Blogger Inspiration: La Carmina
Over the past few months, we’ve been interviewing some of our favorite fashion bloggers and finding inspiration in their styles. In case you missed them, see our past interviews with Maria of Lulu Letty, Elizabeth of Delightfully Tacky, Georgina of Cupcake’s Clothes, Tieka of Selective Potential, Rebecca of The Clothes Horse, Keiko Lynn, Kendi of Kendi Everyday, Sally of Already Pretty and Mel of Idee Geniale.
Today we’ll be meeting La Carmina, of La Carmina.com.
About La Carmina
In response to our Blogger Inspiration series, which has been going for a few months now, a few of you expressed an interest in seeing a more alternative blogger featured. So this time, we have Japan goth blogger La Carmina.
La Carmina is a girl of many talents – she’s a blogger, journalist, TV host, author, and designer. While her look might be a little too alternative and out-there for some girls, her style is also full of inspiration – many elements of her wardrobe are completely real-life wearable. I love her mix of girly dresses, lace and her fantastic hair and makeup. Overall, La Carmina’s style is distinctive and fun – let’s meet her!
Our Interview with La Carmina
1. Tell us a little bit about yourself (who you are, what you do, where you’re from, etc.)
I’m a red-haired pirate named La Carmina. My world revolves around alternative fashion, travel, Japanese pop and subcultures, and all things spooky-cute. In addition to blogging maniacally, I’m a travel TV host and arranger – currently working on five shows for international networks. My TV credits include The Today Show, Travel Channel, NHK Japan, Dutch Pepsi, Sony Australia, Canal Plus France, Norway TV, Fuel / National Geographic, and CNN International. I’m Captain of my coolhunting firm, La Carmina & The Pirates. We’re trend/youth consultants, translators and film fixers who specialize in Tokyo’s underground subculture. Finally, I’m a travel and pop culture journalist for AOL/ Huffington Post and CNN, and wrote 3 books on fun and bizarre Japan culture –including Cute Yummy Time (Penguin) and Crazy, Wacky Theme Restaurants: Tokyo (Random House).
2. How would you define your style?
Morticia Addams meets Hello Kitty.
3. How did you find your style?
When I was little, my family and I always traveled to Japan, Hong Kong and other places in Asia. I was mesmerized by the Visual Kei/Jrock, Gothic Lolita and Punk styles I saw in the Harajuku district of Tokyo: Green hair, ripped-up tights, candy hair bows, frilled Victorian dresses. Japan’s explosive combination of alt-fashion-music subcultures rocked my young imagination. I began experimenting with these street styles, and continue to dance down this colourful path today.
4. What inspired you to start a style blog? What motivates you?
When I began my blog in September 2007, I was Yale Law student at crossroads: I yearned to be in a more creative field. Blogging was the perfect medium for me to express my love of alternative fashion and subcultures. I started out writing solely for myself, with no expectations. (Remember, these were the early days when the idea of turning a blog into a career was unheard of!) I’m forever grateful to readers who reach out and tell me they’ve found my posts helpful. Hearing that I opened someone’s eyes, or simply made them smile, keeps me going.
5. Did you go to college? What was your college experience like?
I’m a graduate of Columbia University in New York, and Yale Law School. I like to say I majored in nightcrawling… because I got my education in underground fashion/cultures from NYC’s flamboyant club scene! On weekends – and I admit, also weekdays – my friends and I would glam up and browse the shops at St Mark’s Place (Trash and Vaudeville, Search and Destroy). Then we’d head over to Lower East Side dives and alt/Goth clubs (Dances of Vice, Lady Gaga’s old haunts). I loved Columbia. Tidbits from the Core Curriculum – required courses across a variety of disciplines – pop up constantly in my life and work today, such as making a Bach reference in a metal concert review, or coordinating an outfit to match a Surrealist art exhibit. I honed my writing skills at university, and met smart students from all over the world. Perhaps that’s why I’m so fascinated by fringe travel and cultures today.
6. Where do you like to shop?
I’m fortunate that my TV and writing jobs take me to Tokyo. Harajuku is my favorite neighborhood to buy alternative clothing and accessories. Here, you’ll find the most exciting Goth Lolita Punk Jrock fashion in the world. While Harajuku has gotten more commercial lately, there are still independent stores, such as Yellow House – run by a spunky old lady for decades – or Takuya Angel’s little shop of Cyber Rave designs.
