Back from Tokyo

[jolie-laide.livejournal.com]

I've just returned from my Tokyo trip and I scored lots of great lolita goods. There were no sales going on during my shopping excursions but I managed to find a lolita "resale" boutique with some beautiful mint-condition dresses and skirts. Once I get a decent host, I'll post pictures of my finds. I also found resale dresses from Marble/Visible, BtSSB, Metamorphose, et cetera in strange places like Mandarake!

On an interesting note, someone once said that Japanese lolitas are guilty of enjo kosai because there was no other explanation as to how they could afford such expensive goods. Most Japanese girls that typically perform such acts are in it for "brando" (read: designer goods like Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Gucci) items, thus falling into the "gals" category rather than the lolitas. While I was there, I noticed that four out of five of the lolita customers were young teenage girls shopping with their mothers; that is how most of them pay for those ridiculously priced $40+ headpieces and $250+ dresses. :)

[cross-posted to wicked_passion]

Comments

[blasphemina.livejournal.com]

Also, a lot of Japanese lolitas pay for stuff by making their own accessories on little websites. Ever seen the Lolita Handmade webring? They have some super cute stuff for pretty cheap, though most is not available in the US, but it's all handmade by girls that seem to be under 25. I find that incredibly ambitious, myself :)

[heavenztearz.livejournal.com]

I havent seen the webring... And when I searched for it all I got was ameteur porn. >___>; could you give me the link?

[jolie-laide.livejournal.com]

I saw plenty of original dresses modeled in Yoyogi Park and I even passed lolitas shopping at the fabric shops in the area.

I haven't ever seen the Lolita Handmade webring; mind passing on the link? :)

[meowlet.livejournal.com]

Wow, I love your icon.

Posts with pictures, yay! :}

Enjo kosai? Translate.

[feline-dacat.livejournal.com]

Something of along the lines of prostitution, but with young girls i believe.

[czol.livejournal.com]

I imagine it's what I've heard called 'compensation dating' where schoolgirls go out with older men in return for cash. I sounds really seedy & there was apparently a film made about it (can't remember the title just now), but the programme I was watching about it (a series about Japanese pop culture) interviewed a couple of girls who'd done it & they swore there was no sex & that they just went out with the guys.

[feline-dacat.livejournal.com]

yeah, i have heard about that too... If you remember the title of the film, i'd appreciate it if you could tell me ^^ thank you

[raino.livejournal.com]

The film was Ko-Gals, I believe. Sometimes also the older men give the girls expensive designer bags or clothes, and in the movie at least what the girls give can range from karaoke bar company to actual sex.

[clarice.livejournal.com]

...'compensation dating'

That's quite possibly the most ridiculous euphemism EVER. The girls are prostitutes for Gucci bags, period (regardless of whether or not they claim no sex was involved -- think about it, if you're a horny 50-year-old with money to burn, are you going to lavish gifts on the 19-year-old that does sleep with you or the one who just giggles and goes to karaoke with you? It's not like there's any shortage of willing girls, afterall).

[agentscuiy.livejournal.com]

Not necessarily true. A lot of the guys are married, and a lot just want someone to take to parties or around shopping to pretend they have a hot young girlfriend. There's plenty of other shady borderline-prostitution-minus-esex going on... panty selling, hostessing, paid phone chatting.. none of which involve sex, just girls using the fact that they're a girl to get money. x_x; Not all dirty old Japanese guys want sex, they will pay just for girls' company (because of course there are PLENTY of oppurtunities for them to get sex in other places...)

[jolie-laide.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I think I found a suitable host so now it's only a matter of modeling the clothing. >_>

[incineratedcat.livejournal.com]

I wish I had a mother who would pay for my ridiculously priced EGL clothes.

[kurara.livejournal.com]

Not all Kogals do Enjo Kosai.. But a lot of them do it to get brand name clothes.. EGL fashion is less expensive.. x.x And we can't forget that lolita fashion has been quite popular in Japan in the 80's so the mothers have probably worn similar things when they were younger. ^-^

You're so lucky that you went to Japan! I want to go toooo

[clarice.livejournal.com]

From what I've heard the majority of lolitas are h.s. graduates, but generally under the age of 25 or so. When you think about it, $250 for a dress isn't *that* much, if you're thinking about it in the sense of how long it would take your average 20-year-old living at home or on daddy's paycheck to save up for it. A large percentage of Japanese youths stay at home and pay no rent, so everything they earn from their jobs they spend on whatever they want. In that situation, a girl with a part-time could easily buy a whole outfit on half a month's salary.

Also, Americans and Canadians spend less per capita on clothes than really any other western nation. If you compare the prices of Lolita clothing to the prices for other nice, quality-made clothing brands in Japan, the price difference isn't nearly as big as it would be in the U.S.

[jolie-laide.livejournal.com]

Well, when I say "young teenage girls" I'm making assumptions about their age. I just thought it was funny that not many assumed that these girls would ask their mothers to buy them clothes (as most teenage girls do in America). Most of girls also buy whole outfits while shopping in groups; that way, they can all find different looks and swap for later dates. I wish I had a loli friend to swap with on a regular basis!

I buy many quality, high-end goods here in America but something about paying $250+ for dress-up goods makes me slightly hesitant. Maybe it is the practical side of me but I normally wouldn't blink an eyelash if I had to pay that much for a coat.

Loli Store....*drools*

[pejabunnie.livejournal.com]

I'm going to Japan in a week...are you willing to divulge the location of the fantabulous loli resale store in Tokyo? *big pleading eyes*

Ooo, Mangadarake...the Nakano branch is in my list of must-sees!

Re: Loli Store....*drools*

[jolie-laide.livejournal.com]

It's in Harajuku, on Takeshita Street (right off of Meiji-dori). I don't know the exact store address but I'm sure you'll find it in that little area. It's down the street from Laforet.

Re: Loli Store....*drools*

[pejabunnie.livejournal.com]

Thank you!