It's almost the New Year, which means it's time for friends and family to gather 'round and give each other things probably. I don't know; my Christmas ritual has been disrupted by all the Chinese restaurants in the area getting overbooked and the movies requiring human contact. Anyway, although it can be sweet of people to attempt relevant gifts for lolitas, trying to look into a fashion you know nothing about in order to give gifts is a challenge at best; my mother, for example, wouldn't know Kuma Kumya if it came up to her and bit her.
Magicalgirlme and Wunderwelt both have gift recommendations, but those require a certain knowledge of the lolita's taste. These recommendations, simply put, just require a vague knowledge of what the lolita has already.
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| Hot Topic "Steampunk Lolita Dress Plus Size", or what we are all trying to avoid. |
First of all, a few don'ts:
- Don't buy a dress unless you know it's the exact dress the lolita wants.
- Don't buy cheap clothing. Most lolita dresses from independent brands run around $80 - $240 USD, with larger brand name dresses running about $200 - $1500. You will not find a new lolita dress for $20.
- Don't get wigs! Not everyone wears wigs, and they're really hard to resell.
- Don't buy from Milanoo's many websites or Wish. Even if you get lucky and your item doesn't suck, you're supporting their deceptive business practices.
- Don't be afraid to just ask! The important part of gifting is showing you care, not the surprise. Hearing your genuine interest in their hobby and opinions can be a gift upon itself.
Alright! Onto the recommendations!
- A garment steamer
Conair Extreme Steam Fabric Steamer with Dual Heat Blue, $39.99 at Target |
With so many delicate details and synthetic fabrics, lolita is a real pain in the butt to keep unwrinkled and fresh. Garment steamers are an excellent supplement to irons, with no risk of melted polyester chiffon and a lot less time expended. I generally steam in combination with ironing for the parts I want particularly sharp looking, particularly collars. Plus, steamers run the gamut of prices starting from around $20, so they're good for most budgets.
- Lint rollers or brushes
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OXO Good Grips® FurLifter Garment Brush, $16.99 at Bed, Bath and Beyond |
Lolitas with pets, velveteen obsessions, or all-black wardrobes are always suffering from lint, fur, hair, and other hangers-on tagging along to meets. A nice lint brush or roller is always welcome. I personally keep one in my car, one in my purse, and at least one at home at all times. Lint brushes are higher end, heavier duty, and durable, whereas a lint roller is, like a tide pen, a disposable wardrobe problem solver. Personally, I find that the disposable lint rollers are more convenient; they come in cute prints and colors, and it's no big fuss if they get misplaced. Most of the time, both cost less than $20.
- Tripod and remote shutter
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Acuvar 50"inch Smartphone Tripod & Wireless Remote, $14.99 on eBay |
This is for the lolita who either lives alone, or wants to have outfit shots without having to direct their housemates' photography skills. Phone tripods (with or without remote shutters) can be surprisingly cheap, ranging from $5 up to the hundreds. Personally, my tripod is indispensable for coordinate shots; I can get them at my waist height and take as many photos as I need without worrying about my photographer's feelings. Additionally, many tripods are compatible with real cameras as well as phones.
- Sock glue
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| It Stays! Sock Glue from Sock Dreams, $10 |
This often-essential product is rarely found outside of the lolita community, but many lolitas I know swear by it. Basically, many lolita socks are knee high or over-the-knee, so they have a natural tendency to roll down. With sock glue, they comfortably stay up, while the formula easily washes out from used legwear. The standard brand for sock glue is Sock Dreams, where it'll cost only $10. Plus, Sock Dreams is a friendly small business with a lot of lolita-suitable legwear and free U.S. shipping, so it's definitely worth a look!
- Cute face masks
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Face Mask old school / classic Lolita with lace & bows from Mijo Masks on Etsy, $11.77+ |
- Berets
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Woman Fall/Winter Berets Painter Fashion Style Hat from ColorsCoShop on Etsy, $8.99 |
A nice warm wool beret is handy in the winter and stylish most of the year, while luckily being widely available. A well-chosen color of beret can add a great touch to a lolita outfit, while being easy to find in a decent quality. Plus, they're pretty inexpensive (usually under $20) and go with most styles of lolita. Most lolitas have a pile of berets hidden somewhere, so check their lair before purchasing these.
- Rings
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| Rose Ring (21 Colors) from Peppermint Rose Shop on The Lolita Collective, $5 |
Although I haven't advised much jewelry or style-specific items in general here, rings are a safer bet than most for the simple reason that multiple rings can be worn at one time. Many over-the-top lolitas won't even leave the house without rings on each hand! Rings can also be bought just about anywhere. Unless you know the lolita's exact style, I'd stick to simple themes and colors: roses, ribbon bows, and hearts are pretty much universal, and most people have some use for metallics and white.
Thanks for reading, and happy holidays! Hopefully this will clear up some of the potential lolita gifting pitfalls. Even with this advice, though, it's important to remember that communication, not material goods, are the ultimate goal of gift giving. If you can, ask questions. Have a nice conversation. Really, the most important thing is to embed your gift with thoughtfulness and care, no matter what it might look like.
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