Bodyline Maid Costume

On December 7th I placed an order with Cosmates for this Bodyline maid costume. I ordered through Cosmates simply because it's cheaper. On Bodyline, the costume costs $40 plus $10 for shipping, coming to a total of $50 or 36.57€. The price means that customs charges will be added, too, so it ends up being even more expensive. Cosmates, on the other hand, lists the costume for $38. With shipping, the total was about $43.75 or 32€. Cosmates also has the added benefit that they mark the package as a low-priced gift (this one was marked 7€) meaning no customs charges. The availability of the product is the same as it is on Bodyline.

So, what do I think of this costume? Well, I am a plus-sized girl. My measurements, last time I checked, are as follows:

• Bust: 110cm / 43 inches
• Waist: 90cm / 35 inches
• Hips 111cm / 44 inches

Naturally, I ordered the largest size, 4L. I thought it would be a bit of a squeeze, since Bodyline and Cosmates both list its bust measurement to be 108cm. However, the dress is very comfortable and easy to move around in. My fist thought when I put it on was that I could wear it without the apron, petticoat, and headband, just as a little black dress because of how comfy it is. The arm holes are also very accommodating. One of my biggest annoyances with some so-called large-sized clothing and costumes is that while the bust/waist/hips are large, the damn arms are still medium-to-small-sized. Not so with this dress.

The apron is also very comfortable. Its shoulder straps are adjustable and would be easy to customize to fit any height as they are attached to the waist strip with buttons. (I haven't got a picture of my back, but you can see what it looks like in the stock photo above.) The headband that completes the outfit is also nice; not too tight/too small and fairly flexible. I also like the length of the dress (84cm/33.1 inches for 4L). It's long enough to fit over my petticoat, which I found on eBay (similar to this one), long enough that I'm not constantly worrying about showing off my panties, but still short and flirty and cute. (This is less review than personal thoughts; short skirts are still a new thing for me.)

All in all, I am extremely happy with this order. The cost was low, the package arrived in 10 business days - much faster than Bodyline in my experience - and the fit is fantastic. If you're looking for a maid costume, I'd definitely recommend this one. However, keep in mind that it does not come with a petticoat and the skirt is not lined, so you would have to already have one or buy one separately. 

Here is a photo of me wearing the whole ensemble plus my petticoat:

A close-up of the top of the apron - a cute heart shape with a bow:

 And a bonus picture of me, because this is my blog and my review:

Thank you for reading! （　´∀｀）☆

Nami and Alpacas!

My beautiful, wonderful, adorable, flawless little Nami figure arrived. I am literally three episodes and four volumes into One Piece and I am already in love and felt compelled to purchase this figure, and it was quite inexpensive, so no harm done. Seriously, Nami is the greatest. I took a bunch more pictures, but here are a couple showing her and the tiny little box she came in. She stands only 12 cm or about 5 inches tall.

I have also received all three of the Alpacassos I ordered this month, each from a different seller. The pink 16 cm Fresh Soda Alpacasso came from Pixie, who I haven't ordered from before, but will definitely be ordering from again. She came with a couple of mini candy canes. :)

I also ordered two 16 cm Powa Powan Alpacassos. The pink one came from Alpacasso & Fandom Sales while the blue one came from a fairly new store, Alpacasso SG. Both of them, along with Pixie, are excellent sellers who can be trusted to supply you with authentic Amuse Alpacassos. They both also sent small gifts along with the alpacas, which is always a nice surprise. :)

 

I am currently waiting on a pair of violet circle lenses, a second Nami figure, an L Nendoroid (Death Note), my Bodyline Meido outfit, a Monkey D Luffy Nendoroid, and a Kyoko Sakura figure. As soon as they arrive, I'll be posting about them. Until then!

December is here already?!

December totally snuck up on me this year. Usually I'm well-prepared, since I love Christmas and start thinking about it before Halloween, but I guess my head's not screwed on quite right at the moment. Anyway, today we had our first proper snow, so I pulled out the Santa hat. Today (technically yesterday since it is 2:30 in the morning) was also Finnish Independence Day, so I wore my blonde wig and a blue top.

