You Should Watch Theses Videos Because They Are GOLD

This is the FIRST EVER time I will be doing something like this post you are about to read, so as usual I will start this off with a back story!

Paint the scene...

Avril Lavigne's Hello Kitty video just came out and I am on tumblr watching in fascination as people start tearing this video apart... And as usual I am over come with curiosity of what everyone was talking about so I tried watching the video.
TRIED being the key word here, I couldn't get through it at all!

Mainly I didn't like the song, but I also didn't think Avril's look was cute, in fact it reminded me of when me and my friends would go to the mall and "dress like Harajuku girls like Gwen Stafani". We were sophomores in High School and weeabos for sure and seeing Avril a grown women doing what I did six years ago bothered me.

Here is the thing, I grew up in those six years and realized that what I did as a Sophomore in High School was wrong, not because I hurt anyone in particular with my actions but because I realized that this Harajuku fashion is a part of the Japanese culture. That it just wasn't throwing on mismatched layers of clothes and some accessories and calling it Harajuku fashion, that it was a deeper realer thing that included many other sub styles that originated there and how it fitted in to Japan's culture.

Since then I have learned much more about J-fashion, seeing as I am a Lolita! What I have learned is that most people from Japan want to share their fashion with us! They go out of there way, like hiring Kawaii ambassadors and having over seas TV about Kawaii fashion, to include all of us to what is unique to them.

What Gwen and Avril did is take a country and their fashions and rip them off to make some fast money, and once again its not like Japan doesn't go out of its way to share there street fashion culture with us anyway so it's not hard to do it in a nice and "correct" way (like actually showing their fashion instead of showing your own version of it to millions of people). Correct meaning a way to show off Japan's culture rather than just ripping it off to seem edgy.

You can click this link to read more about Avril and her Hello Kitty disaster

So knowing all of this I am going to show you some video's that blew my mind which deal with the same category.

As always you can click this to watch the video on YouTube

After you watch the music video I would highly highly encourage you to watch Elleanor's video on Tokyo Fashion if you haven't already!

Watch it on YouTube here if you would like

DID YOU WATCH THEM?
DID YOU REALLY?
Because if you didn't this next part of the article is going to be mighty weird and you might not understand it at all...

Okay! On ward we go!!

First, I did not link Avril's video so I hope you are well versed in what had happened...

Second, I would like to point out that I will be talking about why I like Lionhearted and how this is a giant step forward from Avril's Hello Kitty video this is by no means the end of the line, it can still be a problematic piece of work (and probably is)! Here I won't be highlighting this so much as explaining why it takes these steps forward from Avril's video.

Okay for real let's break this video down!

Elleanor is contacted by Porter Robinson, he has reached out to her because he loves Japanese fashion and just Japan in general. This is not surprising many people feel the exact same way from Lady Gaga to Katy Perry to Avril! 
He has asked her to come to LA to be the costume designer for his new music video, he has explained to her that he wanted REAL Japanese fashion to be a feature in the video rather than a carbon American copy made to duplicate it. He asked Elleanor to come out and do this so that real Japanese fashion is featured because Elleanor is an actual Japanese street snap girl who is often featured on Tokyofashion.com.

How this is different from Avril? Well.....

This is not any Japanese street or main stream fashion that I can think of, the closest it comes is to the bittersweet Kawaii trend that happened when KyaryPamyuPamyu became popular in 2012 which is not as popular as it used to be and if it is suppose to be this it does a very bad job of it. Random "kawaii" stuff and a black shirt and stockings does not make a actual Japanese street fashion outfit, it is half baked and looks like it, not to mention the clones in the back ground, and the set. I believe they were trying to go for a 6%DokiDoki atheistic, or a KyaryPamyuPamyu atheistic since they are both designed by the same person, and that even looks half done. It looks like they literally just grabbed all this stuff at party city right before filming.

Japanese fashion in Lionhearted...

These are screen caps of the ladies chosen to get dressed up including Elleanor. The hair, the bright tutu skirt, the masks, this is real street style atheistic straight from Japan.

Next we can talk about the weapons! Traditionally weapons equate power. That is what they symbolized here, these women dressed in Japanese street fashion's power. This one way this is so different from Avril's video! These women while in the back ground and following the lead guy's order (for right now) are given SYMBOLS OF POWER and violence. The masks also show conformity and they are literally covering up a part of them selves, they are repressing themselves. In one part of the music video THEY TEAR THESE OFF. THEY RIP OFF WHAT IS OPPRESSING THEM. (They do this near the very end of the video though)

Once again here they are agian, wearing masks running around, they walk around and anything they touch changes and becomes different. Which I can say is what Japanese street fashion does for a lot of us.

Also notice the Porter Robinson isn't super kawaii'd out, he is just in simple clothes that many Americans see on the street every day. As the video starts he is using these girls as his extension to change the world. These are his accessories.
When they rip off their masks they are acknowlegding that they are not his to boss around, he does not get to opress them. They are their own people and not his accessories!
 So much different then the back up dancers in Avril's video, no emotion there at all even though this pop song is suppose to be about their home land, we assume so but they could have hired anyone.

