Gender: Female
Status: Married
Age: 25
Sign: Leo
City: http://www.lacarmina.com
State: New York
Country: US
Signup Date: 8/10/2007
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[29 Dec 2009 | Tuesday]
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2009 has been a huge year for me, and the curtain's set to rise even higher in 2010. Before we hammer the final nails in December's coffin, a eulogy seemed proper. So I took a few minutes to answer a New Year's question meme, which has been making the rounds of blogs.
(The photos are from Narzib's MySpace; RIP to the haunted hentai Tokyo party!)
1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before? Drank gooey "brains" from the head of a mannequin with Andrew Zimmern. (Photo memories here!) 2. Did you keep your New Years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I didn't make any last year, so there were none to break. 3. How will you be spending New Year's Eve? Believe it or not, I'm having a lowkey gathering with old friends. There's so much decadence ahead in January that I don't feel I'm missing out. In any case, this year's best New Years party is DJ Taiki's Black Veil in Osaka, and Count de Sang will have a report for you! 4. Did anyone close to you die? Ha, everyone around me is undead. 5. What countries did you visit? Japan (Tokyo), USA (NYC, Philly, DC, LA), Canada (Vancouver) -- and it was all for work. No rest for the wicked. 6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009? Spend more time on the fashion line. And I will.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? I've had the opportunities to do TV and writing work that I never thought were possible. 9. What was your biggest failure? I wasn't able to visit friends and family in Hong Kong. No time, no rest... 10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Broke a nail? haha. 11. What was the best thing you bought? It only cost a few dollars, but I love my kawaii panda ring from Outlet in Ikebukuro. 12. Where did most of your money go? My Scottish Fold baby, Basil Farrow. 14. What do you wish you'd done more of? Studying Japanese. 15. What do you wish you'd done less of? Nose candy. Kidding, kidding!
17. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? I don't hate anyone, but some people have disappointed me. 19. What was your greatest musical discovery? Sopor Aeternus and a handful of Visual Kei bands. 20. What was your favorite film of this year? Tale of Two Sisters. Creepy K-horror that still gives me the chills.
22. What kept you sane? Basil Farrow. 23. Who did you miss? My Tokyo spooks. 24. Who was the best new person you met? I met so many inspiring new friends in 2009. 25. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009: As each year passes, it becomes more tempting to succumb to expectations about how you should live... Don't. Do what you want to do.
I'm curious to hear about your own reflections -- what are your goals and expectations for next year? What are your own responses to the questions above? Comments are always welcome.
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[28 Dec 2009 | Monday]
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Hey, Sorry if you get questions like this all the time and it's not exactly linked to Lolita, but I was just wondering how you organise your trips to Japan and the attitude there. I really want to go, but I'm not quite how to get organise hotels and travel since I don't speak japanese. Do you have any advice on getting bargains and organising travel to avoid any mistakes and confusion? Also, I have traveled back home from Hong Kong by myself and have been randomly checked which scared the crap out of me. Please tell your not more likely to get randomly checked for wearing lolita or 'strange clothing.' I can't wait to use your lolita shopping guide :3 Thanks in advance and I heart your blog ^^ - Nakayoshia
Most excellent questions, my dear! Since I constantly fly to Tokyo for work, I've picked up quite a few travel tips. First off, don't feel intimidated by going to Japan alone -- even if you don't know the language. The stories about friendliness and cleanliness are true. If you're sticking to major cities and tourist areas, you won't run into problems getting around.
† Entry visa: Do you need one? Most likely not, but it's a good idea to check. Same goes with immunizations (I got an optional Hepatitis A shot to be safe). † Plane tickets: Japan is great all year round, but I try to avoid holidays if possible (since flights are cheaper in the off-season). Spring is crunch time because of sakura season and the Japanese school holiday. From North America, I try to book a direct flight (usually Japan Airlines), but I don't mind stopping in San Francisco. † Money: Don't forget to call your credit card company before you leave, to let them know you'll be in Japan (or they might freeze your account due to unusual activity!) I exchange money into yen before I fly to Japan; most places accept major credit cards, but it's a good idea to have a stash of cash on hand.
