Cabinet de Ferdinand

1. Banana’s Foster

My #1 favorite dessert of all time. I love this shit. I remember back in undergrad sometimes they’d make banana’s foster for you at one of the cafeteria’s and it would always be the best day ever. There’s just something so great about all the warm melty goodness.

2. Key Lime Pie

Another favorite dessert, I love how tart it is. I’ve been to the Florida Keys and gotten to try the ~real~ thing and it’s amazing (but honestly even store bought is good enough for me, I just love the stuff).

3. Orange Chicken

I can’t lie, I have a serious addiction to the king dish of Chinese fast food. I don’t get it that much but when I get a craving for it, it is urgent.

4. Stir-fried Kale

We have this as a side dish a lot, and if there weren’t a limited amount of it, I’d probably eat all of it to be honest. Kale is delicious. Everyone should really give it a chance. 

5. Pot Roast

There is hardly anything yummier than the tender meat with carrots and potatoes. My mom used to make this all the time when I was growing up and it’s like my number one comfort food (but I rarely get to eat it just because it’s best for colder months...and it’s hardly ever that cold here).

6. Mongolian Tofu

This is one of my serious vices. It’s become kind of a comfort food for me, and luckily the Chinese place down the street makes some of the best.

7. Sashimi 

I think tuna is my favorite, but I haven’t actually met one yet that I didn’t like.

8. Lemon-Squid Crackers

My significant other’s sister lives in Japan and always sends us these when they come out. They are addicting as hell!! I found out you can buy them here - I definitely recommend.

9. Brussels Sprouts

Maybe this is a strange one since a lot of people don’t like them. But I love Brussels sprouts. They’re almost like a delicious and healthy snack that you just pop in your mouth. I wish I had some now...

10. Macaroni and Cheese

...I mean. It’s a classic. I have tried so many macaroni and cheese’s, including a vegan one that I used to make that was incredibly tasty. I am convinced that this dish can do no wrong.

First things first. Let’s talk about the actual order.

I placed my order to Wunderwelt on January 27th. That same day, I paid for the item through PayPal and later was sent an additional money request for the cost of overseas shipping (since that is calculated after you buy the item). Everything went very quickly and it was a pleasant transaction. I chose EMS shipping as I like to receive packages quickly, and I was pretty excited about this one.

My item was shipped four days later, on January 31st. This was not a huge deal as I ordered the item right before the weekend. Wunderwelt sent an email when my order had been confirmed and when it was shipped. They included the tracking number, which I always appreciate.

Today, on February 4th, my package was delivered! Very quick shipping! Let’s get into the details of the package and how everything arrived!

My item was sent in a generic box, which seems typical for WW. I can’t remember if I have received items in a bag or envelope before (I’m fairly certain it’s always been a box though since I usually order main pieces from them). 

Here is a photo of how it arrived.

A ding on the corner, but no issue. 

One side of the box was a bit collapsed and there is a hole, but I blame this on the shipping company, not WW. Overall the package remained sturdy.

After opening the box, this is how the item appeared. Wunderwelt always takes great care with protecting your items. An invoice was also inside the box.

Again, underneath the bubble wrap was a plastic wrapping. I really appreciate how well WW packages your items.

Unwrapped is Angelic Pretty’s Princess Cat! The dress is in phenomenal condition and included the tag that WW usually has on their dresses (this seems to be a newer thing unless I just missed it in the past). The past three items I’ve ordered have all had the little tag (you can see it in the previous photo).

Some details of the artwork on this particular dress. I just really appreciate how dapper that one cat is.

And finally, a photograph with a headdress from Baby, the Stars Shine Bright (which also came in today). I didn’t really plan to wear it with this dress but I think it matches alright, so I may end up pinning some black roses on the headpiece and doing so.

Overall, I think Wunderwelt is an excellent secondhand store. They also have a side site called Wunderwelt Fleur, which sells brand new items (they even do preorders of some items), and they frequently have contests and customer interactions. I’ve always found them to be very great in the area of customer service (always super sweet and helpful), so I really recommend them.

