Andrea Nicole Baker

The healing power of the beautiful

2012-01-26T12:59:00.000-08:00

Every Woman's Beauty is her Defense Against Cancer
By: Jackie Clark

Facing a cancer diagnosis or cancer treatment can be extremely scary, and can leave any woman feeling scared, hopeless, and anxious. There are countless unanswered questions that accompany cancer diagnosis and treatment, and facing the battle can require courage many women are unsure they actually possess. However, every single woman does have the courage and drive required to face a cancer diagnosis, and one way that a woman can feel stronger and more assured in herself is by appreciating her own beauty.

Naturally, cancer treatment can have serious implications on a person's appearance. Chemotherapy often leads to hair loss, and other side affects of treatment may change a woman's appearance in other ways as well. Women who are going through cancer treatments must recognize their own unique beauty, instead of focusing on the changes that the treatments might create.

Women should always dress in a way that helps them feel confident and self-assured. This is especially important for major days, such as days when a woman is going in for treatment, or a day that she might be feeling especially nervous and upset about her condition. Wearing favorite articles of clothing that highlight a woman's beauty is a great way to help women feel more confident and better about themselves.

One idea is to purchase a piece of jewelry or accessory that a woman finds comfort and beauty in. For example, a necklace or a scarf that has a powerful symbol could be an excellent choice. Every time she begins to feel lost or sad, she can touch her necklace or scarf and find strength in it. Additionally, if she's wearing a favorite pair of shoes or outfit, she can always enjoy the extra feelings of confidence she has from her best articles of clothing, and can use the added confidence as strength and motivation in fighting cancer.

There are a number of different types of cancer that women might face, from lung cancer to skin cancer, to mesothelioma. No matter what type of cancer a woman is fighting against, treatment can be enhanced by going into it with a confident, positive outlook, and finding ways to have women feel better about themselves is a great way to increase the effectiveness of treatment. Women should take steps such as purchasing a new article of clothing or accessory, taking time to do their make up in a way that compliments their face, or sporting the latest fashion trend, in order to feel the most confident. Each woman is different, and should take steps to feel beautiful accordingly. No matter who it is, every woman enjoys looking and feeling her best, and when that happens, it can help give her confidence to beat cancer.

The healing power of feeling beautiful.

What to wear for Valentine's Day - The Criss Cross Dress

2012-01-26T01:17:00.000-08:00

I just received my latest catalog in the mail from Victoria's Secret. On the back cover was a photo of this gorgeous criss-cross dress in snake-print.

"Cross your heart! This little dress wows with its classic feminine shape, sweet halter neckline and flirty glimpses of scalloped lace. We’re loving this sundress for day-to-night—it’s just that irresistible. Fit-and-flare shape. 19” from waist. Machine wash. Tumble dry. Imported cotton"

The dress comes in 6 other colors. Now this is a challenge to choose one color. But why choose just one? Which color do you prefer?

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

January: Beauty and makeup: MAC lipglass

2012-01-22T12:00:00.000-08:00

Do you ever put on your makeup (eyes, blush, highlighter, etc) everything but your lips and look at yourself in the mirror? Something just does not feel and look right. Then when you put on your lips you see what an amazing difference that makes in your look. Check them out here. Having used them before I can tell you they are fabulous.

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

Lolita Stereotypes

2012-01-19T16:46:00.000-08:00

I found these wonderful (and funny) Lolita Stereotypes on Deviant Art from wolfpuppy!
It's fun that we can laugh at ourselves. Enjoy and share.

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

Golden Globes - Best Gowns

2012-01-19T16:38:00.000-08:00

I love the awards shows for the gorgeous gowns. The Golden Globes, Oscar and Emmy ceremonies.Not for the awards and the speeches. Just for the Red Carpet walk before the ceremonies. Here are some of my favorite gowns from last weeks Golden Globes awards.

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

Congratulations Laura Kaeppeler - Miss America

2012-01-17T14:59:00.000-08:00

Miss Wisconsin, Laura Kaeppeler, was crowned as the new Miss America this past weekend. She is a gorgeous, intelligent, talented and absolutely wonderful Midwesterner.

Kaeppler introduced herself to pageant viewers by mentioning the NFL's defending Super Bowl champions and their superstar quarterback. Read more: Aaron Rodgers.

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

January: Fashion / Couture - Andrej Pejic

2012-01-15T12:00:00.000-08:00

I just came across this amazing androgynous person (Androgyny is defined as having the characteristics or nature of both male and female), Andrej Pejic, in a story about a lingerie company showing how amazing their push up bras are!

Not only does Mr Pejic make headlines with every campaign he does, his notable lack of cleavage proves that Hema's new bra can give even the flattest chests some shape. The company's claim that the Mega Push-Up Bra can boost your bust by '2 cups extra' could never be in doubt, given that his 'no-cup' chest appears to have been augmented up to a B-cup in the ads. See the article and the photos here.

Amazing that I never hear of him. Here is the link to his blog and portfolio. Truly gorgeous and stunning. This is his model profile.

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

January: Geekout - It's all Kawaii Cuteness in Japanese Culture

2012-01-12T12:00:00.000-08:00

I'm enjoying the RSS feed from the geekout blog on CNN. Lots of topics that interest me. So each month I'll mention one that I find the most interesting and add my own perspective.
I was thrilled when the KAWAII / cuteness topic was explored.

I remember my own trips to Japan in the ninetees. How pervasive cute mascots were everywhere. But it seemed a bit strange in a male-dominated culture in Japan. But with the huge success of Hello Kitty (starting back in 1974), and how International its success was, everyone started copying it in their own way. Now kawaii characters appear on nearly every sign in Japan.

The most interesting thing to me is the affect that KAWAII has had on individuals. Especially on people's manners and behavior.
"That's because cuteness is a desirable quality in Japan, not just in branding, handwriting and fashion, but in manner as well. Japanese women who purposely speak softly and feign high-pitched laughter are known as "burikko." The etymology of burikko takes the Japanese words for "child" and "fish" and blends them with "to pretend or pose. Men are not exempt from being kawaii either, even though they are also expected to be manly as well."

That might be true but one of the more interesting TV trends in Japan are shows that transform boys into girls. Here are links to some examples. The common threads are how cute the boys look as girls and the overwhelming reaction by the audience.

Guys are prettier

Boy or Girl?

K-Pop Boys

ENJYA!

Anyways, It's all cuteness!

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

Best Push-up Bras

2012-01-10T12:00:00.000-08:00

Some research into what the the best push-up bras available today. So here are some of the results based on many other women's experiences.

Very Sexy bras are the best that i have found out there. Yes they my cost a little more but its so worth it! this is my fav bra. You can choose a little push up or a lot since it comes with removable gel inserts. Plus this is available in lots of colors and it is convertible. It also comes with 2 sets of straps one that matches the color of the bra and a clear set too.

This is a new bra they have out that is supposed to make you look up to 2 cup sizes bigger. People mistakenly call it the bombshell bra but its not its called the Miraclous push up.
the current best push up bra their is can be found at victoria's secert. The bra is called "bombshell" and adds 2 cup sizes to your current bra size. I tried it on and the lift was absolutely amazing.

The Wacoal iBra Push Up Bra is a fab push up bra designed to be invisible under your clothes.
The Wacoal 85780 is made from the softest pliable microfiber that reminds me of the memory foam in some expensive mattresses. The graduated push-up cups are cut to a daringly low plunge that accentuates your cleavage like no other push-up bra, yet looks perfectly natural. The Wacoal iBra feels like a second skin when you wear it. This Wacoal bra is totally seamless and has no tags of any kind. Another great feature of the Wacoal 85780 is the streamlined straps that are wide set for a fashionable look. If you want a bra that's cutting edge and flattering, you'll love the Wacoal iBra Push-up Bra.

Lily of France offers four styles of push up bras that are reasonably prices, have great reviews and look great. Available online or at Kohls department stores.