(Top left: Ruki of The Gazette cosplay!) † Getting from the airport to the hotel: I usually take a ¥3000 Limousine Bus from Narita Airport to Shinjuku Station West Exit, or wherever I'm headed. You can buy a ticket at the counter as soon as you leave the baggage claim (the staff speaks English; to schedule a return trip, call +81-3-3665-7220). Then, you may have to take a taxi from the drop-off to your final destination. Tip: write down the hotel's address in Japanese and show it to your driver, to avoid any communication breakdown! † Sightseeing: TokyoTopia has subway maps, neighborhood guides, and everything else you need to get around. Street and subway signs are in English as well as Japanese. Most people don't speak English, so I'd suggest carrying a basic phrasebook (such as this one) and learning helpful phrases, such as "sumimasen, eki wa doko desu ka" ("excuse me, the station is where"... That way, the person can at least point in the correct direction).
As for cultural attitudes, shinpai shinaide -- worry not! Nobody will confront you or make you feel uncomfortable about the way you dress. And there won't be random checks; if you're obviously a foreigner, the police and authorities won't give you a second glance. Of course, in any city, it's best to not stir things up, but Japan is one of the least likely places you'll encounter trouble for wearing "unusual" clothes.
I always encourage my friends to travel to Japan, even if they don't know much about the language or culture -- and every single time, they return gushing about the experience. So go! Please feel free to write to me if you have a Reader Question; you can be as off-topic as you please. Do you have any tips or questions about travelling to Japan? Let me know in the comments.
All photos by Jesslee Cuizon, taken in 2007-8, on Jingubashi Bridge in Harajuku.
As I announced on my Twitter, I'm getting a haircut/color in early January -- any suggestions? Visual Kei and Gothloli styles are always welcome... send me links and photos.
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[27 Dec 2009 | Sunday]
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† Age: 20 † Location: Manila, Philippines † How were you introduced to Gothic Lolita fashion?
I found a book called Fruits in our school library and saw Lolita street snaps there. Noted the word Lolita and researched. It was way back in 2006. † What do you find appealing about GL style and culture?
I've always been a fan of Japanese fashion. Also, I have an odd fascination with world history so seeing a mix of Rococo/Victorian style with Japan's kawaii style was a hit for me.
† What are your favorite Gothic Lolita clothing brands?
I can't afford burando. But I love Angelic Pretty and Metamorphose's products. † Any other comments (inspiration, tips, favorites)?
Shameless plug! Philippine Gothic and Lolita community: http://lolitaph.lefora.com
Film of the Week #41: Howl's Moving Castle. Hayao Miyazaki is a superstar. Spirited Away remains my above-and-beyond favorite, but his storytelling shines in Howl's enchanted, retro-futuristic world. The young heroine is turned into an old hag by a spell, and her "eeeee" reaction in front of the mirror is simply perfect -- I laughed so hard! Miyazaki's quirks are in full form: the little dog with short legs, Howl throwing the most emo of tantrums, Turnip-Head scarecrow hopping about, Markl the little boy putting on a ridiculous bearded costume... a joy to watch. If you've seen Howl's Moving Castle, what are your favorite parts?
Time for another edition of kawaii or ai-yah! I'll post photos and you tell me what you think. To voice your opinions, just click the comment link on the bottom right of any post; you can post as Guest if you don't want to create a Disqus account.
Lisa Katayama (who interviewed me for BoingBoing) runs a Japanese pop culture blog, TokyoMango, that is a longtime favorite of mine. (The photos above and below are from her site.) Japanese nail art reaches new heights with Hello Kitty's face and mini-gumballs. The Sanrio star also graces an iPhone case. Your reaction: kawaii or ai-yah?
Round two: introducing the Japanese Snuggie, a sleeping bag you can walk in. (To facilitate running away from bears? Or Godzilla?) And how about Neko Funjyatta, a plastic toy cat with its guts spilling out? Not surprisingly, I saw it at the David Cronenberg meets Lynch otaku cafe in Koenji. Once again, with more cowbell: kawaii or ai-yah?
