Lolita fashion is a Japanese subculture based on the style of the Victorian era, as well as on the costumes of the Rococo era. Elements of Gothic fashion and original design solutions were added to some substyles. This style has several directions that are popular around the world. The main elements are a knee-length skirt, a headdress, a blouse, an underskirt, knee-length socks or leg warmers, and high platform shoes (although the latter is optional).
1. Lolita is one of the most popular subcultures in Japan, leaving its mark on fashion, music and culture. Photo: A shop assistant dressed in fashionable Lolita style at Marui Wan, one of the stores of the Marui Co. trading group. Ltd" in the Shinnzuki area of Tokyo.
2. This style is often mistakenly called Gothic & Lolita - by analogy with the most popular magazine dedicated to this subculture “Gothic & Lolita Bible”, but this name can only be used in relation to a separate substyle
3. A Lolita costume, as a rule, consists of a knee-length skirt or dress, a headdress, a blouse and high-heeled shoes (or platform boots).
4. The exact time of appearance of the style is unknown. It is likely that this movement began in the late 1970s, when famous labels Pink House, Milk and Angelic Pretty began selling clothes that became the prototype for the future style.
5. Shortly after this came Baby, The Stars Shine Bright and Metamorphose temps de fille.
6. In the 1990s, the “Lolita” style began to be popularized thanks to the group Malice Mizer, more precisely, its guitarist and one of the leaders Mana and other musical groups using the Visual kei style in their creative activities, where “Lolita” occupied a special place.
7. The style spread from its origins in the Kansai region to Tokyo, after which it gained fame throughout the country.
8. Today “Lolita” is one of the most popular subcultures in Japan.
9. This style in Japan knows no age or gender restrictions.
10. The word “Lolita” in the name of the style is not directly related to Vladimir Nabokov’s novel “Lolita”. Lolitas received this name, rather, because of the peculiarities of style and costumes, reminiscent of dresses for little girls, without emphasis on their lifestyle.
11. Punk Lolita adds elements of punk fashion to Lolita style. So punk lolita combines the elegant style of lolita with the aggressive style of punk. In the photo: A Japanese man dressed in fashion in the “punk loli” style.
12. Gothic Lolita, sometimes shortened to GothLoli, is a combination of Gothic fashion and Lolita fashion. Since Gothic Lolita was the first type of Lolita, it has sometimes become mistakenly perceived as synonymous with Lolita itself.
. Contrary to the stereotype, pale skin with whitening cream is considered bad manners. Clothes are usually worn in black, but there may be exceptions in the form of purple, dark red or white.”] [img]https://cn1.nevsedoma.com.ua/images/2011/142/4/lolita_M.jpg[ /img]
13. Gothic Lolita is characterized by dark makeup and clothing. Red lipstick and black eyeliner are one of the most characteristic elements of style[8
14. Sweet Lolita, also known as ama-loli in Japanese, originated from the Rococo and Victorian Edwardian eras.
15. The main focus of the ama-loli style is on the childish aspect of Lolita and the “sweet” childhood. The basis of the appearance of sweet lolita is bright, cheerful “candy” colors
16. For Sweet Lolita, the emphasis on infantility, as a childish aspect of style, is important.
17. Popular themes for sweet lolitas include Alice in Wonderland references, fruits, sweets and classic fairy tales.
18. Classic Lolita is a more mature example of Lolita, which focuses on Baroque, Regency, and Rococo styles. The colors and patterns used in classic lolita can be considered a cross between gothic and sweet styles.
19. A Japanese woman (left) takes a photo of herself with a mobile camera during a fashion show at the Christon cafe in Tokyo.
20. Outside of Japan, Lolita fashion is not widespread. Lolita, along with cosplay and other Japanese cultural phenomena, can sometimes be seen at concerts and anime conventions in countries such as the US, UK, Germany, Australia, Mexico, New Zealand, Brazil, Argentina, France, Belgium, Russia, and the Netherlands.
21. However, the style is becoming increasingly popular as a style of everyday subculture.
22. The style is not widespread outside Japan, although a few small shops have opened in the West, including One Day in Heaven in central Melbourne. Baby, The Stars Shine Bright has a store in Paris and opened another in San Francisco in August 2009.
23. A saleswoman in one of the departments of the Marui Wang store, owned by the Marui Co. trading group. Ltd" in the Shinnzuki area of Tokyo.
24. Japanese woman dressed in Lolita style on an escalator in Tokyo on October 22, 2010.
