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Tuesday, December 24, 2013

less expensive fairy kei clothing?

his-bee asked:Do you have any links for a starter out fairy to places that sell cheaper fairy kei clothing? Thanks ^^ 
Dear Fairy,
This is a tricky one, I must say. Of course a lot of brand things from Japan are going to cost a fortune, especially with shipping involved. So, a few other main options are retail shopping, independent sellers, secondhand shops, or thrifting. If you know anything about shopping for lolita, it’s basically the same for fairy kei, except better because you can’t exactly find lolita dresses at a retail or thrift store.
I highly recommend thrift shopping at your local thrift or vintage stores. Look for good condition clothing/accessories that emulate an 80s/90s sweet style, young girls’ clothing, pastel clothing. Even going to mainstream clothing stores now is a good venture with 80s/90s styles coming back into fashion or looking in the young girls’ sections is good too.

When it comes to shopping at retail stores such as Hot Topic, Forever 21, or Old Navy, I always find it useful to look in almost every store in the mall when the big sales are going on (50% off or more). Again, look for those items that emulate a nostalgic and sweet look reminiscent of the 80s/90s. The most unlikely place I found one of my favorite shirts to wear was American Eagle! I also suggest buying a size larger than you might normally wear since it will give a less fitted look. Remember, when you get a gift card from someone for a retail store, try looking around that store to find any items to wear in fairy kei when you go shopping.
Though if you are looking for online independent seller sources, Ebay, Etsy , and Storenvy have many things for sale which are good for fairy kei if you do some searching. Etsy has lots of independent sellers who make very nice fairy kei style accessories and clothing of varying prices. Also, Etsy is another good source for cheap vintage clothing. You can easily find lots of cool 80s/90s stuff for cheap. Storenvy is a bunch of independent sellers similar to Etsy, but they usually sell things that are imported from other places or are secondhand as opposed to handmade items. Like Etsy, Storenvy is also varying in prices. 

REMEMBER that if you're looking for a specific price range of items in places like Ebay, Etsy, or Storenvy, always adjust the price range search option on the left side of the screen! 

Retro Magic Store is a cool store that sells retro graphic tees with My Little Pony, Popples, anime, Disney, etc. for one good price across the store. 

I highly recommend looking at the LiveJournal and Facebook community sales as well where people will sell their secondhand or brand new J-fashion items at various prices.

Below are some links where you can find good priced secondhand fairy kei/lolita pieces and a few general shop lists.

http://popkei.livejournal.com/ (Fairy Kei LiveJournal Comm Group)
http://80s-cuties.livejournal.com/ (Fairy Kei LiveJournal Comm Group)
Fairy Kei Sales (Facebook Group)
Fairy Kei Sales N’ Swap (Fairy Kei Facebook Group)
http://fairy-tips.tumblr.com/shops (General Fairy Kei Shop List)
Where to Find Lolita Sales on Facebook (Lolita Facebook Group List)
http://egl-comm-sales.livejournal.com/ (Lolita LiveJournal Secondhand Sales Comm Group)


Etsy (Independent Designers/Sellers/ Secondhand/ Vintage)
Storenvy (Independent Sellers/Secondhand/ Vintage)
Closet Child (Japanese Brand Secondhand)
Lacemarket (Secondhand Sales and Auctions)


Lacemarket is a recent development that has almost become an extension of the EGL Comm Sales on LiveJournal. It is basically the "Ebay" of lolita with both immediate sales and auctions. I also recommend looking here since there are new items updated every day by users and I've seen a few fairy kei worthy pieces on here as well. The option to search by brand can be helpful as well~

Another option that is very helpful are online Japanese secondhand shops such as Closet Child. Closet Child has mainly gothic and lolita brand pieces, but many pieces that go through there can be used in fairy kei. I got my first Nile Perch dress from there. Also, be sure to check their "New Accessory" category for relatively good-priced kawaii accessories~
I hope this helps a bit and that it isn’t just a rehash of what you already know haha ^_^

 Later on I hope to keep updating posts with my personal fairy kei finds and recommendations, so keep an eye out.

