Spring Shironuri Inspiration

Shironuri, A living art

Shironuri is an incredible fashion – in fact, fashion isn’t an appropriate term. Living art is a far better description of this style. The model who really brought this style to my attention was Minori, widely seen as the trend-setter of the Shironuri fashion style.

In and of itself, Shironuri means ‘painted in white’ and refers to the traditional makeup pratice of Kabuki actors and Geisha. This body art has since been adopted into the modern age with new and interesting twists. Minori is known for her infusions of nature and colour co-ordinations into the style. The fashion side can be influenced from all sides – decora, fairy kei, mori, gyaru – all of these styles can be incorporated into shironuri.

So here are my absolute favourites to get you into gear for Spring – chock full of flowers, pastels, petals and light! POSITIVE SHIRONURI!!

I’m working on a few tutorials, and keeping POSITIVE!! Have you tried out shironuri? I’d love to see your photos, my wonderful bunny-children!!

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Gyaru on a Budget – everything£5.com

I LOVE A BARGAIN!!

Who doesn’t? If you can get something cheaper, it’s a win situation for you – especially when it comes to looks that add up if you stay true to your favourite brands. So how can you cut some of the corners and not have to compromise over the style or design? Does cheap really have to LOOK cheap?

Generally speaking, no, it doesn’t. With the right research and leg-work, you can source most fashion cheaper – and that doesn’t necessarily mean poorer quality. However, it’s something to keep in mind – cheaper fashion means cheap production costs which CAN affect the quality. CONSIDER YOURSELF WARNED WITH A GLITTER WARNING-STICK.

Once such website that suffers the dreaded Hit or Miss label is http://www.everything5pounds.com/. I’ve ordered shoes from this website, and one pair destroyed themselves after walking in them for 3 weeks, and the other pair are one of the sturdiest pairs I think I’ve ever bought. And they go with everything. And all for just a fiver! BARGAIN!!! So I can imagine this same Hit or Miss logic applies to the clothes. With that in mind, here’s my pick of the latest stuff from the site. If you buy anything, let me know and we can get reviewing en-masse! GYARU POWER!!!

Clothing to make you less naked

Baby Doll Tunic (Both Colours): http://www.everything5pounds.com/baby-doll-tunic-p-34927.html?ii=13859

This dress will be perfect for layering and modifying, also great for Cult Party Kei style.

Flared Skirt (both colours): http://www.everything5pounds.com/embossed-flared-skirt-p-36434.html?ii=17505

Nice simple skirt in pastel colours, easy to layer and match with your outfit.

Large Floral Tunic (both colours): http://www.everything5pounds.com/large-floral-tunic-p-31770.html?ii=6728

I could see this with a thick white belt around the middle and layered with a base skirt.

Stud Trousers: http://www.everything5pounds.com/diamante-stud-embellished-trousers-p-39313.html?ii=25543

I can’t get over how gorgeous the mint green trousers are. And they’re studded. Lush.

Unicorn Jumper: http://www.everything5pounds.com/mettallic-unicorn-print-sweater-p-40530.html

Pop Icon Dress: http://www.everything5pounds.com/embellished-lace-collar-icon-tunic-p-35106.html?ii=14511

What’s not to love about unicorns? Especially bling unicorns?? Also, Blue Lady Gaga dress. I think it’s nice. I think.

Pink Frill Bolero: http://www.everything5pounds.com/twist-trim-bolero-p-35442.html?ii=15414

Crochet Crop Top: http://www.everything5pounds.com/open-crochet-crop-p-30366.html?ii=5593

I can’t wait to a) have the abs to wear the crochet top and b)wear the crochet top in summer. The bolero can be used across the spectrum – Lolita, Gyaru, Cult Party Kei – you name it.

Cross Jumper: http://www.everything5pounds.com/sequin-cross-pullover-p-38130.html

Halter-neck Dress: http://www.everything5pounds.com/ruffle-halterneck-scarf-print-dress-p-35828.html?ii=16590

Another perfect dress for the summer – great for Hime-Gyarus out there. And nothing says Cult Party like a cross jumper.

SHOES!!

MY FAVOURITE PART EVER. SHOES, GIVE ME ALL THE SHOES!!! No seriously, I need all of these shoes. Little Known Tip: When buying cheap shoes, avoid wedge boots. The wedges are glued on very simply, and the wedge part itself won’t be made of anything solid, meaning once the wedge inevitably comes away from the shoe itself, a cobbler (old-school word for a shoe-mender) won’t be able to nail it in and fix it. Mourn the death of the boots.

