just want a dress.

I'm not really a dances kind of person. I haven't been for a while. But I always wondered if I would say the same for prom. My school's senior prom is next month, and I'm almost certain that I am not attending. Why? I get this a lot. In addition to not enjoying dances, I don't like being in big crowds of people, and I don't have many people to socialize with. Also, it's not cheap. And it's on a boat. I'm extremely sensitive to motion, and being on a boat, especially a moving boat, will induce nausea. Meaning I'd probably be throwing up all over everyone's pretty dresses. Or pass out. And bad things happen when people pass out.

Despite all that, the sole reason I still have a slight desire to go: DRESSES. Oh my god the dresses. I love opportunities to buy fancy clothes and dress up. I just want the dresses.

I haven't gone through as many sites for dresses as most of the other seniors because, since I'm not planning on going. But here are some that I found on the few sites that I have been on. If I had all the money in the world, these are my choices.
Sue Wong on Unique Vintage. This one is almost $700.
This other Sue Wong one is around $500. I'm a believer of wearing long dresses for senior prom.

On Facebook, my class started up a page where girls can post their dresses so that no one shows up in the same dress. Out of all the dresses that have been posted so far, this one was the only one that caught my eye.
If it were in a dark color, I'd love to have the dress. Light in the box has some nice ones. I like a lot of the ball gowns they have.
This one in particular. I can see this one being galactic if I add on to it. If I went to prom, I want a long, poofy dress. Like a quinceanera dress. I don't understand why no one has chosen a poofy one. Everything that has been claimed are all so toned down.

When I thought about designer dresses, I first thought of McQueen. But my personal favorite runway collection of all time is Marchesa Spring 2011 Ready to Wear. The collection left my hyperventilating the first time I saw it.
I don't know how to sit or move around in these. But I lovelovelove them.
And if it were junior prom or winter formal instead of senior prom, this would be the dress of my dreams. I have a crush on this dress.

And last but not least, THIS ONE.
Setareh Mohtarez. Of course, I need a galaxy dress somewhere in this post. It looks like Christopher Kane resort collection on steroids. Love it.

But realistically, if I, hypothetically, were to go, chances are I'd buy a cheap used one at a thrift store under $20, find a vintage dress, or buy a fancier lolita one from Victorian Maiden or Alice and the Pirates. This one, maybe.

There wouldn't be very many opportunities to wear a prom dress after the event, but I wear lolita often enough to not have to worry about not having opportunities to wear it.

I'll probably just stay at home and design dresses while everyone else is at prom. Or maybe spurge on a new dress and just wear it at home. Yeah, maybe I'll do that. I want a dress.

Love, Kai

april wishlist.

In the past few months since I started applying to colleges, I haven't been able to sit down and draw something for myself properly. Not even doodle. That's why I've decided to draw up a wishlist post once a month with some doodles of things I'm saving up for. Sure beats writing it up on a sticky note and slapping it on the wall like I usually do.
My white parasol broke earlier this week. It's probably fixable, but it's also kind of bent up and not in the best condition anymore, so I'll most likely buy a new one sometime soon.

In other news, I'm one item down on my wishlist! My Minolta came in today. My first purchase on ebay!
I'm reading through online manuals. They're so incredibly long. I'm not good with directions. Let's hope I get some good photos on this!

Love, Kai

dark bloom.

Sunny 75 degree weather today! I didn't even take a jacket along when I left the house. It's been really nice weather lately, though I wouldn't be surprised if it starts raining again, considering it is April.

Elle Ruffle cardigan from Goodwill, tank from Taiwan, dark rose dress from etsy-borrowed from friend, etsy necklace borrowed from friend, skirts from Sears and Charlotte Russe, Docs from Asos

I had fun wearing this dress today. My best friend and I trade clothes when we see each other, and she bought this vintage rose dress which she let me borrow in exchange for one of my clothing items. To be honest, I totally forgot what items we traded. Brainfart.
My mom bought be a pack of pink safety pins. I loveee safety pins. The dress is pinned on both sides so that the white eyelet trim skirt would be visible.
The vintage heart pendant necklace was borrowed from her too!
Two consecutive days of floral print. This print matches my Talula leggings. I like how it goes with my Docs, too.
If I move from California, I'm going to really miss being able to wear dresses in early spring. I'm so low cold tolerant. And low heat tolerant.

Love, Kai

characteristic immoderation.

The flea market was yesterday! It was the first time I went to the flea market in about a year. I used to go every month, but I haven't been able to for a while. Yesterday, I went with a couple friends to look for supplies for the cultural festival at our school. My side goals were to get a present for my friend and that Minolta I've been trying to hunt down. I'll talk a bit about my purchases later.

Today's outfit. I didn't really go anywhere today, so I just dressed up at home. I almost never wear this skirt.

cardigan from Thrift Town, scarf from Goodwill, Pea in a Pod camisole from Goodwill, skirt from Bodyline, shoes from Taiwan.
My eyebrow is showing. This will never happen again.
This scarf was purchased at a thrift shop for $3 yesterday. Not bad at all. The material is extremely soft!
And my favorite necklace that the scarf was covering.

I love this floral! Rose prints are my favorites, and this one has a nice, classical color scheme. Kind of refreshing.

Yeah, so about that flea market trip. Goal one: buy tea cups. That never happened. The prices didn't quite work out. Goal two: buy my Minolta. I found a few different Yashica and Canon and Kodak models, but they were all out of my price range.

What I ended up buying: a box of clay flowers. They were swooshing around in my backpack so a few of them ended up breaking before I got home.

What I ended up buying part 2: socks. The elastic on the white pairs looks like underwear. And the color of the pairs for flats looks like underwear colors. So when I see them, I always think it's underwear.

Because I wasn't able to find the camera at the flea market, I went to four different thrift shops afterwards to look for it. One Goodwill did end up carrying a nice Yashica one, but for $45, which was more expensive than the nice ones at the flea market.

I ended up getting a Gunne Sax dress. I will never in my life be able to fit into it. I'm hoping to be able to alter and redesign it.
Funny thing, my dad was lecturing me about how to design clothes today. He said "you have to make them look like stuff you can buy in stores! Like normal clothes! Clothes are made for wearing!" Oh dad.

Love, Kai

back to my roots.

This week is international week at school, and today was international dress up day. I thought it'd be a good chance to finally wear that dress my dad bought be this summer. Does this count as a qipao? I don't even know.

Dress and pants from Taiwan, Zigi Soho shoes from Salvation Army

I've always liked traditional clothing, just not on me. I bought a traditional qipao when I was in elementary school, but it was a little long on me and too skinny for my liking. I thought it'd be better when I got older, but it's still too long and skinny for me. I haven't grown in six years.
This dress is by far my favorite piece of traditional clothing I own. It's loose and flowy and I like loose and flowy things.



Remember these shoes? Maybe not. It's the $2 pair from the Salvation Army! I bought them late last year and never wore them out because they're a full size too big. I was going to sew the elastic together to make it more wearable, but I never got around to doing that. So I pinned and clipped it today.
I wonder if it would look out of place if I wore this dress without an occasion. Not that I'm not already used to dressing out of occasion.

Love, Kai