Near the end of the song now, we see him in a building looking at all the things he has changed with his kick ass team, and you see their silloutes, then they come closer and

They kill him, they take over what is theirs and blow up the building he is in.
I think this is sending very clear messages to the people like Avril who used this culture as an accessory.

It takes her video, in my mind, and sets these stereotypes free. It says that this isn't your accessory to make a buck on, these are real people and a real culture people all around the world take time out to do the right way, you as a celebrity should do so too cause you have no excuse. Other wise these girls will mess you up because the whole sweet Asian girl thing is a stereotype, it is by no means the truth.

These girls literally start this video going along with him, to being pushed around wearing masks by him, to tearing them off and killing him... this is such an important music video. With the weapons they have to symbolize power the take their power back from the guy who was using them.

If you don't think that is cool there might be no hope for you.

Till next time,

Cookie

Bouns pic because I love Elleanor

My First Loita Meet Up! (Sorta)

Here is what has happened so far in the story!
I don't know how to explain this but I have been to a meet up before, but it was a new friends house warming party! While I did get some pics and it was real fun and I got to meet some awesome new people I kinda consider it like a half meet? Me and Jamie had to leave early and overall I just consider it to be my first step to becoming part of the Lolita Community in my area.

SO MOVING ON...

...to this meet-up!!! 

Here is what happened, a sorta high school friend of mine and Jamie's was having a farewell party because she is leaving. Not the fashion, but the state and thus the community also! I actually got the time off and was able to go to my first High Tea Meet-Up! I was so excited! So first lets do the coord pictures!

 

 

OUTFIT RUNDOWN~

Jsk: Putumayo Crown Print Check Halter in Pink

Blouse: Bodyline

 Tights: Off of Ebay/ socks from Bodyline

Shoes: An*tai*na

 Bag: Angelic Pretty

Headdress: Sweet Rococo

Accessories: Misc. and Kreepsville 666

Parasol: Alice and the Pirates

Close up on the lace detail and the creepy hand accessories

Close-up on my face/make-up! 

Me and Jamie got ready together and waited for the bus! We took the bus/light rail into Downtown since we don't have cars and it was easier this way. High Tea was going to be at the Brown Palace! I have never been before and was so excited! As it was I was lucky enough to even get a spot for tea! 

What had happened was that my work schedual has been hectic as of late so I didn't know until last minute that I would even be for sure going! By the time I had known for sure... the reservations had closed up for the High Tea! With Jamie's encouagement I went ahead and texted the host for the meet up asking if it would 1) be a big deal if I just showed up anyway or 2) if someone had canceled if I could take there place... And some did cancel right as I was asking! SO LUCKY! So I got to go!

Me and Jamie waiting for the bus!!

 While coming into the city I spotted this guy trying to sneak pictures of us! Shame! Doesn't he know all he had to do was ask!?

 Then we actually got to The Brown Palace and it was breath taking! We made pit stops at the bathroom to freshen up. It was so hot and I was SO SO sweaty! We started to get asked why we were dressed up about this time too. It continued until we went to Karaoke after ward! And of course someone also took a picture of us with out premission so I caught another one again!

 

HOWEVER! Once he noticed that I noticed him taking pictures he very politely asked us if he could take our picture!

NEXT was us finally getting our table! It was so nice, and did I mention it was my first time not just at the Brown Palace but also for High Tea! It was the coolest tea time I have ever had!

Here are some pictures of that!

The setting at our table was really darling

Finally the food! IT WAS SO GOOD and looks great in pictures

Blurry picture of my green tea I was drinking! It was really good, and I really love Green Tea!

Half way through our tea the hostess announced that she would be giving some prizes away! It was going to be through a raffle based on our reservation numbers. Of course when she first ran the raffle she got her self! Seeing as she was giving away the prizes she didn't want them, so she redid the raffle and I WON!
IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I EVER REALLY WON SOMETHING LIKE THAT I WAS SO EXCITED!

My prize and new stuff animal!

After me, there was still two more prizes to go! The funny thing is that both of those went to the girls next to me! We were all on the same couch, and there was only the three of us on the couch!

Winners circle! Please ignore my face... Photo from Chocolate-hime

 After we were done with tea and talking (I made some awesome new friends by this time!) it was time to take pictures!

This photo is also from chocolate-hime

 Here we all are! We were all pretty tired by this time but still had people coming up to us for pictures! We even had the gentleman who played the piano (he played Disney and other cute songs) come over and thank us! It was weird because he just thanked us alone and no other tables...

After The Brown Palace some of us went to Karaoke! Once getting to the building we meet up with two more lolita's! One was really quite and I didn't quite catch her name and she left early before I got to know her better. The other one was Julie! She was visiting from Huston and was trying to hang out with our community to make new friends and get out and do things! She was so much fun, we actually just had our good bye meet for her which I will be writting about later.

While we where at Karaoke the hostess passed around some more stuff animals to everyone else who was left at the party! It was very generous of her, considering I would have kept them all to myself!!!!!

Here they are doing Karaoke together!!!

 After that we pretty much split up and went home. I am very sad that the hostess is leaving us, espically as I just start getting into my local community! But I am sure we will still talk and keep in touch, the best of luch to her in the future!

