Wednesday, October 28, 2015
NYC's Lolita Community Halloween Tea Party 2015
8:49 AM
The spoopy season continues, especially in New York City's Lolita Fashion Community! We just had our annual Halloween Tea Party, hosted by the queen of spoop herself, Yanise of KawaiiLIFE. This year's party took place at King's Carriage, a location we went to for a similar get together years ago. The staff loves us, and always is super friendly, even remembering specific frilly ladies whenever we return. The place was perfect for a spooky themed party, with the burgundy walls, creaky floors, and other little touches.
Yanise set up a lovely, down to earth event, which included a Jack-o-Lantern contest that was beyond cool. The creativity of the contestants was so inspiring, especially Amy's Pokemon pumpkin and Ashley's Baby Head pumpkin. Each of the winners got three awesome prizes: two small Baby The Stars Shine Bright wallets, and one large white one as the big grand prize. There was also an honorable mention prizes, which was a free digital copy of Crystal's book.
As for me, my outfit was a bit of a last minute effort. I was pondering for weeks what I could wear to the event, but finally when I asked Crystal what her coordinate was gonna be, I decided to twin with her. The general look of my outfit is inspired by 60's Mahou Shoujo series like Sally The Witch, with some touches of cute silver and blue accessories to make the colors in Magical Etoile pop! My favorite item I added was my Beast Disneybound hairbow clip (from Extra Sweet Bowtique), putting a little bit of a Disney element into my otherwise Magical Girl coordinate.
If you're curious to know what fun was had, my first new vlog in forever (which is also on Magic Ala Mode's official new YouTube channel, yay!) can be viewed below:
Like what you saw? Subscribe to the YouTube channel, which will be updated frequently!
Until next time, keep up the magic!
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Keepin' The Peak: Movies To Watch Before/After "Crimson Peak"
So, the movie that was #1 on my most anticipated list for 2015 finally came out, and its name is Crimson Peak. Directed by Guillermo del Toro, this gothic romance has truly taken my heart, buried it into a pile of frills, melodramatic acting, Tom Hiddleston hotness, and everything else that peaks my spoopy interest this Halloween season. But incase you haven't seen the film, or are curious to see more films related to Crimson Peak, I thought I'd come up with a list of sorts (inspired by my friend Cinema Doll's blog post) to help satisfy your cinematic cravings.
Now, onto the list, in no particular order....
Sunday, October 11, 2015
RuffleCon 2015
Sorry for the radio silence, folks! The past couple of months have been a whirlwind of insanity. From my D23 trip (which I will write about soon) to meet ups, I have been one busy lady. But if you can't tell from this post, I am gonna focus on one particular event that truly took over my life: RuffleCon 2015.
RuffleCon took place at the Sheraton Stamford hotel, in Stamford CT, only a little over a week ago. I was part of the 2015 planning staff, which consisted of the major players that helped bring the fashion conference to life. I was in charge of Media Management, essentially meaning I was the one that edited all the promo videos prior to the conference, and helped organize all the photographers and videographers, to make sure they got to where they needed to be, to get the most coverage.
I also helped run a charity Instax booth for RAINN, a cause I hold close to my heart. If you'd like to know more about them, click here. I was lucky that I got to see a ton of awesome faces throughout the conference, and got to meet some new ones too. I loved being able to capture so many beautiful individuals, ones that otherwise might have felt that they were going unnoticed.
Throughout the conference, I wore a couple of awesome coordinates. Friday I was able to rock two! The first was an Ariel inspired coord, which would have been worn at D23 Expo, if the weather wasn't so hot. RuffleCon was the perfect place to wear it though, as I was presenting that day a Nerd Lolita panel with my lovely friend (and GRO), Angela. I then quickly changed into Angel of Music, as the designer (Haenuli) was a guest, and a group of us wanted to wear the print in front of her during the masquerade.
RuffleCon took place at the Sheraton Stamford hotel, in Stamford CT, only a little over a week ago. I was part of the 2015 planning staff, which consisted of the major players that helped bring the fashion conference to life. I was in charge of Media Management, essentially meaning I was the one that edited all the promo videos prior to the conference, and helped organize all the photographers and videographers, to make sure they got to where they needed to be, to get the most coverage.
I also helped run a charity Instax booth for RAINN, a cause I hold close to my heart. If you'd like to know more about them, click here. I was lucky that I got to see a ton of awesome faces throughout the conference, and got to meet some new ones too. I loved being able to capture so many beautiful individuals, ones that otherwise might have felt that they were going unnoticed.
Throughout the conference, I wore a couple of awesome coordinates. Friday I was able to rock two! The first was an Ariel inspired coord, which would have been worn at D23 Expo, if the weather wasn't so hot. RuffleCon was the perfect place to wear it though, as I was presenting that day a Nerd Lolita panel with my lovely friend (and GRO), Angela. I then quickly changed into Angel of Music, as the designer (Haenuli) was a guest, and a group of us wanted to wear the print in front of her during the masquerade.
