My dear friend Melissa happened to be in town for one more day before heading back to the west coast and gathered a handful of old friends together for a Saturday afternoon to catch up.  We needed to go somewhere that had tea, but after 2pm when one of us got out of work. Now most bakery/tea shops around here tend to close at about 3pm on a Saturday...that was not going to do. We could meet at a restaurant, but sometimes it can be loud and hard to hear each other. I did a google search of tea shops in the area, and found a place that piqued my interests---a witchy themed speakeasy in the middle of a strip mall in Wallingford that was open between 12-7pm. Everyone agreed it was very interesting and wanted to give it a shot. 

​Pahl and I were the first to arrive at Bones & Botanicals. I checked the website quickly to acquire the door code. I punched it into the box near the door and was immediately amazed by the dim light and glow-in-the-dark decor. There were about 2 open seats at the bar, and a bench that could maybe fit 4 people and the rest of the 6 chairs were already occupied.  Knowing that there would be 5 of us total, I grabbed the bench quickly and some cocktail menus. We talked a little bit with some other visitors who were facing the bench on the comfy chairs. Between us was a low glass topped table which held a glittering sarcophagus inside with glow in the dark sides and bottom. To the left of the bench were stacks of books and games that patrons could utilize and herbs in glass jars on a shelf above our heads. To the left was a curious assortment of decorations of an occult nature on a shelf along with two digital portraits whose expressions would periodically change. Straight back there were floating candles hanging from the ceiling with glass pentagrams hanging over the bar. 

What I really liked about Bones & Botanicals is the atmosphere, decor, and the vibe. They have cocktails, mocktails, and regular tea, so there's something for everyone to try, even if they aren't imbibing. They also have some small bar snacks that you can purchase along with your drinks. Pahl and I ordered the "adult lunchable" that basically had mixed nuts, chocolate and pita chips in it. I honestly never thought I was into the "bar scene" or cocktails, but apparently if you serve them to me in a dark witchy themed secret access only speakeasy, I can be persuaded. 

Pahl and I decided the day before that we would dress up in Rockabilly style outfits to meet everyone with. Rockabilly fashion is a style of dress that takes its inspiration from 1950's American Rock and Roll culture. It is often characterized by bright colors, bold prints, and a mix of vintage and modern elements. Rockabilly music (which inspired the fashion) is a mixture of rock and roll music (think Johnny Cash and Elvis), hillbilly and country western aesthetics, and 1950's fashion with a little bit of punk thrown in. 

Pahl has got the faux vintage western shirt, black denim inside real motorcycle boots, with a vintage motorcycle leather jacket, and round sunglasses. He's basically James Dean from Rebel Without a Cause, minus the pompadour. Now my elements are a bit tricker to compare as it was January and still far too cold for pigtails, half sleeves, or open toed shoes. However, I did opt for a low cut black shirt tucked into a leopard print mini skirt with punk elements (see the straps hanging down). To go extra bold, I wore tights that have imagery of magenta lips tucked into over the knee suede boots with chunky heels. The boots and the beret are a bit more modern looking, but I just really wanted to wear them with the outfit. I was also hardly wearing any makeup-except for a bold red lipstick. 

It was so nice to catch up with Nell, Jess, and Melissa. I hadn't seen Nell and Jess for over a year in person, and well Melissa we actually did see her a few times in August, but it's always a fun time. We had many engaging conversations about topics ranging from how our families are doing to artificial intelligence and how advanced it is already. 

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It could have been the angle of the light coming through the window, or it could have been the fact that we are both Scorpio risings. The Scorpio Ascendent is a placement that is known for being mysterious, otherworldly, spiritual, and even attracted to taboo and occult topics. How fitting it was to capture this image at a cocktail bar that has all of these elements!

I shall now recap my final fashion adventures of December 2023. I had oh so many other adventures I had to cancel on from a Holiday party with the Steampunks to a tea party with my own EGL fashion group because I got sick. So for the rest of December I didn't go much of anywhere, except to go out to eat a few times and to do the holidays with our families. 

Christmas this year ended up on a Monday, so I got a wonderful three-day weekend with Pahl that I wouldn't normally have. On Saturday night we went out to eat at one of my favorite local restaurants, Home, in downtown Branford. Home serves comfort food (which can be made gluten free) in a relaxed dining atmosphere. The front of the restaurant is set up like someone's living room with comfy leather chairs and small low tables. This part cannot be reserved, and it can be a little awkward to eat like this...but I prefer it because the section is walled off a bit from the rest of the restaurant and its a lot quieter. I chose to sit on the couch while Pahl chose to sit on the leather chair. It is better to sit across from one another for talking to one another (as well as taking pictures of each other's outfit). 

I am wearing an outfit that I purchased from Killstar a few years ago. The red blouse which is a  stand collar (that laces with velour lacing at the top),  extends into long bell sleeves to the wrist. The velvet repeats at the bodice downwards. The matching mini skirt (which is hidden by the sleeves while sitting) is tiered red lace at the front with a red interior lining. Red, white, and grey on black plaid tights from Snag Tights match the black beret with the red plaid accent at the top. I am also wearing a quartz and silver ring to tie in the gray neutrals. 

We didn't plan this at all, but complementary to my mostly red outfit, Pahl is wearing mostly green. He paired a navy and dark yellow floral motif button up shirt with a dark cotton waistcoat and green pants. He's also wearing his green striped Italian race car driver hat, which may be initially mistaken for a beret, but it is not. The front flap can be put down to act as something like goggles or sunglasses for the driver. It is a rare occasion though when Pahl is not wearing any of his rings!

Dinner was so fantastic we actually went back to Home the following week to celebrate Pahl's birthday (and I ordered the same exact thing...the bone in porkchop meal is splendid!)

