Welcome to Gaia! ::

I hope this is in the right place.

I need help starting my wardrobe and such. I plan to make most of my own clothes. I have been sewing for about 8 years or so. I need to know what I need to make, what I need to make it, and how to make it. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I would like to do Shiro or Wa Lolita. Preferably Shiro.

EDIT: What are the best materials to use for skirts and dresses?

I have very short hair, I mean probaby an inch and a half at most. I would like to dye it red again but do you that it would look bad with the all white Shiro.

What do you recommend that I do with my hair?

Start with the basics: skirt, petticoat, hair accessory.

After you get the basics, you can go from there. Hair accessories are easiest to start with, but skirts aren't difficult to get a handle on, either. Bloomers are also a super easy starter's project.

Accessories are good for projects to start out on, since you can wear them without having to put on the whole outfit. Socks you can get from the store and trim with cluny lace by making sock garters.

Blouses, you can make using vintage patterns with slight modifications. There was also a pattern for a georgette blouse that you can modify that was in the English G&LB. Blouses require a lot of skill compared to skirts and the like, so you may want to wait until you've got a hang of the basic elements. For casual outfits, t-shirts with cute screen prints are a good option, as are t-shirts with button-up bibs/yokes in front.

As for wanting to go shiro, just use all white materials. Make sure that you use apparel-weight fabrics, and that they're good, sturdy quality and opaque.

1. Step one, choose a store. Make sure you understand the payment methods, paypal, shipping, etc. Don't let yourself get scammed either.

2. Have your measurements taken. You can do this yourself, or ask a knowledgeable friend or professional at a department store. Just explain what they are for and bring the sizing chart from the lolita store you chose.

3. Pick a skirt/top combi that you really like and will match many other things. This way, you can pair it with other things.

4. GET UNDERGARMENTS! Most people forget this step, but bloomers, petticoats, socks, etc are important!!!

5. Buy/order your outfit.

Now that you have an outfit that fits you well, you can go to second hand shops, tailors, or buy online again. You know your size and the shapes/patterns of the outfit, so if you can, you can even make some cutsew items of your own. And having separate pieces means you can have a more versatile wardrobe.

Hope that helps
-Belle

I'd like to weigh in on your hair. What shade of red were you thinking? A dark red would look really nice with shiro, especially with a white mini hat. Bright red might be a little to loud to wear with all white...Bright red could work with wa, if the same color is in part of the dress, but I really do think that short, dark red hair with a mini hat for shiro lolita would be quite beautiful.

Deep red would be really beautiful! Yeah, a friend of mane says that she thinks that mini hats look really good with shorty hair and headdresses look better with longer hair. (I think that mini hats look god with hair done up too.) But mini hats look adorable with short hair. There are some good tutorials online too.