GOTHLOLI OF THE WEEK #96: EMILIEE. FILM OF WEEK: PAN'S LABYRINTH, SPANISH DARK FAIRYTALE FANTASY. WORST HELLO KITTY HELL TATTOOS.
† Name: Emiliee Anne
† Age: 16
† Location: Rhode Island, U.S.
† How were you introduced to Gothic Lolita fashion?
Around the time I was in kindergarten, I fell in love with anime because of Pokemon and YuGiOh, and from there I leapt deeper into the world of manga, Pocky, and rice balls. In the process of doing that, I ran into the Lolita fashion, around fifth grade, and I’ve loved it ever since.
† What do you find appealing about GL style and culture?
I like the patterns and lacy things. I cannot go a day without wearing some kind of skirt! It’s different from what you would find everyone else wearing, and that’s why I like to dress that way. I can be easily distinguished, and never forgotten! It has also allowed me to get in touch with my inner child, to have a childhood that I never really got to have.
† What are your favorite Gothic Lolita clothing brands?
I like The White Peacock, Baby the Stars Shine Bright, Metamorphose, Blasphemy’s closet, BlaBlaHospital, basically if you show me a brand I’ll like it. But the brand isn’t all that matters. You could walk into ANY kind of store and find something, you just have to know what to look for.
† Any other comments (inspiration, tips, favorites)?
If you’re contemplating whether or not to be a Lolita, do not hesitate! Take the chance while you can because you do not know what you are missing. It is amazing and fun and unlike anything out there. There’s also so many kinds, so you’re bound to find something to like. And if you are interested, pick up one of the Gothic & Lolita Bibles because they work wonders. Go to meet-ups to meet other Gothic Lolitas, Sweet Lolitas, etc you’ll make tons of friends, and there’s also plenty of tutorial videos up on YouTube concerning Lolita fashion itself.
Film of the Week #46: Pan’s Labyrinth (directed by Guillermo del Toro.) In the height of the Spanish Civil War, sadistic Captain Vidal terrorizes his household and vows to cut apart the rebels. Young Ofelia, frightened for her pregnant mother, escapes into an underground realm and meets Pan the faun, who tests her with tasks. You will remember the feverish visuals (Vidal sewing together his gaping cheek); the sadness softened by hope and imagination… Pan’s Labyrinth is brutal yet irresistible, as fairy tales should be.
In general, I am not a fan of tattoos. The skin art above (courtesy Hello Kitty Hell) is, of course, on the far side of horrid. But too often, I see people end up with banal or badly-inked tattoos, or something “trendy” that quickly devolves into embarrassing…
Here are some general observations. Almost all of my friends who were tattooed in their teens regretted that decision later. Mostly because they went to a sub-par (read: cheap) parlor and didn’t put any thought into the design.
When tattoos are masterfully rendered and have meaning, I think they are rather neat — such as yantra tattoos (above). The sacred art is done by hand in Southeast Asia by shamans or Buddhist monks. The process is more painful, but is considered to be a spiritual experience that conveys powers of protection.
Your thoughts on tattoos: ow or ooh-la-la? Tips on avoiding bad skin art? For more photos of Asian tattoos and ink conventions, check out these articles on CNNGo.
If you would like to be the next Gothloli of the Week, please read the submission instructions here. For all your Lolita shopping needs, check out the links to clothing brands on the right column of my blog.
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SHARE & COMMENT
LA CARMINA
118 Comments
lmao! People seem to forget the tattoos are not easily removed.
Yeah I agree on the article, I hate trendy tat’s that ppl get to be in and I believe it must be special and important to be premantly on the skin
i love Pan’s labyrinth!! o and about the tattoos, i personally think tattoos should have a special meaning or something significant behind them. people really need to put alot of thought into what they’re going to permanately put on their skin
I watched the movie twice… it’s haunting. One of the most extraordinary films to come out in recent years.
aww theyre not soo bad..i actually like them
Allthough the Hello Kitty tattoos are horrid, i must admit that the Pin-head Hellow Kitty made me chuckle xD
Hahahah yeah, me too!
