A "Proper" Introduction of the Writer of this Blog

Who am I? - A summary

When it comes to introductions, whether it's in real life or in cyberspace, I tend to always struggle and stumble. I often find it hard to know where to start and really, where to end. But in an attempt to write a short summary of this blog, this little place will be about me, my interest in learning how to sew and craft, but also my love for lolita fashion and Japanese Street Fashion.

My name is Jessica, though online I go under the name Morri and I will refer mostly to that name in this blog from now on. It's not that I don't like my given name, but rather I prefer a layer (though, a very thin layer) of privacy and I'm also used that friends online call me or refer me to that name. I'm, at the day I'm writing this, 27 years old, I've been trying to learn how to sew for around 2 years and I've been wearing lolita fashion for 3 years. However, my interest in lolita fashion started far earlier than that.

The Writer - Everything you need to know & my "long" relationship and history with lolita fashion

My Spooky Macarons JSK - Lady Sloth

I was 12 years old and I recently had been introduced to alternative fashion. At the time, what drew me in was the popular emo and scene fashion that were popular back in the mid to late 2000s. I believe we all remember bands like My Chemical Romance, Fall out Boys, and Panic! at the Disco that popularized the music, as well as the fashion. However, while I did enjoy some MCR, that wasn't the music that truly drew me in. In all honesty, it was Green Day and their album "American Idiot." Anyone recalling the music back then, I feel that's the album I recalled started my interest in rock music but also wearing band t-shirts together with ripped jeans and A LOT of black eyeliner.

American Idiot was released in 2004, so when I was 12 years old, it was 2006. Around this time, I started to grow an interest in Japanese media, and especially Japanese music and specifically Visual Kei. The first band I remember listening to was Malice Mizer, which lead to an obsession (like many teenagers tend to have) with the band and especially the guitarist Mana.

Shirring Princess JSK - Btssb

In the year 2021, Mana-Sama is perhaps most active in the lolita fashion scene with their own fashion brand, that they still are the front figure of, Moi-Meme-Moitié. While it took me 12 years to reach the point to invest time and money in fashion, this was my first introduction to it. I remember I wanted and dreamed of wearing lolita back then, but not only is it pricey, but my parents said loudly "no", considering at the time, it was slightly harder (especially for a 12-year-old) to purchase and import the clothes.

So, the years passed and so did I have experimented with a variety of different styles and fashion. My hair has been a variety of different colors and I have gone from wearing all black to all miss-matchy colored clothes. But even though I enjoyed the fashion I was wearing in periods, I always looked back at Lolita and I felt drawn to the frills, the poofy skirts, and the elaborate lace. I knew it was a fashion style I dreamed of, a fashion style I knew I would enjoy seeing myself in and it was first when I first got my hands on a skirt from Alice and the Pirates that I felt complete.

Since then, I have purchased A LOT of lolita items. My wardrobe has kept expanding, as well as changing and today, I would say I'm mostly drawn to Gothic Lolita with some Old School inspired things. My favorite lolita brands are Baby, the Stars Shine Bright & Alice and the Pirates, Moi-Meme-Moitié, and Metamorphose. I'm also one who enjoys supporting and wearing Western Indie Brands, some of my favorites being Lady Sloth, Violet Fane, and Summer Tales Boutique. 

The Anatomy Lesson JSK - Summer Tales Boutique

And I've kept growing my wardrobe, so have my appreciation for the artistry behind it. I feel a lot of people who wear lolita are creative, both in creating coords, as well as creating their own pieces. This has inspired me to pursue creating my own clothes and accessories, though...

How I learned to sew, and how I'm still learning

A casual black dress with a bat wing-shaped collar, inspired by gothic & lolita fashion I've made.

I've always liked sewing, but as a child, I had zero patience for it. Now, when I'm older, I have taken the basic skills I know and attempted to create my own pieces of clothing. Some have turned out fine, while others... less fine.

At the end of the day, I take every project as a learning experience. I'm learning by using patterns I have bought or found online, and then watching clips or reading blog posts about techniques or how to do certain things. I feel I learn by watching someone do it, and then I attempt to "mimic" what they are doing. In 2021, this will be the second year I'm continuing this creative journey, and this year, my plan is to learn more about how to create my own patterns and I would love to sew more blouses/tops, as well as different hair accessories, specifically bonnets, and hats.

An attempt at a classic JSK silhouette

In conclusion, why start a blog in 2021?

So, after attempting to introduce myself, this blog, and what I will post on it, a blog perhaps feels old-fashioned and not the way to do it when we have Instagram, Twitter, Youtube, and TikTok in the year 2021?

However, in recent past months, I have felt frustrated with the never-ending issue with social media. The way "the algorithm" makes the feed feel messier and messier than before just puts out all the fun it used to have and when I feel I'm more fed ads or what's popular, than seeing updates from my friends and family makes the idea of something that's supposed to be a media for being "social" less... user friendly?

Anyway, where I'm getting to is that I want a place where I can keep all of my sewing projects in one place and (attempt) to organize my posts in a more convenient way. I feel I tend to forget to keep up with Instagram, and while I do enjoy Twitter a lot, I feel it gets very disorganized easily. That's why I decided to create this blog and, hopefully, have time to update it with unboxing lolita items & outfits, as well as sharing my (many) sewing projects.