The basement of Laforet Department Store houses some of my favorite brands, including Alice & the Pirates, Atelier Pierrot, Putumayo and h.NAOTO. Shinjuku’s Marui One department store is a mecca of Gothic Lolita clothing, especially the floor that I call “shoe heaven” (Mary Janes, cut-out boots and more). I pick up glittery fabrics, feathers and decadent eyelashes at Odakaya. If I could only visit one boutique, though, it would be Closet Child, which stocks Japanese alternative brand clothing — all secondhand and very well priced. There are locations in Shinjuku, Harajuku and Ikebukuro.
7. What advice do you have for being stylish on a college budget?
I’m a big proponent of supporting independent businesses. I suggest searching online for indie designers; Etsy has a large selection of cute, original pieces for great prices. I also encourage students to try DIY projects. Something as simple as cutting up and layering stockings, or pinning feathers and charms to a hat, can make a huge impact.
8. What are your favorite pieces in your wardrobe?
I adore my decadent purple pirate hat, which Caribbean Rose Emporium created just for me. And my gold Listen Flavor ring because it looks like my earless cat, Basil Farrow.
9. Who/what inspires you?
I’m mesmerized by the Rococo glam of Visual Kei bands like GPKISM, Malice Mizer, Versailles. I love Japanese kawaii (cute) makeup and mascots, such as Chococat and Rilakkuma. Above all, I’m inspired and awed by my ultra-creative circle of “spooky friends.”
10. What advice do you have for new bloggers or people considering starting a blog?
From a technical standpoint: use WordPress on a self-hosted domain, educate yourself in design and SEO, and write high-quality posts constantly. Get active on social networks: take the time to answer blog comments and messages. There’s no need to emulate the path of mainstream personal fashion bloggers to be successful. Be your quirky self, and concentrate on a niche or lifestyle that you love. Create a world that readers want to be in, and they will come.
How to Dress Like La Carmina
all images of La Carmina from La Carmina.com
La Carmina’s style is very distinctive and really stands out. Many elements of her style may not be “wearable” for a lot of college girls or fit in with their usual style, but just as we take catwalk trends and make them more wearable, there are ways to take inspiration from La Carmina’s style. Here are a few tips:
1. Cute, feminine pieces
La Carmina’s style is categorized by feminine and Victorian-inspired pieces featuring lots of ruffles and lace. This can easily be translated to your daily look with the addition of a pretty petticoat or under-skirt worn beneath a vintage-style dress, mary jane shoes and/or delicate tights.
2. Simple color palette
As you can tell from the images used here, La Carmina’s outfits often conform to a palette of red, black, white, and purple. This is a great way to get maximum mileage from your wardrobe. By choosing a single palette as the foundation of your wardrobe, it’s always easy to build outfits that work.
3. Punk elements
In recent years, fashion has largely rejected the idea of looking too “done”. La Carmina’s look emulates this fashion philosophy: She loves to layer on ripped tights, fishnets and edgy elements such as cross-necklaces. Take a cue from La Carmina and add an edgy to your girly outfits – try black fishnets with a floral dress, or rock a black cross necklace with a feminine top.
4. Accessory overload
Hair pieces, pretty necklaces, fun tights, and bows galore – La Carmina’s look is always accessorized to the max. You don’t have to go overboard to have fun with accessories like Carmina – try patterned tights for fun pattern-mixing, or add a pretty hair piece or hat to your look.
5. Trademark hair and makeup
La Carmina’s bright red hair and fun makeup are her standout beauty trademarks. While it’s fun to experiment with your hair and makeup, having a trademark look can make getting ready in the morning much easier! In addition, you’ll stand out from the crowd and be remembered by keeping your look consistent.
Outfit Inspired by La Carmina
red dress / polka dot tights / flower necklace / hair flower / mary jane shoes
If alternative style is your thing, it’ll be easy for you to take inspiration from the more unusual aspects of La Carmina’s style. However, this outfit is a more mainstream, everyday-wearable version of La Carmina’s look, and would be perfect for readers who just want to channel a hint of her style.
