Level 1 Lolita!
As a beginner to Lolita, you may not wear Lolita very often or just not have the money to make a full wardrobe yet. This is a good time to experiment with different pieces to see what you like better. I would suggest going with Bodyline or a Taobao brand at this point, especially if you aren't sure it's something you'll be sticking with. Second hand brand is always a good choice if that's what you want though. I think having one full outfit with the basics of a Lolita wardrobe is the best choice at this point. This includes:
- Blouse
- Something simple and white is a good first choice, especially if you don't know what substyle you want to wear yet. Try to find one that has convertible sleeves so you can wear the same blouse in warmer and cooler weather.
- Main piece
- This can be a JSK (strapped dress), OP (sleeved dress), or skirt. A simple JSK is a good idea so you can have more styling options without having to worry about putting puffed sleeves under other items such as cardigans. Skirts can also be good for more options, but JSKs can also hide a flawed, short, or not entirely Lolita blouse more. (My first blouse was a handmade one that was too short to wear by itself, so I could only wear it under my JSK since it covered the shortness.)
- Petticoat
- Most of the common substyles in Lolita require a certain silhouette that is obtained by wearing a petticoat underneath your dress or skirt. Make sure to get one in the right shape (usually bell or A-line) as well as length. Ideally, a petticoat should be an inch or so shorter than the hem of your skirt to avoid it poking out anywhere as well as an oddly shaped skirt from a too-short petti. Try to get a higher quality petticoat if you can afford it rather than several cheaper ones that will "deflate" or loose their poof over a short period of time. Also be careful to not get too poofy of a petti as it can make a skirt look odd. Make sure to take into account your figure as well as if you're curvier like me, you won't need as much floof as someone with more petite hips.
- Bloomers
- For me, bloomers is an absolute must because if I just wear a skirt, I will get a nasty rash from my legs rubbing together as I walk. Even if you don't get official bloomers, I'd recommend some light shorts or spandex shorts to wear under your skirt in case it gets blown up or something similar.
- Loliable Accessories
- When first getting into Lolita, I'd recommend getting shoes, socks, head accessories, and bags from non-Lolita sellers as they will be easier to work into your daily outfits and not so over the top. (This is presuming you're starting from T-shirts and Jeans or a similar "regular" style as opposed to an alternative style. If you already have an alternative style such as Fairy Kei or Gothic, you can by all means get items that suit both styles. Alternatively, if you're changing your daily wardrobe to a more elaborate look like Fairy Kei, you can get more over the top accessories as well.)
Level 2~
In level two, you've got a basic coordinate down and want to add more Lolita pieces to your wardrobe to mix things up more and maybe add another main piece or two to your wardrobe so you can have more outfits to wear.
- Second main piece
- This can, again, be a JSK, OP, or skirt. I would recommend getting something different from your first piece for more variety. For example, if you got a skirt originally, get a JSK or OP, a JSK, a OP or skirt, etc. You can, of course, stick with whatever your original main piece choice was if you like it, but at Level 2 you still have room to experiment a lot since you're still defining your style. You can always sell or trade a piece if you end up not liking the style.
- Weather specific wear
- This can vary depending on what sort of an environment you live in. If you live somewhere cold, you might want to get a jacket or coat. It can also be a parasol and sunglasses if it's constantly sunny or umbrella and boots if you live somewhere with lots of rain.
- Lolita specific bag and shoes
- By this point, you've probably gotten an idea of what sort of shoes and bag you like with Lolita, so it's time to invest in a bag and shoes! I personally like heels with Lolita, so I plan on getting some heeled Tea Parties (I'm still kinda in Level 2...). You can also get a cute purse in a shape of your choosing, such as a heart, candy, bat wings, or a book that goes with your Lolita style. Emphasis on matching your Lolita style. You don't want to have the starts of a Gothic wardrobe and get a pastel candy shaped bag, unless you intend to build a more Bittersweet wardrobe (a mix of pastels and black, usually pastel prints in black colorways).
