Useful Notes / Lolita Fashion

A kid at heart with a taste for art.

"Yeah, Lolitas are great. Whoa-whoa-whoa okay wait, Lolis and Lolita complex, that's bad. Lolita fashion, that's something completely different. It's really cool, you should see it."

— Pan Pizza, Top 10 Animated GOTH Girls

Starfish Aliens aside, everything can be a cute girl.

Lolita fashion is a style of fashion originating from Japan, characterized by puffy skirts, frills, loads of accessories, large ribbons and a huge emphasis on keeping a cute, innocent, elegant, Victorian doll-like appearance. There may be Fairy Tale elements thrown in for good measure (though not always). Corsets and gowns are sometimes worn as well.

Lolita fashion is a subculture with rather obscure origins. The origin of the meaning is complex and remains unclear, but it is likely that the movement started in the late 1970s and 1980s in the streets of Japan. It almost coincided with the formation of other fashion subcultures such as Visual Kei, though it didn't gain much attention until The '90s, due to the ever-increasing popularity of the style among Visual Kei artists, one of the most notable being Mana of Malice Mizer, who coined the term "Elegant Gothic Lolita" to describe his own line of fashion merchandise. Other styles soon became popular, and the subculture soon spread to Tokyo where it became popular among the Japanese youth. Eventually, Lolita fashion would gain worldwide popularity and become popular in scenes outside Japan.

Lolita dresses aren't just for girls — male Lolitas are more than welcome! It's also not just for teenagers. There are plenty of Lolitas in their 30's, 40's, and older.

The fashion has a complex nature, and there are rules as to what can be called Lolita. Coordinate and accessory choices range from subtle to extreme, and other aesthetics can be thrown in and made to work with the basics of the style, as long as it sticks to being (mostly) cute and feminine. With that said, Lolita fashion can be divided into many subsets, the most common being:

• Elegant Gothic Lolita: or simply "Gothic Lolita" is the most established and well-known of all the Lolita styles, to the point where all other styles of Lolita are sometimes mistakenly referred to as "Elegant Gothic Lolita", much to the disdain of some. As the name suggests, it fuses Gothic and Lolita together: puffy, pimped-out dresses, loads of accessories, ribbons, mostly black, plenty of crosses, religious motifs, veils and vampire overtones. The hair may be dyed and in Ojou Ringlets, though, as with Goth, any hairstyles in black are pretty common. The style was made popular and the name coined by Mana of Malice Mizer (see above) with his own brand of clothing and is usually worn by many Visual Kei artists as well as fans.
  • Brands that specialize in Gothic Lolita include: Moi-Meme-Moitie, Antique Beast, Atelier Boz, Atelier Pierrot, Alice and the Pirates and Baby the Stars Shine Bright carry some Gothic as well.
• Sweet Lolita: also called "Ama Lolita" or "AmaLoli", characterized by brighter, more colorful aesthetics, focusing more on the cute than elegant. Fairy Tale themes are very common; sweets, pastries, toys, flowers, fruits and cute animals are commonly used themes as well. Coordinates tend to be colorful and highly intricate, and bright colors such as pink, pastel yellow, white, sax blue, pale yellow, lavender and red have become the norm. If that wasn't enough for you there is Over-the-Top (OTT) Sweet Lolita which takes it to a whole new level, known for very fancy, very colorful hair, dresses with energetic pastel prints, coordinates consisting of nearly the entire pastel rainbow, and elements of Decora in accessorizing, creating an image of extreme childlikeness.
  • Brands that specialize in Sweet Lolita include: Angelic Pretty, Baby the Stars Shine Bright and Metamorphose
• Classic Lolita: arguably the "parent" style where the other styles draw inspiration from. It is a mature and modest style that draws heavily from Rococo and Victorian-era clothing. The stylings are between the Gothic and Sweet styles, with more emphasis on creating a natural-looking appearance: it is Darker and Edgier (though usually just more mature and elegant) than Sweet Lolita, but Lighter and Softer than Gothic Lolita. Coordinates are usually exquisite and more grownup-looking than in other styles, with A-line skirts, corsets, muted colors and classy fabrics like florals adding to the look. Accessories are kept to a minimum, but the hat is fairly common, as well as very beautiful, intricate jewelry. Kanon Wakeshima is this.
  • Although more commonly associated with understated elegance and considered the more subtle styles, Classic Lolita does have an Over-The-Top element, becoming extreme opulence with large bonnets, and overload of accessories like pearls, cameos and roses, and skirts layered over skirts, some of which are at ankle-length.
  • Brands that specialize in Classic Lolita include: Innocent World, Mary Magdalene, Victorian Maiden and Juliette et Justine. Check Triple Fortune for examples of opulent OTT Classic Lolita.