I hope you guys liked hearing about my sorta first meet up.
Did you guys do anything fun recently?

Cookie 

Baby the Stars Shine Bright Socks Unboxing!

You might have already seen these socks in my birthday ootd but I FINALLY put the video on YouTube!

So yeahhhh You know how this goes about now...

HERE is the video!

As always you CAN watch the video on YOUTUBE! instead of on here...
Either way if you watch it I hope you enjoy it.
And yeah sorry that it was from May and is just now getting up! I have 2 more videos to do as well! And the last dress I did get I didn't do an unboxing for because you guys have to be getting sick of it by now! And NDK is right around the corner so you can look forward to that too!~~~

Hope you are having a great day!

Cookie

Disney, Care Bears, and Beanie Babies All In One Place

So I am a huge Disney fan if you haven't heard... I love Disney despite it problems and flaws, its problematic movies and its problematic creator. I understand those things and yet I still can't help to love these cute movies and cuter characters.
I have worked for The Disney Store over the winter season (aka I was employed seasonally) plus being to Disney World and that is where this problem started. I started collecting Disney stuffed animals.
It was a causal flirtation at first that blew in to a full time relationship. I turned around one day to realize that I had actually started collecting them!
They where every where in my room and that when I knew I should write a blog post about them! Genius right? Maybe... not really... don't judge me.

DISCLAIMER right here right now I will tell you I bought most of these myself with my own money, and I will tell you which ones were given to me as gifts in the information below the picture.

From Left to Right: We have Piglet from Winnie the Pooh from the Disney Store; Rabbit and a stylized Alice from Alice in Wonderland bought in the Disney Store, Flounder from The Little Mermaid from the Disney Store, and a stylized Piglet bought at Disney World

From Left to Right: Mickey Mouse bought at the Disney Store, Stitch from Lilo and Stitch bought at the Disney Store, Duffy bought at Disney World, and a Ewok from Star Wars: Return of the Jedi bought at Disney World

From Left to Right: Lotso from Toy Story 3 bought at The Disney Store, One of Merida's brothers from Brave bought at Disney World, a stylized Jack Skellington from Nightmare Before Christmas bought at Disney World, Crocodile from Peter Pan bought at The Disney Store

From Right to Left: Mike Wazowski Gift from Friend at a Secret Santa, George Sanderson bought at The Disney Store, Scott "Squishy" Squibbles bought at the Disney Store, and Art bought at the Disney Store; all from Mosters Inc. and Monsters University

These are all my "Disney" stuffed animals. What you will see next is the rest of my animals enjoy.

These are my Build-a-Bear's! I only have four but I love them all deeply! Clockwise Starting from the Top: Twilight Sparkle from My Little Pony Friendship is Magic discount thanks to Jamie! Precy (pronounced Percy, I misspelled the name when I was 8, I named her after Percy Weasley from Harry Potter) a Christmas gift from my sister, Rose I got when I was middle school, and Spike from My Little Pony Friendship is Magic discount thanks to Jamie once again! 

You might be wondering why Minnie is down here rather than with my other Disney stuffed animals? It is because while she is a Disney stuffed animal  she isn't the same as my other Disney toys. Other carries of Disney stuffed animals are made with different materials and quality, they also don't have a seal of "genuine, original, and authentic" that Disney stuffed animals have when you buy them from a Disney outlet and not Toys-R-Us or Target. This was a gift for Christmas.

I call this my Frankenstein bear (and yes Jamie I know that the monster is not called Frankenstein the Doctor is) and I bought it on sale at Barnes and Nobel 

These are all of my Care Bears, I either bought them or got them for payment for babysitting. Top to Bottom, Left to Right: Do-Your-Best Bear, Bedtime Bear, Loyal Heart Dog a Care Bear Cousin, Share Bear, Friendship Bear, True Heart Bear, and Harmony Bear

Lastly these are my Beanie Babies! These were all gifts from other people. So Left to Right: Valentine Hello Kitty, Christmas Hello Kitty, Lollipop Hello Kitty... And to be honest I don't have the tags to the rest so don't know there names.

 These are the pictures I took awhile ago! Before my birthday actually! My collection has since added some new members!

From Left to Right: Captain Hook from Peter Pan bought at The Disney Store, Tigger from Winnie the Pooh given as a birthday gift, Winnie the Pooh from Winnie the Pooh bought at the Disney Store, Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh given as a birthday gift, Dumbo from Dumbo bought at the Disney Store

These are Tsum Tsum which I hear are really popular in Japan! They just recently have started to be sold here in USA. I just had to have them! OKAY now From Top to Bottom: Small Piglet from Winnie the Pooh bought at The Disney Store, Medium Winnie the Pooh from Winnie the Pooh bought at the Disney Store, and Medium Donald Duck bought at the Disney Store

And lastly I won this Rilakkuma bear in a meet up! More on this later~

So that is most of my stuffed aminals... well besides Boris who is my sheep stuff animal, and a couple of stuff animals, I just wanted to display some of my collections I have! That is all and a lot of them are Disney related! I hope you enjoyed seeing my animal collection.

Cookie