BODYLINE HARAJUKU: LOLITA SHOPPING, INEXPENSIVE DRESSES, BLOUSES, PURSES.
One of the first Lolita shops you’ll encounter as you walk down Takeshita Doori in Harajuku is the much-maligned Bodyline.
Why the vitriol? Because Bodyline sells cosplay (such as sailor and schoolgirl outfits) in addition to Lolita dresses; because Bodyline uses cheaper materials and less exact detailing; because some of the designs are unabashedly knock-offs of brands such as h.NAOTO and Angelic Pretty.
Personally, I put Bodyline in a separate category from brands such as Moi-meme-Moitie – the clothes retail at a lower price range and target a different clientele. I don’t see the brand as a dilution of Lolita fashion. It’s made the style accessible to young girls on tight budgets, and I see them looking beautiful in these dresses at indie Visual Kei concerts, club nights such as Alamode, and at the Marui fashion expo.
Bodyline’s skirts and blouses aren’t as high quality as Baby’s, but that’s not what they’re aiming for. The brand offers larger sizes and a wide variety of styles for lower prices… how can that be a bad thing?
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Yeah Bodyline can come up with some fine looking items and some really gross looking ones. They can make clothes that look expensive and clothes that look damn cheap. If you know how to pick the quality stuff tho and coordinate them with other items, you can come up with beautiful outfits. Copying brand clothes 100% is not exactly the most decent thing in the world, but since they can get away with it good for them XD
In my opinion it's all a matter of personality. If you don't have style, even if you pay tons of money to dress in Juliette et Justine from head to toe, you'll still look like you've been run over by a pack of cows.
Hahah love the last sentence!
Brand knock-offs are legally legit if they're in a different price/quality category and aren't trying to confuse consumers. In fact, many designer brands encourage knock-offs because it's a sign of prestige! Versoce and Mio Mio, anyone? ;)
I think it..s very good what you wrote about Bodyline. I have some Bodyline items too and I have always been satisfied because they look great and are very comfortable. Sure, if I could spend more money on Lolita clothes, I would definitely buy more brand stuff. But since I..m still in school and I don..t have so much money. -.-'' And sadly, I don..t fit in Moi-même-Moitié… otherwise I would certainly buy something from them.
Thanks. Yeah, I'm quite tired (and I think a lot of people are) of the “this is not Lolita” snap judgments that many people make – which are simply non-existent among the Tokyo girls…
I think Body Line is pretty cool. It looks good, it's cheap and if you mix it in the right way it will look just as good as the more expensive brands. Brand “snobbery” is silly and it does seem to be pretty common in the west… which is funny, because even people that wear expensive lolita designer clothes from head to toe will be looked down on by people who wear Gucci or Versace! It's an evil circle!
oh my god, i'd have a heartattack in there… how did you survive?
Yeah Bodyline can come up with some fine looking items and some really gross looking ones. They can make clothes that look expensive and clothes that look damn cheap. If you know how to pick the quality stuff tho and coordinate them with other items, you can come up with beautiful outfits. Copying brand clothes 100% is not exactly the most decent thing in the world, but since they can get away with it good for them XD
In my opinion it’s all a matter of personality. If you don’t have style, even if you pay tons of money to dress in Juliette et Justine from head to toe, you’ll still look like you’ve been run over by a pack of cows.
Hahah love the last sentence!
Brand knock-offs are legally legit if they’re in a different price/quality category and aren’t trying to confuse consumers. In fact, many designer brands encourage knock-offs because it’s a sign of prestige! Versoce and Mio Mio, anyone? ;)
I think it..s very good what you wrote about Bodyline. I have some Bodyline items too and I have always been satisfied because they look great and are very comfortable. Sure, if I could spend more money on Lolita clothes, I would definitely buy more brand stuff. But since I..m still in school and I don..t have so much money. -.-” And sadly, I don..t fit in Moi-même-Moitié… otherwise I would certainly buy something from them.
