Submitted question:

Hello there, I have been interested in Lolita fashion for a long while, and have recently made the decision to go ahead and jump right into it despite my larger size and height. I have researched the do’s and dont’s and even been on major blog sites and places that help to teach about the Lolita fashion (Sites like Hellolace.com). I want to do this right, but the problem is that I have limited funds. I’ve run through sites that are taboo (Like Milano) but recently have found a new place with seemingly lovely reviews for off brand dresses (Quitieland.com). The dress that I have fallen in love with is this one: http://www.qutieland.com/product.php?id=911

I would be very appreciative if you would give me your thoughts about this dress and site in general, and also some tips for a beginner Kote Lolita with a money crises.

Response from Lolita Tips:

If you take a look at my FAQ it will really answer this question for you. I definitely trust QutieLand as I have worked with them many times. That particular dress is a Dream of Lolita replica of a dress from Angelic Pretty and is a very good Lolita dress. It may be slightly difficult to coordinate for a beginner but it’s a great dress either way. For some inspiration on how to wear it you can just do a quick google search for “Angelic Pretty Fantastic Dolly” and you should get some stock photos, magazine ads, and photos of other Lolitas wearing it.
For more help I recommend going through my FAQ and Guides for Beginners.
And as a side note, nobody really calls it Kote Lolita. Hello Lace is so silly sometimes. lol OTT Sweet is the name most Lolitas go with so knowing that may help with any future searches you may do for style inspiration.

Submitted question:

Hi! I’ve liked Lolita for a long time and I finally want to start wearing it. I already had this dress and I was wondering if it is ok for Lolita.

Response from Lolita Tips:

Oh gosh that’s cute. It’s a little plain, but you can definitely work with it. It would work very well for Lolita.

Submitted question:

Hi! This is what my haircut looks like. I was wondering if you have any tips for any hair accessories I could use. I guess that big headbows are a no-no, since they look kind of overwhelming, right?

Response from Lolita Tips:

Oh how cute. I do agree that a really big bow might look odd but a medium-small bow would work. For example, something like this that basically covers your whole head might look a bit silly:

But something slightly smaller like this, especially something to the side like this, would work much better:

It’s not tiny, but it doesn’t completely take over your head either.
Other things I think you could pull off very well are berets (especially berets!), full sized hats (like bowler hats, boater hats, and vintage style hats), sailor hats, flower corsages, and thinner headdresses like these:

Really, you have a lot of options, just don’t go for anything huge like bonnets or head-eating bows.

Submitted question:

Hi, I was thinking about buying a dress from this website: http://www.mukuchu.com/2011/11/gothic-lolita.html Do you think they look ok, or do they look like a scam site?? 

Response from Lolita Tips:

It definitely looks like a scam or at least something really sketchy. I can tell you right now that all of their photos are stolen. I wouldn’t recommend it. If you tell me which dress it was that you wanted though I can most likely find you the original source and if price is an issue I can most likely find a replica or a similar item that will be a fair price and good quality.

Please note that not all of these shops are exclusively Lolita shops. Many of them have things for other styles but I recommend them for their items that are obviously Lolita. I was going to put them into categories based on styles but then it turned out very uneven so I just put them all together.

Cute & Candy Clouds
Popglitz Boutique
Zefora
Icing Sugar
Paradise Rose
Cupcake Princess Jewelry
Bling and Pink
Cat Nap Caps
Gabiscuits
Pink Absinthe
PrincessPearlDesigns
Eat Me Ink Me
Gypsy Noir Romantique
The Snow Field
Mon Sherry
Peacockalorum
Glamasaurus
Sweet Mildred
Bitter Sweet
Malice Alice
English Charm
Narcissique Couture
Poison Sugar
Apatico
Megan Maude
I Do Declare
Le Chat Beige
PetiteRoyale
Fabric Fancies
Gardens of Whimsy
Danger Dres
Wear it Cuter
Bella Bows
Le Petite Bonbon
Shimrit’a
Sakura Fairy
My Dearest Victoria
Teja Jamilla
Everything Pink

Submitted question:

Hi, I’m sorry if this has been asked before, but I searched and couldn’t find anything.

Do you know anything about whatabeautifullife.com? Are they reliable and how is the general quality of their stuff?

I found some amazingly cute things there, but I have never heard of them before.

Again, sorry if someone has already asked about this ^^

//Z <3

Response from Lolita Tips:

Don’t buy from them. They’re just another Milanoo-esque scam. Same stolen stock photos, same basic setup, etc. If you don’t know about Milanoo you can read about them in the FAQ.
If you have a specific piece in mind that you saw on their site you can give me the link or a picture and I’ll be happy to help you find the original so you don’t get ripped-off.

Submitted question:

What is the name of this print, do you know? And if so do you know of any replicas?

Response from Lolita Tips:

That would be Angelic Pretty’s Cherry Berry Bunny (one of my personal favorite print names). I know Oo Jia on facebook had/has a replica but I’m not sure if it’s available anymore. If it’s not though I’m sure you could get one from the EGL Comm Sales.

Submitted question:

Also, http://www.ebay.com/itm/SWEET-LOVE-LOLITA-NEW-ORDER-COSPLAY-COSTUME-DRESS-EMO-/130630407237?pt=US_CSA_WC_Dresses&hash=item1e6a2dd445#ht_6258wt_1037     That is the dress I bought. It has already come it. It is exactly the same as in the picture, the size was just a little off but it is already being altered to fit.

I was just wondering if they bodyline is good and if it is decent Lolita? Or is it Ita?

Response from Lolita Tips:

First off, you’re lucky. I don’t recommend buying from that shop because all of their photos are stolen. (That specific one is stolen from Angelic Pretty.) That dress looks good though. Not ita at all. Just make sure that when you get it altered the proportions are kept so it can hold a proper petticoat.
And yeah, Bodyline is good for the most part. I mentioned them in the FAQ so I suggest reading there.

Submitted question:

I have made a bow about the size of my palm out of perler beads. It is white and pink. I wanted to know if it would be a bad or a good idea to where it with my lolita?

Response from Lolita Tips:

Go for it. Of course it probably shouldn’t be your only accessory. Maybe wear it along with a larger, fabric bow. There are quite a few shops around selling perler bead accessories for mainly fairy kei but a lot of them can work for Lolita as well.

Submitted question:

Behold, the only girl who can be ita in BTSSB! Me

Dear lolita tips I need help!

So I recently got this gawgeous JSK from BTSSB and it’s the Cinderella print in off-white. Do you have any suggestions as to where I can buy a blouse that’ll match (since white is very unflattering and I only have white) but isn’t over garnished? Thanks!

Response from Lolita Tips:

Oh gosh, you’re overreacting. You are certainly not an ita, although I agree that the white blouse doesn’t quite fit the off-white dress. Or at least not that white blouse.
The very first blouse that popped into my head when I looked at your picture though was this one in off-white. I love that blouse so much and I think it would look fantastic with that dress but it does have a lot of details so it may not be the one. So I turned to my favorite TaoBao shop, R-Series and found this. It has a jabot but it’s removable and makes it a fairly simple blouse but with just enough pretty details. I think that blouse in off-white would be fantastic.
Another option if you could find one that doesn’t look too sweet, would be to get a light blue dress to match the blue in the print.