- Lolita specific headgear
- Be it the matching headbow, that tricorn hat to complete your Pirate ensemble, or an Old School rectangular headdress to complete your transformation into Momoko from Kamikaze (biker friend not included), a Lolita specific head piece is a great next step in building your wardrobe. If you already have one from level one, try to get one or two more pieces to complement your style. So if you got the matching headbow on Lacemarket with your first JSK, get a piece that goes with your print, like a rose with some little crystals on a head clip for Angelic Pretty's Rose Toilette. Alternatively, get a different type of head accessory like a winter hat or beret.
- More Lolita specific Accessories
- This can include Lolita specific socks and tights, wrist cuffs, that Doki Doki 6% star clip you've seen everyone wearing, or gloves. Depending on weather and your style, these can vary significantly. I personally don't like how regular knee highs look on me (the traditional Lolita socks that end just under the knee), so I mostly stick to over-the-knee socks (OTKs) or tight.
By this point, you're looking to add some more pieces to your wardrobe to add more variety or to add some more special pieces. You should be able to wear Lolita in colder weather or warmer weather without much problem. You likely have decided on the substyle or styles you like the best by this point as well as what sort of pieces you like.
- Special occasion piece
- Now that you're fairly settled in your style, you can get a fancier piece, maybe a dream dress, that's too luxurious to wear on a day to day basis, but great for special meetups and events. It may be something chiffon with lots of layers and delicate lace, or it could be a very noticeable print like Sugary Carnival (one of the more notable prints from Angelic Pretty that just about every Sweet Lolita wants) that tends to run more expensive than other prints due to its rareness.
- Wigs
- While I personally tend to wear my natural hair with Lolita, many Lolitas opt for wigs. If you don't have any, I would recommend getting at least one high quality Lolita wig that's a different cut and color from your natural hair. For example, I have short blonde hair currently (why did I ever cut it!) and I recently wore a long, curly black wig with a Old School Gothic coordinate. I also have several other wigs, but mostly for day-to-day fashions and cosplays rather than Lolita.
- Not your style piece
- Why would I want a piece that's not in my style? You ask. I personally recommend having at least one piece that's not your regular style just to add variety to your wardrobe. It's also nice to have different styles for days you just aren't feeling like wearing your typical style. For this reason, I have several Gothic pieces in a mainly Sweet wardrobe, but you can also go for something less everyday such as Guro or Ero Lolita. Also, if you mostly wear dresses, maybe try out Kodona or Ouji Lolita, both of which are more elegant, masculine styles.
If you've watched Kamikaze girl, you know exactly what this means.
- Baby the Stars Shine Bright EVERYTHING
- Momoko's wardrobe is completely Baby. If you're like me, this is your ultimate goal. If you don't like Baby, there's something wrong with you. This includes your socks. No off-brand socks for you.
- Biker gang friend
- If you don't have a biker friend already, find one now. She'll think you're really weird and boring, but no matter how you try, she won't leave you alone.
- Everything must be cute and feminine
- No hockey for you. You'd much rather go to a tea house and read your book on Victorian maidens.
This is the truly cheapskate Lolita. One that saves money and has a huge, off-brand wardrobe full of Bodyline, Taobao, and the dreaded replica. You could buy that one Brand dress, or you could buy three Bodyline dresses and a replica purse instead for the same price.
- No Brand allowed
- Unless you consider Bodyline and Taobao to be brand. You won't pay more than $60 for a JSK or OP, and chances are you'll buy it second hand off of Lacemarket or wait for Bodyline to have a sale with free shipping and use the yen trick to save even more money.
- Replicas are money savers
- You call it art theft, I call it building my wardrobe with custom sized pieces at reasonable prices.
- Bodyline is love, Bodyline is life
- Need I say any more? You worship Mr. Yan, but that pillow case is still weird. And no, you won't marry him.
Well everyone, I hope enjoyed my version of Lolita levels! If you didn't already figure it out, the last two levels are jokes. I've never seen anyone who's as obsessed with the lifestyle and fashion as much as Momoko in real life and even folks who tend towards off-brand pieces such as myself or Princess Peachy on YouTube are still interested in Angelic Pretty and Baby the Stars Shine Bright and either own or want to own Brand pieces, just may not be able to afford them for the time being.
Check out my store: animelolitacouture.storenvy.com
I'm on Facebook: facebook.com/CelesteChoCho
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