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

January: Girly Girl

2012-01-08T12:00:00.000-08:00

When you think of girly girls who is the first girl that comes to mind (other than me, of course)?
Yes, it's that Barbie. That chick has everything. So when you google Barbie up come a huge list of games, movies, lyrics, doll house, accessories, fashion, fairy tales and much much more. So I went to wikipedia to find out how this Barbie chick got started.

Did you know that the first Barbie was sold in 1959? Barbie's full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts. In a series of novels published by Random House in the 1960s, her parents' names are given as George and Margaret Roberts from the fictional town of Willows, Wisconsin.In the Random House novels, Barbie attended Willows High School, while in the Generation Girl books, published by Golden Books in 1999, she attended the fictional Manhattan International High School in New York City (based on the real-life Stuyvesant High School.).

As you are probably aware there have been many controversies with Ms barbie. The two most famous are about her measurements and about girls not being good at math.

One of the most common criticisms of Barbie is that she promotes an unrealistic idea of body image for a young woman, leading to a risk that girls who attempt to emulate her will become anorexic. A standard Barbie doll is 11.5 inches tall, giving a height of 5 feet 9 inches at 1/6 scale. Barbie's vital statistics have been estimated at 36 inches (chest), 18 inches (waist) and 33 inches (hips). At 5'9" tall and weighing 110 lbs, Barbie would have a BMI of 16.24 and fit the weight criteria for anorexia.

In July 1992, Mattel released Teen Talk Barbie, which spoke a number of phrases including "Will we ever have enough clothes?", "I love shopping!", and "Wanna have a pizza party?" Each doll was programmed to say four out of 270 possible phrases, so that no two dolls were likely to be the same. One of these 270 phrases was "Math class is tough!" (often misquoted as "Math is hard"). Although only about 1.5% of all the dolls sold said the phrase, it led to criticism from the American Association of University Women. In October 1992 Mattel announced that Teen Talk Barbie would no longer say the phrase, and offered a swap to anyone who owned a doll that did.

What I actually enjoy are the collector Barbies.

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

Valentino Bow Flap Bag

2012-01-05T12:00:00.000-08:00

Valentino Bow-Flap Bag (NMF12_V0WFG)

The signature Valentino bow makes an elegant appearance that brings out brilliant color and golden hardware.

Choose bubblerose/pink or black leather.
Golden hardware.
Link chain shoulder strap.
Large pleated bow on flap front; snap closure.
Box body.
4"H x 7"W x 2"D.
Made in Italy

About Valentino:
Italian designer Valentino Garavani held his first significant show in 1962 at Florence's Pitti Palace, an appropriate setting for his opulent collection. Gorgeous lace, feminine details, gossamer-like chiffon, and a vibrant shade of red were Valentino's hallmarks. Today, Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli honor the house's heritage while adding more modern touches.

The bag is ONLY $1,695.00. I'll take one in black and one in pink!

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

January: Fashion/Couture: Innocent World

2012-01-01T12:00:00.000-08:00

Innocent World is one of the major Japanese Gothic and Lolita Brands. I adore the brand because it is extremely feminine and classic. I'm planning on owning a IW dress or two in 2012. This is their concept statement:

"Innocent World's designer, Yumi Fujihara, has created a new brand of clothing inspired by classical European designs that embodies the ideals of elegance and cuteness but is suitable for
young women of the modern era. The brand name Innocent World brings to mind a simple world
without dirt or blemish. We made this name to reflect the pure and innocent hearts of young women
everywhere, at any age."

Innocent World’s goal is to preserve the childlike innocence of a simpler time. An extremely popular classic Lolita brand, Innocent World’s designs are typified by warm colors, a range of fabrics from very light to very heavy, and adherence to tradition while still producing cute clothes for modern girls. Recently Innocent World has been producing more and more print series with matching cute motifs on a variety of garments, with themes ranging from antique furniture to Teddy Bears.

Innocent world's International order site.

Here is a lovely example called "Rose Stained Glass" as a jumper skirt.
This Rose Stained Glass Jumperskirt was made with the image of a Art Nouveau styled stained glass lamp. It is made with Innocent World's special printing, so it has a beautiful gradation that looks just like a real stained glass lamp is lighten up.

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

Happy New Year

2012-01-01T00:00:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to all my followers and friends! May 2012 be filled with sweetness, frills and bows.

Fourteen New Year's Resolutions from William Shakespeare.

Enjoy the journey – “Things won are done, joy’s soul lies in the doing.” - Troilus and Cressida, Act I, Scene ii

Wishing that 2012 is the breast year ever!

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

Monthly Blogging Plan for 2012

2011-12-30T04:00:00.000-08:00

Fashion / Couture - Twice a month (1st and 15th) - The latest in fashion that are classy and fabulous.

Girly Girl - once a month. Sometime around the 8th. Monthly topics for us girly girls!

Beauty and Makeup - What I am using and latest trends. Monthly around the 22nd.

Photoshoots - Once a month around the end of the month.

Lolita fashion and meetups - as they happen.

Geekout - A Geek topic of the month. Sometime around the 12th.

Random topics of interest.

Always looking for new suggestions and feedback.

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

Favorite Photo Memories of 2011

2011-12-29T02:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays 2011

2011-12-25T04:00:00.000-08:00

Love,
Andrea, Santa and Becky

Angelic Pretty x Dal 2012 release - Decoration Dream Dal

2011-12-22T06:53:00.000-08:00

I received my Gothic and Lolita Bible #42 in the mail this week. I'll blog more about that later. But there on Page 49 was this gorgeous new Angelic Pretty DAL in Decoration Dream! (So much for closing my collection of Pullip / Dal BJDs). I have not been able to learn much more about her other than her name is Dal Mihara Mitsukazu and that there is also going to be a human-sized outfit replica of her.

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

Jane by Design

2011-12-21T16:13:00.000-08:00

This new ABC Family show, Jane by Design, premiering on Jan 3rd sounds adorable. Hopefully it's not too silly and insipid.

Jane By Design is a light-hearted drama about Jane, a teenager who lands a job at Donovan Decker, a hip fashion house, when they mistake her for an adult. Jane soon finds herself juggling life both as a regular high school student and as an assistant to a high powered executive in the cutthroat world of fashion... all while trying to keep her true identity a secret.

Click on the VIDEOS to see some of the clips. At the very least the fashion looks cute.

Erica Dasher plays Jane Quimby the quirky teen with an eclectic chic fashion sense. She is truly adorable. Definitely plan to watch and blog about the show.

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

Vogue Archives and a new Fashion App

2011-12-19T02:32:00.000-08:00

The entirety of the Vogue archives — every issue since 1892 has been digitally scanned, page by page, and made available through a pricey new subscription site. There are roughly 2,800 issues in the archive (Vogue was published weekly until 1912, and has been monthly, with the exception of some war years, only since 1973) and so it holds the potential for endless examination. Click here to find out more. Also take a look at the 90 second demo! Awesome. Of course, the only down side is that the subscription is $1500 per year. A lovely Holiday gift idea though! Wish they put this all on a DVD!

The "Collection" - A new ipdad app from the New York Times. The Collection, an iPad app from The New York Times, creates a new way for tablet readers to experience The Times's fashion and style coverage. With an elegant, immersive and highly visual user interface, this app is a one-stop destination for all things fashion from across The Times. The Collection builds on exclusive coverage from Styles, T Magazine and The International Herald Tribune and adds slide shows, video and updates from The Times’s fashion blogs. The Collection app is free to download and all content will be free through March 14, 2012. After this date, some content will remain free but only New York Times subscribers will have unlimited access to the app.
Since I subscribe to the Sunday NYT I am able to enjoy this app. It is a great value added addition to my subscription. I love this App.

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

Vince Camuto Skirt at Nordstroms

2011-12-12T15:15:00.000-08:00

Hope you all like this cute new skirt, by Vince Camuto, I bought at Nordstroms last week. I went back a few weeks later, with my girlfriend Becky, and asked her to take a few photos of me with the dummy!