If you would like to be the next Gothloli of the Week, please read the submission instructions here. For all your Lolita shopping needs, check out the links to clothing brands on the right column of my blog.
If you shop on Amazon.com, may I ask you to please consider supporting this blog by buying via my site? Just click here and search for whatever you want from Amazon (there are no extra costs to you).
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[25 Dec 2009 | Friday]
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Merry Dix-mas! Happy Nightmare Before XXXmas! The Adventure Team made an impromptu pit stop at one of my favorite music stores in the world: Amoeba Records on Sunset Boulevard in LA. The indie music mecca has a vast used selection, $1 vinyls and cassettes, and hilarious "Death Metal" section in the back left (those bands have some of the most ai-yah names on the planet!). Ementhy picked up a certain gem known as Twisted Sister's Twisted Christmas, which is exactly what you'd expect. An R-rated headbanger's twist on your favorite Yuletide carols. The best track is Heavy Metal Christmas -- come scream along with us!
On my heavy metal Christmas my true love gave to me, Twelve silver crosses Eleven black mascaras Ten pairs of platforms Nine tattered t-shirts Eight pentagrams Seven leather jackets Six cans of hairspray Five skull earrings Four quarts of Jack Three studded belts Two pairs of spandex pants And a tattoo of Ozzy!
And a bonus gift for you: three Lemons piping on a Hohner melodica! Preferrably wrapped up all snug in my bed, while visions of… ermmm… dance in our heads.
Another bonus: Basil Farrow, his grandma (Mia Farrow) and mommy (La Carmina) are featured in Mediabistro's publishing industry blog Galleycat.
MERRY HEAVY METAL NIGHTMARE BEFORE DIX-MAS, DARKLINGS!!
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[24 Dec 2009 | Thursday]
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Hello, is there a more ridiculous apron in existence?
We had a fab debate over the Baby, the Stars Shine Bright dress with a Gloomy bear over the front. I mentioned I had a cute Rilakkuma apron (from Kiddyland in Harajuku) and you wanted to see it -- so here it is. What's the consensus? Kawaii or ai-yah? I say some things are so awful that they cross over and become awesome.
Cotton Bale, my rival in the cute cupcake Death Cookbook battle, gave me this Bodyline Lolita dress. It's no Innocent World, but there are plenty of bows and frills and details, which is enough for a silly photoshoot. The Doraemon band-aids are from a Shinjuku pharmacy, and the look is inspired by... the warpaint in Avatar! (Hey, you can find inspiration anywhere.)
My relatives contributed to my decora hair. The little elephant is a baby toy that I found in my uncle's office. My cousin in Hong Kong made the glitter-studded headband.
My Scottish Fold loves to be squished him all day long. He's never scratched or bitten anyone!
Are you on vacation at the moment? I've been working hard for CNNGo...
How are you celebrating the Nightmare Before Xmas? I'm thrilled that the Sherlock Holmes movie is getting thumbs ups reviews -- I'll be first in line at the theater tomorrow.
Song of the Day #268: Japan - Swing (An 80s band that should be better known.)
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[24 Dec 2009 | Thursday]
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Basil Farrow and I did an interview about responsible cat care for animal rights organization PETA2, which you can read below and here. (I left out the introduction, since you already know who I am, and included the answers that they omitted due to lack of space.) PS: I am not a member of PETA, but when they approached me to take part in an interview, I thought it would be a great platform for speaking about the animal issues that are important to me. Basil Farrow has to watch out for his furry friends!
How did you first get involved with helping animals? Did you have any animal companions growing up?
As a child, I cared so dearly for animals that I didn’t even distinguish between real and plush! I was horrified to see my friends throw around their stuffed animals; I always made sure mine were clean and standing upright. I even bought cans of real cat food for my Hello Kitties. Growing up, I shared my home with fish, turtles, budgies and lovebirds. Birds are incredibly intelligent and affectionate beings -- if you socialize them right. I feel most people treat their birds like fancy decorations, and it breaks my heart.