Cute Pink Heels: http://www.everything5pounds.com/shine-pink-heels-p-38528.html

Glitter Pink Heels: http://www.everything5pounds.com/glitter-pearl-platform-stiletto-shoes-p-26636.html

Two gorgeous pink shoes, I’m loving the bling of the glitter pair.

Pink Chain Ankle Boots: http://www.everything5pounds.com/chain-trim-skyscraper-ankle-boots-p-24243.html

Black Flame Wedges: http://www.everything5pounds.com/flame-wedge-shoes-p-28666.html

I’m not a huge fan of the bright pink palattes, but I know many gyarus that are, and add that little chain detail and you’ve got some awesome ankle boots. And those flame wedges – nothing more really needs to be said. VROOOOM.

Silver Bling!: http://www.everything5pounds.com/encrusted-silver-wedge-heels-p-33717.html

Brown Feather: http://www.everything5pounds.com/encrusted-feather-sandal-heels-p-37568.html

I thought I’d pick a brown pair with an edge – feathers! Because why not.

Pink Court Shoes: http://www.everything5pounds.com/metal-court-shoes-p-38447.html

Some sensible shoes for when you’re feeling sensible. So for me, never. Cute pink though.

Pink & Silver Circuit Pattern Heels: http://www.everything5pounds.com/abstract-sequined-heel-shoes-p-31835.html

Futuristic Cyber-punk Gyaru – HERE WE COME! Take me to your fashion leader…

Spiked Wedges (both colours): http://www.everything5pounds.com/curved-wedge-spike-boots-p-33864.html

I am blown away by these. Blown. Away. Like a carrier bag on the wind. I’m gone.

Strappy Rose Sandals (both colours): http://www.everything5pounds.com/pearl-studded-platform-sandal-heels-p-29766.html

A classic Gyaru style strappy sandal all for a fiver. Need to order these and will review.

Cute Tan Wellies: http://www.everything5pounds.com/diamante-encrusted-wellie-ankle-boots-p-39586.html

I love these and they’re perfect for the UK’s inevitable wet weather in April. Who said you had to look dowdy battling downpours?

Skull T-Bar Shoes: http://www.everything5pounds.com/skull-velour-shoes-p-17656.html

My Rokku-Gyaru sense is tingling… CAN IT BE? Skull motif heels? BEAT ME DOWN WITH MY EYELASHES AND CALL ME BETTY!!!

Accessories

Twist Lock Clutch (both colours): http://www.everything5pounds.com/textured-twist-lock-p-40121.html?ii=30081

A very cute clutch, easy to DIY and make extra-cute. Good backup if you’re expensive clutch ever gives way.

Top Belt: http://www.everything5pounds.com/sides-buckle-chains-belt-p-6935.html?ii=252

Middle Belt: http://www.everything5pounds.com/perforated-trim-faux-croc-skin-belt-p-5879.html?ii=201

Bottom Belt: http://www.everything5pounds.com/studs-disc-embellished-faux-leather-belt-p-5881.html?ii=202

Waist belts are an absolute must-have, instantly creates shape and flatters most outfits.

Pink Fleece CUTE!: http://www.everything5pounds.com/fleeced-scarf-mitten-p-23011.html?ii=2599

Pink Fluffy Headband: http://www.everything5pounds.com/faux-headband-p-37198.html?ii=18743

We’re still in the middle of winter, everyone, protect your bonce and keep warm!

Butterfly Bag: http://www.everything5pounds.com/woven-butterfly-embellished-shoulder-p-40472.html?ii=32844

Stunning, stunning bag!! I’ll be snapping this one up 😀

I’ll be doing a haul of everything£5 hopefully in the next couple of months, so I can give you a run-down of quality and wear. Have any of you guys bought any bits from them before? How were they? Would you recommend buying from them? Would love to hear from you!!

Instagram: http://instagram.com/spookyruthy

Twitter: http://twitter.com/spookyruthy

Cult Party Kei Winter Inspiration

One of the newest Japanese styles to me, along with Shironuri, that I’m completely and utterly head-over-heels in love with is Cult Party Kei. Not too dissimilar from the English style that was in fashion a few years back, ‘Shabby Chic’, Cult Party Kei is all about the layering! Put some lace on that and WHAM-BAM, you have a Cult Party influence. The layering is not just an aesthetic, in this chilly season, it’s very practical and will keep you snug and toasty even if Jack Frost is successfully punching everyone in the face. Common motifs are religious iconography, crosses in particular – RED crosses specially. You bangin’ if you have a red cross.

