Fairy-Angel.com Shop Review

Having just extolled the virtues of buying used clothes, and I have also just finished a shopping transaction with a consignment Lolita shop called Fairy-Angel. It's not a very well known shop, so I considered that a review might be in order.

Fairy-Angel is an online Lolita consignment shop similar to Closet Child, meaning that they sell used clothing and routinely update with new stock. (Fairy-Angel also sells some new items as well). They organize their items by both brand and category, and some of the brands they carry include: BABY the Stars Shine Bright, Angelic Pretty, Emily Temple Cute, Victorian Maiden, Innocent World - larger names - and some smaller names, like QUTIE FRASH.

The order from Fairy-Angel, you go to their International Order page and then click 'contact us'. A window pops up, and you add your information: name, address including country, your item name and number, and I added the price just to be on the safe side. Don't forget to include your e-mail.

I received my response in my email inbox the next day, and then from there you confirm your order and your email. They then ask you for payment, and request you pay within 2 days. This is important! For a while Fairy-Angel was being so jerked around by overseas customers who weren't paying on time that they threatened to stop shipping overseas. So please make sure you can pay as soon as possible.

Then then notify you as to when your dress has been shipping. My dress took less than a week to get here after they shipped it - probably about four days. It came well packaged in a box with their name on it, and the dress was housed in a plastic bag.

Communication: 9/10 (the original way of contact was a little odd, using a webform)
Shipping Price/Fees: 8/10 (reasonable)
Packaging: 10/10 (easy to open but also securely shipping, package undamaged upon arrival)
Speed: 10/10 (excellent, and tracking number included. I didn't expect to get this in time for Thanksgiving and did!)

Labels: budget-loli, review, shopping

posted by Victoria Suzanne @ 3:09 PM 5 Comments

the Duchess: A Review

My friends Aly (evil_neko) and Julia (candyholicxo) and I went to see the Duchess at a local theater Thursday evening. It was quite the film, and I highly recommend it for the Lolita crowd.

To begin with, I'm a fan of Kira Knightley, especially in her recent bouts of period dramas, so that was enough to peak my interest. But the real treat of the film is the same thing that drew so many to Sophia Coppola's Marie Antoinette - it's a stunning visual treat. The settings, both countryside and interiors, are gorgeous. The dresses and fashion are clearly half the point of the entire film - every outfit was gasp-worthy. You know the costume design is good when you find yourself hissing to your seatmate, 'Oh my God! Look, the train! The hat! The roses!'

The hair was also fairly fantastic. The huge hairstyles, which got progressively larger throughout the movie, were amazing to look at. The ancestors of himegyaru, they are mostly giant concoctions of curls and loops. Some are real hair, others are wigs, as historically accurate.

The movie was really about feminism, in a way, or perhaps a failure of feminism. The plot is about the Duchess of Devonshire's (Georgiana) marriage to the Duke of Devonshire, with plenty of mistresses, illegitimate children, and court drama mixed in. Georgiana is constantly trying only to be happy, and her bids for freedom are continuously turned down. But she is certainly no shy lady, though she does admit that she has been taught to please others as a sole occupation.

I won't spoil the ending for those who wish to see it, however :)

The movie was definitely heartwrenching, emotionally, and full of the hard lessons women of any historical period routinely encounter as they grow up. I think the audience very much understood and identified with her pain.

Rating: Definitely a four out of four hearts deal. ♥♥♥! The only thing that bothered me a little was the ending, but I can't spoil it for you, again, so...

I definitely recommend the Duchess to other Lolitas interested in period films, gorgeous dresses, and amazing updos!

Interested in the real Duchess of Devonshire?

Labels: review

posted by Victoria Suzanne @ 2:52 PM 3 Comments

Shopportunistic

It all started with my new dress for the holidays. I'd been scouring the internet, searching for the perfect dress to wear to the usual parties and get-togethers. And, of course, it had to be something I liked and wanted to wear other times. So I was pretty excited when I found Angelic Pretty's Bloom Onepiece - especially at a price of roughly 18,000 yen. I got even more excited when, upon thumbing through an old Lolita Bible, that the dress in question was originally priced at 29,000 yen! I had saved quite a bundle - about a $100. I was so pleased with myself that I showed my mom - who said that a 'used dress' was a poor purchase, no matter the price, because it was used.

