Lolita Charm

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Recessionlita: Saving on Style

I started reading the gal-oriented blog Universal Doll recently, and in one post she tallies up 'the cost of being gal' - hair, nails, tanning, and everything besides actual wardrobe and actual makeup. Granted they're much more zealous than we are, but it brought up an interesting point - what's the cost of lolita, and in this penny-pincher world, can you save money on it (while still looking like a million bucks)?

Hair. Let's talk about hair. A lot of lolitas color their hair, and have them cut, or worse yet, have bangs. Bangs need to be trimmed and color needs to be touched up.

Bangs. Trim your own or get someone do them for you. I've quit going to the hair dresser ever other week trying to maintain my hime cut or blunt cut bangs, simply by trimming my own. Use a fine-tooth comb and go slowly - it's easier to cut off more than stick it back. And err on the side of caution, because if they're too long a week later you can still trim them. Too-short bangs also reveal your eyebrows, which can be a different color than your real hair. Roots. I don't do my own roots, but if you can manage it, you'll save yourself a few months' worth of touchups. Or make peace with some regrowth. Sarah Jessica Parker had regrowth to death half the time on Sex and the City, and it didn't detract from her fashionableness. Wigs. If you don't have money to get your hair done the way you'd like, or the time, invest in at least one go-to wig. A good wig should run somewhere between $50 - $100, but as multi-use it quickly makes sense over the salon option. Shampoo. Well you already know my answer to this, stop using it and switch to baking soda. It's only 80 cents a box, compared to the up to $20 you can spend on a bottle, and it's better for your hair and color.

Nails. Nails might seem like a novelty but having chipped polish in full-on lolita is a big no - it looks like you forgot! And it detracts from your rings, which lolitas love to wear. If you want to have the fanciful nails of other lolitas, get a set of decorated false ones and apply them wit double-sided nail tape instead of glue. That way you can peel them off after meets and events and save them for next time. I've seen decorated nails on a scale of $20 - $55 a set, and would save you countless visits to the salon (which is roughly $20 - $45 a pop). A single pair can be a quick fix to chipping polish, though if you have the time a bottle of 99 cent polish and a package of rhinestones can go a long way to saving you some important do-re-mi.

Wardrobe rules. If you want something new for your wardrobe, something else must go. And not 'my thirty dollar bloomers must go to buy a $300 dress' but something equivalent. Lots of girls seem to have huge closets due to 'turn over' - selling one season to buy another. If keeps you fresh, and it keeps you roughly on budget. Especially know which pieces you'll be able to get your money back on and which ones you'll probably never find a buyer for, as they're sort of... well, a face only a mother could love, which just translates into your love their quirkiness. Other pieces will be quickly bought up, and therefore make sense to resell.

There are other ways to know 'what to buy' as well, typically things you can't reproduce yourself or buy offbrand. Jewelry, bloomers, petticoats, socks, hair accessories, and even some skirts and blouses make more sense to make or buy offbrand. Anything specific to a brand, or that you can't replicate yourself, or that has a lot of lace, buy. Or if you really want it to weather. I've bought the Bodyline AP boston bag knock-off and I've seen the real one down at Tokyo Rebel. The difference is that mine is made out of poly-something plastic, and the real one is canvas. Oh, and that mine cost $30. It might not have as much standing power, but I saved my money and I feel that justifies it. It still seems to be a pretty hardy, and as a bonus, wipes down instead of spot-removes like the canvas would.

Craft talk. If you want to make some money, get a skill and fufill a niche, and make something for the lolita world. If you knit, deco, crochet, make jewelry, sew - odds are, somebody wants it. If you spot an idea or an area that needs filling, you can actually make some decent money in the lolita market. You just have to have the ability to turn out a product at a reasonable rate and cost of supply/man labor versus profit to you. I know that sounds like business mumbo-jumbo, but it's not so bad. Watch other girls do it first - like Lolitas and Cream or Minty Mix.

Cheap meets! Host a cheap meet for lolitas in your area. An average day to the city for me with the New York lolitas can run me up in food, activities, and incidentals (like... magazines, cough), but there are also the options of cheaper meets, like meeting for pot-lucks or craft afternoons at someone's home. Be on the lookout for free local events, as well. You'd be surprised what can crop up. Our CT Daffodil Festival was a free event last spring!

