For the Love of Frills: Alice and the Pirates

When I first discovered Lolita I completely was overtaken by this adorable, elegant and frilly fashion style. I poured over countless snapshots of Japanese street fashion and online shops for hours. The more time I spent browsing the web, the more I found myself charmed by anything in a bell or a-line silhouette. I could not get enough of any Lolita style I came across! Over time I found myself completely captivated by the allure of pastels, softness, and overall style of Sweet Lolita. Due to this and other factors, it was only natural that I pursue Sweet Lolita as my initial style.

Now that I am more experienced in the fashion there are quite a few additional Lolita styles I would love to try!

You can view my original blog post by clicking here!

Classic Lolita

the Regency and Victorian style

When I first began my Lolita fashion journey I could not see the appeal of the Classic Lolita style. While I liked this style on others, it was not a style I believed I would ever wish to try. Classic Lolita features a more mature Lolita style. It draws upon the inspirations of historical Victorian and Regency styles and often has a country feel. Over time I have come to appreciate the naturally subdued color palate and the more simplistic appearance. I am very eager to try this style with a piece from Innocent World; particularly now that I am able to incorporate Lolita into my everyday wardrobe!

Gothic Lolita

the Elegant and Dark style

I have always had a weakness for Gothic Lolita. This dark, elegant, Gothic and Victorian style stirs the inner macabre within the cavern of my secret heart! The designs from Moi-même-Moitié are particularly gorgeous. I would love to be able to incorporate this mature and dark style into my current wardrobe for the days I wish to be particularly dynamic and dramatic. Black would be my overwhelming color choice for this style. I am extremely excited to attempt this style as soon as realistically possible!

Hime Lolita

the Extravagant and Royal style

Hime Lolita, also known as 'Princess Lolita', is my favorite style of Lolita by far. Hime Lolita takes the typical extravagance represented by other Lolita styles and brings it to another level. This Lolita style is strongly influenced by the Rococo period and is the ultimate idealized version of a princess. This style is exactly my cup of tea! I cannot get enough of the tiaras, layers of lace, pearls and a poise befitting a true royal. Many of my wishlist items, particularly from Baby, the Stars Shine Bright, would be a perfect accommodation for this particular style!

Kodona/Ouji

the Aristocrat and Masculine style

I have been a fan of Kodona and Ouji style from the very beginning, however, until recently, I could not envision myself in it. The more I see creative outfit coordinations for this style, the more I wish to try it myself! I cannot get over how utterly charming and versatile this Lolita fashion style is! This boy style gives a wide range of styles from a playful aristocrat to a charming prince. I adore everything from the boyish short pants to all of the fantastic hats, vests, and boots that often aid this fashion style. I have a particular weakness for pieces released by Alice and the Pirates and hope to be an Ouji to a Hime Lolita someday!

Sailor Lolita

the Classic and Nautical-themed style

Sailor Lolita is a style that I have grown especially fond of over the years. The classic style is a delightful blend of the sailor school uniform, vintage fashion styles, and the distinguishable sailor collar. When I first joined the Lolita fashion I was unsure of how to differentiate between sailor uniforms and Sailor Lolita. Now I am interested in the pursuit of my first nautical themed style dress. I am always drawn to sea themed prints so this would be able to take my admiration farther! I plan to get my first Sailor Lolita dress from the talented designers of Metamorphose in a common navy blue. I cannot wait to wear this style on a Maine summer day!

There are so many wonderful styles and sub-styles that have branched out from original Lolita fashion. What styles are you interested in trying? Which Lolita styles have you tried?

I would love to hear about your experiences!

Stay Frilly,

I am a avid admirer of the horror genre. I can be swept up in a psychological thriller any day! I am particularly fond of horror films that are foreign films or have a foreign film style. Some of my favorite titles include; Ringu, El Orfanato, Don't be afraid of the Dark and The Babadook.

