/cgl/ - Cosplay & EGL

[Anonymous No.6389663]

So while talking about price checks and Puppet Circus, it was mentioned that a recent Puppet Circus skirt sold for a pretty small sum considering how much it usually goes for.

Dress here: >http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RARE-Angelic-Pretty-Puppet-Circus-Print-Skirt-Kawaii-Lolita-Cute-Sweet
-AP-Japan-/200834659603?pt=UK_Women_s_Skirts&hash=item2ec2adb513

One thing that made it shady was the way the tag was sewn on, which lead some people to believe it was a replica.

For lolitas that are newer to the fashion and just getting in, what are some tips on distinguishing replicas from the real deal? A lot of starters won't have the same eye for construction that lolitas who have been into the fashion for awhile do.

Of course there are times where it's mentioned something's a replica, but sometimes people do pass fakes off as genuine.

I'd like to hear about some things to looks for, and even see real brand photos side by side with their replicas.

[Anonymous No.6389669]

>Ask to see tags
>usually the lace / buttons / details like that would be different.
> Yeah I don't know how to explain how to see construction flaws. They're just obvious to me :/

[Anonymous No.6389712]

Fabric texture. How the light hits the fabric and how the fabric drapes is a BIG part of telling apart replicas. Generally replicas are made of bedsheet kona kotton or spoonflower cotton sateen (and fucking canvas for DoL's fantasic dolly wtf), and cannot replicate the distinctive fabric texture and pattern Meta's summer items and AaTP's items have.

Prints are also often not to scale, mirrored, or have something off about them like a smear or a colour mismatch. Compare prints carefully with stock photos and see where the prints start, how large the print is in proportion.

Another thing to check for is the buttons. AP often has buttons matching the motif of the print, and the buttons usually have AP stamped on. Other brands aside from IW doesn't use distinctive buttons very oftne, but often include a shot of the buttons on their stock photos.

All AP custom lace, whether cotton eyelet or tulle, have the AP logo clearly worked into the lace. If the logo looks wonky or illegible, it's not genuine AP.

One thing that's usually a very good giveaway is how the bows, especially the centre chest bow on the bodice, are sewn on. AP and Baby have distinctive bow shapes that are rounded, thick in the middle and stand up so they are properly interfaced. For some reason replica makers can't seem to get 100% right, and what you get is a rather rectuangular floppy, thin thing. Oo Jia came pretty close with the milky berry replica and then it went to shits again.

[Anonymous No.6389722]

>>6389663
Holy crap OP! That was def re-sewn into something. You can see the holes where the old thread was and where they missed the original holes.

[Anonymous No.6389915]

>>6389712
This. Even if I think the biggest difference you can notice in online pics is buttons. Talking about laces, I got a CC replica from Oo Jia and the laces are exactly as AP ones: they are just less soft but the embroidery is identical.

[Anonymous No.6389946]

I feel really bad for the buyer, if she was expecting the original

[Anonymous No.6390030]

As someone who owned a real print and saw an Oo Jia replica of the real print (Twinkle Journey in my case), I am going to admit this: it's very very hard to tell unless you own the original or own a lot of the brand.

The main differences I could see was wrong fabric, wrong shape of skirt (Meta's is a box pleated skirt, Oo Jia was just gathere like Baby's skirts), sad looking bows with no rhinestones on them (Meta's skirt bows has one on centre of each bow knot) wrong hem trim (Meta has chiffon, Oo Jia used plain black fabric).

When I looked closely I could see fabric quality was different and the print was blurry and bleeding, and a little desaturated compared to the real thing.

[Anonymous No.6394059]

Bump. I wonder who won this? A brandwhore from my comm was watching it and dismissed our thoughts that the seller was pretty sketchy in her listing so I'd love to know who actually won it.

[Anonymous No.6394099]

I don't own any brand but. Wouldn't AP's tags be machine stitched in? That tag is obviously hand sewn, and hand sewn poorly at that. Even if the do hand sew them in, I don't think it would be that sloppy.

[Anonymous No.6394109]

>>6389663
Does anyone actually know the girl selling? She said she bought it while she was in Japan... And she has over 600 feedback... weird. You'd think someone would know her in the lolita community?

