Lolita fashion

Lolita fashion ( rorta fasshon?) is a fashion

subculture originating in Japan that is based on Victorian and
Edwardian clothing.[1]
The origin of the term's meaning is complex, and remains unclear.[2]
The movement likely started in the late 1970s when famous labels
including Pink House, Milk, and Pretty (later known as Angelic
Pretty) began to sell clothing.
In the 1990s, bands such as Princess Princess began to rise in
popularity[3] which prompted the style to become popularized in Tokyo
with Japanese youth.

Etymology
The origin of the term Lolita is uncertain, and not confirmed to be
connected with Vladimir Nabokov's book Lolita. However, the preexisting Japanese term, "lolicon" (), an abbreviation of the
phrase "Lolita complex," is explicitly derived from Nabokov's novel
and denotes a sexual attraction to young girls by adult males.

Influence and popularity

Lolita was partly popularized by the more feminine visual kei (or
"visual style") artists. Mana, the cross-dressing guitarist of the
bands Malice Mizer and Moi dix Mois, coined the terms "Elegant Gothic
Lolita" (EGL)[4] and "Elegant Gothic Aristocrat" (EGA) to describe the
style of his own fashion label Moi-mme-Moiti.

Lolita styles
Gothic
Gothic lolita, sometimes shortened to GothLoli ( gosu rori?),
is a combination of gothic and Lolita fashion.[citation needed] The fashion
originated in the late 1990s in Harajuku.[5]
Gothic Lolita fashion is characterized by darker make-up and
clothing.[6]
"Elegant Gothic Lolita" (EGL) and its masculine equivalent, "elegant
Gothic aristocrat" (EGA), are sub-styles of gothic lolita and of
aristocrat fashion, championed by the visual kei rock musician Mana

with his fashion label Moi-mme-Moiti,[7] and influenced by steampunk

fashion.

Sweet
Sweet Lolita, also known as ama-loli ( ama rori?) in Japanese,
is heavily influenced by Victorian and Edwardian clothing. Focusing
on the fantasy aspects of Lolita, the Sweet Lolita style adopts the
basic Lolita format and uses lighter colors and childlike motifs in
its design.
Make-up used in sweet Lolita is common throughout most Lolita styles,
but accentuates the young, girly aspects not always found in darker,
more mature styles like Gothic and Classic. Blush is often used,
often more heavily than in other styles and in pink, peach shades.
Eye makeup is bold and eyeshadow is often in pastels, commonly baby
pink, mint, and lilac.
Outfits create a sweet image through the use of pastel colours, lace,
bows and ribbons. Since the late 00s, dresses made of print fabric
have become increasingly popular[8] and have been incorporated into
OTT ("Over The Top") sweet Lolita outfits.[9] Popular print motifs
include fruit such as cherries or strawberries, flowers, sugary
desserts, and cute animals like kittens, bunnies and unicorns.
References to Alice in Wonderland, candy, and classic fairy tales are
also common, and jewelry often reflects this fantasy theme.
Headdresses, bonnets and bows are a popular hair accessory to the
sweet Lolita look. Bags and purses usually have a princess-like
design and often take the shape of fruits, crowns, hearts, stars and
stuffed animals.
Examples of Sweet Lolita brands are Angelic Pretty, Metamorphose
temps de fille, and Baby, The Stars Shine Bright. Emily Temple cute
(sister brand of Shirley Temple, a Japanese boutique), Jane Marple,
and Milk are brands that carry more clothing that would be considered
more casual, and are available to purchase at department stores in
Japan.

Classic
Classic Lolita is a more mature style of Lolita that focuses on
Regency and Victorian styles. Colors and patterns used in classic
Lolita can be seen as somewhere between the Gothic looking and sweet
styles; it is not as dark as gothic Lolita, but not as cutesy as
sweet Lolita. This look can be seen as the more sophisticated, mature
Lolita style because of its use of small, intricate patterns, as well
as more muted colors on the fabric and in the overall design.[10]
Designs containing a-lines, as well as Empire waists, are also used
to add to the more mature look of the classic style. Most classic
Lolita outfits, however, still stick to the basic Lolita silhouette.

Shoes and accessories are less whimsical and more functional. Jewelry
with intricate designs is also common. The makeup used in classic
Lolita is often a more muted version of the sweet Lolita makeup, with
an emphasis placed on natural coloring. Classical Lolita brands
include Juliette et Justine, Innocent World, Victorian Maiden, Triple
Fortune, and Mary Magdalene.

