Ukrainian cosplay on Japanese TV

And lolitas, of course. One sweet day I woke up because of a phone call of Alexia, the girl responsible for cosplay shows at the Otobe festival. She invited me as a lolita for a Japanese TV crew who are making a program about Ukraine so that the Japanese would get to know what country (or CUNTry?) hosts this year's Euro.XDD At least something good from this championshiT that made our university force us to study on Saturdays. >___<

They wanted to talk to Mona, the winner of last year's Otobe lolitas contest, and Mokona, our leader. Unfortunately Mokona wasn't feeling well today, so Juri was there instead. :) And yesterday I was lucky to have  coffee with Vitaly, one of the responsible Otobe people - I've heard a lot about him, but didn't know personally, and it was him who was to guide us to the interview place. I felt blessed - not all smart and polite and nice guys have disappeared in Ukraine. I really enjoyed the evening.


Coming back to Japanese TV...I didn't know what to do with my freshly dyed hair and eventually decided to wear it loose under the bonnet. Hours of straightening... The girls loved the result, but I still don't find it even nice. Perfectly straight hair sometimes becomes my obsession.

I didn't have any special accessories, just put on my fave cameo, the new locket I bought last December, and 2 fave rings - gifts from Juri and Mokona. <3 Missing lower lashes have been replaced by separate ones - yeah, true hell to apply, but I managed to put a few of those little bitches along the fake lower lashline I drew. My sister from Mexico, Mary, sent me a nice way of doing lower lashes, and I followed the lashes pattern suggested there. ^^

No nice pics are available for now, I only made a blurry ghostly and masculine ipad shot while on the bus to the destination. :P

Mind that winter has come to Ukraine with hellishly frosty weather up to -27 degrees Celsius as they forecast. T__T Makeup gets cracked, eyelashes fall off, powder gathers in disgusting flakes and the nose gets the shade of an ape's ass.Hell yeah, this is Ukrainian winter.

Having come to the haunted-looking building - I hoped there would be ghosts, of course - everyone started to change/correct makeup/help ech other etc, while the TV crew were setting everything up.

We've been here ^^ Pic not mine, it's from the net

One of the Japanese from the crew is married to a Ukrainian, and they speak English at home. We answered the questions in Ukrainian and Russian, they will later translate the soundbites into Japanese.

Mona said that the style suits European girls too since it's based on images of European women of a certain era. Juri admitted that Japanese people are more polite than those here - I agree that they're unlikely to shout the words lolitas often hear from people here in Kyiv. I was asked about how I've come to the lolita style - told them that traditinal goth style turned out too adult and cruel for me, and that's not really what I am like inside.

And thank you Japanese people for being tolerate and understanding my jokes and signs! :D Having been   asked about age I used my usual answer: I'm old. I'm so old that cannot remember my age, and the documents have been lost with archives. (Now you now why I like Kerli's "Love Is Dead" music video that much ^^) The Japanese man said that I look good! These words warmed me up greatly, and

It's also been fun helping a stunning cosplayer to move in her outfit - it was long and the 3 lolitas were following her everywhere holding the folds and tails and beads so that she wouldn't wipe the floor. Hope that girl will soon come to the lolitas meetup. :)

Going home had been a small dance adventure today. Dirty dancing on ice with curse-singing. A great show, isn't it? XD And still I crawled to the nearby shop to get coffee and chocolate. :) About to go to bed now...

Have a nice day if you're awake, and sweet dreams if you're on the same side of Earth where I am. =))

You are not gone

Today is also a holiday in Ukraine. But unfortunately it will forever be a sad day for me and some friends.

In the evening of the same day in 2008 I saw my then-gothy friends posting nearly the same things - condolences about someone's death and statements they can't believe it. I was cynical then - thought that some popular goth model has died and all who knew and admired her react to it. But when a post liike that appeared in the blog of a friend who was far from goth...I couldn't help texting her asking what happened.

"Candle is dead" - was the reply. I hardly remember what was next, from what I can get out of memory - I was mad at the friend, told her joking like that is just stupid... Gradually the understanding of bitter truth started coming. But I still can't believe Candle is not here with us anymore.

It's said she committed suicide. I'd never believe. Yes, she got to the 16th floor of her house and then fell down. There were only her footprints in the snow, so no one thinks she was killed. But she wasn't the type of person who would kill herself. To be honest, it was her who once pulled me down from a windowsill when I tried to do something bad. Her message stopped me from doing it. 

I  know we might have not known some sides of her life. I'm also aware that the most risky group of people is of those who are far from being suicidal - because they don't plan it, they just do in case something upsets them strongly. And that's the main danger. But even if something was wrong - didn't she know she could always talk to us? Maybe there was something she couldn't talk about?