[Anonymous No.6394125]

OP, you're right, that is clearly horribly hand sewn in. That label doesn't belong there.
I have a girl in my comm that keeps trying to pass off her DoL Sugary Carnival as AP, but it is too obvious. The AP logo at the chest usually is mis-printed, as in the pink and the shadows overlap or just aren't quite joined properly which is a dead giveaway.
The canvas material can also indicate a replica. The material is thick, heavy and stiff or scratchy. For some AP prints, there is glitter involved. Replicas in my knowledge, never incorporate the glitter.
The lace on DoL skirts are usually sewn or made so it looks very long (like, hangs down a far few inches than the original would). The ponies have little to no detail and look like fat donkeys instead.
I'd say the biggest giveaway with the print is if it is mismatched, where the shadows don't quite 'fit' properly, or where details on the horses are slightly smeared in places. Some DoL items have certain places where it appears the machine has ran out of ink, so if the print looks slighty faded in places, that's another sign. Just things I've picked up over time.

[Anonymous No.6394121]

AFAIK the verdict on the PC was that it was real but had been altered, and so the tag was resewn

[Anonymous No.6394128]

>>6394121
The weird thing is that everywhere else, they point out alterations, stains, and anything missing. You'd think they'd make a note that the tag was resewn in the first place, since even if they bought it like that, it's obvious the tag was resewn.

[Anonymous No.6394135]

If the lace doesn't look as crisp and detailed as this, it's a replica.
ALSO, another replica fail is when DoL or Oojia has run out of the specific lace for a series and uses another type of lace (swapping Milky Berry for Sugary Carnival lace). While it says "AP", SG prints shouldn't have MB lace on it like some girls have found on their replicas.

[Anonymous No.6394143]

What proper SC lace should look like.

[Anonymous No.6394144]

What SG lace shouldn't look like.

[Anonymous No.6394150]

You can clearly see that the 'AP' is pretty unrecognisable because it's so chubby.

[Anonymous No.6394156]

Real SG pony head. Note that the colours work together nicely enough on the mane and the marshmellow twists are all bold.

[Anonymous No.6394163]

What I meant earlier about smudged prints and ink not working properly. If there's any of this in your print, it's a fake.

[Anonymous No.6394160]

>>6394156
Replica with stark contrast between the darker colours and the lighter ones. I wish I had a replica and original in the same colourway to give a better idea of what we're looking for here...

[Anonymous No.6394167]

On a real AP, notice the length of the lace at the bottom.

[Anonymous No.6394170]

A DoL replica, notice the lace is a lot longer than the original.

Sorry, OP, I think I've hijacked your thread a little, but I hope I'm helping you and new lolitas out with what to look for in a replica.

[Anonymous No.6394176]

Here's an example of Cherry Berry Bunny lace (I'm sorry that I only have AP replicas to show you, I'm not quite as knowledgeable when it comes to IW or other brands)

[Anonymous No.6394178]

>>6394176
Here is Oo Jia's Cherry Berry Bunny lace. Butterflies.

[Anonymous No.6394184]

Twilight Circus by Oo Jia. Note the long triangular lace that doesn't seem to have any identifiable pattern.

[Anonymous No.6394187]

>>6394184
Real AP TC. I wish the stock photo was bigger, but you can clearly see there is the traditional 'AP' sewn in and is identical to all AP styled lace.

[Anonymous No.6394189]

>>6394187
Shit. Dropped the picture.

[Anonymous No.6394191]

Oo Jia also tends to not have the specifically styled buttons on the front, I believe, though she does put the card on the sleeve.

[Anonymous No.6394195]

A shot of some lovely Milky Planet lace.

[Anonymous No.6394199]

Once again, Oo Jia doesn't have the right MP lace. At least DoL tries to replicate that...

[Anonymous No.6394224]

Wow, you girls seem to be really good at telling the accuracy of replicas.

Has anyone attempted to make a list of which companies produce the better replica for certain prints?
For example, like DOL makes a better Milky Planet replica than Oo Jia, etc. ?
I've always been kind of curious which companies make better versions of prints.

