Lolita 101 - for beginners

[yennidaklutz.livejournal.com]

I'm not really writing one...more like asking someone to help me...i've always liked loli fasion, but just recently began to experiment and join communities and such...because of that i figured rather than attempting to make sence of things and terms i dont understand, i should ask...so here goes:



1) what does JSK stand for?

2) What is the difference between the different types of dresses?

3) How do you order from the companies in Japan that don't ship internationally?

4) How long should skirts be?

5) What are the most versitial outfits?

6) For mixing and matching are there limits based on fabric/color? (i'm a former denim only girl....)


That's all my brain is letting me come up with now...i might add more as i remember my other questions....

Aregato in advance

Comments

[palantiriell.livejournal.com]

This sounds like a great list, and as a new Lolita, I'd love to see it when it's finished :)

[chapeauxchick.livejournal.com]

1) JSK = Jumper skirt
2) One pieces have sleeves and do not need to be worn with a blouse, JSKs are sleeveless and generally should have a blouse under them.
3) A shopping service lie crescent shop: http://www.crescent-shop.com/ or Celga: http://www.celga.com/fee.html
4) This varies, but in general just above the knee.
5) That's a matter of opinion, but probably a skirt and blouse combination because you can wear the pieces with other outfits too.
6) Yes, you definitely want colours to coordinate well, but it's really up to you on how you do that. I general rule of thumb is to not have more than three main colours in a coordinate. For example, a pink skirt, white blouse, and black shoes and accessories. If you were wearing that you wouldn't want to have any other colours in your stockings. But again there aren't set rules about that, it's really up to you.

[totodedum.livejournal.com]

very good advice.

[maudmay.livejournal.com]

1) what does JSK stand for?
jumperskirt. it's basically a dress but with straps. =) also reffered to as jumper.

2) What is the difference between the different types of dresses?
haha what sort of types?

3) How do you order from the companies in Japan that don't ship internationally?
shopping service - there are some proffesional companies that carry this out, or you can get a friend in japan to buy it for you and ship it over.

4) How long should skirts be?
mostly knee-length, just below knee. there was a small phase of longer calf-length or ankle-length skirts in lolita, but mostly longer skirts are more likely to be EGA. this is because lolita is a very little girl fashion, influenced by victorian fashion, and so quite demure. unless of course you're going erololi.

5) What are the most versitial outfits?
i like dresses and JSK's with shirts. but it's most likely to be casual loli - a nice lolita skirt, mary-janes, and a pretty t-shirt.

6) For mixing and matching are there limits based on fabric/color? (i'm a former denim only girl....)
as with any fashion, whatever looks good. please match your colours, and don't go overboard with colours either (it's nice to have a colour to base your outfit on, at least). fabrics, again, must look good. no one's really going to go up to you and say "ohnoes you're wearing two different fabrics, how unloli! lolz"

=)

[pour-me-coffee.livejournal.com]

The rest has been answered quite well.

5) Start with a few basic items then build from there. Buy a skirt, blouse, hair accessory, socks in your fave color. Then from there you can build by buying more items that match that set. Once you can make a variety of outfits using only those pieces you can start on a new set of clothing.

6) Especially with lolita do be careful about color. Lolita is very subtle. There's generally only a couple of main colors with a possible accent color. You can be unique and go for a more "fruits" look by playing with color. Tho you're stepping somewhere btwn the realms of egl and fruits at that point.

[neurotic-flower.livejournal.com]

I need to try out number 5 myself, I'm so bad about buying stuff that matches nothing I have. lol

[pour-me-coffee.livejournal.com]

I often need to follow my own advice too! I just love pretty clothing tho so I'll randomly buy something that doesn't matching *anything* I own. XD~

[ellorgast.livejournal.com]

5) Either a skirt or jumper skirt is a good way to start out. Be sure to have a suitable blouse, petticoat, bloomers, shoes/boots, and other accessories (headdress, socks, etc.). Details count for a lot.

6) In general, loli outfits are usually limited to only one or two colors. When I first started out, I wore nothing but black, because it's easiest to mix and match. If you're a sweet lolita, you'll probably want something like pink and white together. If gothic, probably black and white. It's possible to encorporate more colors, but you have to go about it carefully. As for fabrics, the majority of lolita items are made from cotton, so they're pretty easy to match up.

[antique-toaster.livejournal.com]

Most have been answered already, but I just thought I'd let you know "Aregato" would be "Arigatou"

[violet-maiden.livejournal.com]

Or arigatô ^^

[not-a-girl.livejournal.com]

You win madam.

[yennidaklutz.livejournal.com]

-=blink=- then my japanese dictionary has it spelt wrong......-=goes to buy a better one=-

[earthsent.livejournal.com]

3) As far as I know, Metamorphose ships overseas.
Cosmates is getting more brands added, but so faronly have one actual lolita brand: Bodyline. They have many other brands, with many things, but Bodyline is really the only lolita one. They've recently announced on planning to open a new gothic lolita site to sell clothes on, which they might open in 3-6 months, depending on how soon they can get the stuff. They always have polls open, as well, for which brands we want them to stock. They have fair prices, but be warned: the prices tend to ship a LOT. I bought a Bodyline dress there once that was about $30 cheaper than on the Bodyline site, but the next day the dress was $60 more expensive.