(Apologise for the terrible terrible photos ><" )
Feel free to ask for better photos?
Bodyline
Service, Delivery and Packaging
I actually ordered three times over three different days... Doing that is quite expensive but I couldn't help it xD.
The packaging stays the same somewhat.
+ EMS shipping over 2 working days, collection on the 3rd. Tokyo -> Sydney.
+ Sufficient packaging: arrived in good condition.
- Bad inventory keeping. Some out of stock items will show as in stock. They will provide a full refund without prior warning (I got it after a week of waiting D: ). You will need to reorder. The reason for your refund will be in your refund message.
Misleading message explained:
"Hello. Your order item are sent. I mean next time you order item,
you can sent me your order list then we can check it. Have a nice day. Thank you."
~ Does not necessarily mean your order/package is sent.
~ This is sent to your email when your order is checked (and most of the time packaged and readied) by staff.
Jumper Skirt - L348
Overall it's a very nice JSK and probably worth my 62USD (+ $28 shipping is still not expensive since there is MASSIVE amounts of sewing work involved. But... $28 shipping.. Why are there no local loli stores TT^TT~?) Comes with a detachable bow.
Design and Material
+ Heavy/Good fabric (Smooth/tight dense weave.) Polyester.
+ Soft lace. Crochet.
+ Shirred bodice.
~ Ribbon and lace decor on waist ties on one side only making tying bows more difficult. Not detachable.
~ Corset lacing ribbons are Grosgain (Ribbed): Durable, difficult to fray. Unties easily.
- Corset lacing for decorative purposes: threaded through lace and can break easily. (Did break one ><")
- Has a side zip but it is a cheap zip and wont last long. Not a dress zip.
- No underskirt. One layer of material throughout the JSK.
Edit: The waist ties are double the thickness of the already relatively thick material. This means that traditional bow tying methods go WHOOSH~ One will need to improvise and invent their own way of tying a bow... (I tried tying one properly, it became one big messy knot).
Construct
+ All the seams and edges are overlocked! Isn't that great? :D
~ Cheaper faster sewing technique. (But tidy and neat). Just be sure to take care of the JSK.
Detachable Bow
The detachable bow is nice but... I don't think the JSK needs it at all. Its very flat and very stiff. It also has an incredibly cheap pin at the back. If I get my hands on some millinery wool felt I might use the bow to create a little hat.
Corset Skirt - L325
I really don't know what to make of this skirt... My only complaint is that maybe I should have gotten one size smaller. (I don't think the measurements on site incorporated either the elastic shirring or the corset lacing.) I have the corset lacing done right up.
There is a side zip which makes it easier to put on. I didn't expect a zip on the skirt because I think the side zip is a pretty bad design flaw. Can you imagine the stress the zip would take on this skirt (even with the elastic shirring)? Nevertheless, If the zip breaks I could always replace it with those hooky-fastening-things (or another, better zip ><" ).
I quite like the look of the skirt though. There are ruffles beside the eyelets of the lacing to balance out the ruffles of the hems. There is also lace beside that.
The skirt is slightly boned. I think for the boning to be more effective though the material would have to be thicker xD.
Pannier - PAN024
It is sufficient for a very small modest amount of puffiness ^^. I did forget I was wearing the pannier after awhile so it is comfortable. Two layers: One fine mesh layer, one polyester satin lining.
Pannier - PAN033
At 62USD and being the same price as my JSK this was VERY expensive. Nevertheless I ordered it D: (See-ing as I hated the petticoats available on ebay and other places. The prices are pretty much the same anyway but this looks alot nicer.) It is very fluffy and puffy. It held up the heavy (800g) JSK nicely too. This petticoat is constructed in the same way as it's cheaper counterpart: PAN024. It has three layers; one polyester satin lining, two fine mesh layers.
Bloomers - PAN028
The material... Is not quite as comfortable as it looks. It is actually a bit rough. I wear stockings with almost everything so it doesn't bother me but knowing this I'd definitely rethink buying it. The waist to the crotch is also pretty short so a taller bigger person might find these bloomers quite uncomfortable. (I am about 167cms tall). Lace is cheap. Legs are elasticated at the hem. It comes with a detachable bow.
It does look nice though.
Culottes - L273
These are more roomy than the bloomers above but likewise the material is not as soft as it seems and the waist to crotch is also pretty short. It also comes with a detachable bow.
It also does look nice.
Accessories - ACC###
Lace Gloves - ACC039
They were longer than expected but that should be fine. These gloves are made of stretchy soft lace. The lace at the ends look like raschel lace but are in fact elastic lace. Quite soft. Nothing much can be said about these fingerless gloves anyway so here are some pics xD.
Purse - ACC176
Not much can be said. It looks just like it does on the site. I think it's sold out now. (Soft and cute ><" ). I did notice that the metal part with the bow and heart was only glued to the cloth. I pulled it off without difficulty, pulled the glue off and sewed it back on. Good as new.
False Eyelashes
They're cheap but they look expensive. Be sure to have your own eyelash glue. They do come with glue but probably only enough for a few uses. I found the glue a bit difficult to clean off the back of my hand as well. Synthetic.
(The eyelashes come in a length that is almost as long as the length of the upper arch of my eye from corner to corner.
If the eyelashes I'm wearing look short it is because I like to trim them that short.)
And what they look like when layered:
(See-ing so many of my own eye is a bit creepy ><" )
Gallery
Click images for larger images in a new window :D.
(Please excuse the many blurry images ><" )
01. JSK L348 - Detail of bows and eyelet lace on the skirt hem.
02. JSK L348 - Details of ruffles at the hem. This shows how stiff/thick the material is.
03. JSK L348 - Shirring and corset lacing.
04. JSK L348 - The lace. (Apologies for crispy looking lace pic ><").
05. JSK L348 - The inside of the shirred part of the dress.
06. JSK L348 - Tied waist ties.
07. PAN024 - Material
08. PAN033 - Material
09. L273 - Material and print.
10. PAN028 - The lace.
11. Skirt L325 - Corset lacing detail.
12. Skirt L325 - Elastic Shirring.
13. JSK L348 w/o PAN024, w/ PAN024 front, w/ PAN024 side, w/ PAN033 front, w/ PAN033 side.
14. SIZING & MEASUREMENTS!
05. 06. 07. 08.
09. 10. 11. 12.
13. 14. ##. ##.
(Sigh... I must remind myself to find ways to make my room brighter. It's so difficult to take a sharp picture D: . Gyah~ I'm hungry... Food.. Food..Food...)