What is Lolita’s style?
Many different fashion styles are unique with the looks that they provide. Some quirkier than the others, people love different things and that is why everything is acceptable. One of the styles that are considered strange but also extremely popular is the Lolita fashion. What many might find strange and unknown is that Lolita fashion is not connected, in any way, with the character displayed in Vladimir Nabokov’s same-named novel.
History of the Lolita fashion
The Lolita fashion has been defined as a radical subculture that became noticeable during the 1980s. As time passed by, it becomes even more popular and noticeable for the Western world and grew to the level of becoming a trend and set the marks for a revolution of the so-called cuteness.
On a first look, Lolita fashion represents and is very similar to the look of a doll. And that is something that has been present and developed back in the early 1980s – Doll Fashion. Finding this very cute and interesting, the fashion brand Pink House was the first to start popularizing this style and caught the eye of the label Milk which was known for its appearances on album covers. From that moment on, the first signs of Lolita fashion could be seen, although they were not strictly defined as one. The girls started to try out this Dollhouse look and were called Olive girls, mainly because of the affection towards the Olive Magazine. As time passed, the second half of the 1980s started seeing the Olive girls into brighter, diverse, and striking outfits and looks, mainly influenced by the popular label of that time – Nagomu Records. From Olive girls, they became Nagomu girls.
Lolita fashion was officially born in the 90s and became more visible and closer to the public. It was the time when lots of different rock bands emerged flaunting the visual kei-inspired style. This style included over-the-top outfits and dresses, feminine makeup which only boosted the popularity of Lolita fashion. By the end of the 90s, Lolita fashion traveled and reached a new base of customers and those were overseas. There, it was accepted as a new fashion genre and innovation that inspired many brands to try out in this fashion direction.
Lolita style categories
Lolita fashion and styles are defined and separated into three main categories that further, have distinctive marks that make each outfit unique and recognizable:
Category 1 – Sweet Lolita
Category 2 - Classic Lolita
Category 3 – Gothic Lolita
Besides these 3 main categories, other sub-styles can be combined with each category to create interesting and exquisite looks. For beginners and those who are new to this fashion direction, it is best to choose one style and stick to it, without experimenting too much. Lolita fashion is colorful and playful and the one wearing it has to have the experience to combine styles.
Sweet Lolita is a style whose main defining features present a youthful, princess, and cute style. This is a style that the younger generation wears on themed parties and events, and it has become a signature look for young women who want to dress colorful and interesting. The typical color palette consists of pink, mink, Saxon blue, white, lavender, and yellow. The sweet Lolita styles characterize with prints and motifs that represent some sweets like cookies, candy, and chocolate, hearts, stars, flowers, fruits, toys, and animals.
The classic Lolita style is a style that is a bit more elegant and mature than the sweet Lolita. If the sweet Lolita is more associated with the younger girls, the classic Lolita is great for young adults. It looks classy, elegant, and has a Victorian fashion vibe. The typical color palette that is dominant for this style is ivory, brown, Bordeaux, beige, navy, and warm jewel tones. The easiest way to see and determine the classic Lolita style is by the patterns, prints, and logos that are signature for it: flowers, paintings, books, clocks, crowns, etc.
Gothic Lolita style is completely different from the previous two styles. As the name suggests itself, gothic Lolita features darker and Victorian-age inspired clothing that goes well combined with darker makeup and matching accessories. It presents more vampiric, dark and ghostly style with dark colors coming as base ones: black, red, navy, purple, gold. The most common themes that the gothic style can be recognized is everything connected to the Victorian age, especially religious imagery like crosses, gothic architecture, roses, bats, spiders, witches and everything connected to that dark period.
Mixing styles & matching accessories
One Lolita outfit can be a representation of two Lolita styles or sometimes even of the three. Each addition to the outfit, including the Lolita accessories can serve the purpose to tone down or add an accent to the look and the outfit. The most common and popular combinations are between Sweet and classic style and classic and gothic.
The accessories that fit Lolita style are usually socks with interesting lace, hats with details, brooches, necklaces with toy or animal motifs, bracelets with big and dominant stones, as well as themed accessories that complete the look, depending on the style. For the sweet Lolita style, the accessories are quite girly and colorful, as is the style itself. The final look might seem overdone and full, but that is the point of the sweet Lolita style. The classic Lolita style is not as rich in accessories and details as it focuses on the garments itself. The gothic Lolita style combines both the garments with tulle, lace, ruffles with suitable accessories like hats, fedoras, bows, fishnet stocking, etc.
With this Lolita style guide, this colorful fashion is much closer to anyone willing to try it out. It is unordinary, and depending on personal style, there is space to choose and mix Lolita styles.
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