I'll admit it. I'm very 'shopportunistic'. This means I'm up for a deal, viciously so. This is mostly true for Lolita. Anything else, I'm pretty lax about - probably because it's not as expensive as Lolita. When a single purchase can obliterate your entire budget, you had better be careful. And I learned to be careful. Stretching a dollar is an art I enjoy practicing. I like to do it. Which is how I started buying secondhand.

In the regular world, our typical Walmart culture, secondhand is considered a Bad Thing. Why not just buy a new one? people say when you buy things secondhand. It's very much a 'new things are good' and 'old, used things are bad' mentality. And when the things you buy are discount and made in China, they are both cheap and deteriorate quickly. Why not get a new one? When people think of the word 'used' there's a lot of stigma attached to it. Used sounds like: it's stained, maybe mildewing, possibly rescued from a raggedy cardboard box at a tag sale. Or perhaps it reminds you of questionable car sales. Either way, it's not a good word. That's why car dealers have switched to 'pre-used'.

But! Before you start grimacing at the thought of blouses with tea stains, consider the truth about used Lolita items.

As soon as you buy Lolita clothes, they do decrease in value slightly. Even if they're unworn, with tags. Not because there is anything wrong with them, but because you already spent on shipping and fees and customs, so you'll never fully recoup your losses (generally). They are an investment and they do have a value for quite a while, in case you ever need to turn them into chunks of change. But generally, if you buy secondhand, you do get a small discount.

If they're from an older season, then the discount could be larger. Or, if the seller is having a hard time moving it, the drop could be higher. Small, almost imperceptible flaws lower the price too. I won't touch anything with stains, however.

So, not only has the price of the item dropped from its original, just by time and other external factors, you also have to count in shipping. Paying to get things out of Japan can be a hassle, and hard on your wallet. If it happens to be in a nearby state of country, you can save money right there. Something that comes from Poughkeepsie is a lot easier for me to stomach than the hardship it is to move things from the other side of the world. It also takes less time.

And! Even better! If you missed an item during the season, or you want something from a few seasons ago, there is a chance you can find it.

My wardrobe is about 90% brand, and it's probably 85% secondhand. I have bought skirts for $80 that retailed at $180; I have JSKs that cost the same a skirt. I buy knockoffs; I have no problem with dresses somebody else had worn and then washed. And that's how I buy my brand. The proof is in the pudding - er, closet. Or checkbook. I had fun doing a running tally of my outfit yesterday:

BABY skirt: retailed $160, bought for $100
BABY socks: bought new, $35
Angelic Pretty knockoff shoes: retailed authentics, $150, bought for $65
BABY cutsew, jacket: bought with my Anniversary set secondhand, unworn for $120 altogether (JSK, jacket, cutsew) - so on average, let's say $80 for both pieces; bought new, jacket: $220, cutsew: $60

Projected price at retail value: $625
Actual price: $280

Impressive, isn't it?

Moral: don't be afraid to buy secondhand. The numbers don't lie. Secondhand is not only cheaper, the definition of secondhand varies wildly. It could be 'I tried it on and it didn't look good/fit' to 'I wore it once' to 'I wore it for years with such care it's still in mint condition' to 'guess the stain!' And most of them are in the first three groups. I don't have a single thing that looks used. You can't tell by looking.

You can tell that it's all gorgeous, original brand.

And I got it without paying top dollar. I feel pleased to do it - it's crafty. Foxy. I beat the system - got the same item without shelling out outlandish prices. And line me up next to a girl in the same piece, bought new?

Well, who's won then?

