My-Lolita-Dress Review II

Time for another review!

I readily admit I'm loving My Lolita Dress more and more for their wide range of options, a comfortable range of prices and absolutely excellent customer service. I really wanted to splurge a tiny bit on a dress for Valentine's is it would be my fiance and I's first year anniversary, and what better way to celebrate than by wearing pink? I know, pretty scary right?

But I've never denied it. I LOVE the color pink! I simply lack the confidence to wear it. I don't feel comfortable in overly cutesy things so I know I didn't want to choose something that would only be suitable for sweet Lolita. So while I was browsing I was caught in by this lovely dress.

I was really charmed by the more mature, classic looking collar and wrist cuffs, and the dress came with a matching sash that could be tied around the waist for a more fitted, less flowy look which definitely sealed the deal. Made of chiffon and sprinkled with tiny moons and stars, it was sweet, but (to me in any case) still held an air of elegance that could potentially be even more accentuated by the right accessories and shoes. 

So on January 27th, I placed my order. As usual, the process was very simple through Paypal. I awaited my email to be notified when it was shipped out, but much to my surprise it arrived quite early on February 4th! I didn't choose a special shipping method, so 9 days in total was quite speedy!

As usual I forgot to take a picture of the packaging, but it was all wrapped securely in a Fed Ex bag, and the dressed was placed again in a second bag. Pretty standard and aside from some minor wrinkling (seriously, why do I not own a steamer yet?) the dress wasn't damaged in any way.

As you can see, the dress is pretty true to it's stock photo. A lovely soft shade of baby pink and adorable "pearl" buttons. They don't seem entirely strong however so I will have to keep an eye on them to ensure they don't break, although the dress did come with two extra ones attached in a bag.

The adorable little moon and star details! You can even see the extras like planets and star clusters, it's all so cute but tiny enough as to not feel super overwhelming.

The lace is unfortunately not the best, and I included a close-up of where it doesn't quite match up and there are loose threads in some places. Still, it doesn't particularly bother me as it's very small, and only on the hem of the dress and a small amount on the neckline. It's not extremely scratchy and stiff, but definitely not the best either, but since it's used in such a limited amount I don't find it particularly bothersome.

Overall, I am once again impressed by My Lolilta Dress' level of customer service (I must have bothered poor Linda, the sales representative about half a dozen times and she always answered me back promptly and courteously), and the professionalism of the entire transaction. Their website is constantly updating with new, beautiful items so I'll definitely be keeping my eye on it for the future!

How to Leave an Online Review

I do a lot of online shopping, both inside and out of Lolita. And it is the bane of my existence to be searching for information...any information on a garment strictly available online, only to find one or two sad little one line "reviewers" that leave me even more confused than before. I have wasted a lot of time and money purchasing and altering clothes and shoes that can not be returned.  Many times however, these types of mistakes could have been avoided if those who chose to review had the foresight to do so properly. So, partly as an instruction manual and partly out of my need to rant, here it is:

How to Leave an Online Review

image from weheartit.com

1. List your measurements: And yes. I do mean ALL your measurements. Nothing is more infuriating than reading:

"This fit great! I ordered a size Large and though it was a little oversized it wasn't too baggy and hit me write at my knees."

That's fantastic...except I have absolutely no idea how tall you are. And I'm not being facetious here, you would be surprised just how many people expect others to be psychic in knowing their size. For all I know the reviewer could be 5' of 5'9", and that really does make a HUGE difference if I'm trying to decide if a size large will work for me or not. What could hit someone at the knees in a Large size might hit someone else mid-calf and someone else high on her thigh. With a review like this however, she'll have a difficult time figuring that out.  Here's another example:

"I'm 5'4" and 130 lbs, I ordered a Medium and it was too big. Definitely order a size down!"

In this case the reviewer left her height, which is fantastic....but her weight tells us very little. She could be a muscular, athletic 130 lbs, or she could be a svelte, super slender 130 lbs, or a softer, untoned 130 lbs. Maybe she's an apple shape and carries a lot of weight in her tummy, or pear shaped and bottom heavy or maybe she's very large chested with slender hips. We don't know because all she told us was her basic height and weight. We can line up ten individuals of the same height and weight and every single one can be built drastically different, and while some might need to order a size Small like the reviewer, others might need that Medium or even a large based purely on how her body is built.