~Sparkling Ga Eul

Monday, December 23, 2013

laduree shirts and tea


Dear Fairies,

I got a lovely bunch of gifts from my mother when she went to France. Laduree is a famous sweets shop in France that specializes in macaron and Uniqlo had a line of collaboration shirts with Laduree. I got three shirts from Uniqlo and a Marie Antoinette tea from Laduree. The Uniqlo shopping bag even has a bunch of macaron on it.
Laduree unfortunately has locations in only one city in certain countries, so the only one in the US is in New York City. I hope to go check it out next time I'm in the big city though.
The tea is wonderful and I love the shirts. Uniqlo definitely has some of the best quality clothing.







~Sparkling Ga Eul

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

full house outfit inspiration

 Dear Fairies,

I’ve been watching Full House for the past few months and realize why Spank! likes this show. A lot of the clothing, especially from earlier episodes, is quite nice for inspiration in fairy outfits.
So, next time you watch this ridiculously whitewash clean cut show, keep an eye out for cute ideas. Scrunchies, poofy bangs, oversized shirts, large print sweaters, jumpers, overalls, etc.

~Sparkling Ga Eul













Sunday, September 22, 2013

college japanese street fashion show!

Dear Fairies,

Wow, I've got so many posts which I probably should have posted ages ago, but I'll post them anyway!

So, a little while back I was invited, by a lolita friend, Vivian, to participate in a Japanese street fashion show at a university. All I have to say is I was so excited for this!! It was so great that these students were getting together to basically inform the student body on the different street fashions of Japan.

Photo Taken by Brian Lee Trewitt

Of course, I saw this as an opportunity to get fairy kei more recognition by wearing fairy kei in the fashion show. In fact, no one in the fashion show seemed to know what fairy kei was so I was happy to explain the fashion to everyone! It was also a wonderful opportunity to meet new J-fashion fans and make friends.

Photo Taken by Gaby Trisna

It was just like a real fashion show! We had a little runway, loud music, cheering people, flashing camera lights from all the photography students... It was awesome! This lovely little show was put together by the lovely Crystal and Jacky of the wonderful Japanese Student Association on campus.

The fashion show consisted of lolita, visual kei, gyaru styles, and decora/kawaii styles.

Photo Taken by Tania Raharja

Two friends I made modeled decora in the kawaii style group: Aaron and Caroline. Even though I wasn’t even a student at this college, I felt extremely welcome and so happy to be among fellow Japanese culture enthusiasts ^_^

Photo Taken by Tania Raharja

Photo Taken by Tania Raharja

Not only did I wear fairy kei, but since I dabble a bit in lolita, I decided to be an addition to the gothic lolita group by dressing in aristocrat style. My friend, Vivan, lovely musician and lolita, rocked the catwalk with her Vampire Requiem replica skirt, bonnet,and black parasol. I wore an “offbrand” (LipService) Victorian style gown with a lovely hat I found at a Claire’s once a while back.

Photo Taken by Gaby Trisna

Photo Taken by Tania Raharja

Watch the whole show in a vlog by The Lovely Ify !
See my fairy kei intro at 13:06 and aristocrat at 4:25



What I Wore


Bow: Made by me

Shirt: Popples from Retro Magic Store

Petticoat: 50s Vintage

Underskirt: H&M

Cardigan: 60s Vintage

Tights: Offbrand

Legwarners: Offbrand

Shoes: Keds (w/ added bows)

Glasses: Hello Kitty

Earrings: Made by me

"HUG" Heart Necklace: Spank!

Scrunchie: Made by me


It was so wonderful to be a part of my first ever fashion show, and on top of that, wearing fairy kei. I made quite a few friends during this show and it was full of the most awesome and fun people!

Until next time, fairies~

~Sparkling Ga Eul

Saturday, September 14, 2013

now for something different... celebs in lolita??