I never expected to come across our subculture in mainstream films, and even less so expected to see the presence of Lolitas in horror films! The very nature of these dark and twisted fantasies seem to repel the feminine nature of the fashion and yet it seems the style has penetrated these films, even if for a only few brief exciting moments.

「You can view my original blog post here!」

Most recently my girlfriend and purchased The Forest, a American supernatural horror film centered in Japan. The main plot circulates around Aokigahara Forest and the disappearance of the main character's twin sister in the mysterious sea of tress. While the majority of the film takes place at the base of Mt. Fuji in Honshu, the film introduces the main character to Japan with classic culture shock.

What would be better than some time in Tokyo?

As the main character takes a drive through the famous city she is curious about the strangeness of the city. When her taxi stops at a red light, she casually looks out the window and catches a glimpse of some Japanese street fashion. She stares intriguingly at the fashion before her eyes. I of course could not contain my excitement and clasped back a gasp. In the shot stood four young women in complete Lolita coordinates!

What is extremely exciting to me is the time spent on this small interaction. You can easily see the presence of two Sweet Lolita styles and two Gothic Lolita styles. The Sweet Lolita with the pink parasol (left) is obviously a Sweet Lolita with an appetite for Angelic Pretty. The bubble gum pink dress with a bold print, the frilled parasol, the pink rabbit and the golden crown support her sugary sweet Angelic Pretty fueled style. The Sweet Lolita (right) has more of a classic flare to her sweetness. A fashion brand such as Baby, the Stars Shine Bright would be a very good possibility for her style. The bold floral print coupled with her floral bonnet is a beautiful snapshot of a Classical Sweet Lolita look.

The Gothic Lolita (left) appears to be a fan of a complete black look or Kuro Lolita. It is possible the Japanese brand she is clad in could be Moi-meme-Moitie, Mana's famous Gothic Lolita brand. When compared to the other Gothic Lolita (right) appears to be a fan of a more 'old school' Gothic Lolita style. She is clearly a fan of the old school combination of a black x white coordinate, with the primary color being black. A possible brand for her could be Alice and the Pirates or Baby, the Stars Shine Bright.

Possibly the most exciting piece of this interaction is the time in which the movies allows for this interaction between Lolitas to occur! Rather than a captured moment we really get in a few seconds of tape. Additionally the fact that the fashion is represented at all and that Gothic and Sweet Lolita styles are depicted feels complete. Another exciting piece of this is that the fashion is 'in'. Not only did they represent Lolita, but they did it with accurate representation. All of the styles are appropriate for the trends in 2016 for sure! That particular additional attention to detail positively thrills me as a Lolita participant.

The first horror film I purchased that had a glimpse of Lolita fashion was Shutter. This 2008 horror film centers around a American couple who are in Japan while the husband works as a photographer. While the female lead takes in the unfamiliar sights and sounds of the bustling city of Tokyo, she passes by two Lolitas.

While the shot is only a few moments the female lead is overtaken with wonder, enough to snap a photo of the girls once they have pasted. Clearly one of the Lolitas is in a Gothic style, while the other is dressed in Sweet absolutely giddy from their shopping. Both of the Lolitas appear to be a fan of Baby, the Stars Shine Bright with their Alice style head bows and classic style jumperskirts. The details of lace and ribbon upon their wardrobe as they pass by is a well deserved tribute to the classic Lolita brand. As with The Forest, this style of Lolita was fashionable in 2008. When I first saw these young women stroll by on the screen I just stared in unbelievable awe until I wrestled the remote to rewind the scene.

Lolitas! I could scarcely believe it.

Who would have guessed that both of these films would choose our particular Japanese street fashion to be chosen to be represented? Additionally, the interaction is a positive one of awe and interest from both characters, rather than a reaction of repulsion.

It appears as if Lolita fashion is now another celebrated aspect of the thriving pulse of Tokyo!

Stay Frilly ~

For the Love of Frills

Saturday, June 11, 2016

Loℓιтα styles I would love to try!