All of my himekaji items are bought secondhand. Of course, I take a lot of things into consideration but as a college student the easiest way to build my wardrobe is by buying from people who are looking to get rid of their no longer wanted pieces. I live in the US so buying directly from the source through a shopping service can be very pricey.
With that being said, there are a few options when buying himekaji. If you're looking to buy straight from the source, here are some official links.
*Please note that I have never actually bought from any of these sites, however all items they sell are authentic and straight from the source. You will also need a shopping service if you are purchasing from any of these besides Tokyo Otaku Mode's premium shops (links at the bottom of the list)
*Please note that I have never actually bought from any of these sites, however all items they sell are authentic and straight from the source. You will also need a shopping service if you are purchasing from any of these besides Tokyo Otaku Mode's premium shops (links at the bottom of the list)
Liz Lisa:
Ank Rouge:
Swankiss:
Bobon21:
Candy Rain:
Tokyo Otaku Mode sells most of these brands, here is a direct link to their premium webshops
Liz Lisa : https://otakumode.com/shop/brand/lizlisa
Ank Rouge: https://otakumode.com/shop/brand/ankrouge
Please note that Bobon21 and Candy Rain are taobao brands. That means they are authentic pieces sold by real shops through taobao. Taobao has a bunch of brands, however if you search for any non- taobao brands (such as Liz Lisa) you may notice they are very cheap. This is because they are most likely replicas. A lot of people buy replicas from taobao because they are usually half or a third of the price. It is up to you to decide whether or not you mind having replicas in your closet, but note that the quality may be lacking in comparison to the original item.
There are many sites out there that buy wholesale from taobao and sell those pieces as "authentic" for full price. That is another reason why you should stick to the links above.
Now, if you're like me and don't mind buying used here are some options.
Aps:
Depop
Mercari
Poshmark - *can be accessed through web also*
Vinted
Websites/Auction sites:
Ebay
Storenvy
Gyaru International sales
Liz Lisa sales community on Facebook
Livejournal Gyaru sales
Lacemarket
Yahoo! Auctions
Mbok
Fril
*** you will need a shopping service for Yahoo! Auctions, Mbok, and Fril, as they are Japanese auction sites ***
These places will allow you to buy from other users. Although most of these apps/sites are safe and reliable, please remember that you are dealing with real people and not a business. You may come across a bad seller every now and then.
Keep in mind, always always ALWAYS ask the seller first about the piece you are buying unless you are ok with the piece as is. Often times if a piece is really cheap (say $20 or under) I will not even bother to ask about authenticity. Something that cheap may be sold by the time the seller replies. If the description seems shady or the seller doesnt show the tag in any of their photos or provide a description, its usually best to trust your gut feeling.
When buying really low priced items I realize I am taking the risk and I wont be upset if it turns out to be a replica. In fact buying second hand is always a risk. The only way to guarantee something as completely authentic is by buying directly from the source. If you are completely against replicas, buying secondhand is not for you.
In the future I will go over how to shop secondhand safely and share some of my experiences but for now I hope this gives you a good idea of how to start your himekaji collection.
*** UPDATE: I recently made a purchase from Mbok through Chibi Tenshi's shopping service! I will make a post about my first shopping service experience soon!
There are many sites out there that buy wholesale from taobao and sell those pieces as "authentic" for full price. That is another reason why you should stick to the links above.
Now, if you're like me and don't mind buying used here are some options.
Aps:
Depop
Mercari
Poshmark - *can be accessed through web also*
Vinted
Websites/Auction sites:
Ebay
Storenvy
Gyaru International sales
Liz Lisa sales community on Facebook
Livejournal Gyaru sales
Lacemarket
Yahoo! Auctions
Mbok
Fril
*** you will need a shopping service for Yahoo! Auctions, Mbok, and Fril, as they are Japanese auction sites ***
These places will allow you to buy from other users. Although most of these apps/sites are safe and reliable, please remember that you are dealing with real people and not a business. You may come across a bad seller every now and then.
Keep in mind, always always ALWAYS ask the seller first about the piece you are buying unless you are ok with the piece as is. Often times if a piece is really cheap (say $20 or under) I will not even bother to ask about authenticity. Something that cheap may be sold by the time the seller replies. If the description seems shady or the seller doesnt show the tag in any of their photos or provide a description, its usually best to trust your gut feeling.
When buying really low priced items I realize I am taking the risk and I wont be upset if it turns out to be a replica. In fact buying second hand is always a risk. The only way to guarantee something as completely authentic is by buying directly from the source. If you are completely against replicas, buying secondhand is not for you.
In the future I will go over how to shop secondhand safely and share some of my experiences but for now I hope this gives you a good idea of how to start your himekaji collection.
*** UPDATE: I recently made a purchase from Mbok through Chibi Tenshi's shopping service! I will make a post about my first shopping service experience soon!
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