Dear fairies,
Celebrities in lolita dresses… Lady Gaga, Hayley Williams, Li’l Mama, Katy Perry, Jessica Simpson and Nicki Minaj…
I’m sure some of you are aware of this recurring phenomenon where celebrities will randomly choose a lolita dress to wear for one reason or another. Just have some thoughts on this…






Li’l Mama didn’t seem to know what to do with her dress and Jessica Simpson seems to mock the fashion by showing off her bloomers like they are a novelty. Many times, not following the lolita “guidelines” can lead to a less than desirable look.
BUT with that said, I’ve heard many lolitas say something along the lines of this “Don’t call it ‘lolita’ if it’s not really lolita.” So, technically, just because all these women decided to wear lolita style and brand dresses doesn’t necessarily make the style they were going for “lolita.” Obviously, most of them just found the dresses cute enough to wear for whatever reason, obviously unaccustomed to the style. Yet, I think Gaga pulled off the look here well.
Personally, I think if you wear a lolita dress, and “lolita” is not your primary style, then it shouldn’t matter what or how you wear it. Hayley Williams looks absolutely adorable and Nicki Minaj is simple and nice in her own style
If you are “lolita,” then, of course, you should dress in a way that would define you as such. Reason being that the lolita style is extremely difficult to maintain and learn, so naturally, it would probably be your primary or only style. Sometimes a lolita dress is just another part of someone’s wardrobe and they use it for their own style.
In the end, these celebs probably just want to express their taste and style by wearing lolita dresses.
~Sparkling Ga Eul

Monday, August 26, 2013

Dear fairies,

I need to post more of my outfits! I’ve been wearing much much more fairy kei and never find the time to take a picture it seems. This coord doesn’t have any of my awesome vintage pieces I’ve bought of late, but it is definitely an outfit to wear in the extremely hot weather!

AND I cut my hair!


What I’m Wearing:

Pom Pom Bow: bought at an anime convention
Shirt: Urban Outfitters
Skirt: Gap
Socks: Target
Shoes: Keds
Pearl Bracelet: Claire’s
Necklaces: made by me
Buttons: one from Snog Yogurt in London and the other Hot Topic

~Sparkling Ga Eul

Monday, August 12, 2013

review #1: retro magic store popples t-shirt

Dear Fairies,


Again, it's been so long and I'm busier than ever! I had finals for a few weeks before summer and then I was working as a costume designer on a show in New York City about Tchaikovsky (www.tchaikovskyplay.com). I do have a life!
I've been wanting to do a review on a Popples shirt that I bought a while ago, so here it is ^_^


I found a wonderful little site that sells T-shirts with retro graphics on them called 
Retro Magic Store!
They have graphics from: 
My Little Pony, Barbie, Creamy Mami, Jem, Rainbow Brite, and more~

PRICE

It's pretty affordable
Everything is about 15.90€ or $20~$25
Also, Retro Magic Store only lets you pay with PayPal



PROS
The quality of the actual shirt is quite nice. The fabric isn't too thin, is very soft, and the size seems to be pretty standard. Actually, I ordered a size medium, which is a size up from what I usually get for a loose 80s style fit. The graphics are also very colorful and don't seem likely to fade anytime soon.

CONS

When I ordered the shirt online, the color I chose was described as "salmon pink." Looking at the photos online, I assumed that the color would be a sort of orange-y pink. Yet, when I received the shirt, it was really just a light baby pink. It wasn't a complete let down, but I would have liked it to be more "salmon-y." 



Posing with Prize Popple (took a picture in the mirror so the words are flipped)

Overall, I'm pleased!

 I've worn it many times already and I'll definitely be buying from Retro Magic Store in the future~

~Sparkling Ga Eul


Sunday, January 20, 2013

nyc holiday post #7: mermaid shirts, french mousse and russian tea


Dear fairies,
I am continuing my accounts of my stay in New York City. This is my final post on New York City and I will then proceed to post as usual.

I decided to go to a famous vintage clothing store called Cheap Jack's to see what sort of things I could find. I was short on money at this point, so I bought one item which I think was the best I could find for fairy kei here!

I talked to some of the staff and the owners of Cheap Jack's while I was there and they said that this shop is one of the go-to places for vintage costumes for TV shows and films. They have vintage clothing from the 20s through the 80s. It is also a very navigable place, with labelled racks of what period each group of clothing is from. They even had a few sale racks at the front full of wonderful and inexpensive pieces. Again, like the other vintage shops I mentioned in my previous post, prices seem to range from about maybe $25 and up, depending on the year, the article, and design.