On Christmas Eve, I decided to wear EGL fashion. My parents did not have the pleasure of witnessing the Christmas Bear Sweet Lolita dress last year, so I wanted to wear it again. It's a pretty great design from the sailor collar to the very cute bear print and the interior lining. I wore the pink waist belt and gold shoes with it again this year, but I changed up some of my other accessories. I moved the bow that came with up to the space between the two collar sides, and I repeated the bow pattern by wearing a red velvet KC (headbow) from the chinese indie brand Infanta. Instead of pink diamond tights, I wore winter white sweater tights. I also wore a gold star/celestial necklace and gold rings. Lastly, I  added the Brown Bear Christmas Bag that 42 lolita had sent me as a gift for being an excellent customer.  42Lolita always sends free gifts with every order (including some of the soft ornaments hanging behind me), but this was a special gift package that came separately. 

Some of Pahl's family also got to witness the Christmas Dress. It is such a delightful piece of clothing, it always brings smiles and warmth to everyone it encounters. It seems as if it is my fate to wear it every year in some capacity, until my nieces can both fit into it so I can pass it along to them. 

As far as Christmas Gifts, we were definitely feeling green. We basically both picked out the big pieces that we wanted each other to buy. Pahl chose this green waistcoat from the Historical Emporium as he did not have a double breasted one quite like this in his collection. All of the buttons are functional, and it does take some effort to put on for sure, but he looks great in it. I also got him a special box of Victorian themed socks from FootClothes (that had 5 different pairs of socks and some other things like a candle, a brooch, and a little jar of teeth). 

My outfit that I selected is actually the skirt and blouse version of the Miss Point Point Manor OP dress that I already own in the yellow striped colorway. You know you love a piece when you buy it in a second color way. I asked 42lolita to help me acquire it (so Pahl could buy it for me of course). I wish I could link it to you, but it looks like it's just not available anymore. It was available made to order from Sept 2021-Dec 2022.  

Pahl also got me a variety of other things like a lightswitch, a silver rat ring, a really cool looking steampunk bag, and a very nice pair of earrings from Crunchy Diva Designs that I said I liked at an indoor holiday market we attended. I can't wait till summer to wear the earrings--they will really shine when I put my hair up out of the way!

Nemia-Rose, Pahl, and I in front of the rotunda at the New Haven Museum
(Nemia-Rose and I are wearing sweet style)

One of my favorite things to do to dress up to match the theme of events offered at various museums. The New Haven Museum is a museum dedicated to the history of the city of New Haven, CT from its colony founding as puritan village, through it's growth into a major industrial center, and now a thriving metropolitan area. The museum was founded in 1862 as the New Haven Colony Historical Society, whose goals have always been to collect, preserve, and make available research materials which document the history of the greater New Haven area. The current building on Whitney Avenue was built by J. Frederick Kelly, a notable colonial revival architect, in 1929.  It's absolutely gorgeous inside the building, even on a rainy dreary overcast day!

The lecture that we attended in the Auditorium/Ballroom was called "Delight in the Diminutive: A History of the Victorian Doll House", by guest lecturer Eliza de Sola Mendes who is an independent decorative arts scholar from New York City.  This particular lecture included a special tour of the New Haven Museum's own Victorian Doll House (located on the first floor), and a tea reception after the lecture as part of their "Free First Sunday" events.  The lecture covered the history of antique doll houses and miniatures from the early Victorian period to the beginning of the Edwardian era. Eliza de Sola Mendes led us through various parts of a doll's house and how the miniatures reflected exactly what people living in the Victorian era would have put in their own real homes, just in the miniature. Early doll house furniture and furnishings did not spare any expense. The crystal is real. The silk is real. I had no idea the level of detail and attention to miniatures, nor realizing that the perfect image of Victorian life was to be found in depictions of doll houses---not photographs of the era!!!

Now I only subconsciously knew that my dress was the perfect choice for this lecture. I learned that many dollhouses included portraits just like the ones in the dress design. See, I've been doing a little research about elegant lolita fashion, and yes it IS influenced by the Rococo, Victorian, and Edwardian eras, but an elegant combination of its own making. The Victorian aspect is closely akin to what maybe Victorian children wore, which can also be seen in dolls and dollhouses of that time!

Myself and Eleanor modeling the same dress in different colorways

Now you shall know the story of how I ended up with this dress. Basically last time I saw Eleanor, she wore this dress to the tea party in July. My boyfriend thought I would look especially smashing in it, and wanted to know where Eleanor got it. It's called Portrait of A Little Lady from the Chinese Indie Brand Infanta. Eleanor assured us that they already sold out of the colorway she had, so we just picked a different one. Mine is more of a blue-gray with rose gold accents, while Eleanor's is more of a green-gray with burnished gold accents. 

​Now what's great is you can see how to style this dress in December vs July, which are two very different climates in Connecticut. For December (which is cold, rainy, overcast, and might be snowing), I paired mine with an apricot colored long sleeve stand collar blouse from Metamorphose, printed bow tights in pink grey from Red Maria, gold mary janes, and the head bow that matches the dress design.  For July (which is humid, hot, sunny, maybe a little sticky), Eleanor paired it with a cotton short sleeve blouse with a peter pan collar. She is wearing over the knee socks in a crossing ribbon pattern (often seen on Victorian dolls), classic brown shoes, and a clever head piece that was literally a cup of tea with flowers and some ribbons. The hand fan was absolutely essential as well. Not just a prop. 

Overall I had a wonderful time making all the connections between historical Victorian and modern Japanese street wear fashion. I also got tea twice in one day! I drank hot tea after the lecture, and bubble tea at The Whale Tea, which is a very good bubble tea shop also located on Whitney Ave (just on the other side and up the road a bit from the New Haven Museum).