My Little Pony Fair 2011 in Rhode Island!

This past Saturday was the official My Little Pony Fair and Convention in Pawtucket, Rhode Island! I went with my dear friend Victoria of Parfait Doll and met up with Lindsay of Pretty Pop Designs! We all got in our pastel best and headed to the Hasbro Factory for some fun with all the Equestria girls and more

There were many fun sights and sounds at this so called Pony Con, but the point was really to bring on the nostalgia and magic of these incredibly simple but yet beautiful toys. Basically this was all held in a large room where multiple booths or "stables" as they were called would be set up where you could buy anything related to MLP you wanted. There were older ponies, newer ponies, tiny ponies - pony watches, pony bags and even as you can see pony chocolate candies!

There were lots of contests to be had like custom made ponies (one of them showed here), a costume contest, even one for stables! There were even some small panels and discussions. The best of the panels was one held by Hasbro where they unveiled some new details for the coming toy season and more. My only complaint as I've been to multiple conventions is the lack of activities outside of the "Fair". Personally if they want this convention to be even more successful I think it'd be best to involve more workshops and panels that are in seperate rooms. Something I know I would have enjoyed is a panel strictly about Friendship is Magic (the new TV series) and possibly talking to voice actors and the creator. But this is something I think Hasbro can work slowly to getting right and eventually it'll become a much more successful event on that regard.

So the verdict? I would definitely go to the My Little Pony Fair again but only if it was nearby. I don't think this is the sort of convention to invest a lot of your time into unless it grows more in size or is given more of a convention feel. Our drive to Rhode Island was about 2 and a half hours but was definitely worth it and I would go to it again if it was in a location just as close. But unless you really truly are a big MLP fanatic then this isn't exactly something to get tide in a knot over. I would highly recommend it for the Nostalgia but otherwise it just depends on your taste!

So curious, are any of you big MLP fans? Do you collect ponies? Write a comment below!

Iconic Love Letter: Broadway Musicals

One of my favorite things to do during the summer is go with a loved one to see a Broadway Musical in Times Square. When I was little it was the closest I could get to feeling like going to Disney World every few months. My mom would always have us plan a day in the city around the show and is probably one of the reasons why I feel so confident holding meet ups - I learned my planning and use of the few hours before the show in style through going to shows with my mom. The best time to go see a show though? In the Summer! It's air conditioned, lots of amazing entertainment to be seen and when you come outside the night makes everything even cooler and very atmospheric! Those that is why todays Iconic Love Letter goes out to Broadway Musicals!

Broadway Musicals are something special that no other real art form has truly captured the exact same magic for me. But since there are so many amazing shows its hard to talk about them all as one general thing and best to speak of the ways that can connect to you personally. So we are gonna try and go with a different spin on Iconic Love Letter and I'll break down my few favorite musicals that you frilly ladies and gents might find the most interesting to yourself! Check out the list and see which one sparks your fancy.

Though this isn't my most favorite musical of the bunch, this one holds a special place in my heart for being the thing that made me realize my fascination with the 18th century and my somewhat obsessive attraction to long haired men in frill outfits. Percy is one of those great characters that definitely makes you feel pride and want to go on adventures with him and The Scarlet Pimpernel does just that - make you feel confident listening to it. My favorite song is "Into The Fire" a great boosting chant where Percy leads his rebel group into danger. This musical isn't perfect but it's definitely one to add to your look out for list.

Definitely one of the favorites, Les Miserables is a timeless piece of art that is so incredible its hard to really put to words the justify it's amazing appeal. I wrote about the 25th Anniversary Concert here but seeing the show live is truly the best experience of any of the ways to see this show. The best songs in my opinion are "Stars" "On My Own" and "Master of House" though nothing can really top the most epic piece of music ever "One Day More" which really is the perfect example of conflict building within a very short time frame. There is finally a live action film in the works and I am extremely excited for it!

