1) Use old-fashioned slangs and swears!
Because even the noblest of ladies have had their frustrations. Ok, to be fair, they were normally used by the lower class, but aren't these a delight?
2) Buy flowers yourself
Because sometimes you have to. I suggest skipping the supermarket grocery and going to a small specialty shop because you can usually find single stems on sale and there's something lovely about receiving personal service from someone who knows their inventory very well.
3) Make tea time "me time"
Tea is synonymous with the lolita fashion subculture. And while you may already prefer tea over coffee, I'd skip visiting Starbucks in place of brewing your own and serving it in a pretty tea cup and saucer - you'll find it to be a completely different experience to getting it in a to-go cup. And you don't have to dedicate an hour for it either; you just need enough time to boil and steep your tea and then some to sip it slowly. Feel free to pair it with a small and sweet or savory snack.
4) Become a tea connoisseur
Take your current obsession a little further: read up on the history of tea, learn and try the different methods of enjoying tea (particularly how the Turkish and Chinese brew and serve it), learn and practice proper tea etiquette, forgo tea bags and try different types of loose leaf blends (I suggest getting samples through Adagio or get samples from a local tea shop or natural grocery), subscribe to TeaTime Magazine, start a tea set collection, learn tea meal recipes and try pairing teas with foods.
For more fun reading material, I suggest checking NPR's Tea Tuesday posts every week!
5) Take up old-fashioned hobbies
Crochet, knitting, embroidery, and sewing are a given. How about calligraphy, flower arranging, paper doll making, croquet, and gardening and canning?
6) Learn vintage recipes and crafts
You can find a myriad of ideas on the internet, the library, and even from an older relative (you might discover some wonderful heirloom recipes!). A friend suggested starting out with the American Girl Past-times Collection, in particular, Samantha's cooking and craft book.
7) Go antiquing
You'll never know what you'll find!
8) Learn card-games
Have a vintage inspired night in with the lolita friends around couple of rounds of bridge. If you're more into the darker side of things, learn how to use tarot cards and read your lolita friends' fortunes.
9) Take up an instrument
Because a lady wasn't considered well-rounded until she mastered a musical instrument. If music isn't your forte, try a hand at learning a new language.
10) Have a romantic/cute non-lolita wardrobe
Sometimes you'd want to lounge around in PJs all day, but it doesn't mean they can't be kawaii. Forever21 often carries PJs with desserts or flowers, and Bodyline has a number of cute cutsews to lounge in, or better yet, support indie designers. If you're more of the old-world romantic type, have a collection of pretty chiffon blouses to wear when you're out and a lacy, frilly nightgown when you want to feel elegant to bed.
11) Attend live performances and art galleries
I love being a few clicks away from hundreds of dance and music recitals and beautiful images, but it's not quite the same experience of going to a live show and visiting an art gallery. And you don't have to have season passes to The Met! You can support local and budding artists by attending college and university events, and see if your area has an artist collective or gallery that hosts monthly receptions.
12) Learn about and practice good etiquette and posture
Good manners and behavior of some degree should be expected of everyone, especially when out in public in lolita, but if you're looking to learn about the old-fashioned how-to's, check out this old livejournal post (I highly encourage playing the Victorian game!).
Although it happens more than we want it to, learn to be more mindful about your posture; not only is it (as Misako suggests) most embarrassing behavior, but good for you and for photo poses. And you don't need a corset to train your spine; a choir teacher I had suggests pretending that there's a string attached to your head and that someone is pulling you up like a marionette.
13) Have a favorite perfume
And you can have one for different occasions or lolita styles. I'm more of a classic lolita and so I lean toward floral scents; my current favorite is Miss Dior's Miss Bloom, and for sweeter looks, something citrus scented like DKNY's Be Delicious Fresh Blossom. Gothic lolitas might like something warm and smoky. Sample these beautiful bottles. for Gothic inspired favorites. Harajuku Girls are quite popular among sweet lolitas, but if you're looking for more options, check out these sweet suggestions. If you're not much into perfumes, you can opt for dusting powders, or even collect antique bottles as a room decoration.
14) Have a favorite dessert
and treat yourself to it every once in a while.
15) Read (or better yet, have a collection of) classic literature
Bonus points for leather bound editions!
16) Watch period dramas
Here's a list to start your binge.
17) Have a handkerchief
Not only that they're a lovely accessory, but they're dead useful and probably better for the environment and your wallet in the long run. I'll be honest though: I'm a modern person who'd stick with tissues on the worst of cold, flu, and allergy symptoms, and so I save them for daintily dabbing sweat off my brow or running mascara. I've easily found many pretty lacy and embroidered ones at local vintage shops, flea markets, and estate sales.
18) Listen to music on vinyl
I love being able to find a trove of musical treasures and easily stream them on the internet, but sometimes it's taken for granted and it's easy to forget that there are people who make a living off of making and selling music. I think that there's something special about being able to hold a piece of art and that there's something terribly and stylishly old-fashioned about listening to music on a record player.
If you're new to turntables and looking for an easy set up, I'd avoid Crosley's (because they're notorious for damaging records) and invest in an Audio Technica LP-120. I'm cheap and fortunate that my folks still have their old phono receiver and speakers, so I bought an old (but newly repaired) Realistic Lab 290 for about $60; if you go through this route, talk to a specialist for recommendations, set up and care inquiries, and for test listens. For further information, I suggest referring to the turntablelab.
Either way, like starting a lolita wardrobe, your initial cost will be high, but once you're set up, you'll find that collecting records can be pretty cheap and easy, especially if you're looking for classical music (all of my classical and jazz records were free). Not all record stores are the same: if you're wanting to listen to new musicians or to find your favorite artists, be sure to visit record stores that are on the Record Store Day list and visit Discogs for sales and price comparisons.
19) Use kawaii phone apps
Try these purikura apps to make your selfies super kawaii.
20) Have a favorite lolita haunt
I think it's important for a lolita, especially a lone lolita to have a place that one can feel safe to go out in frills. My suggestions include a favorite cafe, bookstore, antique shop, and art gallery.
21) Have a cute grocery tote
While servants and errand people are a thing of the past, it doesn't mean you have to run yours with a boring plastic grocery bag, See if your local craft stores have any canvas bags and print-screen kit or iron-on kit - if not, you can make your own design.
22) Religiously apply sunscreen and use other sun protection
Skin cancer ain't kawaii.
23) Have a penpal
Social media is great, but sometimes it takes away the thrill of hearing from a friend and it's nice to get something in the mail that aren't bills. See if you can find someone to pair up with on the Lolita Pen Pals facebook page.
24) Keep a diary
Set aside time in your day, preferably before bed, to reflect on your day. I usually find it a good way to get some beauty sleep after placing all of my thoughts down.
25) Shop at open-air markets and locally owned specialty shops
Or you can just poke-around for fun. This is pretty easy to do if you're in Europe or large cities where delis and bakeries are commonplace. Supermarkets are great for finding everything at convenience and cheaper prices, but sometimes it takes away the fun in shopping (seriously, who wants to wait in lines all day?) and neither is it often a pretty place to get your groceries. The people who run these specialty shop might be terribly nerdy about their products, but I find it wonderful to foster relationships with the people who've made your food. If these shops are out of your reach and/or budget, treat yourself to some fancy cheese from the supermarket every once in a while.
Thank you for reading this post, and I hope that you're able to integrate any of these ideas in your daily life or even as meetup ideas! Check out FYeahLolita's lifestyle tag for more ideas and feel free to share any of your ideas and experience in the comments.
And as always, have a lovely rest of your day!
Listening to Beach Fossils - Window View