Ariel Coordinate Photo - Credit to Xiaoyu
Angel of Music Group Photo - Credit to Yanise
Saturday was all about looking Spoopy, and in keeping with the spirit, I rocked my first ever Witch themed coordinate. I found a mini hat from Target, and did some DIY magic with a off-brand bow I had been given years earlier. I matched it with my Putumayo cat series JSK, Forever 21 blouse, and paired an off-brand hippy skirt from H&M that works perfectly as an under piece. Finished that off with my TUK Cat Shoes, and some cat themed glasses, and I was the Spoopy princess of my dreams.
Beautiful photo by Xin Lolita Photography
That day, I had another responsibility: Hosting the first act of the fashion show. Man, was that a challenge. I haven't been that nervous in a long time, but amidst everything, and even with the small hiccups, I think we all made it work pretty well. I'm glad I was able to put some comedy into it, and if I ever get the chance again, I'll sprinkle more jokes in there.
When Sunday came around, I was pretty tired, and did a pretty standard coordinate with Haenuli's Planetary Dreamer, my favorite print she's ever made. No matter how many times I wear it, it is beyond comfortable. And it was a good thing I wore something that comfy, since I was running around a lot that day, and had to tame some intense raptors (photographers/videographers) too!
Me and Victoria, thanks to KYOPLAY Photography
Evidence of my taming skills
Overall, RuffleCon was an incredible experience! I have said this many times, but this community is my family. For years I felt like such a social outcast, and that I would never find my true calling. Alternative Fashion is my calling, and showing its beauty is a purpose I know I am meant to do, for as long as it will let me. Major shout outs and love to my Maple Coven (media team), the Planning Staff (you know who you are) and all my friends I made during the conference. Every single one of you are incredible individuals, and I am one lucky lady to have been in your presence.
So did you go to RuffleCon 2015? What did you wear? Are you coming next year? Let's discuss all the RC fun in the comment section below.
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
Prepping for D23 Expo - Part 2 - Ariel Coordinate
Welcome to another edition of Prepping for D23 Expo! This week, we're gonna focus on my second coordinate for the event. You saw my Anna snowflake covered get up, but the other princess I am paying tribute to is much more sunny and water friendly. And if you guessed Ariel, you'd be correct! With my recent purchase of Marine Kingdom, I've been dreaming of doing as many different mermaid themed coordinates as possible - The Little Mermaid herself, included.
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
Prepping for D23 Expo - Part 1 - Anna Coordinate
This week, with a month till my big trip, I am gonna start a small three part series about my prepping for Disney's D23 Expo. Many of you are probably wondering what exactly that entails, other than packing my Mouse Ears and Park Tickets - and trust me, it gets a lot more complicated, but in the best of ways possible.
So, to begin, I wanna start by explaining what I will be wearing to the Expo. For some, they will be in a basic T-shirt and jeans throughout the duration of the event. For others, they will be cosplaying from morning till night, with possible multiple costume changes throughout the day. But what about me, you ask? Well I will be doing a mixture of both, as I will be wearing Lolita Fashion coordinates all weekend, inspired by some of my favorite Disney Princesses. But which ones will I be tackling? Here's a breakdown:
So, to begin, I wanna start by explaining what I will be wearing to the Expo. For some, they will be in a basic T-shirt and jeans throughout the duration of the event. For others, they will be cosplaying from morning till night, with possible multiple costume changes throughout the day. But what about me, you ask? Well I will be doing a mixture of both, as I will be wearing Lolita Fashion coordinates all weekend, inspired by some of my favorite Disney Princesses. But which ones will I be tackling? Here's a breakdown:
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Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Downton Abbey Musical
The theater world can be an interesting place, one that has some of the strangest ideas of adaptations. And guess which one we can now add to the list? Oh yeah, Downton Abbey. (SOURCE)
Yes, that's right, the BBC hit about a fairy tale like rich family in the upper crust of 1920's British society, might indeed become a musical in the future - and though usually I am not a fan of theatrical productions based on hit franchises such as this, Downton Abbey might just work. And even though there is talks that this will be more like an arena presentation, just like Doctor Who's recent arena tour, maybe Downton will get the more classy theater treatment it deserves.
As a long time Downton fan, my biggest concern with the stage adaptation is what aspect of the Downton story they are choosing to focus on. Obviously, the Mary and Matthew story has to be in there, along with Sib's story. But will they include every characters plot line from the past 5 seasons? I doubt they will be able to fit them all into it, but it would be incredibly interesting to see them try.
The characters I'd love to see maybe get an improved and shortened storyline is Bates and Anna, who are though my favorite couple on the show, have a relationship that is rockier than the Rocky Mountains. Maybe they'll trim the fat on their back and forth issues with the law, and the death of people in their lives, and instead give them a more focused happy ending.
It'd also be interesting to see if Mary and Matthew's story stayed point for point for the TV series. Maybe they'll have a happy ending as well, as opposed to you know.... the opposite. But considering this is a piece being adapted for theater, I won't be surprised if these two share the same fate on stage as they did on the small screen.
