Ooh La Lolita

Ohayou Fashionistas!

That would be “good morning” to you in Nihonggo. If you are wondering why the sudden shift to the eastern language, it is because you will be reading on today’s blog one street fashion that had swept the streets of Harajuku.

Japan is well known for a fashion sense beyond compare. Oh, we love them alright. I lived in Japan for a year. The Japanese people are the epitome of innovation, experimentation, and all out confidence! They wear whatever they want to wear and with that kind of virtue, their culture had given birth to a whole new breed in fashion that is forged all around the globe.

One of these trends would be the Lolita Fashion. To put it simply, Lolita Fashion is all about elegance and spunk. This subculture was born from the inspiration of the Victorian Era and the Rococo period. That’s right: petticoats, stockings, headdresses-- the grandeur of m’lady and milord’s everyday life.

The trend started in 1970 and had ever since loved and fancied by both young and old. It was so popular that specialty fashion boutiques all around the world such as Milk and Pretty, Pink House, Baby the Stars Shine Bright, and Metamorphose temps de fille, were never enough to sustain the general public. Outside Japan, the Lolita fashion can be seen at concerts and anime conventions throughout North America, the UK, Ireland, Germany, Poland, Australia, Mexico, New Zealand, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, France, Belgium, Italy, Russia, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, and the rest of the planet. The style is not mass marketed outside of Japan, though small stores have emerged, including "One Day in Paradise" in central Melbourne, Australia. Talk about a worldwide invasion!  

Not only that, bands from all over the world had created a musical genre intended for the citizens of this movement. It is a whole new revolution! The Lolita Fashion also gave way to androgyny as cross-dressing and flamboyant costumes, hairstyle, and makeup are not limited to the female enthusiasts. Truth be told that the prettiest lollitas were men!

The Lolita fashion had indeed made it big and had branched into different genus. So which kind of Lolita would you like to be?

Classic Lolita

This kind of Lolita is more mature and focuses on Rococo, Regency, and the Victorian styles. It is the median between the dark gothic Lolita and the sugary sweet Lolita. This is considered more cosmopolitan with its small and intricate patterns and muted colors on the fabric. It uses basic Lolita silhouette and sometimes defies into A-Lines and Empire waists. Intricate designs on jewelleries can be observed but the overall feel of the look maintains its simplicity as it is considered less whimsical and more functional.

Punk Lolita

As the name suggests, this type of Lolita fashion integrates punk concepts into the whole ensemble. Tattered fabric, safety pins, screen-printed fabrics, plaid, androgynous hairstyles, and the likes! Common footwear includes boots and oxfords with platforms. A splash of color here and there and you get this type of Lolita fashion which is known for its do-it-yourself nature.

Princess Lolita

The look is inspirited by the European aristocratic style. The Princess Lolita is accented by a tiara and a Rococo bustle back skirt.

Ōji Lolita

Oji’s literal translation is “prince” and as the name suggests, this type of Lolita takes its roots from the Victorian male fashion, particularly the young men. This genre includes blouses, shirts, knickerbockers, knee-high socks, and newsboy caps. Hooray for the fact that this is not limited to just men. This is one fashion that is so flexible that it knows no gender.

There are a lot of other forms of Lolita genre that has yet to be named and honestly it doesn’t end just yet. As long as there are individuals fond of visual experimentation, this particular style will continue to evolve. Nevermind the eccentricity of the whole look! After all, we dress according to our whims, and their fancy is much more curious than ours. Why not take that leap as well?     

 XOXO,

Nikki ♥