Beyond uniform

 Beyond the world of school uniform you may have different self images around how you fit into this super exciting world.

 

As much as I find getting myself dressed difficult to be in pretty dress with all matching accessories is very much what I'd love to do as is to have pretty frilly underwear rather than the plain no-fuss school sort.

 Sometimes you need a mantra to just remind yourself of what you ARE.

I'm cute

The whole kawaii Lolita look is something that I love  so much although it's hardly work never mind really study wear it appeals to my very feminine side.

Style chart

(Click on to expand)
This great drawing by Guinevieve is a great attempt to defining by example the various styles of Gothic & Lolita fashion many follow that deserved sharing.
Also I cut and made some classic 'Bunty' paper dolls from the 60's with their dresses having been shown a website that had scans of them so I could print them off which was rather fun as my Nan used to buy me it. 

Disability

This post is for sweetiemissmimi, luna and those of us from different communities with disabilities.  
One of my favourite maxims is "everyone is different" and one way in which we are different is in our life circumstances.
It is unfortunate that there seems to be an increase in the prejudice subjected to people who have disabilities from many directions apart from the still lingering outmoded attitudes toward having disabilities in general.
Those of us who have physical disabilities may get around in a number of ways and may even be multimodual: we may 'walk' but slowly, holding onto objects, use walking aids such as crutches and walking frames or wheelchairs to get about.

The critical thing is our aids give us the means of getting around - usually by ourselves - we aren't confined or limited by them even if those who are not still persist in needlessly creating less accessible environments  .
The nature of some disabilities is that conditions do fluctuate so we may alternate modes which isn't a reason to start tut tutting or accusing us of being fakes just because we don't meet your idea of what being disabled is. After all not having the life what would a good number of you really know?
People who exhibit ME for instance may not look that they have a physical disability but ME is physically disabling making it very tiring to get about.
Because we have disabilities also  means we may need to adapt what we wear to avoid  for instance getting things stuck in the spokes of your wheels, so spare us your "You ain't doing it right", "You can't be a lolita" or more offensively "You can't be pretty, you're just a cripple" crap. Fashion has always had a practical side adapting to needs and shock horror disabled models for the fashion industry does exist showing their genuine beauty off.
Some of us work (employed or voluntary), some of us are studying up to and including degree levels, some may not be able to do either and all of us are trying to get on making the most of our lives living it in way more conductive to our needs.
Some of us have varying learning disabilities or what are broadly called  mental health needs and generally we'll let you know if it is we need you to step in or remind us about any medication we're on.
Talking specifically about me, my own take on it is I never ask to have my disabilities with the many limitations they do place on me but given they have, my alg lifestyle is more suited to me as I can cope much better when I'm in a more child like headspace as I struggle with much else.

Photo credit "myasianfashion.it"

Relaxed middle

Middle space for me is a great place to be that can involve frilly dresses, play and lots and lots of stuffies not least teddy bears to hold in everyday life that I love to be in although for me the age-play side does include the spankies a child of my era got as matter of course.

The interests of Jo

To me being this Junior does involve more than just recreating say school or just wearing tween fashions but the whole 'being' which includes having age relevant interests such as playing and hobbies which for me includes taking pictures, walking in the countryside and playing music including collecting recording by composers and artists.
I'd dearly love to be able to sow and make my own clothes but my physical disabilities get in the way of it.