Best of 2023

 And again we mark the end of another year. This was a fairly wonderful year in regards to my personal life! And as far as EGL fashion is concerned I'd certainly say it was successful as well. I've tracked down some wishlist items and dream pieces, busted out some banger coords and had some lovely times with my frilly friends <3 

I guess I'll start with my favorite coords of the year...

I think this is my very favorite coord of the year. I wouldn't call this coord a cosplay, but it certainly is character influenced. It's based off the character Kristeva from the anime Ergo Proxy. This isn't my typical style since it has more of a traditional Victorian influence with a floor length gown, but I would definitely love to incorporate more of this kind of look into my repertoire. This dress is one of the few Sheglit pieces that I own and judging from this piece I tend to think Sheglit is high quality and worthwhile. The coord is based off Kristeva's silhouette. The long skirt, cinched waist, minimally puffed shoulders and high hair bun. I brought some white into the coord with my cross necklace and Moite underskirt to reflect the white of her face and hands.

https://lolibrary.org/items/sheglit-victorian-bustle-op

Dress: Sheglit
Necklace, Hairbow, Purse, Underskirt, Socks: Moitie
Shoes: Delias

Kristeva from Ergo Proxy (she is a robot lol)

I thought this coord turned out pretty decent as well as being quite different. It's a bit more edgy than my typical style due to the synthetic leather fabric. I find this Moitie dress in particular is a bit more difficult to coord due to the fabric. So while this dress is a really neat and unique piece it is a bit of a double edged sword when trying to coord it for daily wear. The headpiece is made from a synthetic leather waist cincher/belt that I repurposed and thankfully it worked out perfectly for this coord. I also have a leather beret that would go well with this dress, so I'll attempt to coord it with that next time I wear it!

https://lolibrary.org/items/moitie-cross-rose-synthetic-leather-jumper-skirt

Dress, Necklace, Socks, Cutsew: Moitie
Headpiece: Handmade
Collar: Offbrand
Wristcuffs: Bodyline
Bloomers: Angelic Pretty
Shoes: Delias

This coord is a bit simple and toned down, but I really like it. I think it's the simplicity that I find most delightful about it. This is just very tasteful and appropriate for casual daily wear. My coord also conceals one of my many coord hacks in making pieces more versatile. The skirt is in fact not a skirt, but a JSK with the shirt over top of the bodice instead of underneath it... Sometimes I just wish I had a skirt version of my dresses... Well lo and behold I can at least pretend I do!

"Skirt": Axes Femme
Cutsew: Baby 
Headpiece, Choker, Socks: Moitie
Bloomers: Angelic Pretty
Purse: Laluice
Shoes: Demonia

My favorite purchases this year... This might be a bit difficult to narrow down because I managed to acquire quite a few pretty incredible pieces. I'll start with this old and rare relic of a set... 2006 Angelic Pretty Maniax Collaboration Bratty Chocolat-chan Set. Firstly I couldn't believe I came across this old and illusive thing, but not only that the incredible price I found it for! Which was funny because in the following months after I had purchased it for a cheap steal the same set came up for sale on the JP second hand sites listed at $1000 and even $10,000!! It was also really wild after not seeing this set for sale EVER, it came up 3 times within a few months. What are even the odds of that?? And of course, the very day it arrived I HAD TO wear it :3

 

https://lolibrary.org/items/ap-maniax-collaboration-bratty-chocolate-chan-set

Dress, Cape, Cutsew, Headpiece, Necklace: Angelic Pretty
Socks: Baby
Purse: Offbrand
Shoes: Demonia

My next favorite purchase I'm going to base off versatility and usage... the Laluice Rabbit Shoulder Bag. I got it in both the black and off white colorways. And oh boy, did I ever use these things! I really wasn't sure at first if they would suit my style, but I go for these guys more than any other piece that I own! It's probably sacrilegious to say, but I prefer them to my Usakumya bags. 

