It’s that time of year again, where we herald all things spooky and autumnal. Whether you celebrate Halloween, Samhain, Dia de los Muertos, Harvest Festival, Bonfire Night or anything else this time of year, you’ll know what a cosy and lovely time of year full of sweet treats.
The changing of the seasons from temperate to chilly often can catch us by surprise. Wearing an alternative fashion like EGL can certainly have its advantages for the colder weather – we can finally get out our velveteen and thick jacquard pieces and revel in all of our most luxurious finery. It can be a hard time of year too for some too because of the changing fabrics and textures of clothes, as well as the weather and events of the season. Autistic people can struggle with temperature regulation and itchy clothing. Especially if creative and keen to enjoy events this time of year, it can be easy to fall into traps of neglecting self-care routines. The addition of loud music, flashing lights and fireworks to events can be overstimulating. Boundaries can also be difficult at this kind of event. It can all just be extremely overwhelming.
With this in mind, here are some tips from us here at R.R. Memorandum to have a more comfortable time this autumnal & winter season.
Outerwear is your bae
The coat doesn’t need to match your coord for you to wear it. BUT ALSO it is very easy to find a warm winter coat to wear with all your coords that will match perfectly well that is in your price-range. Whether you prefer a gobelin jacket, faux fur cloak or a cute poncho with animal ears, there are plenty of options that should keep you warm this winter on the second-hand EGL market that won’t break the bank. Second hand websites often have special offers on outerwear throughout the season, so keep your eyes out for these.
Warm accessories are a MUST
Accessories made for winter weather, such as headwear, scarfs, gloves and earmuffs are essential. Occasionally, highstreet retails will sell loliable accessories like these, and of course lolita brand versions are also widely available. R.R.Memorandum currently have berets for sale on our webshop, which are perfect winter accessories. Our other favourite top tip about headwear such as earmuffs – it’s good for blocking out loud noises a bit as well!
Don’t do anything out of your comfort zone/aren’t feeling up to
It’s really important that you prioritise your mental health and personal wellbeing over going to absolutely everything during this busy time of year. Don’t be afraid to say no if you don’t think going to that overstimulating event will work out for you or will set you up for feeling less than your best and unable to enjoy the rest of the season. If your local comm are tending to choose events that aren’t right for you, then perhaps you can ask your comm admins to arrange something less overwhelming that you can feel included in, or you can even arrange a meetup yourself or with a comm friend. Chances are, you’re not the only one who might feel better with a quieter and less stimulating meetup arrangement to celebrate the season. It is really important to try to accommodate everyone’s needs at all times.
If you do feel comfortable attending these events, but are likely to get overstimulated, don’t be afraid to step outside/into a safe space if you do get overwhelmed.
Buy a thermal drinks container of some sort
These are a godsent at this time of year, especially if you want to pick up a to-go coffee or hot chocolate and take an autumn walk in the park with the local frillies. You can get them in all designs – even ones that match your lolita aesthetic!
Fabric sensitivity can be overcome
Don’t like the feeling of velveteen? No problem – layering up in lolita can be a great alternative. If you don’t like to wear tights, perhaps try OTKs and long bloomers (peaking bloomers are especially cute in oldschool styles!). It’s even possible to get fleece lined bloomers and blouse. You also shouldn’t be afraid to get comfy – wearing t-shirts over blouses as an extra layer, long sleeve t-shirts instead of a blouse, or a hoodie with your coords can be a cute and casual way to be comfortable and warm while wearing EGL. We have all your basis covered here at RRM if you want to be casual. Check out our print-on-demand options in our webshop.
Frilly fashion in the autumn and winter can be super fun, and meetups this time of year can be seasonally so lovely. Following our tips and tricks can make sure you enjoy the season while taking your own personal needs into consideration.
Wishing you all a happy and safe autumn and winter season.