Old school
Old school Lolita is the old (90s, early 2000s) version of any current sub-style
of lolita fashion. (ex. sweet old school, Gothic old school). Old school lolita's
Focus is more on lace, fabric and ruffle details rather than print details. Bows,
chunky shoes, and lace-topped knee length socks are the most common. Most
modern lolita regard this style as easy to mess up (poor quality lace,
inappropriate hair etc.) so it is commonly discouraged amongst newcomers
who may not have been involved in the fashion at the time of its popularity.
Old school is visually very different to Modern lolita, so it is often referred to
as a separate sub-style.

Other styles and themes

Because of the "do-it-yourself" nature of Lolita fashion, many other
themes have come out of the basic Lolita frame. These styles are
often not as well known as the ones mentioned above, but they do
showcase the creative nature of the Lolita fashion, and illustrate
how people make the fashion their own.[11] Listed below are just a few
examples of the smaller subtypes of Lolita fashion.

Kuro/Shiro Lolita
Kuro (?)/Shiro (?), meaning black and white is a type of Lolita
fashion that is restricted by colors. Kuros will wear nothing but
black clothing unlike Gothic which can have a mixture of gray, while
shiros wear nothing but white. Shiro Lolita is hard to pull off as
when it comes to eating food care must be at hand to avoid soiling.
[citation needed]
The two different styles of Lolitas often pair up in twin
outfits.[12]

Hime Lolita
Hime (?), or "Princess", Lolita is characterized by a princessstyle look based upon the European aristocratic style.[12][13] This
typically includes a tiara and a rococo style bustle back skirt. The
style is often credited as being influenced by the Hime Gyaru trend
that boomed in the late 2000s.

ji Lolita (Boystyle)
ji (?) or ji-sama (?), meaning "prince", is a Japanese
fashion that is considered the male version of lolita fashion. Some
though do not consider it as Lolita because it does not follow the
typical lolita silhouette, but instead takes its influence from the
Victorian era of young boys.[14]
ji Includes blouses and shirts, knickerbockers and other styles of
short trousers, knee high socks, top hats, and newsboy caps. The
colors usually used are black, white, blue and burgundy, though there
are feminine versions of the fashion with a broader palette. Good
examples would be some of the outfits sold through Baby, the Stars
Shine Bright's line Alice and the Pirates.
Though in Japan this fashion is typically referred to as ouji,
outside Japan it is common to hear it incorrectly referred to as
"Kodona".

Casual
Casual Lolita is less of a style in and of itself but is used to
describe a "toned down" approach to the lolita fashion. While the
basic lolita elements are still adhered to, the key element in the
casual lolita co-ordination is simplicity. An example being a simple
cut-sew with a motif of some sort paired with a lolita skirt and hair
accessory. Casual Lolita styles can be compiled out of any colors, so
long as one remembers to match styles, colors and prints
appropriately. Casual Lolita can best be described as what a Lolita
would wear when not "dressing up": Still modest and elegant, but not
to the degree of most other Lolita styles.

B-lolita
This style stands out solely on the fact that men also wear female
clothing Lolita, any style described above. It could be considered as
a form of transvestism. The main exponents of this form are Novala
Takemoto and Mana, also other artists like Hizaki and Kaya.
Outside Japan, there is controversy given the social perceptions that
carries the dress according to the canon of the opposite gender, as
prejudicially assume that such children are homosexuals. Needless to
say, this form of Lolita is independent of any sexual orientation and
gender identity can be, if so, ideologies or preferences you have are
own unique style who use causes.

Clothing brands
Japanese brands that manufacture lolita clothing. Main brands are
regarded as brands that have been around the longest and/or hold the
highest value within the lolita community.

Main brands

Angelic Pretty

Atelier Pierrot

Baby, The Stars Shine Bright/Alice and the Pirates

Innocent World

Juliette et Justine

Mary Magdalene

Metamorphose Temps de Fille

Moi-mme-Moiti

Victorian Maiden/Beth

Other brands/ Indie brands

Vierge Vampur

Chocochip Cookie

Enchantlic Enchantilly (intl. buying)

Heart E

Antique BeasT

Triple Fortune (abbr: 3F)

Atelier Boz / Lapin Agill (abbr: Boz)

Excentrique

Fanplusfriend / Neo-Ludwig (abbr: F+F)

