Expanding my closet.

I've been going crazy with Japanese street fashions these days! Yesterday, I bought a few pieces from the second hand shop for a mori kei coord, and a sweater for a potential dolly kei coord.

I thought that maybe dolly and mori would be perfect to try out while I wait for my hair to grow out again. :'| I love love love gyaru style more than anything, but wearing wigs more than once a week is a little tough for me. 
I've just given up on trying to subscribe to one style, and I'm embracing it all and making my closet grow!! Dolly, mori, lolita, and gyaru are all styles I love a lot! 

Sweater, scarf, long white dress with slip, and a ruffley blouse that was half off. I also bought that cute print at a small gallery opening I stopped by. It's an E, so fate told me to buy it! (●´∀｀●) There's also a necklace and hair clip, but they're not in this shot. 

There were some pieces that were PERFECT for cult-party, and though I loved them I ended up not getting them because... money. If you follow my twitter, you know that I spent a lot of money yesterday. ~(>_<~)

^^^
A few days ago I came across an ebay listing for this SUPER cute dress. I ended up buying it and it only cost me $35! I've been having good fashion karma recently. （＾Ｏ＾☆♪ It arrived three days ago and looks wonderful! Though theres a rip in the petti that I must fix.

I've been making pretty good money off commissions. I was saving it up just in case I was able to go on my school's Japan trip, but... unfortunately, I didn't even get on the wait list. (´；д；`) I want to talk to my relatives. I really want to go back and practice my Japanese! And see all the wonderful sights! And shop! 

Instead, I'm using the money to buy some fashion accessories and the like.  （○゜ε＾○）I hope to be able to go Japan eventually! Now that I have matured and know more of the language, I know I could have a great time.... time to dream! 

Personal Diet: No cheese!

As of this morning, I weigh 115.3lbs! That's 52.29kg, apparently. And 5 pounds less than my previously average weight, 120.   I also think that my waist has shrunk a bit. My fanplusfriend lolita skirt was loose on me this last friday when I wore it... May have to sell it.

I must say, I'm pleasantly surprised! I haven't been working out much at all (shame on me....), but I have cut cheese out of my diet completely in the last month! That's the only factor I can think of that would contribute to this number. Something Courtney Love said in an older interview really motivated me to do this. (It's a wonderful read!!)

It was hard at first since cheese is one of my favorite foods, and I slipped up a couple of times... but my school provides delicious vegan meals, and I always buy substitute cheese. After a while, I wasn't even thinking about it!

Recently, I keep forgetting that I'm vegetarian. Not in the way that I slip up and eat meat, but in the way that I often forget I have to let people know! I've almost hit my 2-year mark and it just feels so normal and regular to me. I feel like it would be too strange for me to eat meat now. I used to be one of those people who would say "I could never give up meat!!!"
When I first started, I would still eat meat on weekends. It was a process, but now here I am, 2 years later!! hehe~

I went out to eat on friday with my friends for a birthday occasion to a Japanese barbeque restaurant. It was so much fun, but for a moment I panicked internally for a moment because there were so few vegetarian options, and I felt bad that other people were worried for me. But the waiter was fantastic and let me know immediately that the soup I had been considering contained beef broth before pointing out the noodles he could add tofu and vegetables to. It was really great of him and I ended up stuffing my face with edamame and Japanese sweet potatoes too. (delicious!!!) 

My current diet might seem a little strange. I am a vegetarian who does not consume raw dairy or egg products, but I'm not quite vegan. If butter or eggs are cooked into something, I will eat it. When I go home to Washington state, I eat fish when we go out to a restaurant. It's right off the coast and the seafood there is amazing... plus, I'm only there twice out of the year and fish is really very good for you!! 

Maybe once I live on my own I can make the shift to full vegan and cook for myself all the time. <3

One of my favorite facebook pages, just titled "Vegetarian" often posts great recipes and articles about this diet and lifestyle. Honestly it's pretty inspiring!! Check it out.

I hope you learned a little more about me. :) There's no pressure in motivating others to practice a no-meat diet, but it's certainly worth exploring!

Gal Checkpoint!! L.A. Tan Review

Where do I begin? Well, I suppose I should apologize to all the girls in my high school that I would constantly mock because of their orange tans. Though of course, there is such a thing as a good vs. bad tan. I apologize, because honestly, I never experienced how fun tanning can be!