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

Little White Dress (LWD) - Bridal gown

2011-12-05T10:48:00.000-08:00

Short dresses are no longer a fleeting trend in bridal. As boutique weddings grow in popularity these mini alternatives are following suit. It seems to be more of a trend to wear a short dress in the summer. But this style can be worn any time of the year. It is even suggested to wear the little white dress for your rehearsal dinner to reception to your honeymoon or a romantic destination wedding.

Description: Taffeta, Neckline, Spaghetti Straps, Embellishments, Lace-up Back, Bolero/Handbag. Color is Ivory and white. Fabric is Taffeta. I adore the lace-up back, the gorgeous frilly necklace, and the spaghetti straps. The model is wearing classy sandals. But the dress could also be worn with more traditional white satin pumps.

Marys Bridal STYLE: S11-2212

Kashimashi: Girl meets Girl

2011-11-18T02:59:00.000-08:00

I just finished watching the Anime Kashimashi: Girl Meets Girl!
There were 15 episodes. I really loved the anime. It was so sweet. I felt like I could really relate to all the girls. Hazumu, Tamari and Yasuna. Also, the animation was wonderful. The version I watched (DVD) was dubbed in English.

"Hazumu's friends have always considered him "almost like a girl." But what happens when it becomes literal? After being rejected by the girl he likes, Hazumu goes for a walk in the woods, where an alien spaceship accidentally crash-lands on top of him. To honor the galactic code, the aliens restore Hazumu's life—but have reversed his gender by mistake! Now Hazumu must live the rest of her life as a girl, while the aliens move into her house and follow her around."
That's just the beginning of the anime. It gets even more fun after that!

The title Kashimashi loosely translates as "noisy, boisterous, or clamorous" and is derived from the Japanese phrase, "When three women gather, it is noisy". (LOL - You can just imagine the noise when 20+ Lolitas gather for a meetup).

There are lots of different sub plots in the anime that combine to make this interesting and delightful. At a certain point I developed a real empathy for the main characters.
It's a combination if a gender-bending comedy, lots of Sci-fi with the alien Hitoshi and an artificially intelligent gynoid named Jan Pu. But most of all a very touching romantic love triangle between the three girls!

I also enjoyed the situations where Hazumu's best male friend Asuta Soro also starts having romantic feelings for Hazumu, but tries his best to repress them. Hazumu attempting to buy her first bra is pretty humorous.

I highly recommend the anime for a light an enjoyable treat!
KashiMashi at Anime New Network

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

Macon Meetup

2011-11-08T02:51:00.000-08:00

Had a lovely day last Saturday going to Macon for lunch, a stroll in the park and stopping at the Tangier outlet mall. Some photos with a group of adorable Lolitas!

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

Pullip Romantic Alice Set Announced

2011-11-06T03:41:00.000-08:00

I seemed to have missed this announcement last May. The entire collection looks amazing! But the best BJD of the group is Romantic Alice.

Some feedback from another blogger:
Romantic Alice is a gorgeous doll! She's every bit as pretty as her photographs! She is my second Pullip. I love all the ruffles, lace and details.

From the You Tube videos I have seen she looks lovely with an incredible attention to detail.
So, Should I add her to my Pullip collection? Hmmmmmmmmmm.

Video1
Video2

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

Kate Bosworth wears Tom Ford

2011-11-04T05:26:00.000-07:00

Must share this amazing photo spread in the November InStyle. Isn't that green gown the most amazing and gorgeous dress?

WHBM: Pink floral Jacquard dress

2011-11-02T01:58:00.000-07:00

I blogged about this gorgeous party dress last December. Here are some new photos that really show off how gorgeous this dress is.
Note the fabulous purple suede platforms!

Andrea Nicole Baker

A visual Tribute to Steve Jobs - Thanks for Thinking Different!

2011-10-24T11:07:00.000-07:00

Credit

Steve Jobs Tribute Page.

Thanks for my Mac(s), ipod, iphone, ipad and for democratizing the world.

Andrea Nicole Baker

Happy 10th Birthday ipod

2011-10-24T10:43:00.000-07:00

I'm still trying to put my thoughts together about Steve Jobs impact on our lives. But, pardon the interruption, the 10th anniversary of the ipod was yesterday. I still remember carrying around a case with 20 CDs and a CD player. How annoying was that? There were MP3 players but they were a miserable lot of crappy technology. Watch this clip of Steve Jobs introducing the ipod back in 2001.

This is the first step of Apple totally reinventing the music business. An amazing look back at history at what was then. We now take for granted that we have "1000 songs in our pocket" (except that now it is closer to 10,000+). When you finally see the ipod (Steve takes it out of his pocket) it still looks like great design and revolutionary. Thanks, Steve.

Btw - Anyone you know have a Zune? LOL. Microsoft finally killed that product this year.

Background on how the ipod was created.

NY Times article.

Andrea Nicole Baker

We're on CNN! Geek Out....

2011-10-24T08:48:00.000-07:00

What an incredible surprise to see that Lolita Fashion has gone mainstream. Read the article at this link.

On the whole the article captures the essence of the fashion and those of us who love it. Hopefully it will capture the interest of the readers who might just start to explore Lolita Fashion a bit deeper. As we know, there are so many resources on the internet.

Also mentioned is the quarterly Gothic and Lolita bible in English. Reminds me how sad I am that it stopped being published. I still get the Japanese version every quarter. The fashion photos are still work the price of the magazine.

My favorite statement is "While lolita fashion still remains a niche in the United States, women who participate in it are passionate about it." Darn straight!

BTW - most of the comments to the article are inane and stupid. (Male comments obviously) But some are truly worth a laugh. Can people truly be so stupid and ignorant? There are a few good and thought provoking comments also.

Andrea Nicole Baker

Birthday Party

2011-10-23T12:17:00.000-07:00

Some terrific photos of my Birthday Party yesterday. Even more fun was that Lindsay and I decided to celebrate our birthdays together. The theme was Disney Princess! Another amazing and fun meetup. If you look closely my dress has a Cinderella theme!

2012 Andrea Nicole Baker - Glamour Calendar available

2011-10-13T15:13:00.000-07:00

If you are interested in purchasing my 2012 calendar please send me an email and I will provide you with the details on how to purchase. Last year I sold over 100 calendars. This year's calendar contains all new glamour photos taken over the past year. Here are a few example months. Enjoy!

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

AWA 2011

2011-10-12T03:35:00.000-07:00

I've been so busy lately that I have had no time to sit down and post about some recent events.
I spent the entire Saturday at AWA. Was so much fun between the seminars, (I got a free Anime and bought 2 others. Will blog about them eventually.) shopping, spending time with girlfriends, the fashion show, and so much more. So here are some photos of me in my new dress from my BFF Miscy.

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

The Little White Dress (more)

2011-09-11T03:33:00.000-07:00

I happened across a fabulous site - Dolly Couture. Gorgeous LWDs! Quite a selection of short wedding dresses. Here are some of my favorites.

The Summerville from Dot Swiss Cotton

The Avila Bay

The Beverlywood

The Edmonton

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

The Little White Dress

2011-09-06T18:27:00.000-07:00

You have all heard about the Little Black Dress. A little black dress is an evening or cocktail dress, cut simply and often quite short. Fashion historians ascribe the origins of the little black dress to the 1920s designs of Coco Chanel, intended to be long-lasting, versatile, affordable, accessible to the widest market possible and in a neutral color. Its ubiquity is such that it is often simply referred to as the "LBD."

But today I want to blog and the "Little White Dress". What about wearing the "Little White Dress" as a wedding dress instead of the traditional bridal gown? Not every bride is into the poufy glam-and-glitz formal wedding gown. The dress can be beautiful and stylish without all the fluff of the traditional princess bridal gown. Most definitely a new trend

alfredoangelo
lightinthebox
Zoom Bridal
weddingdresses100
AMSALE

A few of my favorites:

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

Sexy Bottom Lashes a Challenge? Problem Solved.

