Friday, 14 August 2015

Angelic Pretty Tea Party in Paris 2015

Continuation of my last entry! If you remember well, Marie, Chieko and I were about to go to the Angelic Pretty tea party! We could rest for a while in a Starbucks, so we were feeling all great again for our metro journey to the Shangri-La hotel!
We went on our way and met several other Lolitas and the French Café team in the metro and we rode all together to the location. There, the French Café team left us as they still had some secret things to plan before the tea party.

This is where something really bad happened to me: I heavily fell on my knees. I don't know if it's because of the heat or because I was too tired, but suddenly my legs weren't carrying me anymore. My knees were bleeding and bruised and also my left shoe was quite damaged and rubbed. I wanted to cry, but I tried my best to keep calm and managed to get over it.... After all, it was the Angelic Pretty tea party day and nothing would ruin it!

Marie, gracefully telling me we arrived at the hotel!

Fortunately, even if we were quite early, we could enter the hotel and wait in an adjoining salon. My poor knees were hurting badly, so it was great we could all wait there. I could put down my bags, drink some water and I was already feeling better! As we still had plenty of time, Marie, Rosalynn, Marie-Lou who had joined us in the meantime and I decided to have a small photoshoot! It was fun, because we all had very different outfits! Angelic Pretty is clearly a Sweet Lolita brand, but that doesn't mean you can't wear something more elegant, classic or even gothic with their clothes! I love tea parties for this reason: everybody tries to show their very own style and I love to see that diversity! 

Marie in her gorgeous Mercator Antique Show outfit! Her scepter was handmade!

Rosalynn in her pre-tea party outfit! She actually wore something even fancier later!

Marie-Lou in her retro-inspired strawberry outfit!

Taking pictures made time go faster and as it was almost time for the tea party to start, employees told us to go upstairs where our tickets and names where checked. We all got a number too.





At this moment my heart was pounding! I was so excited about that tea party and when the salon's doors finally opened, I felt like running to the room (I didn't by the way, haha). The room was BREATHTAKING! Everything was so fancy and it really felt like we were at Versailles! I already went to several tea parties, but this location was really the best
Marie was kind enough to reserve seats for Marie-Lou and I at her table so we quickly joined her. 

 


After everone had settled, Maki and Asuka entered the room and made a short speech. They even said "Bonjour, ça va?" in French, which was the cutest thing ever! They explained how the afternoon would go: first, we would have time to eat, then there would be a mini fashion show and later there would be a raffle and also the announcement of the winners of the best dressed prize! They also told us there would be a very special guest!

Waiters came to serve us drinks. I took a delicious ice tea, which was so refreshing with the heat! We also had 4 different pastries to eat and the were all delicious (I actually only ate 3 of them as I was more thirsty than hungry). We also had a small glass with fresh red berries to eat. One of the waiters, while serving Marie, unfortunately hit a glass of red fruits and red juice was spread all over the immaculate tablecloth. We joked about it saying that this poor guy probably lost his job at the end of the day (I hope not though O_O)... 



Our beautiful table, before the waiter ruined it with red juice :P

Delicious pastries ♥

After eating, we had some free time so I went to talk with Mrs. Honda, the owner of Angelic Pretty. She is always so funny and kind, I like her so much! I tried to explain that I was at the Princess Dreamy Carnival tea party in Tokyo last December and that I was happy to see her again, but I don't think she understood... But she is such a cheerful person that I didn't really matter :D

My fellow Swiss Lolita friends and I with Mrs.Honda :)

I then had to go back to my seat as the fashion show was about to start! It was really exciting because we would see a totally exclusive print for the first time: Classic Fairy Tales! I could also see Dreamy Planetarium in real for the first time and really made me love this print even more! Then, Luminous Sanctuary was displayed, worn by the lovely Mila and..... RinRin Doll!!! Actually, even if by then everybody had gussed she would be the special guest, we were all very happy to see her again! That meant more time to spend with her! Yay!


All the lovely models during the fashion show!

After the fashion show, we had some free time so I went to give my presents to Maki and Asuka (you can read more about it here). I also took pictures with them and Maki took made a snap of my outfit! By the way, I am really happy because my outfit is actually shown in the report of the tea party on Angelic Pretty website! 

Maki, taking my picture!

