Scrapbook Sunflowers

_{What is Classical Lolita fashion?
Classical Lolita is one of the subsets of Lolita fashion, a style of street fashion that originated in Japan during the 1980s. The fashion is largely an adaptation of Victorian clothing, mimicking the attention to detail as well as the bell-shaped silhouette of the knee-length skirts that were worn by Victorian girls; Lolita fashion also borrows certain elements from the Rococo fashions of the 18th century. While the fashion stresses elegance and modesty, it largely builds on the principle that "dress is a form of art." Classical Lolita, in particular, is the most historically-oriented subset, as it aims to create a more mature look than the others, namely Sweet Lolita. As with all the other styles, Classical Lolita stresses modesty and elegance, but it places extra emphasis on elegance; this style is mature, refined, and classy, but also youthful. The most notable Classical Lolita brands include Innocent World, Mary Magdalene, Victorian Maiden, and Juliette et Justine.}

Scrapbook Sunflowers

Considering how popular sunflowers are around the world, I'm somewhat shocked that there haven't been any sunflower prints or sunflower-themed designs in Lolita fashion. So, I've decided to do something about it! This is the polished version of my design from Summertime Swing. The dusty orange and apple-green plaid jumper-skirt has a two-tiered design, and each tier has a beaded hem. An abstract petal-styled design that mixes polka-dots and beads decorates the bottom of the top tier, giving the design a scrapbooked feel while also giving the impression of a sunflower; the dark blue-green bottom tier matches the straps of the jumper-skirt, which feature faux bowties. A sunflower-decorated cloche hat tops off this '20s themed outfit.

Wearing a jumper-skirt might be kind of taboo within the Lolita subculture, but I see nothing wrong with it, especially if it's warm outside. In the case of this jumper-skirt, though, I think it actually looks better without a blouse underneath; a blouse would just kill the '20s vibe... unless it's a sheer blouse.

Dahlia © ~Seitou