So, if nothing else, PLEASE list your measurements. At the very least, please include your height, bust (both cup size as well as an actual measurement in inches are extremely useful) and waist measurements. Keep in mind, because every store (and country) is different, telling us you're about a "medium" or a "size ten" mean absolutely nothing. If you're feeling generous it's never a bad idea to include other sizes such as shoulder width if you're reviewing a blouse, or calf circumference if you're discussing the fit of tall boots. Remember, the word average means absolutely nothing. Numbers are what count.

2. List the garments' size : I know this seems like common sense, but you don't know how many times I've run into a review like this:

"I'm 5' and have a 28 inch waist. This hit me just about an inch above my knee and was about an inch too big on me, but it's easily fixed with a belt. Super cute!"

......Okay. But what SIZE did you order? When the options available range from XS-XXL, am I just supposed to make an educated guess? Depending on where the garment is from, a 28 inch waist literally could be sold as a size XS all the way up to an XXL. Yes, hopefully the website selling the item would have a size chart to go by, but I'm sure I'm not the only way to experience the intense disappointment of ordering something that should have fit according to a size chart, only to realize it's about four inches too short and one size too slim to ever fit.

Additionally, it's also quite helpful to list a few basic measurements of the garment itself, such as its length and width. It's not necessary to delve into every excruciating detail, but if something seems particularly strange (the crotch of a pair of pants feel oddly low), it's best to make a note and explain it as accurately as possible.

3. Fact v. Opinion: So it's pretty much a given that any review is going to have some opinion of the reviewer included and that's fine, but don't forget facts as well! It's fine to say you think the shoes delivered are ugly and cheap looking, but don't forget to explain WHY. It's useful, especially with negative reviews, to give clear reasoning (were they scuffed up and dingy? Not the color as advertised? Falling apart at the heel?) as to why you feel the way you do, or else one can simply chalk it up to personal taste when there could genuinely be something defective or misleading about the product that other people should probably know.

4. Photos: Lastly, photos are always nice. These can be of the garment itself, and detail shots are especially useful. Photos of the item actually being worn is also quite handy for those who might appreciate a visual. Of course at times taking a photo of the garment may not be possible, but of the four this particular point I find the least important as long as it is thoroughly described, including specific detail in any flaws or unexpected details (such as hidden pockets, no lining on a skirt, etc.).

I know no one is perfect. We're all human and make mistakes, and I too have made my own share of mistakes when leaving reviews. But I think we can all agree that a few snapshots of a dress or skirt and the exclamation of "It's so cute! I recommend everyone buy one!" hardly counts as a review and shouldn't be labeled as such. Especially in the world of Lolita, where so much is bought  sight unseen, there's no denying that the more information there is out there, the better it is for all of us to make informed choices. 

 

My first tea parties-a Bodyline review

So you know that feeling when you get something new in the mail and you can't wait to just tear into it, take a million pictures and share it with the world? It's an awesome feeling. And it's an equally not so awesome feeling the second you open that package and realize all your hopes have been shattered. Sadly, the latter has been my experience.

On August 3rd I ordered my very first pairs of tea party shoes from Bodyline. I ordered style 256 in black and style 251 in silver. They arrived August 18th, so just about two weeks from China to America with Airmail shipping. It's about what I was expecting and I wasn't in any rush for them to arrive, so I'm glad they showed up when they did. I was super excited when I saw them in my room, they were not only my first pair of tea parties, but my first pair of REAL Lolita shoes! They weren't in any boxes, but rather the standard tons of bubble wrap and securely sealed inside a plastic envelope. 

Unfortunately, I had a sinking feeling the second I began to unwrap them. They looked small. Now, I had done my homework, read all over EGL and other reviews of these exact shoes and thought I had a pretty good idea in mind what size to order. I know when it comes to ordering online (especially a place like Bodyline that doesn't accept returns) that it's no time to be vain and pretend you're smaller than you really are. So I measured my foot about 40 times (even traced it on paper and measured the outline) and every time I came up with 24.5 cm (I wear a US size 8.5 for reference). Perfect. I could order size 245, just like everyone told me to (and just my luck, that was the largest size they had in silver). So that's what I did.