All tans I've gotten before were courtesy of self-tanners or sitting out in the sun for hours on end. I never bothered to set foot into a tanning chain. Today, I wandered into the first L.A. Tan I've seen here in Chicago for my first tanning bed experience.

(The interior of the L.A. Tan on Madison St.)

The first thing I noticed was a couple of cheesy fake palm trees as I walked down the stairs. As someone who loves cheesy or ironic additions like that, I smiled to myself. But walking into the waiting room I was pleasantly surprised at how clean and professional it looked. The girl behind the counter greeted me and let me know more about their holiday promotions (all good deals, if you're a tanning regular, by the way!!). She was very friendly to me and the other customers (regulars) that walked in. Not the kind of fake-nice I was nervously anticipating, but really rather genuine. 

I filled out a paper and told her that it was my first time in a tanning salon. After admitting that, I felt a slight tension of something like... "oh, this n00b". Her demeanor changed a little bit, but it was only for a couple of moments. Once I got chatting about how much I loved the designs on the tanning lotion bottles, she cheered up again and I think she realized I was genuinely interested in the place.

She proceeded to explain everything to me, and gave me a small tour. They have a room with make-up remover provided, as well as extra hair ties, just in case you forgot your own. There is a radio in the room so you can listen to music while you tan. They've really thought of everything!

My room was clean; with a mirror, small table, and hooks for all my clothes and accessories. The tan itself was very relaxing. There was something surreal and spacey about the bright lights looking green through my eye protection. I felt like I was in a sci-fi movie pod. Honestly, I really loved it. 

Hopping out after 7 minutes, I inspected myself. My skin is really fair, so there will no doubt be a long time of building up tans before I actually have THE "L.A. Tan" but I already do notice a healthier glow to my skin. I aim to keep getting used to the machines and go for longer and stronger, next time. 

(hallway of tanning rooms)

For those who are worried about tanning, the L.A. Tan  website has a line that I found interesting. “Saying that UV exposure is harmful and should be avoided is as wrong as saying that water causes drowning, and therefore we should avoid water.”

Though I too worry some damage as well, it's always important to remember to use lotions and timing and stay safe! 

On my way out, I bought some eye protection and the counter girl asked me, "So, you gonna join the tanning squad?" And I suppose the answer to that is "yes, when I have the money!" haha

There is a very superficial edge to this "tanning squad" that you can read immediately when you visit the L.A. Tan website. Though I obviously don't believe "thin, tan, and blonde" is the only way to be "beautiful", I think there is a relaxing quality to getting a tan, and it honestly helped my skin look a little better. I will certainly be going back for more, but won't let any pressures seep into my skull. I would recommend L.A. Tan to regulars or all other gals! Fellow gyaru will LOVE the tanning lotion bottles they have and the pink walls! Try it out! x

Serious Fashion Talk: "Identify as..."

gyaru & lolita

I'm having some feelings about fashion/style. Time for a tiny lecture! 

As someone who jumps around between enjoying fashions just as often as she fandom hops, sometimes I worry about being accepted by a community? Here in Chicago, I spend a lot of time trying to 'invent' myself. Not re-invent!! My entire life has been a tale of brain-washing and put-downs that resulted in me being influenced very easily and never living for myself, always to please or help others. Though that's good, too!! I don't mind being the punching-bag or the 'martyr' and I love to be as kind as I can (but my cynical Sagittarius nature gets in the way sometimes or bugs people).

It's when you can't dig yourself out from under all these "feel wrong" layers that you begin to realize something strange happened in your development! When I moved away, I finally was able to start inventing my own fashion without any judgment.   

lolita

Gal and Lolita are both communities where I can dress up exactly how I love to and hang out with a bunch of wonderful people. I'm really trying to ground myself here in Chicago with some friends who share a similar interest.
This brings me to my main point; feeling a fashion or lifestyle as "right for you" or "relatable."