Here's another dream set that I acquired: Metamorphose Raschel Lace Flared Sleeve Tiered OP & Headpiece. I was worried the green/teal color wasn't captured well in the stock photos and it wouldn't be as vibrant. I figured it was probably more navy blue, dark blackish with subtle hints of green. But much to my surprise she is even more vibrant and beautiful in person. And of course, I also had to wear this upon it's arrival. Though I wasn't super thrilled with this coord overall. It was okay for being thrown together in a couple minutes. I will certainly rework this one... and there's that Laluice rabbit bag once again.

https://lolibrary.org/items/meta-raschel-lace-flared-sleeve-tiered-op-2013-1st-release

https://lolibrary.org/items/meta-raschel-lace-headdress-with-brim

Dress, Headpiece, Socks: Metamorphose
Necklace, Choker, Waist Ribbon: Moitie

Shoes: Demonia

My favorite releases of 2023... Angelic Pretty Fancy Border was really cute. I particularly like the black colorway. The knitted cardigan and knitted sweater print is adorbs and very unique for AP. Now if it had Milk Cat on it I would have been completely sold on it. But it didn't so I passed it up. It's cute, but I hardly reach for the nu AP that I already have. A friend of mine did get it in the sax colorway, so I'll just live vicariously through her.

https://lolibrary.org/items/ap-fancy-border-knit-cardigan-0
https://lolibrary.org/items/ap-fancy-border-jsk

I don't take too much interest in Alice and the Pirates beyond the Miranda JSK and a few other older pieces, but Toi et Moi Memorable Violas and a Secret Key JSK I (what is this name XD) was pretty darn cute with the kittens in the baskets <3 The cut of this dress was very elegant and classic as well. The wine color ribbon on the black colorway was a very complimentary choice. Beautiful. Stunning. Alas, I did not need it though.

https://lolibrary.org/items/aatp-toi-et-moi-memorable-violas-and-a-secret-key-jsk-i

Last and certainly not least is Baby the Stars Shine Bright Sugar Bouquet Maiden's Eternal Longing. And I know Sugar Bouquet has been rereleased a million times over the last two decades. But it's such a iconic and staple print! And that new lavender colorway is absolutely to die for!! This was one release that I was really looking forward to after seeing the lavender colorway in Baby's fashion show to preview the upcoming releases of 2023. This being one release that I could not pass up!

https://lolibrary.org/items/btssb-sugar-bouquet-maidens-eternal-longing-shirring-op

https://lolibrary.org/items/btssb-sugar-bouquet-maidens-eternal-longing-bonnet-0

Unfortunately, I hadn't participated in very much twinning this year. But this one is definitely my favorite! Name of Guardian's Healer is such an iconic dress and it's really cool that a couple of my friends all have it <3

https://lolibrary.org/items/meta-name-of-guardian-healers-dress-op
https://lolibrary.org/items/meta-name-of-guardian-healers-dress-2nd-release
https://lolibrary.org/items/meta-name-of-guardian-healers-headband-0
https://lolibrary.org/items/meta-name-of-guardian-healers-headband

Finding my favorite memes that my friends and I made is always difficult. There are sooooooo many hilarious ones, but most of the time they are inside jokes that no one will understand or they are so completely heinous and will result in us being 'disappeared' for crimes against humanity :') So I'll just leave these few here.

I didn't end up having too many meets with my friends this year, but the ones we did have were really worthwhile. A couple times friends were visiting from out of town and it was wonderful seeing them and catching up <3 I guess I would say this year was more quality over quantity in that regard. And of course we took a lot of really cute and definitely silly photos. Here are some of my favorites. kek @ multiple rabbit bag appearances.
 

FINISH HER!

And I'm going to add a couple additional categories from last year... Since I tend to wear multiple holiday themed coords every year I'll include my favorite holiday coord! This was a coord that I wore for Christmas caroling with my church. I always find Elizabeth OP in red has such Christmasey vibes, so I tend to bring it out around Christmas time :3

 

https://lolibrary.org/items/btssb-elizabeth-op-set-2021-build-to-order
Dress, Cape, Bag, Socks: Baby
Headpiece: Angelic Pretty
Shoes: Demonia

And lastly... my favorite photo edits! This first one I really love a lot! A bunch of my friends collaborated together with our Valentine's themed coords to make the ultimate EGL themed vday card! It came out so perfectly! How do I have so many cute and well dressed friends <3 The other two are some silly spooky edits.

Well that about sums up my 2023 in EGL! And in my personal life I got married, baptized, as well as my husband and I purchased a lovely home! It was a fairly eventful year! I'm not sure 2024 will be able to top all of those exciting and eventful moments! But I will end this blog post with my wedding coord <3 

https://lolibrary.org/items/meta-ballerina-style-jsk
Dress: Metamorphose
Veil, Socks, Choker, Socks: Moitie
Necklace: Offbrand
Shawl, Train, Bouquet: Handmade
Shoes: Bodyline