Hopefully you can use these tips to look fabulous and frugal. Got ideas? Suggestions? Leave comments!

*also, goodness, how did I have a typo is the title? ooh, slipping! edited now*

Labels: budget-loli

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Turbo-Poof

There is nothing so trademark to the lolita as her bell-shaped skirt. That famous silhouette can be what stands between a lolita outfit and a non-lolita outfit. It's like big hair or long eyelashes - girls want it; they'll do anything to get it. They try dozens of different products. They poke and prod and shop around. Sometimes starching is recommended for your poof; sometimes hanging it upside is preferred. Or in worse case scenarios, one is told just not to sit down all day.

If you're like me, you've had your trials and tribulations achieving the perfect poof. I've gone the cheap route, which was popular when I first started - an In the Starlight poof petticoat. And I've gone the expensive route, a $100 of my money sucked up for an Angelic Pretty petticoat. Neither of them really do the job. Sometimes I've even doubled them up if they're particularly on strike.

But now there is hope! I've found the perfect cure to what ails your dying poof. I call it... the Turbo-Poof.

All dramatization aside, this is one of the most useful items I have bought lately. It is a fairly short, pink dot tulle petticoat that I bought... from Hot Topic! Yes, I was surprised too! And not only that, it only cost me $18.99! It's adorable and froofy, and will revive any deflated petticoat into the poof of your dreams.

But warning! This petticoat is not for beginners! But luckily, I have researched the best way to use it for you, my fantastic readers :)

Tips for Using Your Pink Dot Petticoat

This is a short petticoat, which makes it ideal for shorter skirts. I have three slightly shorter skirts - a black gingham from BABY the Stars Shine Bright, my self-made yellow and pink, and my new yellow unicorns (the last not very, but this petticoat fits better).
Use under a regular, longer petticoat for full-length (knee length) lolita skirts. The regular petticoat will avoid the 'drop-off effect' you can get from a shorter petticoat under a longer skirt. You can also use it with skirts that have a built-in layer of tulle.
If you do want to wear this alone under shorter skirts, you may want to avoid very lightweight fabrics. This petticoat has no top layer, only ruffles, so it may look slightly lumpy under lightweight pieces.

This petticoat works like a Bumpit for your other petticoats - it adds the necessary volume to a petticoat where it may have lost it. Specifically, in the area lolitas tend to rest their little bums, and subsequently get crushed tulle or netting. It doesn't use tulle pleats or starching to keep its shape - it's mostly pure volume. If you're into fairy-kei, it can also double up in your wardrobe as a cutesy tutu with shimmery leggings and ballet flats.

Add in the fact that there is something utterly delightful about knowing that your undergarments are ruffles of pretty pink dots, and that makes this petticoat an excellent buy!

Links

Hot Topic item page
the petticoat in action under a skirt (no other poof)

Labels: budget-loli, review

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Let Them Eat Cake: Part II

Are these the real thing... or not?

In my last article in the Let Them Eat Cake series, I started discussing the recession and how it is (or isn't) affecting the international Lolita community. This next piece is called 'Evolution'.

Yes, some Lolitas are continuing with their usual ways, and still supporting the brand houses. But I think we are seeing a rising instance of something once considered the realm of the newbie and the ita: replicas.

Replicas are becoming more common - or perhaps, more accessible - to the international Lolita community. Previous replica experience was mostly limited to shoes, which has always been at the forefront. I myself have only ever owned replica shoes, and find them to be just as wearable and long-lasting as brand shoes - with only a third of the price.

This also began to shine through when Bodyline began producing their recently famous Angelic Pretty Fruits Parlor replica skirts and onepieces (and yes, I've caved - one of the pink Fruits Parlor skirts is on its way to me!) They went like hotcakes. As the economy dips, the mid-range Lolita - dedicated, but without the resources of the upper ring - replicas have been doing a bang-up business. New shopping services fresh from Hong Kong and Taiwan and China and even Japan are sprouting up. There are more options than ever for non-brand Lolita clothing.

In the earlier days of Lolita, the only way to buy any Lolita was through the few brands big enough to venture overseas. Lolitas in Japan have the added advantage of being able to wander into smaller shops, find offbrand items, and locate things that have trickled into other genres. The Lolita outside of Japan had a limited palette to work from, which consisted of only the largest and most couture brands (who could afford to expand past their small store fronts). I think this is what has inspired such brand loyalty among Western Lolitas that you don't see to quite the same degree of in Japanese Lolitas.

