So I'm finally getting to this long
awaited article on my outfit that I wore to Cherry Blossom Festival
back in April. I had been hyping about the heart heels that I finally
after two years of gawking at them- legitly scored. While the masses
of girls have been fleeing over to Liz Lisa for their cute gyaru
fix-I've been taking my style else where. I'm known to be a trend
setter, not a trend follower. Not...that I'm not following but this
is the one season where Liz Lisa's collection this season has
actually disappointed me so I'm taking a break from their line and
looking else where for inspiration.
In general I wanted to try a more cute
but dramatic style. I've been a gyaru gal for a good two years now,
so I'm pretty familiar with the other sub-styles out there that the
fashion genre has to offer. Honestly, I've always looked up to the
agejyo, hime, and rock gals. They've always stood out for me so I
think instead of heading the Onee-gyaru route, I will go the other
route that people are tending to abandon now that it's not as trendy.
My inspirations this spring and summer season? Pikarin, Nonoka,
SakuRina, early era Tsubasa Masuwaka, and Himena. Which is how I
stumbled into Yumetenbo/DreamV.
Back around a year ago when I had a
tumblr blog a shop called 'Kumimakiko' followed me on there. I
realized soon after that this was a shop that sold gyaru style
clothes and shoes. I was interested in a lot of varieties of
clothes/fashions on there and I couldn't stop staring. However,
I was wary of buying from them after hearing that nobody had bought
from this place and that people said they were doubling the prices of
these clothes and selling replicas for full price of the real ones.
So I held off on my heart heels that I instantly fell in love
with. I researched more on how to obtain the heels legitimately.
Which is how I found DreamV via Rakuten. At the time I found only
their Japanese site, so yet again I was disheartened until later on
this year when I figured out that Rakuten had a global shop to
ship items over seas.
What is Rakuten you ask?
Think of it as the Japanese version of
our Amazon. There are more than just gyaru clothing here. Matter of
fact they sell wigs and tons of odds and ends. If you're not
intimidated with them using a global translator for their site (aka
Engrish) and answering a couple of e-mails back and forth to verify
your shipping and payment-then Rakuten can give you a lot of options.
Especially for the gyaru community. Not only is Yumetenbo on Rakuten
but so is ma*rs, duras, Liz Lisa, ect. There are even things for the
lolita community on here. It's all about knowing where to look!
A little about Yumetenbo/DreamV
as a shop and brand-
Yumetenbo is promoted in various gyaru
magazines such as Popteen, Ranzuki,Vivi, and Koakuma Ageha.
The clothes aren't knock offs but can and do take inspirations from
brands such as Liz Lisa, La Parfait, d.i.a, Cecil McBee, ect.
These clothes are a cheaper alternative to gals who want cute clothes
rather than a flaunting brand name. You DO get what you paid for, but
honestly, if you take good care of your clothes/shoes then you
shouldn't have too much of a problem.
What makes DreamV so popular other than
the magazine promotion would be of course; using the magazine models
themselves. There have been various collaborations with gals such as
Sakurai Rina and models from HappyNuts... Popular
items, specific colors, and just everything in general tends to sell
out super fast. DreamV in all has six brands that can appeal to every
type of girl as well as her children. There's everything from one
piece dresses, sexy shorts, or yukatas even for Matsuri seasons.
The
six brands are ; Yumetenbo,
MaryRose、DearMyLove、Linosug、DiableBaiser、and
SoLady.
Each
brand has their own appeal to each gyaru sub-style. There is
everything for everyone here, even if you're not a gyaru.
Yumetenbo
is for various audiences but I assume focused on a more 'princessy'
girlish look.
Mary
Rose is
for gals who want to take on the onee-gal style that is popular
currently. Think Liz Lisa and Ank Rogue!.
DearMyLove
I think also caters this crowd and well as the hime genre depending
on what outfit. It's a bit more classic looking in terms of style. My
black dress and heart heels were both from DearMyLove!
