Special Occasions and Lolita Fashion

Hello again everyone!
How are you going to spend this holiday season? In Japan, we usually spend New Year's relaxing with our families, and Christmas is spent celebrating with friends and our significant other. In this season, some Lolita brands also throw parties for their customers! It's at these times that we want to really look our best. So today, let's talk about preparing for special days with Lolita fashion. Whether it's a party with you and your friends, a concert, or some other event, what kind of ideas can we use to spice up already glamorous and decorative Lolita fashion?

Image Change Starts at the Top

The part of your appearance that has the biggest effect on a change of image, is of course, your hairstyle. If a person that always wears their hair down suddenly changes to wearing their hair up, their image changes completely. On one of your days off, experiment with curling your hair, or tying it up in a different position to find what looks suit you best. You can stylize your own hair or try adding a wig to fit your desired look. When you want a lot more volume, or a hair color to match your outfit, a wig can be an invaluable item. They are also useful for anyone with short hair, or those who don't wish to perm or dye their hair. There are many styles, from full wigs, to just partial hair add-ons, so take your time and find one that is the closest to the image you are aiming for. Be careful not to choose one that looks too cheap or one with a color that clashes with your outfit. It's important to put a lot of care into not only your hairstyle, but also into your hair accessories. Try accessories that are a little more extravagant than usual and match them with your outfit. Wearing a mini-hat with a jacket style outfit, a tiara with a princess style dress or wearing a large black ribbon with a simple black dress are very effective ways of adding pizzazz to your appearance. You might even try adding artificial flowers or ribbons to a comb to stick in your hair as an original accessory.

Different Coordinates for Different Looks

Whether it's lovely and cute or elegant and mature, the look you're going for often depends on the situation. Here, I've laid out a few examples of coordinates separated by the impression they give...

For an elegant look

I recommend a princess style outfit with a matching jacket or cape. If you wear a calmer color, then you will appear all the more refined. Add your accessories to bring out an air of elegance.

For a dressy look

In general, a one piece dress is the best choice for this look. The collar will usually be more opened, so match with a choker or necklace that has a lot of volume. Chiffon and tulle that are slightly see-through are wonderful materials, but you will look extra gorgeous wearing the popular velveteen and velour items available in this season. Tights are also a better option than socks for this look.

For an adorable look

How about wearing a white coordinate with something soft and fluffy to wrap around you? Fur, fleece and knit items that are soft and warm will make you appear all the more lovely in winter. Match your outfit with soft colors like pink and light blue to make yourself appear as huggable as a plush toy.

For a casual look

Baby doll dresses that don't need a pannier are perfect for this look. By wearing animal prints or vivid colors, or by adding vividly colored accessories to your outfit you can achieve a casual look without blending into the crowd.

Accessories for Special Occasions

Next, I'd like to introduce some small accessories that are perfect additions to your special occasions. If you add dressy accessories to even a simple or casual style, you can get a much richer appearance. For starters, the fur items I introduced last time are perfect for adding a gorgeous element to your attire. Try adding a fur tippet or mini scarf to a simple knit piece or dress. It can also look very classy to wear earrings and hair ties with fur accents on them.
Gloves are excellent items for adding to your party attire. Materials such as satin, velour, lace, etc. are great for formal occasions. Wearing a bracelet or ring over the top of your gloves looks fabulous. Long gloves match well with sleeveless dresses or bustiers/corsets that you wear as a top. This noble image is reminiscent of classic Hollywood accesses.
Choose a purse as the finishing touch. Instead of something that simply holds a lot of items, you'll want to select a purse for its cuteness. If you have a lot of possessions you want to take with you, carry one bag that you can leave in your car, or check with your coat at reception, and a small hand bag for holding your essentials at the party. Purses with sequins or rhinestones or purses that are made from metallic material will really draw attention and act a nice accent to your whole outfit.

The Magic of Make-up

On a final note, let's talk a bit about make-up. For a party situation, sparkly make-up is usually your best bet. Eye shadow, eyeliner and mascara that is made with glitter in it will make your eyes sparkle every time you blink and create a beautiful image. Try using fake eyelashes if you want a wide-eyed doll like appearance.
For dates and other times that you want to appear especially lovely, focus on your cheeks. Using a big brush to softly add blush without being too thick or dark will give you an innocent look. If you add a tiny bit of color to the tip of your chin too it can give you a very rosy-cheeked child like appearance. For luscious lips, use a shiny lip gloss.
It's important to find a good balance of colors for your lip and eye make-up, so take care not to apply your make-up too thickly.

This brings our talk about special occasions to an end. Hopefully you've come up with some good coordinate ideas for your next special occasion after reading this. Achieving a high level of fashion is a really enjoyable experience that is all the more rewarding when you have fun with the whole process! Until next time, take care, and don't forget your mittens!