Getting Older In A Alternative Fashion Community

As long as I have been blogging, my style has changed over the years. From a bit over the top and youthful edginess to more toned down and a little more sleek, the way I dress myself has definately gotten better. I also have gotten a better sense of what looks good on my figure and what I like and don't like.

(old pic)

As I am getting old and grey, and due to work as well, my style choices has been getting a little more boring! Trying to find decent basics for work functions have preoccupied most of my shopping.
(new pics)

However, I do my best to get a few items for leisure time and events that I can really express myself with.

It also is great that some of my coworkers appreciate dressing against the grain and showcasing your individuality. They help keep me true to myself, and seeking ways to not just stick to a basic pair of jeans and a plain ol' top.

I still incorporate some of my own recent customizations and selfmade items into my wardrobe to fully make my look my own!






Check out my webshop! 20%off on all items! Half the amount on hats will be donated to the Woman's Treatment Center!

PlayCHIC Fashion Show

Playchic fashion show was great and housed in the gorgeous Grand Ballroom at Navy Pier, with fashion designer Boris Powell and several others basing their designs off of well known and loved childhood games and toys, one being Twister!
Powell incorporated the playfulness of the game into the dress, having one actually being utilitarian, sliding off and becoming a Twister mat.

Fall Colour Trend

It feels more like Fall in Chicago, well, on some days... and I've been getting ready for it all: the crisp air, Halloween decorations, the beautiful colours of the leaves before they flutter down from outstretched branches.
I've also been thinking of colour schemes and cute jackets and sweaters for this season as well.
One of the main colours I wanted to showcase in some of my outfits is a burgandy, or a wine colour. It fits within mature styles while giving you a pop of colour.

Here are a few items that work as a quick go to template that would look great in this month's colour, fit for fall.

Outer
Coat

West vs East: Makeup Techniques

Contour

With new steps added into a full face of makeup, the Western makeup trend is a lot more sculpted than ever before. This ''instagram baddie'' look derived from the way drag queens applied their makeup has made way in the makeup world on and off Instagram for the past few years. People contour their foreheads, noses, cheeks, and chins; defining their faces and features with layers of makeup.

Dammit Hottopic!

Its always just a matter of time til something that's not mainstream gains traction and is seen popping up in alternative stores and in Halloween costume shops.

It was only a matter of time for it to happen to the first Jfashion I fell in love with; Lolita.

Branded lolitawear, in all its modest glory, from Baby The Stars Shine Bright to Metamorphose, was praised for its cloth and lace quality. Indie lolita brands reigning in second place, and the infamous Bodyline being shunned with upturned noses.

Hottopic ceased a trend that grew and was fostered in the Western Jfashion community. Overlooking what Lolita's wanted and were searching for to produce what looks like a one-and-done Halloweeb costume.

Though it makes it more affordable for people who cannot drop 400$ usd on a branded dress, quality and design was a huge factor in lolita clothing.

<i> What do you think about Hottopic picking up lolita style to sell in their stores? Have you checked it out? Share your stories and comments! </i>

Check out my online store, Lishaslooks.storenvy.com . Sales help keep this blog running + future coverage from different conventions, and more !

Super Gyaru Weekend

A few weekends ago, Eteria of Champagne Pop wrapped up another Harajuku Fashion Walk in the City of Chicago. It was a sweltering day, but the participants, decked out from head to toe to make the meet up and make a fashionable impression from the WaterTower to Millenium Park.

Friends and supporters, and even local camerapeople were there showing their appreciation of the event. Passerbys were astounded, some even wanting pictures with some of the stylish participants.

The weekend was concluded with a gal styled karaoke party and sleepover.

Stay tuned on the LishaMisha22 instagram, and twitter for upcoming events, panels, official merch and moments from behind the Gyaru Fashion blog of Chicago.

Xoxo

Acen 2015

Wowzers! Another Acen  has passed by!

Machii, Neesie, Tomo, Jade and I at my Gyaru Panel

I had my panel about gyaru fashion on Friday! I let people check out what was in my bag, answered questions about hair, make up and accessories, and had some guest speakers as well! It was a chill atmosphere, and I was glad people were able to come through.

Though I wish I danced the night away at Soap Bubble, I danced, shimmied, and bebopped along throughout the Dealer Hall's floor. 

Hold That Pose For Me/might be a galvip article

2014? (date was deleted off)
So, as many of you probably know, I have dabbled in some modeling escapades over the past few years.
I had wanted to do so, and decided to take that chance in diving in, helping a few Columbia students, to working with some Chicago photographers in their studios.
It was definitely a learning experience, from going from:

Photo Cred DollySO STIFF!!