Labels: budget-loli, discussion, shopping

posted by Victoria Suzanne @ 10:56 PM 5 Comments

Status Symbols: Because Everyone Has Crowns Already

The coveted, rare prints; the $500 onepieces; the completely frivolous, when-will-you-ever-use-that-except-for-maybe-one-photoshoot item. Baby the Stars Shine Bright's scepter; Twinkle Mermaid; bunny bear bags. We all know which items in the Lolita community fit the bill of 'status symbol'. They're generally expensive, impractical, or hard to obtain (or all three, of course). But we want them. What's the secret?

Here's my theory: Lolita is fashion already suited to princesslyness. (Yes, it's a word, and yes, I invented it. ;) So you can have, in any one group, a collection of princesses. They're all dressed to the height of a princess-style, in laces and bows and the ultimate of opulence. But that's the thing - they all are. It used to be fancier clothing was how we set ourselves above other people in a class system. Think of traditional princesses. They dressed fancier than their ladies-in-waiting, who were fancier than chambermaids, who were fancier than goat-girls. But now they're all dressed alike because supposedly we live in a classless society (so not getting into that right now). But we still have an innate nature to compete and establish that we are alpha characters - or worthy of the upper circle, at least. And we're all already wearing crowns and tiaras, so how do we establish our dominence over others? With status items.

Status items represent several things. The first and foremost is money. If you have the $500 or even $700 dress, it represents that you have disposable income. And unfortunately money talks and at least in America, is how the social levels are created. But it's also a sign of dedication - you not only had the money, you spent it on this particular item rather than stretch it somewhere else. You may have diligently hunted for it, or saved pennies for months, or sold other pieces. But it was probably a lot of effort, and certainly means that you take the subculture seriously (serious business, amirite?) So on the level of dedication, it's also important, especially in a culture always looking for posers and itas. It's a protective amulet against the ita-hunt (though of course brand does not a Lolita make, but it does help -especially if they're blinded by your fabulous item).

It also shows that you're up-to-date on what is in, another sign that you have dedication to Lolita. Just like everybody runs out to buy sequin-covered bags and other trendy items in mainstream fashion, everybody is stumbling over themselves to get their hands on (insert item here) in the Lolita world. To get it means you're in the know.

And the big one? It's highly sought after. Other Lolitas will be jealous. This typically garners one of two reactions: "Oh GOD why can't I have that dress, I want to be just like (name here!), (wails and pounds keyboard)"; or, "Oh GOD why can't I have that dress, I hate (name here!) for having it! (wails and pounds keyboard)". So in one breath you can garner either lots of friends with deep adoration for your or lots of enemies with a deep hatred of you. This swings more deeply in both directions depending on how many status symbols you have - like a bell jar (this probably requires me to make a graph, but...). And these people remember you. Lots of people remember you - either as, 'the girl with all the dresses!' or that '***** with all those dresses, does she sleep around for those or what?' But if you wanted celebrity, there it is. Both the good and the bad.

Okay, so I veered off into the dangerous land of Lolita popularity and e-fame, but to get back to the original purpose. The status symbols hold small molecules of power and respect. That's why people want them. My advice? Either don't get sucked in - which is admittedly hard - or don't go overboard. If you like one of the status symbols because you like it, go for it. If you want it just because it's cool and the other Lolitas will say, 'KAKKOII/KAWAII!!1!' then maybe you should think about it for a while. Is that really the only way you can gain friends in the Lolita world? Whatever happened to your unique sense of coordination, your sparkling personality, or artistic talents?

On the other hand, one or two little items doesn't kill you. It's a confidence boost, no bones about it. If you want that one item - say, the gold Angelic Pretty necklace (pictured above, my daydream!) then go for it. You'll get your taste of it, people will coo, and that'll be that.

But if you are the kind of person who desperately needs that closet full of rare prints and bunny bags, who continuously flaunts the contents of your wardrobe, beware: it's not just the adoring fans who are watching you.

Labels: discussion

posted by Victoria Suzanne @ 2:29 PM 3 Comments

Kindred Spirits

Today I ran into quite a few other blogs that I really liked, so I thought I would share them all with you!

My favorite for today is the blog called The Unicorn Diaries. It's not specifically a Lolita blog but the pictures and writing are really quite beautiful and suited to the Lolita mindset. (I borrowed the Little Princess photo above from her).