Now, however, with the downturn in the economy, Lolitas are hunting for more affordable alternatives. If there is a choice between no longer dressing Lolita or swallowing one's inner brandwhore and trying something a bit less known, then the realm of the offbrand and the replica is the way to go.

One wonders if this will signal an independence from brands - or at least, less clutched hands around their wares. The brands have been wonderful in developing the Lolita scene outside of Japan. They have given us a solid base to form around, a no-questions-needed key to coordination and the correct look. But has this been stifling the more creative side of Lolita fashion? When one can find five girls in a row wearing the same dress, or when a girl vigilantly copies every detail of the model in her magazine, has the support gone too far? Is it time for the brands to cut the apron strings, so to speak?

The replica, of course, is still the same design and style. One can't really say, 'I reject brand!' if you're wearing the latest knock-off. But it is rejecting the power of the brand houses - the name necessary to make the same skirt that was $65 into a $165 skirt. In the Lolita world, you'll often be asked who made what - and you might as well own up to the replica, because someone is bound to notice. The name still holds a lot of sway - are they Angelic Pretty tea parties or Secret Shop? (Mine are Secret Shop! Or as Julia calls it, Fangelic Pretty ;) Maybe there will come a day when your outfit doesn't need a 'pedigree' to get every drop of the love it deserves, without any bias. Nobody will even think to ask.

Could the economy drive us from the expensive safety of brand name? Is there a line between freedom and safety in the land of Lolita experimentation? There is nothing wrong with brand; there is nothing wrong with offbrand. Perhaps we may finally reach a happy medium between the two?

Stay tuned for Part III: Changes in Our Micro-economy

Labels: budget-loli, discussion

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Let Them Eat Cake: Part 1

image by gossamercreations

Even before the recession hit the United States full-force, I was worried about one. I've read in my textbooks about the history flow that matches a recession: luxury goods go by the wayside. Art is lost in favor of food. Beauty is sacrificed to make way for its older stepsister, practicality. And what was Lolita if not the most in danger of a sudden drop-off in money? I apocalyptically daydreamed about days when no one would remember Lolita except its old princesses, who were now reduced among the cinders. On a slow day I would also tack a little backdrop of nuclear winter to the scene. What can I say, I'm a twisted sort of dreamer.

But now a recession has actually hit and the Lolitas seem to be weathering well so far. We can only hope that like the palm tree, the Lolita bends, rather than the stolid oak, which breaks.

There will probably be several articles around the recession + Lolita, as I see a lot of small effects branching throughout the culture and economic microcosm.

So, onwards to article #1!

I was reading my local paper today (The Waterbury Republican, if anyone in the area is curious!) when I stumbled across an article about recession meets fashion. The article slung around new buzz-words like 'recessionista', 'wealth shame' and 'covert shopping' - while they claimed that yes, the rich are still buying their toys, only sneakier. The ladies get their products in plain bags, instead of brand-blazoned ones that shout Louis Vuitton or Chanel. Or even more undercover-wise, they get their purchases shipped home, sometimes gift-wrapped, so that nobody knows they bought themselves a new ostrich-skin purse.

The rest of the article speaks of how the poor elite of our society have started flying commercial (*cough*firstclass), or renting jets instead of owning them. Other signs of the rich trying to rein in the spending include shopping without dressing to the nines, secretly taking Bahamas vacations instead of telling everyone they know, and getting rooms instead of suites at said Bahamas resorts.

How difficult for them.

Okay, so the chip on my shoulder is showing just a teensy bit, but let's move on and get to the point.

I don't know about you, but I certainly haven't seen the Lolitas doing any of these things. The It Dress and the It Print (Sugary Carnival!) are still popular as ever and the usual caucus race for these items - stay in the game long enough and everybody wins! - continues. The seasons move in and out, and despite the way the media continues to trumpet their chant of Rome is Falling, girls are still willing to drop around $800 on this winter's chandelier print.

But that's not too unusual, right? Even the mainstream rich are still buying. The question is, what about the hype? Is the fox hunt still as beloved as it was, or do we see more of girls trying to be modest about their funds?