Tell us about your cat, Basil Farrow.
Basil Farrow is a Scottish Fold cat, hence the tiny fold-ears. He was raised by activist/actress Mia Farrow and she loved him dearly -- but her recent travels didn’t let her spend enough time with him. So he came to live with me. It was a tough decision, but she knew this was best for his well-being.
Basil isn’t a typical cat – he’s more like a sweet little kid or teddy bear! He loves to meet people; he’ll come when you call his name and lick your hand. Not many cats will demand tummy rubs and to be carried around. You can see in his videos and blog just how affectionate he is.
Can you give your fans some Basil-tested tips for keeping cats happy and healthy?
Keeping my Scottish Fold happy is my number one priority! Here is a video we made with tips on keeping cats cool in the summer; it applies to dogs and other animals as well. I did a blog post about the type of food and litter I provide: I refuse to feed Basil anything with fillers or byproducts. Every day, I set aside time for cuddles, playtime and/or grooming. Don’t forget to brush your cat’s fur and clean his ears, introduce new toys, and keep your house cat-friendly.
Why is spaying and neutering such an important part of responsible companion animal care?
Many people don’t realize that millions of unwanted animals are killed every year, simply because they are homeless. Pet births are a ticket to misery and death for the mother and litter – and they’re so easily preventable by spaying and neutering. So let’s do our part! Plus, a spayed or neutered pet is less aggressive and less prone to certain health problems. There is simply no excuse for not having this simple operation done as early as possible.
Tell us about your decision not to wear fur.
I never had any desire to wear fur. My parents’ generation oohed and ahhed over pelts, but mine has a very different attitude. As a child, whenever a relative proudly showed me her furs, I’d refuse to touch it and scold, “That comes from a cute bunny or fox!” Growing up in the 80s and 90s, I learned about the cruelty of wearing animals from my peers and the media. And I’m optimistic that the next generations will be even more anti-fur.
As a fashion blogger, do you find that people put pressure on you to wear fur? If so, how do you handle that?
It is the opposite – the bulk of my blog readers are animal lovers, and they make sure I’m doing all I can to help animal causes. I once posted a Ted Nugent song (not knowing about his hunting advocacy), and people were quick to educate me in the comments. I think if I did wear fur, there would be an outcry – as there should be.
Do you have any favorite vegetarian foods?
I surely do, as I mostly eat a vegetarian diet. In my new cookbook Cute Yummy Time, I have recipes that are both meat-free and adorable (everything is decorated to look like Japanese-style characters!) Such as an egg white quiche that resembles an owl wearing glasses. Strawberry and dark chocolate cupcakes that look like hobgoblins. And a mango coconut pannacotta, which is vegan if you use a gelatin substitute such as agar-agar.
What issue involving animals is dearest to your heart?
It upsets me when owners don’t take proper care of their pets, especially cats. Felines don’t show when they are in pain, and since they can be independent, owners don’t take them to the vet regularly. But cats can have serious health problems that only a vet can detect – such as tooth decay or internal troubles, which are best treated early on. I urge you to take your cats to the vet for (at the very least) a yearly check-up, and certainly when they show any sign of discomfort. It upsets me when people won’t put aside money for quality food and health care; I think this should be the priority. Instead of buying something frivolous, I spent all my birthday money on Basil’s vet bills.
You have a lot of fans out there, which gives you a powerful platform to reach people and make a difference. What is your message to them about having compassion and getting active to help animals?
Tiny, personal actions towards animal compassion will have a gigantic impact. My advice is to start in your own home and take proper care of your pets. Your attitude will spread to other parts of your life: I started Basil’s Scottish Fold blog because he is such a joy. Readers began sending me questions about cat care or pleas for adoption, and I’ve done my best to help out. I’ve also found that my friends help reinforce my attitude; we discuss animal issues, and make trips to the Tokyo Vegetarian Festival and Vegan Healing Café in Shibuya.
Hope you enjoyed the interview! You can see more of my Scottish Fold cat's photos and stories on his blog.
