed to go to these lives to keep going. 

Going to the concert in Shinjuku ! 3rd show !

I can tell you this time, I looked at my bank account and really knew I couldn't come back for years after this. I had to finish school, and hopefully find a good job, but things were not going so well. I held onto all my precious memories and objects I collected from the lives, and the gifts Mana gave us, to keep being kind to myself and not give up. 

Mana came on stage with roses at that specific show (march 2013). He threw roses at the audience and I blindly jumped and opened my hand as wide as I could to catch one... And I got two ! I gave my friend who was with me one, and I kept the other one. I dried it, had to find a special box with tissues to pack it and bring it back to Canada.... And I still keep it on my desk in it's glass container to this day. It's been 3 years ! It's not so much the item that is important to me (you can buy new roses..) but the idea behind it. If I would have talked to my younger self in 2003, I would have never thought I would even live to the year 2013. And not only did I fight and live, I realized a dream, or two even, and I'm still here, and I'm well now, too. 

And in 2014, after ten years of me being a fan of Mana, I did the unthinkable thing, that everyone thought I was absolutely crazy for doing. I took my pennies and dollars and piled them up, bought a flight to Japan, and I had so little money left that I actually flew round-trip to Tokyo for 3 days to go to Mana's birthday show. Left Canada on a thursday, arrived in Narita on friday night (Japan time), woke up on the saturday to go to the show, went to the show, had sunday left to go shopping, and I was leaving on monday. I could not afford more holidays from work, or one more night at a hotel haha. Once again, after the show I walked back to the apartment I was staying at and cried so much. "There are so much beautiful things to hear, see and feel in the world" and I thought I could never feel this way. 

At that point, I had been to 4 shows, of which  3 were Mana birthday concerts !
I still keep the blue glowsticks on my desk to this day. 

I came back to Canada, and I decided it was time. It had been 10 years. I am a Gothic Lolita, and Mana Sama had inspired me so much, inspired me to work hard, to love myself how I am and to love life, so I went for it. And now it's with me forever.... 

So today I celebrate. I am so proud of everything Mana has done. I keep being impressed at everything he works so hard for and I am still inspired by his work. I really hope he keeps doing what he likes for a long time and I will do my best to keep supporting him for hopefully many years to come. 

So for everything you have worked for and everything you have created, 

Thank you, Mana Sama. 

本当にありがとうございます、Mana様

Happy Birthday, Mana Sama 

ILD - Sainte-Dolores Lolita Tea Party

Yesterday was my community's Lolita Day. Each year we celebrate for ILD and we organize activities such as going for tea, or renting a room for activities. This year, the organisators rented a room for tea at the Fairmount Reine Elizabeth hotel downtown Montreal so we could have our own place to be all together. We were a little over 40 people I believe, and it was nice, relax, and fun.

日曜日に私の市のロリータグループが集めていました。毎年International Lolita Dayを楽しんで、Tea Partyやどこか行く予定があるので、今年ReineElizabethホーテルへ皆でいきました。４０人ぐらいいましたわ！

I had my friend over in the morning, because since she isn't a lolita, she asked me to dress up her and make her all dolled up to join us ! I always like doing this it's very fun hehe So I woke up early so I could be ready by the time she would be here, and we got ready in record time !

ロリータが着ない友達を洋服上げて、髪の毛綺麗にしてあげてしました。１時に出かけるつもりに早くの時におきました。

It was a very beautiful and sunny day, and contrary to what the forecasts were saying, not too hot ! I was glad because everyone knows how much it's a pain to be so dressed up in a very hot weather and trying to stay cute all day. So this year, I went with a very new "style". I had seen the very cute straw hat by Moi-même-moitie a long time ago, and it was so beautiful, but totally not fitting my style at the time which was more gothic lolita with feathery headresses and more classic gothic looking coordinates, but I decided what better for summer than a little straw hat to make a cute spring summer coordinate ! So I went and made an outfit with the hat, flowers, short socks and sandals !

２月の時に小さいMoi meme moitieハット買って、ILDにこれを着たいとおもいました。だから、夏のようなゴシック感じなコジェネートから準備しました。可愛いに出来たとおもいますわ！

Straw Hat : Moi-même-moitié

Necklace : Moi-même-moitié

Parasol : Moi-même-moitié

Bag : Moi-même-moitié

Dress : Moi-même-moitié

Cutsew : Offbrand

Socks : Tutuanna

Sandals (not shown) : Offbrand 

I had bought a new Innocent World dress for cheap recently as well, and it did fit my friend's personality and style very well, so that's what I suggested she wore ! 

