Lolita in NewYork... not the city.: February 2015

I know there are tons of these posts out there, but I find they just aren't as good at guiding a poor little lost lolita very well. So this is my version!

Budget The Upstate way!

Aside from how totally awesome and not in the least bit corny that sounded, I find I am surrounded by people who spend too much time trying to get proper understanding of alien cultures, and what not.

Fortunately for you the people of my home city Ithaca, have thoroughly ingrained that kind of behavior into my own personality. (awwwe they've Care-washed me) This means I am not only understanding about things I really could care less about, but that I have achieved great insight on things I really love!

What To Get Where?

I'd like to start out adressing the many things one needs for a lolita wardrobe, starting from inside out.

1) Bloomers

2) Shirts (only for JSK and/or Prince Style wearers)

3) socks/tights

4) Petticoats

5) Shoes

6) Purses

7) Jewlery/Misc accessories

8) Coats

9) The Dress

Bloomers

I highly suggest you make your own bloomers, they are pretty easy to make already, not to mention way cheaper, and you can personalized them to look even better than the store ones. The only time I might stray from this opinion is If the bloomers you intend on buying are made for wearing alone.

Shirts

Now a lot of people will tell you buy all your underclothing and stuff that doesn't matter from bodyline. While this is often true it is not so in the case of shirts. Why? I recently found out that a couple brands on cutieland offer shirts of far better quality, but get this, for prettymuch the same price! these brands include Chess Story (also my favorite dress brand!) Magic Tea Party, some Classical Puppets shirts, Pumpkin Cat (they are a new brand and i'm falling in love with both their cute clothes and their cute name!), and Infanta (which tends to be the cheapest and of same high quality). However I Warn You Now! Do Not buy from Dream of Lolita, They copy brands like Angelic Pretty, putting out replica's, and buying replica's show's no respect for the artists. Not to mention they produce the lowest quality product on Qutie Land.

Socks/Tights

I do not recomend buying socks from any specific lolita site, they are always more expensive that they should be, with the exception of socks with specific characters (I.E. Milky Chan). i can get a pair of three lace cuff socks in my size on amazon that do just fine for $10, Bodyline Charges $11 for one pair! As for cute tights, the same thing goes. You can get tights that don't have a specific character anywhere. you can even get the false thigh highs with teddy bear faces or crosses at the top. Socks are the biggest rip off in the lolita world.

Petticoats

This one depends on if you want quantity or quality. I have never bought a Petticoat from Bodyline, or from Qutie Land. I have one my mom got off a square dancing site, a minny one ment to help give the more cupcake shape in conjunction with the square dancing, and a black one made for lolita that I got off of Milanoo. So far all my petticoats are lack luster. The one from Milanoo actually plumps perfectly but they never sealed of the ends so it's constantly got string hanging down. A word to the wise Milanoo gives you what you order but it's all a disappointment.

So where Does one buy a petticoat? having been disappointed by cheap petticoats in the past I personally would not buy from Bodyline just in case, but if you feel the need to go ahead I have no problem with that. I however do suggest classical puppets petticoats, I hear a lot of good things and they are all fairly reasonably priced. I myself plan to get a magic tea party petticoat when I have extra money, because they are so cute, have really soft looking fabric, and are not see through, I could totally wear them alone as a skirt for casual lolita. If you still want to buy a petticoat from Bodyline, do not buy one more than $47 at that point you're in the same price range as better quality petti's from Qutie Land

One last note, Do Not try making your own petti, it won't be cheaper, it will be really time consuming, and you might even mess it up.

Shoes

My favorite subject of course. Buy shoes from Bodyline, they have a decent size description chart, and really from what I've seen, it's the only department where the company really is just as good for a much cheaper price, they have every style. Just buy Bodyline shoes no one cares.

Purses

I realy don't care where you get your purse, but I do have a suggesion. if you have a cute old stuffed animal that would go with a decent amount of your dresses, turn that into a purse, teddy bears make excellent back packs. and there are so many easy tutorials out there for making them.

Jewlry/Misc Accessories

If the dress has the option of getting jewelry or a head bow with it I really wouldn't pass them up, you may think it's a waste of your money but you'll regret not buying them, I know I do. as for additional accessories, Bodyline has some, and often Claire's will have some stuff that is on the mark during their spring season most years. You can also make super cute bracelets with those chunky beads from the early 2000's that everyone was giving you or your sister. Accessories can be found everywhere. I found a super cute shell necklace (it was supposed to be the one Ariel's voice was trapped in from The Little Mermaid) at Hot Topic one day.

Coats

Coats are hard for me, coats meant for lolita just aren't warm enough for winter around here. if you live in a place that barely gets cold enough to snow sure buy them from where ever you want. If you're walking five blocks with -15 wind chill regularly like I do then you'll have to make do with my solution. 1) get the prettiest and warmest coat you can, my favorites, a dark red wool pea coat and a light blue one (both with cap sleeves some how). 2) ear muffs or hats (try the kids section for one's with animal ears). 3) Get those really expensive gloves that are thin but somehow warm. 4) get warm boots to wear outside, and keep your flats in a purse or something. 5) wear a winter or fall weight dress with leggings or knitted tights, and as many petticoats as your can fit. also a bibbed sweater of sorts would be a great shirt for your JSK. 6) if you have a wig that is super long and heavy wear it.

we can really do no more.

The Dress

This is the most important. The dress can come from any store but make sure you're buying it for the right reasons. You must love the dress. I don't buy dresses from Bodyline because it's cheap I honestly like the dress I'm getting (I.E. 1371 in navy blue I find that dress soooo adorable!) Yet I find so many Brand dresses super adorable (I.E. Daydream Carnival) but the problem is I cannot afford that dress. where do I buy most of my dresses from? Well Cutie Land of course the prices are middle of the road, the quality is high, and most of the dresses are made but companies who are trying to get to their feet. When you buy from Cutie Land you're not only getting something great for a decent price you're helping people. not to mention since many brands go through the site you have a variety that just could not be found elsewhere. but I don't just buy any dresses from Qutie Land Either, I buy the ones that make my heart skip a beat upon seeing them. That's what a dress should do for you. So buy what makes it hard for you to breath, but is within your price range. I assure you you can find that dress anywhere.