Also, can I just say....their ads are great.

1. Hot Weather

This isn’t even about lolita so much as it is a general thing that I hate. I live in a really hot and humid area, meaning summer is a completely horrid time to be all decked out in lace and frills. I try to layer as little as possible on the hottest days - pajama shorts in place of thick bloomers, ankle socks in place of tights, OPs in place of JSKs and blouses - but it always seems pointless. Sometimes it’s easier to just stay in or forego lolita on those days.

2. Scalpers, Scammers, and other Bad Sellers

I don’t just hate these things in lolita (they’re awful 100% of the time), but with the amount of secondhand sellers you can often encounter these types of people. Scalpers will up the cost of an item exponentially, even if market price dictates that they shouldn’t. Scammers will take your money and send you the wrong (or no) item. Other bad sellers might be people who take ages to ship out, barely attempt to contact you, or have not disclosed certain information about an item you have bought. As someone who really tries to be an excellent secondhand seller, I really wish others would be courteous as well.

3. Lolita Shoes

Why are they always the pinnacle of pain? We just don’t know.

4. Wrist Cuffs

I don’t understand them, I don’t get why they exist, and they’re often itchy as Hell. I still wear them as part of my coords, but that doesn’t mean they make me happy or anything.

5. Buttons

I used to think this was something specific to a certain brand (I’m looking at you, Innocent World), but..I’ve come to realize that this thing involving buttons doesn’t discriminate. Is it just me, or are lolita brand buttons just...not sewn on so well? I can’t tell you how many times I’ve either had an adjustable strap button or a waist-tie button pop off, either because I sat too hard on my dress, pulling the shoulder strap, or tied my bow too tightly, but I’ve come to realize that sometimes it’s best to reinforce buttons before wearing a dress.

6. Zippers

Another main piece hazard. Sometimes it doesn’t matter if you fit perfectly into a JSK, that zipper is destined to get stuck at the spot where skirt and bodice meet. I’ve luckily never broken a zipper trying to get it up, but I know friends who have and it’s the worst. Come on, brands. 

7. Running Fabrics

Depending on the type of fabric you’re dealing with, this might not be a big issues, but for some it can spell disaster. Baby, the Stars Shine Bright is infamous for having running fabrics, especially when red is involved. I’ve only had this happen on one dress (because I was still a bit new and didn’t realize it’d be an issue), and I’ve made sure to be very cautious with any other prints I know have a tendency or likelihood to run. I have some tips for this kind of thing and will make a post about how to deal with runs in the future.

8. Meetup RSVPs

This is one that I find to be quite rude. If you know you aren’t going to be able to attend an event (especially if it’s a ticketed one), please, please RSVP and say you aren’t coming. Sometimes a certain location needs to know the amount of people who will be involved or a ticket might be something you need to get early. Don’t say you’re coming to a meet and never show up. It really only takes two seconds to click “Not Going” on Facebook. 

9. Elitists

First off, I want to make it clear that when I use that word, I’m not talking about “brandwhores” or people who have been in the fashion for a long time. I’m talking about those who believe that newbies to lolita lack potential. I can believe that if you’re still getting your foot in the door, it would be really discouraging for people to say you’re doing everything wrong or criticizing without giving constructive advice. At the same time, constructive criticism is not a bad thing and should always be considered. It would be nice to have less infighting in the fashion.

10. Non-consensual Interactions

It’s not that I have a problem with people in general. Most people I’m fine with. It’s the people who think it’s completely okay to snap photos or take videos of you without you knowing that I have at true issue with. This happens so much more often than I ever expected, and a lot of people think they’re being sneaky when they aren’t at all. I just wish there was a realization that this behavior is rude - if you just come up and ask for a photo, cool. But if you’re going to be an asshole about it, I just might confront you.

1. The Details

There are few things more satisfying than receiving a new dress and getting the chance to really take in all the details - things you couldn’t notice just from stock photos. Lace, buttons, trim...all the small things that make you appreciate the quality of the fashion.