Again, I believe the answer is a resounding 'nope'. The Lolita culture and denizens are being affected by the economy for sure, but the elite ring - those who hunt brand for sport, complete with hound-shaped purses - remain unaffected. Or if they are, they are steadfastly not letting it anywhere near their shining wardrobes.

As I wrote in my earlier post about status symbols in the Lolita community, Lolitas have a deep urge to show the others their items and prizes. To keep with our ladies'-hunting theme - the first half of the game is the hunt, but the second half is displaying its head on your wall and chuckling about it over cocktails at your next little dinner party. Let's say you bought [insert horribly expensive dress here], but never tell anyone you own it. You can love it, wear it, and keep it like a secret love to your heart. But if you never give it its debut, then its light will be like a lamp under a basket, to get rather old-school. I think that urge will fuel the elite in their quest to keep the upper ring of Lolita society alive. To participate in 'stealth wealth' would be defeating the purpose - and could even spell death for the Lolita way of life. The tradition begun by Marie Antoinette must be continued, if only has a collection of art. When the people cry for bread, they will eat cake. The mainstreamers may gobble their cake covertly, furtively; the Lolitas will slowly savor it.

I agree with them, myself. If one is to eat cake, eat it - without shame. Lick the frosting from your lips; steal the rose off of the top tier. Are the Lolitas shameless? Do they fly in the face of convention?

Why of course.

The upper Lolita ring perseveres to preserve the aristocratic culture, but in the middle and lower rings of Lolita, a strange and beautiful evolution is beginning to take place.

Be ready for Let Them Eat Cake: Part 2 - The Evolution!

Labels: budget-loli, discussion

Friday, December 19, 2008

Holiday Swap!

photo by Julia Jones

Yesterday we had a small Lolita meetup in Connecticut - namely, the magic of a holiday swap! It's a great way to have fun, celebrate the season without going broke, and make a huge mess of clothes!

Have your friends bring anything that doesn't suit them or they haven't worn in a while. You might be tired of it, it doesn't fit, your style has changed, etc. Then everyone pulls out their pieces - either in a huge mound or just one by one, telling the story or reasoning of the piece.

This is the fun part! Everyone tries everything on! This will probably include ruffling of petticoats, getting rescued from insides of dresses, crazy coordinates, and people in one shoe. Or each other's shoes. Add in some snacks and warm drinks and you have a fabulous time!

Then decide what works for whom. There is also the possibility of a 'vacation swap' which is where you lend a piece for a stay - like two or three months. This way you don't have to feel horribly torn about giving away a favored dress or a very nice piece. Or if you have some pieces that seem older, consider that they could be altered or changed for a newer piece. My friend Aly acquired a dress with intentions of changing the neckline, taking in the sides and altering the straps.

This is also a great trick to figure out what you like to wear and what looks good on you. If you've never been quite sure if you could pull off a bonnet, or a huge pair of punky boots, now is the time to try - without dropping a ton of money. You may discover some new looks you love!

Here you can see me in one of my newly acquired coordinates - Lulu et Marion cutsew, Metamorphose Patisserie skirt, white headdress, and one of my friend Julia's white boots!

Labels: budget-loli, event, holiday

Monday, December 15, 2008

My Little Pony + Lolita

Since there has recently been a rising interest in decololita, and this is related to that, I thought I would bring it up. McDonald's is currently giving away miniature My Little Pony toys with their Happy Meals, as I serendipitously found out when munching my McNuggets on Saturday. I got a Minty, (bottom left corner) which will match my Bloom OP perfectly!

First, some ways to use your McDonald's Ponies:

Screw a hook into the back or head, and then thread with a chain for a necklace or keychain.
Glue them to barrette backs for hair decorations.
Glue pin backs to them for brooches on sweater, bags, or dresses.
Use their accessories (little combs, tiny cakes) as rings, charms, or necklaces.

My Little Pony may seem like another Western Lolita tack-on, like the Disney Princesses or Rainbow Brite. Cute, but not originally Lolita? Not quite. Maki has confessed that all of her recent pony prints - the magical pony purse, the pony JSKs and coat, are all inspired by her childhood love of the franchise My Little Pony.

My Little Pony has a special place in my heart, too. As a child of the 80s, I grew up with the ponies - including the movies and the television show, and a giant box of the plastic equines. I was actually born in '89, so I hit the end of the decade and had to buy mine second-hand. I hit the jackpot at a tag sale and brought home about 30 of them in one sitting once. And then I carved the box into their 'mansion'.