I used La Carmina’s palette of red, white, and black for this outfit and chose this little red lace dress to demonstrate her love of girly accents. I then paired it with pretty white tights and black mary jane shoes. Of course, I had to add pretty accessories, opting for this flower necklace and hair clip. Wear this look and you’ll look picture-perfect for a night out, while channeling a bit of Carmina’s edge.
Your thoughts?
Do you find La Carmina’s style inspiring? Are you happy to see an “alternative” blogger featured here? What other bloggers would you like to see profiled in the future? Leave a comment and let us know!
Posted on on August 6, 2011 / Filed Under: Inspiration / Tags: Alternative, Blogger Inspiration, cute, Goth, Gothic, Japan, Japanese
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Comment Rules: CF is a positive place and our comments section is no different. Constructive criticism is fine, but if you're rude, we'll delete your comment. Please use your PERSONAL name or initials and not your business name and do not put your website in the comment text, as both come off like spam. For more info, see our 
Angie
I thank you for writing about this amazing blogger. This is not the first time I’ve heard of her…she’s absolutely fantastic and her style is so unique and cute! <3 I'm always really inspired by Japanese fashion, whether it's sweet lolita, visual kei, decora, fairy kei, or dolly kei. Japan has the most unique and interesting fashion/style in the world!
Danielle
it’s cool that you guys actually listen to requests! however, i don’t think the outfit is really too indicative of her style. i would have liked to see something that pushed the envelope a bit more.
Lexi
La Carmina is the absolute laughing stock of the Lolita community. She is a horrible representation of the fashion, anyone looking to get into Lolita PLEASE look elsewhere for information and inspiration. The ONLY outfit in this post that could even remotely be considered Lolita is the first one under “How to Dress like La Carmina” and that’s only because she’s wearing a dress from a Lolita brand, and it’s coordinated very, very poorly.
Zephyr - CF Editor
Thanks for the feedback, guys!
Danielle – The goal was to create something that was more wearable for the majority of our readers who aren’t normally into alternative fashion. But I can totally see your point – it’s definitely not our most envelope-pushing ensemble, if that’s what you were looking for.
Lexi – We’re definitely not experts on Lolita fashion and didn’t claim to be, nor did we claim La Carmina was – we just liked her style as an alternative to what we normally post in this series. If you’d like to share what you consider to be more accurate info, feel free to explain/post links in another comment. Note that comments containing links are automatically held for moderation, but so long as you aren’t promoting your own stuff, we’ll be happy to approve any comments you want to make with further info for readers.
Lexi
Zephyr – Yes, I completely realize that this site is in no way usually aimed at the alternative fashion crowd and I’m glad that you were willing to do a piece on something outside of the norm. While I can’t speak for any other JFashion circle, within Lolita she considered to have subpar coordinates and even a lack of understanding of the basics of Lolita fashion. I’m glad that it was even briefly mentioned on a site like this though, I remember being absolutely terrified the first time I walked around on my college campus in a Lolita coordinate. It’s always nice to dream that more exposure to alternative fashions will equal more acceptance, as unlikely as that is. :)
Many girls who are new to Lolita get their idea of what it is through Anime and Manga, which are usually depicted as black and white dresses with sexy elements such as fishnets and corsets, which differs greatly from what Lolita fashion looks like in practice. Black and white coordinates have been out of style for a while (though they do still pop up) and modesty is emphasized.
On the off chance that there are any aspiring Lolitas here, or if you’re just curious this is the go-to website for more information on the subject: http://hellolace.net/
There is a newbie guide, a catalog of previous releases by various brands and coordinate inspiration from real girls who wear the fashion regularly. I’m not affiliated with the site in any way, it’s just a good source of information and the go-to guide.
Paula*
I like her style. I understand if she isn’t a good representation of Lolita style, but I appreciate CF showing someone different.
Lauren Elizabeth
Thank you for this post! I have a very quirky personality, but I only recently got into fashion, so my style is a little more mainstream. I’m finally ready to start honing in on a more personality-driven style — I like what I wear now, but I’d like to make it MINE. You know? So anything that isn’t quite normal that I can use for inspiration is always helpful. Thank you!
Maggie
I love La Carminas style. She doesnt say she is Gothic Lolita, and the article doesnt say that, like Zephhyr points out. Her alternative style is awesome because its her own. People love her because she does J fashion her way, not everyone agrees with those rules that girl posted, and its your own opinion if something is coordinated well or not.
maxine
I dislike her style because it seems to costumey and it is not Halloween everya day.. I think you can be fashionable without being costumey.