友達が私を買ったドレスを着て、全然可愛いに！イノセントワールドのJSKとAnna Sui 靴がとても似合うでしょう！

Look at that smile ! 

She was wearing one of my offbrand shirts, an Innocent World dress, a Moi-même-moitie Headdress and Anna Sui shoes along with a cute brooch that she got from a Canadian Lolita that handmade it ! She's also kind of new to having long hair as two years ago she had quite very short hair and decided to let them grow, so she doesn't often style it in more elaborate hairstyles so it was fun to try and do this little braid up-do on her ! I think it suited her a lot :) I also did a small make-up so it wouldn't hide her eyes in her glasses to much. She definitely blended with all the other lolitas ! 

And here is my outfit !

私のコージェネートです！

It was totally new for me to show so much skin as I am totally not comfortable with my body at all, but it was worth how comfortable, not too warm and not hurting I felt in the heat, walking all day and being in the sun. So it was worth it. I think I pulled out the cute country gothic quite well if I do say so myself ! 

そんなに肌を見られるが本当に好きではないので、暑い日だったから、よかったです。

We had a small game to play at first to know the newer lolitas of the community and get to talk to each other a bit before all sitting down at separate tables. But since I'm not the social bee, I just stayed calmly at my chair and tried to fill in the blanks of the questionnaire with my table-squad (haha). The tea was quite good, and the food alright. Since I had tea at the Mandarin Oriental Tokyo, I have trouble enjoying the dryness of the usual scones and plain sandwiches offered at usual tea salons here. And since I'm not a tea fan either.... 

I also could take time to take some pictures of the details of our community ! I had been inspired by the "Details of La Vie En Rose" posted on blogs earlier this year when the event in Europe occured. Here they are ! 

It was very strange as this year, me and very few of the lolitas I knew from years ago when the community started to grow, basically our "first generation" lolitas, were present, and most of the attendees were newer girls that came into the community one or two years ago. A lot of the community left because girls left the fashion, and the few left are separated by some conflicts of interests it seems, so some of them didn't come to the party this year. Well, they missed the fun ! 

We also had the organisators make a game of Cards Against Lolitas, so we played for the rest of the tea party and we had much fun with it. 

yes. that says "Twinning with Nicolas Cage"

After the tea, we left the group, me and my friends to go meet my friend's boyfriend at another station so we could go have dinner. I had never met my friend's boyfriend has he just arrived from Japan to come be with her in Canada, but he's nice ! He doesn't like lolita, but he dealt with us getting looks just fine ahaha... I promised him next time we would see each others I would look "like that". We had a little trouble deciding what to go eat, but since he wanted to go for burgers, we opted for an irish pub and boy did we have some good food !!! I opted for a curry poutine with grilled chicken, and dear lord was it delicious. The curry sauce was divine and just spicy enough ! It made the perfect match to the crispy fries... Ahaha 

Everyone's burger looked very good as well ! A very nice filling dinner after this long day of wearing small clothes and itchy wigs ahaha. After that we all went our separate ways and I came back home with my friend so she could drop my clothes and go home for the night. We are going to see each other soon anyways at her home warming party in two weeks ! 

She has moved to a new apartment, so we go and see how she decorated and made her little new nest comfortable for herself. I'm excited too see ! I know she has good taste. As for myself, I'm currently eyeing many products on the IKEA website and I might start to re decorate and furnish my place a little more during the summer. I'll be sure to show you the progress ! 

Dahlia

Moi-même-moitie May 2015

Every season, consistently, Moi-même-moitié comes up with new items that are featured in the quarterly volume of the Gothic&Lolita Bible, modeled by Mana. I always await the scans to show up online with impatience because even though I don't buy as much Moitie as I used to, I'm always a big fan of Mana's pictures and curious about the collections. This season has greatly surprised me, as far as styling goes ! I'm really glad of the turn back Mana did with the dark hair and black lipstick look which brings back a more old-school gothic lolita look, which was what brought me into the style years ago. Look at this month's issue ! 

I will not go on with my fangirl emotions and annoy you all, but I will just tell you to expand these pictures to see them well because, girl, let me tell you, it's worth it. 

I must admit that while I adore the overall look of both the EGA and EGL looks, I'm not a fan of the print. It does look alright on the EGA long tunic, but I still think it lacks details, and could have been a little brighter. The design itself also doesn't specifically appeal to me. It is not because of the imagery of an upside-down cross, as this doesn't bother me, the print itself is just not that interesting in my opinion. Let's look at the items ! 