2. My Local Community

I joined my local community at a time when I was leaving graduate school. My friends from the program were getting jobs and moving off elsewhere so it was hard to keep in touch. With that being said, I was able to gain a new group of friends when I started going to meetups. At first I wasn’t sure if I’d ever get really close to anyone, but now I have some great friendships that I really treasure.

3. The “Lifestyle”

I will be the first to say I don’t live what people traditionally think of as the “lolita lifestyle”. Of course there are some aspects of it that I keep in my life, but I also have to face the fact that I live in the 21st century with a computer-oriented job and a lot of times I’d rather be playing video games eating junk food than lounging in the sun against a willow tree with a gently loved book. That doesn’t mean that I don’t adore that kind of image though. I appreciate the romanticization of lolita fashion and find it very inspiring.

4. The Events

Lolita-specific events are one of my favorite thing about the fashion. Things like brand-sponsored tea parties, visiting lolita stores, participating in fashion shows - those all make me so excited and happy to be a lolita!

5. The Second-Hand Goodness

Buying lolita is SO easy these days with all the secondhand stores out there. From Wunderwelt to Closet Child, Lacemarket to Usagiyouhinten...there are just so many opportunities to get cheaper clothing in good condition. It definitely helps when you can buy directly from the store and not have to use a shopping service, too!

6. The Reactions

The fact that I’m putting this one on the list is funny to me, because when reactions are given, I usually kind of hate it at the time. But, ignoring the Little Bo Peep comments, the “are you in a play”-type questions, and the non-consensual photos, sometimes the reactions are just golden. The best tend to be from older people and children, and like most lolitas, I’m sure, I have plenty of stories about things people have said or done that made me laugh after they happened (maybe I’ll make a post about that at some point). 

7. Lolitas in Media

With this one, I don’t so much mean real-life people in the media as much as I mean books, movies, anime, games that feature lolitas. A lot of times these characters aren’t really at the top of their lolita game, but there are a couple that I really adore and feel encompass the spirit of the fashion. Momoko from Novala’s Kamikaze Girls is iconic. I personally love Agitha from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess for her cute look and quirky personality. Yun Iijima from New Game! has the best lolified office cubicle ever. There are tons of others that don’t speak to me as much but that I still appreciate.

8. Prints

Even though I have a good amount of printless dresses in my wardrobe, I really appreciate and love prints. Cutesy ones, creepy ones, romantic ones...they are all fantastic in different ways, and I really enjoy seeing them up close to see details I wouldn’t otherwise notice. I especially love collaborative prints and ones that feature work by artists like Imai Kira. Prints are fantastic and I’m glad they became a commonplace feature of lolita dresses.

9. Indie Brands

I am really thankful these exist. Whether the brand in question produces dresses, blouses, shoes, or jewelry, I think it’s fantastic that there are so many accessible options regarding sizing, price, and personal style. I’m always really happy when a store like Lolita Collective (or even the creator of a particular indie brand themselves) shows up at a convention, because it’s fun to see the work of so many different artists, and it’s pretty cool if you get to meet them in person as well. 

10. Online Communities

We can be real here and say that not all of these are created equal, but for the most part, every online lolita community has something to offer. Facebook groups sometimes offer a chance for interesting discussion. EGL brings us wardrobe posts each January, and can be a source of useful information if you look into the archives. Amino seems be an interesting platform that has captured the attention of many, and even CGL has its good points (inspiration, indie brand, and lolita general threads have all provided a wealth of information at some points). I really do think that every online community has its good and bad points, so you kind of have to pick and choose what you want to take and what you want to leave behind. I think the best thing about these communities in general is the opportunity you have to communicate with lolitas around the world and hear different ideas and viewpoints on things. 

1. I’ve been in the fashion for about two years at this point, although I wore offbrand, pretty ita stuff before I actually invested in real lolita pieces (I wish I had a picture of this one outfit I used to wear a lot, it was really tragic. Basically a lacy black dress with strappy pumps, lace fingerless gloves, and devil horns. Yeah, yikes). 

