My Ultimate Lolita Sick Day

I am writing this post on what I hope is the road to recovery. For the past few weeks I have been really unwell. I had 2 colds in a row with no break in between and then I got struck down by a small bout of flu and this is on top of my ongoing health problems. Barely able to stand, not eating very much because it was too painful and unable to sleep... It isn't really surprising that I needed some time out to recover. The real surprise was the positives I was able to take from this experience.

I am one of those people who gets very frustrated if I am not moving about or doing something to keep me occupied. I get bored so easily and so I hate being stuck in bed. But I got to the point where I had no option but to have a bed day. So I decided to turn this negative in to a positive and I ended up having a really fun day.

I did all the fun things that I don't usually leave enough time for and a lot of this did involve my favourite Japanese fashion. I dragged everything soft in to the living room and made myself a nest, I put on a pair of wrist cuffs that I usually never wear but don't have the heart to sell and got out all of my fashion magazines.

I read so many Keras and Gothic Lolita Bibles that day and it was the best thing ever. Because I suddenly had a lot more time on my hands, I read every issue with a lot more concentration than usual. I analysed every picture, I made notes on ideas I would like to try and admired all of the brand release adverts. But the best part was reading some of the issues that were around when I first started wearing the fashion. I felt that rush of excitement that I felt when I first read these magazines. It was really enjoyable to play "If I Had £1000" whilst looking at all the details in the glossy photos. I felt like a new lolita all over again.

My thirst for all things frilly was still not satisfied. So I ended up reading a lot of the old blogs that I haven't read in years. It is a real shame to see so many of the old lolita blogs haven't been updated in years. But when I was re-reading entries that I had seen from years ago, it felt like I was reading them for the first time again. It felt like I was visiting an old friend I hadn't seen in ages. And then there was the Youtube videos. I saw people sharing their hauls and opening lucky packs. I got excited with the lolitas in the videos as they saw what they got. They kept me company when my husband was away at work and suddenly I didn't feel so alone.

All of this renewed my enthusiasm for lolita fashion, and if I hadn't been so sick I maybe wouldn't of dedicated so much time to all the videos and blog entries I read. It gave me a real wake-up call. I have always been passionate about lolita, but sometimes it is easy to lose sight of why I fell so in love with the fashion in the first place. I am really excited about being well enough to dress up again and seeing my friends.

So I guess I just wanted to say a huge thank you to everybody who puts this content out there. Thank you for keeping me sane! I watched so much that day, so there is a large possibility that some of you may be reading this right now. You have all inspired me so much. If anybody reading this finds themselves in a similar situation, know that there are hours of lolita-related entertainment out there to keep you going until you feel well enough to get out there again.

Looking after your feet

This may sound a bit mad, but I really worry about lolitas and their feet. I see pictures of lolita closets and a lot of the shoes don't look very comfortable. Then I hear from people who moan that their shoes don't fit but they still wear them! I myself have had some foot problems. Before I was into lolita I used to be into punk fashion (in fact, 70's punk is still my favourite music). When I was 16 I decided to treat myself to some new clothes because I was entering 6th form. I hated my school uniform and now I could wear whatever I wanted. Part of this shopping binge was a pair of New Rock boots. These ones to be exact-

My mum had a massive go at me for buying these. She thought they were too expensive and they were not very practical. I ended up wearing these New Rocks to 6th form almost every single day. You know what? My mum was right and now I have problems walking long distances. It is fine when I am going about my daily business but if I am going to London for the day or if I am wearing my lolita platforms, my feet really hurt.

And so I am writing this post as a warning against foot abuse! Here are a few tips I have come up with-

1. Make sure you order the right size

This sounds really obvious but I still keep seeing posts with girls complaining they got the wrong size shoes. I think part of the problem is that some size conversion charts get it wrong. So it is important that you don't rely on these charts. If you live outside of Japan but are ordering from a Japanese website, order using your Japanese shoe size and not your European/English/American size. How? Finding out your Japanese shoe size is very easy. All you need to do is measure your feet in centimetres. My feet are 25cm long so I order a size 25 (or a 250 as it sometimes appears).

2. Use insoles if needed

So if you followed my advice from point one and you still don't think the shoes fit very well. If they are too big you could use insoles so they are not too loose. If your shoes are too small you only really have 2 options- a refund (if they are offered) or reselling them. Don't expect to get the full amount back that you paid for them even if they are brand new. It is really frustrating but please don't squeeze your feet into them. You may regret it.

3. Use plasters with new shoes

When you are breaking in new shoes there is a chance you may end up with some blisters. When I wear new shows I place plasters on areas where I think I may get blisters. I usually put one around my little toe and one on the back of my ankle. The reason I do this is not just to avoid blisters. Imagine you are wearing your favourite brand socks. Ideally you do not want to be getting blood all over them just in case they get stained. So I use plasters to save my socks as well as my feet.

4. Use shoe cushions

Sometimes when I know I have a really long day of walking ahead of me, I will insert some shoe cushions to relieve the pressure. I use Scholl Party Feet which in the UK are very easy to find. I have seen them in chemists, supermarkets and you can find them online.

5. Own at least one pair of flat shoes

You should probably give yourself a break from heels some of the time. You can find some really pretty flats. Be careful with ballet pumps because some styles have no sole on them and these can actually damage your feet too.

6. Practise walking in platforms of rocking horse shoes

Looking at the rocking horse shoe picture at the top, you will notice that the front of the shoe rises and at the back a part of the heel is cut out. It is not just these shoes that have this style of heel on them and they may be more common than you think. I have a pair of platforms like this and I know how awkward they can be. You can't put too much pressure on the front because you may end up unbalancing and falling flat on your face.

7. Check online to see if shoes have been reviewed

If you really like a pair of shoes have a look online to see if anybody else has purchased them. You may not be able to find a review of the exact pair but you will usually find lolitas commenting on how comfortable a certain brand's shoes are in general. There is a chance that you will find conflicting opinions but try and see if the general response is more postive or negative.

8. Give your feet a treat

Occasionally I like to pamper my feet. Foot scrubs are good for removing the dead skin. Like the shoe cushions, I use a scrub by Scholl. You could also cover your feet with lotion and put some old socks on when you go to bed to help soften your feet.

If you develop problems with your feet then you will notice it. It is painful and can have a massive impact on your day to day life. I can understand people wanting to wear heels because my height is average so sometimes I want a boost. Just remember that prevention is better than cure and if you start to feel pain, give your feet a rest.