Do you have any other tips on how to make a difference? Which animal rights issues are most important to you? I'd love to hear from you.
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[22 Dec 2009 | Tuesday]
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Remember my lovely friend Zoe from the Mad Hatter Tea Party and Wizard of the Opera outing? When I saw her photos from October's Whitby Gothic Weekend, I had to ask her for a report -- you can tell she had the time of her life! Better late than never, right? So here we go.
Whitby Gothic Weekend is a twice-a-year Goth extravaganza in Whitby, North Yorkshire. The cobbled streets turn into a gridlock of black clothing -- it's like travelling back in time to sooty England!
 The Abbey's ruins are a favorite spot for phototaking. Whitby's ocean and mountain views are breathtaking.
Zoe says: "The best car in the world (that I'm naming the 'Sir William Welles Mobile') was parked outside our hotel- awesome! I wish it was my car SO badly!" She also visited a cool custom car show; love the Wallace and Gromit (top left) and the Pink Panther (bottom right).
Zoe has been to Whitby numerous times. Did anything surprise her? "I discovered that the house Lewis Caroll stayed at is now a tea shop -- how appropriate! Also, the Japanese band Psydoll were playing at one of the fringe events. It was a huge surprise to bump into Nekoi-san in a small Yorkshire fishing village!"
Left: glorious La Vey corsets and Cruella de Ville hair. Right: Watchmen fetish cosplayers!
What did Zoe think of the fashion? "Fantastic as always! Steampunk seems to be the big thing in UK Goth fashion right now, and it's currently my favourite trend. At Whitby there were so many creative outfits with handmade accessories and it was nice to see some colour variation too. Thomas of Brute Force Leather and Amanda AKA Professor Maelstromme were my absolute favourite couple: Amanda wore a fantastic custom-made dress uniform jacket and corset with a pith helmet -- fantastic!"
Any tips for travellers? "I would advise potential festival-goers to book their accommodation early. I book around March for the October event so that I get my usual room at my favourite guest house overlooking the sea. It is a brilliant weekend even if you don't fancy the bands that play at the main festival event. There is always great shopping and the atmospheric Abbey and town to look around."
Have you been to Whitby Gothic Weekend? What do you think of the event? I've never been... augh, one day!
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[21 Dec 2009 | Monday]
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I took the boys to my favorite Los Angeles eatery, M Cafe de Chaya (on Melrose at La Brea). Their shining happy faces says it all. Best food ever -- and it's all healthy.
I'm a tad obsessed with M Cafe and eat there whenever I can find an excuse. The macrobiotic cuisine uses "only the finest ingredients without any refined sugars, eggs, dairy, red meat or poultry." And it's insanely delicious. From left to right: chocolate hazelnut fudge cake, peanut kale, sesame soba noodles, butternut squash couscous, soy lattes with a touch of stevia, eggplant and shiitake inari, and an incredible new spiced "cola" called kukicha. The grand total came to about $40, and we even had leftovers. (When you eat fresh, nutrient-dense vegetarian food, it fills you up.)
No, the fudge cake did not fall on floor. And Lemon did not pick it up with his hand. Did we still eat it? Take a guess!
M Cafe also serves one of my favorite cupcakes in the world: a vegan version with a light-as-air strawberry icing. Next door, there's a Pinkberry (which needs to bring back the green tea flavor!). The frozen yogurt chain has obsessive fans. Witness a manic toddler who, desperate for a lick, got stuck halfway between the doors. While the kid flailed around, Ementhy called: "Hey kid! Come here! Hey! Hey! Hey!"
Happy holidays from J-List, who kindly offered us some gift codes! (Japanese goodies are always a great idea for last-minute shopping.) For $5 off a 3000 yen iTunes card, click here and enter LACARMINA2009A. And if you purchase $100 or more, you can get $10 off with code LACARMINA2009B. Just visit J-list to start shopping!
I'm all about healthy eating -- how about you? What are your favorite snacks and recipes? Everything in my cookbook Cute Yummy Time is good for you; I wouldn't want it any other way.
