Decided it would be a good time to descend into the crypts, dust off this blog and talk about my experience at The Great Lace 2026!
I got Saturday and Sunday + tea party regular tickets the same day they dropped in the summer of 2025. And as anyone who went knows, it was a bloodbath. Honestly my first bloodbath now that I think about it. Also my 2nd con ever!
The tickets were a bit pricey, but I don't expect this type of con, in it's 2nd year, to be cheap. Actually, I don't think a lolita con will ever be cheap. Nor do I know what the pricing was last year. So I opted to solo the con instead of having my husband tag along.
With all the issues surrounding airports in the U.S. right now, I figured it be a nice opportunity to see if I liked road tripping. Me and my husband had been toying with the idea since we got our new car, and 10hrs honestly didn't seem like a lot- I could read, nap, play switch. Average competitive couch rotting day, but in a moving vehicle with some scenic views here and there!
Ha.
The only thing I did was stare out the window, occassionly shut my eyes when there were no more cows or horses amongst the endless stretch of farms. I just can't NOT be aware of the road even as a passenger princess.
Long story short, left at 6 am friday, arrived at 3:45 pm. My husband said I looked like I got beat up by the end of it, so any drive over 5hrs is a no 😅. My eyes were bloodshot and I had a fierce scowl so when we got to The Palmer House lobby I observed the various lolitas from afar, last thing I wanted to do was mean mug anyone I was admiring. I had hoped to snag BTSSB's Sweet love cap and varsity jacket in black to wear upon arrival/departure but alas...
Still looking!
Anyway- Friday was spent eating amazing sushi from Hot Wok in the hotel while watching the latest episodes for Invincible.
Got up around 9:40 am the next day to get ready and pick up my badge.
Canotier: Bodyline- Circular Russell Headdress 791
Op: Kazuko Ogawa- 0001 OP (mini)
Bag: Vintage
Everything else was off brand. Very happy with this coord, it was last minute and I almost thought the OP wouldn't arrive in time. I opted for no accessories because of all the lace I was working with but I think a blue Neat necklace would have done well~ though I did not visit their booth much to my regret. I would have liked to do more make up than what I did, but I hadn't practiced before hand for a more flashy goth look. I definitely should have because I was using these mana-sama photos to inspire my look.
For my hairstyle I used clip in bangs, and 2 half braids in claw clips. I didn't pin anything like I did in my Instagram story a few days before. Pinning is a must because without teasing or product, the style doesn't hold. I think using the tymo brush on 370° gave my hair enough body/volume to do what I needed it to for the most part... and probably the fact my ends were a Lil gnarly but I have since cut 1.5 inch off.
After grabbing my badge I walked the exhibit hall a bit, ran into a couple mutuals. Nothing in particular grabbed my eye, but there were many booths with cute items, mostly sweet and kawaii related things.
I decided to skip the fashion show mainly because I didn't get premium tickets for a decent seat, and figured with my old and crusty taste in egl & obsession with solids, I'd be fine to skip it.
However, I assumed there would be a handful of others who'd be in the social lounge area to meet during the show- there was in fact no one, it was empty, everyone went to the show. Which yeah makes sense, can't be mad at that.
Lurked in between the piano and the lounge room until I took a group photo with my comm before heading over to the altering brando panel!
But I must confess, I do not understand sewing, patterns, measuring at all... you put numbers next to shapes and I start dissociating. Geometry was my worst subject.
Well, we all start somewhere! Right?
It wasn't this panel for me though, I left early to avoid a blood sugar crash, reflect on my experience thus far, and take a break with the damn heels I had on.
Side note.
Is there truly any such thing as comfortable heels? I should have had some flats walking around a con and saved the heels for coord pics. Practicality wasn't on my radar.
I contemplated calling it for the night, but decided to attend one more panel before we were due to meet a friend in Chinatown.
The posing panel was very fun to attend! My favorite actually. Volunteers got to go up and be directed on how to angle themselves, lord knows I should of raised my hand because I walked away with hardly any improvement on my own posing! If I had my glasses and a front row seat I'm sure I would have taken away something. The panelists and a few audience members gave great advice! I'm the type of learner that needs to do exactly what's being said as its being said to retain anything. Nonetheless, amazing panel.
Shortly after, threw my coord off and went to pick up a friend to meet another friend across the city. Got a taste of Chicago traffic since it was warm that day. I truly understand why my husband didn't own a car when he was out here. When we finally found parking, the hot pot place had an hour wait. Ended up at a ramen shop instead, packed into a sardine tin of a hallway like room. Though I enjoyed the company, the food wasn't good. But thats to be expected of a restaurant with hardly a wait time when every other spot is packed. Once we left I took a picture with my Chinese zodiac statue. It was late, and I prayed I would get decent sleep so I could wake up early enough for the swap meet.
Woke up drained but excited for the final day. Only did brows and clear mascara, didn't want to risk make up on my white blouse. I wish I would have done 2 braids the night before to give my hair some waves!
The swap meet had a couple of old school items, none that aligned with my lolita goals. So I was in and out. Off to another sewing panel which I wish I recorded because the Ouji hosting it was very knowledgeable in their craft.
