Shopping - High street style

I bought a new dress this week, which I think is just lovely. I'll admit it's not exactly lolita... but with a petticoat underneath and a cardigan on top, it works really well.

It looks kinda long in this picture, but its around knee length.

I'll try and get a good photo of the whole look soon.

In the mean time...

I am contemplating adding some sleeves. Maybe those little elasticated cap ones. The fabric that looks black is actually black with little white dots, and something like that should be quick easy to find.

Project Update

I went to see Kamikaze Girls and it was great. Not the same as the book, but very fun.

Update on the coat:
Put on hold over Easter, but now moving on. More alterations to the pattern are required.
I've made the whole top part more fitted and shortened the bottom part even more.
I think I will add a black frill to the bottom hem - hence the excessive shortening.

Coat project update

I've started work on the coat. So far I've not made that many alterations to the pattern. But I have made it a little shorter, and a little wider. At the moment I've added about 10cm to each side of the panels to give it a bit more flare. I don't know if this will be enough, but it seems to fit over a petticoat quite well on the dummy.
I've still got to alter the collar and cuffs.

Yesterday I got some of those buttons that you cover with fabric, I've never used them before. Hopefully I will be able to cover them in black velvet to match the collar and cuffs.

Shimotsuma monogatari / Kamikaze Girls

I read the other day that Kamikaze Girls is going to be on at a cinema near me at easter. I have read the book and really enjoyed it but I haven't seen the film yet so I am very excited to see it on the big screen. I am still deciding if I will go in Lolita attire...

Lolita Genres

I've been thinking about what kind of Lolita outfits I've been sewing. I primarily sew for the joy of making them so I don't feel I have to choose one style over another, but I thought it might be interesting to look at the genres that are around nowadays.
I've started to try to compile a list or things I've seen:
Gothic
Monochrome
Black
White
Sweet
Princess
Classical - country?
Traditional/Kimono
Twins/Matching
Boyish dandy
Punk
Poorly
Cosplay
Maid
Visual Kei
Pirate/Sailor

When I've got time I might make an eye-spy guide!

A day out shopping

Yesterday I went on a little adventure to find some more fabric shops as the one I usually use is a bit limited. I went to a Fabric Warehouse but the most part of the space was taken up by curtain fabrics. I did however find a nice purple needlecord which I am thinking might make a good winter skirt. Then I went to an indoor market, where one of the stalls had an excellent selection. I got some really great grey courdroy for my coat, and it was on offer at £3.99 a metre!

I also saw these fabrics in a department store. The strawberry one would be great as a skirt but it was a bit expensive at £14 a metre. The white one with the ribbon through it looks like an excellent choice for a blouse, but I think from past experience it might be difficult to work with due to the pattern repeat.

These on the other hand would be lovely for a more country look and a bit more affordable at £5 a metre. In the market they also had red or white material with big musical notes printed all over it. I think it would probably work, but it would be a less than subtle effect...

Coat Pattern & Ideas

I think I want to make a coat that is pretty classy rather than being too cutesy. So this is the general shape I've seen for a typical Lolita coat. It seems they are mostly double breasted, are very flared (to fit your skirts under!) with large collar and cuffs. I quite like the cape as well.

So, pattern-wise I've found this: Simplicity 4033

I'll be first to admit that those coats look pretty bad, especially the one on the left... but the outline is almost there. Imagine the bottom one with a bit more flare and a rounded collar.