MCM LONDON COMIC CON

We set off bright and early by train on 25th May to visit London Comic Con. I dressed in ‘Bitter Sweet’ Lolita in a casual coordination as I was trialing my sallopettes.

We had bought early entry tickets which I would advise as friends had to queue for over two hours for entry on the Saturday which is very tiring and can make a person grumpy by the time they get in.

My first stop was Nice Ice which I have wanted to try for a long time but have always left it to the end of the day on previous visits when to my great dismay they have sold out. This time we headed straight for their stall and the Nice Ice was delicious, my husband and I had mango and our friend had strawberry which I finished when he had had enough, yum, yum. We liked their face book page and now are the proud owners of key chains with the nice ice logo and anime characters, mine is Princess Mononoke. I am heading straight for their stall if they are at Hyper Japan.

We spent our time walking around all the exhibits but at midday it did become very crowded when all those who had been queuing entered.

I only bought a couple of items this visit one of which was this super kawai necklace from Candy Geisha!

As you can see from my photo this is a versatile necklace it goes well with my civilian clothes but also brilliantly with my Lolita outfits. I really like Candy Geisha’s accessories as they have a unique look and I will definitely buy again on line or at any of their pop up shops.

I also bought a new wig which I love. It is a split wig, black and purple, with twin tails photographed below. I think it enhances the look of my mini tricorns (for sale on my Etsy shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/ShinkuRose) and I am looking forward to wearing it to Hyper Japan.

 

My husband bought himself a new T-shirt from fb.com/JoshClarkeDraws which we both really like but he found that due to the size he needs there was not a lot of choice and this is one area I am going to look into in the near future as men like interesting clothes. My motto is that life is too short to wear boring clothes and at the moment his choice is limited. I think this will mean that I will have to buy a cover stitch machine to get the professional finish that is desired and needed on both T-shirts and Hoodies.

I loved wearing my sallopettes, they were both comfortable and pretty so I have now listed them on Etsy and they are also available direct through me on my facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shinkurose/593986427294641).

 

 

London Anime Con

This year London Anime Con is being held on Saturday 9th February through to Sunday 10th February at the Rocket Complex N7 8DB and I am lucky enough to have a table in the Upstairs Zone exhibiting as ShinkuRose (same as my Etsy shop).  This is both very exciting and scary all at the same time.

The first decision I had to make is what to stock as this is the very first Lolita stall I have run.  After a lot of thought and discussion with my sewing partner, I decided on Jumper Skirts (JSK’s) and a few one pieces (OP’s) and these would be designed in such a way that one size would fit size 8- 10 and the larger size `12-14/16 with the offer to make to order both smaller and larger sizes.  I had made myself a JSK for MCM Expo which was complemented on and photographed a lot, it was also very easy and comfortable to wear and the construction was based on brand Lolita designs.  I used this to make the patterns for my garments which have  lovely shirred backs and the JSK’s have elasticated straps.

  

After making the patterns, fitting the toiles on my willing volunteers, the next stop was fabric shopping, always a joy, never a chore.  So on a sunny Sunday in December we set off for Bath where there is a super fabric shop in Green Street called Fashion Fabrics which has a great stock of cottons and spent lots of money and bought lots of super cotton.

      

I want to offer sweet, classic, country and gothic Lolita styles but the fabrics I found in Bath just covered Sweet, Country and Classic, there was nothing for Gothic so a couple of weeks later we had another shopping trip but this time to Shepherd’s Bush where there are some amazing fabric shops.  I felt like a kid in a sweety shop here as there were so many to choose from.

So far the JSK’s are nearly completed and the OP’s are started.

I am also going to have lots of hair accessories, canotiers and brooches which I have started but more of this later.

Hyperjapan in Sailor Lolita

When Simon decided to go to Hyper Japan in Choji cos play I had to think of a good outfit for me.  I decided to make and wear Sailor Lolita which meant I had to learn how to draft a sailor collar (this wasn’t too difficult and I am going to write a separate blog specifically for this).

However because of shortage of time I had to be creative and realised I could use my navy blue layered skirt featured previously as the underneath layer making an ivory and navy dress to go over it.  I chose to make the main dress in ivory with the collar and cuffs in navy.  I also designed it so that both the collar and cuffs could be removed for washing.

The collar shape is as below embellished with ivory ribbon.

The dress was then finished as was the collar which was lined and edged with lace.  It tied at the front with ribbons and I added a bow brooch as well to the collar front both to decorate and also keep it in place.

The decoration on the bottom of the skirt was again ribbon and I loved the gold buttons on the front.  The side front and back of the skirt was ruched up to show the layers on the navy skirt.

To complete I made more bow brooches for the front and the back and made a bow headband.

I had a lovely day, met lots of lovely people and have booked a stall at London Anime Con, The Rocket Complex, N7 8DB on February 9th and 10th 2013 to sell Lolita dresses and accessories.

Day out in London

I visited London last weekend if full Gothic Lolita coord. I had a great time and lots of compliments. On the station in Richmond a stranger asked to take my photo, in Covent Garden again my photo was taken this time without asking and lots of people said lovely things. My brother’s grandmother-in-law to be said I looked like a ‘little doll’.

In China Town

Drinking Boba tea

Next outing is to MCM Expo and I am planning what to make and wear for it at the moment. I bought some great border fabric in a super little shop in Bath and will be wearing full on sweet Lolita. I have some accessories but am also making some more, a bow headband and a fuzzy brooch are on the list to do.