Year Archive for 2008
LA CARMINA GOTHIC LOLITA STYLE BLOG: ONE YEAR RETROSPECTIVE (PART 1 OF 3).
How time flies! In two days, La Carmina (the blog) is about to celebrate her first birthday! That fateful first post on 09.12.07 literally set my life on a new path – a cute and decadent one! One year later, I’m packing my bags for TOKYO, where I’ll be working on my two upcoming books and fashion line… hot on the heels of a front page newpaper profile and NYC Fashion Week adventures. Bless you, Al Gore, for inventing the Internet.
I’m going to take the next few days to sit back and flip through the archives. There were hits and misses, but I’m proud of the work I put into this blog. Above are some early shoots with Westmend dresses (the Vancouver shop is now closed) and leather gloves (I forgot I owned these! ) My styling and photography have undoubtedly improved. I no longer pose with stuffed toys…
…because I have a real one: Basil Farrow! My Scottish Fold kitty-chan came to live with me last November, after growing up with his father, Ronan of The Committee. He made his debut in a highly-commented post about cat motifs in Loli clothing. A writeup on Vivienne Westwood Rocking Horse Shoes also became a reader favorite.
My favorite (and most popular) posts were the ones where I waxed rhapsodic about some aspect of Lolita fashion (as opposed to bare-bones reporting). I smile at my playful spiels about Lolita brands named after literary heroes and the misuse of French words by Visual Kei bands. (New readers may have missed these early gems.)
In December 2007, I introduced two recurring features: Visual Kei band profiles and the popular Gothloli of the Week style interview. We’re at number 38 and counting!
I’d include my posts on Gothic Lolita weddings and receptions on my “Greatest Hits” album. One of my biggest pet peeves is the cookie-cutter wedding; why on Earth do girls dream of strapless white A-line gowns and slideshows set to Green Day’s “Time of Your Life”? I know I’m not alone in my vitriol; I’ve become friends with Kat, who runs an awesome blog called Rock and Roll Bride, which chronicles her offbeat Goth wedding and honeymoon in Tokyo!
What are some of your favorites posts, and what would you like to see more of?
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ART OF THE FAN: RARE ROCOCO FANS, OSTRICH FEATHERS, LACE GOLD & IVORY.
Can you think of a more deliciously decadent gesture than drawing out an ornate Gothic Rococo fan… and whipping it in the face of your rival? Count D has a stellar idea for customizing and graffiti-styling Victorian pocket-fans “for damsels at risk of fainting”. While in NYC, we hunted down blank “templates” at Pearl River Mart, the Asian knick-knack kitsch palace. (Have you ever been? It’s a must-visit for DIY inspiration.)
I found a gorgeous book, Unfolding Beauty: Art of the Fan, in the arts reference section of the Vancouver Library. I took some snapshots to inspire him and set your heart a-flutter!
The fan on the left depicts the christening of Napoleon III’s son (in 1856). Read the description out loud; the words roll off the tongue: “Feather-shaped blades of white moire silk, lithographed and overpainted in gouache with touches of gilt and topped with marabou feathers…” On the right, a rustic scene from the 1750s: a lady in a pink, flowing robe volante greets a traveling salesman, who presents frivolities such as fans, ribbon, and makeup.
This haunting fan (from the 1740s) consists of four vignettes enclosed by Rococo frames, which surround a central ovoid mask with eyeholes. The second scene delights me: a woman chases her husband with cat-o’-nine tails while a monkey plays a love song on his viola!
Ostrich plume fans have been a traditional royal accessory from King Tut to Princess Diana. (My friend the Countess of Beaumont has several in her dressing room.) The Luna Moth’s delicate green wings are reproduced in this 1890 fan, which sparkles with gold mesh and gilt-silver thread.
The decorative possibilities are endless: miniature paintings of Rococo past-times, accents of silk and lace… I love the bold curve of the swan’s neck; the scalloped edge creates the effect of feathers, and the silver sequins suggest the ripple of water.
Soon, I’ll be fanning myself with something equally gorgeous – Count D is making me a Gothic Lolita “Black Widow Spider” fan. If it’s anything like the t-shirt he painted for my birthday, I’ll fall to the floor in a dead swoon!
LA CARMINA