I am no pro at this, but I feel like it has helped me at least drop a little awkwardness for photographs after someone saying something on the lines of "LEARN HOW TO POSE!" 

To learning how to pose and capture an expression.

I still get a lil weird with poses, but glad I was able to push myself further with some great pointers from people who knew best!

As they say, and it is true, we are our own WORST critics. 

I had to get used to angling my legs the right way and all that, and also not angling the face too up or down.

Harajuku Fashion Walk

Fashion Walk-Harajuku Version

I attended the Harajuku Fashion walk on Saturday. I got to strut my stuff with the other very fashionable people all decked out in our gear in Downtown Chicago! From cool to kawaii, we took lots of pictures and chatted with each other. 

Official Merch Up!

Yippu!

Grand Opening Goodies!

I now have a brand sparkly new Society6 account! Its about damn time right!!? Time to let my works get out from hibernation and shine!! There will defo be new designs on the way!

Lisha Misha On Society6
I have been quite shy about showing my art and even more shy about selling it over the years. I've sold some drawings and paintings here and there, and maybe showing off a piece of art here and there too. I am not quite sure why it scares me, but, I hope people will enjoy and appreciate them!

I am also going to (hopefullllly) have prints to sell at anime and comic cons for next year too. A lot of people have been asking about them when I attend these conventions, and I hope to be prepared for once!

Chicago Alternative Fashion Walk

Urban Outfitters Strikes Again!

From Fashweekly.com

So, Urban Outfitters does it again. Trying to sell tasteless "vintage" shirts (or a shirt), this time with a painful touch from a recent past in American history. I think by now and all their other "mishaps" are done on purpose to garner attention from the public. "Look at me! I'm being unnecessarily edgey using shock tactics!"

This snippet was taken from the Business Insider page where I found the article:

 "It was never our intention to allude to the tragic events that took place at Kent State in 1970 and we are extremely saddened that this item was perceived as such," the company wrote in a statement. Urban says the red stains (definitely not blood) are from natural discoloration and the holes are from regular wear and tear. 

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/urban-outfitters-kent-state-sweatshirt-bloodstain-2014-9#ixzz3DQ7TIdvE

They claim the holes are from normal wear and tear... but this shirt is manufactured to look like that! And no one, LIKE NO ONE said, "Hey, this school suffered a tragedy way back when... maybe this is a lil tasteless?" A quick google search could clear up a thing or two ya'know! Maybe that is just their gimmick.

I think their meetings go like this:
Person 1:"Let's come out with something shitty over and over again to upset a different group of people."
Person 2:"...Then when people get too red in the face, just take it off the market! What do you guys think?"
Person 1: "Sounds like a plan! lulz"
Everyone else: "YAY!!11!!"
Person 1: "Sooo... What offensive thing should we produce next?"

I am expecting something new and tasteless to come out from Urban Outfitters before this time next year. Let's see if my prediction and psychic abilities prove me right!

Golds Infinity on Yesstyle + Review

Review!

Sleeveless Lace front Dress

The soft colour of Chocobo feather

I was super scared putting this thing on my head.
 I didn't want it to fall off and break. D:

Though I usually don't use these words to describe clothes I own.... this dress is super cute, girly and flirty! I LOVE IT. I was tempted to wear and get the black dress while I was at Anime Expo, but decided against it. 

Being a one size fits all item, I was worried that it would not fit my boobs, rib cage area, or the straps wouldn't fit my arms and shoulders too well like with a lot of other clothes from Golds. But with this item, that wasn't the case! The chest area is snug enough to combat chest jiggles too which is a plus. 

As part of a wide array of gyaru brands, they are also pretty affordable compared to some of the counterparts in girly wear.

Con: The zipper gets a little stuck while unzipping when its on, but I think maybe a little wax rubbed on the zipper's teeth should fix that problem. 

It does need a bit of ironing to knock out some of the wrinkles.

