Kummacon 2023 and Lolita fashion show!

 Hello! I am back and so soon! Yes, I have a free day after the con and decided to write while the con is still fresh on my mind! I was organizing escape room and *drumroll* a Lolita fashion show! It was really exciting to do, I spent so much time being worried about it but everyone was so nice <3 My first time hosting something during con. 

 It was really nice, it was a small show, 7 models and me. But everyone was so beautiful and had really thoughtful coords I just could not say how much I appreciated them in the moment! I was very very flustered at the beginning, cause ironically, I had not considered how to enter the stage myself to host! So I just kinda... started talking and then did not stop... 

             Here are the amazing Poro-Suomen lolitat! (Reindeer-Finlands lolitas) My lovely comm <3 

 My coord for the fashion show was, of course, lavender! Our theme for Kummacon this year was flying or flight, I'm not sure how to excatly translate that, but I wanted to be berry fairy. 

And I had not yet coorded Verry Berry Picnic, so here it is! I have one criticism of Verry Berry jsk, and its that its straps are super far apart, they fell from my shoulders constatly. So I need to move them a little, not a big deal, but somewhat annoying. Otherwise, it is a very comfortable dress! I don't know if Lady Sloth has elongated their bust-to-waist measurement for this one, but it seems to bunch up for me a lot. So for someone with fuller bust than me, this would be ideal. 

 

I just had a conversation in plus size lolita discord about these kinda pattern issues. When people are so varied, all of us different shapes and sizes, its impossible for one size or pattern to fit all. My most common problems in lolita are too narrow shoulders in blouses and OPs, too small waist measurement, and too small for my hips. Finding good blouses is really a feat, as I would sometimes like to wear skirts, so cropped tops are not fix-all solution. Socks and tights are also very commonly not for my feet.

These are all things that might discourage you, when you are starting out and even later. Having to do serious research to find a shirt is something that can feel so disappointing. And buying something and finding out its not good fit for you, it sucks. It honestly has made me cry. 

But what I want to say to all of you that have had the same experience, is that you are good enough. Its the clothes that are wrong, not you or your body. Clothes should fit bodies, not the other way around. You don't need to change yourself to wear this fashion, or any fashion! It can suck and it sucks to feel like you should change or "fix" something in you to be more "acceptable". Its a lie. You are enough and you are loved. You can wear what you want and you will look amazing. I know myself its hard to look at your reflection and honestly say that you like what you see. But the trick is, even if it feels dishonest, the more you say it and the more you look at yourself, you will like yourself more. Keep saying positive things about your body and your self, and you will feel the difference.

With these musings, I want to return to the fashion show. Everyone had so different styles and we are all different people with one thing in common: lolita fashion. Its such an amazing thing to witness, fashion bringing people together. I hope that everyone gets to feel the love and the community and unity with other people. 

Until the next time! 

-Laventeli