2. I have a love affair with both sweet and gothic substyles. I can never decide which I like wearing better, and I used to think I could only pick one. Since then, I’ve kind of realized that I can still have similar color aesthetics with both styles and my wardrobe has grown to incorporate main pieces that fit every substyle. 

3. I am a member of the Alabama Lolita Coterie. Our comm is great, that is all.

4. To this date, I’ve been in four fashion shows. Three were community ones, and one was for Alice and the Pirates. I will probably be involved in more - I would like to apply for another brand show at some point. 

5. I have four cherry dresses right now. I don’t even like cherries. (Well, I obviously think they are cute, I just hate the way they taste).

6. I am a worklita. I wear the fashion to work on occasion (usually on Fridays because it’s the happiest day of the week). I used to wear it more frequently but lately I have been lazy about it.

7. My favorite brand is Alice and the Pirates. Lately there has been a lot of ‘what the hell is this’? But...overall I am very dedicated to them. 

8. My favorite things to do in lolita are to get tea, coffee, and visit antique stores (wow, original, I know). 

9. I am a librarian. People always say that seems like a very “lolita” job, but Idk. It honestly just feels like any other job. I don’t really feel any more or less like a lolita because I’m a librarian. I just feel tired and bear the weight of existential dread.

10. I am not super ladylike and don’t feel like I fit what a lolita is “supposed” to be. That isn’t a way to say “I’m not like other girls” or sound like an edgelord, I promise. I just cuss a lot and like to drink, but these are both things I’m trying to tone down (not because of lolita, just because I do them too much). 

I hope these answers fit whatever this question was supposed to mean!

1. Angelic Pretty Dolly Dot

When I first saw this dress, I wasn’t -super- interested, but the more I looked at it the more I started to appreciate the retro style and the cute details (heart pockets ftw). This seems like a dress I could wear to work or to run errands that wouldn’t be too “out there”, so it’s definitely on the list now.

2. Angelic Pretty Harlequinade

This one has been on my mind since it first came out. I adore anything with a circus theme (as you will probably start to notice on this list), so I would really love to have it. I wasn’t able to get it when it came out, and unfortunately I don’t see the red one come up on secondhand sales as often as the other colorways, but I have my fingers crossed that I’ll find it this year.

3. Angelic Pretty Cirque Du L’Etoile

Another circus-themed dress, this one obviously stuck out to me. At first I thought it was overly busy, but now that I’ve seen coords of it, I’ve realized how much I really like it. I really appreciate all the military details on this one, and the border print is stunning.

4. Angelic Pretty Magical Night Theater

This has been on my wishlist for quite a while. I had obtained the red OP last year, but unfortunately my bust was just slightly too big for it - it was a little depressing, but I ultimately decided this cut was cuter anyway. I keep seeing the other colors pop up in this color! Where is black! I want black!

5. Angelic Pretty French Cafe

This is another dress that I used to have (in red) but in a cut that just didn’t feel comfortable. Because the cut above has full back shirring, I think it would be much better for my body. Hopefully I can find this color at some point.

6. Alice and the Pirates Electric Circus in the Moonlight Night

This one has been in dream-dress status since I first laid eyes on it. I think it’s beautiful and I adore this cut. Unfortunately this colorway is quite difficult to find so my hopes aren’t super high, but if it ever does come up when I have the money, hopefully I can snatch it.

Alright, so when I was eighteen, I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism, an autoimmune disorder that prevents your thyroid from making as much thyroid hormone as it should. It can cause weight gain, extreme exhaustion, and an intolerance to cold (as well as many other crappy symptoms). It’s more common in women and tends to be hereditary (in my case, it definitely is). I was put on medication for this and have had it adjusted several times over the years. It can still be frustrating and let’s just say I’ve gotten very used to having blood work done. But, moving on...

This is the main problem I have. If we wanted to go into more about my physical health, I have bad spinal issues and arthritis as well, and all of this combined can be really tiring. I know plenty of people who have it worse than me and some day’s I’m just like...how do they do it? It is often hard for me to push myself to do things and I have to applaud those who have more serious health issues yet are able to do so much. Energy is a resource that seems hard to come by. 