[Anonymous No.6394236]

>>6394224
Oo Jia's prints are probably better quality, but are most easily identified as a replica because of the wrong lace and wrong style of whatever garment she's making. DoL make a more specific replica, however their shit printing can really be obvious. As for which is better quality make or whatever, I couldn't personally tell you.

[Anonymous No.6394269]

>>6394224
It's not so much the accuracy of replicas that has me knowledgeable, it's the fact that I don't want no cheap bitch telling me her DoL replica is real AP. Bitch, I will point out every flaw and prove to you in front of everyone that that is a replica. Not that I hate replicas, I just hate assholes who claim their replica is brand. Don't do that. Can't afford brand? Just admit it. Don't be a fucking liar. Nothing to be ashamed of, we all know it's an expensive hobby. Just don't be a lying elitist whore.

[Anonymous No.6394305]

>>6394236
Although to be fair, sometimes Oo Jia's customers deliberately ask for a different style as you have that option with her. I like some of the dress designs people have had her make with the chess chocolate fabric. DoL is usually waaaay faded compared to original and can be spotted in a photo whereas Oo Jia's fabric is almost mistakable for the original from 3m.

[Anonymous No.6394310]

>>6394305
Yeah, I loved what she did with the Midsummer's Night Dream with the white ribbon. Looks better than the original design, I must admit. I love that she does different things with different prints, sometimes they're a miss but sometimes she makes some excellent looking stuff.

[Anonymous No.6394325]

>>6394310
but thats not Oo jia's construction, afaik it was a commission from another seamstress.

[Anonymous No.6394333]

>>6394109
I feel as though if someone was legit with their puppet circus, there's no way they don't know about EGL and the comm sales. I understand not wanting to deal with it but it's wicked shady, IMO. I also feel as though her saying she bought it before it was popular is a joke because puppet circus was popular as soon as it came out, even though getting brand overseas was difficult.

[Anonymous No.6394335]

>>6394135
>ALSO, another replica fail is when DoL or Oojia has run out of the specific lace for a series and uses another type of lace (swapping Milky Berry for Sugary Carnival lace). While it says "AP", SG prints shouldn't have MB lace on it like some girls have found on their replicas.


ooh shit. how did you find this out?

[Anonymous No.6394341]

>>6394184
That's not Twilight Circus, that's Star Night Theater. Twilight Circus was BtSSB :P

[Anonymous No.6394355]

>>6394341
My bad! Can't say sweet lolita is my forte...I'm always mixing those two up, the themes are just so similar.

[Anonymous No.6394353]

>>6394335
I've read a LOT of reviews and gone through a lot of photographs.

[Anonymous No.6394356]

>>6394325
Are you sure? I'm pretty sure I saw this with somebody asking Oo Jia to make it this way? Or did she just buy the printed material from her and have someone make it up to this design instead?

[Anonymous No.6394394]

>>6394356

I don't see it on Oo jia's page anymore and I know shes been deleting a bunch of photos recently , but if memory serves she was tagged in it, and a lot of girls asked if Oo jia made it and Oojia + the girl said that another seamstress made it.

Also Oo jia's construction is better than half the "indie western brands" but she can't gather to save her life, and I have doubts she would manage to put the ribbon on with precision.

[Anonymous No.6394396]

>>6394236
Do you just order oo jia from jjlolita.com or on her fb or what? I'm interested in one of her dream sky replicas (Because I'm just ohmagaw in love with it. I'll snatch up the real one when I actually see it for sale.) but kinda lost on how to even contact her?

[Anonymous No.6394404]

>>6394396
You use the email that's posted on FB. The jjlolita site is really weird to navigate so email is really the best option.

[Anonymous No.6394405]

>>6394396

Word from the wise, the only the black/navy looks decent in photos, whereas in reality the replica fabric looks really bad in person, I bought the replica not knowing any better and it is definitely one of the worst replicas I've seen.

It's worth sticking it out and saving the money imo, it was 110usd for my replica (I got the OP) , and I paid 190 for my navy dream sky skirt, and 225 for my jsk, which was nwt.

[Anonymous No.6394407]

>>6394396
I haven't ordered but I think the go is to just order from fb and use whatever email is posted there. I wouldn't go through jjlolita.com, I think there's been a few problems with that...