Me too too! ;)
..lol. I adore my tattoo. Got it for my 21st birthday, however I have a ton of deep meanings behind it. As long as it’s something more than “it looks cool”–you’re heading in the right direction. Figuring out where to put it is also tricky. Mine takes up the lower 1/3 of my back.
Absolutely. Sounds like you put a lot of thought into your tattoo, which means you’re not likely to regret it later. :)
I only hav one but may get more one day. Im very picky about the art style so who knows when Ill find the right artist. Im n no hurry bcuz I want it to b right not right now. those HK ones aiyah!
It’s a good thing to be picky and think a lot about it… if I went through with some tattoo ideas I had in the past, I would have regretted it!
LOOOOOOOOOOVE that movie
I LOVED that movie
movie made me really sad but I still loved it.
I still havent but i so want to
I saw it at the theaters when it 1st came out a few years ago. At 1st I didn’t like it because I thought the story seemed empty. 2nd time I thought differently
I saw the movie twice… so good.
My first tattoo is an inspiration of miyavi’s “un-do” tattoo and it does have a lot of meaning.
I haven’t gotten it yet but I know it’s not something I will regret later because I love it so far.
That yantra tattoo is amazing x_x
Oh wow, I’d love to see a photo of it when you get it! Great idea for a design.
Oh definitely! It’s going to say 09✝21 Yes the cross is there to make it look cooler but yeah… I almost have enough money for it. Luckily, you save your money Carmina, because tattoos are expensive T_T
..I’ve seen so many horrible tattoos in my day. Friends of mine have tried to convince me they put a lot of time and thought into their tattoos, which in some cases… speaks badly about them if its true (otherwise I just “don’t get it”).
A friend of mine has an amazingly well done sleeve of various Da Vinci works but, I can’t help but think ‘I don’t recall seeing her pour over art books of Da Vinci or even talk about him.” We’re good friends and I’ll admit I’m not with her all the time but I can’t help but wonder where that idea came from.
At the ripe old age of 25, there are tattoos I had considered getting done since high school that I’m now starting to doubt. I don’t think I’d regret having it, but I’m still not motivated and decided enough to go get them. They’re actually pretty simple and small but symbolically rather significant but still in a way unnecessary.
haha yeah… and tattoos don’t get any better with age. >__<
Impulse decisions are generally not a good idea!
yeps I even wanted a hello kitty at one time on the back of my neck
I saw Pan’s Lab’ when it first came out. It’s amazing. I think it should be up there with Wizard of Oz and Alice in W’land.
lmao! People seem to forget the tattoos are not easily removed.
Yeah I agree on the article, I hate trendy tat's that ppl get to be in and I believe it must be special and important to be premantly on the skin
i love Pan's labyrinth!! o and about the tattoos, i personally think tattoos should have a special meaning or something significant behind them. people really need to put alot of thought into what they're going to permanately put on their skin
aww theyre not soo bad..i actually like them
Allthough the Hello Kitty tattoos are horrid, i must admit that the Pin-head Hellow Kitty made me chuckle xD
Pan’s Labrynth is so sad. Beautiful but tragic.
While I think that some tattoos are amazingly beautiful, I’ve also seen way too many that are botched, ugly, or really stupid (read: not well thought out). Personally, I think that getting a tattoo should wait until one’s mid-twenties. If you still want a tattoo by the time you’re twenty-five, then it likely means a lot to you. If not, then at least you don’t have a regrettable mark that won’t come off. (Me, I’ll never get a tattoo because I’m afraid of needles.)
At the very least, it should be something that one should research – one should know the tattoo artist, design, cost, etc. off thoroughly. None of this getting kanji tattoos without knowing what they mean.
For anyone thinking about getting a tattoo, I would recommend visiting this -> http://ugliesttattoos.com/ website before making any decisions.
I think that’s good advice. And WHOA that site… that’s ugly!
..lol. I adore my tattoo. Got it for my 21st birthday, however I have a ton of deep meanings behind it. As long as it's something more than “it looks cool”–you're heading in the right direction. Figuring out where to put it is also tricky. Mine takes up the lower 1/3 of my back.