Linosung
is more of the casual street wear we've been seeing around lately;
everything from street wear with Boy London replicated caps and low
capri pants to the business lady with printed shorts and light
blazers this season!
SoLady
is more geared for older gals in their mid-to-late twenties or girls
who even want to conquer the trendy K-Pop look that's been spreading
around globe. This can also be considered very girly but yet trendy
business wear as well.
DiableBaiser
is for the hot, sexy, and wild gyaru girl who is into rock. Agejyo,
and kyabajyou style. Long gowns, blinged out jeans, and short one
pieces are usually the more popular items.
Other
than shoes, jackets, and clothing-Yumetenbo also sells accessories
such as hats, jewelry, and tights. Beauty products are also included
on their site and other trinkets are also on their page for sale.
Where
to Buy:
The
official Yumetenbo Website: http://www.dreamvs.jp/pc/
There
are two sites where you can purchase the clothes. If you're fluent in
Japanese then the Japanese Yumetenbo site will serve you well. If
not? Looking there will still be useful and put you a step ahead of
the game at what is going to later on be released on the Rakuten
website. The official site is a bit more organized. Not
only can you choose clothes based on one-pieces, tops, bottoms,
shoes, ect. But you can also choose your brand and style.
The
options on the site are listed as:
Glamorous, Princess, Kirei, and Beauty. If you select these you'll
find clothes geared more towards the style you want to achieve the
most.
Another
huge benefit about going on this website is the information given
that is not on Rakuten's page. The
official page informs you of on going sales and
if you scroll down just slightly more;
below that is the list of clothing based on the date it got released.
Meaning the newest clothing is listed to buy. This is most likely how
items sell out super quickly.
Below
that you'll get clothes ranked on their sales and popularity.
If there's something you want get it quick! Each rank is based on a
general item and then if you can read katakana things are ranked and
listed if you clicked based on if the item is a clothing item: dress,
bottoms, tops or shoes and accessories.
Further
on down you can see coordinates and where to buy what is on the
model. It
can definitely help if you're at a loss on what outfits to put
together or want look like a certain girl but don't know where to
begin or what is what. It's like a catalog of sorts. I know Ank Rogue
and Liz Lisa also use this type of thing as well!
If
you go over to the right hand side of the site you'll get reviews on
things. Below that Yumetenbo's
offical YouTube channel
(http://www.youtube.com/user/YumetenboOfficial
).
At the YouTube channel you'll get to see a lot of the models in the
outfits and get to see them shoot at a studio with them on.. It gives
you an idea of what the material looks like before you order. They
also have video show cases showing the girls in the newest
collections based. There's one general video and then separate videos
show casing clothing items for each brand.
Another
useful thing on the right hand corner is showing
what magazines feature DreamV clothing.
In
all regardless of whether or not you can read Japanese or even buy
from the official site at all, it's still extremely interesting to
browse through!
Rakuten
Global Website: http://global.rakuten.com/en/store/dreamv/
Rakuten
is where you come in if you're an international buyer because it
allows you to shop in English and also ships clothes/items globally.
Everything is organized on the top by the date, price, and I think
the popularity as well. On the side bar everything is organized by
women's clothing, beauty products, shoes, accessories ect. If you
click on one of these say 'women's clothing' for example-you'll get
things like outer wear, one pieces, blouses-you get the jist. It'll
narrow down your search to what you want.
The
cons of using Rakuten is the fact that things sell out super quick.
It's honestly best to stalk things or not be too picky. Engrish is
used on the site so even if you read the description or the reviews
down at the bottom they'll be a bit strange in vocabulary and
wording. I suppose you can get the idea of what they're trying to
describe though.
How
to Order:
Here
comes the fun stuff for guys where you're . Ordering is rather
simple. You place what you want item wise in the shopping cart and
proceed the fill out everything asked of you and pay. DO KNOW THOUGH:
the price on your 'final purchase' DOES NOT include your shipping fee
SO that will not exactly be the full amount paid so be prepared.
Especially on big orders your shipping fee will be a big amount
depending on the weight.