Doesn't get much bigger than this size... yet...

~~~

So IF you all didn't know, Golds Infinity is now linked on Yesstyle.com as of June!

Check it out here! Golds+Yesstyle

There is also a 20% off sale on select items throughout the webshop 

and free shipping on orders over 25 bucks too!

My Picks!

Ciao ciao~

Anime Expo ：Be a Gal Fashion Model for 2014!

This year, The following Gal Brands will be showcasing their items for not only for purchase, but also for the Fashion Show!

KokoKim, Swankiss, Golds Infinity, Ghost of Harlem

If you have always wanted to be a runway model for a Japanese Brand for Gyaru gear, this is your chance for 2014! 

Sign Up here!:

http://www.anime-expo.org/fashion-show-2014/#Casting

Rather be a Shop Staff?
Send me an email on FB!

Deadline is June 15th!

See you there and Good Luck!

R.I.P. Ageha...and Almost Everything Else

Soooo, every gal and their momma has been talking about the publisher of Ageha, Aneageha, I love Mama, and NUTS being so in debt, 3 billion yen, and the deaths of the beloved mags.The debt deal that the publisher incurred is beyond ridiculous! It sucks. It really does, but with certain styles dying down, people who did the styles like agejo growing older, it is no surprise. Also no surprise that the media is picking and choosing what it wants to show.

While others seem to be freaking out, im just here like:

I had already taken a hard hit when Soul Sister died. I wanted to collect as many magazines as possible when I had some better income coming in. And now that I kinda do (at least before career related things...) now Ageha has jumped the ship. 

Okies.... I can deal... Hopefully people won't jack up their prices on ebay when I search for issues I want.

But then, Egg has decided to call it quits too? 

WHAT THE FUCK...

So, what am I going to collect now? Or peep through when I visit Mitsuwa? What about the beloved Animal Talk and the silly cute illustrations? Maybe things will pop back up for the magazines. Even though I loved looking at the magazines, it was there for a reason. To help showcase styles and current fashion trends and what the stores were selling at the moment.

As I am in America, some of the items just did not fully apply because there were not a lot of Gyaru fashion being exported from Japan for Western Gyaru lovers. Now, things have changed thanks to shopping services and Yesstyle.com. Not only that, but around the time I started, a lot of the gyaru found their items in their local shops and did the best they could! 

While people emulate what they see in magazine, I feel that the gyaru subculture here might not improve or grow JUST because the mags are not there! BOOO. There has already been girls dismissing the crazier styles because the magazines didn't show them, so I can only speculate what will happen if the mags never resurface. 

Hey... I may be wrong though.

But for now, we play the waiting game.

WCG's Spotlight

Interview: Laura Cioroianu

I came across Laura a few years ago when she sent me a friend request. She stood out to me due to her interest in gothic and visual kei fashion. She is from Romania and lives in Craiova and has appeared in quite a few news episodes due to her love for VK fashion style.

Lisha: Does your work or past education helped you with your inspiration or outfits?(for
example working at a job that helps you with a different aspect of fashion, or taking
classes about fashion design, etc)

Laura Cioroianu :

Since I have a nursing degree , my past education has really nothing to do with my inspiration for everything I am trying to do in a pleasant way.
I was a makeup trainer but volunteer for almost half a year in 2013 in a small makeup school from my city .

The experience from there helped me too and to like even more makeup and all of the things I am going now .

Also I will throw this month the first party from Craiova city , a show inspired by the visual kei music scene in Japan .
and I try to make this party more diverse, including a fashion parade with my interpretations by some street clothing styles in Tokyo .

I will use everything that needs from my personal clothes and all that it takes , for all the people for the parade from head to toe, including the decoration of the club . For now this show will be like a challenge for myself since I will take care of almost everything with my own money, which its really hard , but i am looking forward to see people reactions from this city .
If this show will be a success this will be the beginning only .


Lisha: Has anything in your childhood inspired you to dress up?

Laura Cioroianu : To be honest no , not at all .
I was such a tomboy many years of my childhood.

Lisha:What else besides Visual Kei inspires your outfits and style? What are your favorite
bands that you draw inspiration from?

Laura Cioroianu : Simply people . Every time I had the opportunity to meet someone really creative and unique I am so inspired .I feel so honored when I meet these kind of people .
I am inspired a lot also just by watching online pictures with ordinary people from Tokyo.
I like to admire their creativity and then i am trying to get a piece of what I like the most from them for my creations .

My favourite bands from many others from Japan are X Japan ,Buck Tick and Penicillin .
I draw a lot of inspiration from mister Hakuei the vocalist from Penicillin.