I've been unintentionally ignoring this blog because I haven't had money with which to order stuff, so I've had very little to blog about. I also haven't been inspired to write about my opinion on anything. Mostly my energy has been dedicated to the 40 or so Christmas cards I'm making to send to friends and family all over the world. At this point, I doubt they'll get there in time, but better late than never, right?

On the fifth I received my sick-leave money and therefore am able to buy things again. (It sounds horrible when I put it so bluntly; but I know I'm fortunate to have someone take care of me in terms of housing and food, so it's not that horrible, right?) I've ordered some Alpacas, a couple of figures, and most importantly... a meido outfit! I've ordered the black version of this:

Although it's a Bodyline product, I ordered it through Cosmates because it's cheaper, plus I won't have to pay any customs expenses. I can't wait until it arrives! I will, of course, be posting about it once it does, and all the other things I've ordered, too! Until then, I'm back to working on cards.

Have a picture of my kitten Remu as a bye-for-now gift:

Early Christmas Present to Myself & Missing Order Stuff.

My newest Arpakassos arrived, ordered from Rosy's Garden on Storenvy, one of the select few Arpakasso sellers that can definitely 100% for sure be trusted to supply one with authentic Amuse Arpakassos, and often with a small gift and a lovely personalized touch to boot! For instance, the cute Merry Christmas tag displayed here.

I've been coveting these two badboys for months now. As soon as I saw the brown Sweets boy, I knew he had to be mine. The Animal Hat fella grew on me over time, and unfortunately it was too long ... I couldn't snag a 16 cm version of him. But the 12 cm is just as cute!

These cuties were a topper to a pretty good week. Not only did an adorable kitten named Remu join our family, but StyleGirl on Storenvy refunded an order that I placed which went missing almost half a year ago. I was also able to contact Tokimo, who assured me my circle lenses would be resent. Unfortunately I have pretty much confirmed that Spooktacular was a scam, so I can kiss the $32 I paid for that ribcage sweater goodbye. Either way, it's good to "have closure" so to speak ... meaning no more fretting about where are my things!

In addition to this, I won a used pair of studded heels for about €22, and a Sayaka Miki figure for a bit less. Not bad at all, I'd say. :)

Sighing over SheInside.

I've been excitedly waiting for my Sheinside order of two sweaters, because I just have not been able to find many cute sweaters here in Finland, and the one I ordered from Spooktacular on Storenvy is probably never coming. Anyway, the package arrived and the first of the sweaters that I ordered, the pink "LAME" sweater, was great!

It fits well and is made of very soft material. I absolutely love it. However, the second sweater I ordered, the black cross sweater (below) did not arrive.

Instead I received a totally random cat face sweater:

I've contacted Sheinside twice by email since receiving the package, and have yet to get a response, despite their claim that they get back to messages within 24 hours. I'm very disappointed. If I don't get a response soon, I'm going to put it up for sale in my store on Storenvy. :I

Cosmates Order Has Arrived!

I placed an order on Cosmates.com on October 7th, and it arrived today. My items were sent in a bag, with each of them wrapped in its own plastic package inside. All were in great condition - no damage, no bad smells, etc. Though the total price of my purchase was 69€ or almost $93 US, it was marked as only 16€ and therefore passed through customs quickly.

Prices:

• Dress - $56
• Pannier - $19
• Socks - $9

The dress is by Fanplusfriend. It's made of light and airy fabric, which is a welcome change. The elastic around the bust and waist is very stretchy, making the dress (which comes in one size only) one-size-fits-most. It's very comfortable, except for the sleeves being a bit tight. There are three colour options; as you can see, I chose black. The dress came with a removable burgundy chiffon sash as pictured below. I was afraid that the neckline would be too open - it certainly looked quite large on the mannequin in the stock photo - but it's not too open at all.

The pannier is by Bodyline. It's available in eight different colours and two different sizes. I chose the ivory/off-white colour option (though it looks plain white in the photos). I have mixed feelings about this pannier. On one hand, it's softer, more comfortable, and less noisy than my previous one (which I found on eBay), but on the other hand, it's not very poufy at all. I think it would be better suited to be used as a skirt in a fairy kei outfit than under a dress. (On that note, I might have to buy a couple more in different colours....)

