Finding the perfect petticoat for your lolita coord is tricky. When you’re new to the fashion it can seem daunting to search around for the right style. Do you drop $150+ on a Japanese brand one? Find one at a thrift store? Do you just use one meant for square-dancing or from a short length one from a costume shop?

To decide which petticoat you need first take a look at your dress or skirt. Is it shaped like a bell or a big triangle? Is there enough room in the skirt to fit a large petticoat? How long is your dress/skirt?

Most Gloomth dresses suit a cupcake or bell shape best, for example. There are a few kinds of petticoats you can find online or in shops.

A-Line Petticoat: An “A line” one is just how it sounds, shaped like a capital letter A. Usually used for Classic Lolita, it’s more like a 1950s crinoline in shape and fit. The fluffiness tends to be towards the bottom and it’s closer fitting near your waist. Often made of organza or nylon. Longer lolita dresses (tea length or past the knee) often look best with this style of petticoat. We don’t sell an A-line style these days, but if that’s the type you’d like we recommend USA based “Malco Modes” for these (specifically their “Jennifer” shape). These can often be found affordably at vintage shops in person too!

Tulle Mini Petticoat: Not planning to wear Lolita every day? A tulle petticoat is often short in length (under 18″) and made of thin netting (tulle). These petticoats are great for layering over an A-line to change up the silhouette, or for infrequent events. Tulle can crumple and flatten faster than other fabrics so it’s less practical for daily use. These can be found at costume shops or online pretty cheaply! Brands like “Leg Avenue” make them in fun colors and in plus sizes also.

Cupcake or Bell Petticoat: The most popular type for Lolita coords! They create that bell shape you see everywhere. The fluffiness is throughout the shape, letting your dress or skirt sit nicely over it. Often made of organza they hold their shape longer than tulle and can withstand daily wear for much longer. Gloomth offers two kinds of organza type petticoats in this shape.

Gloomth’s Every Day Petticoat (here): Intended for more “old school” style coords or daily wear when you don’t want to have a giant bell shaped skirt to manage on public transit. Ours has a cotton lining to keep it breathable and comfortable, adjustable drawstring waist (that opens so it’s easy to layer over other petticoats), and layers of white organza creating a cupcake shape. We offer these in plus sizes too!

Gloomth’s Mega Puff Petticoat (here): New to our site is a large cupcake shape petticoat! Shown at the top of this article. Consisting of four heavily ruffled layers of organza it’ll keep it’s shape even under a heavy fabric dress. Elastic waist and lining keep it comfortable. Available in black or white only right now! Fits a waist of 26-42″ (one size only).

Check out our petticoat selection online!

Or drop by our shop Doll Funeral in Toronto to try on one of the variety of petticoats we have in stock in the store (plus size ones too)!

-Tae