2011-09-05T13:11:00.000-07:00

Clinique's new Bottom Lash Mascara is the answer!I purchased for $10 at Macy's a week ago. I will NOT be without if as part of my makeup routine going forward. The brush is perfectly engineered for tiny bottom lashes. It makes it so easy to give each and every tiny bottom lash the full treatment. It also resists smears and does NOT clump. Most every Every mascara i have ever tried on my lower lashes has flaked or smudged horribly. This product was so overdue. I either wear false eyelashes or mascara on my upper eyelashes. They always look great. But trying to do comparable good work on the lower lashes was always a struggle. I highly recommend this product for everyone. This is a great product.

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

Fall Fashion season

2011-08-31T03:45:00.000-07:00

So the magazines have been arriving in my mail box. We're going to be looking at Harper's Bazaar, Vogue, Elle, Allure, Instyle and Lucky.

Take a peek at this link which shows all the fall magazines worth taking a look at!

Also, URBN Inc, which owns Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters and BHLDN, has opened its first BHLDN store in the nation in Highland Village (Houston) this week. A beautiful store with everything to wear to parties and weddings. Great dresses, including designer collaborations with Tracy Reese, Twinkle and Anna Sui. There's also jewelry and even bridal and party decor. Look at the photos from the new store!

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

More meetup photos

2011-08-30T02:49:00.000-07:00

Click on the link to Kyla's blog for more photos.

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

Lolita Meet up - As summer winds down

2011-08-28T04:53:00.000-07:00

Next week is September and Labor Day weekend. While the temperatures in HotLanta will take 3 or 4 weeks more to seem fall-like the "con" season is right before us. Can't Wait!
Yesterday afternoon we have a lovely Birthday Party (Happy B'Day Kyla) at my place. 25 Lolitas plus a few boy friends. Lots of food and fun!
(Check out those yummy cupcakes and that delicious birthday cake)

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

7,000

2011-08-25T15:24:00.000-07:00

So what is the significance of seven thousand? It's the number of photos that are in my Flickr photo galleria. When I finished moving all my photos there I was surprised at the beauty of that lovely round number.

This is the link to my new Galleria. Click on "Organize and Create" and then "Sets" so that you can browse all the different collections and themes. So why Flickr? My Home Page will be going away in June 2012. That's when Apple will disable the home page functionality. But I have not been doing updates for a year now. Between Flickr for my photos, my blog, and Facebook I have a perfect social media presence for you all to connect with.

Feel free to add comments to any of my photos on Flickr. If there is one you love email me and I will send you a high resolution version. Please tell me the SET and the unique Identifier of the photo in the set.

I will be posting a little blurb about a specific set once a month on my blog. I'll tell you about the outfit. Where the photos were taken and some background info. Keep checking for new additions to my Flickr Galleria.

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

A MAD MEN spin off...?

2011-08-25T07:02:00.000-07:00

As you all know once a type of TV show or movie becomes successful there are hundreds of attempts to replicate that success. For example the success of BATMAN and SUPERMAN have spun off so many superhero movies that I cannot keep track of them all. Same for all the fantasy movies like Lord of the Rings. But there are unique movies and tv shows that do not seem to be able to be easily spun-off and replicated.

Mad Men is an amazing show. Throw back to the early sixtes. The gorgeous clothes and sets. Everything down to the last detail is so perfect.
Set in 1960s New York, the sexy, stylized and provocative AMC drama Mad Men follows the lives of the ruthlessly competitive men and women of Madison Avenue advertising, an ego-driven world where key players make an art of the sell.

So I just got an email about another show set in the 1960s. Definitely a throw back to an era that does not exist anymore. But I expect that the sex and the drama (just like Mad Men) might make this a successful show. Certainly more appealing than all those reality shows.

The name of the show is "The Playboy Club". It premiers on NBC on September 19th at 10/9C. Here is the concept. (also the trailer).

"From Academy Award-winning executive producer Brian Grazer, "The Playboy Club" is a provocative new NBC drama about a time and place that challenged the existing social mores and transformed American culture forever. It's the early 1960s, and at the center of Chicago lies the legendary and seductive Playboy Club, a living, breathing fantasy world filled with $1.50 cocktails, music, glitter and of course, beautiful Bunnies. The key to the club, which offers the ultimate in beauty, is the most sought-after status symbol of its time. But all that glitters isn't gold, and in the back rooms and alleys behind the club, life happens - both good and bad.

Nick Dalton (Eddie Cibrian, "CSI: Miami," "Third Watch") is the ultimate playboy and one of the city's top attorneys, rubbing elbows with everyone in the Windy City's power structure. With mysterious and complicated ties to the mob, he comes to the aid of Maureen (Amber Heard, "Zombieland," "Pineapple Express"), the stunning and innocent new Bunny at the club, who accidentally kills the patriarch of the Bianchi crime family. Dating Nick is Carol-Lynne (Laura Benanti, "Take the Lead," "Eli Stone"), a bombshell of a beauty and an established star at the Playboy Club who's ready to be more than a Bunny. As she seeks an opportunity to elevate her stature even higher at the club, she can't help but notice that something is developing between Nick and Maureen. Adding to the charm of the club is Janie (Jenna Dewan Tatum, "American Virgin," "Step Up"), the foxy and carefree life of the party who is dating Max (Wes Ramsey, "CSI: Miami," "Dracula's Guest"), a sweet and romantic bartender. Brenda (Naturi Naughton, "Lottery Ticket," "Fame"), a stunning beauty with a dry wit, has big aspirations. Bunny Alice (Leah Renee, "True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet") manages to take care of everyone but herself, and while married, is hiding a huge secret from everyone. Pearl (Jenifer Lewis, "Strong Medicine," "What's Love Got To Do With It") is the club's seamstress who's been there since day one and knows more about what it takes to survive than anyone. Running the club and answering only to the top is general manager Billy Morton (David Krumholtz, "Numb3rs," "Superbad"), who also shares a close friendship with Nick. With all of these larger-than-life ambitions, there are even greater secrets. It's a good thing Hef's Playboy Mansion is open after hours for a little R&R - and burying your past."

Definitely look like worth checking out at least for the premier.

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

Happy Birthday, Coco Chanel

2011-08-23T10:05:00.000-07:00

Paris is Always a Good Idea (clipped to polyvore.com)

Coco Chanel was born on the 19th of August 1883. Both an innovator and icon, Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel is one of the most influential fashion designers in history. Known for the little black dress and Chanel No. 5 perfume. Here are some lovely PolyVore Channel sets for the occasion.

Coco Chanel by kenguri featuring a patent bag

Marc Jacobs shirts blouse
$475 - mytheresa.com

Chanel jacket
edressonline.com

Steven Alan cotton skirt
$109 - stevenalan.com

Christian Louboutin ballerina shoes
€369 - unger-fashion.com

Fashion Icon: Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel by shonshyne featuring a black tote bag

Roberto Cavalli suede pants
€2.618 - luisaviaroma.com

Twenty 8 twelve
$98 - im-hm.com

Chanel beige heels
emphaticnyc.com

Chanel black tote bag
$925 - directboutiqueshop.com

Kenneth Jay Lane gold bangle
€290 - pret-a-beaute.com

Susan Caplan Vintage drop earrings
$870 - asos.com

White earrings
$39,000 - pearlparadise.com

Dior 'Pink Golds' Minaudiere
$80 - nordstrom.com

CHANEL ROUGE COCO Lipstick | Cosmetics | Holt Renfrew
$38 - holtrenfrew.com

CHANEL COCO PARFUM
$105 - nordstrom.com

Chanel Le Vernis Nail Color Colour Polish Coromandel No. 473
$25 - izzysbeautyshoppe.com

Rustic Metal Eiffel Tower Replicas - Paris Souvenirs
$8 - souvenirsofparis.com

Alessandra AmbrosioStorm Models
€39 - stormmodels.com

COCO AVANT CHANEL Exclusive boxset DVD Coco Avant Chanel
€150 - colette.fr

Fall Fashion

2011-08-20T10:51:00.000-07:00

After a summer break it's time to get back to blogging and focusing on fall. The first sign of fall is when the Fall fashion magazines appear in my mailbox. They are all mega issues of 600+pages crammed of ads and fall fashions. Plus the key department stores (Macys, Bloomingdales, Nordstroms, etc) start showing fall fashions.