The socks are also Bodyline. I bought them as a just-in-case-I-don't-want-to-wear-tights item, and because I might try to cosplay Celestia Ludenberg one day. But when I tried them on, I fell in love. Socks are hard to buy online, particularly knee-high and thigh-high socks/stockings. I was afraid that these wouldn't fit, since my legs aren't super thin. I'm happy to say that they do fit, and are comfortable and look nice. They're good quality, and I would definitely recommend them.

All in all, I am pleased with my purchase. The prices were reasonable, the shipping was fast, and the items are quality. I'd definitely buy from Cosmates again.

Here are a couple of bad photos of me wearing the ensemble. As I said, the pannier doesn't provide enough pouf, leaving the dress with a sort of babydoll look/feel. Back to searching for a proper petticoat it is...

Yay, Me!!

I did it! I threw together my first meager co-ord and walked around in it all day yesterday! I was surprised to get so many compliments. Lots of people at the outpatient clinic wanted to know more about Lolita, as well. It was nice to be able to tell people about it, and of course, the compliments had me feeling great. :)

I made a post about it on my tumblr, so I'm not gonna say any more here.

I'm still scared that I will end up on Behind the Bows. I know people go looking for people to make fun of on tumblr. And almost every time I've seen a beginner Lolita proudly displaying their co-ord on tumblr, it has ended up on BTB with cruel comments and rudeness! >:( Gonna try to stay away from that blog like I've been doing for the past few weeks. Wish me luck!

Afraid to say "Lolita"

I've been interested in Lolita fashion for a long time now. It started out just as a curiosity. I never really knew or cared about fashion in any sense. Jeans and band tees were all I needed. Then one day I started reading about Lolita, checking out blogs and articles and various sites, checking out the brands' web stores, and so on. One of the first things I came across was a Lolita confessions blog, and the first confession I read said something along the lines of "I've been interested in Lolita for many years, but haven't dared to even buy one dress until recently. I felt that I needed to do lots of research and know as much as possible or I would be rejected by more experienced Lolitas."

This confession instilled a fear in me. I'm already self-conscious and afraid to draw attention to myself, but the memory of that confession and what I have seen and experienced on blogs like Behind the Bows, make me afraid to call myself Lolita. I don't even refer to myself as a hopeful Lolita, a Lolita-to-be, or anything like that. I'm just "interested in Lolita fashion".

I bought a JSK from Bodyline. I'm honestly not sure whether it would get me labeled "ita" (which I think is a ridiculous, pointlessly rude term), but just in case, I don't exactly show it off. I did post photos of myself in it when I first received it, and then again when I received my petticoat, but I never tagged these photos because I didn't want it to end up on BTB, and I didn't want to risk being ripped apart by internet Lolitas.

I guess I shouldn't have picked such an out-there style, being so afraid of criticism. Yet here I am writing a public blog post about it.

I'm hoping that when I receive the second dress I bought, a simple Gothic piece, I'll be less afraid. Back in eighth grade I was a pseudo-Goth, so I figure that's more within my limited field of knowledge. Which is not to say I'm ditching the pink Bodyline piece. I'll just have to figure out a neat co-ord before daring to wear it and call myself Lolita.

Maybe I'm too ignorant about the world of fashion, but I don't understand the need for super rigid rules, not to mention young women on the internet harshly "reinforcing" these rules. I don't understand the need for harsh and hurtful terms like "ita" and especially "fatty-chan". (I don't understand the reason for judgement based on weight at all, but maybe that's just because I've always been fat and kind.) I've been told it's because fat people look bad in everything; that fat people bring a bad name to everything they're involved in; that picking apart a beginner's co-ord is just motivation for them to do better. In my opinion, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and motivation through degradation is never effective.

Mami and Madoka have arrived!

Found these beauties as a package-deal on eBay for $23.80 plus $11.00 shipping. They were being sold by mzgh09, who sells lots of different figures. For example, they are selling Homura and Sayaka together for $24.80 plus shipping here.

My payment for Madoka and Mami went through on October 15th and they arrived yesterday, the 28th. The figures are absolutely beautiful and I am very happy with this purchase!

I also have a Homura figure, purchased from nirakuasuka on eBay. Here they all are together:

I can't wait to get Sayaka and Kyoko to complete my collection. Then I just have to find all the other versions... ;D

Christmas shopping begins...

I love Christmastime.

