Lolita Fashions - Pt. 2 (featuring Bodyline)

In my previous post about Lolita fashion, I talked about how lolita brands are quite important within the community. I mentioned how being lolita can get quite elitist because wearing certain brands and prints have the added connotation with it; that it's expensive or 'cheap'. It's the same with every type of hobby, fashion item or collectors item out there...there's always something that's worth more and seen more as a high end product. However, do not fret, Bodyline has it's positive aspects too!

In terms of lolita, Bodyline is the 'cheap' and low end company to go to for affordable lolita. They offer a various amount of clothing on their online website, from punk to cosplay. I like Bodyline because they offer up to many sizes in their clothes, while compared to major brand companies, most are only One Size. The prices are quite affordable and if you're just starting out in the lolita fashion, it provides a good foundation for you to build on to build a lolita wardrobe. Not everyone can afford the very expensive brand dresses from Baby the Stars Shine Bright or Angelic Pretty, which can range anywhere from $250 - $400 for one dress.

Bodyline JSK Carousel Dress

A small problem with Bodyline is that their prints can be a bit over powering and have a bit of a cheap quality to it. It's makes lolita more like cosplay than a fashion sub-culture. Some of the prints released by Bodyline are exclusive to the company, so some hardcore lolitas can recognize the print and size you up just based on what you're wearing! That shouldn't bother you in my opinion, since it didn't bother me before. It only did recently when I found the same dress I was wearing from Bodyline (on the left) at one of the biggest discount chain stores in Japan. That...was bad. But despite me being a bit miffed at finding it in a discount store, I still adore that dress. I really love the print and colors. Sometimes you just gravitate towards something, and that's what happened with this dress. 

Bodyline offers some great staple items to build your lolita wardrobe from in my opinion. Their shirts are a good base to work from and the quality is not bad at all. Most of their shirts are made of polyester so you might get warm in them in hot weather since the material doesn't "breathe" but as long as you plan your outfit correctly you should be fine. The sizing listed on the size is quite accurate, but I find I can range anywhere from M size to T2L (Tall double large). The one good thing about Bodyline is that they offer sizes up to 4L (US size 14/16), and many items have lace up backs or shirring to help with the sizing. A couple of my dresses are 2L because that was all they have left, they are loose, but the ribbons that lace up in the back usually help with making it fit better. Some items only come in M size, but that just means it's one-size only.

Their shoes come in various sizes ranging from 22.5 - 27cm. I'm a size 6.5/7 shoe, which fits into 23-24 in Bodyline lolita shoes.

Bodyline items in their packaging.

Sorry for the wrinkles, but this is a better picture of the print of this dress I just got recently.

Close up of this shirt.

The details of this shirt.

  The white shirt cost more than anything else, but the details are great and it beats me trying to sew it together right now anyways. A brand label shirt can cost up to $250, so finding some classic staple shirts to layer under dresses is a good way to build up a lolita wardrobe.

I find that wearing Bodyline shouldn't mean that you can't afford brand Lolita dresses. Everyone has to start somewhere, and as long as you are embracing the ideal of lolita; such as being modest, polite and ladylike, those are great qualities to have. That doesn't come from wearing non-brand or brand items. I think the most important thing is to have fun and enjoy the hobby. If it makes you feel better at the end of the day with your friends, it should be worth it. I know I had a great time in lolita while we were in Tokyo, and I look forward to our next lolita day the next time we're there!

It's a common joke between my friends and I that Bodyline is my home away from home since I have quite a few dresses from the company. But, what can I say? I was a student in university and it was just fun dressing up in cute dresses. Now that I can afford brand dresses, I can further explore this hobby. ♥

Since I've got my sister into this hobby now, she told me that this month, shipping from Bodyline is $1 to anywhere. It's a promotion to celebrate their company/store anniversary. Let's just say that I got some more random items \(^__^")/