Wednesday, July 25, 2012

All aboard the Hogwarts Express!

Not a loli-related post per se but I'll like to post about Harry Potter: The Exhibition which finally reached our sunny shores early June this year. And which I finally managed a visit to last Saturday, as a random Hogwarts student, along with two others (Ravenclaws). Strangely enough, I always thought the Harry Potter books were only alright, nothing really outstanding in terms of writing and plotwise. What I really loved was the cinematic world that the Harry Potter movies created instead.

The Harry Potter exhibition basically features props, artifacts, a few recreated sets and costumes from all eight Harry Potter movies. Some of the recreated sets were the Gryffindor's common room, Hagrid's hut and the Great Hall. No photography allowed inside the exhibition halls though so here are some from the official website.



And there was a section with mock Mandrakes that actually squeals when you pull one up. Needless to say, everyone tried to. Pull one, that is.

Copies of the Marauder's Map were available for sale in the exhibition shop but much too expensive to justify getting one, sighs.

The featured costumes were my favourite part of the exhibition though!

The dress that Hermione wore for the Yule Ball in the fourth Harry Potter film installment, Goblet of Fire, was amazingly pretty, as was Cho Chang's cheongsam/evening gown hybrid.

Photos sourced off the net

And Ron's Yule ball tuxedo was absolutely hilarious!! I already grinned when I saw the whole ensemble on screen before but in actuality, it even had crochet lace on it. CROCHET LACE! The poor boy!
Photo sourced off the net

It was not a very big exhibition and took only an hour or so to go through the whole event. It would be longer if we examined everything they had throughly though. I enjoyed it and it was fun to dress up and visit the exhibition with friends! We had a fair share of stares at the exhibition while wearing the Hogwarts' uniforms. Some of the exhibition staff were actually rather excited to see us and asked for photos together, lol.

A Gryffindor, of course. Much too old to be a Hogwarts student really but still terribly fun to pretend to be!

And if you pay a bit more, you can have an official Harry Potter photo with inserted appropriate background of your choice. Definitely the Hogwarts Express for us.


Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Sale Clearance! Everything Must GO! 50-30% OFF!

So summer sale season is in full swing! And I myself have just come from the Innocent World sale, which I caved in and bought 2 dresses, one being an impulse buy. The flesh is so very weak, unfortunately.

Here's a list of brands currently having online sales that I know of.

Innocent World - http://innocent-w.jp/shopping/sale_e.html
Metamorphose - http://metamorphose.ec.uncvr.com/1173/1157/1243/-2/-/-1/new/1
Baby the Stars Shine Bright - http://www.babyssb.co.jp/shopping/2012-online-summer-sale.html
Excentrique - http://excentrique.shop7.makeshop.jp/shopbrand/016/O/
Millefleurs- http://millefleurs-noirs.com/sale.html
Putumayo - http://www.putumayo-home.com/sale/index.html
MA/MAM - http://www.maxicimam.com/?mode=cate&cbid=564764&csid=0
HeartE - http://www.hearte.co.jp/product-list/61
Moi-meme-Moitie - http://moi-meme-moitie.shop-pro.jp/?mode=cate&cbid=721035&csid=0

*Angelic Pretty's online sale is still forthcoming.


Plus here are a few tips when confronting sale season. Do not follow my not-so-shining example of impulse buying.

  • If you can wait....WAIT. Some of the brands do have further reductions after the first or second week of their sales, especially for Metamorphose.
  • Do remember to check out the shipping charges, it might still push you over budget despite the sale price.
  • Also, don't forget to check measurements! Sometimes we can get blinded by the tag '50% off' (gawd knows I did) and forget to check if the dress on sale can actually fit or not.
  • And even brand dresses on sale can still be expensive. Check if that dress on sale is up on any auction sites or secondhand clothing stores first, if you don't mind secondhand items. The dress could be going for cheaper there.
  • Regardless of items going for half the price, still buy within your means. Tempting though it might be, "but this is on sale! I'll just add in another pair of socks, another dress, a trinket..." can all add up.
  • However, if you are very sure the dress on sale is the dress you want now, then get it! 

Now, go forth and enjoy summer lolita sale season! =)