Whether this becomes an arena spectacular, or a dramatic night at the theater, the future for Downton Abbey on stage is surely riddled with questions and interest in every way possible.
So what are you hoping happens with this Downton Abbey stage show? Which characters do you want to see on the Great White Way/West End? Or do you think an arena show is a better idea? Comment below and tell me all your Downton feely feels.
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
D23 Expo Event Dream List
Recently the expo has made some announcements of their big events, to which got me thinking: What do I wanna see at the event? Well, incase you were ever interested in finding out the answer, here is a fangirl filled countdown to get your creative, Disney-inspired sparks going, and maybe even you can write up a wish list all your own!
Thursday, April 30, 2015
"Eternally 29" - "Age of Adaline" Review
Many women wish that they could remain young forever. In fact, it is why the cosmetic industry continues to rank in millions, based on its promises of having "fountain of youth" like abilities. But deep down, we know it is all a fantasy, one that could never occur unless some magical spell fell into our laps. In the new film, The Age of Adaline, we are asked to believe in such wizardry, and enjoy a whimsical ride down a Vogue approved road.Tuesday, April 7, 2015
Happy 20th Anniversary "A Goofy Movie"!
20 years ago today, one of my favorite movies in the whole world was released. Though I don't remember the specifics, I'm pretty sure I saw it close to its opening weekend, and from that moment onward, it has made my life just that much better in every way possible.
A Goofy Movie is a strange film in the world of Disney. It takes liberties with one of the most beloved Fab Five characters, gives him an angst filled teenage son, and them throws them into a pretty grand, yet mature, road trip adventure. There's romance, Big Foot, even a Michael Jackson inspired pop star, all wrapped up in a glorious, 90's package.
In celebration of this anniversary, here are a few of my favorite little things from this gem of a movie:
Powerline
Probably my favorite thing from this movie as a whole, is the music, specifically anything that Powerline sings. As I mentioned above, Powerline is sort of the Disney certified love child of Michael Jackson, Bobby Brown, and Prince, in the body of a humanoid dog.... man? Yeah we'll go with that. Regardless, Powerline is one of the coolest characters, even without having any dialog in the movie. His songs (performed by Tevin Campbell) are some of the most addicting, clearly 90's produced, songs to ever be created. They never get old and give me a surge of nostalgia that is pure, amazing, and ridiculous. If I had to pick one song to be my favorite, probably I'd go with Eye 2 Eye, just because it is and will always be catchy. But no matter what the tune, you can't go wrong with Powerline.
Jason Marsden
When I saw A Goofy Movie, one of the things that stuck out the most to me was the vocal performance of "whomever was the dude" that voiced Max Goof. He did a really good job, five year old me felt, and had a "cute" sounding voice. I then eventually discovered that the guy who voiced Max, and many other beloved characters (Binx from Hocus Pocus, Haku in Spirited Away) from my childhood, was named Jason Marsden, and he is one awesome guy. Aside from voicing nostalgic favorites, he also voices a lot of current shows, and seems to sing on occasion too (in Nashville of all places!) Talented, cute, and cool (just like Max), finding Marsden through A Goofy Movie was one of the best treasures to ever discover.
Max and Roxanne
Though, at five years old, I wasn't exactly an expert in the romance department, I knew that for some reason, I really liked Max and Roxanne together. Maybe it was because it was just a simple, down-to-earth, teenage crush sort of scenario, or I just really dug the voice acting (reference above), but something about Max and Roxanne's relationship was really lovely, to me, at a young age. The two of them are sort of awkward outcasts in their own right, with complicated parents that have their flaws, which was refreshing for a kid who was overloaded with old Fairy Style style romances. Neither of them were perfect, and that was cool, especially for me with all my childhood issues. So with all those charms and more, I can say I am a lifelong fan of these two, forever and always.
This Scene....
The feels are strong here. Don't even need to explain it.
So, if you can't tell, I love the heck out of A Goofy Movie. It's a movie that might not be as popular as the fairy tale Disney flicks, but it will always remain one of my favorites for the rest of my life. It might not be your movie, but it sure, will always, be mine.
Sunday, April 5, 2015
I'm Back!
Why hello there, friends!
I know, it has been quite some time since I've written anything on Magic a'la Mode. But don't you worry, I have officially (in a slow manner) returned.
But you might be wondering, where the heck have I been all this time? The answer is quite fun. Me and a group of fabulous individuals have been hard at work on a site called The Daily Geekette. Many of my reviews for film, theater, and the like, have all been posting on there since last year, and it has been one of the most rewarding experiences a girl could ask for.
If you're curious to check out my work on there, click here.
But, what about this blog, you ask? I have big plans on the horizon folks! Even one you might notice in your URL bar on your browser. What does it mean? You'll just have to wait and see.
Until then, keep staying sparkly and amazing my readership!
Best,
Duckie
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