He was and still my all time muse when i want to create something related only to the Japanese visual kei scene of course in this case .

Lisha: Ah! Cool! What non fashion forms do you draw inspiration from?

Laura Cioroianu : Mostly my saddest moments and my dreams . When something negative happen to me I try to express & get away that sad feeling from my heart into creating something new related to art , doesn't matter if its makeup, a draw on a paper or inventing an outfit .


Lisha: That is a great idea!
I know that some places are apprehensive to people expressing themselves through wearable
forms of expression. How is it dressing in Craiova, Romania?

Laura Cioroianu : The world is pretty closed-minded here Craiova city but there are a lot of
wonderful people who support me a lot and I try to keep near those kind of people .
Actually one of the reasons that i want to trow that kind of shows like I told you previously , it is to create a place for all those people who don`t have the guts to dress however they like on the streets but they can at my shows .I want them to feel free and to say : At this kind of parties I feel me and noone isjudging me or the way my style is at all here .

Lisha: Have you traveled anywhere? Where would you like to go?

Laura Cioroianu : I went to Belgium , Germany and Nederlands
I would like to visit Japan so much in the future . I think its awesome there .

Lisha: What are some of your favorite hobbies?

Laura Cioroianu : Listening to music its almost like breathing for me, drawing sometimes , dancing & singing.

She has also subtitled her video clips from news channels.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JVxqfG6VRg

News Clip
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opCrca0Eb3c&list=UUCG5pBjot2NLnntXqEyXLyw

Kawaii International
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXdFB7nn3XQ&list=UUCG5pBjot2NLnntXqEyXLyw

Chinatown Dinner Day

I wanted to head to Chinatown for dinner.
I decided to wear a dress Mogi gave me. I usually don't wear florals, but its nice to try out and see if  i liked it or if it suits me!

     

outfit pic

A Not So Gloomy Sunday

A gyaru acquaintance, came over again on Saturday. ;-;

We had pizza, wine, and ice cream and watched two movies together.

On Sunday, though it was cold as the Artic in Chicagoland, I decided to wear a dress I haven't worn yet. I have been looking more into Onee gyaru/Ane Gyaru, office/conservative type looks lately.

Dress and a few accessories. My sad lil jacket not pictured 

Accessoriezz. I actually do not own Decorative's lashes though,
 but a pair of Diamond lashes in disguise. I think they are Cat's Eye

Dinner was an appetizer of raw fish, scallop and oysters.
I am not a big oyster fan, but the other pieces of fish was delicious! I want to go back there!!

Last night's code. Omitted the belt to keep it simple.

Spectacles

 For breakfast/lunch today, my associate and I went to a restaurant. I had a cajun pasta dish with sausage, shrimp and chicken. The service was pretty off though and I thought the dish would be a bit spicier.

It was decent. 

Talking about life, and what I want to do now that I am done with school  makes me feel really old, and a bit anxious. I want things to happen NOW NOW NOW, but I know that all that I am trying to do will fall into place like the earth's plates being shifted slowly. It is nice to talk things over and get my head into gear with things.

Ciao Ciao!

GLAD NEWS : Webstore + Top 4 Pick

One of my favorite gal brands that I have been wanting to buy from since FOREVER has finally come to YesStyle and also opened up their own webstores! I have been fawning over their items for years, and now, the time has come that I, and all other Glad News lovers can shop from them without the hassle of trying to figure out shopping services, calculating shipping charges, and trying to decipher kanji if we are not fluent in Japanese!

GLAD NEWS webstore
http://gladnews.jp/webstore/index.html
GLAD NEWS on Yesstyle + FREE shipping!
http://www.yesstyle.com/en/glad-news-women/list.html/bcc.11143_bpt.299_bid.313611
GLAD NEWS official Facebook page
http://www.facebook.com/GLADNEWS.OFFICIAL

 Windy City Gal Top 4 picks from GLAD NEWS:

Lace Back Studded Applique shirt

One of the motifs associated with GLAD NEWS appears again with their roomy, lace backed shirt. It looks comfy, has lace detail (a hint of sexy that I love), and has this cute little guy on the front. What's not to love? 

Show your love for Tokyo with this Tank top.

Simplistic. Black. Casual. 

You can't go wrong with a black tank top with a bold font on it. Tank tops are a staple in my wardrobe, but simplistic ones I have yet to add to it.

Long Sleeve top

Long sleeve tops with a graphic is an essential for a wardrobe fit for a gal who pursues a rocker aesthetic. It pairs up nicely with distressed jeans or even a skirt with black boots or heels.

Dyed Pattern Dress

A peek-a-boo skeleton over this tie dyed style dress gives a nod to the 60's tie dye era. This would look lovely paired up with a black denim or leather jacket to add another layer of cool. I usually wear a ton of black, but something like this would be a nice change up!

Happy Shopping!

GLAVIL SALE!

Hello Gals!

Glavil by tutuHA is having a 20% off sale on select items with free
 international shipping* for orders 25$ and over! 

http://www.yesstyle.com/en/glavil-by-tutuha/list.html/bpt.299_bid.313499