Lovely Asuka ♥

It is a tradition for me now: since my very first tea party back in 2010, I always ask Maki to make a heart with me on pictures


French Café, which helped organizing this tea party, also had the best idea ever: a small photobooth with props! I went 3 times: one time alone, one time with the cute Lou and also one last time with Marie-Lou! 







Next activity was the raffle! Two years ago I actually won the 1st prize: a beautiful set with Milky Planet JSK, so I thought I wouldn't be that lucky again.... and I was right as I didn't win anything! Haha. I wasn't even sad as I actually really liked the consolation prize: a cute postcard with a small printed tablecloth!




We again had some free time during when we could also vote for the best dressed! There were so many great outfits and I think everybody had a hard time choosing their favourite one, but in the end my dear friend Tiya and a beautiful German Lolita won! They were both wearing Mercator Antique Shop :) 


Tiya had a Harry Potter themed outfit!

Isn't she pretty? I love this colour combo!

Then Maki also chose her favourite outfit: a girl wearing Dolly Cat in the most elegant and fancy way! I think that was well deserved too and she seemed so happy!
We also took a group picture in the hall. We had quite a hard time all fitting in the frame, but we eventually managed! Thank you Marie From French Café for the beautiful picture!
 
Can you spot me? :D


After that, it was almost time for the tea party to end. I was a little sad, because as usual time went too fast! I didn't even talk to everybody I wanted to, but yeah... that's the problem with tea parties: they're always too short! Haha.
Maki and Asuka made a speech again thanking us for coming despite the heat. They also said they'd come again next year! Yay! I already looking forward to that!




We then were asked to leave the beautiful room and go back to the hall were we would be given a gift: a lovely badge with Dolly Cat on it and clear files with Dream Marine, Cherry Marguerite and Milky Cross!
Marie-Lou and I also went to talk a bit with RinRin, as Marie-Lou loves her but couldn't come to the fansign in the morning! She was so happy to finally meet her! We invited her to Switzerland again, she said she would come with pleasure and then hugged us! RinRin is really the best!


We couldn't just leave yet, so we stayed a little more to talk and take pictures, but after a while it was really time to go. I said goodbyes to friends and went on my way back to the hotel with Marie. I was SO hot and tired at this moment and just wanted to be at the hotel to take off all my clothes and take a cold shower. Wearing Lolita during a heat wave is really the worst....
Back at the hotel, something bad happened to me as I fell AGAIN and badly hurt my my left arm. I even first thought I broke it as it was really painful.... but I fortunately only ended up with a very big bruise (that I still have right now! Poor me... Haha)
Marie had to go back home, so I went to the station with her and we said goodbye. I then joined Marie-Lou and her boyfriend to have dinner together! Eating something warm was the best way to end this tiring day and I really enjoyed my meal. 


Around 22:00, I went back to the hotel alone and quickly went to bed. This is how this very long, but magical day ended. Thank you Angelic Pretty and French Café for making such a great tea party!


Monday, 3 August 2015

Street snap & fansign in Paris with RinRin Doll

This year, my Paris trip was quite short but intense. I just started a new job back then and I couldn't take like a week of holidays, so I just asked for a free day on friday so I could go to Paris from Friday July 3rd to Sunday July 5th. Quite short, uh? But a lot of amazing events took place during these 48 hours :)

I first arrived in Paris on friday evening and joined my dear friend Marie at the hotel! I was so so so happy I could share a room with her, because the last time I saw her was in Japan back in May 2014. I enjoyed being able to spend some precious moments with her!

It was awfully hot in the room an as it was quite late already, we didn't do much. We just went outside to get food, ate and then went to bed. The next day would be a VERY busy day with the fansign with RinRin Doll and the Angelic Pretty tea party!

Marie and I decided to directly wear our tea party outfits to the fansign. We hesitated quite a long time about it, but well I didn't really want to carry extra clothes with me... so despite the heat, we left the hotel all dressed up! Marie was wearing her gorgeous Mercator Antique Shop OP and I went for a retro look with my Fantasic Dolly JSK!

First stop of the day was Princess Crêpe where the lovely French Café team had planned a fansign with RinRin Doll! I was SO happy when they announced this event because I love RinRin, she is such a sweetheart! I already met her back in 2013 during the Kawaii Event in the Netherlands and since then she has been one of my models!
We arrived quite early at the shop (around 9:15 if I remember well?), but there were already many girls waiting in line! Haha. We quickly spotted Pom who came to say hello and we chatted for a while. Actually the heat was still bearable at this moment and I really enjoyed talking with my friends and taking pictures while waiting.