[Anonymous No.6394408]

>>6394394
Good point. I don't think Oo Jia has the delicacy to do that with the ribbon.

[Anonymous No.6394415]

>>6394405
Aww, seriously? That sucks. I haven't seen the colorways I'm interested in for sale anywhere, just the black. Oh well, gives me time to save up, I suppose.

[Anonymous No.6394419]

>>6394415
In the end, I'd rather save up for the real thing rather than a replica. If you love a print enough, you'd buy the real thing, rather than give in to this new trend where you have to buy every single new print there is...I miss the good ol' days where everyone was proud to slowly build up their cupboards full of decent pieces, rather than this almost mass consumerism, of girls just buying the shit out of whatever new print AP shits out next.
I wish you the best of luck with whatever choices you make and hopefully you'll have your dream dress before you know it.

[Anonymous No.6394430]

does anyone know any good replica shops, preferably that have Iron Gate? Very new, so I figure if I look ita in the beginning at least I didn't spend good money on looking ita, and so will be able to buy brand when I have experience with co-ords and such.
I don't mind replicas, as long as they're good quality. I lean more towards gothic lolita, so a good replica shop that uses quality material that at least has proper blacks is what I'm looking for. Thank you in advance!

[Anonymous No.6394522]

>>6394430
The replicas look terrible. Don't waste your money, most crappy replicas are the same price (or higher) than decent stuff from Taobao or Bodyline or 2ndhand. I'm sure cgl will be happy to help you out with suggestions! I'd even be glad to rec a few right now if you'd like.

[Anonymous No.6394525]

>>6394430
I think Oo Jia was planning on doing some...but that was around the stage where she threw a hissy fit and said she wasn't going to make replicas anymore...

>>6394522
I'd like to hear suggestions and stuff.

[Anonymous No.6394530]

>>6394528
Yes, indeed I am.

[Anonymous No.6394531]

>>6394396
>>6394405
I've got the OP of her navy Dream Sjy since I really liked the color- only the black looks decent otherwise. She sent me scraps of the blue and lavender and how dark her stars are on it don't look good at all; the colors are very warm and washed out.

As for quality they're about medium tier I'd say; The chiffon is not HORRIBLE but it's also not the nicest you can buy either. It -is- lined twice though and the lining is decent and no-cling style. Again it's medium quality. In all reality I got what I paid for. The price is pretty cheap considering it costs materials and labor.

The dress is nice but doesn't give you that magical feeling brand does when you first wear it.

[Anonymous No.6394528]

>>6394525
Alrighty! You're into gothic, yes?

[Anonymous No.6394534]

>>6394530
Ok. If you don't mind, your measurements (or at least an estimation)?

[Anonymous No.6394537]

>>6394430
SurfaceSpell has pretty much replicated the entirety of antique beast's current lineup.

Oo Jia did end up making her iron gate replica, but she fucked it up.

[Anonymous No.6394539]

>>6394419
It's honestly not an issue of price. I have a good, well paying job and several brand dresses already. I just really want dream sky and am having a hell of a time finding it for sale anywhere in the colorway that I want. (seriously, how is pink so hard? And for that matter why didn't they produce a mint? I'd sell my souls for a mint dream sky op.)

[Anonymous No.6394541]

>>6394522
I'd love any help I can get. I'm a little tan, like the colour of caramel, i get a shade darker if i stay in the sun too long, so I don't think many things would look good on me

[Anonymous No.6394543]

>>6394534
Bust: 33"/82cm (size differs with or without a bra...damn A cup...)
Waist: 28"/71cm
Shoulder: 15"/39cm

I have these written on a post it note on my monitor so I never forget when I'm browsing the sales comm and such...

[Anonymous No.6394544]

>>6394537
Got any pics of the fuck up? I'd like to see it...

[Anonymous No.6394545]

OoJia doesn't put pockets into her dresses- is it weird that bothers me?

Also to be fair most tags irritate the crap out of my skin as the edges are melted instead of cleanly finished off. I can see why a re-sewn tag is super sketch though.