Physical Drop

Millefleurs

Sheglit

Maxicimam

Miho Matsuda

Infanta

Pumpkin Cat

Classical Puppets

Dear Celine

Haenuli

Krad Lanrete

Lief

Outside Japan
Outside Japan, Lolita fashion, along with other Japanese cultural
phenomena like cosplay, can be seen at anime conventions throughout
North America (see Anime North), Europe, South America, Australia,
and Asia. Many wearers of Lolita fashion, however, cannot stress
enough that Lolita fashion is not cosplay. Although Lolita is
perfectly acceptable to wear to conventions, it is not defined as
cosplay. There are some characters that wear Lolita fashion, which
would then be considered cosplay because they would be dressing like
a specific character. However, Lolita itself is not cosplay. The
style is not mass-marketed outside Japan, though small stores have
emerged. Baby, The Stars Shine Bright and Angelic Pretty both operate
stores in Paris and San Francisco, and Baby, The Stars Shine Bright
also has a shop in New York City.[15]
Major brands, such as Metamorphose temps de fille, Angelic Pretty, h.
Naoto, Baby, The Stars Shine Bright, and Moi-mme-Moiti have
recently shipped goods to the international market. Angelic Pretty[16]
[17][18]
and h. naoto[19] created "pop up" boutiques at several anime
conventions in 2012 across the United States. Angelic Pretty hosted a
sold out tea party at Anime Central[20] on 29 April 2012 as well as
fashion shows at anime conventions such as Animegacon in Las Vegas,
Anime Expo in Los Angeles, and Anime Central in Chicago. h.naoto was
at conventions such as Anime Weekend Atlanta, DragonCon, GenCon, and
Anime Central.[21] AP had hosted a tea party at Anime Central in 2013.
There is a growing group of dedicated western Lolita fans who wear
Lolita clothing on a semi-regular or even a day-to-day basis.

Celebrity author Novala Takemoto, an important figure in Lolita

culture, traveled to America in 2006 and remarked at a panel on the
resourcefulness of western Lolitas, who often make or adapt their own
clothing.[22][23] Outside Japan there are numerous Lolita groups that
come together to have tea parties, talk and have fun. Lolita
magazines are available on the internet and at Japanese bookstores
which deal in anime and manga.

Gothic & Lolita Bible

One magazine, the seasonally published Gothic & Lolita Bible, has played an
instrumental role in promoting and standardizing the style. First published in
early 2001,[24] the 100+ page magazine includes fashion tips, photos, sewing
patterns, catalog descriptions, decorating ideas, and recipes. Tokyopop
released an English-language version of the magazine in February 2008, but
discontinued it after it failed to garner many sales. [25] The American version
featured translated content from the original magazine alongside content
from a small but growing group of Lolita designers from around the world such
as Fanplusfriend, Blasphemina's Closet, Sweet Rococo, Ick by Industrialkitty,
and Megan Maude.[citation needed] They also have English volumes of the lolita
bible.

In popular culture
These lists display stories which have either characters wearing some
form of Lolita fashion or character designs influenced by the
fashion.

Manga and anime

Le Portrait de Petit Cossette[26]

Paradise Kiss[27]

Princess Princess[28]

Shiki[29]

Tsukuyomi: Moon Phase[30]

Ore no Imto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai[31] (the character

"Kuroneko" in particular)

Gosick[32]

The Wallflower - The Goth-Loli Sisters are recurring characters in the

anime adaptation.[33]

Rozen Maiden[34]

IC in a Sunflower[35]

Othello[36]

The Embalmer[34]

Death Note - Misa Amane, using the gothic lolita design to convey
"gothic imagery of the Shinigami and that world".[37]

K (anime) The Third King Kushina Anna The Red King

Novels

Kamikaze Girls[38][39]

Video games

Touhou Project

Deathsmiles

Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection

Tekken 6

Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3

Soulcalibur IV

Soulcalibur V

No More Heroes and its sequel No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle

Many games in the visual novel, dating sim and bishjo game genres

Style Savvy

Rusty Hearts

The World Ends With You, where a large component of the game is
based on fashion in Japan

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess - The character Agitha wears

butterfly themed Lolita clothing

Danganronpa, The character Celestia Ludenberg wears Gothic Lolita

clothing.

Films

Gothic & Lolita Psycho

Kamikaze Girls

Songs

"Gothic Lolita Dress Up" by Hatsune Miku

"Lolita Work Libretto" by Kanon Wakeshima

"Kyomu Densen" by Ali Project

"Michievous of Alice" by Yousei Teikoku

"Suna no Oshiro" by Kanon Wakeshima

"Still Doll" by Kanon Wakeshima

"Gothic Lolita" by Emilie Autumn

"Maepatsu Himeka" by Aoki Misako