A little later, RinRin arrived, gorgeous as always, said hello to everybody and then went in the shop to prepare the fansign. While waiting, Diana from the French Café team came to sell us some gorgeous postcards of RinRin and Bloody was also selling amazing eyelashes designed by RinRin (I bought a pair... they were just too pretty!).

Lovely postcards! I kept one for myself and gave the other one to Marie-Lou!

The closer I was in the line, the more my heart was pounding. When it finally was my turn, I was shaking. I went to sit next to RinRin and we started chatting. She said I was beautiful and liked my outfit, which made me really happy. We talked about the event in the Netherlands and she remembered me ;____; I think I died at this moment. Haha! I then gave her the illustration I made (with shaking hands) and when I said I made it because I didn't want to give her Swiss chocolates again so told me "Oh yes these ones... I ate them all!" which was funny! She is such a lovely and cheerful person!
She signed two cards for me, took pictures with me and then my turn was over. She hugged me and I invited her to Switzerland :D She said she would come with pleasure (I actually hope I can plan something in the future to make her come?)

At this moment, I was filled with happiness. I forgot about all my problems, about the heat, about everything. I was just simply happy!

RinRin and I ♥ Picture by French Café

When I left the shop, Marie asked me for a outfit snap! I jumped on the occasion because I love Marie's pictures! Haha. She also took one of Zoe, Bloody and I who were all wearing Fantasic Dolly! Yay!

Thank you French Café for the lovely picture!

Bloody, Zoe and I all in Fantasic Dolly!

After that, it was time to leave. I started to feel really really hot and Marie and I wanted to get some rest before the 2nd round (aka Angelic Pretty tea party). After saying hello/goodbyes to friends, we left and went to a near-by Starbucks. It was SO COLD inside, I was living again! Haha! We stayed there for a while, joined a little later by Chieko who had to get dressed for the tea party.
Around 12:45 we finally left and went on our way to the tea party...... but that will be the next entry ;)

To finish, I just want to thank all the French Café team which made an AMAZING job for the fansign! Thank you so much guys!

Wednesday, 22 July 2015

Artworks for RinRin Doll, Maki & Asuka

OK, I am officially starting to write my Paris events related entries :)
Well, this entry won't be about the events themselves, but more about what I planned before going.
Everytime I participate in events, I always like to offer gifts to the special guests! This year in Paris I knew I would meet RinRin Doll and Maki & Asuka from Angelic Pretty. I actually already met them several times and already gave them gifts which were Swiss chocolates... so this time I wanted to give them something different (yeah, I can't give them chocolate every year! Haha!)

Maybe some of you may know that I have a degree in illustration, so I thought that making paintings for them would be a good idea :) I first was REALLY lazy, kept procrastinating and ended up having 3 illustrations to make in less than a week! It was last-minute so my paintings were quite small (A5 format) and simple, but I actually really liked how they turned out!

RinRin was the first one I could give my illustration to (I will make a full entry about the meet with RinRin later, same for the Angelic Pretty tea party). I was SO nervous that my hands were shaking when I met her (yes yes I am very sensitive...), but I think she genuinely liked it! She first asked me if I was the one who painted it and then said she would put it on her bedroom wall! It made me so proud and happy! She thanked me again and hugged me, she is such a sweetheart ♥


My painting, RinRin Doll & I ♥

During the Angelic Pretty tea party, I could also give my paintings to Maki and Asuka. I first went to Maki as she was more accessible (actually Asuka somehow disappeared during a while). You need to know that I admire Maki A LOT, so I was even more nervous to give her my painting! She smiled and thanked me and then asked for a picture with me! She then quickly went back to work as she was taking pictures of attendees' outfits so I couldn't really talk much with her, but I hope she liked it too!


Isn't it cute how she is showing my painting on the picture? :3

Ok, I then had some difficult time finding Asuka and when she appeared again, I ran after her for a while until I could finally have a moment to talk with her. She was so nice! I gave her my portrait and she said with surprise " Uhhhhhh SAME!" pointing at her face, which made my heart melt! At least she recognized herself on my drawing! Haha. She seemed really really happy, asked me if I made it and with what medium and then also asked for a picture!