I think I've said it hear enough that I love the fairy tale Beauty and the Beast more then a lot of other people in the world. It's timeless, romantic as hell and very layered. Every recreation of it is great for its own reasons but I think the Disney musical is my favorite because it adds even more layers to the Beast's inner conflicts. The song "If I Can't Love Her" is beyond epic and makes me cry or at least get emotional every time I hear it. I'm convinced its one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever! I was lucky enough to see the show 6 times in my life and each time was something special. I've also seen a lot of really great people in the show including Donny Osmond as Gaston (yes, it was that hilarious!) Overall this one needs to come back to Broadway in an even more epic revival.

In my top 3 musicals of all time for sure. I would say this is my favorite but it switches around a lot for other shows - but why you wonder? First off for those who have never seen the show here's the plot. The story is that of a transgender window dresser is in jail for corrupting a minor but lives out his days fantasizing about his idol Aurora, an actress from the golden age of cinema. But one of her films stands as a note of fear for Molina: The Spider Woman, who kills with her kiss. Suddenly he is met with another prisoner named Valentin who now is his cellmate. The story begins to twist and turn as the two learn about each other in the hardest of times. For me this show has some of the weirdest music ever but stands as a work of art with its tribute to the 40's and yet it's political statement on Latin America. It's based on a novel and there is a non-musical film as well. Maybe it's because my cousin played Aurora in a production of it or that I just have weird taste but I really love this show.

Overall there are so many great musicals and I haven't even spoken about a mere fraction of what there is available to hear and see. So what's your favorite musical? Do like all the newer shows like Wicked and Hair Spray? Do you like Phantom or Cats? Or do you love the old school shows like Oklahoma and The King and I? Write down below what you like or what you'd like to see in terms of theater!

Anime Next 2011: A Little Frilly Adventure

A few weeks ago I went on a surprise adventure with a few of my new and old friends to New Jersey. The occasion? Anime Next, an annual convention and one of the biggest in the tri-state next to New York Anime Fest. The convention was full of improvements from the first year I went back in 2006, including a new location that I had never been to and a much more easy to find set up! The best part about Anime Next though? Lots of Lolita friendly events! Though I didn't get to go to all of them I did go to some and the ones that I made my way to were very special memories I'll keep with me forever.

First off it's best to note the guests that were in attendance at the convention. Kanon (from An Cafe) and Mr.Sakurai (a fellow journalist and lover of japanese pop culture) were making the trip to Jersey bringing with them a love of Lolita and Jrock to the event. Also the h.Naoto spin off brand Sixh was there, selling tons of clothes and even having their own fashion show. But the one I was the most excited for? Yu Kimura. You might know this adorable idol from Kera Magazine and I'll be honest that she's my favorite model and one of my lolita inspirations. With that in mind I just had to go to Anime Next!

My first stop at the con was going to Kanon and Sakurai's panel. Though I had been to one of their panels before at Otakon of last year, this was a treat to get to hear them speak again. I asked them if they were wearing Alice and the Pirates that day to which I got a very enthusiastic yes! The rest of the questions were about Kanon's An Cafe work and some cosplay related questions. Though these were really things of my interest it was neat to hear them speak about anything.

Then came time for the Tea Party. At first I wasn't sure if I was going to go since usually I'm a bit more into going to fandom events at conventions then more fashion events, but I changed my mind when I started to follow the crowd of frilly girls into a supposed "secret area". We continued to walk down the Double Tree Hotel's hallway and noticed further and further that we weren't going to any normal location. Turns out we were going to the Presidential Suite of the hotel which has always been a dream of mine to go into!

Inside a whole party was set up for us with tons of sweets and varieties of tea. The best part was seeing them being put out for us by Kanon and Mr.Sakurai himself. We entered into the tiny kitchen of the suite and there you could see Kanon preparing the treats onto plates for us and sort of just hanging out when finished. For me this was the best treat of all, getting to see a fashion celebrity that I admired just relaxing with us and being a normal person when he would be thought of to be otherwise.

Then we were told to enter the social area of the suite. Unfortunately it seemed the hosts weren't expecting that many people to come to the party so not everyone had a chair, but Kanon tried his best to make up for it by carrying chairs to the rest of us who didn't have one. I can't exactly put into words who cool it was to have Kanon personally bring you a chair, it's one of those moments that'll stick with me for a long time. Next Mr.Sakurai asked us what we do in terms of our Lolita lifestyles which was really neat to speak of with him. I sort of wished there had been a few less people or enough space for us to even more intimately speak with him on such things but the amount of interaction we got was amazing and more then I ever would have thought possible.We then proceeded to take lots of pictures and even had a special appearance by Yu Kimura herself, who was completely decked out in Angelic Pretty's French Cafe. I even got a special picture with Mr.Sakurai and Kanon by myself!