A specifically Lolita blog that I like is Yumemiru, which is written by a foreigner Lolita living in Japan. She has a unique view of things that are of interest to Lolitas living outside of Japan. Unfortunately it's on hiatus but the backlog is still interesting.

If you haven't read Gala Darling from all of the times I have linked her in various articles, go do it! She's a wonderful inspiration and has a wonderful style.

Since she's always pimping out my blog, props to Doll Part, run by sweetphaex. I especially appreciate her frank, open entries and of course her hardcore gangsta fierceness :)

Happy reading!

Labels: inspirational

posted by Victoria Suzanne @ 12:08 PM 0 Comments

Secrets of the Deco-Loli

Everyone has seen the pictures of the crazy and gorgeous deco-loli: dripping in jewels, small plastic toys, and enough rainbow pastels to make a My Little Pony feel sick. (Or almost!) The look is awesome - surpassing 'what was she thinking' and arriving at 'that's just... beyond.' And it's a look quickly picking up speed. So this is a general tip-style guide to the newest style of Lolita.

Step One: This is the easy part. Pick an OP or JSK (generally; you could use skirts and blouses, but I think a uniform, all-over look works better) in your color palette. Colors like pink, yellow, mint, blue, or lilac are all good choices. You might even have the necessary dress in your closet, or you can buy one specially. Since this look is inspired by Angelic Pretty, one of theirs is a great idea - but BABY is also a good choice.

Step Two: Choose a theme or color scheme or both to collect your accessories around. Bunnies, teddy bears, strawberries, ice cream cones, 80s, stars - etc. Or just go with color, meaning pink, blue, etc. Corresponding colors also work - baby blue with pink for example.

How to Collect Accessories: Rings, Brooches, Necklaces, Bracelets, Key Chains, Cellphone Charms, Earrings, and HAIR CLIPS!

1. Shop around your local mall. Claires, toy shops, and Sanrio stores can have plenty of cheap trinkets.

2. Shop etsy.com for fairly cheap, sweet and unusual accessories. Felt candies, resin objects, fake flowers, etc. Or buy handmade from egl_comm_sales. You can also try making some yourself!

3. Shop indie brands from Japan, or lesser known ones - like Ribbonholic or Swimmer.

4. Don't forget Disney, My Little Pony, Strawberry Shortcake, and Care Bears! They're all much-loved iconic brands with tons of opportunities for accessories.

Step Three: Wigs in bright colors add a lot, and a place to safely stick all of your items - but you can also use your own hair. I still recommend falls or clip-in strands of brightly colored hair. It adds to the candy look. Other great options are dreads (preferably wigs), Marie-Antoinette type wigs, or simply teasing yourself a giant bouffant or himegyaru style of hair.

Step Four: Stir well and bake ;)

Labels: guide

posted by Victoria Suzanne @ 12:46 PM 0 Comments

Finding Your Individual Style...

Daydreams in Cute by VictoriaSuza

...among a sea of Lolitas. There has been a lot of recent talk about Sweet Lolitas looking like clones; there's been a lot of recent talk about 'I thought fashion was for individuality and creativity!' You can still have your own signature look within the fashion: you just need to really work on your coordinates and keep careful note of what you like and find attractive. Gala Darling recommends you keep a look book or style book, with any sort of image or item that catches your eye. For Lolita, I recommend something similar. Peruse your favorite sites, brand and offbrand, to decide how you want your look to be. It's easy enough - and perhaps even a little tempting - to just put together the dress with matching hairbow, socks and purse and call it a day. But if you've already put together a little collection of things you like, it can be easier to see how to inject your own likes and dislikes into an otherwise generic coordinate.

If you haven't used Polyvore yet, I again recommend you give it a shot. Try this exercise to discover what you really like.

Step One: Install the 'Clip to Polyvore' feature. This enables you to add images you like from anywhere on the web. For framed sites like BABY or Angelic Pretty, right click on the image and click 'View Image' so you can clip it to Polyvore.

