Brands: Why I Am Tempted To Jump The Brandwagon

In the Lolita fashion and subculture, it seems that absolutely everything revolves around brands. I cannot deny that it is nice being able to say that you own brand. My first brand piece was a black BABY skirt. I also have a headpiece from BABY and an AatP bonnet. I have a BLACK PEACE NOW skirt which, despite not being nearly as common as BABY, is one of my absolute favorite pieces and is incredibly versatile. It took two or three years of me being into Lolita until I finally bought a dress - the Alice and the Pirates Twilight Circus JSK II in Black.

Here it is in purple x black - I have black x black.

Honestly, though, looking back - brand has given me nothing but trouble! The pieces mentioned above are all the brand I own! And why do I have so much of it being BABY? Because I am lucky enough to go to school in San Francisco, where BABY has set up shop in our local Japantown (PEACE NOW was in the same building until recently - they moved to a downtown location, partnering in a shop with Angelic Pretty, Chantilly, and Atelier Pierrot, and was actually replaced by h.NAOTO). Most of my pieces that I use in my ensembles, though, are OFFBRAND! (gasp!) And here is why.

Money - oh, how I loathe thee. Basic rule of thumb with Lolita is that brand is expensive. One of the reasons I frequent BABY is because they are conveniently located, so paying for shipping and customs isn't an issue - nor is currency conversion, paypal or any of that mess! A big thing, though, is that (in my experience, anyway) BABY is fairly low-priced for brand. If I buy anything from them frequently, it's jewelry or accessories, because most of them I can get for less than $100. In fact, my favorite headdress I got for roughly $60. But even still, I only get the spend that once in a very great while. My style reaches more towards Atelier Pierrot and Moi-meme-Moitie, but those are so far out of my budget that they are but a dream.

• Another thing - I never, EVER buy brand shoes. I am far too adventurous and clumsy - they would scuff up and break so easily. I have a pair of boots and flats that I wear, that is it. They cost far too much money for something that would be used so carefully.

Sizing - I can't lie - I am a rather larger girl, on the Lolita spectrum. My family is of Danish descent - being "big-boned" is in my genes. I have a curvaceous figure, at 95-75-100. And with a proportionately larger body, it is hard to fit into Lolita! Blouses and most OPs are completely out, thanks to my "ladies". Luckily my hips aren't a problem, but my waist... why is it that sweet lolita, the style I am least like, is best for my body shape? At least, brands that specialize in Sweet are more open to larger sizing. BABY and AP are the only brands I can really fit in. It is hard, knowing that if I have enough money to buy brand, I can only fit into brands I am not a huge fan of.

So, what is a a Lolita in more difficult situations to do? I have to admit, my pieces are few and far between. two skirts and a JSK aren't enough to really get me through the week. So, here is what I have done, and what I am doing, to build up my wardrobe:

1. Lose the extra weight. I am not overweight, but I'm also not going to be able to fit into Moitie, ever. I hate admitting that, but realistically my bust and waist sizes will never get that small. I do what I can to manage the cards given to me... even if that means discarding some.
2. Attack thrift stores and offbrand places! Seriously, I have a lot of pieces that I love that are offbrand. If you're busty and have issues finding blouses that fit well, just find a nice button-down in your size from a department or thrift store. My shoes are from Payless, and so I don't worry about scuffing them up. I'm sure you can find pieces and find ways to make them work.
3. Look into outside-of-Japan online shops. The best places I can think of are the brands through QutieLand.com and Fan+Friend. Their sizing can be more customized, and can be altered as you wish. I have yet to buy a chinese brand through QutieLand, but I have heard very good things about their services. Fan+Friend is really hit-or-miss, but as long as you choose a piece that isn't too busy (with lace, in particular) you should be alright. Their prices are good, too :)
4. Learn to sew. Honestly, this is a life-saver. I learned how to sew on my own, by playing around on my mom's machine. While I still kind of need help constructing original pieces, I am a whiz at mending and I'm fairly good at altering. I have made one skirt before, and it is fantastic. I get more compliments on my own pieces than I do on my brand!

In conclusion, you don't need brand to be happy. It's nice. But, like most things that fall under the Lolita parasol, it is a luxury. Unlike the Lolitas that are in more ideal scenarios, we have to make do with what we have. Being resourceful is key. You can get really creative with non-brand items.

What is your favorite "resourceful" ensemble? On you, or one you have seen? Do you have any ideas as to what would make for a cute outfit regardless of size or how small a budget?