So, what is the appeal behind My Little Pony that they have reached their 25th anniversary (the reason for the new McDonald's release)? Well, they have adorable candy colors, flowing manes with tons of loopy curls. They live in a delightful magical land full of flowers and butterflies. Somebody decided that it is totally possible to dress them up like princesses.

No wonder Lolitas love them. Sound familiar? In the 80s there was a sudden explosion of cartoons for girls, the like of which we haven't really seen again. Rainbow Brite, Strawberry Shortcake, Jem, The Stardreamerz (I think that's the name, I had a coloring book with them), Care Bears, Popples, She-Ra - these were all oriented specifically for girls. (They then realized that boys will not watch girls' cartoons, but girls will watch boys' cartoons, so the genre was mostly cut). But it was an atmosphere and genre that really appealed to the things girls seemed to like - ponies, princesses, the bright colors, songs, friendship, etc. I think the fact that they finally gave it a genre and marketing plan (most of these things were extended commercials, really) was a brief moment when they actually began to cater to girls, to recognize them as a separate market.

Lolita started in the late 80s/early 90s and now seems to have taken up speed recently. Most of the current participants of Lolita were kids in that age range, and are now old enough to dress Lolita. Is that a coincidence? I think not. I think it's just a reaction to remembering our childhoods and childhood influences, so why not add these things into Lolita?

So that's my miniature philosophy about My Little Pony meets Lolita. Are cute things the new feminism? Instead of old feminism, which was about challenging men on their own turf (boxy women's suits, short hair, bra-burnings), there could be cute feminism - women with what they like, for themselves - not part of men, or even built around men. Lolita is part of that, I think. Wear these sweet My Little Ponies as support for Cute Feminism!

And they're giving these away FOR FREE* so how can you resist?

*with purchase of any Happy Meal or you can buy the damn things without ingesting unknown filth for probably a low cost of a few dollars. LC is not actually paid for by McDonald's, more's the pity.

Extra Gems!

How To Make A Pony Necklace

You will need: a jewelry pin with a premade loop on one end; a gold chain or ribbon; pliers; a gold jump-loop; a mini McDonald's pony of your choice

Stick the jewelry pin with loop into the front hair follicle hole of the pony's mane. If the hole is not big enough, widen it a little with a pen tip or needle. Surround the pin head loop with a little clear dry, strong hold glue. Let dry. Use pliers to open up and attach a jump loop through the pin head loop. Close jump loop. Thread gold chain and wear. Add decorations like charms, beads, or rhinestones if you like. I glued a few pink Swarovski crystals to my pony's 'cutie mark'.

Labels: budget-loli, discussion, inspirational

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Clove Orange Scents

photo by meg_nicol

I know that this year money is a little tight for everyone, and as always people love to make things, especially when the days get shorter and the nights get longer. This is also an easy and sweet traditional Victorian craft, so I thought you might all like to make clove oranges!

You will need:

-length of ribbon, 1/2 or wider, enough to wrap an orange present-style with a bow and a loop (about two feet)
-an orange
-whole cloves (see photo)
-pins, flat tacks, or brass brads
-hot glue (optional)
-skewer [metal, like a shish-kabob]
-small custard bowl

Use the custard bowl as a stand. It leaves your hands free, which is great. Start by wrapping the orange like a present - down the sides, cross over, and then up the other sides. The cross-over should be on the bottom and the bow on top. Use the tails for a loop (optional) if you want to hang it. The orange should be split into quarters. Try to tie the ribbon as tightly as possible. Fix a brad/tack/pin through the bottom crosspiece, and one each in the ribbon near the top. If you have a ton and they're decorative, you can line each ribbon, up and down. If the ribbon is loose on top or you want it to be sturdier, you can use hot glue underneath the ribbon.

Use your skewer to poke a simple design in one of the segments of flesh. It should be about half and inch deep. I made little diamond shapes, but hearts, swirls, smiles, circles, or crosses could be pretty. Then poke the long part of the whole clove into the hole you made with the skewer.

The orange will dry and this ornament keeps its shape and scent for years. I hung mine near our woodstove, but you can hang it anywhere! You can also roll it in cinnammon or tie on cinnamon sticks for extra center.

Extra Gems!

