|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 2:06 pm
As the topic says, I am starting a Lolita store of my own, and I have been planning to do this for a couple of years now. Currently I have the site up and running, but it is still in it's infancy. I have one skirt made and photographed up for sale, and many other designs which I am still in the process of making the display models for. Currently my fabric (lining aside) and laces are all 100% cotton, as I am going for quality and not costume-y. What are your thoughts, feedback, and so forth? http://www.ladyofchronos.com/EDIT: Also, I'm trying to make my site in a way that allows you to have a bit of customizing on the orders, as far as choosing colors of different parts of the garment. In the next week or two, I am probably going to add a few more colors, as well as velveteen as a fabric option to allow even more choices.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 3:20 pm
I don't want to come across as mean, or elitist in my assessment, but you did ask for honest opinions.
In the case of hand-made products, for lolita, you really need to be absolutely perfect in order to stand out from the crowd. You have to have stellar designs and amazing construction, or else have prices that are dirt cheap to compensate for the lack of the other two.
Frankly, your website's design and the one product that you have up does not induce an urge to buy for me. Your sewing really, really needs work before I think you're ready to sell to the public. While you chose all-cotton laces and fabric, your design is still very basic, very bland, and it just doesn't look quite right in terms of the shape or construction. Something about it is just off.
The seams also pull oddly, and give the skirt a skewed appearance. The apron gives the whole set a costume-y appearance, as well, and the proportions are such that it looks too short for the skirt itself.
In terms of the waistband construction, I think it should be smoother on the apron. Elasticated waists on a skirt are fine, but with something that should tie on, it looks really awkward.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 4:55 pm
spuntino I don't want to come across as mean, or elitist in my assessment, but you did ask for honest opinions.
In the case of hand-made products, for lolita, you really need to be absolutely perfect in order to stand out from the crowd. You have to have stellar designs and amazing construction, or else have prices that are dirt cheap to compensate for the lack of the other two.
Frankly, your website's design and the one product that you have up does not induce an urge to buy for me. Your sewing really, really needs work before I think you're ready to sell to the public. While you chose all-cotton laces and fabric, your design is still very basic, very bland, and it just doesn't look quite right in terms of the shape or construction. Something about it is just off.
The seams also pull oddly, and give the skirt a skewed appearance. The apron gives the whole set a costume-y appearance, as well, and the proportions are such that it looks too short for the skirt itself.
In terms of the waistband construction, I think it should be smoother on the apron. Elasticated waists on a skirt are fine, but with something that should tie on, it looks really awkward.
This particular skirt is meant to have a relatively basic design, it's just a simple gathered skirt with frill and apron design. I'm not sure if that's what you mean when you say elasticated waist band, but the skirt is gathered along with the apron, and are both sewn into a zipper, button, and tie waistband. And as per the seams pulling oddly, do you think that could just be the petticoat? Because I did draft/cut the pattern very precisely, so I know the skirt isn't off.. But I am not much of a photographer and already considered redoing the photos (for lighting reasons mostly), but apparently the petticoat poofs up more on one side (the right on the front view, as you can tell by the way it balloons up near the waistband on that side, but is relatively straight on the other side).. I didn't realize that would make my design look 'skewed'
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 7:19 pm
 ♥♡♥♡♥♡♥
I admire you greatly for opening a shop!
And I wish you the best of luck!
^^
That being said, here are my suggestions!
1. Multiple views. I know that I wouldn't buy something unless I could see it from every angle very clearly. Even though you have a front and back view, I would suggest adding a close up of the lace, a side view, and the skirt actually on someone.
2. The words on the buttons. The words look a bit choppy and low quality, which really takes away from your site. Try smoothing them out a bit. If you need help with buttons, feel free to PM me, and I can give you more advice or maybe help you make some.
3. Feedback is important. Make sure that you put a place for feedback and ask your customers to leave some!
Here are things I like:
1. The background! Super cute and simple!
2. I think the skirt is cute!
Best of luck to you!
I'll definately be checking out the website when you get more stuff up!
^^
♥♡♥♡♥♡♥ 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 7:54 pm
Lady Angelishia ♥♡♥♡♥♡♥
I admire you greatly for opening a shop!
And I wish you the best of luck!
^^
That being said, here are my suggestions!
1. Multiple views. I know that I wouldn't buy something unless I could see it from every angle very clearly. Even though you have a front and back view, I would suggest adding a close up of the lace, a side view, and the skirt actually on someone.
