Lolita Fashion

Although I have been aware of Lolita fashion for some time, I would say that I was only first really exposed to the Lolita fashion culture when we watched Kamikaze Girls in class a couple weeks back. The way Momoko gushed about Lolita clothing and how she wished she had been alive during the Rococo era, peaked my interest in the subject. From the film I concluded that Lolita fashion is a fashion subculture, originating in Japan, that is primarily influenced by the French Rococo style. After researching the subject, however, I learned that there are actually many different Lolita style types. Momoko followed the "Sweet Lolita" fashion-the type of Lolita most heavily influenced by the Rococo and Victorian styles. Sweet Lolita, also known as ama ron, clothing consists of soft pastel fabrics, flowers, lace, and bows to emphasize cuteness and femininity.

"It is often assumed that girls who dress in Lolita follow a Lolita 'lifestyle' in which they seek to emulate the mannerisms, etiquette and the aesthetic of historical time periods, specifically that of the Victorian era. Although some do choose to follow a strict Lolita lifestyle, there are others who simply enjoy wearing the clothes. For the majority of Lolita, dressing in the fashion does not mean changing personalities and habits: It may simply be a preference of style or a statement for modesty." (1)

As the Lolita  fashion culture spread globally, many different sub-styles developed from a collection of influences including everything from "Goth"' to Japanese anime. These other sub-style types include Gothic Lolita, Classic Lolita, Punk Lolita, Wa Lolita (combines traditional Japanese clothing with Lolita fashion), Qi Lolita (combines traditional Chinese clothing with Lolita fashion), Oji ("prince" or boy style), Hime ("princess") Lolita, Guro Lolita ("broken doll"/"innocent gore"), and Sailor Lolita.

 "Sweet Lolita"

 

"Guro Lolita"

 

            

"Qi Lolita"

Resources:
(1) http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/28/nyregion/thecity/28trib.html?_r=4&oref=slogin
(2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lolita_fashion

Images:
http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/08jL2SYgVmbZV/610x.jpg
http://www.siamcomic.com/images/scboard//81145_749577.jpg
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJccJBTITCC6ek-xBICrI4CJamvT65iv4Yhcsw6gU1ytrOAK7jujO9Kwe5mCC0YEcjEAcDlcHeYZ7_cdep5QuKokhe_ZcJBrybgIJmLWEALv2PHdi7WtS6C4G5ER3nw3RWNE8HbB-42IsR/s1600/6a00e398b011d9000200e398b155f00004-500pi.jpg