When it comes to lolita, I feel like my hypothyroidism actually gets in the way a lot. There are so many days when I want to get cute and go out and have fun with my friends but when my level of exhaustion is just so high I can barely get out of bed. It often seems like a single event can put me out of commission for several days, and it makes me feel bad when I’m not able to attend something because of it. Even with my medicine (one of the highest dosages I can be on right now), it still gets really hard. Of course, however, I still want to indulge in lolita, so sometimes I have to do so in other ways.

If you’re like me and also struggle with a chronic illness or chronic pain, here are some tips:

Don’t over-exert yourself!

Let’s face it. Some days are going to be worse than others, and often you don’t know when those days will be. You could be planning on attending an event for months but there might be a time when you literally just. can’t. attend. That can be hard to deal with, and especially if it’s something where you had to RSVP early or pay for a ticket, it isn’t the greatest situation. Honestly, when this happens to me, I do try and force myself to go, but if for some reason you absolutely can’t, don’t let it get to you. If you are in a comm, contact the mod and explain the situation. Perhaps you can donate or sell your ticket, or maybe there will be a similar event in the future. Regardless, if you really don’t feel like you can push yourself, don’t. Be responsible and take care of the situation, but let yourself have your time of rest.

Enjoy lolita in different ways!

If you find yourself having a bad day physically or mentally, unable to go out and wear lolita or attend meetups, there are a ton of ways you can still get into lolita-mode and enjoy yourself. I like to perk myself up by looking at street snaps online (Tokyo Fashion is a great place for this) or read my favorite lolita blogs (a few that I really enjoy are Luna Rain, Stardust Dreamers, and Lulu’s Lolita Couture). Some other fun ideas are things like crafting or planning out coords (writing them down, drawing them, or if you’re feeling up to it, actually putting them together). If you have photos from meetups, why not try to organize them or put them in a scrapbook? Or, if you have the energy, create a new head accessory? There are many activities that don’t require a ton of exertion but will still give you your lolita fix. It is also always okay to take a complete break for a while if you need.

Make reasonable goals and plans for yourself!

It’s totally okay if you need a break. Don’t feel like you have to make yourself go to every meetup or have to know exactly what you’re wearing for something a week before. Take it easy. If you’re having a particularly bad month, consider how much energy you have to attend lolita events. If there are three that month, don’t feel bad if you can only go to one (or if you can’t even go to any at all). If you’re at an event which requires a lot of energy (a convention, being in a fashion show, etc.) make sure to REST. Bring water and snacks with you and take frequent breaks if you need to. I get absolutely worn out at cons and if I don’t make sure I’m hydrated or can sit for a while, things are not good. Always expect the best but plan for the worst. If you’re at a con and need to go back to your room to rest, go. If you’re in a fashion show and need a break, explain the situation and ask. It is much better to take it easy for a bit so that you don’t use all your energy before the show even starts.

Ask for help!

Like I said in the previous point, never be afraid to ask for help. There is no shame in letting someone know you aren’t feeling well or asking for something if you need it. I know that sometimes it feels like if you are constantly asking for help, it can make you feel like a burden, which leads me to the next point...

Don’t feel guilty!

Chronic illness can be incredibly draining. Of course you don’t want to victimize yourself (although trust me, it can be difficult not to sometimes), but sometimes it really is awful. Things like missing events, asking for help, letting people down - these are things that everyone (not just chronically ill people) deal with, and most of the time, I’ve found that people will be understanding if you explain what your situation is if needed. Never feel guilty for taking care of yourself, but do always try your best to be responsible in terms of letting others know what’s going on. If for some reason you have to miss a meetup, let someone know or change your Facebook RSVP. If you need assistance, explain what you need (you don’t have to tell why or answer any questions you aren’t comfortable with). If you do end up letting someone down, talk to them about it. Try not to let negative emotions fester. I promise things will turn out okay!

Photo from Sunday of Anime Weekend Atlanta 2016. I had a done of fun but I felt like total crap this day. I think you can kind of see it on my face haha.