I remember the feeling of something unreal, fake, a lie happening in life, when was meeting friends to go to Candle's funeral. Flowers, brightly dressed young people and talks - everything looked just as if we were about to meet like we usually did. The difference was in the place we were heading to, and weeping was there instead of usual laughs and jokes. Candle's parents asked us not to wear black for that day.
Wax-like face, painted lashes... She looked like a doll. I put roses by her feet refusing to accept that the one in the coffin is my friend. And I still can't believe. I want to believe that the photo on the funeral bus was a similar one, but not of Candle. The funeral itself must have only been a nightmare.

The pic above was taken at Tori Fest 2008. As well as the 1st photo in this post. Candle and I first met in real life at rehearsals for the lolitas runway show. Both of us were ero-lolis. :D

But we started talking much earlier, it happened in the Fleur band fans' community at the Russian blogging service - @Diary. We befriended each other there and later took part in the show together. The Tori Fest show was my 1st appearance on stage ever, and we were together.

Yumi and Candle attaching a bow to the epic black balloon

We had similar plans: Candle had a huge balloon and was going to throw it to someone in the audience, and I had an orchid painted blue I was going to hand to someone near the stage. But since the MC fucked up all announcements, the people weren't as close to the stage as we expected.

Candle was a talented photographer. I hate this form of the verb "to be"... I don't want to use it about her...
I look through pics she took of me, and the feeling of lack of the ending appears. As if we've planned something and postponed it, and one day will still fulfil it. She wanted to have a shoot with me, we were also going to have one together.

Just found a photo Candle took when we first met.
 Me: Candle, there are ants on this tree, can't sit here for long!!
Candle: Where else would you be so close to ants? I think there'll be an awesome shot when they get into your undies!

She was taking a pic of me on the stairs of the Historical Museum and my skirt jumped up.
"Orchid, we're not shooting for Suicide Girls! :D"

Candle came up with an idea to have a pic of my husband and me with different expressions - Kamijo was to smile while I was planned to be frowned... And here's what we got:

I couldn't help laughing, it always happens when I need to pose. "Think of something sad" - Candle suggested. I did - and laughed even harder. As far as I remember this is the only normal pic from that on-the-spot shoot. Candle said the rest were blurry and crazy-faced. =))

And this is the last photo she took of me. The winter meet-up in January of 2008 was the last time I saw her alive. It was cold as hell then. She left earlier because of an exam on the next day. She was wearing a new coat of the 'electric blue' color. And an eyebrow piercing. And the kitty earring. Her makeup was also in matching blue.

We remember and love you Candle. I just wonder - why does God need that many angels?...
<3

New Year's Lolita meet-up in Kyiv

Did you know there is a Lolitas community in Ukraine?
Now you officially do. :D We exist, but obey a different legislation than the worldwide community does.

We don't care whether the dress is a brand piece or not. Whether it's perfect handmade or the very 1st dress of a beginner. We don't give a f**k about trends and must-have prints - everyone gets just what corresponds to their likes and style preferences.

No one will kill you for a shorter skirt, gothier makeup or love for filthy language. XD We do speak it out if we feel like doing it in the middle of a tea party. We don't hide who we are, and Lolita fashion is a hobby, not a restriction. We have no time for fighting and talking shit about each other - because it's a big yet friendly company where nice new people are always welcome. The style unites us and saves from the sick world around. Who said we're not allowed to create a fairytale with our own hands and minds? ^__~

All of us were told to prepare small gifts so that we could play a game called "New Year's Elephant" - when al gifts are put together and then randomly chosen.

Adora was doing some holiday crafting, Pushba blogged about helping her daughter to make a figurine of the Snow Maiden, and also the impression from reading Bleiu's blog - all this made me feel like making themed jewelry pieces. Lack of holiday mood assured me that the decision was right. I had some black lace, a suede ribbon of an awesome shade of dark green, a few fake fir tree branches and two cute angels. 

Here's the result:

I also made a box - of thick brown crafting paper and shiny snowflakes. Unfortunately there's no photo, the lighting in my kitchen was extremely bad so late at night. Or was it morning already? Anyway I used this tutorial and it turned out pretty well even though my box still had an opening. The result looked cute after I laced it together with a thin red ribbon. Keep in mind that you need to use a rectangle and not a square piece of cardboard/paper.

It was a bit tricky to find our company in the huge cafe, but eventually we noticed a group of colorful people with weird perfect hair - that was what I thought at once, and realized I thought it this way only after the meeting was over. :D

I think the further story is to be told better with photos. The words will only explain some of them.
All pics have been made by our cute photographers Katerina and Katarinalain <3

Don't tell anyone what we've been doing there, ok? ;)

I chose a rather casual look: still the same black JSK, a black blouse, fake fur collar with a snowflake brooch (not seen here) and furry balls as hair accessories. The lenses here are EOS Bubble Grey of 14,8 mm.