Later on in the day I got to meet Yu Kimura again. I did get two pictures with her but they are on my friends camera and hopefully I can post them here soon since they are pictures I'll treasure forever. Ms.Kimura is beyond the sweetest girl I've met. I told her how much she means to me as a Lolita and how I only came to the convention to see her, which then she replied with the biggest smile and a big hug! I even got her CD which is adorable and I definitely recommend getting. I also was lucky enough to see her mini concert during The Masquerade and she did a great job.

Overall Anime Next was a great experience and if they get more cool guests like this next year I'll totally go again for sure. One more thing to note, I decided right after the convention to send a thank you tweet to Ms.Kimura. I just so happened luckily enough to get a response:

Dreams really do come true sometimes~!

Dress Up Time #13: Jem and the Holograms

I know, I know I talk way too much about Jem and the Holograms. But can you really truly blame me? It's a series that basically embodies all my favorite things about being a woman and in turn being a lolita. The main character wears pink to an extent far reached by others that sparkles and shines in a glorification of tacky yet fabulousness style. The characters all have big hair which currently is a big trend in lolita fashion, especially in sweet that also comes in a wide variety of colors and shapes. We even have budding romances with ridiculous pretty boys that probably in real life they couldn't exactly exist or probably wouldn't be the kind of guy that you'd date. Overall Jem exudes a sort of fantasy that brings about all of my female related interests along with those of many others!

So here on LVF, all of June will be a celebration of Jem as you can see already by the music and graphics on the page! So, how exactly does one bring themselves into a outfit that is truly outrageous and fabulous just like Jem and her friends? Here are some tips and ideas into becoming a frilly version of a Jem girl yourself!

The best place to start is your main dress piece. I'd go with something on the more casual side, like this AP Pop Rock Onepiece in pink! Angelic Pretty makes a couple of these sorts of pieces every year, but this one is my favorite and perfect for Jem! Next you need to bring on the neon pink with a pair of tights to continue with the 80's appeal. Though I always think tights add to an outfit, they especially add a touch to this look.

Jem is all about the dramatic make up, so don't forget to add on some high colored matte eyeshadow. My favorite comes from Make Up Forever who happens to have a great selection of Jem appropriate colors. Sometimes back in the day Hot Topic used to have some good shades that worked well too sadly though I don't remember the brand names.

Now onto the accessories and the shoes! The best part of the Jem is her magical earrings that give her the epic hologram powers that we love her for. Many people make replicas of them on etsy, so you should find them easily and for a decent price! You definitely need a big bow to match Jem's big personality. My bows come from this etsy store Miss Alphabet! She makes the accessories used in shoots of Locketship Jewelry which definitely go together with Jem flawlessly. The shoes are something essential since Jem always wears a good pair of heels. These come from Angelic Pretty as well and the bows are just to die for, also some shoes from ModCloth will do the trick. The final touch on this inspired coordinate is some kind of pink in your hair. You could either have a small extension piece or go with a full wig. Either way it's sure to complete your "showtime" look!

So think you can take on being part of the Holograms and going against the Misfits? Even if you're not a musician you can still rock this 80's glam style to the most and bring out the most outrageous side of your frilly style with the help of Jem. Try it out and see what adventures you come across!

June is Here!? Frilly Entertainments to Get You In The Summer Mood!

Summer has officially arrived and with that it's time to bring on those long summer days of relaxing, dreaming and watching tons of fun things of course to continue your imagination in the most Lolita of ways. Here are a list of Summer must sees and haves that'll get you wanting to frolic through the bright hot days!

The Little Mermaid (70's and Disney TV Series)

I've mentioned this one on the blog before, but is probably one of my favorite animated pieces ever. I can't really call it a complete film, but more like a ridiculously pretty television special. It's the Hans Christian Anderson Version told in the shoujo Anime style of the 70's/80's (my favorite time period in anime). It's absolutely beautiful, colorful and full of emotional development. I recommend it for a good snuggle movie with your prince, mostly because you'll need his shirt as a tissue afterwards.