Zoe
I’d love to see Bebe Zeva of Fated to Be Hated. She is one of my favorite up and coming bloggers and I’d love to know more about her style inspiration!
Lauren Elizabeth
Maxine: No, it isn’t Halloween every day, and most people agree with you, and that’s fine. However, while you believe that one can be fashionable without being costumey, which is perfectly true, some of us believe that you can be both at the same time — which is also perfectly true. :)
Yuki
I’m so glad that you guys posted an article about someone’s Lolita-esque style. I’ve always loved the idea of Lolita in its many iterations and also try to find ways to capture a bit of the frilly girlyness and elegant darkness with American clothing. Forever 21, Target, and stores of the like have alot of lace and uber-frilly blouses and dresses with delicate patterns that can give a sweet nod to the style and its easier on the wallet than importing $100 skirts. Its true that there is a bit of a costume aspect to it, but the types of clothing that Loli lovers wear everyday is alot more subdued but still has the feeling of its more dramatic side. Hopefully we can see more alternative styles. Love it.
A
I’m glad that the outfit shown is something that I would probably wear, unlike the stuff La Carmina was wearing in the other photos. Guess I’m one of those who wouldn’t dress like that… But I’d wear the outfit idea, without the stockings.
Ayako
I’m a girl from Japan and this styling is really great!!!! ^^^ Harajuku love!
Ariel
I like her style. It may not be strictly gothic lolita, but it is unique. As a girl who dresses in a more “alternative” style, I think it’s great that you featured a girl with a style different from what’s considered normal. Hope to see more featured bloggers with different styles :)
Pauline PP
this is my favorite blogger inspiration post so far!. thank u college fashion for listening to your readers and featuring a non-white girl that is not the usual blogger and is also doing cool things with her career. i’m impressed with her education also, inspiring.
Rozemaiden
“La Carmina’s style is categorized by feminine and Victorian-inspired pieces featuring lots of ruffles and lace. This can easily be translated to your daily look with the addition of a pretty petticoat or under-skirt worn beneath a vintage-style dress, mary jane shoes and/or delicate tights.”
~This pretty much sums up my daily wardrobe anyways. I’m so glad to see a Gothic Lolita/Punk blog featured here! ~
Cortney
@ Lexi — Thank you for posting the website!
I’m really interested in getting into Lolita (specifically sweet Lolita), but I’m definitely scared of the reactions I’d get.
I’m doing a bit more research before I delve into the community though. :)
Caribbean Rose
Avast ye Carmina Lass!
This ol pirate humbly thanks ye fer yer mention of me pirate hats. Twas a joy to create a handblocked, custom designed hat especially fer ye. Ye have a special style me precious lass, which be not only of outward panache, but an inner beauty and elegance of heart and spirit, which graces with unsurpassed loveliness, anything ye wear. I am honored to have been the recipient of such grace fer me pirate hat, when yer beautiful face shone beneath it! Hilly and I love ye me pirate sister!!! Saavy?!
Caribbean Rose
Ccaribbean Rose Pirate & Vintage Millinery Emporium
Linda
I actually learned more about the Lolita fashion style a year ago from La Carmina’s blog. She featured different styles and took photos of brand stores at La Foret. I for one, am really willing to wear the Lolita fashion on campus. But just as Cortney said, I will be doing more research on Lolitas in College. So far, all the Lolitas who wear the style on campus have given me quite a tremendous positive feedback regarding people’s reactions towards their attire. So, I’m pretty excited about wearing a very alternative style on my campus :)
Ashley
@Maggie: The problem is a lot of other people call her style lolita, when it reallyreallyreally isn’t. So just because the article doesn’t say it, doesn’t mean someone won’t think “Hey, I heard of her from [x]–she said she’s lolita, right?” If people want to follow her style as it is, though, I really couldn’t care less. As long as people don’t call a pidgeon a duck I’m happy.
@Lexi: Thanks for posting that website! I haven’t checked out any of the old ones or the comms on LJ in a while, so it’s nice to hear about new sites to check out the style. Though this was certainly an unexpected place for it! xD