Gothic, Sweet, and Classic are often considered "the big three", as they are the most commonly worn and well-known styles. There are many other defined styles, including:

• Punk Lolita: Defined by less emphasis on the Lolita image and more on darker, punkier styles. It draws heavily from punk fashion (Heavy Metal fashion is fairly popular as well), but stays true to the Lolita silhouette (though not always). The image is usually stripped-down and very difficult to achieve, and is usually characterized by blouses, band shirts, jackets and skirts instead of dresses. Boots are worn instead of Mary Janes or platform shoes. Leather accessories are very common, sometimes used in excess. Zippers are also used as decorative accents and a typical Punk Lolita coordinate will involve plaid. Punk Lolita usually features Anime Hair in one form or another, and styles start looking a bit more like Visual Kei than Lolita. Less-flashy Punk Lolita styles resemble Emo or Perky Goth styles to some extent. While not a Lolita designer, Vivienne Westwood is very popular in this scene for her Japanese punk fashion collections.
  • Punk Lolita used to be very popular in the beginnings of Lolita fashion, but it has now diminished in popularity, with Sweet Lolita taking the center stage.
  • Brands that specialize in Punk Lolita include: Putumayo
• Shiro Lolita: Lolita all in white. White wigs can be worn to match with the white fabrics, but natural colored hair and wigs are more common. Many outfits showcase a wedding theme, complete with kid gloves and veils. Common with Guro Lolita at times due to the typical "broken-bloodsplattered-doll-all-in-white" look.
  • Shiro Lolita is often considered simply a color scheme and not a proper sub-style at all.
• Kuro Lolita: Lolita all in black. Hair is can be dyed black or black wigs can be worn to match the clothing, but other neutral hair colors are also common. Many outfits showcase a funeral theme. Usually crosses over with Gothic Lolita, which generates a lot of confusion for the average person, considering how stylistically similar the two subsets are already.
  • Like Shiro Lolita, Kuro Lolita is often considered simply a color scheme rather than a true sub-style.
• Hime Lolita: What happens when Disney Princess meets Lolita fashion with influences from Hime Gyaru. The Hime Lolita style focuses on achieving a very extravagant, high-end, wealthy noble/princess look. Outfits are usually very colorful, embellished with gold thread, regal patterns and plenty of gems and sparkles. Accessories associated with royalty and nobility, such as crowns, tiaras, scepters and robes are used frequently. The style is quite rare, due to the cost involved and the complexity associated with the style. Hizaki of Versailles is well-known for this.
  • Baby the Stars Shine Bright puts out some extremely luxurious and elegant dresses for this, and Triple Fortune does too.
• Wa Lolita: Characterized by an emphasis on traditional Japanese styles. Dresses resemble kimonos with long kimono sleeves and puffy bottoms, and traditional footwear like geta are worn instead of doll shoes. The overall style bears some resemblance to Touhou Project characters. Brands such as OzzOn make great pieces in this style.
  • Qi Lolita: Similar to Wa Lolita, but uses Chinese clothing and accessories in place of Japanese. The outfit is usually a qipao modified to accommodate a petticoat, and bun-covers as hair accessories. Kasen Ibaraki and Hong Meiling from Touhou Project showcase this style. Also quite rare and such dresses are more commonly produced by independent online shops on Taobao (Chinese Ebay, which explains a lot)
• Ero Lolita: Exactly What It Says on the Tin. It focuses on a Hotter and Sexier image while retaining the modesty of Lolita. Common garments include thigh-high stockings, garter belts, leather, corsets, bustiers and shorter skirts. Can sometimes have Too Many Belts. A rather controversial subset, as making use of revealing attire while trying to maintain a modest appearance means that things can go horribly wrong, and most Ero Lolita outfits are subject to debate by the Lolita community whether or not they can actually be considered lolita. Ero Lolita is also a rare sub-style among lolitas, due to aforementioned controversy and difficulty in pulling it off well. miko of exist†trace and Yui Itsuki of Yousei Teikoku often wear attire that can be described as this.
