When I dress Gothic Lolita, I’d much rather look like I stepped out of Vogue than Jane Eyre. The armband is one of my favorite accessories because it adds an avant-garde touch to antiquated cuts. Below is a image of a Harajuku teen, whose armbands (likely hand-made) are the focal point of his inventive outfit. The rest of the pictures show matching armband designs from Japanese label Black Peace Now.

You can make your own armbands using good ol’ nylons. Mine were formerly knee-high fishnets from a department store in Barcelona.

Corset: vintage Dolce & Gabbana
Nail polish: Chanel Black Satin
Skirt: H&M

Here’s a fashion-ized version by Ronan Farrow.