One question we get asked a lot here at Pretty Princess Club is - if you're based out of Seattle, why have a convention in Las Vegas? This is a good question! Why go to the effort of planning a huge event out-of-state? Why not do something closer to home? The short answer is that we love Las Vegas, and we think it's an amazing destination for a Lolita and J-fashion convention. For the long answer, read on:
It's an amazing tourist destination.
There is so much to do in Las Vegas, and it's so much fun! Whether you like to gamble, dance at nightclubs, eat amazing food, go swimming, ride roller coasters, see world-class shows, or even venture off the strip to see stunning natural landmarks, Las Vegas has you covered. We will have our favorite tourist recommendations available at https://prettyprincess.club/event/tourists.html in the next couple of weeks so you can start planning your fashion vacation as soon as you want.
It's easily accessible from anywhere.
Las Vegas isn't a big city, but McCarran International Airport - just a few minutes away from the strip - is the 8th largest airport in the United States (1)! Nearly every major city in the country offers direct flights to Vegas, and it's accessible from all over the world. And not to mention, since Vegas operates at such a high volume of tourists, flights are usually pretty cheap year-round. We wanted to create a Lolita fashion event for people who love to travel, and we wanted to make sure it would be affordable to Lolitas from all walks of life.
You can choose your own adventure.
"But," you say, "I don't really like gambling!" We hear you. Gambling is expensive, and not everyone wants to wear their brand surrounded by cigarette smoke (2). That's okay! There's so much to do in Las Vegas, and while gambling is everywhere, you don't have to take part. While we will publish our best tips for Vegas first-timers, including advice on how to have a great time gambling, we expect that you'll want to do more than just gamble. If you like games without cash stakes attached, you might want to check out the eSports arena! Love thrills, but your wallet doesn't? Ride the roller coasters and thrill rides at New York, New York. Want to try something new, and see something you've never seen before? Go to a Cirque du Soleil show!
You get bang for your buck.
One big reason why we didn't want to host a convention in Seattle is the cost. Seattle is a really expensive place to have a night out or a nice meal, even if we do have some truly awesome restaurants and bars. In Las Vegas, you can choose your experience according to your budget. There are so many options for dining, partying, and having a great time that won't break the bank. If you're a skilled Groupon-er, you'll find tons of amazing deals for entertainment all over the strip and beyond.
It's for adults.
Don't get us wrong - we still love anime conventions. But we've noticed that Lolitas and J-fashionistas skew generally a little older than the average con-going crowd. Las Vegas is a playground for adults: you must be over 21 to drink or gamble, and while there are plenty of entertainment options for families, you won't find children and young teenagers running underfoot like you might at some other tourist destinations. We wanted to make an event for a grown-up clientele, who are looking for a sophisticated aesthetic, upscale venues, and a place to relax and cut loose responsibly.
Vegas sets the standard for conferences and events.
There's a reason why some of the biggest conferences in the world happen in Las Vegas. The Vegas Strip alone is full of hotel rooms and conference spaces to host conventions of every size.
The weather!
Las Vegas is in the desert, and it's true - it does get incredibly hot in the summer. But we wanted to hold an event that wouldn't clash with other, more established events, so we went for a November date. Las Vegas in November is outstanding! It's sunny and mild, it's just a little cool in the evenings, and it's still warm enough to go swimming. You can wear your most OTT coords without fear of overheating - or freezing to death.
These are some of the reasons that we LOVE Las Vegas for our Lolita fashion event! As always, for more information about Pretty Princess Club and our event Royal Vegas Retreat, please visit https://prettyprincess.club
(1): https://cber.unlv.edu/SNBDI/airports.html
(2): For the uninitiated, Las Vegas allows cigarette and cigar smoking on almost every casino floor. There are almost no other places in the United States where people can smoke indoors, and lots of gamblers want to take advantage of this. You may have also heard that cannabis consumption is legal in Nevada - this is true, but you cannot legally smoke your weed on the casino floor!