2. The words on the buttons. The words look a bit choppy and low quality, which really takes away from your site. Try smoothing them out a bit. If you need help with buttons, feel free to PM me, and I can give you more advice or maybe help you make some.
3. Feedback is important. Make sure that you put a place for feedback and ask your customers to leave some!
Here are things I like:
1. The background! Super cute and simple!
2. I think the skirt is cute!
Best of luck to you!
I'll definately be checking out the website when you get more stuff up!
^^
♥♡♥♡♥♡♥ Thanks for the ideas, and I'm glad to hear that you like it thus far ^^ I had a few other people also suggest more views as well, so I suppose I may as well just redo all of my photographing, as well as adding more views xd
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 10:33 am
hm I'd say I agree what Lady Angelishia had said about showing different views of the items (In this case, one item)
And maybe a nice background?when you take pictures of the items?
Other than that I can't say more until you show more items. The background is very cute and simpple and I like it ^_^
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 12:18 am
((Since I have absolutely no clue about the clothes things...))
As Angel said, the background is simple and I like it, as well. ^-^
Though~ The quality of the buttons does take away from the site itself. (Perhaps I could help, or make some?)
And perhaps a background for the text? Looking at black letters on stripes for too long hurts my eyes. Or maybe my vision is just very bad, I'm not sure if anyone else is like that.
That's all I can comment on. Good luck~ :3
And maybe I might buy something from you when you get everything straightened out. ><
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 10:55 am
I have to agree with spuntino on the skirt that you had up. maybe that one skirt was just a fluke though who knows. anyways the site was cute and good luck!!!! BTW as far as knowing what angles to take pictures of clothing at look at fanplusfriend.com.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 1:55 pm
♥♡♥♡♥♡♥
I figured I'd make an example of how I suggest fixing up the buttons. ^^ The font is Edwardian Script ITC, though you could use whatever nice font you want. It's anti-aliased and bolded. ^^. It's simple, but it looks less choppy. Hope it helps! if you want me to make you some, then let me know! 
♥♡♥♡♥♡♥
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 2:11 pm
Thanks everyone for your suggestions (and button ideas) thus far 3nodding I'm probably going to be updating the site around Friday to put some new items up, rephotograph, etc, so I'll definitely be taking your feedback into consideration
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2009 9:15 pm
totally amazing your doing this.. but you def need more pics.. the layout looks very poorly done.. i make websites so thats prob why im so picky with it though.. and the skirt i admit looks bit costumy as well.. with the apron thing but hey to each its own.. best of luck to you heart
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 4:11 pm
Alrighty, my weekend update is finished. I tried to keep in mind everyone's input, especially concerning multiple/detailed views of the items, and of course adding a few more things on there 3nodding
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 6:12 pm
♥♡♥♡♥♡♥
I really like the new skirt you put up.
^^
Please don't take these things the wrong way:
-But now the buttons look too anti-aliased. They're all blurry.
-The pictures are very dark and don't really give me the impression that I can see every aspect of the skirt.
-The picture of the hat you put up shows that there is glue or something under that pearl, which just makes the hat look poorly constructed, even though I'm sure it's gorgeous.
-Is there something going on with the petticoat under the skirts? Both skirts seem to be lopsided, and there is a weird bulge to one side. Remember that these pictures are how you represent yourself to your customers, and should be the best you can make them!
♥♡♥♡♥♡♥
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 6:42 pm
More in regard to the hat:
The bow looks entirely lopsided. The tail on one side is very noticeably shorter than the other, and the loop on the same side also looks a little too large.
The ribbon going around the hat also appears twisted, when it should be perfectly flat all the way around.
The Lilly Skirt:
The pintucks do not appear to be exactly the same distance apart from each other-- specifically on the left side of the photo. This may be an ironing issue, but I'm such a perfectionist that seeing uneven things like pintucks and bows is a strong deterrant for me.
Another very little thing is the waist ties, how they're tied: One tie is considerably longer than the other, with one loop of the bow larger. I also run a business, and it's little things like making sure every detail is even that really make your images, and the garment. Symmetry is appealing, especially when photographing Lolita clothing, where we have such a specific silhouette. Petticoats need to be evened out under the skirt and everything needs to be very even, especially bows.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2009 7:51 am
Concerning the bows - I am actually tying the bows, as opposed to the conventional make a bow loop and tie it together with a faux "knot" in the middle. This is why (especially on the waistbands) the bows are shorter on one side than the other, but I made it this way so that you can actually tie it to allow for minor adjustment. Should I not do this, since in actually having a tying skirt, it looks "off"? o.0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
