A Lolita Travel Guide to... London - The Globe Theatre

It has rather struck me as I wander around both my home county and capital city that there are so many wonderful places here that are perfect for lolitas to go to, whether they live in the UK or abroad. So this is the start of what I hope will become something of a travel guide for lolitas; of the cute photo op places, the historical sites (both off and on the beaten track) and the tucked away tearooms for that perfect respite.

☆SHAKESPEARE ☆&☆ LOLITA☆

We often accredit Lolita influences to reach back to rococo and to Victoriana, but every now and again there will appear a design that reaches further back in time. Earlier this year Baby the Stars Shine Bright released the Poison de L'amour print, a Shakespearian inspired print that echoes the tale of Romeo and Juliet in its design. It has details that elude to the Elizabethan style of dress, with the high ruffle-like lace of the Princess jumper skirt, or the velvet appearance of the headdress.

Where better then to wear such a gown than the Globe Theatre?

The Globe Theatre

 Looking exactly as it did back in the heyday of the 16^th Century, or indeed in the film, Shakespeare in Love, Shakespeare's Globe is at once an historic site and a place for a good evening out. Every day during between Spring and Autumn the Globe plays host to the plays that made it famous. 
 

The programme varies and will sell out for popular shows. The forthcoming version of Twelfth Night featuring Stephen Fry is one such example however usually for most plays there are standing tickets or returns available on the day.

Seats at the Globe are not the comfiest and if you do decide to sit then take a cushion. All except those in the boxes are hard and wooden and very often have restricted views due to the pillar-heavy design of the theatre. These are at least covered though and so the weather will be no hindrance. The Globe is open to the elements, which will include planes flying over head occasionally during your performance, an unfortunate tribulations of living in a modern world. For the most fun though, and if the weather looks good, get a £5 Yard ticket and stand. The pain of standing is no more than that you would endure at the average music concert or festival and the interaction between players and crowd is so much more when you're standing below them. The players will very often jump off the stage and run through the audience, making for a very up close and personal experience. It might be advisable to take a poncho or a cagoule to cover your lovely clothing from any rain that does deign to fall as umbrellas are not allowed. 

Prices at the Globe vary from £5 to £39 and book ahead if you can to ensure you can watch the play you want where you want to!

Directions:

The Globe is not in the most convenient location in London for tube stations.

The two easiest and prettiest routes are:

1. Take the Red Central Line to St Paul's station. Head out of any exit and walk around the cathedral heading through Paternoster Square in the direction of the river. If you walk along the side of St Paul's on the road St Paul's Church Yard and look south you will see the Millennium Bridge and the Tate Modern through the buildings. Walk directly south to head over the Millennium Bridge and you will see the Globe on the left.
2. Take National Rail or the Northern (Black), Bakerloo (Brown) or Jubilee (Grey) lines to Waterloo station. Head out of Waterloo following directions to the Royal Festival Hall and South Bank. Then head right from the Royal Festival Hall towards the National Theatre and continue walking along South Bank, past Blackfriars station, until you see the Globe.

Dressing Up In... Romantic Jewels and Flowers

BTSSB Jewel Tree Bouquet Skirt /&♪＆/ Emikyu Black Square-neck Jumper /&♪＆/ Qpot Cake Ring /&♪＆/ Rocking Horse Shoes (from HK) /&♪＆/ Birdcage Necklace from Lily @ Camden /&♪＆/ Hair roses from Nagoya and Boots

London was gorgeous and sunny, but with that nostalgic feel of the end of Summer in the air. So with the light flowers of Summer in mind, along with the darker colours and jewel tones of Autumn, and after acquiring for myself a stunning birdcage necklace in Camden the day before, I decided to go for a romantic but casual look.

The ring is my Qpot darling, it really looks good enough to eat and I love to wear it, despite it being huge and heavy. It fits well with the theme and sweet feel of Jewel Tree Bouquet though I feel. The shoes are from Hong Kong, bought about 6 years ago and not worn much since then! It was a good time to dust them off and bring back some classic Vivienne Rocking Horse style to add a bit more Lolita to the casualness of the outfit.

A friend was visiting me in the UK at this time, and we passed through St James' Park on our way to Buckingham Palace. The white buildings in the background of the photos are the Horse Guards Parade, but they looked stunning and more like a French chateau or a magical citadel from the blue bridge in the Park than the Parade grounds.

