Best products from r/Lolita

TL;DR Anything but dresses.

I have had great success with...

-Lolita Charm socks: BUY THOSE for real they are amazing.

-Hugme Skirts: Get one size up from what you think you need. DON'T buy the suspender skirts they are cute but too short! They say you can message them and tell them a custom length but I have not tried that.

-M4U Skirt: I love my Ice Cream print skirt I got from them, it is long enough and the bow detaches. The fabric is kinda odd, not shiny but it almost feels water proof/smooth like a synthetic fabric.

-These tights in the pastel pack! Get those when they come back into stock they are very comfortable and fit well.

-Purses: I got a great one from the U Like store but I also had one purse never show up from them due to customs. They gave me a refund.

-Shirts: This one Is really meh, I would avoid it unless you can sew details on the cuff sleeves. This one I like but I bought for my size and its too big so maybe order one size down.

Sure. I recommend getting a few issues of Otome no Sewing, it's a magazine/book with lots of patterns and instructions to make several lolita outfits each issue. It's all in Japanese, but each issue has several tutorials that have very detailed pictures of each step. I've made 8 different pieces just from Issue 4,. You can find issues on Amazon from independant sellers. You'll also need tracing paper to trace the patterns that come with the books.
Gosu Rori doesn't have as detailed tutorials, but the designs are a lot more varied.

If you're going to make a dress with lots of ruffles I suggest investing in a ruffling foot for your sewing machine. It's much faster than doing them by hand, and makes very even, professional looking ruffles.

Get familiar with different techniques for putting elastic in fabric, either by shirring or sewing elastic directly onto the fabric. It really helps with fit, and if you don't want to deal with zippers, it's a good alternative.

Last thing I can think of, is that once you get the hang of different types of skirts and bodices, you can mix and match to make pretty much anything! It's fun! (when it's not frustrating as hell) PM me if you wanna know anything else! Good luck!

I like the Smiling Angel brand they have there. Pretty sure it's a copy of the real japanese stuff but it looks nice and fits well.

Smiling Angel Women Stand-Up Collar Ruffle Gothic Retro Victorian Shirts Lolita Blouse White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0758K9P7Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_DBuEDbRDGMKKA

Wa is very hard to pull off for beginner Lolita's, but if you like the aesthetic of eastern-inspired coords, I would recommend Qi. It's like wa, but Chinese inspired. In my opinion I feel it looks more refined than wa. Here's a Qi dress I found on Amazon
Shui Mo, Qi Lolita Wash Painting Floral 4pcs Dress Set (Large) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B010UROGXE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_fnp6wbY569TKZ

Never be afraid of looking around locally and at online western shops (or stores local to your country). So many lolitas go cookie cutter and assume that if it isn't brand or Japanese then it isn't loliable. Not true at all! I've actually been thinking of starting a Tumblr blog where I share loliable items I find in common stores that aren't Japanese or lolita to help people who might have budget and time constraints.

To me personally, avoiding being an ita is finding the right balance. But the most common suggestions are:

1. Avoid highly contrasting color combos like black and white, red and white, royal blue, and white.
   
   
2. The more ruffles and lace =/= more lolita.
   
   
3. Modesty! Closer to your knees than your butt, please. No cleavage, and have sleeves.
   
   
4. Wear the proper petticoat and/or underskirt for your dress. MeLikesTea has a nice guide.
   
   
5. Avoid looking like you put your coord together at Hot Topic (but in all honesty, if your look is classic, rococo, aristocratic, or gothic, you MIGHT find some useful items there).
   
   My personal tips:
   
   
6. You don't have to wear AP or BTSSB. It's so cookie cutter. Yes, they have cute and quality items, but so do other smaller brands...? Taobao =/= Poor quality.
   
   
7. You don't have to wear loud obnoxious bodyline mary jane style shoes. If there's anything I say to go for function over fashion, make it your shoes. Don't want blisters, bruises, and blood!
   
   
8. Invest in a nice bag. Even if you don't carry bags. A bag can help pull any outfit together, be it lolita or not. And often, meetups take place at places like conventions or all day events. You can store water, a snack, a tide pen, and maybe something like emergency flats in your bag.
   

Red shoes would be cool, though I'm not sure I could find the same shade of red. I am planning on red, black and gold accessories. I am getting a cupcake petticoat from the same website. And thanks! I am excited to put everything together!

Edit: For the hairpiece, I'm thinking of this fascinator with these chains. I plan on visiting the craft store to match silk flowers with the dress' red hue. Our local store has an amazing selection. I'd like to make the flowers detachable so I can wear the hat with future outfits

I purchased something similar on Amazon a few months ago for the summer. The one I got was definitely a hoop skirt with pull strings to adjust as well as adjustable hoops. There's also some overskirt things going on to smooth the hoops, but it was really flexible in terms of getting the shape you wanted. It does have limits with how long or short you can get it, but I think it was well worth it for the hot summer months.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DNFZJHX/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I'm a fan of chiffon petticoats, personally. Malco Modes 582 works with a little modification (you'll need to make it shorter by moving the waistband down). I also like The Snow Field--I have the medium poof long length one in black, and it's perfect for Classic.

That seems like a pretty dead era, although it seems like the Gothic & Lolita books are great for DIY.

http://www.amazon.com/Gothic-Lolita-Bible-Volume-1/dp/1427803471

I don't like either of these blouses and think something like https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LRE4L3Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_i0FaBbTJ2TQSD
Would look better. It has better detail around the neck and sleeves for a gothic flair.

A more experienced lolita I asked suggested I use this laundry detergent for lolita when I asked

Before washing, I would wet a cotton swab, and rub it on any print or colors on your dress. If it runs, might not be a good idea to wash? But if not, hand washing seems like a really safe option.

I hear that steaming clothes would work too? Not too sure about that though, but I often hear it's good for this kinda clothing.

OMG I found a different pair of shoes that I think will be a lot better. I think these would work better, what do you think?

can you tell me which brands these two are actually from? :)

"White blouse Black skirt"

and the very first one (all black) in OP's link?


I have to have them! _

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BDM566G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_rl6YBb2H7RZFA
Im going to use it masculinely too :)

I got it from amazon! Be warned, it tangles easily and I had to trim the bangs. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ZBO4QBO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_R-qKDbTC6E79A