Bonnet: Alice and the Pirates- Frill Maid Cap
Necklace: Jane Marple- Whistle Necklace
Blouse: Baby, The Stars Shine Bright- (unknown)
Skirt: Maxicimam- Cutwork Hem Frill Torchon Lace Skirt
OTK: Angelic Pretty- (unknown)
Shoes: Bodyline- RHS
Bag: Baby, The Stars Shine Bright- Dynamic Lolita Bag
Plushie: Pour Lolita Gothic Edition by Novala Takemoto 2006 Sanrio collab
So I planned this coord out a few weeks before the event and was so so so satisfied with it, especially once my hello kitty arrived a few days before. I had no intentions of bringing her but I sat her down near the mannequin coord, and there was no way she wasn't gonna be my twin. Old school? Hello kitty? DESIGNED BY THE MAN WHO WROTE KAMIKAZI GIRLS?
My inner brand whore- sanctified. Many people stopped to ask about her and of course I did my duty to spread the gospel.
The classic bxw old school combo is always amazing to me. It was a good coord for a tea party.
About the tea party.
It was alright!!
If you've read my last tea party blog, you know how that went.
As far as this tea party though, I have some thoughts, as did my tablemates. I opted to sit with my comm, there was 6 of us and 4 others. I figured they would split large groups/tables with other parties to ensure you sat mostly with whom you picked.
Now... I have only been to two tea parties, one egl specific, both not so great. With this one I was able to chit chat with my tablemates, spent most of it listening though. I'm not one to yap unless neptune vibes are afoot. Anyway, I really enjoyed hearing the stories that were shared. It was nice seeing the human behind the frills and bows. I picked chamomile tea for myself before everyone arrived, but it did take a while for the rest to be served tea once we were all seated. Also, I'm not sure if cream was by request only, cause I did see another table with some.
The food!
I wish I took pictures but it sort of went down hill after the bread and soup. I had been craving a pretzel the night before, luckily they had a pretzel roll in the basket and after adding salt & pepper to the soup, it was delicious... hunger is the best seasoning after all.
The sandwiches were... eh. My caprese sandwich was plated upside down so the bread was soggy. The egg salad sandwich was odd. The cucumber was unassuming and the chicken salad one was alright, actually decided to recreate it at home and it came out pretty good.
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Its a reflection of the palmer house and you're paying for atmosphere not quality more so than anything.
There were some raffle prizes, I did hope to get the tarot deck but low key its not my favorite divination tool and the universe agreed and kept my ass in my seat for the whole raffle. Someone did win at our table so we agreed that we all won.
The tea party ended with a photo where we all crammed together, a snug lil spot opened up for me in the middle on the floor.
The BLC took one last group photo and I smiled with my 3rd lolita event now under my belt.
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♱
Had plenty of time to process the event now and there are things I would have done differently for sure, and a few things I wish went differently.
Obviously not drive, and stay longer than just the con, especially if in-laws know we are in town. I didn't have any energy to devote to tourism which I was hyping myself up for months in advance.
And I should have took more photos! Of everything! Of others lolitas! Of myself!
There was an old school meet that I missed, Dunno what the hell I was doing honestly, probably was in traffic or off decompressing.
I spoke with some, and thanks to everyone who stopped to speak with me! I think I would have enjoyed myself and taken everything in a bit more if I didn't go solo. I tend to go into observer/lurker mode by default and tire quickly in crowds. I love the perceptive trait I have, but circling over head in the sky has it's disadvantages.
So if I do go to TGL again, my husband will be my plus one and he'll definitely keep me grounded in the moment. I dreamt we were shopping to get him a Shiro ouji coord so perhaps that will come to fruition... I really want to do a bride coord so, yeah! (I love having lolita dreams, they've really only started up in the past year though I've been a lolita for like 5... )
I saw a couple of spouses/partners, even some who really understood the assignment and it was nice seeing them support their frilly lita! (There was also a baby? Dunno if they were frilled up but I 100% support lita nepotism!)
For sure would go to the fashion show next time around, the photographer did an amazing time with the models! And there's no reason not to watch lolitas strut- be it in my substyle or not.
I do wish the schedule was released sooner, and I wish there were some more panels. Like maybe a kamikazi girl screening room, or just a YouTube Playlist of past brand fashions shows for a place to sit and chill. Sure that's what the lounge was for but meh! I like my idea.
I had no idea the red room was free to go in until after I saw people's IG stories? Maybe do something like that in that there.
Perhaps if I did 3 days I would have felt like there was enough panels. But I honestly don't see myself doing anything more than 2 unless there are panels/guest I couldn't bare to miss. I might even be satisfied with just 1 day in all reality.
It was great seeing hundreds of other lolitas. All the OTT coords were wonderful and I was able to really appreciate the artistry and individualism people put into their coord. Wondered how I could amp up my own coords and bring a bit more pizazz specifically for tea party coording. I don't think there's really an OTT look for old school besides gobelin and a lot of lace. Maybe organdy.
Would I recommend attending TGL? Yes, experiencing a lolita con at least once is a must even of you're a lonelita. I'd still stay at the palmer house for convenience too. I think the con will improve with each year, though I'm not sold on going for 2027. It might depend on how often I do things with my local comm this year and the pieces I collect.
Overall I'm glad I went. I manifested well for this trip to be successful and though it didn't turn out exactly how I thought it would, I always appreciate the experiences I gain through lolita.
Perhaps whenever I go again I'll consider vlogging. I know its my favorite way to consume egl media and I look forward to the ones soon to be posted.