 London truly is an world of endless surprises, of places where, when you take a look from another side, a new beauty to that is revealed. This view is a wonderful testament to that.

Hats on Statues!

Let's be honest, only the British would think of doing something like Hatwalk. Anywhere else surely it would be sacrilege or an affront to national history, but no, in Britain this is art, displayed in all its quirky, playful glory. Whoever thought of the idea to gather together some talented milliners and ask them to design hats to place on the bronze heads of British history's monarchs, generals and literary figures was inspired. Then to put this on for 4 short days during the Olympics, when the world's eyes are on London... Utterly barmy, eccentric and terribly British but a fantastic demonstration of where art meets fashion.

Not wanting to miss this, I of course went on my own Hatwalk. Sadly the First was down to Bank station one lunchtime to see the 1st Duke of Wellington, fabulously attired in a Union Jack hat with tricolore feathers designed by Ian Bennett and was inspired by the Duke's bicorn hat:

Then the next day it was to a buzzing Trafalgar Square. Bradley Wiggins had just won Gold for GB, but I was there for the hats. George IV and his horse looked quite wonderful in their gold crowns designed by Stephen Jones, well suited to both statue and the day's events:

Here is George IV again, this time looking onto Nelson, high atop his column:

Then further down was Major General Sir Henry Havelock, with his Philip Treacy-designed headwear:

The comment by Philip Treacy on the Hatwalk site explaining this creation is brilliant and quite lovely how he wants to 'cheer up' the stern Major General:

"He was a rather forbidding and fierce character and I really felt he could do with some cheering up: especially since he sits in Trafalgar Square which in the build up to the games has been the focus of pre-olympic excitement. I thought he needed a hat that placed him at the heart of the celebrations rather than on the outside, looking on, sternly."

 On the other side of the square stands General Sir Charles James Napier who was wearing my favourite hat. The stunning and delicate design by Sophie Beale was inspired by Napier's adventures at sea with a flowing shape reminiscent of tumbling waves and images of birds in aquatic colours:

Finally, standing aloft above the square is Nelson. He wore a patriotic and Olympic themed hat by Lock & Co a company with a grand tradition who, interestingly enough, are the company who made Nelson's original hat in the early 19th Century:

Apparently, the event was commissioned by the Mayor of London, who we all know is an awfully shy and retiring chap. If anyone else got to see this short-lived exhibition and saw any of the other many hats around London, do let me know what they were like!

Oasis Goes Otome

☆LONDON, SUMMER, VINTAGE, LOVE☆

There are few things more endearing in fashion than a cute whimsical print on delicately girlish clothes. Oasis' latest collection, London Love Letters is a perfect example of this, with a sweet, feminine print that also celebrates the great city of London in our jubilant year 2012. Scenes of the architecture of the city, on postcards or as street scenes are set against Summery ice-cream colours of muted mint, beige and shocking pink.

I love (and indeed now own) the vintage postcard dress. The crepe-like feel of the material is great for the hot days we've been having recently and it doesn't half get you in the mood for lazy days lying in one of London's many green parks.



☆OASIS x .....MILK?☆

There is another very different side though to this collection that I love. It channels the Japanese Otome style of MILK and Emily Temple Cute like no other collection in any British store has done before, and would work wonderfully in an Otome coordinate. This street scene pleat skirt in particular I can see with a cute cardigan with a book-shaped bag and beret or a cute blouse.

   
In fact... MILK have a similar range at the moment, and that cardigan is a part of it! Aren't the envelope designs so cute! These are from MILK's stamp design range. Otome comes to the UK, thank you Oasis!

   

Outfit Post: Sunday 5 Feb - Casual in the Snow

This weekend, as we headed to some friends for a chilled evening of movies and red wine, I decided to dress pretty casual too, with a floral skirt, knee-high camel boots and my favourite black beret. It was too wintry to get out of the comfy black tights, so best to go for a cool, simple silhouette but with a flash of girlish colour with a big rose ring and string of pearls. It has a bit of an otome feel I think. Oh yeah, excuse the towel, my boots were still a bit soggy from the snow.

Beret: Accessorize
Top: Jill by Jill Stuart
Cardigan: Misch Masch
Skirt: Lodispotto
Boots: Primark

Some close ups of the jewellery and the skirt fabric. The floral design on this is one of my most beloved:

Pastels, Tulle and Lace Galore, It's Spring at Lodispotto

Winter may still have us firmly in its icy grasp but the fashion brands, both high and high street are looking to warmer, sunnier days.