• Guro Lolita: The subset of Lolita that concerned parents hate; it is Bloodier and Gorier than other Lolita styles, and also the darkest, most extreme style of them all. The style follows the basic Lolita silhouette, but focuses on a "broken doll" image and features a whole lot of Gorn, complete with distressed fabrics (white being a favorite color, as it contrasts well with red), torn-up clothes, bandages, messy hair, heavy makeup and fake blood. Slasher film-inspired elements such as fake wounds, slit wrists, bloody weapon props and corpse paint are very popular. The style takes cues from Emo at times, and might come across as being wangsty, but does not promote self-harm. A lot of Guro Lolis base their style off medical themes and zombies. Generally not an everyday style for Lolitas and usually reserved for certain occasions.
• Sailor Lolita: The Sailor Lolita look incorporates a nautical or schoolgirl theme, and may include sailor collars, ties, hats, nautical stripes, pleats and such. Outfits tend to start looking like Lolita versions of Japanese school uniforms. Sailor Lolita is actually quite common (albeit seasonal); brands like Angelic Pretty, Baby the Stars Shine Bright, Metamorphose, Innocent World and Victorian Maiden usually release Sailor Lolita collections in the summer.
  • Pirate Lolita: A subset of Sailor Lolita that is more heavily based on pirate themes. Usually incorporates elaborate, pirate-style outfits à la Pirates of the Caribbean, complete with eyepatches, plenty of belts, leather, treasure chest-styled bags, ruffly blouses with jabots and sword/gun props. The look isn't complete without tons of jewelry or an elaborately feathered tricorn hat. Mostly popularized and supplied by Alice and the Pirates.
• Casual Lolita: A more toned-down, contemporary version of Lolita fashion, usually worn when Lolitas need a break from too much frills or in their mundane life when they either can't or don't feel like dressing up. The image is stripped down to include nothing more than the basics, with only a few touches of more elaborate Lolita styles. Motifs are kept to a minimum, and designs usually draw inspiration from contemporary styles of clothing with the use of cardigans, hoodies and smaller headbows or hats like berets. Though the aesthetics are simple, it treads a very fine line between casual and Lolita, thus there can be certain issues in pulling it off. In general, the key to remaining Lolita in donning Casual Lolita would be to definitely include the silhouette of the puffy skirt.
  • Casual Lolita is usually not considered a proper substyle because it is just the toning down of other styles. So one can have Casual Classic Lolita, Casual Sweet, etc.
• Ouji/Boystyle: Sometimes referred to as "kodona", this is the Spear Counterpart of Lolita fashion. The style aims to look like a young anime boy and includes blouses, shirts, puffy shorts, knee-high socks, male anime character or host hairstyles, top hats and leather shoes. Though primarily targeted for boys, many girls also choose the style. Jyou and Omi of exist†trace showcase this. Alice and the Pirates is quite handy for frequent releases of this style.
  • Elegant Gothic Aristocrat: Arguably the darker, more badass version of Boystyle and Lolita. The style focuses on awesomeness and elegance. Expect to see the various forms of badass clothing (Badass Cape, Badass Longcoat, Badass Long Robe, etc...) being worn by someone somewhere in the sub-scene. Also expect to see cool headgear being worn. If headgear aren't worn, expect to see '80s Hair and other full-looking hairstyles. The style usually bears a resemblance to Edwardian, classic gangster, or Mafia fashion styles in its least impressive form, and royal fashion in its most extreme. Crosses over with Visual Kei. As an androgynous style, it caters to both men and women, and Aristocrat outfits can be worn by both sexes. Versailles is this. GACKT used to be and still has elements of this. Moi-Meme-Moitie is an example of a brand that regularly has EGA clothes.