This is the print. They call it "Fall cross". It is basically a faded down print of Jesus on an upside down cross, with a pair of daggers/swords crossing in the back, with what I think are rose petals flying around. It is also not an all around print, just is just placed at different places on the designs for a different effect. 

These are the three designs offered for EGL style. A shorter knee lenght JSK, a long version, and a corseted skirt. All models only come in the specific color shown in the pictures, with a grey print. What I am sad about.... Is the print. I think the JSK design is nice and interesting, versatile, I like how it's asymetrical and not too "cute" as this is what I'm into right now. I like the lacing and the medium volume of the bottom of the JSK. I wish they had made the skirt with only the material part just like the JSK instead of adding the lace, but considering the Cutsew with the lace bust, it does makes sense. 

 

And these are the two EGA designs, a top and a tunic. I must admit I LOVE the tunic one. If it wasn't for the fact that it wouldn't flatter my round assets and shape, I would have totally spent the money for this piece because I think it looks so nice. The big big collar is also a nice point that I like about the design. The other top is simpler and has a choker attached to it. Both the designs are kind of a re-take of the previous design with the Altar print that was out one or two years ago ? So if I had the choice, I would definitely go with the previous version as I like the print better, even tho I do love the present tunic look a lot more. and then they also had a cutsew, the one Mana is wearing in his EGL picture, and the cute headdress with the upside down cross as well ! 

I do like the headdress a lot, but I have this soft spot for their always perfectly constructed headgear with amazing lace and beautiful flowers and materials so I regret of not owning all of their headdresses in all colors. This headdress is available in all black, black and white, black and blue and all white ! All Moitie colors, of course :) And as of now, only the black/blue and completely blue cutsews are on their website, but I suppose they will also have the black and white one, since Mana has modeled it in the GLB, and maybe a completely black one ? I LOVE the blue one, but I cannot justify buying it for right now. But it's totally gorgeous, it's so rare to have blue tops like that in lolita, I strongly suggest you all to buy it ! 

I will not be buying from this collection as of right now, but as soon as I saw Mana's pictures I immediately put on my dark blue lipstick and fake eyelashes to go to work that day ! I got really excited and inspired <3 I'm so glad Mana did let go of the red or blonde hair for this time, ahahah I was getting bored of it ! I hope he keeps on this gothy way for a while now  ~ hehe 

Anyways, how do you like the new items ? Will you be getting anything ? How do you like Mana's new-old (?) style ? 

As for me, in two weeks, on June 13th will be my community's International Lolita Day event and tea party so I'm excited about this ! I hope my outfit will turn out alright and that it won't be too hot and sunny ! I'll also be dressing my friend up for the occasion, and I love doing this, it's such a nice girls experience. So stay tuned for that in a while ! 

Dahlia

 

Lolita Blog Carnival - Spring inspired coordinate

The warm weather is fast approaching and us lolitas will have to soon put aside our velvets and fake fur accessories in order to put up our seasonal accessories such as flowers, cute hats and lighter fabric dresses. For some people, depending on their country, spring is either short or long, or even cold ! Here in Canada, spring is always indecisive, and usually starts in may, after the cold nights have finally made their goodbyes. So this week we create spring inspired coordinates, so hopefully the good days come to us quicker !

We often associate spring with pastel colors, flowery patterns and shiny accessories, but as a Gothic Lolita, it can be a little more of a challenge to make a spring coordinate with all black clothes, so you have to get a little inspiration from the weather and activities you might take part in during the spring. For this reason, I kept all my items black anyways, but did my best for a light spring coordinate ! 

Stole : Moi-même-moitié
Dress : Moi-même-moitié
Brooch : Moi-même-moitié
Hair accessory : Moi-même-moitié
Bag : Moi-même-moitié
Handkerchief : Moi-même-moitie
Tights : Tutuanna 

I went with light fabrics, and yes, I still incorporated flowers ! I took in consideration that we still sometimes have brisk light wind in may so even though I chose a short sleeve dress, I covered my upper arms and shoulders with a light stole. It also makes the outfit elegant for an early spring picnic ! I also chose to go with light tights that could be worn with cute closed toes shoes or even maybe sandals ! Of course I added my precious handkerchief in case the afternoon gets really hot and you need to keep your face from melting ! Very important when you wear pale foundation *wink* 

You can check other ideas for spring coordinates in other styles as well, for other precious ladies participating in Lolita Blog Carnival this week ! 

Candied Dreams

Marionette Cemetary

Courtly Dreams for Burgher

The Bloody Tea Party

Have a great day angels !

Dahlia