Thanks. Yeah, I’m quite tired (and I think a lot of people are) of the “this is not Lolita” snap judgments that many people make – which are simply non-existent among the Tokyo girls…
I think Body Line is pretty cool. It looks good, it’s cheap and if you mix it in the right way it will look just as good as the more expensive brands. Brand “snobbery” is silly and it does seem to be pretty common in the west… which is funny, because even people that wear expensive lolita designer clothes from head to toe will be looked down on by people who wear Gucci or Versace! It’s an evil circle!
oh my god, i’d have a heartattack in there… how did you survive?
Thanks for bodyline info! gothloli is what you make it not the pricetag! I love Mana's clothing but it is super tiny and sold out before I get to it! Its hard being a 6ft gothiloli!
I like saving money.
That makes Bodyline ace in my book. :D
You know, I think a lot of lolis are starting to realize what you wrote about. A LOT of the lolis on the LJ EGL community (I frequent the place, but I, too, don't like how some of the “popular” members will look down upon anything that doesn't fit their “mold”) are starting to posting about their Body Line purchases, albeit reluctantly. However, the reviews are surprisingly good. Body Line's been doing a lot of improvements in quality and image lately, and the western lolis are slowly taking the cue. I'm even starting to see some more “unusual” loli posts… ^^ So there's still hope, I suppose. ^^
Thanks for bodyline info! gothloli is what you make it not the pricetag! I love Mana’s clothing but it is super tiny and sold out before I get to it! Its hard being a 6ft gothiloli!
not to mention his stuff is really really expensive.
True. I found Closet Child to be my favorite store because it sells brands such as Moi-meme-Moitie for a fraction of the original price… I got a $200 dress for $90 or something.
I've been to the Bodyline website and yes, their porducts are cheap and accessible to thoughh female who are not able to afford spectacular dresses from Angelic pretty and Baby The Stars shine bright, they come pretty damn close in appearence. I myself have thought about buying many outfits from BodyLine. The one that look reasonably good. They're about variety in other aspects.
Though some of their itemas are very cheap looking. But you just gotta make it work you know? >D We all gotta start somewhere! <3
I wonder if certain Western lolitas' neurotic obsession with brands and extremely narrow scope for variations is partly due to the connotations of the word 'Bible' from 'Gothic & Lolita Bible' that Japan just doesn't have? :/ I've talked to a lot of Western girls wanting to try lolita but are too scared since the stuff they're able to afford or find don't EXACTLY fit what's laid out in the magazine ('But doesn't it have to be just like the Bible?!'), even if it serves more as a suggestion/inspiration/what's new guide in Japan.
I agree that newer lolitas/lolitas on a budget shouldn't be cowed by snitty rich girls who finally found an outlet to be 'differently popular' using Daddy's money. These types of people are the LAST voices anyone should be listening to.
It's funny I'm reading this back in Sydney, after my second visit to Bodyline last Thursday.
I hadn't heard any negative things about Bodyline – in fact, some of my aussie friends rated it as a must-go-and-buy. But having seen the h.Naoto, Ozz Croce, Alice Auaa, Atelier Pierrot etc..at MaruiOne and La Foret, I was a bit disappointed. We have a bargain store here called Supre, and that's what Bodyline reminded me of. I think I was spoiled, going to the other places first, lol! All I bought from Bodyline was a few ties.
I picked up a cool Alice Auaa cobweb top in Closet Child Harajuku, (and noticed more of her items at Closet Child Shinjuku) – thanks for the tip!
I like saving money.
That makes Bodyline ace in my book. :D
You know, I think a lot of lolis are starting to realize what you wrote about. A LOT of the lolis on the LJ EGL community (I frequent the place, but I, too, don’t like how some of the “popular” members will look down upon anything that doesn’t fit their “mold”) are starting to posting about their Body Line purchases, albeit reluctantly. However, the reviews are surprisingly good. Body Line’s been doing a lot of improvements in quality and image lately, and the western lolis are slowly taking the cue. I’m even starting to see some more “unusual” loli posts… ^^ So there’s still hope, I suppose. ^^
I’ve been to the Bodyline website and yes, their porducts are cheap and accessible to thoughh female who are not able to afford spectacular dresses from Angelic pretty and Baby The Stars shine bright, they come pretty damn close in appearence. I myself have thought about buying many outfits from BodyLine. The one that look reasonably good. They’re about variety in other aspects.