Will you believe if I tell you she is the pink-haired girl from the party in Dnipropetrovsk? Yes, that's Mokona.  I admire her ability to look completely different and adorable in all possible images. :)

Kitsumi is currently studying in Japan and came home for holidays. <3 

Olya and Katarina's sister Victoria. They're real, these aren't porcelain dolls!

And here's Katarina herself :) Finally she's not behind the camera, there's no need to hide such beauty

This time Juri was the most winter-themed girl. A Snow Maiden: Lolita version ^__^

Some cute details :)

The gift I got :) Someone must have read my thoughts - I desperately needed strawberry hair accessories for my casual outfit ;) They're so cute!!! I'll soon show them in action.

Katarina should have thought of her biggest wish - it would have come true. The reason is that she's standing between 2 girls who have the same name. :)))

Sharing some love <3

Nastya ^___^ We're planning a great trip with her... ;)

Light outfit, dark hand; dark outfit, white hand = one heart =)

Prince and princess Mokona

Nastya, the living sweetness. Sugar and spice and everything nice - this is about her. 

iPad dress-up game successful!

It's a triple birthday today: my dad, friend and guardian angel Vlad (who successfully pushed the depressed me out into a new amazing space to work in), and the Swedish Viking Daniel (who might seem an arrogant rock star until you talk to him and discover that he's a humble, polite and kind person). =)

I finished my work later, therefore didn't go to class and still needed to go out to pay some beauty salon bills. (yuck, sounds as if I'm a glamorous bitch XD). And then - shopping time!

Wanna open? Hrytsia just did it! :D

The gift shop: a perfect stop to get things for holiday crafting. Lolita crafting!

What I like about Lolita fashion is that it's easily adjusted to a huge variety of occasions. Sometimes even too much - with all those food prints etc. But winter holidays have that special scent of fairytale mood - why not add it to some jewelry for my friends? ^___~

And this is from a true Wonderland! My university mate Natalia once told me about a cute handmade jewelry and supplies shop at the Metrograd trading center. But I never thought it's THAT sweet and cozy. Some kind of beige warm light, vintage laces, incense sticks' scent and real fish in round tanks. Nice sales assistants who smile sincerely (unlike in most other shops), have interesting styles themselves and help with anything you ask them about. The girl who worked with me had awesome black boots with a floral print, and I couldn't help telling her they're adorable. :)) And it made her smile even more.

I will stop on this shop a bit longer.

The teddy in the pic above will tomorrow go on an important mission. He's gonna guard a secret package that will fly by mail right to Holland. Anything can happen to a package on it's way, right?.So I think a bear is an animal serious enough to protect it. That teddy is also trained to love and protect the person he will get to together with the package. :)

The metal pendant is a REAL locket, and the sweet sales assistant managed to find it exactly in the color I wanted for ages. It really opens and can contain a photo and a lock of hair. I guess one young man will get a small haircut as soon as he comes to my city... Should I get him drunk or poisoned beforehand?

And these tiny things are cameos. probably for hairclips. My nails are there for comparison of sizes. I wonder how such cameos are made that tiny... ;)

This was the goth part. The other one is as cutesy as possible, and I think I will soon come up with a theoretic post on why goth girls go kawaii. With Mokona and myself as examples, of course. :P

My other stop was at another crafting supplies shop. This one is more mainstream and looks like a tiny mall, but it often has useful things for casual prices.

Yeah, a lot of hearts. Purple for hairclips, pink and green for two different goth necklaces - no, there is no mistake, I said goth. :D The pink beads for the same purpose, and some technical stuff like metal rings and cones - something crafters always run out of. )) And the nice cross to prove I'm goth to match some accessories I already have.

Last but not least, the most important thing of today: the iPad case with a cute cat who reminds me of my Kesha. :) I know it's some Japanese character, but can't remember its name.

And now it's time to prepare for tomorrows' exams. >__< I have about 3 of those. Eww.

At least one cute person promised to come to my dreams today - because last time he appeared there he brought me a warm wake-up mood and good luck at the exam on that day. :)

A dream dress

I never understood girls who are dying to get certain brand pieces , especially new ones. But when Mokona showed me some pics, I understood that I'm trapped too.
I want this badly:

Love the colors and the sophisticated gothic mood.
The cuffs are cute too, but I've always wondered how people wear them - over a blouse, or just as an addition? I'm not really into showing bare hands...

Yes, I like the bonnet too. Friends here, those from the anime hangout, say that this type of hats looks nice on me. Goths at the FB page like my pics with the exception of the bonnet. Still I find it nice :)

But since I'm taller than most Japanese girls, I'm afraid the original dress won't fit me. (( So I'm thinking of making my own one based on this brand piece. I just can't get what the fabric is, I see there are several types of it... Got to upload the pics to the mobile device to have them handy each time I'm in a fabric shop. ^__^

Hope true Lolitas won't eat me for wishing to make a replica. Even not a complete one. :D