I was very excited to find a The Little Mermaid shirt from the 80s marked from $35 to only $10! The item has a few spots on it, but are not easy to detect because of the print. I have to say that I've searched the Internet for The Little Mermaid clothing from the 80s. I really couldn't find anything! So, of course, I would have bought it even if it was $35. The employees there probably thought I was weird trying on and buying a little girls' shirt, but it pretty much fits.

Basically, great place to check out for some vintage pieces for fairy kei and fairly inexpensive sale racks.


Afterward, Andrew and I had tickets to go see the Broadway play, Golden Boy. It's a play about a boy, in the 1930s, who becomes a boxing champion and the trials he faces with himself, his family, his friends, and his co-workers. Unfortunately the show will not be running for much longer, but it was definitely worth attending. Something about a classic play like this one onstage is just so much more intimate, possibly because it wasn't as showy as, say, Peter and the Starcatcher or a musical. It was a simply done show in which the actors carried the show practically by themselves with wonderful performances.


When the show was over, we tried to make a decision as to where to eat for dinner. Finally, after much walking around aimlessly in the cold in Hell's Kitchen, we decided to eat at a little French restaurant called Tout Va Bien

It is the oldest French bistro in the theatre district, open since 1948! The restaurant has won many awards and is, of course, delicious. For French cuisine in New York City, this restaurant is relatively inexpensive. 

I ordered a three course meal, which was about $44. I started off with yummy mussels, then my entree was coq au vin, followed by a yummy chocolate mousse topped with whipped cream and wafer. Tout Va Bien is a quaint and cozy restaurant complete with checkered table cloths and French art and signed portraits of celebrities on the walls. If you are on your way to a show or coming back from one, I'd suggest Tout Va Bien if you're looking for a good meal.
                                         
                                             

What I Wore
Bow: Hot Topic
Dress: Hello Kitty/ Sanrio
Cardigan: Old Navy
Lace Tights: Betsey Johnson
Legwarmers: Offbrand
Shoes:Charlotte Russe

The last day I spent in New York City was spent with my lolita friend, Alia. I tried to think of a place where we could hang out. One place came to mind called The Stone Flower, which was supposedly a lolita shopping hot spot in New York City. Unfortunately, the only Japanese fashion store in New York City, Tokyo Rebel, was temporarily closed.

The Stone Flower is located in a little shopping center on Pier 17. There are actually two parts of The Stone Flower in the center. One is located on the first floor, which sells clothing, and the other is located on the second floor, which sells jewelry and accessories. While The Stone Flower doesn't sell any Japanese brands, the clothing and accessories are still very kawaii. The prices are also much lower than brands, with simple JSKs at $50 with cute prints like macarons and strawberries.

Accessories consist of things like cute bows and headbands, little cameo earrings, and panda earmuffs. I'd recommend going here if you're looking for cute basic, and relatively inexpensive, Japanese fashion pieces. A word of caution is that the clothing comes in one size only. I wouldn't recommend you go shopping for clothes here if you're not a size small (or maybe medium). I tried on a few of the JSKs there and considered bu Also, if not to go to The Stone Flower, Pier 17 is lovely to just walk along and see the ocean and ships nearby.




After The Stone Flower, Alia and I said our goodbyes and Andrew surprised me by taking me to The Russian Tea Room. This was by far the priciest place we went to dine on my NYC trip, but it was definitely worth it. The restaurant is very nice and played classical music like Mozart and Tchaikovsky. Also, if you're sitting in a booth, the waiter will literally pull the entire table out for you to take your seat so you don't have to slide all the way into the booth!

We shared a delicious chicken kiev dish followed by lovely hot tea. There was a list of different teas to choose from. I chose the Russian Country tea, which had a hint of smokiness to it while Andrew had a delightful spiced chai. Along with our own pots of tea, we were given brown and white sugar cubes, sweetened cherries, and little Russian cookies. When I saw the cherries, I asked the waiter what they were for. Apparently, in some parts of Russia, they like to sweeten their tea with cherries! So, I went ahead and put two cherries in each cup of tea along with a brown sugar cube ^_^ This was a lovely ending to a wonderful trip to New York City.