[Anonymous No.6394551]

>>6394543
To start off, CC & some things from Bodyline

Closet Child's Moitie section, they have a couple cheap things up: http://closetchild.ocnk.net/product-group/35

Bodyline:
http://www.bodyline.co.jp/bodyline/showProduct2.asp?id=6109&pageNumber=2&pageStop=stop_1&amp
;noSubType=N
http://www.bodyline.co.jp/bodyline/showProduct2.asp?id=6394&pageNumber=1&pageStop=stop_5&amp
;noSubType=N
http://www.bodyline.co.jp/bodyline/showProduct2.asp?id=6700&pageNumber=1&pageStop=stop_3&amp
;noSubType=N
http://www.bodyline.co.jp/bodyline/showProduct2.asp?id=6609&pageNumber=1&pageStop=stop_5&amp
;noSubType=N
http://www.bodyline.co.jp/bodyline/showProduct2.asp?id=6996&pageNumber=1&pageStop=stop_2&amp
;noSubType=N

[Anonymous No.6394558]

>>6394544
One of them she made so small it wouldn't even fit her dressform and the other, well. I don't have pics but I am sure someone will grace you with them, they were posted on btb for weeks.

[Anonymous No.6394563]

>>6394551
Thank you for the suggestions.
I've always skipped the CC Moitie section because there was never any JSK's I liked...I'm thinking I should just bite the bullet and get some skirts happening instead. Can't say I like any of the BL stuff...just looks costumey to me though they're a lifesaver for affordable shoes. Do you know much about Moite skirts fitting taller girls? I'm 170cm or so, very long legged and I very much hate knees showing.

[Anonymous No.6394574]

>>6394551
Various Taobao:
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z10.3.0.75.zktMCu&id=14411477316&
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z10.3.0.76.LOGf2R&id=7839809600&
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z10.3.0.82.gkIchq&id=8476122809&
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z10.3.0.82.o4tdF9&id=10138283179&
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z10.3.0.70.RfIEO8&id=1264687327&
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z10.3.0.62.xl7FaI&id=14985460273&
http://roseforest.taobao.com/?spm=a1z10.1.w15.12.VhDQSX
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z10.3.0.61.57dd4l&id=10831551593&
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z10.3.0.66.dPRpCm&id=12330220518&
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z10.3.0.65.GwBKQr&id=20547232011&
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z10.3.0.88.j3WBMt&id=19564980398&

[Anonymous No.6394575]

>>6394563
The length measurement should be on each item page.
Hope some of that helps you!

[Anonymous No.6394580]

>>6394574
I think I'm in love with you.

[Anonymous No.6394582]

http://www.fururun.com/sa_az/shop.cgi?order=&class=all&keyword=%83%81%83A%83%8A%81%5B%83%7D%
83O%83_%83%8C%83%93&FF=0&price_sort=&pic_only=&mode=p_wide&id=49897&superkey
=1#
I'm thinking about buying this but I'm not sure about the shiny fabric and the original stock photos aren't such a vivid red. Doesn't almost seem worth the price. Thoughts?

[Anonymous No.6394586]

>>6394582
It's sold out.
MM uses like a cotton sateen fabric so it does have a bit of a sheen, the photo is also probably taken with flash. A lot of 2nd hand MM is that price or higher

[Anonymous No.6394601]

>>6394563
Your waist is way too big to fit into Moitie skirts.

[Anonymous No.6394605]

>>6394601
Moitie skirts are bigger than listed

[Anonymous No.6394607]

>>6394605
No they're not, 64cm is the standard max. It's the dresses that are bigger.

[Anonymous No.6394621]

>>6394582
I have this dress and it's not shiny. It might be my screen, but the real thing doesn't seem as bright either.

[Anonymous No.6394630]

>>6394607
Not really. Skirts vary as well. Some go to 27" comfortably, max. 28".

[Anonymous No.6394934]

>>6394601
do you know moitie sizing well? i'm looking for some op or jsk which fits smaller busts (mine is 80)
I've heard they tend to run bigger that they state?

[Anonymous No.6395605]

>>6394607
How is that even possible as the max size?
I'm a size small, so who are their target market? Midgets and kids?

[Anonymous No.6395613]

>>6395605
Asians? 64cm isn't that small...

[Anonymous No.6395665]

So here's a potentially odd question; are most of the better taobao shops pretty good at listing what are replicas and what aren't? For ethical reasons I'd really just like to stay away from picking any up.