Lodispotto, my current favourite of the kirei-kei brands, has released its Spring 2012 collection with some cute raincoats, cardigans and skirts in on-trend pastels. The materials used and the colours are so wonderfully bright and cheery; floaty tulle with delicate lace and flower motifs in scallop-hem t-shirts. So so so feminine, so very Lodispotto. Ah time to return to more pink Princessly ways.

Starting with the coats, I love this super girlish trenchcoat, all soft curves to the lapels, puff sleeves and a wide flippy-out hem.

The dot tulle pritz skirt is one I just have to get, if only because I love the pearl beading detail in the waistband! In pink it just looks so pretty and a perfect colour for the season with a gentle ballerina-ish appeal.


Lodispotto (and sister store Misch Masch) do the best cardis. No boring pockets for them, they go a bit all out with the detail, such as this new one. Rose flower embroidery around the neck and ribbons on the pockets. The website blurb describes it as 'Princess-like'. That and it comes with the lace scalloped hem t-shirt too. Ah love. Especially in that mint.



Lodispotto is not known for being particularly edgy, they're a brand of cute practicality. Elegant and adult clothes that are quite safe, so I never expect groundbreaking but it is a shame that there is a lack of decent dresses. Nothing like the floral prints of two years ago, where they managed to find a print that avoided all the pitfalls of florals - not childish or twee or country-like or grandma - and ended up with a mature summer dress. Anyway, there is one from the Spring that I think I like. I'm concerned over the back shirring of the scala flower dress, but the lace detail of the scalloped hem is so so pretty and it looks perfect for a hot summer's day picnic. I guess it is one to try on before passing judgement.


Finally, bagwise the Chanel-inspired quilting continues but this time with a touch of natural hessian in the design and a laser cut flower design. It has a strong retro feel to it which I like and it's certainly an interesting bag.


Lodispotto's spring range is just great for the pastel trend this year, and I just adore that cardigan and skirt, in the mint and pink combination, to look ice cream sweet. I'll post the Misch Masch collection soon, but of the two for this Spring, Lodispotto has it.

There are close up shots and coordination ideas here, but it's a bit poorly presented, which is a shame and unusual...

So other Lodispotto loving kirei-kei fans, what are you thoughts on their Spring styles?

Welcome and Hello!

Welcome to my little blog. 'Life is Melody' is written by Sarah, an English girl on a mission for a life filled with lovely things, and is about a bit of fashion, a bit of lifestyle, a bit of music, everything that goes towards my quest.

About my fashion
A somewhat classic lolita, very kirei-kei, a fair bit otome and slightly hime but totally Tokyo. I recently returned from a long stay in Japan where I found the missing pieces of my fashion puzzle. Tired of the masculine cuts of western clothing, bored of the aggression of punkish studs I found salvation in the form of Intetsu from Ayabie who reawakened a love of delicate lolita and otome fashions, and in the feminine yet mature styles of Laisse Passe, Apuweiser Riche and Misch Masch. The latter are rarely blogged about brands together with the kirei-kei style that accompanies them. I want to introduce these wonderful clothes to wider audience, together with the otome and lolita styles I adore.

About my music:
I am an unashamed visual kei liker, having formerly lived that lifestyle in Tokyo and now working as Managing Editor of Rokkyuu.com. But while I love the vk melodrama, I find solace in ambient strains of Brian Eno, the whimsical Olivia and the oft-challenging 65daysofstatic. My blog title comes from the song, 'Life' by the visual kei band, Kannivalism. It is a fantastic song about finding positivity in darker times, and there is a recommended translation here at Antares. In addition to music, other media - period drama, exhibitions, plays - are great inspirations, and hopefully form something of a reviews collection.

About (London) Life:
Beauty, visiting, eating, interior design... I keep a room that is country-French meets shabby chic meets rococo and work hard to keep it that way. One can never have too many roses or rose perfumes. Furthermore in the UK and in Japan, there are so many great places to shop, to eat, to visit, I want to share my finds with other girls hunting down loveliness - and it is my mission to try every last macaron in London. Which brings me onto...

And about the Laduree Macarons:
An obsession of mine, I cannot pass the shop on Picadilly without buying something.

Welcome!