Cult Party Kei is really a floaty, mysterious, sweet way of dressing. I love it because you can throw a bit of goth into it and you still look very feminine rather than RARRRGH LOOK AT MY SKULLS. There’s also a slap-dash of Fairy Kei in there, and Shironuri makeup looks INCREDIBLE in CPK. It’s simple to start – white or cream base and then build, build, build! The idea is to create a whimsical image, like a fairytale.

So here’s a collection of my all-time favourite CPK inspiration specifically for winter – gotta bundle it up, BABY IT’S COOOOOOOLD OUTSIDE!

And finally, finish that look off with some CPK makeup. Pink under the cheeks, and delicate eye makeup complete your look. The tutorial by The Chokelate is perfect to get you started!

Let’s see your CPK co-ords for this winter, my fluffballs of great justice and fashion! Also, get those questions in and get chatting fashion!!

Credits: Tokyo Fashion

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Christmas Lolita Co-ord Outfits!

♥ Christmas Lolita Outfits ♥

Christmas is almost upon us which means we can let down our hair, and get our creative brains on for some exciting Lolita co-ords! Now, I’m a fan of going a bit ‘out there’ with styles and seasons, so here’s some themed lolita outfits that I’ve concocted with some jolly yuletide characters in mind, with some makeup tutorials to help you complete the look! Let me know what you think, and I’d love to see your Christmas themed co-ords too! GET FUNKY AND CREATIVE MY LOLITA WONDER PUFFS!!

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Lolita

RUDOLPH PRISM POWER, MAKE UP~~!

Antler headband: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Sister21 Wig: Ebay (off-brand), Heart hair clips: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/PoppyBows Blouse: Angelic Pretty, Socks: Angelic Pretty, Dress: http://www.lightinthebox.com Bag: BTSSB, Shoes: Angelic Pretty Hairbow: BTSSB, Earrings: Angelic Pretty

North Pole Elf Lolita

GET TO THE WORKSHOP, SMALL ELVEN CREATURE!

Elf ear clips: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Sister21 Headbow: BTSSB, Dress: http://www.solilor.com/ Belt: Ebay (off-brand) Socks: Angelic Pretty, Shoes: http://www.myesoul.com/ Candycane necklace: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/sugarandvicedesigns Candycane bauble earrings: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Pizzelwaddels Wig: Ebay (off-brand)

Christmas Angel Lolita

SPREAD THOSE CHRISTMAS WISHES!

Wig: Geisha wigs, Blouse: http://www.lightinthebox.com Dress: http://www.lightinthebox.com Shoes: http://www.lightinthebox.com Headdress: BTSSB, Earrings: http://www.lightinthebox.com Bracelet and Ring: http://www.lightinthebox.com Angel wing hair clips: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/kittywooddesigns Wings: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ShirleyTemplesTutus Tights: Angelic Pretty

Ice Princess Lolita

LET IT GOOOO, LET IT GOOOOOOOO!

Shoes: Bodyline, Tights: Angelic Pretty, Wig: Ebay (off-brand), Hairbow: Angelic Pretty, Blouse: http://www.lightinthebox.com Snowflake earrings: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Mindielee Snowflake necklace: Ebay (off-brand), JSK: BTSSB, Moon bag: Ebay (off-brand), Snowflake hair clips: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/nemehairbows

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Hyper Japan Christmas Market 2014!

HYPER JAPAN CHRISTMAS MARKET!

http://hyperjapan.co.uk/

 London was the place to be for the Hyper Japan Christmas Market – just to get our last dose of Japanese culture, food, kawaii and awesomeness before the lunacy of Christmas kicks off! Was so nice to see so many people arrive dressed to the nines – effort is definitely increasing each year you lovely, lovely Japanese fashion lovers out there! Anyone who was there, say hi! And then we can squee over how awesome it was 😀

My make-up for the Friday of Hyper Japan. I went for a kitty-fairy kei style, with big pad pad paws to add, which I used to give passers-by a severe biff attack on the nose and then a RUN AWAAAAAY for added measure. Although the pink corset was a bit restricting and hot after a while. SIGHTS WERE SEEN NONETHELESS. There was a video of the aforementioned biffing, except on an unsuspecting snowflake, so when I work out how to pop it onto Youtube, I’ll share it 🙂 And so! Onto the event!!

Dreamy Bows (http://www.dreamybows.com/) had their gorgeous pretty-in-pink stall, and were selling OFFICIAL SAILOR MOON MERCHANDISE!! Just look at those compacts… In fact, just look at everything. MOON PRISM POWER, MAKE UP~~~~! That reminds me, need to watch Act.10 of Sailor Moon Crystal. And if you’ve seen it, do a dance 😀 The performers at Gypsy Pyksy (http://www.gypsypyksy.com/) enjoying a bit of pink power!