For me, that's gyaru (particularly himegyaru). I don't know what it is, but it really calls me. That sounds so silly, I know, but it just really feels like it fits. The kitschiness, the pink, the hair, the make-up, the superficiality, and even the cattiness! Even the negative aspects of gyaru are things that I can see in myself. There are so many different sub-styles to draw from, endless possibilities and lots of fun to be had! I feel like a gyaru and "identify" as such.

himegyaru

This doesn't mean that I can't occasionally dress lolita! (This is a point where I get nervous about some of the elitism in some J-fashion communities.) I don't "identify" as a lolita, but I know a lot about it and I love the fashion. On days when I want to go to a meet-up or just look kawaii as fuck, I've got some lolita to do the trick. Some people really strongly see themselves as lolita, even though they may not dress in the fashion. (just ask albinwonderland about that!) 

And of course, there are days when I could care less and wander around the city in skinny jeans and a t-shirt. Though these are days that I feel very little confidence in myself. I feel like an underdressed princess, because my brain is still stuck in fashion mode! 

 

            how i feel inside                                   how i look on the outside

I suppose my tiny wish is that no one says "You can never be gyaru!" because I occasionally wear lolita. But my main wish is to grow and improve!  I know how catty some gyaru can be, and starting to get seriously immersed in the style (and finally meeting other gyaru!) stirs some nervousness in me... but I'm not afraid and I'm incredibly excited! 

Though every time I tell my friends "I'm going gyaru!" they squint at me and say "those tan girls? they're so.... euuugh." (I think their mind immediately goes to MANBA haha) It makes me a little sad that they think that way, but I think that I've been trying to please other people for too long.

I think it's time to seriously jump into gyaru!

If you want to follow some more regular posts on gyaru, as well as health and fitness, feel free to follow project-euphemia on tumblr!

About Space Schoolgirl part 2: Accessories

This is a master series of posts I'm working on. I want to tell you all about this aesthetic I created! I'm working on these posts in parts, just in case anyone wants to catch on to the style. All of the information at once would be way too much to take in! 
Here's part two: all about Space Schoolgirl Accessories.

We're gonna start out with the smallest, but perhaps more important elements of a style. Accessories! Space schoolgirl utilizies 90s style earrings, bracelets, and necklaces. UFO, Star Wars, or alien themes are a plus.

I actually made some of my own accessories. If you like them, you can buy them over at my STOREENVY.

Ice Queen and Acid Drops

Of course, Etsy is a great place to find themed accessories as well. Here are a few of my favorites.

Stretched ear jewelry vs. pierced ear jewelery

x

x

...And as always, tumblr has good pieces of reference!

 

And as for bracelets, I wear a lot of the 90s tattoo bracelets and jelly bracelets. I wish I had more. I used to wear them all over the place when I was a kid. They're so cute and I think they fit in the style perfectly.

  

 ~ + ~

About Space Schoolgirl part 1: Inspirations

This is a master series of posts I'm working on. I want to tell you all about this aesthetic I created! I'm working on these posts in parts, just in case anyone wants to catch on to the style. All of the information at once would be way too much to take in! 
Without further ado, here's part one: all about Space Schoolgirl Inspirations.

While I’m investing in hime-gyaru, there’s another style that I’m really in love with… (one I kind of invented for myself and anyone else who thinks its cute!)

I call it space schoolgirl (or space princess)… and it’s really rather simple! Everything can be handmade or found at a thrift store. Its an edgier style, but still so cute. Kind of for people who want to mix cute and childlike elements with a grungy/vintage aesthetic. It's supposed to be a little kitschy! 

Main elements can be found in cold colors, facial markings (centered on eyes!), vintage or alien themed jewelry, cardigans, tye-dye, tights, and most importantly, schoolgirl skirts!! Shorts can work too if it’s what you prefer.

Some of my inspirations came from tumblr, blogs, or elements that I like.

-poor-baby

-the dainty squid

-Kyary

-fairy kei and seapunk

-japanese schoolgirl uniforms

-aliens and UFOs
-STAR WARS

 

  

~ + ~

Sketch spam!!

I've been working really hard to improve and develop a style of my very own recently. It's a challenge, especially when you're as indecisive as me!! I've decided to share some of the sketches I got around to scanning recently.
It's mostly fan art; I draw a lot of fan art when I'm style experimenting. It helps me see the style, rather than the familiar characters. If you recognize any of the characters, let me know!

I originally wanted to do a different post today, but I decided that it needed more work. ^^ I'm really cracking down on posts, I'm telling you!

If you're curious about more of the complete pieces I've been finishing up lately, make sure you check out my art blog!