Hi!
Welcome to part two of my series! Today, I’m going to be focusing on where to shop!
:sparkles: Part Two- Shopping Time! :sparkles:
Like we did last time, I’m also gonna open this up with some honesty! Shopping for Kawaii fashion will not be easy, especially if you’re outside of East Asia.
If you want to commit to this aesthetic, it’s most likely you’ll need to shop online, and for some people who still live with parents, this can prove difficult! I’ll be doing an entry on dealing with parents and friends, so hopefully I can help there.
But let’s get back on track. For most items of purposely ‘kawaii’ clothing, (whether you purchase them from a western indie brand, or a Japanese brand), you’ll have to either go to a convention, a physical store (few and far between), or use online shopping.
Whilst it’s possible to find some basics whilst thrifting, or some accessories at Claire’s to complete a coord, it’s probably not best to head to the mall if you want to make something true to J-fashion, particularly Fairy-Kei, and Decora.
Western mainstream stores can sell some decent pastel items, but they naturally tend to cater to western trends. Some things can work, but to be completely honest, it’s highly unlikely you can make an authentic coordinate.
Kawaii fashion is a really niche style, and even mainstream stores in Japan don’t sell items to suit it often, so that’s why I would recommend spending your money at a specialty store for it. This doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to be really expensive! It just means being more conscious about what you’re buying, instead of going for something just because it’s pastel.
So, without any further fuss, here’s my list of recommended stores!
CutesyKink - :gb: - A British reseller that stocks cute clothes from Taobao, and plushies. Cheap shipping in the UK, and no customs if you’re in Europe.
Japanese auction sites- :jp: - J-auction sites are a good place to get a bargain. You’ll have to use a shopping service, and pay extra for postage, but I still end up paying less than I would from a western retailer.
Facebook- :earth_africa: - There are plenty of Facebook groups for selling and buying Japanese fashion, such as Fairy-Kei, gyaru, and Lolita! Often, you can get a bargain, but the price can vary because it’s a community of sellers.
eBay/depop- :earth_africa: - Often, someone will list some brand on eBay or depop. Neither of these sites are specialised for kawaii fashion, but you can sometimes find good deals if you search by brand.
Bodyline- :jp: - Now, I’ve heard some recent bad things about bodyline, but I’ve bought some shoes from them for a decent price. It’s just a bit of a gamble at the moment! If you ever see bodyline shoes secondhand, they’re usually nice quality.
Ficklewish - :us: / :jp: - I’ve never bought from them directly, but they have a physical store in LA! They stock a variety of different Japanese brands.
Dreamy Bows- :gb: - A U.K. store that sells a variety of different accessories and fashions from Japanese brands! They exhibit at cons in England.
Closet Child/Wunderwelt - :jp: - Two different Japanese online stores that stock a variety of secondhand brand! Beware of shipping costs and customs!
Cherry Cheezy- :us: - A cute indie brand that stocks menhera legwear, shirts and accessories!
Kawaii Goods - :us: - Indie brand containing plenty of cute accessories and apparel! Inspired by fairy kei.
LolitaDesu - :jp: - secondhand store that sells a huge variety of different brands!
ZombieUnicorn- 🇵🇱- Indie brand stocking high quality resin accessories suitable for fairy kei and other kawaii styles!
MoonBunny- :ru: - Another indie brand that sells a variety of pastel cute accessories!
Angelic pretty - :jp: / :us: / :fr: - A Japanese lolita store with physical and online shops in San Fran and Paris! Can be very pricey.
Baby the stars shine bright - :jp: / :us: - Cute lolita brand with a shop in San Francisco. Also tends to be pricier.
Of course, that isn’t an exhaustive list, but some of my favourite shops! They vary in price, but all sell cute goods that are easily purchased online, if not with the help of a shopping service !
If anyone has a question, let me know! Bye!
:heartbeat: :sparkles:
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