Though some of their itemas are very cheap looking. But you just gotta make it work you know? >D We all gotta start somewhere! <3
Alice Auaa – awesome! Yes, the Shinjuku branch of Closet Child carries many of her designs. I'll post photos of the interior on the blog!
I wonder if certain Western lolitas’ neurotic obsession with brands and extremely narrow scope for variations is partly due to the connotations of the word ‘Bible’ from ‘Gothic & Lolita Bible’ that Japan just doesn’t have? :/ I’ve talked to a lot of Western girls wanting to try lolita but are too scared since the stuff they’re able to afford or find don’t EXACTLY fit what’s laid out in the magazine (‘But doesn’t it have to be just like the Bible?!’), even if it serves more as a suggestion/inspiration/what’s new guide in Japan.
I agree that newer lolitas/lolitas on a budget shouldn’t be cowed by snitty rich girls who finally found an outlet to be ‘differently popular’ using Daddy’s money. These types of people are the LAST voices anyone should be listening to.
The last couple lines there are soo true…on so many different levels.
That’s what is has become.
wow sounds like a ausome place………i wish i ad that store at Down Under. . . .
It’s funny I’m reading this back in Sydney, after my second visit to Bodyline last Thursday.
I hadn’t heard any negative things about Bodyline – in fact, some of my aussie friends rated it as a must-go-and-buy. But having seen the h.Naoto, Ozz Croce, Alice Auaa, Atelier Pierrot etc..at MaruiOne and La Foret, I was a bit disappointed. We have a bargain store here called Supre, and that’s what Bodyline reminded me of. I think I was spoiled, going to the other places first, lol! All I bought from Bodyline was a few ties.
I picked up a cool Alice Auaa cobweb top in Closet Child Harajuku, (and noticed more of her items at Closet Child Shinjuku) – thanks for the tip!
Alice Auaa – awesome! Yes, the Shinjuku branch of Closet Child carries many of her designs. I’ll post photos of the interior on the blog!
wow sounds like a ausome place………i wish i ad that store at Down Under. . . .
oh those clothes are so adorable.
is there any reason they only show one of the dress?( in western shops they have the same dress in different sizes)
oh those clothes are so adorable.
is there any reason they only show one of the dress?( in western shops they have the same dress in different sizes)
not to mention his stuff is really really expensive.
True. I found Closet Child to be my favorite store because it sells brands such as Moi-meme-Moitie for a fraction of the original price… I got a $200 dress for $90 or something.
Does this store sell like youth? Like sizes 10/12 little girls or like size 14/16 ?
Does this store sell like youth? Like sizes 10/12 little girls or like size 14/16 ?
bodyline is a good brand for poeple whom are just starting out. like i just bought my first outfit their. the people are really nice and very helpful when i didnt know what to buy :D
body line is a good shop… its good for someone who is just starting out.. like i just bought my first outfit their.. tje people where really nice and helpful when i need help at finding something :D
bodyline is a good brand for poeple whom are just starting out. like i just bought my first outfit their. the people are really nice and very helpful when i didnt know what to buy :D
body line is a good shop… its good for someone who is just starting out.. like i just bought my first outfit their.. tje people where really nice and helpful when i need help at finding something :D
The last couple lines there are soo true…on so many different levels.
That's what is has become.
OMGOMG this is really really AWESOME!!!! I love these dresses!!!!!!!!!!!!!
<3
OMGOMG this is really really AWESOME!!!! I love these dresses!!!!!!!!!!!!!
<3
OMGOMG this is really really AWESOME!!!! I love these dresses!!!!!!!!!!!!!
<3