This was the first fashion blog entry I ever made but I decided to also post it here because I still stand by all of this. I still even get asked this question and usually I direct them towards this post! It's edited and added a bit to this from last year. To all the new and upcoming lolitas, this post is for you!
"What must a lolita have in her closet?" and I've heard this various times when people interview a lolita or someone who's into such fashion. Replies to this question usually are 'anything cute' to 'socks and accessories.' But this is MY opinion it's a lot more complex on what makes an AMAZING lolita coordinate whether you're a sweet, gothic, or classic lolita. This will be a for sure 'to do' list for you all!
My biggest regret when I bought my first Baby the Stars Shine Bright dress was not the fact that I didn't have the right accessories, wig/hair, or socks. It was the fact that I didn't have an amazing petticoat and one of good quality GOOD QUALITY to hold up the dress I had bought to give it that signature lolita bell-shaped look that any girl into lolita usually aims to achieve.
A GOOD PETTICOAT can MAKE an outfit POP. I don't care if you have an Moite dress or an expensive Angelic Pretty coordinate-without a petticoat, unless you're aiming to look like a drooping circus tent or like you're wearing a parachute-a petticoat is essential. It can make even the cheapest, nameless, no-name brand dresses look great.
I think we all get impatient on getting the cute lacy dresses and bows for the coordinate that we want to create that we forget that there's a signature shape in the dress that fully makes the style 'lolita' looking. Of course certain dresses can get away with a petticoat or if you're lucky like I was with my first skirt from Black Peace Now; it comes with a petticoat inbuilt in it. But best rule of thumb, especially with you first time lolitas on a budge; invest in an expensive petticoat.
Mine from Baby the Stars Shine Bright was around 104.00 minus tax but it's made some of my cheapest skirts and dresses look legitimately more than what they're worth. Those cheap 'Hot Topic' tulle tutus that they claim are petticoats or the ones at Halloween stores, I will assure you, not do the trick and you will have to buy multiple ones to get the same bust as a good one. It's best just to fork in the money for a good one that you can keep forever.
Next? A SOLID COLOR ONE PIECE/JSK DRESS. I can't tell you how many times some of my friends have gotten a dress with PRINT and regretted it. It's out of style soon after or they get JUST a blouse or JUST a skirt and get easily unsatisfied/impatient for their next purchase. A one piece dress or JSK covers most of the work for you. It's a top and bottom and with a petticoat and the right accessories name brand or not-it can look amazing and you can wear it as soon as you get it.
I'm proud to say that my first piece was this:
Baby the Stars Shine Bright's 'BabyDoll' JSK in BLACK.
Not only was this an amazing choice because it was a full piece rather than a separate. It was a SOLID color. Classic never goes out people Whether you're a sweet, gothic, or classic lolita-if you're on a budget for a first piece or just on a budget-print-less dresses like this one get re-released multiple times with hardly any change or different lace even.
However a regular solid color also works just fine.I could be careful also on MATERIAL. Obviously velvet is too hot to wear in the spring or summer months and fabric with a certain pattern or feel might only be for the spring time or summer. I just found that I was most happy when I did this than getting that gorgeous red or black dress in PLAID when plaid when most likely plaid won't be in style in the next couple of seasons or years. Unless you're planning on making it a signature look? Consider your investments.
Next choice? HAIR ACCESSORIES. True, you could make these but since I had to have a third choice-it would definitely be the bows and headdresses that make a lolita look cute and innocent or even deadly at times. Big bows, head dresses, bonnets-they all really make a lolita. Brand name accessories are usually slightly pricey but worth the money. There are tutorials to make your own headdresses and bows via the internet are through Gothic Lolita Bible ect. but I find that from buying a couple of hair accessories from Baby the Stars Shine Bright back in the day the quality is super great for the price-there's wiring in the bows and detachable pieces from the headdresses and bonnets.
Sure you could get lace socks, that gorgeous parasol or nice bag-but I think all of that can wait or even be found else where or made for a cheaper price. But when it comes to the detail of a bonnet, or bow, or head dress-it can sometimes be hard to replicate. Some head dresses like my first one not only had beautiful black lace, but it also had removable roses and the ribbon was such a nice quality that it didn't fray. My first bow was a classic black and white bow to match a couple of my signature skirts, blouses, and my newest and first BABY dress. The lace was so nice on the bow and the bow had wire so I could make it as big or small as I pleased.
I think these three items are the best investments and essential for a lolita to have to start off with. Please feel free to share your thoughts on this! Do you agree that these should be the top three or should there be a different 'top three items'?
love it
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