How to Rock Lolita Fashion as a Plus-sized Beauty, A Guide
©Gothic & Lolita Bible, Maxicimam
The fact that this fairy tale fashion from Japan exists is a dream come true! With the many layer requirements, full petticoats and dresses made in Japan, lolita fashion sounds exclusive. Is it an impossible style for a plus-sized beauty? I am a plus sized lolita and I completely understand the hesitation or confusion when it comes to this elaborate style. I am here to tell you that, not only is lolita fashion obtainable, but you can also even wear the Japanese name brands you love!
Japanese Name Brands
Most name brands in this style usually create sizes that begin at 80 cm in the bust (approximately 31 inches). These clothing pieces are commonly 70 cm in the waist (approximately 28 inches). Despite this, there are many options for apparel by your favorite brands! Many times the cut of the dresses, or fabric they are made from, allow for greater size versatility.
Shirring is your best friend.
Shirring may be the greatest invention ever! That is, at the very least, the greatest invention for lolita fashion. Shirring is a technique used to gather a large area of fabric by elasticized threads in parallel rows. The best part of shirring is that, because the material is gathered with elastic and excess fabric, it allows apparel to stretch or condense as needed. These clothing pieces can, thus, accommodate a multitude of sizes while they stay aesthetically pleasing to the eye.
Partial shirring can often accommodate up to a 110 cm (43 inches) in the bust. Fully shirring pieces can often accommodate up to 130 cm (51 inches)! Many brand name jumperskirts, one-piece dresses and blouses feature shirring. To see the measurements of your favorite lolita pieces, I would recommend that you use Lolibrary.org. Lolibrary is an online database of all lolita brand name products. You can find the measurements of each piece, along with other valuable information. Often times Lolitas who own the products will add more measurements in the comments to assist you!
For example, a Bodyline dress I own stated that the max measurements were 120 cm (47 cm). Due to the partial shirring, in reality, the dress can accommodate up to 128 cm (50 inches)! I would not have known the dress could fit me without the input of owners of this particular item. Now, the dress is one of my favorites! Other great places for plus-size lolita tips and measurements is Gorgeous Plus Sized Lolitas. It is as space to connect with other plus-sized Lolitas and post-coordinate photos!
Melty Cream Doughnut
Here are two examples of recent dresses released by the popular lolita brand Angelic Pretty. Both of these dresses feature partial and full shirring. Needless to say, these are two of my absolute dream dresses! The Melty Cream Doughnut jumperskirt has partial shirring. The dress can accommodate up to 123 cm (48 inches) in the bust and 107 cm (42 inches) in the waist. Additionally, it has adjustable straps. Melty Berry Princess the one-piece features full shirring. This dress can accommodate up to 135 cm (53 inches) in the bust and 130 cm (51 inches) in the waist. That's a huge size range!
Melty Berry Princess
Maxicimam, a brand that gets it.
Maxicimam is an understated lolita name brand, but that does not stop Maxicimam from being one of my absolute favorite brands! Why do you ask? This lolita brand has an entire plus-size section known as "lovely size". The sizes in the "lovely size" category can accommodate sizes 96 cm (37 inches) in the bust up to 140 cm (55 inches)! This brand makes everything you need for your lolita wardrobe including dresses, blouses, bloomers, petticoats, bags, coats, boleros, and accessories.
Most of the pieces Maxicimam creates for this label fit 120 cm (47 inches) in the bust and 108 cm (42 inches) in the waist. As someone who owns two pieces from this brand, I can attest to the quality construction, beautiful details and fit of the items. You are welcome to view my first order from Maxicimam here! To order from Maxicimam, use an online shopping platform such as cdJapan or Rakuten to purchase the items you like. Not only do these platforms make shopping easy, but you can also accumulate points to use to save on a future purchase! I have plans to order more items.
2. Make it fit! Modifying Brand
To modify lolita brand clothing is exactly as it sounds. It involves the ability to make adjustments to brand pieces by adding fabric to change the cut, add measurements or change the design. Just let me preference this by saying I have absolutely no experience modifying lolita pieces in order to make them fit. There are numerous tutorials on how to make adjustments to lolita dress and other clothes.