First to arrive was my Fall Fashion Issue of Harper's Bazaar. Can Vogue and Elle be far behind?

Here is a quick preview of Fall Fashion trends at about.com. This includes leather dresses, fur, polka dots, menswear, lace, shimmer,color blocking, booties, turtlenecks and colored pants. My faves are lace and polka dots

Lots of other events happening in September:

Dragoncon Labor Day Weekend
Anime Weekend Atlanta Sept 20 - Oct 2
Southern Comfort Conference Sept 21-25

Plus a few other surprises to blog about!
In the meantime here is a new photo of me. More news to come soon!

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

Pink in the summer

2011-07-24T02:56:00.000-07:00

A lovely summer visit to GreenField Village (Dearborn, Michigan)

Blue Outfit (INC)

2011-07-23T18:10:00.000-07:00

Orange Dress

2011-07-19T00:16:00.000-07:00

Portrait of Andrea

2011-07-06T18:16:00.001-07:00

Sweet!
By Donni Smith (that girl has talent!)

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

July: Taking a summer break from Blogging

2011-07-01T01:00:00.000-07:00

I'm taking a brief respite from blogging this month. I might be posting a few random things during the month but mostly I'll be taking a break. Here are some recent photos to enjoy in the meantime. The top and mini skirt are from a cute boutique in London.

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

June: Shopping: White House Black Market

2011-06-29T01:00:00.000-07:00

A new outfit at one of my favorite shops! I love that they now have a selection of pinks and reds with the traditional Black and white. I love the flouncy skirt and the pretty red flowers. The top matches the color of the flowers. Just seems to be a perfect combination. I'm wearing 3" black patent leather pumps. Giggle. What are you staring at?

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

My New Gothic and Lolita Book Available

2011-06-28T01:59:00.001-07:00

Click on the book to see a short preview. There are 120+ pages of photos.

Gothic and Lol...

Atlanta Lolitas

By Andrea Nicole Baker

Book Preview

June: Photoshoot (Melty Chocolate)

2011-06-26T01:00:00.000-07:00

I love my pink AP Melty Chocolate JSK. Had a chance to take some lovely photos recently!

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

June: New Blogs I like

2011-06-24T01:00:00.000-07:00

Lots of girly girl blogs that I have found that you might like:

blissbeme A fun blog about Etsy, shopping, wedding plans and more

Top 50 girly blogs The top 50 girly blogs. Is it? Not sure but enjoy,

totallygirlieblog Lots of fun and interesting topics

populargirlsgames Cute games. Check out the Gorgeous Bride in White Game

blissbeme A fun blog about Etsy, shopping, wedding plans and more

Top 50 girly blogs The top 50 girly blogs. Is it? Not sure but enjoy,

totallygirlieblog Lots of fun and interesting topics

populargirlsgames Cute games. Check out the Gorgeous Bride in White Game

Zappos Blogs Girly Fresh Picks: Color in bloom for Spring fashion

This is glamorous - Lovely things including dresses and food

princessfrivolous fun blog with lots of beautiful photos

strawberrykoi More beautiful photos of nature, fashion, etc

superkawaiimama Cute retro fashion from Australia

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

June: Aquolina Pink Sugar

2011-06-21T01:00:00.000-07:00

I just discovered a truly girly and sweet fragrance perfect for a sweet Lolita. It is Aquolina Pink Sugar.

"Stylish and lively, with a distinctive personality, Pink Sugar takes you on a journey through the pleasures and flavors of childhood with a playful blend of vanilla and caramel."

Notes: Bergamot, Sicilian Orange, Raspberry, Fig Leaves, Lily of the Valley, Licorice, Strawberry, Red Fruit, Cotton Candy, Vanilla, Caramel, Musk, Wood, Powder. Style: Playful. Mischievous. Romantic.

I have been wearing this for a couple of weeks now. It is definitely a girly scent. It's very sweet, smells like cotton candy, vanilla and caramel. It does not take a lot. A couple spritzes. Plus it is very long lasting. I could still smell hints of 'sweetness' on me throughout the day. People seem to notice it and compliment me on my fragrance. This is definitely for those of us girls who like sugary sweet scents,

There are also some other great products worth discovering:
Bath and Body Collection
Pink Sugar Body Mousse
Pink Sugar Roller Ball
Pink Sugar Hair Mist

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

London visit

2011-06-19T01:00:00.000-07:00

A little hard to see me on the steps of the EROS status at Piccadilly Circus. It's raining out. I want to get the photo taken and get back under my umbrella.

Relaxing in the lobby of the Hyatt Regency Hotel, London Marble Arch

Having lunch at the Italian restaurant at Harrods in London. What an amazing store!

Lindsay and I at Afternoon Tea at Montagu in the Hyatt Regency, We gorged ourselves on traditionally British, thinly sliced finger sandwiches, warm fruit and plain scones and pretty pasties. Was so delightful!

No need for an explanation here!

What's more British than afternoon Tea?

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

June: Purple

2011-06-18T01:00:00.000-07:00

Just a set of informal shots in a purple ensemble.

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

June: Pretty Little Things: My Juicy and Puppy

2011-06-15T01:00:00.000-07:00

June - Girly Girl: Claire Sinclair

2011-06-08T01:00:00.000-07:00

Such a gorgeous dress on Claire Sinclair ! Is it glue or tape that keeps it from the effects of gravity?

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

June - Fashion and Couture: Eva Green

2011-06-05T01:00:00.000-07:00

Some absolutely gorgeous fashion photos of Eva Green in the latest issue of Instyle. Eva Green was the female lead (Vesper Lynd) in the james Bond movie Casino Royale. Probably one of the best Bond films ever (starring Daniel Craig). Note the Lolita-like style of the last dress! She even comments on it.

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

June: Katy Perry's Betsy Johnson dress

2011-06-04T01:00:00.000-07:00

I adore Betsy Johnson. All the dresses, handbags, jewelry and accessories are so cute, girly and frilly. I have some of her jewelry and some accessories. I always stop by her store at the local mall to check out whats new. I just came across what katy Perry wore top the 2011 People's Choice Awards last January. The magenta and turquoise cutesy ball-gown was slightly modified as Katy opted to shorten it to make it a little less frou frou. What else can a girl say? The dress is stunning and Katy Perry looks fabulous in it. Plus check out Katy's purple platform heels how cute are those?

I just read, on Dreams that Glitter, that the Betsy Johnson dress that katy Perry wore is going on sale. Unfortunately, they are going on sale in New York and only 10 are available. Bummer.

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

June: Lips Lock in Sex Appeal

2011-06-02T01:00:00.000-07:00

A recent study from Manchester University in the UK claims that a touch of lipstick will draw, and hold, a man's attention. In fact, the average man spends 5.4 seconds of this first 10 seconds of meeting a woman looking at her lips, according to the study.

The University’s research concluded that pink and red lipsticks wield the most power over your man’s attention span.

Pick a shade of pink for your pucker and you’ll get an average of 6.7 seconds of lip locked attention from men. Pink may be pretty but red is riveting according the same Manchester study, which suggests that red lipstick will lock in his attention for 7.3 seconds.

You can read the entire article here. Once you have done that post your comments as to why you think this is.

"Beauty, to me, is about being comfortable in your own skin. That, or a kick-ass red lipstick." ~ Gwyneth Paltrow

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

May: Photoshoot (Spring Flowers)

2011-05-26T01:00:00.000-07:00

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

May: Five New Blogs I love!

2011-05-24T01:00:00.000-07:00

My Newest Addiction - Laura Jean's blog is full of great advice, product reviews, text and lots of photos! You can tell she is so passionate about makeup and discovering new goodies! I know we would have such fun shopping for makeup together.