But on the other hand we have the Disney Little Mermaid TV Series, one that is so full of fluff it will mend any broken bit you have from the previous movie. There are multiple episodes that incredibly adorable that eventually you might find yourself wanting to walk away that you can't handle it, including the music - but then there is a big catch with episodes that actually are incredibly interesting. The stand out episodes in my mind are "Whale of a Tale", "Stormy" and my personal stand out favorite "Metal Fish". This episode is one of those weird "breaking the fourth wall" kinds that features a character named Hans Christian Anderson (if that name rings a bell, it should! Thats the person that wrote the original fairy tale.) who eventually after Ariel saves him goes and writes the same exact story! Whichever you chose, you'll certainly want to splash into one of these adventures.

Fairy Tale Theater

If you grew up only a mere 20 or more years ago, you probably know about Fairy Tale Theater. If for some reason you don't I say with love and devotion, shame! Fairy Tale Theater is the work of everyone's favorite cheese-ball Shelley Duvall, where she would produce these mini movies of famous tales (she would also star in some of them too!) and get big stars of the time to play important roles. I have a couple of favorites to mention such as "The Frog Prince" (Robin Williams), "Beauty and the Beast" (Susan Sarandon) and "The Nightingale" (David Bowie) just to name a few! But if you get a chance, see them all - they'll bring you to a clean fresh world of fantasy this summer!

Yu Kimura's EP "Transcendent Harazyuku girl revolution"

I'll tell you a little secret that actually isn't little in the slightest, my favorite model and idol is Yu Kimura of Kera/Angelic Pretty/Fairy Kei fame! She was the Ambassador of Cuteness in 2009 and is now fully going into an epic and adorable singing career. I got the chance to see Yu this past weekend and let me tell you, she's got the making of something great. She's got the whole package of adorable personality, spunk and fashion sense along with really catchy tunes. Though maybe not something you'd bring about to your frilly ears, I definitely recommend checking this girl out and is the perfect set of tunes to lighten up your summer!

Jem returns to TV on The Hub

A few of you Nostalgia freaks like myself might be in the know, but if you don't know the most totally cool news on the block this summer then let me tell you: Jem and the Holograms is back on TV! I've already discussed Jem in one of my Iconic Love Letter articles, but if you don't know a thing about Jem or just have heard the rumors of this pink beauty then I absolutely demand you to see this! It'll be on in the mornings and late nights on The Hub, the greatest new channel on TV with tons of other nostalgic and soon to be nostalgic TV shows! (Look out for another Jem related post soon!) If you need something that can give you fun music, silly moments and total fashion inspiration look no further then Jem!

Scented Cooling Mists

I can't hide it, I'm someone who gets hot and burns really fast (I suffer from being ridiculously pale and Irish). The Summer for that reason isn't a joy for me in the slightest - that is until only a few weeks ago! I just discovered the rebirth of the Cooling Mists and now this new creation at stores with Scented versions! My favorite comes from Bath and Body Works with their name Coconut Mango collection. If you are looking for the most perfect thing to have this extremely hot summer I can't recommend this enough and how it is 100% a Lolita must have!

So those are some of my recommendations for this summer - it beats the heat and adds a splash of new inspiration! What is something you girls recommend for the summer? Let me know!

Dress Up Time #11: Some Kind of Wonderful

Recently today I decided to pop in one of my favorite movies ever that I haven't watched in a couple of months: Some Kind of Wonderful starring Eric Stolz and Mary Stuart Masterson. Though not exactly anyway or shape frilly related, it some how puts me in a great mood and thought it would be fun to make a Dress Up Time post on it (I've missed making these!)

The plot of Some Kind of Wonderful is your basic high school behavior: The outsider loves the popular girl but can't seem to get her. Keith (Eric Stolz) is a less then cool student at his high school - He's poor, a painter and works at his Dad's Car Repair shop (But he's so my kind of guy, le sigh!) On the other hand we have Amanda Jones (Lea Thompson), the most popular and prettiest girl in school. She has everything - the hot popular boyfriend, tons of beautiful friends and a sweet bitchin' wardrobe to match.

