New Project - Bib Dress

I've decided that I'd like a dress in the style of this Mary Magdalene one piece. I love this design but its way too expensive and as usual wouldn't fit anway! So its going to be my next project. I don't want to make an exact replica or anything, but I will incorporate some of the main elements like the bib section and long sleeves.

I'd like to tone down the ruffles slightly so that I can wear it on a more day-to-day basis, rather than just special occasions.

I'm going to draft the whole pattern myself this time. So it might take a little while to get started, but I think I'm up to it. Wish me luck!

Mary Magdalene does it again

In case you hadn't already noticed I really prefer the classic/victorian/gothic side of lolita rather than the super sweet. This might be because I've never been that much of a girly girl. Anyway probably because of this, Mary Magdalene is one of my favourite brands.
Their clothes are so beautifully elegant while also being a little extravagant and eccentric for everyday wear.
This co-ordinate is lovely. Especially the jacket and blouse. I'd like to wear thing more like this all the time.
I'm going to be on the look out for a blouse with a bow on the front like that, either in the shops or in the pattern books.

Beautiful brands

I think one of my favourite brands for inspiration is Mary Magdalene. Their styles are beautiful and so is their wallpaper! I am thinking it would be nice to have an area to photograph things in this way. I wonder if we have a spare wall somewhere...

Gothic Lolita wardrobe expansion

This is where it starts to get interesting (and also more to do with sewing). Once you have done some research and started collecting some pictures of the various themes/brands/looks.
You will probably find the book/magazine (mook) called Gothic & Lolita Bible, its not available very easily, but its also not impossible to obtain. It is in Japanese, but the main point is the images anyway. You can get them from ebay, or at conventions if you can't find them anywhere else.
Also Tokyopop are rumoured to be bringing out an english language version.

Some people have scanned pages and posted them on their sites - I think this is probably against copyright rules, but they are there if you want to have a look.

One of the main reasons I got into this kind of sewing is dresses like this one from Mary Madelene. You can buy these beautiful items but it might only available in Japan, at one store, in limited numbers, it might already have sold out two months ago, and it probably costs thousands of yen and only comes in one size - Japanese-teenage-girl.