Add glitter, sequins, rhinestones, or specially shaped brads to decorate your oranges; skip the ribbon and collect them in a bowl; tack lots of small bows onto the orange for a very Angelic Pretty look; tie bells, holly or false flowers to the top.

Labels: budget-loli, holiday, tutorial

Monday, November 24, 2008

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!)

Fairy-Angel Extra Gems

They care Jesus Diamante (himegyaru) items for a reasonable markdown. Jesus Diamante is known to be pretty pricey but some of their items are, in my opinion, now affordable.

They carry a lot of rare or desired Angelic Pretty prints. The price is about what you'd pay elsewhere, but they do have them and they're easy to use, so if I wanted one, that's where I'd go.

Sometimes they get influxes of wanted items like bunny bears, BABY bunny earmuffs, or bunny mufflers.

They update fairly regularly, so keep checking back!

They also sell Lolita-based dolls, like Jenny and Pullip.

They routinely have sales based on amount, such as $30, $50, and $100 items/packs.

Labels: budget-loli, review, shopping

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Shopportunistic

photo by jef sahi

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

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Budget Lolita: How To Flesh Your Wardrobe

Update: Read this post in Spanish! Translation courtesy of Ana.

I know that when I first started, I bought whatever struck my fancy. It’s the fun of indulging yourself, right? A skirt here, a cute hairbow, don’t you just love to snap things up? But then one morning, you go to get dressed and somehow – you don’t have an outfit. And all of your money has been spent.

Well, no matter how much or how little money you have, you can still have a great, functional wardrobe – as long as you plan ahead. We’ll do this as an exercise so you can get the general idea.

The first question you should ask yourself is: what does your wardrobe need to function? Like the vital organs of the body, you won’t get too far without them. If you don’t have a pair of shoes, or a blouse, you could definitely be at a loss – especially if you’ve just bought your dream brand skirt and now have nothing to wear it with. So first, write down anything you think you need to make your wardrobe function. Now, rank the items in levels of importance – most important at the top. A petticoat, for example, might be your prime item, but bloomers can wait. If you find yourself with a very long list of essentials, you might want to focus solely on wardrobe building for a while and not wardrobe fleshing.

Next, find the items in your closet that you bought on a whim. Do they go with anything you already own? It might turn out that the pink hair ties happen to match that bag perfectly – or you’ve got a blue hairbow that doesn’t match a thing (guilty as charged)! See how many coordinates you can put together. You might find something you never thought of! I found a Gothic outfit lurking in my wardrobe from various impulses I’d gathered. If it can be put into an outfit, or at least matches one other item, then you can keep it. If it’s a lone soldier, clear it out – perhaps it has a resell value, or maybe even can be modified into something that works.

So, at this point, you have decided some things still work – and some things don’t. You should hav a clear picture of what you need to flesh your wardrobe out into something more functional. Your list might look like this, say:

White blouse, long sleeved;

Pink skirt;

JSK to replace the one you just sold as it didn’t match the rest of your items.

The next step is to decide just how much you have in the way of funds. It’s probably best to break this into units, of either four weeks or two weeks. Let’s say that you have $xxx biweekly. You can then put yourself on a schedule, calculating how long (on current track) it will take you to afford each item. In this way, depending on your patience, you can even afford the fabulous brand pieces you previously thought you couldn’t. If you’d like the speed up the process, you can hunt out cheaper items – either on egl_comm_sales, or secondhand sites like Closet Child.

Now that you have your budgeted wardrobe plan for, I’d recommend, a time period of one to three months, don’t stray from it! Avoid impulse buying (which is what got you here in the first place!). If you absolutely must impulse buy, remember the three C’s:

Coordinate

Try to make sure your impulse buy matches at least two of your other outfits or items. That way it’s sure to be useful.

Cost

Keep your impulse buy under a certain number. Impulse buying a three-dollar ring is one thing; impulse buying the new Angelic Pretty onepiece with all the bells and whistles is another.

Corral

Keep track of how many little buys you make! Even cheap things can add up, and you may suddenly notice your funds are dry, delaying your budgeted plans.

So, using this model - which is really a budgeting plan tailored specifically to the Lolita style - you can afford the things you thought you couldn't. Everyone can own their dream dress!

And a small shameless plug! If you're interested, I have a plaid BABY, the Stars Shine Bright JSK, Flying Fish shiro OP, and a black and white Metamorphose temps de Fille poodle skirt for sale here!