Pinch of Pretty - Another fab makeup blog. Sarah provides such amazing information in great detail. i go from there to the mall (or shop online!)

Beauties in Bloom - Amanda's thoughts and experiments with girly, pretty things. I love the closeups she does! She is so adorable and cute. The makeup looks so great on her!

Fashion Cheesecake - Mia lives in NSW, Australia. The photos are stunning. I hope she plans on blogging a lot more!

Feminine Art - Makeup, Beauty and fashion. Very busy blog. Almost like a collage. But lots of fun. So many things to discover!

Love,

Andrea Nicole Baker

May: Oscar de la Renta

2011-05-21T01:00:00.000-07:00

I saw this amazing dress in a recent issue of Vogue. Look at the amazing fabric, design and style! Drop Dead Gorgeous!
You can check out the collections here and also watch the runway videos! This is a terrific place to check out Oscar de la Renta through the years!

"I always tell this story: When I started, the woman went to the store to buy a dress. She saw it in pink and red, and then she remembered that the husband, who is probably going to pay for the dress, loves it in pink. So she buys the pink. Today, the same woman goes to the store and remembers the husband likes pink, and she buys the red.'” - Oscar de la Renta

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

May: Gorgeous Lolitas

2011-05-18T01:00:00.000-07:00

Special thanks to Lolita Beauty
http://www.facebook.com/lolitafashion

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

May: Pretty Little Things: Byul as Angelic Pretty Sucre

2011-05-15T01:00:00.000-07:00

Byul as "Angelic Pretty Sucre" has an adorable pink and blue wig, blue eyes that look from side to side and has bee stung looking, pouty lips. Byul is wearing a white lace blouse, a lavendar sugary, carvinal printed sleeveless dress thats adorned with bows and lavendar lace, a matching bow headband and matching stockings. Pink lace-up shoes, a petticoat and plush magical pony purse completes this Byuls fun, carnival dream look!

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

May Girly Girl - Disney Princess Birthday Party

2011-05-08T01:00:00.000-07:00

The consensus among my girlfriends is that it would be wonderful to have a Disney Princess Birthday party. Everyone loves the idea! So be it! Here are some ideas that I found online.

First of all each girl must come as one of the Disney Princesses: Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Cinderella, Aurora or Snow White.
That doesn't require a complete dress of the character but at least some articles or colors that the chosen Disney Princess would have.

Party Supplies: Wow! Was I surprised. Not a problem. Every kind of item is available online or at Wal-mart. See this link to Birthday Direct. Plates, cups, napkins, balloons, party favors, decorations and so much more. Things I would never have even thought of!

Decorations: Party props are essential for setting a festive tone.
Use a white tressel and hang pink streamers and curling ribbon from top to bottom. Cover with pink and white balloons and even some white Christmas lights. Find a pretty chair to set under the tressel. Tie some awesome super shaped Disney Princess balloons to the chair and to the tressel for a stunning birthday party room eye catcher. This, of course, will be the princess’ throne where she can open presents and take photos. Use a matching set of streamers, balloons and curling ribbon for each pattern to decorate the whole room. Tie a Disney Princess theme balloon to the back of each chair with lots of streamers and curling ribbon accents. Put a cute clear acrylic slipper that has each guest’s name and little candies at each place setting.

Yummy Food Ideas:
PINK PRINCESS PUNCH- strawberry sherbert and gingerale
DAINTY PRINCESS SANDWICHES- make these with a heart shaped cookie cutter. Make lunch meat and strawberry cream cheese sandwiches with wheat bread on one side and white on the other.
STRAWBERRY DIAMONDS -strawberries dipped in white chocolate
QUEEN OF HEARTS-Make heart shaped cookies and have girls decorate them
PRINCESS PRETZELS- dip pretzel sticks in white chocolate. Add pink or red sprinkles
PRINCE CHOCOLATE KISSES- every princess needs a kiss
POPCORN, CHIPS,OR PRETZELS- served in tiara shaped bowls.
STRAWBERRY ICECREAM- pink for any princess 

Party Games:

Pretty Pretty Princess Sleeping Beauty

Disney Princess Sing-A-Long Songs

Disney Princess Chutes and Ladders

PRETTY PINK PRINCESSES PRIMPING PARTY - Have a table area with a sign labeled Princess Ariel's Makeover”. Start with a hand massage with a sweet smelling hand cream, then have the girls do nails. Give them each a Disney Princess ring and matching bracelet. Eyebrow pencils, rouge, lipstick and eye shadow can be part of this makeup area. Order cute Disney Princess mirrors and mirror compacts.

Treat bags and Presents - All with the Disney Princess theme!

Love

Andrea Nicole Baker

Kylie Minogue Concert at the Fox

2011-05-07T13:06:00.000-07:00

Betty and I went to the Kylie Minogue concert last night. Not being all that familiar with her repertoire I did not know what to expect. Frankly, I thought it would be a laid back concert with mostly sitting and gentle applause. What we got was a two hour song and dance Las Vegas spectacular. Great music, glorious dancing and the most amazing stage sets. The theme was ‘Aphrodite Live’. With that title what we saw was highlighted pageantry, hedonism, sensuality, and elaborate costumes. Plus two hours on our feel dancing, screaming and applauding. Here is the review of last nights' concert.

A quick photo of the two of us before the concert!

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

May - fashion/Couture: My First AP JSK

2011-05-05T01:00:00.000-07:00

Last March I posted about how much I love AP Melty Chocolate. It finally arrived! Literally 30 minutes before the spring meetup in April. So here are some of the photos!

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

May 1, 2011 - Justice!

2011-05-02T16:44:00.001-07:00

On May 1, 2011, the 66th anniversary of the death of Adolf Hitler, Osama Bin Laden was killed by American soldiers. Another embodiment of pure evil dies on the trash heap of history.

The photo on the left is from Sept 12, 2001 as the American flag is unveiled from the roof of the Pentagon. God Bless President Obama, our military forces, intelligence agencies and all the men and women who worked for years to bring this terrorist to Justice.

The last image OBL saw on this earth was a group of American Navy Seals come to dispatch him directly to hell!

April - Shopping for gorgeous dresses (Odette Christiane)

2011-04-29T01:00:00.000-07:00

Odette Christiane designs and produces two distinct lines of clothing, Dresses.com and MalibuStrings.com. Dresses.com specializes in special occasion dresses. These dresses have been featured on various TV shows including Deal or No Deal and the Price is Right. The other line is Malibu Strings, which specializes in micro bikinis and panties.

I have always loved dresses.com. The seasonal design of formal, cocktail and prom dresses are always stunning and creative

A recent review:
Dresses.com features the amazing designs of Odette Christiane who is known as one of the most creative and influential designers to emerge from the Los Angeles fashion scene in the last twenty years, Odette Christiane has become one of the fashion world's preeminent trendsetters. Born in Marseilles, France and raised in Los Angeles, California, Christiane's fashions reflect a hybrid point of view that integrates her two very distinct cultural experiences. By weaving together the seductive allure of French style and the drama and energy of Los Angeles, Christiane's designs transcend and transform the usual categories of artistic craftsmanship.

Check out this You Tube video all about her dresses!
Some of my favorite new cocktail dresses!

Andrea Nicole Baker

April - Disney Princess Skirt

2011-04-26T01:00:00.000-07:00

April - Gothic and Lolita Bible: Spring 2011 (#39)

2011-04-24T01:00:00.000-07:00

I received the latest issue of the Gothic and Lolita Bible last month. While, I can't read Japanese there is enough English text to make things out. What I love are the fashion photos. Here are a few of my favorite photos from the magazine.

I adore this new AP print - Pansy basket - Tooo Cute

Another gorgeous dress from Innocent World

Love

Andrea Nicole Baker

Sixty is a magic number

2011-04-23T09:16:00.000-07:00

Last June I posted that I had reached 30 followers of my Gothic and Lolita Blog. In less than a year I have now doubled the followers of my blog. That seems so amazing. I'm happy that you all enjoy what I am posting. I'd love to know more about what you would like me to write about in the future.