A comprehensive list and description of the most prominent sub-styles of lolita fashion can be found somewhere else. The link that used to be here was dangerous. As with other alternative fashions, there are numerous exceptions. Lolita styles often cross over with other Lolita styles and draw influences from other styles (Steampunk, Goth — usually Romantic, Dolly Kei, Fairy Kei, Hime Gyaru, Mori Girl, etc.)

Occasionally overlaps with Visual Kei. Can also overlap with Fairytale Wedding Dress, Impractically Fancy Outfit, and Parasol of Prettiness. See also Costume Porn, Awesome Anachronistic Apparel, Graceful Ladies Like Purple, and other related tropes. Has absolutely nothing to do with the infamous novel of the same name or the Lolita complex; lolitas are well aware of the overlap and avoid associating themselves with it (even the mere mention of it would incite outrage among members of the subculture). Generally, the short term "loli" refers to lolicon, while lolita always uses the full term or a portmanteau.

Has their own dedicated magazine, the quarterly published ''Gothic and Lolita Bible".

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Notable Lolita fashion labels:

• Moi-même-Moitié: Mana's fashion label, founded in 1999. Popularized the Elegant Gothic Lolita and Elegant Gothic Aristocrat styles. The label sells clothes, bags, accessories and other merch.
• Angelic Pretty: a fashion company created in 1979, and specializing in Sweet Lolita clothing known for their bright, highly-sought after designer printed dresses, and more general cuteness than elegance. Generally accepted to have started OTT Sweet Lolita.
• Baby, the Stars Shine Bright: created in 1988, focusing on Sweet Lolita although its general aesthetic of lacy elegance allows some of their dresses to fit into other styles like Classic and Gothic Lolita. Its sister brand Alice and the Pirates was created in 2004 with a darker, more Gothic spin, and produces a lot of clothes for Pirate Lolita. Baby, the Stars Shine Bright is the brand featured in the Lolita movie, Kamikaze Girls.
• h.NAOTO: a fashion designer specializing in Punk and Gothic Lolita. He has designed Lolita outfits for Amy Lee as well as for GACKT, Hangry and Angry, Psycho le Cému and more.

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Media inspired by, making references to, or showcasing Lolita Fashion (although the accuracy of the portrayal of the fashion is debatable):

Anime and Manga

• Most Turn of the Millennium anime in general, especially Magical Girlfriend, Magical Girl, Iyashikei, shonen and most shoujo series, feature characters who dress up in Lolita clothing (most often, Elegant Gothic Lolita clothing) as a form of eye candy for otaku who are part of the Periphery Demographic, which is often wrongly viewed by outsiders as fans of "Lolicon" (and which is not welcome for discussion here).
  • That said, with the sheer amount of hate targeted at Lolicon and Shotacon, many anime and manga creators take care to develop characters that would not imply anything of an erotic nature and instead would appeal more to, let's say, Visual Kei fans, Goths or the Shōjo Demographic, leading to more true-to-life depictions of lolitas. For more specific examples, the Elegant Gothic Lolita has a list of them.
• Of special mention is the manga/anime Rozen Maiden, whose plot centers on living Victorian dolls showcasing the various styles of Lolita Fashion turned up to eleven.
  • Suigintou is among the most easily recognizable for wearing the Elegant Gothic Lolita style.
  • Souseiseki has roughly the same palette as Suigintou, but dresses up in the Boystyle (ouji/kodona) style.
  • Suiseiseki is a Classic Lolita/Aristocrat, desu.
  • All of the dolls could be seen as different types of lolita in general. Hinaichigo is a Sweet Lolita, Kirakishou is a Classic Lolita (or a slightly more refined Sweet Lolita, take it either way), Shinku is an Aristocrat, and Kanaria is more like a mix of Classic Lolita and Elegant Gothic Aristocrat.

• Maken-ki!: Kodama Himegami modernizes the concept by forgoing Victorian fashion in favor of present day clothing brands. Nearly everything she wear is dark silk trimmed with ribbon and lace, which is especially noticeable in her choice of lingerie: usually consisting of corsets, see-through teddies, thongs, garter belts, and nylons. All of which gives her the look of a Gothic Victoria's Secret fashion model.