 

                    Nope. I suppose technically these shoes are size 245. Exactly 245. I can fit my feet into them, but they are literally the exact size of my feet, so my toes scrape the front of the shoe and there is absolutely no wiggle room to speak of.                               

                                                                                                                                                              

That being said, I still took a quick photo, just to see if I like the look of tea parties on me. I admit, I feel really super cute in them, and the black ones don't feel as OTT as I feared they would.The straps aren't tight and the shoe isn't too narrow, so it's not so much a problem of the entire shoe being too small. If I've ever felt like an ugly step sister wishing she could chop her toes off, this was definitely it.

Still, despite these issues, I do have plans to order more tea parties from Bodyline. I really would like some pink and white ones and now I know to order at least half a size up. I am glad that the shoes themselves seem well made with no loose threads, wonky stitching or straps coming apart. I'm also really glad that aside from the squishy toes, the rest of the shoes actually feel quite comfortable. I don't tend to wear a lot of flat shoes anymore because after an hour or so they really begin to hurt my feet. Though I haven't walked in these long term yet, the inside already feels like they give a bit more support than regular ballet flats, so I'm hoping that comfort will last for more than a  few hours at a time.

And as a quick aside, I also ordered these boots (style 298). Even huger disappointment. SO tiny (much tinier than the tea parties despite having ordered the same size) and I probably should have ordered at least two sizes bigger for them to fit comfortably. The boots themselves are actually of nice quality though, the faux fur very soft and the construction sturdy. However, the heels did come with some white stuff that are kind of difficult to brush off and they did have a very strong chemical smell right out of the bag. I still really do love the look of these boots and they seem like they'd be very comfortable in the right size, but as I doubt I can sell these (since they're heavy and the cost of shipping would be ridiculous) I don't know if I can get another pair for awhile. Huge, huge disappointment.

Overall, I'm sorry this post had to be such a downer. But I figure it's good for me to get that information out there anyway for other Lolitas, let others learn from my mistakes. Thankfully my darling boyfriend has offered to take the tea parties to the cobblers while I'm at work to see if they can be stretch about half an inch, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed it'll work. Here's to hoping my next order of tea parties will end on a happier note.

My-Lolita-Dress Review I

I've been seeing more and more positive reviews lately when it comes to My Lolita Dress floating around, so as I've been interested in quite a few of their items for a while now I decided to go ahead and take a chance on them. So here is my own review on working with the website, as well as a short review on the actual dress I purchased.

My Lolita Dress is a reseller of a lot of popular taobao brands including Rose Melody, Infanta and Surface Spell. Personally, as I've never been a huge fan of using shopping services, the easy set-up and convenience of this website really appealed to me, which also helped in persuading me as I could finally purchase some of my favorite Chinese brands without dealing with any hassle.

Timeline

6/22/14- I placed my order and paid right away, the website uses paypal so it's very simple to use. I chose EMS shipping since my plan was to wear the dress for a 4th of July party I was attending and I really wanted to ensure it would be here in time.

6/28/14-I contacted MLD as my status still had not changed and I was growing a little worried it wouldn't show up in time. Within the hour I received a response from Linda letting me know that my dress had already been sent out and I would be updated with a tracking number soon.

6/30/14-I received an email letting me know my dress had been shipped and that I could track it through DHL. I was still a bit wary since EMS said it would still take between 4-5 days for the package to arrive and I didn't know if it would come before the weekend.

7/1/14-The dress arrived!! I'm guessing it just took awhile for the company to update my order online, but since my dress definitely arrived before the 4th I'm not complaining!

So overall, with EMS shipping the entire transaction took only 10 days! Though please keep in mind that the dress I ordered was listed as in stock so I didn't have to wait for it to be made first.