Step Two: Make a big conglomerate of all the things you liked. It doesn't have to be a specific coordinate, and the items don't have to go together. Just put them all in a heap.

Step Three: Publish and add the date. See what kind of parallels you find between the items, or if there's a theme.

Don't worry if you find that your tastes change over time. The things that excite you one month may seem like old news the next - because our tastes and style are constantly evolving. In fact, it's even more fun to do them on a fixed schedule - say, every month - and see how you become more interested in other styles and move away from others.

You can see my Look Book Brainstorm at the top of this post :)

KEY, Clockwise:

a. Angelic Pretty ball fringe blouse
b. Angelic Pretty socks
c. BABY Paris Princess Drop JSK in black
d. Juliette Blouse in pink
e. SWIMMER bunny scarf
f. SWIMMER kitty alarm clock
g. Angelic Pretty bunny bag
h. Ribbonholic cookie necklaces
i. BABY miniature bunny bear bag
j. BABY Kirakira glitter socks

Labels: guide, inspirational

posted by Victoria Suzanne @ 10:48 PM 1 Comments

Bodyline: The Prodigal Daughter?

I'll admit it: until the last few weeks, I've never been a fan of Bodyline. Bodyline... concoctions, shall we say, seemed to always be dripping in the things we Lolitas didn't want to associate with: stereotypical black and white coordinates, cheap lace, shiny fabric, ridiculous headdresses with stuffed horns. Their patrons would protest, 'But it's so cheap!' And for the privilege of their merchandise, you still had to pay $120 for a jumperskirt. I've bought real brand cheaper than that second-hand, I would think to myself smugly as I scrolled on past. Besides, who would respect you when, upon being asked who made your outfit, you replied... '...Bodyline...'

But the times, they are a-changing. Bodyline has recently stepped it up a hair - well, depending on your personal views. Either you hate the fact they've been blatantly ripping off brand - or you've been clamoring at the doors, money clutched in hand. But either way, it must be admitted that Bodyline is starting to creep into the wardrobes and repertoires of the diehard Lolita community.

I'm not going to get into the art-theft/free-trade/I-love-Maki/Screw-Angelic-Pretty/big-size/small-size/cheap-clothes/brand-loyalty discussion (phew!), but let's just take a closer look at Bodyline. Long scorned by Japanese and international Lolitas alike, Bodyline is not only getting attention from their brand replicas but also from some of their items in general. If you look around their website with a critical eye - because they still sell plenty of dubious designs and questionable quality products - you can find the rare jewel in the rough. I'm not sure if these aren't also rip-offs from lesser known brands or original designs (which would really help legitimize them as a brand), but they have their share of cute items. I recently fell in love with this unique print.

The construction of the garment is fairly standard, but it's the print that really captures the heart. It features little round-faced girls, a la Campbell's Soup Kids, playing dress-up and having tea in a sea of teddy bears, parasols, rag dollies and tea pots (see below matching tote bag for print details). The colors are also gorgeous, bright pastels that remind me of watercolor paintings. If that wasn't enough, the entire jumperskirt and matching hair bow costs about $45 USD. I haven't actually got a read on its its quality, but it's not dripping layers of bad lace or cheap satin. These are the sort of pieces that Bodyline needs to turn out more of - because with enough effort, they could finally dig themselves out of their hooker-mentality hole (which would open up another whole area of consumers - namely, the serious Lolita community). Imagine a day where Bodyline is considered a real brand with loyalty as common as Baby the Stars Shine Bright or Angelic Pretty. Maybe that day is coming sooner than we think!

Labels: discussion, shopping

posted by Victoria Suzanne @ 1:30 PM 0 Comments

Happy Halloween from Lolita Charm!

This year, I dressed up as a pink Lolita bunny! My friends Julia and Aly were fairy princesses and brides respectively. (Left to right: Julia, candyholicxo; myself, palantiriell; Aly, evil_neko)

We'll admit to being late, but only fashionably so!

Labels: holiday

posted by Victoria Suzanne @ 4:22 PM 0 Comments