(Also as an aside, I absolutely adore this Infanta one - http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z10.3.0.65.GwBKQr&id=20547232011& - I may have to break my spending hiatus to pick it up)

[Anonymous No.6395819]

Replicas tend to not have as much volume and lushness of the original. Providing my AP dress arrives tomorrow before a buyer for a similar OoJia replica pays, I want to do a little comparison of sorts.

I've also noticed that although the fabric itself at least with Oojia's stuff can sometimes be about the same thickness as AP's cotton, it's not quite the same quality. I have a hard as hell time getting wrinkles out of few OoJia items (ironing on steam and spraying water on them doesn't even help) but my AP stuff irons and pretty much stays that way unless it happens to be a waist tie or it's on my butt and I was in a car. Hanging it in the bathroom while showering and using a steamer on it does wonders. Oojia's wrinkles like cheap shiny satin on a newbie Sailor Moon cosplayer. But... she can get the prints very close. But for some reason on my one replica there are odd white marks all over it. I thought it was random marks from tailor's chalk, but it's more like an error in the print.

The stitching isn't as fine and detailed. It's easy to see the stitches on my one replica, (and at a few points it gets kinda zig-zaggy). The stitches are also a larger size, and not nearly as close to the edges as my AP/Meta things.

Lining/tulle petticoat things: The lining fabric is similar in quality, but it's thicker in my AP stuff. The petticoat is serged and hemmed on the edges and it's really super thick and very lush. On my replicas it's just kind of... eh. Almost like an afterthought.

Lace: AP's lace is extremely soft to touch. OoJia can replicate the lace pretty well, but the texture isn't quite the same. It's not bad (better than the lace on my Bodyline stuff) but I can tell a definite difference. She also tends to use the same generic "AP" lace everywhere that's not the custom matching design, while AP might say, do a cute star, heart, or bow kind of motif.

And yes, the bows!

Pic: My replica (wrinkleeessss!) next to a friend wearing AP.

[Anonymous No.6396014]

>>6394430
If you're new it's going to be very obvious that your iron gate is a fake. I'd get one of the inspired prints that won't look awful.

[Anonymous No.6396041]

>>6395605
Asian females. 64cm isn't that small for a waist, and their target market is fairly homogeneous which is why they can release one-sized items.

>>6394934
My bust is 80cm as well, I have one Moitie JSK that fits fairly well but I have never owned anything else from them. Atelier Pierrot is good at making items to fit smaller busts, although I find their strapless JSKs will slip down on me, also try Excentrique, Millefleurs-noirs, Shirley Temple, and older Meta/Baby/Angelic Pretty.

[Anonymous No.6396065]

>>6394934
Get one with at least partial shirring or lacing. Their unshirred pieces are like 34-36 in the bust and might look big on you

[Anonymous No.6396075]

If I am a 34D will AP fit me?

[Anonymous No.6396088]

>>6396075
Need your bust measurement, not your bra size

[Anonymous No.6396094]

>>6396088
38 inches

[Anonymous No.6396101]

>>6396094
I am 92cm bust, and I have some older AP (I think this is when they might have been smaller?) with just a little, very stiff, back shirring, and I have to wear a minimizer to feel comfortable. I think their fully shirred pieces should fit you though.

[Anonymous No.6396117]

>>6396094
Anything with full back shirring would fit, and maybe some of the partial back shirring.

[Anonymous No.6396124]

>>6396117
Thank you!
I've been working hard to lose weight to buy brand because I don't want to get replica, I went from 195 lbs down to 140 lbs but my chest for some reason didn't go down as much as I hoped it would.

[Anonymous No.6396130]

>>6396124
Here
thank you too >>6396101

[Anonymous No.6396171]

>>6396094
I'm 41", about 104cm (and 36DD). Full back shirring is on the snug side, but not entirely unwearable on me. Though I'm aiming for 38"/96cm for more comfort in the items I have. If you have a larger cup size, it's going to pull the bodice up, and the waistline becomes an underbust. But I think a D should be alright. You might want to look for a nice underbust corset. I usually use one to push my bust up a bit and elongate my torso, that way it doesn't look like a boob-filled babydoll.