Packaging
Unfortunately it didn't occur to me to take photos of the package until after I had actually opened it, so I have none to share. However, the dress was packed in a standard shipping bag, and wrapped in a second plastic bag inside. It was clean, dry and didn't have any rips or tears.

Customer Service
Linda is such a delight to work with!! She responds unbelievably fast and answered all of my questions. Her English isn't 100% perfect, but she is still easy to understand, knowledgable and super polite. I feel extremely confident in communicating with her about my future orders and the products being sold.

~*~

Now, onto the dress itself! I ordered the Chess Story M&M Deer Dear Embroidery JSK in cream color. Honestly, this was a HUGE leap for me since I rarely ever purchase anything in Lolita other than black, and especially never anything in cream! But in the end the design of this dress absolutely stole my heart the second I laid eyes on it, and as it wasn't terribly expensive I decided to take a chance-and I'm so glad I did!

Given the structure of the dress I really only had to worry about my bust measurement. Still, despite the fact that given the measurements on the chart I should have been able to easily fit in a size L, I decided to go for an XL instead. I'm not very familiar with Chess Story (and reviews seem far and few between), so I had no idea if they ran small. I figured that given the style of the dress that even if it wound up being too big it wouldn't be overly noticeable, plus I would rather have to deal with taking a dress in then being stuck with a dress that was too small to fit comfortably.

Turns out, this dress is EXTREMELY roomy, and I'm pretty sure it could easily accommodate a bust much bigger than the 100cm size it lists. Fortunately I was right in that because the dress is meant to be flowy and that it has waist ties, I can easily adjust it to my own size. I am sad however that it does seem to be a tiny bit shorter than I had hoped it would be. But aside from the length, the dress is made of a nice, sturdy fabric, I think some sort of cotton or polyester blend which I like since it's thick and doesn't feel flimsy. It did have some loose threads out of the package and it also came with an extra button (all but one of the buttons were sewed pretty sturdy).

My favorite part is this gorgeous embroidery!!  In the photos I certainly already liked the way it looked, but in person it absolutely captures my heart! There aren't any loose threads or bald patches, and the detail is just exquisite. It also matches really nicely with the cream color of the dress, and I think this is quickly going to become one of my favorite winter dresses.

I was also pleasantly surprised to find that not only is the dress  completely lined, but it has a layer of tulle lining the very bottom which also helps give it shape. The tulle itself is very stiff and scratchy, but since it's sewn over the lining it never touches bare skin which I appreciate.

I just realized I completely forgot to take any photos of the fur collar! Although on the website it mentions that the fur might not be exactly like the photo, mine turned out to look just like the one pictured. The fur itself is fairly thin and more for decorative purposes than actually providing any warmth. It came with two ribbons to tie it with, but the ribbons are fairly flimsy and I think I'm going to cut them off and pin the collar together with a cute deer themed brooch.

Overall, I love this dress! Everything from the cut to the color is so completely different from anything else I own and I feel like it's really helped set me on a new path of experimentation in terms of my style. Although I will be wearing it this weekend as I had hoped, because of it's length I sadly probably won't be wearing it again until I purchase an underskirt to go with it. However, I'm taking that as a positive since I've been putting off purchasing an underskirt for a while now, and this seems like just the push I need to get myself in gear.

All in all, I'm very happy with how this entire transaction went, I highly recommend My Lolita Dress and I certainly have plans to order from them again (hopefully very soon)!

Mini Bodyline Haul Review

Yay, my first review! And what better way to start than with a classic Bodyline review?

Last month Bodyline was having their free Air shipping sale, and since I'm a cheapskate I decided it would be as good a time as any to place an order I've been holding off on for weeks. My wardrobe is severely lacking in blouses and boleros (which I adore wearing over JSKs), so I figured using Bodyline to help me with some nice, wallet friendly fillers was a pretty good idea. So around the 16th of March I placed an order for 2 boleroes and 2 blouses, and here they are, so let's get started!

So much black! I think I need to start expanding my wardrobe color palette...maybe.