Absolutely. Sounds like you put a lot of thought into your tattoo, which means you're not likely to regret it later. :)
Hahahah yeah, me too!
I watched the movie twice… it's haunting. One of the most extraordinary films to come out in recent years.
I only hav one but may get more one day. Im very picky about the art style so who knows when Ill find the right artist. Im n no hurry bcuz I want it to b right not right now. those HK ones aiyah!
LOOOOOOOOOOVE that movie
I LOVED that movie
I made me really sad but I still loved it.
I saw it at the theaters when it 1st came out a few years ago. At 1st I didn't like it because I thought the story seemed empty. 2nd time I thought differently
My first tattoo is an inspiration of miyavi's “un-do” tattoo and it does have a lot of meaning.
I haven't gotten it yet but I know it's not something I will regret later because I love it so far.
That yantra tattoo is amazing x_x
..I've seen so many horrible tattoos in my day. Friends of mine have tried to convince me they put a lot of time and thought into their tattoos, which in some cases… speaks badly about them if its true (otherwise I just “don't get it”).
A friend of mine has an amazingly well done sleeve of various Da Vinci works but, I can't help but think 'I don't recall seeing her pour over art books of Da Vinci or even talk about him.” We're good friends and I'll admit I'm not with her all the time but I can't help but wonder where that idea came from.
At the ripe old age of 25, there are tattoos I had considered getting done since high school that I'm now starting to doubt. I don't think I'd regret having it, but I'm still not motivated and decided enough to go get them. They're actually pretty simple and small but symbolically rather significant but still in a way unnecessary.
I only hav one but may get more one day. Im very picky about the art style so who knows when Ill find the right artist. Im n no hurry bcuz I want it to b right not right now. those HK ones aiyah!
LOOOOOOOOOOVE that movie
I LOVED that movie
movie made me really sad but I still loved it.
I still havent but i so want to
I saw it at the theaters when it 1st came out a few years ago. At 1st I didn't like it because I thought the story seemed empty. 2nd time I thought differently
My first tattoo is an inspiration of miyavi's “un-do” tattoo and it does have a lot of meaning.
I haven't gotten it yet but I know it's not something I will regret later because I love it so far.
That yantra tattoo is amazing x_x
..I've seen so many horrible tattoos in my day. Friends of mine have tried to convince me they put a lot of time and thought into their tattoos, which in some cases… speaks badly about them if its true (otherwise I just “don't get it”).
A friend of mine has an amazingly well done sleeve of various Da Vinci works but, I can't help but think 'I don't recall seeing her pour over art books of Da Vinci or even talk about him.” We're good friends and I'll admit I'm not with her all the time but I can't help but wonder where that idea came from.
At the ripe old age of 25, there are tattoos I had considered getting done since high school that I'm now starting to doubt. I don't think I'd regret having it, but I'm still not motivated and decided enough to go get them. They're actually pretty simple and small but symbolically rather significant but still in a way unnecessary.
It's a good thing to be picky and think a lot about it… if I went through with some tattoo ideas I had in the past, I would have regretted it!
I saw the movie twice… so good.
Oh wow, I'd love to see a photo of it when you get it! Great idea for a design.
haha yeah… and tattoos don't get any better with age. >__<
Impulse decisions are generally not a good idea!
yeps I even wanted a hello kitty at one time on the back of my neck
I saw Pan's Lab' when it first came out. It's amazing. I think it should be up there with Wizard of Oz and Alice in W'land.
Pan's Labrynth is so sad. Beautiful but tragic.
Oh definitely! It's going to say 09✝21 Yes the cross is there to make it look cooler but yeah… I almost have enough money for it. Luckily, you save your money Carmina, because tattoos are expensive T_T
While I think that some tattoos are amazingly beautiful, I've also seen way too many that are botched, ugly, or really stupid (read: not well thought out). Personally, I think that getting a tattoo should wait until one's mid-twenties. If you still want a tattoo by the time you're twenty-five, then it likely means a lot to you. If not, then at least you don't have a regrettable mark that won't come off. (Me, I'll never get a tattoo because I'm afraid of needles.)
At the very least, it should be something that one should research – one should know the tattoo artist, design, cost, etc. off thoroughly. None of this getting kanji tattoos without knowing what they mean.