This was a portrait of me that was drawn at Momocon, in March, by a very talented artist.

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

My New Pullip Prupate Doll

2011-04-22T03:27:00.000-07:00

My Pullip Prupate Doll finally arrived after 5 months from the initial announcement! She is gorgeous. Here are photos of her and also how she looks with all my other Pullips! Please tell me what you think!

Prupate, an angelic beauty! Glittery purple eyes! Recreation of Japanese fashion dress, Star Night Theater from Angelic Pretty in Pullip's size! This elegant Pullip Prupate doll perfectly portrays Angelic Pretty's Charm. An honest recreation of Star Night Theater coordination in Pullip's size. Prupate's outfit is centered around a vivid red dress. Notice the unique pigtails with mixed hair. Mystical glittery, purple eyes.

Andrea Nicole Baker

April - Girlfriends

2011-04-21T13:00:00.000-07:00

This one is dedicated to a very, very special girlfriend who I think the world of and treasure as a wonderful and supportive friend. She is smart, sweet and gorgeous!

With All My Love,
Andrea Nicole

April - Pretty Little Things - Pullips

2011-04-15T13:00:00.000-07:00

There are my collection of Pullips. Hope you enjoy. I'll write more about them in a future blog post. Also note the beautiful water colors behind them.

Pullip is a collectible fashion doll created by Cheonsang Cheonha of South Korea in 2003. Pullip has an oversized head on a jointed plastic body, with eyes that can change positions and wink. Pullip was first marketed by Jun Planning of Japan, but since early 2009, it has been marketed by Groove of Korea. Pullip (풀잎) means 'blade of grass/leaf' in Korean. Since the release of the original female doll, other lines of dolls have been added: male companion dolls Namu (나무, tree) and Taeyang (태양, sun), younger sister doll Dal (달, moon), and Dal's best friend Byul (별, star). There is also a miniature line of Little Pullip and Little Dal. Pullip dolls are often customized. Later releases have wigs that can be replaced and the eye color can easily be changed.

April - Fun with Quizzes (also try yourself!)

2011-04-11T01:00:00.000-07:00

Are you a glam doll?

My Quiz Result: You are a born glam doll. You love to look drop dead gorgeous and wear the latest fashion. You like to set trends rather than following them.

Take this quiz: Are you a glam doll?

Take more quizzes, myspace quizzes and fun quizzes on personality, love and other topics.

Are you a girly girl?

My Quiz Result: You are totally a girly girl.

Take this quiz: Are you a girly girl?

Take more quizzes, myspace quizzes and fun quizzes on personality, love and other topics.

Am I sweet girl?

My Quiz Result: You are a sweet girl. You are liked by many.

Take this quiz: Am I sweet girl?

Take more Quizzes For Girls.

April - Girly Girl - Zooey Deschanel

2011-04-08T01:00:00.000-07:00

Zooey Deschanel is the cover girl in this month's LUCKY magazine. Zooey is wearing Marc by Marc Jacobs cotton/silk “Odette Dot” dress and the Evil Eye Necklace by Kara Ackerman Designs. OMG! I love that dress! Been looking all over the internet to see where to order or find it!

In the article she is described as "The Girly Girl's girl". Perfect! This is what she says about her personal style "I would say girly, flirtatious, colorful.” She pauses mulling this over for a minute. “Feminine, maybe, and soft. But yeah, definitely colorful.”

She says that when she was a young girl her parents encouraged her to pick out her own outfits. "I wanted to look real girly like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. I'm still the same way."

I love this soft cotton tulle dress she is wearing in the photo spread. She's so cute and adorable. Certainly not an aloof star but a real down-to-earth girl you could get to know and go shopping with.

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

April - Fashion/Couture: Alexander McQueen Fall 2011 RTW

2011-04-05T15:07:00.000-07:00

I do try to follow the Fashion weeks in Paris, New York and other fabulous places. Here is the complete Alexander McQueen Collection. Theese dresses are my favorites.

Andrea Nicole Baker

March - Shopping and some cute photos

2011-03-26T17:53:00.000-07:00

I'm standing in front of the Anthropologie Store at Perimeter Mall. I love this display. The dress seems to be made of paper. The decorations are really rolled up zippers. Very Creative. Hope you like my outfit and the photos.
BTW - The complete outfit (except for the heels) is International Concepts (INC) from Macys.

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

March- new blogs - Japanese Street Fashion

2011-03-24T13:00:00.000-07:00

I love discovering new (for me) blogs about Japanese Street Fashion.

Aimee Lily Rose has a beautiful blog about alternative fashion, art, movies and inspirations. I especially love her detailed post about Japanese Street Fashion. The photos are wonderful. Such a variety of Lolita styles! I'd love to have this cute ensemble!

Lolita Weekly is an adorable blog by a student who is a lifestyle lolita and adores all things cute! This posting is a very interesting that sets proper expectations about the public's acceptance and knowledge of the Gothic and Lolita lifestyle. She is absolutely right that Lolita has a very small following and that we cannot expect everyone to understand our love for the fashion. What amazes me is when someone sees us and says "What a sweet group of Lolitas!" That is definitely the exception.

Dolly Dreams is another wonderful and cute blog by a lifestyle Lolita. This is her posting about Japanese Street fashion. I do love how cute and Kawaii her blog is.

Also check out this blog for lots of cute photos of japanese Street fashion.

March - How to Be a Himegyaru

2011-03-21T01:00:00.000-07:00

Hime gyaru is a style from Japan, and it means "Princess girl". I love dressing girly and looking adorable, so I'm going to see what I can do to put this look together for myself.

Here are some basics for the style:
Dresses are mostly knee-length, but some are shorter. Popular things on hime gyaru dresses are fake fur, pearls, animal print, flowers, bows and anything that's cute and sweet. But keep all these things in moderation, like ruffles just at the bottom of a dress, or lace on the sleeves. Don't make yourself look like your outfit it's eating you alive! Dressed tend to be very regal looking, and generally are in pastel colors-- after all, you're a princesss girl! Some popular brands are Jesus Diamante and Liz Lisa.

Makeup is important!! Hime gyaru gals usually wear lots of makeup, but it is very simple looking. Usually a himegyaru will wear liquid (most popular) eyeliner in black, light foundation, false eyelashes and/or mascara and pink lipgloss/lipstick. Eye makeup is usually done to make the eyes appear larger.

Get a hair accessory. One huge flower (i.e. a rose) or a silk bow are good hair accessories. If you don't have a bow a little crown or tiara (it shouldn't be too big or it will look funny), whether plastic or metal, will be an adorable option. You MUST have a hair accessory. Popular hairstyles include having your hair teased into a high beehive or boufant hairstyle, with lots of curls, or having a nice, simple bun. Straightened hair isn't very hime unless you have a boufant to accompany it--the elaborate big-hair hairdo is a trademark hime gyaru style. The hime haircut is perfect for hime gyaru--it's basically long bangs cut to your jaw, with regular bangs as well, the rest of the hair is cut evenly at one length.

Get some type of nails. Fake nails are very pretty, especially they are nice if you naturally have short nails, but if you want to go totally natural, a clear or shimmery white nail coating can be used. They should be decorated/painted in some fashion.

So this is my first attempt. Love the wig. I'm also wearing a little tiara. More accessories to come.

More to come.

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

March - girlfriends

2011-03-18T01:00:00.000-07:00

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

March - Pretty Little Things: Baby Girl Boutique

2011-03-15T13:00:00.000-07:00

Some interesting pretty little things from Baby Girl Boutique. A great selection of lingerie, shoes, jewelry and other pretty little things. Feel free to send me a gift of any of these!

Purple Satin & Black Lace Pin Up Girl Platforms with 5 3/4" Heel

Double Tattoo Hearts Stainless Steel Toggle Clasp Rockabilly Necklace

"Lingerie in The Line" Cotton A-Line Skirt

Fuchsia Pink Blossom Fascinator Hair Clip with Black Feather Accent

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

March - 30 things every Lolita must have!