After being in Japan and hanging out at the Japanese Yatai stalls, coming to Hyper Japan and seeing the food stalls here was like being back again, the smells, the layouts, the energy and excitement, all a very authentic experience at Hyper Japan. As a Vegetarian, your food choices at these typical yatai stalls are very limited, but you can pick up Vegetable Yakisoba at most stalls, which are so tasty you’ll go back for a second helping. For you meaty-eaters out there, you can’t go wrong with takoyaki (octopus balls). They’re not literally the balls of an octopus, because octopuses don’t have testicles to start off with, and I know Japanese food gets a bad rap for being weird, but come on, it’s not ‘eat-the-balls-of-animals’ weird.

There was an incredible stall near the centre on the bottom level which sold beautiful kimonos, haoris, yukata, geta and tabi socks – if anyone can remember the name of the stall, let me know and I’ll link them on the blog. The green furisode kimono I had my eye on was 998 EUROS!! Bargain by first-hand kimono standards, and lime green isn’t right for this time of year anyway, but still… OH GOD THOSE KIMONOS O.O

Just all of the cute… I just cannot. CANNOT. Rikkakuma heads in the back with the Totoro, I just want to smoosh my face into it and melt into a river of cute. Yes, a fitting end.

What an amazing and just down-right fabulous Card Captor Sakura cosplayer. Just all of the kawaii, and so on point. Pose is perfect! And the hair, just all of it. Yes, all of it. OMOCHIKAERI~~~~~

Just some of the kawaii ladies at the event, lots of Fairy Kei and Lolita. I especially love the Rococo Hime look in the centre, so refined, and just look at that bag… I wish I had asked where it was from! If anyone knows please let me know! Also, if you’re one of these fine lovelies, get in touch and I’ll link your sites/blogs on here! Also… GIANT HELLO KITTY UWAAAAAA~~~~~ Yes, just had a bit of a kawaii vom. Mmmmm sparkly regurgitation. (Also, big versions of the above images are available on my Twitter – https://twitter.com/spookyruthy or just drop me an email and I’ll send them to you)

And finally, my Shironuri makeup for the Fashion Show on Sunday. Wig and Headpiece by Ghoulia’s Peculiars (https://www.facebook.com/ghouliaspeculiars) SHE A TALENTED LADY, YOU GO THERE AND HAVE A LADY FAP OVER THE WIGS AND ALL THE PRETTIES. Not literally. Ew. FOR SHAME.

So all in all, Hyper Japan Christmas Market 2014, a big big success. It gets bigger every year and I can’t wait for the next one in July (date to be confirmed)! I WANT MY YATAI FOOD DAMMIT!! And if I don’t get my kawaii dose, I’ll have to do something drastic, like up my caffeine intake.

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Cute Bento Boxes… THAT DREAMS ARE MADE OF

Cute Bento boxes

Cute bento… how many times have I wanted to have someone wake me up in the morning to hand me a gorgeously hand-crafted bento lunchbox, so I can run out of the house kawaii-style shouting ‘ITTE KIMASU!’ at the top of my lungs REGARDLESS if I’m understood or not? Yep, not even once. THAT WILL NEVER STOP MY DREAMS. TT_TT

But every so often I love to daydream and stare at photos and live the aforementioned scene over and over in my head with various elements added. Toast hanging from my mouth, killer bees chasing me, being followed by my Magical Mascot Character who talks but I haven’t discovered that just yet but will do once I get to school and some kind of demon attacks my entire class, at which point I power up and spin around naked while new clothes appear and doom glitter is rained down upon said demon, and yet I must retain my anonymity, and so magical mascot makes everyone forget with a swish of the MAGIC TAIL and then I eat my amazing cute bento with Hello Kitty chopsticks and a Tee-hee thrown in for good measure.

Ah, dreams.

So here are some of my favourite cute bentos and a brilliant tutorial on making your own kawaii bento box!

Those pandas… HELP ME O.O THOSE PANDAS! And kitty-onigiri… I feel the kawaii squish monster descending upon me. CAN I EAT THEM ALL YET??

MY FAVOURITE BENTO SUPPLIERS:

http://en.bentoandco.com/

Sleek and easy-to-use-website, great prices!

http://www.from-japan-with-love.com/ourshop/cat_886484-Bento-Boxes-And-Accessories-35-Off.html

Having a sale on at the moment – do you need any more excuse to pick up something cute to eat out of?

http://www.tofucute.com/bento-kitchen~c1_604.html

And Tofu Cute ALWAYS delivers the cute, look no further for bento boxes that make you all squishy inside!

If you make a kawaii bento, link me and I will dribble over it for the next year! Huuuuungry…..