For anyone thinking about getting a tattoo, I would recommend visiting this -> http://ugliesttattoos.com/ website before making any decisions.
I’ve never watched Pan’s Labyrinth, but I watched his other movie, El Orfanato (The Orphanage). I’m a bit of a wimp, but this movie was so damn scary that FOUR girls over 18 had to fastforward most of the movie to see how it ended without actually enduring the terrible suspense.
So. Scary.
About tattoos, it’s so, so important to do a LOT of research and really take your time deciding the details. Rushed tattoos are not a good idea. Unlike rushed piercings etc., you can’t take them out again. If you rush a tattoo, you’re stuck with it. You should do your best to make sure that it’s perfect! Find the perfect design, the perfect place to do it etc.
Oooh I hadn’t heard of El Orfanato. I’ll look into it — I love a good scare! :)
I've never watched Pan's Labyrinth, but I watched his other movie, El Orfanato (The Orphanage). I'm a bit of a wimp, but this movie was so damn scary that FOUR girls over 18 had to fastforward most of the movie to see how it ended without actually enduring the terrible suspense.
So. Scary.
About tattoos, it's so, so important to do a LOT of research and really take your time deciding the details. Rushed tattoos are not a good idea. Unlike rushed piercings etc., you can't take them out again. If you rush a tattoo, you're stuck with it. You should do your best to make sure that it's perfect! Find the perfect design, the perfect place to do it etc.
Speaking as someone with four tattoos, including a large collarbone piece, and many more planned, I think the problem with tattoos is that the IDEA of tattoos has become so much more “popular” now, rather than being something considered subversive and counter-cultural, as it was not very long ago. This has resulted in many cheap parlors springing up with inexperienced tattoo “artists” who often don’t know what they’re doing, which can result in either your ink coming out prematurely or internal scar tissue, the latter of which I learned the hard way, unfortunately. (NEVER get a tattoo on St. Mark’s Place. Everything’s cheap and overpriced, if you get what I mean.)
I do appreciate the odd silly tattoo, because it’s good to have a sense of humor, you know. And tattoos as decoration is fine too (but, in that case, it better be DAMN good).
But I don’t think people realize the significance of the process.
Sure, you can walk into a parlor that runs until 2AM and get a tramp stamp.
But most people seem to forget it’s going to be there their whole lives.
And don’t even get me started on people who say they want tattoos but are scared of the pain. The pain is part of the process and the tattoo gains more significance for your endurance.
While they’re over-scripted, I think shows like LA Ink and Miami Ink are making people realize that there are levels of quality in tattooing — and I hope this encourages them to do more research and invest in skin art. And yes, I scoff whenever they mention the pain! Come on!!
Yeah, while I don’t exactly appreciate what those shows have done for tattoo culture (and neither do many tattoo artists), they do at least show that this is a serious art and business, not necessarily just some expression of “rebellion”.
Oh, and some tips for avoiding bad tattoos!
Generally, the best way to find a good artist is to do research. If you can get one, a recommendation from someone whose taste and judgment you trust (there are DEFINITELY some of my friends whose idea of pretty/cool art is not up to my standards) is really helpful.
But at the very least, the shop should be respectable enough to have artists with online portfolios that you can look through and listing their specialties (realism, portraits, flash, etc.).
Hahaha, seriously! I’m just like, “Well, don’t get one then! It’s not worth it to you.”
I have a very high pain tolerance, so when I stayed perfectly still for my entire chest piece, another artist came over and congratulated me because a female friend of his had cried the WHOLE time when he did one for her. And when I asked if girls usually cry, he responded, “Girls don’t usually get them there… but I’ve seen men cry.” XDDD
Excellent tips. Even with something temporary, like dying one’s hair, I’d spend some extra time on research and money on a good salon… aesthetics are what matter, not some silly sense of “alternative rebellion!” D:
And the story about the pain tolerance made me laugh!
I agree about the tattoos!
Those Hello Kitty tattoos are so horrible, it’s hilarious.
The hardcore guy with the Kitty on his forehead… omg!