To make alterations to brand you are able to support the brand name financially and still keep the genuine label. While this will lower the value of your brand items, it will allow for your favorite pieces to finally fit you. Additionally, you are able to resell clothes to other plus sized Lolitas if you no longer desire the adjusted item! If you sew yourself, the alterations requirements and difficulty would depend on your personal skill level. I would not attempt to alterations myself, but I would entrust my brand purchases to a professional seamstress willingly. While I have not done any alterations to brand pieces as of yet, or been able to purchase some, it is something I plan to pursue in the future.
How to afford Brand
While you are able to purchase pieces you love from the name brand stores directly, you can also purchase gently used or like new items. This is a fantastic way to build you brand name lolita wardrobe! Some great places to find rare or used lolita fashion are Lacemarket, Plus-sized Lolita Sales on Facebook, LolitaDesu, Closet Child and the Elegant Gothic Lolita Community Sales. Additionally, you sometimes have the option to trade unwanted items for wanted ones, score!
3. Clothes Made Just for You!
Nothing compares to an item made to your custom measurements! There are many more indie brands than when I was first introduced to lolita fashion. Most indie brands can be found on Taobao, Storenvy, Facebook, and Etsy. Many times, these shops offer custom sizing for an additional fee.
I get all of my indie items customized to fit my exact measurements. If the item is by a Taobao shop, I prefer to use a Taobao re-seller rather than purchase items directly from the shop. I do this to ensure there is no translation error when it comes to the measurements. I can personally vouch for the online shop my-lolita-dress.com since I have ordered multiple items from them successfully. There are literally tons of shop options for tailored measurements in this niche fashion nowadays!
Another great resource for online shops that offer custom sizing can be found on the comprehensive Beautiful Plus Sized Lolita Shopping Guide. Do take recent purchase reviews and unboxing blogs and videos into consideration before you make a purchase from a particular brand or release!
4. Do It Yourself
To sew your own lolita clothes and accessories requires extreme patience, skill, and motivation. I had never considered making my own clothes until I fell in love with lolita fashion. I have only made lolita accessories for myself and my doll Hitomi. I plan to make full lolita apparel for myself in the future. If you sew lolita apparel and accessories yourself you can save money, take pride in the creation of something beautiful and ensure the pieces will fit you! The ability to make something as simple as your own bloomers or petticoat would come in handy. It is also a great opportunity to earn extra cash as well!
Otome no Sewing Tutorials
Otome no Sewing is a Japanese magazine that features patterns and designs that you can create yourself! Many times Otome no Sewing editions can be found on Amazon, cdJapan or eBay. In addition to this excellent source of patterns and designs, there are unlimited tutorials online to discover! Some great tutorials and resources for lolita fashion include LiveJournal, Pinterest and Youtube. Also, with the rise of cosplay and lolita fashion awareness, there are more traditional pattern brands, such as Simplicity, located at nationwide stores that carry inexpensive patterns that can easily be converted or modified into lolita fashion styles. You can not believe what amazing pieces you can create and design with a little bit of guidance.
5. Design Replica
Design Replica of Holy Lantern by Angelic Pretty
While replica items are illegal and frowned upon in this community, they are a working alliterative. Replica items are illegal copies of popular or rare lolita items. The difference between an inspired design and a copy truly come down to the uniqueness of the item. For example, the popular Angelic Pretty shoes, referred to as tea parties, are simple Mary Jane shoe that feature heart buckles, round toes, and a bow. By adjusting three aspects of these shoes, people are able to make copies of the design without committing copyright infringement. The most common replica products that exist seem to be copies of Angelic Pretty designs. Replicas range from everything from socks to dresses. Design replicas are less expensive than the designer item. They can be tailored to your desired size.
Holy Lantern Piece by Angelic Pretty
If there is anything you can take away from this post, it's: Anyone can wear lolita fashion. It does not matter your size, height, race or age, lolita fashion exists to make you a beautiful version of yourself. How do you wear Lolita as a plus-sized beauty? What are some tips and tricks you use?