Now that I live in a country where Halloween isn't a very big deal, Christmas is my favourite holiday. I've always enjoyed buying gifts for others, shopping around, trying to find the perfect thing to give to each friend and family member ... it's just fun! Here in Finland it's a bit more difficult for me to find these perfect things, but luckily I've got the internet.

Which brings us to what this post is really about, which is showing off the gift I got for my boyfriend. He's majorly into One Piece, and loves Boa Hancock so I ordered him this adorable Boa Hancock Chibi-Arts:

She's so cute I almost wanna keep her for myself! ;) I found her on AmiAmi.com. I paid a total of €29.41, the payment went through on October 21st, and the package had arrived by October 25th. I am seriously impressed by this because usually it takes at least three weeks for anything to get to me due to strict customs and just ... being tucked in the North, I guess. Definitely gonna buy from that site again sometime.

Anyway, Christmas shopping has started off on the right foot. Now I just have to wait until November the 7th to have the money to continue. I'm planning to get a Creeper plush for my Minecraft-obsessed little brother, and a Sentimental Circus Mouton the Elephant plush for my sister, who loves elephants. As for the rest of my family and friends ... the jury's still out.

Feminism, Lolita, Punk, and more

I saw a post on tumblr a while ago saying that maybe people don't like Lolita or hold it as socially acceptable because it takes up space while still being feminine, and that in our society femininity is meant to be small and elegant and unnoticeable. While that's a nice thought, at least on social justice grounds, I wholly disagree.

I think that people don't like Lolita for the same reasons they don't like other "rebellious" fashions that "go against the mainstream": they're weird. It has less to do with being feminine than it has to do with the taking up space part. If a sweet Lolita is walking down the street, there's no way you're gonna miss her. She's in a bright, noticeable colour - usually pastel pink, blue, yellow, lavender, green. Something that isn't commonplace in large quantities. Then she has her accessories and her her purse and most likely a wig and maybe even a parasol or a stuffed animal ... that's gonna attract attention. So everyone's looking at you, and you are, in their eyes, weird.

It's the same deal, though, if you're walking down the street and you've got a green liberty spikes goin', a battle jacket on, chains hanging from your jeans, and big ol' steel-toed platform boots strapped to your feet. Male or female, doesn't matter. You look aggressive, you look like you could be dangerous, and you look fucking weird.

The same argument can be made for anyone dressing in a Goth style, male or female, masculine or feminine. Metalheads, both male and female are subject to the same judgments, and that subculture is (a) mostly male and (b) masculine in pretty much everything involved. Even "emo/scene kids" get those looks and they're mostly just in jeans and t-shirts and a swoop-banged haircut. Basically, it's outside of what's considered a "normal" appearance, and therefore people don't like it (or they at least look at you strangely or think you yourself are strange).

What I'm saying is, I think that the OP of the tumblr post was just trying to wrangle a feminist argument out of something else they're interested in. Snap-judgments made against Lolitas and any other fashion groups and subcultures, in my opinion, have less to do with sex and gender issues than just a general lack of acceptance of anyone and anything different.

I was wearing my trusty devil-horn hat the other day, all black otherwise, and while I was walking down the street on my way home, a little girl in a pink snowsuit and a flower-covered hat passed me and gave me the biggest, sweetest, smile that I've ever seen. I smiled back automatically, it was so sweet. That little encounter not only brightened my day, but restored a little of my faith in humanity.

Hello.

Hi there! My name is Astral, and I am new here. I'm used to tumblr-style blogging, but I thought I'd give this type of blogging a whirl. I dunno what's going to come of it, but if you wanna stick around to see, I'd be honoured.

I'm a 20-year-old girl-woman living in Finland. I was born here, but spent most of my life in Canada. Just over a year ago, I returned to my native land to stay. My intention was to jump into school, but I quickly discovered that wasn't gonna happen. At present time, I'm working on bettering my mental health, and getting to a place where I'm able to study and/or work. 

I'm a sometimes-metalhead and a wannabe-author. I'm into fashion, art, literature, and a little bit of anime and manga. This blog may or may not become some kind of mish-mash of all of these. I enjoy exploring new places, shopping both online and in real life, and I'm addicted to wigs. Winter is my favourite season, although I'm still not used to Finland's darkness.