You'll
eventually get an e-mail in Japanese confirming that your order has
been placed. By then they will give you the price of your items your
got, the shipping fee, and the items in full aka, your final total.
They will ask you if your agree to have this amount taken out. Google
translate if you're not fluent in Japanese is your best friend in
figuring out the details of this e-mail.
If
you're confused by the Japanese currency-your best bet is to look up
the prices on a currency converter and convert the prices into your
own country's currency. Google is yet again your best friend at this
point. Once you add up the total of both the prices of the clothes
and the shipping fee you can then e-mail them back in English say you
confirm the order and the shipping fee due. They'll respond in
English at the point explain the pricing and shipping details.
You
will be notified of the items being shipped soon afterward. Global
shipping for items is automatically EMS shipping so your items should
be arriving very very quickly.
SIZING:
Definitely
measure yourself. In Japanese sizes I'm a size medium due to my hips
and bust. Usually I am a small. Best bet is to go a size up from what
you really are in clothes.
As
for shoes, again measure your foot. I'm an American size 6.5 and I
was a 23-24 in sizing on this if this helps anyone.
ITEMS
I RECIEVED:
I
ordered both a dress and a pair of lacy heart heels from Yumetenbo's
Dear My Love label. Both of the items were in black to match. I
bought them in time to coordinate a dark hime-gyaru style outfit for
Japan Town's Cherry Blossom Festival that was occurring around that
time.
When
I decided to spend money I had only intended to by the heart heels
because I had been weeping/gawking over these babies for two freaking
years. Yes. Two years. I could have picked a pair of Louboutins as my
dream shoe but dammit these were my dream shoes. Cinderella had a
glass slipper and I had THESE shoes that were equally fit for a
princess. I was just in love and I had Christmas money I had saved on
a Vanilla Visa gift card that I still needed to use.
Problem.
I totally forgot that my card wouldn't go through on an international
order. Stupid, stupid girl.. what were you thinking?
Thankfully
my photographer friend Dennis not only helped me score the dress but
the dress to boot. I am forever thankful. Both of these babies are
treasured in my closet along side my ageha, h.naoto, BABY, BPN, and
Liz Lisa collections. The order was placed on Wednesday and Sunday
and Monday were holidays so it slowed down the order in the mail but
it arrived on a Tuesday and Thursday the week of Masturi. Shipping
was 1,500 yen on both-the dress was 3,600 yen and the heels were
1,960.00 yen. Add all that up and it was a pretty penny. For shoes
those it was 3,500 yen which is roughtly 35.00/36.00 USD. The price
of in season Forever21 shoes but way cuter. Kind of worth it for
those.
So
finally the items arrived and I nearly killed Dennis with a knife
trying to open the boxes in excitement. It was like Christmas. No
really. I had conquered Rakuten with help but I still feel like it
was a conquer after having to deal with quite a process.
The
dress was nice and lacy-the inside is lined as well which is a huge
perk. There are also detachable bows for the back which are a cute
touch. I ordered the dressing in a size M and fit very well. The bust
is a bit tight but I don't think that's a surprise with any of the
Japanese clothes I've ever gotten. The waist and bust in everything I
get in cinched but it doesn't hinder the clothes and their cuteness.
I
got the shoes in a 23.0-24.0 I think. I'm a size 6.5-7.0 in American
sizes and they fit perfect. The shoes are a bit hard to break in but
now I can walk in them perfectly after three wears. The arch kills at
first but it's easily adaptable.
Both
items when I received them were packaged beautifully. The shoes had
not only the box but SHOE BAGS for your heels so they don't collect
dust. The dress was in a nice plastic bag as well.
If
you want to see the clothes and shoes I got in person; here is the
video!
And
this concludes the Yumetenbo/DreamV article. I hope this is super
helpful for you all who are interested in buying gyaru clothes or
wondering where other gyaru are scoring really cute clothes from! Now
I'm off to prep for Fanime con which is next week! Until next time
guys!