2011-03-11T17:50:00.000-08:00

I really loved this post at F yeah Lolita about 3o things every Lolita must have. So here are my answers:

1. A workable Lolita wardrobe. Whatever this means to you, either a couple mix and matchable outfits, or a whole walk in closet filled with frills.
It has taken awhile but I now have a lovely collection of dresses, skirts, blouses. Love to see all the frills when I walk into my closet.

2. At least one petticoat! To achieve the perfect poof. Have 3 petticoats! 2 White and 1 black!

3. A good mascara, to create a dolly-eyed look. I love mascara. I try a new one every 4 months.

4. A Livejournal so you can watch and comment on EGL. Yes, but we have really left that behind and are now using Facebook.

5. A feedback page for the egl_comm_sales so you can sell off what you don't wear when it comes time for closet cleaning and buy some cheap second-hand pieces to fill the void! Not Yet, but soon.

6. A favorite style, even if you can never stick to just one! Sweet Lolita!

7. A dream dress, either hanging up in your closet or one that you can dream of one day owning.
It's on order. Shhhh. It is a secret!

8. A favorite shopping service, so you're ready when your dream dress goes up for sale on a Japanese auction site. My Shopping service is called Amber!

9. At least one piece of brand, even if it's just a headbow or a tote bag, it's always nice to have something that was made by one of the people who popularized the style you love so much. I have a couple of brand dresses (Megan Maude)

10. A winter coat with enough flare to fit over your skirts and not squish it (if you live somewhere cold enough!). Need to get one for next winter!

11. A frilly "house dress" for when you want to wear some frills but you don't feel like going anywhere. Yes!!

12. A collection of Gothic & Lolita Bibles, so you can ooh and aah over all the pretty clothes. Scans are just as good as the real thing, but scans don't come with stickers and patterns! I love browsing through my collection of G&L Bibles. Wish the English version was still being published.

13. A Malice Mizer album because, let's face it, whether we like it or not, Mana is Lord of the Lolitas. Not Yet!

14. A mix CD of songs that remind you of Lolita, so you have something to put on while you get ready for meetups, to add a little bit of extra loli-ness to your day. Most Definitely and very girly girl!

15. A copy of Kamakazi Girls. The manga, the movie, or the book, it doesn't matter! Even if you don't care for it, you should at least know who Momoko is. I have the DVD. Love watching it over and over.

16. A Lolita blouse or cutsew that you can wear with "normal" clothes like a pair of jeans or a nice skirt. For when you have to do something mundane, but don't want to leave all the frills at home! Yes, in pink and white

17. A dress that's not your normal style at all. Maybe it's a super sweet print in a closet full of Gothic dresses, or a Punk Lolita piece in a closet full of Sweet dresses. Something to work on. A Punk piece would be so much fun!

18. A parasol to keep the sun out of your eyes. Need it for summer here in Atlanta.

19. A Tide To Go pen, just in case you spill something! YES!

20. Something you made yourself. A necklace, some sock toppers, a hair bow, or even a whole dress. Hmmmm. Have to do that sooner or later!

21. An elegant local place that you could have an impromptu meetup, just in case you find another Lolita in the area. My new place is perfect for the girls to just come over for a visit.

22. A pair of comfortable but cute shoes, for days when you're all dressed up but know you're going to be walking a lot. Yes - and they are so cute!

23. A pair of boots or even cute rain boots, for when the weather is less than nice but you still need to wear Lolita. Time to buy a pair of Lolita boots!

24. A pair of wrist cuffs, to wear in the summer with short sleeves, and to wear in the cooler months with long sleeves to add a little extra ruffle to them. Or even to wear as sock toppers when you need to! Yes!

25. A pair of fluffy and cute slippers, so you don't get the bottoms of your socks dirty while getting ready or walking around the house. Yes!

26. A piece of clothing/accessory that always manages to impress people. Maybe it's a perfectly styled wig, a rare print, a unique hand made piece, or something over-the-top extravagant. My Juicy charm bracelet!

27. An elegant place to relax after a day of wearing all the layers and frills of Lolita. Cafe Intermezzo.

28. A tube of sock glue, for that pair of socks that you can never get to stay up. Not a problem.

29. A favorite color or motif so you can get excited when designers release something featuring it. Pink and more pink.

30. A story you can share whenever people ask you "How did you first discover Lolita?" My first meetup!

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

March Girly Girl (Sweet Lolita)

2011-03-08T01:00:00.000-08:00

I love being a "Sweet Lolita".
Sweet Lolita is the most over-the-top style and includes aesthetics nearly exclusive to lolita. It is also the most child-like of the lolita styles, using many bows, ruffles and light colors to make up an outfit. The most common colors used in a Sweet Lolita outfit are pink, white, and powder blue, but an outfit can be made with nearly any pastel or plaid (or nearly any color at all as long as it is not neon). Common motifs in Sweet Lolita are toys, strawberries, cherries, cakes and candies, hearts, polka dots and flowers. Prints inspired by fairy tales are also quite common. Light, natural make-up complements this style. Teased out pigtails and bouncy curls are commonly worn by Sweet Lolitas.

Now on to the sweet photos!

March Fashion: I love AP Melty Chocolate

2011-03-05T01:00:00.000-08:00

I adore Angelic Pretty's Melty Chocolate JSK. This video says it all. Isn't she adorable. Enjoy the lovely photos (and stay tuned for more..... Smile)

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

My favorite gowns at the oscars

2011-02-28T17:36:00.000-08:00

Natalie Portman in in a deep-purple off-the-shoulder billowy silk chiffon gown by Rodarte and tassel earrings by Tiffany

Mila Kunis in a lavender lace and silk organza gown by Elie Saab Haute Couture

Gwyneth Paltrow

Amy Adams wearing a deep-violet, sparkly cap sleeve dress by L'Wren Scott

Camila Alves and Matthew McConaughey

Marisa Tomei

February - Butterfly!

2011-02-27T01:00:00.000-08:00

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

February - new blogs that I like

2011-02-24T01:00:00.000-08:00

Some recently discovered Lolita blogs that I like:

A sparkling Tea Party
A sweet Lolita in Debt
ChickyThing
Dear SweetLings
Gothic and Lolita Sewing
Lolita Fairy

Some Lovely Tea Blogs
History of High Tea
High Tea Recipes

Fashion Blogs
Dreams That Glitter
Drop Dead Cute

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

Kami-con at University of Alabama

2011-02-21T16:15:00.000-08:00

Flo and I drove to Tuscaloosa on Sunday to meetup with the Alabama Lolitas for a picnic at Kami-Con. It was a beautiful sunny day. We had a lovely time visiting, eating sweets and making new friends. Here are a few of the photos (more to come). Also, the skirt is new. Designed and made by Lindsay! I just love Sweet Lolita!

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker

February Beauty and Makeup: MAC False Lashes Mascara

2011-02-21T01:00:00.000-08:00

Continuing my search for the perfect mascara (which to me means lengthening, separating, defining and adding volume to my lashes) I have been trying MAC False Lashes for the past few weeks! It comes in this pretty glossy black tube with a sleek, structural design that fits surprisingly well on my hand. There is only one shade available, False Black, which is regular black. So how has it been working for me?

It does a great job in separating and defining my lashes both on the top and bottom, without making a mess. I always struggle with the bottom lashes. I was pleasantly surprised that it was easy to apply on my bottom lashes. it also dried very quickly without any clumping or flaking. Also was easily removed with standard makeup remover. The only downside was that I did not notice any increase in volume. But I am still satisfied with the product and plan to use it for another couple months. It is usually time for a new mascara after about 3+ months. Then on to the next one in the journey to find the perfect mascara.

Mini Review of Mac False Lashes Mascara. You can see exactly what I am referring to above. Enjoy!

Love

February - Girlfriends

2011-02-18T01:00:00.000-08:00

Some lovely photos of me and my girl friends at the Atlanta Lolitas Afternoon Tea the end of January

Love
Andrea Nicole Baker