Music

• Gothic Metal and Symphonic Metal artists in general dress up in extravagant outfits that serve as a reflection of their fantasy-based themes. Commonly used styles are Elegant Gothic Lolita, Hime Lolita and Classic Lolita for women, and Boystyle/Aristocrat for men.
  • Usually taken up to eleven when such bands are female-fronted or have female vocalists; not only do they dress up in ostentatious attire, but also act like Lolitas and (though not always) take their Lolita personas offstage. Tarja Turunen of Nightwish and Cristina Scabbia of Lacuna Coil are particularly notable. Of special mention is Amy Lee of Evanescence, who brought the style closer to the Western Goth fanbase.
• Many Visual Kei artists, even those who don't play Gothic Metal, wear Lolita clothing for Fanservice, either as a fetish or simply for added visual flair
  • Mana of Malice Mizer (mentioned above)
  • Kana
  • Kanon Wakeshima brought Lolita even closer to the mainstream with not only her Lolita-themed outfit and stage persona, but her Lolita-themed songs as well.
  • Yui Itsuki of Yousei Teikoku wears some form of Elegant Gothic Lolita clothing, but also showcases other styles, more specifically Ero and Classic Lolita.
  • Versailles. Of special mention is their guitarist, Hizaki who is a man wearing a full Rococo-inspired Hime Lolita dress.
  • Some ex-Visual Kei/post-Visual artists have worn Lolita clothing in one form or another to rather epic results, examples include Dir en grey's Shinya and Blood Stain Child's Ryu.
• Victoriandustrial violinist Emilie Autumn drew some ire from the Lolita community a while back by titling a song about sexual abuse suffered as a child "Gothic Lolita". Autumn explained that she was trying to refer to the book, but appreciated Lolita style, and the fuss eventually died down. She now has something of a fanbase in the Lolita community, many of whom dress up for her concerts, though she herself does not wear Lolita.
• The video clip forVoltaire's song "Haapy birthday (My old friend)" features Lolitas, all of them real lolitas who were Voltaire's MySpace friends.
• The looks of Goth Rock band Strawberry Switchblade fall into this sometimes.

Video Games

• Lolitas in Japanese video games (and some Western games) are almost as ubiquitous as their Anime counterparts, due to Periphery Demographic appeal.
  • Special mention goes to the Touhou Project franchise by ZUN, which takes Lolita to extremes. The entire series features loads of characters dressed in some form of Lolita clothing (with some characters having their lolita inspiration become more obvious in later releases) battling it out in eye-catching Bullet Hell duels.
  • Another shooter, Death Smiles, features GothLoli characters.
• Pokémon has a few characters (and some Mons) showcasing Lolita design elements. One of the most recognizable lolitas in the series is Mai (Marley), one of five trainers the player can team up with in the Gen. IV games. The Gothitelle evolutionary family from Gen. V showcases the Gothic Lolita style.
  • A new trainer class called "Fairy Tale Girl" appeared in Generation VI, coinciding with the introduction of the Fairy type and exclusively specializing in said type, which dresses in Sweet Lolita style. This generation also introduced Valerie, the first Fairy-type gym leader in the series who is a fashion designer that dresses in the Wa style.
  • Gothorita evolution line is pretty much a parody of the fashion.
• In fighting games, it has become increasingly common for cute bruisers to be depicted as wearing some form of Lolita clothing, often as a way to highlight their Badass Adorable tendencies.
• In The World Ends with You, the in-universe clothing brand Lapin Angelique specializes in Lolita fashion.

Movies

• Kamikaze Girls: The main character Momoko. Notably a piece of work that is actually dedicated to the style and one that portrays it completely accurately (though a version of Lolita in 2004 that is rather old-fashioned style of Lolita compared to what it is today,) even getting Lolita brand Baby the Stars Shine Bright to supply the clothes.