What I Wore
Bow: H&M
Skirt: Offbrand
Green Skirt Overlay: Offbrand
Sweater: Disney
Tights: Offbrand
Legwarners: Offbrand
Lace Tights: Betsey Johnson
Legwarmers: Offbrand


I had a wonderful time in NYC and I really hope you fairies enjoyed reading! Maybe these posts could be helpful to decide what you might be doing on your trip to NYC? And I will be back again soon~

~Sparkling Ga Eul

Faith, Trust, and Fairy Kei Dust


Saturday, January 12, 2013

nyc holiday post #6: new year's day and more fun

Dear fairies,

So, the highlight of New Year's Day was going to Harry Potter: The Exhibition. This is located in Discovery Times Square. It was an enchanting experience. Before you even see the exhibition, you get to take a picture in Gryffindor or Ravenclaw scarves in front of a green screen for later purchase and there a mini sorting ceremony. Then you are instantly transported into the Wizarding World complete with falling snow in the entrance.

The exhibition is comprised of props, costumes, set pieces, and models from the Harry Potter films along with a few interactive bits like getting to sit in the giant armchair from Hagrid's hut. Personally, I loved looking at the costumes and some of the props the most. I studied each costume as much as I could for my own inspiration.

As for the props, it is amazing what detail goes into them. Looking at just the Daily Prophet selections, you see that each article is written just as if it were a real newspaper. It truly was a work of magic to bring the world of Harry Potter to life. If you are as devoted a Harry Potter fan as I am, then this is something you simply cannot miss!


What I Wore
Pink Tulle Bow: made by me
Eiffel Tower Shirt: American Eagle
Petticoat Skirt: American Apparel
Glasses: Hello Kitty
Scrunchie: made by me
Button: vintage 80s
Tights: Forever 21
Legwarmers: Offbrand
Shoes: Asics

The next day began with the Broadway lottery for the Tony award-winning play, Peter and the Starcatcher. This was, of course, very exciting for me, because not only do I appreciate great theatre, I absolutely love Peter Pan. We did not win the lottery, but there are "lottery loser" tickets, which are only $40 (I suggest you have another person wait by the ticket window during the lottery to get these tickets before they are gone if you lose).  

Peter and the Starcatcher is based on the novel, Peter and the Starcatchers, which is a "love note" prequel to Peter Pan. It's a rather new novel that I, at one point, contemplated reading. Though the novel is meant to be as serious as its predecessor, the play is a sort of parody of the story with witty comedy. Although there are inconsistencies with the actual Peter Pan continuity, I was able to forgive because the play is so utterly charming. Sadly, it closes January 20th on Broadway, and I would suggest seeing it if you possibly can! Fly away to Neverland as a boy journeys to find himself as Peter Pan.


What I Wore
Pink and Purple Tulle Bow: made by me
Jacket: Thrifted
Skirt: J.Crew
Tights: Betsey Johnson
Legwarmers: Offbrand
Shoes: Asics

Also, while looking for a good and inexpensive place to eat for lunch, Siri suggested a Japanese curry chain called Go! Go! Curry. This restaurant is actually originated from Japan, but the only two locations in the US are in New York City, possibly due to the restaurants obsession with the New York Yankees. 

It's a wonderful place to go for both good taste and prices. The menu gives you a choice of different types of meat along with the amount of rice you would like in your dish, starting from $7 for a small amount of rice. You can also choose from a selection of toppings for extra charge. I chose the medium size (single), but I would recommend, depending on hunger levels, ordering the small (walk) just to save that 50 cents XD 

The curry is comprised of rice topped with yummy Japanese style curry, which is then topped with your meat of choice, which is topped with a slightly spicy red sauce. On the side there is shredded cabbage. Delicious and inexpensive meal at less than $10 per person! I'd consider going here a couple of times if you plan on staying long in NYC. You will thank me for the recommendation! (Another thing to point out is that for $5 you can get the curry without any meat, but the curry still contains pork!)


So, I should have my next post up sometime within the week! I've got two more shops to share with you that you should check out as well as a couple of outfit posts~ 

~Sparkling Ga Eul

Faith, Trust and Fairy Kei Dust