Cardigan L167

I knew I was testing fate when I bought this cardigan because its listed measurements are a fair bit smaller than my bust , but it was just so cute and cheap I couldn't resist. Turns out it's just as cute in person as it is online! It's extremely soft (and not as thin looking as it appears on the website), but what I was most surprised to find is that it has bits of gold mixed in the black that I hadn't noticed in the stock photo. The gold isn't scratchy and you can see it a bit in my photo.

 The lace is also very cute, delicate little flowers that I thought were a nice touch and not used in excess amounts. The front bow is also attached by a pin, so the bolero can easily be worn with or without it, though it is a little bit floppier looking than in the stock photos.

However, when Bodyline states it has a bust measurement of 84cm, they MEAN it. It actually fits quite comfortably on my arms and shoulders, but there is absolutely no way I'm getting this thing over my bust without looking utterly ridiculous. Oh well, off to Lace Market it goes!

Cardigan L409

Good grief, this cardigan is HEAVY! After the lightness of the other cardigan, I was really surprised to pull this one out of the package because it really has so much weight to it. I was also surprised to find it's covered in sequins! I realize now looking over the stock photo that it does have some sparkle to it, but I wasn't expecting so many sequins.

It really does have some cute details to it. The lace isn't the most fantastic quality, but it's used in small elements and I imagine won't be too difficult to remove if I find it grows bothersome. I love the ruffles and the ribbon detail is a cute touch as well. 

Weirdly enough, even though this cardigan is listed as only 4 cms larger than the previous one, it fits me just fine (did I mention I have a 94cm bust?). I guess those 4 cms really make a difference, though I wouldn't recommend it for much a bust much larger than mine. My major complaints are that the sleeves are a bit on the short side, and the fabric has a slightly rough quality (likely from the sequins) that can get a little irritating on the skin.

Blouse L505

So, I don't actually own a single blouse with a peter pan collar. I've always felt they just look so awkward on me, but again, since I was on a mission I decided to just bite the bullet and get at least one, simple blouse I could hopefully use in many different ways. I liked this one because it has detachable sleeves and a jabot (which is also removable).

I decided to order a size 2L and I was a little nervous it wasn't going to fit my bust, but turns out this blouse actually fits beautifully. The waist has some nice wiggle room since I'm a little smaller than the listed measurements, and I think I'm going to go ahead and remove the waist ties as I don't like the way they look and don't really need them as I primarily wearing JSKs anyway. 

Here's a close-up of the collar, and as you can see the lace isn't really the best quality. This doesn't really bother me too except for around the arms where I find a combination of the lace and elastic gets irritating really quickly. Still, the elastic is nice for allowing a range of arm sizes, however the attached long sleeves do not have elastic, so I'd be wary if your arms are on the thicker side. The sleeves are attached by 4 buttons and easily removed though if you just feel like doing away with them entirely (as I probably will since I don't much like the way they look).

The blouse is made of the usual, polyester blend Bodyline material. It doesn't seem like it would breathe very well, but it's actually rather soft and not crackly or stiff. In any case, I'm glad to have a simple, peter pan collared blouse in my wardrobe now.

Blouse L373

So, when I laid this one out I was really surprised at how big the armholes looked. I thought perhaps my eyes were just playing tricks on me, but when I tried it on...nope. The arm holes are just really super big for some reason. Again, I ordered a size 2L, and though it's slightly on the larger side, it still fits me pretty nicely-except for the arms! It's really quite odd, but thankfully since they're elastic they should be a fairly easy fix.

All in all though, I love this blouse! The design is a lot more like what I'm used to and I love it's simplicity. The fabric feels a little bit stiffer than the previous blouse, but it's nothing unbearable and will likely soften out a bit after a few washes.

This blouse has some super cute rose buttons that sadly all came out blurry in my photos. It's a nice little elegant touch that I really appreciate, and the lace is used minimally as well. I don't know if I'll be purchasing much more from Bodyline, however I would definitely consider getting another one of these to have as back up, and possibly even one in pink. I don't think I'll ever use the added ties that are intended to be used around the neck, but perhaps someday I'll work on another craft project with them. 

Phew! That was fun! I hope this review was informative and can maybe help someone out on a future purchase. I know that's why I love reading them, so let's share the wealth of knowledge.