LOL I don’t know whether to give him cred for being brave enough to do that or what…
depends on the person. My tattoo has meaning and I waited 2 years to make sure its what I wanted.
That’s the way to do it! :)
those hello kitty tattoos were so…. awful…
So as I was posting the link for Dark80s just now, the CAPTCHA was “Too Tattooed”.
So as I was posting the link for Dark80s just now, the CAPTCHA was “Too Tattooed”.
I totally agree with you about the tattoos
I have,at times,seriously considered a few tattoos through the years.But each one I almost got,I never did.And I would have regretted getting them.Even after years consideration.They would be too controversial to some,and quite possibly limit the gig$ I hope to get,plus possibly impact my social life,as theres a double standard re womens tattoos
In Japan, you can’t even join a GYM if you have tattoos… because of the yakuza stigma!
Aww but the Hell(o)Hellraiser Kitty is soo cute! Ok I’m just kidding… ;)
I think you have to “shop” for a good tattoo artist… You can’t just take the nearest one, you might be disapointed. You have to compare. If the “artist” doesn’t draw what you want on a sheet before to ink you, LEAVE NOW.
And I think that tattoos should be stuff that are meaningfull to you… You have to think a lot about it before getting tattooed, you have to be 200% sure about it cause it won’t go off in the shower !!
I’m really… picky when it comes to tattoos… I think most of them are fugly… Still it is that I want a few tattos anyway x) But they mean something to me, it’s not only cause it’s fashionnable (anyway, I don,t really care about what fashionnable or not XD) and I’ve been thinking about those for a few years, already… It’s a long decision process, eheh x)
I think the people who think about it for several years and do their research end up with the best, meaningful tattoos… it certainly won’t come off in the shower! In fact, tattoos will need maintenance over the years…
Yes ! That’s absolutely it… It’s just… Not something you can do all of a sudden such as a piercing
And yes, it also need maintenance so that the colors stay vibrant~
i have a buch of tattoos from when i was really young. i started at 16 and although they aren’t the best quality, they’re still part of who i am. i think of them as a colorful time line of my life.
I tattooed myself twice about a year ago with a safety pin and a bottle of India Ink because I was really interested in the DIY attitude of punk at the time and I had been wanting one for a while. Both of my tattoos may not look that great and my family thinks I’m an idiot for doing it but I don’t regret it because it was to remind myself to be happy, something that I’ve had trouble with (one of my tattoos is actually this smiley face ^_^ and the other one is Oh, yeah, I was 14 when I tattooed myself if you’re wondering and I’m now 16. Cx
Oh wow — that’s hardcore!! I didn’t realize all you needed was India ink. Very cool story.
I think the Hell(o)raiser Kitty is so cute though. Okay, I wouldn´t have it myself (and I do have 4 tats), but it´s cute. ;)
Speaking as someone with four tattoos, including a large collarbone piece, and many more planned, I think the problem with tattoos is that the IDEA of tattoos has become so much more “popular” now, rather than being something considered subversive and counter-cultural, as it was not very long ago. This has resulted in many cheap parlors springing up with inexperienced tattoo “artists” who often don't know what they're doing, which can result in either your ink coming out prematurely or internal scar tissue, the latter of which I learned the hard way, unfortunately. (NEVER get a tattoo on St. Mark's Place. Everything's cheap and overpriced, if you get what I mean.)
I do appreciate the odd silly tattoo, because it's good to have a sense of humor, you know. And tattoos as decoration is fine too (but, in that case, it better be DAMN good).
But I don't think people realize the significance of the process.
Sure, you can walk into a parlor that runs until 2AM and get a tramp stamp.
But most people seem to forget it's going to be there their whole lives.
And don't even get me started on people who say they want tattoos but are scared of the pain. The pain is part of the process and the tattoo gains more significance for your endurance.
I agree about the tattoos!
Those Hello Kitty tattoos are so horrible, it's hilarious.
depends on the person. My tattoo has meaning and I waited 2 years to make sure its what I wanted.
those hello kitty tattoos were so…. awful…
So as I was posting the link for Dark80s just now, the CAPTCHA was “Too Tattooed”.
