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Lolita Where to buy / How to buy Directory! posted at 3:17 PM
Tomorrow I will be doing a talk on how to buy Lolita Fashion. I am just posting the points I am going to address here so
people can review and also access links. I hope this helps people new Lolitas and long time veterans alike. I do visit other blogs a lot and go
directly to their posts with all the links to their favourite places to shop. This helps me find new and interesting shops, ideas and links
so I thought it will definitely help some people if I compile my own list! I am still updating things as I go. Happy Shopping!
[Disclaimer, this information is researched and true to the best of my ability at the time of writing March 2016. price points do change over time and some of my advice may irrelevant down the track, I will update when I can but with no guarantees.]
Quick links:
The main brand stores are from Japan, their price ranges
anything from are from 10,000 yen up to 100,000yen, but most are averaging
20,000-30,000 yen. You are -almost- guaranteed utmost quality and design when
it comes to brands. New releases come out periodically, which is announced on their website, or the Facebook group Lolita Updates will announce most brands. Tip: Brands tend to have huge online sales with massive
reductions on their leftover stock in the months of January-February (winter
sale) and July-August (summer sale) so keep an eye out!
Below are links to their online store, I have not included their official website, usually the webshop is part of the official website or there is a link. Most of them are in Japanese language only.
Below are not Strictly "Lolita Brands" but they are brands and shops that Lolitas use:
These are less established stores by small businesses; most
of them maintain great quality and attention to detail since they are handmade.
Due to low production runs, the cost does tend to be similar to brand sometimes,
especially Haenuli which charges USD so it’s actually more expensive than
Angelic pretty. However do not be discouraged! The higher price points are
reflected in quality, and some indie brands are quite affordable as well. It’s great to support small businesses so
give them a try some time; you are bound to find something you like.
Buying brand second hand is one of the best ways to get
brand items for a bargain. You do get great deals if you keep a lookout. Lots
of Lolita’s lurk on these sites when they update to sweep the good stuff when
they’re released because of this, so first in is literally, best dressed. Tip:
find out when these stores update or subscribe to their mailing list for
updates. For example, Closet Child currently updates every Sunday and Thursday,
so new items are posted on those days. However do keep in mind that more
popular brands in the most popular colourways and cuts tend to be priced higher
than retail due to its rarity, so be aware and always check lolibrary for
retail prices and compare, to see if you want to pay that amount.
Second hand shops are a great place to get basics for your
coord. I find that most brand blouses are 10,000 to 17,000, however they are
priced at 5000-9000 in closet child, with a few exceptions.
These websites are all in Japanese unless otherwise stated. All stores do overseas shipping unless I made a note that they don;t.
Shopping service for Auctions
The above auction sites (except for Lace Market) need shopping services (ss) as they
don’t allow credit cards (Japanese bank accounts only) and so you are not able
to purchase them. The staff will buy the item for you, have it shipped to their
address, and then resend it to you. Usually you pay them 5-15% of the total
price.
Sometimes a certain release from a brand is so popular that
they sell out on the website within 5-10 minutes. Angelic Pretty is notorious
for their competitive and limited items. Hence, some people opt to have someone
in Japan line up in store and buy their item for them. For that extra money,
you can ensure you can get the series you really want. Furthermore, you can get
them to buy lucky packs for new years and also get in store reservations
I might re-catagorise and organise this misc section but
here it is anyway
I have never shopped there but I have read and heard
countless reviews on how dodgy Milanoo is, best that you keep away from it. If
you ever doubt an online shipping website, Lolita fashion or not, it is always
best to google their name and “review” to see if their site is legitimate,
untrustworthy sites get a lot of bad reviews and complaints.
I hope you found this helpful! Until next time!
Labels: Lolita Community, Lolita fashion, Shopping, Tutorial |
About
⋆ Maiko, Mai, Japanese Australian, Very inconsitient, sparsely published fashion and lifestyle blogger. ⋆
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