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[20 Dec 2009 | Sunday]
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† Name: Anastasiya Minkova † Age: 15 † Location: Russia, Moscow † How were you introduced to Gothic Lolita fashion?
Through a friend, she emailed me a link all about lolita fashion. That was when I was 12. I've been in love/SUPER obsessed with it ever since. † What do you find appealing about GL style and culture?
The cuteness, the innocence. The bows and frills. But besides that, lolita comes in many styles of course, making it wearable at almost any age, while still being classy/cute, which makes it very appealing in my opinion. † What are your favorite Gothic Lolita clothing brands?
BTSSB, Innocent World, Milky Ange, Metamorphose. Wah~ Too many to name. † Any other comments (inspiration, tips, favorites)?
I may not have any brand lolita, or much lolita clothes at all, but I try to do my best with what I've got. Like making my bedroom as cute as possible. And... I wish for there to be a Russian lolita community in the future!
Film of the Week #40: Wild Zero. You may recall that when the Adventure Team visited Hyaena Gallery, we gushed over Guitar Wolf's "jet rock 'n' roll" zombie horror B-movie. Space aliens invade the Earth, and it's up to the Japanese rockabilly trio to save the day! On the way, they wrangle with crazy rock managers in very tight shorts, transsexuals, naked women shooting guns in the shower, and bloodthirsty zombies. (Sounds like a day in the life for me.) The DVD is a great present for anyone with an offbeat sense of humor.
Introducing a new weekly blog feature that I've been testing out on my Twitter! It's called... kawaii or ai-yah? I'll post a photo and you tell me what you think.
Style Arena has a regular "Tokyo Tribe" feature, and one of the recent posts was on Japanese emo fashion. I couldn't stop laughing when I read the "Engrish" breakdown of the style: "People wearing Emo-fashion have long forelock and black, white or vivid colored hair, and wear normally tight clothes. They prefer the combination of black colored bottoms and the loud colored outer. Using black color and the loud color together makes their style more emotional." (Remember my gay emo boy outfit in our indie movie?) Thoughts on Japanese scene style: kawaii or ai-yah?
If you would like to be the next Gothloli of the Week, please read the submission instructions here. For all your Lolita shopping needs, check out the links to clothing brands on the right column of my blog.
If you're doing last-minute shopping on Amazon.com, may I ask you to please consider supporting this blog by buying via my site? Simply click here and search for whatever you want from Amazon (there are no extra costs to you).
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[19 Dec 2009 | Saturday]
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Here's part two of my bathtub photoshoot! I'm wearing Possessed, a comfy purple V-neck sent to me from Akumu Ink. The Goth girl print comes in both girls and guys sizes (XXS to XL) and is available on the web store. Are you excited yet for our fashion collaboration???
Onto the hat -- yes, that glorious bowed monstrosity sitting atop my head. I found it on sale at Timeless on Melrose, previously mentioned as one of my favorite LA shops. Had. To. Have. It wasn't until later that I realized it was the splitting image of Aretha Franklin's infamous hat, which she wore to the Obama inaugural! Poor earless Basil Farrow looks like he's horrified at what I'm wearing.
Red tights: from Hong Kong Red spiky bracelet: from Camden Market, London
Need a creativity boost? My tip: visit a library! Today, I borrowed a stack of Korean and Indian cookbooks, Miyazaki DVDs, Murakami novels and more to tide me over the Yuletide. I also had fun flipping through design magazines that I wouldn't usually read. Whenever I find something inspiring, I make a note in my text messages and save it as Draft, or snap a photo using my cell phone. The books are free -- so why not pick up something you wouldn't usually buy?
On that note, a big thank you to everyone who ordered my books for your local libraries. If you're still doing your holiday shopping or putting items on your wishlist, please consider my new releases, Crazy Wacky Theme Restaurants and Cute Yummy Time. It's been wonderful hearing from all of you who have enjoyed the books!
Song of the Day #264: Seileen - Yokubaku (Get ready: Selia and SiSEN are touring America this spring. See here for dates and details.)
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