So as I was posting the link for Dark80s just now, the CAPTCHA was “Too Tattooed”.
That's the way to do it! :)
The hardcore guy with the Kitty on his forehead… omg!
While they're over-scripted, I think shows like LA Ink and Miami Ink are making people realize that there are levels of quality in tattooing — and I hope this encourages them to do more research and invest in skin art. And yes, I scoff whenever they mention the pain! Come on!!
Oooh I hadn't heard of El Orfanato. I'll look into it — I love a good scare! :)
I think that's good advice. And WHOA that site… that's ugly!
I totally agree with you about the tattoos
I have,at times,seriously considered a few tattoos through the years.But each one I almost got,I never did.And I would have regretted getting them.Even after years consideration.They would be too controversial to some,and quite possibly limit the gig$ I hope to get,plus possibly impact my social life,as theres a double standard re womens tattoos
In Japan, you can't even join a GYM if you have tattoos… because of the yakuza stigma!
Yeah, while I don't exactly appreciate what those shows have done for tattoo culture (and neither do many tattoo artists), they do at least show that this is a serious art and business, not necessarily just some expression of “rebellion”.
Oh, and some tips for avoiding bad tattoos!
Generally, the best way to find a good artist is to do research. If you can get one, a recommendation from someone whose taste and judgment you trust (there are DEFINITELY some of my friends whose idea of pretty/cool art is not up to my standards) is really helpful.
But at the very least, the shop should be respectable enough to have artists with online portfolios that you can look through and listing their specialties (realism, portraits, flash, etc.).
Hahaha, seriously! I'm just like, “Well, don't get one then! It's not worth it to you.”
I have a very high pain tolerance, so when I stayed perfectly still for my entire chest piece, another artist came over and congratulated me because a female friend of his had cried the WHOLE time when he did one for her. And when I asked if girls usually cry, he responded, “Girls don't usually get them there… but I've seen men cry.” XDDD
Excellent tips. Even with something temporary, like dying one's hair, I'd spend some extra time on research and money on a good salon… aesthetics are what matter, not some silly sense of “alternative rebellion!” D:
And the story about the pain tolerance made me laugh!
Aww but the Hell(o)Hellraiser Kitty is soo cute! Ok I'm just kidding… ;)
LOL I don't know whether to give him cred for being brave enough to do that or what…
“I waited until I was 100% sure it was what I wanted. Basically I mulled the thought over for about 5 years.”
Great movie!
i have a buch of tattoos from when i was really young. i started at 16 and although they aren't the best quality, they're still part of who i am. i think of them as a colorful time line of my life.
I tattooed myself twice about a year ago with a safety pin and a bottle of India Ink because I was really interested in the DIY attitude of punk at the time and I had been wanting one for a while. Both of my tattoos may not look that great and my family thinks I'm an idiot for doing it but I don't regret it because it was to remind myself to be happy, something that I've had trouble with (one of my tattoos is actually this smiley face ^_^ and the other one is <3).
I'm actually looking into getting a tattoo of Camille Rose Garcia's artwork and I've been wanting to get a traditional eastern tattoo for a few years, too.
——> Oh, yeah, I was 14 when I tattooed myself if you're wondering and I'm now 16. Cx
I think the Hell(o)raiser Kitty is so cute though. Okay, I wouldn´t have it myself (and I do have 4 tats), but it´s cute. ;)
Me too too! ;)
“I waited until I was 100% sure it was what I wanted. Basically I mulled the thought over for about 5 years.”
Great movie!
I think the people who think about it for several years and do their research end up with the best, meaningful tattoos… it certainly won't come off in the shower! In fact, tattoos will need maintenance over the years…
Oh wow — that's hardcore!! I didn't realize all you needed was India ink. Very cool story.
Yes ! That's absolutely it… It's just… Not something you can do all of a sudden such as a piercing
And yes, it also need maintenance so that the colors stay vibrant~
LuV pans labyrinth! & I do like tattoos…but definately not the “trendy” ones…I know WAY too many people with stars all over themselves *blah*
LuV pans labyrinth! & I do like tattoos…but definately not the “trendy” ones…I know WAY too many people with stars all over themselves *blah*