Yet there is one character who is in the middle of these two, Watts (Mary Stuart Masterson). Watts is by far my favorite female character in film history, truly my hero and basically who I was in high school with a slightly more girly edge but only slightly. Watts is an independent and free speaking girl, who never questions her actions or her opinions. She's Keith's best friend and Amanda's worst enemy - yet there's one thing she can't seem to be honest about: She's in love with Keith. I can't spoil the entire movie, but this slightly conventional story is actually super unconventional and I love it for that.

Now, how do you exactly embody the whole style of this little movie into your own frilly side? Let's take a few cues from Watts and see what happens!

First I chose a JSK that was with a darker tone with a tiny print. I also had to Musical style especially since Watts loves playing the drums. Watts also has a thing for Men's clothing, including jackets and hats. The Jacket and hat are from Forever 21 and happen to go very well with the dress in my opinion. The leggings bring in a super punky and 80's feel, and I can't explain how much I love these Sex Pot Revenge ones. The boots are Steve Madden, which are a Watts trademark along with the fingerless gloves. The finale touch is a pair of Rhinestone studs, which are a symbol of the movie and something Watts dreams of getting as her own. There's a lot of ways of taking this sort of outfit in different directions, but anyway it can be tons of fun!

So definitely look into Some Kind of Wonderful, the most underrated John Hughes movie and you'll see just why it's so incredible - you'll share in the inspiration if you try and outfit out like this!

Lolita Day - Summer 2011 Edition

Loli-Day is fast approaching and I am beyond excited! I'm always curious was to what my readers plans are, so give them to me! Are you going out with friends or spending a lovely day pampering yourself? Maybe you're going to a meet up or just a date with a special companion? Are you doing any fun activities or trips? Let me know!

For me personally I have two big goals: Baking delicious Homemade Oreo Cookies and listening to a ton of my favorite Lolita wearing inspiration tunes! Here is a list of my current favorites that maybe you could find inspirational too:

1. Glamazon - RuPaul

I can't explain exactly what it is, but RuPaul has this ability to make me instantly like anything he creates musically and everything new tune is beyond addicting. Glamazon is currently my favorite, mostly because even though it has nothing to do with Lolita lyrically it has this confidence boosting sound and has great motivational messages "She's taking names and kicking ass", thats how I want to and eventually feel everyday in Lolita! I also recommend "Main Event" which is so disco fabulous I can't even.

2. One in a Million - Private

Private is one my favorite music finds ever. Every single song of theirs is a great deal of "catchy" that is hard to exactly put a point on why it works. Think about all those great 90's dance hits with a modern twist and you have Private. One in a Million is probably my favorite next to "Crucify My Heart" - but the reason why? Simple, cause it makes me feel special. Isn't that enough to understand?

3. Alice in Wonderland - Lisa Mitchell

This somewhat sad tune is not exactly like the others but has this beautiful atmosphere it creates. Of course it's speaking of Alice in Wonderland, everything Lolitas favorite - but more importantly the music itself is delicate and very Lolita appropriate. It tells a great story through lyrics and melody. You'll truly never want this song to end, at least I never do.

4. The Spell - Alphabeat

I've spoken of Alphabeat before, but I can't get enough of their Euro-Pop energy. The Spell is one of their singles and is perhaps my favorite. It grooves and moves like no other and will definitely get you in that magic like mood for Lolita.

5. Gumdrops - The Smittens

Though short, "Gumdrops" is one of the cutest songs in history and probably my favorite song to whistle in the elevator these days. It has an equally cute video to match and overall The Smittens can light a room with their happy go lucky sense of music. This is the sort of happiness I love getting when wearing Lolita and "Gumdrops" just puts me in that frame of mind.

What songs make you ready to frill? I need more tunes to get my going so tell me.

This Lolita Day I also plan on wearing something extra summery and probably wearing my favorite dress, Meta's Cherry Gingham. But maybe I'll change my mind? Probably but for now thats the choice! Oh Lolita Day, what fun you'll be ~