All in all, I am so happy I took time to paint these portraits. I hesitated a long time, decided not to do it, but eventually was brave enough to do it and I am so glad I did! It's something so personal, something I made myself with love and passion and seeing them being happy about it really made me proud! ♥ I'll cherish these memories!

Tuesday, 12 May 2015

Lolita Fashion Show at Yverdon Contemporary Art Center - April 26th 2015

I was so excited to write this entry, because it was a very important event for me. On April 26th, there was a fashion show organized by my fellow Swiss Lolita friend Pyl in collaboration with the Yverdon Contemporary Art Center. There was also an exhibition with the Swiss Museum of Fashion and an exhibition of Lolita pictures by the talented photographer, Natalia Mansano (you can check her work here: Lolitas). I was so proud to be part of this ambitious project and my friends at the organisation were amazing!

We were planning the fashion show for some weeks and it has been decided that I would represent Classic Lolita! Usually my style is more Sweet with a touch of Classic, so I was quite excited to emphasize my Classic side this time! It was great because we had many styles represented: Gothic, Sweet, Classic, Punk, Brolita, OTT Sweet, Dandy, Sailor, Wa and Qi!

And on Sunday 26, it was finally time for me to go from Geneva to Yverdon! Unfortunately, a train accident occured just a few days before the fashion show and the track between Lausanne and Yverdon was closed. Great. So I had to find a fallback and my mom had to drive us, my friend Rebecca and I, to Yverdon (I don't drive myself... so yeah....)! I am usually a really stressed person and all of this mess only added even more stress, but in the end it all went fine! Phew!

Yverdon Contemporary Art center, which is located in the town hall building!

We arrived on time at the Art Center and we were welcomed by Pyl, who arrived shortly after us. As we still had time before the others would arrive, I visited the exhition! My friends Pyl, Yume, Marie-Lou and Arisa had planned some coordinations to display on dress forms, in collaboration with the Swiss Museum of Fashion. The coordinations then mixed some modern Lolita elements, with authentic vintage pieces provided by the museum! How amazing is that?! Some of the pieces they lent were quite old and delicate, so it was a real mark of trust from them to let us use them.




While I was taking pictures, the other models arrived and it was almost time for the first fashion show (it would repeat 3 times in the afternoon). I set up my my camera and tripod to film the show and then we all went to "hide" backstage. Oh geez, my heart was pounding so fast at this point! As I was representing Classic Lolita, I would be the 3rd one to walk, right after my fellow Gothic and Sweet Lolita models.
If you want to see the fashion show in full, you can watch the video I made on Youtube!



And let me introduce all the models in order of appearance: 

Cheyenne in Gothic Lolita

Marie-Lou in Sweet Lolita

Me in Classic Lolita

Rebecca in Punk Lolita

Mana-Sam, our Brolita

Fifi in OTT Sweet Lolita

Lion's in Dandy

Anne-Christine in Sailor Lolita

Fiona in Wa Lolita

Pyl in Qi Lolita

The fashion show was a success! We were happy because many people came. They also asked us questions and pictures after the show and seemed really interested to know more about Lolita.


Of course, we also took some group pictures! It was so great to have 10 different styles reunited in one picture. It really showed the diversity of Lolita fashion (even if there are actually many more substyles, but well we can't have everything! Haha).

 





After the 3rd and last fashion show, it was time to leave the Art Center. We still had to see the exhibition of pictures taken by Natalia Mansano, which were displayed in a different place. It was actually closed that day, but Pyl could open it for us and the other visitors to see it so they can see the pictures and ask us questions and talk with us.



Then this magical day was over. I was a little sad, but also dead tired... so I was glad I took casual clothes with me and could take off my Lolita outfit! It's like I was living again. Haha.
I think it was the first time we planned such a big events with prestigious partners like the Art Center or the Swiss Museum of Fashion. It really motivated us to see people were interested about the fashion and its culture and were open-minded about it, not considering it as just a "costume" or age play. We got a lot of respect I think and that was gratifying. We now hope to be able to present Natalia Mansano's work in other places, because her pictures really deserve to be seen, so maybe a next event will come soon?
To end this entry, I want to thank again all my friends who helped me to participate in this fashion and for all the hard work they did preparing the exhibitions! You are the best ♥