The Lolita subculture, as well as the people associated with it, provide or have provided examples of the following tropes:

• Adults Dressed as Children / Age-Inappropriate Dress: The majority of Lolitas are teenagers or adults who dress like prepubescent princesses. Possible implications aside, it works and is awesome.
  • Averted with the more mature Aristocrat style (and Classic Lolita to an extent), where the main point is to look as badass and classy as possible.
• All Women Love Shoes. Shoes are an essential part of any Lolita style, the archetypal shoe for the lolita is the Mary Jane.
• Always Female: Lolita fashion is primarily targeted at a female youth subculture. In recent years, however, males are starting to get into it as well, due to the increasing popularity of Lolita styles in the Japanese music scene (in particular, Visual Kei) as well as in various Anime series.
• Ambiguous Gender: Mana of Malice Mizer, the Trope Maker and Trope Namer for Elegant Gothic Lolita, and Hizaki of Versailles fit this trope to a T. Also happens a lot in the Boystyle scene, due to the high number of female-to-male crossdressers in the scene, but maintaining a highly androgynous appearance is the hallmark of the Aristocrat style, where achieving an elegant but genderless appearance is generally observed.
• Anime Hair: Developed alongside Anime and Visual Kei. Currently, Sweet Lolita hairstyles tend to lean more towards Magical Girl styles, while darker Lolita styles tend to be more subdued. Hime Lolita with Hime Gyaru influences tend to require a curled, bouffant hairstyle. Aristocrat hairstyles lean more towards '80s Hair and other "big" hairstyles, but not always.
• Awesome Anachronistic Apparel: Victorian-era clothing in a modern setting? Sounds awesome.
• Bifauxnen: Female-to-male Boystyle crossdressers
• Blood-Splattered Wedding Dress: Common in Guro Lolita.
• Broken Base:
  • The whole scene tends to be this, considering the large and ever-increasing number of those who adhere to specific sub-sets, and also depending on how seriously certain individuals take dressing in Lolita.
  • REPLICA vs. BRAND. Bringing this up on any Lolita fashion forum is guaranteed to cause trouble and drama, with neither sides sparing words and generally being very, very vicious. Both sides, ironically, claim that the opposition cares too much about labels.
    • On one hand the replica side states that many items are not accessible to people in other countries, and replicas are simply supplying a demand, not to mention that not all brands are made equal and their quality doesn't always justify the prices.
    • The brand side argues that many popular brands are, despite online popularity, very small compared to mainstream brands and replicas just hurt their already small profits, and if people genuinely enjoy wearing Lolita, they would buy and give support from cheaper, independent brands or simply make their own instead of essentially buying knockoffs.
• Classical Movie Vampire: A common look in the Gothic Lolita and Aristocrat styles.
• Classy Cravat: Very popular in the Gothic, Classic and Aristocrat scenes.
• Cleavage Window: A common element in some more mature designs such as in Classic, Gothic and Hime, though it is usually not cleavage but actually decolletage in adhering to Lolita's standards of modesty. More common in Ero Lolita outfits, for obvious reasons.
• Coat Cape: Sometimes seen in Boystyle, especially designs with more Punk or costume-y influences
• Coat, Hat, Mask: A fairly common combination in the Aristocrat style, and adds to the dark, mysterious look.
• Conspicuous Consumption: One of Lolita's defining trait. Despite the rise in secondhand clothing and independent brands, owning a full lolita wardrobe, clothing and accessories, is still a costly investment. It isn't unusual- indeed, it's expected- to drop more than $200 on a new coordinate set. Even more "affordable" brands rarely sell for less than $100.
• Cool Crown: Often seen in Hime Lolita and is a recurring motif in the fashion.
• Cool Shades: Rarely used, but not unheard of, especially with Lolitas who have Visual Kei leanings or those trying to look casual.
• Cosplay: Happens rather frequently in the scene, where creating "lolitafied" versions of fictional characters' clothes are common. A few lolita dresses put out by brands emulate well-known characters such as Baby the Stars Shine Bright putting out a Snow White dress that's very similar to the 1937 Disney version. Though it's not a very good idea to call the fashion itself a cosplay to a Lolita...
• Costume Copycat: Happens frequently among those who are only starting to get into the subculture. Reactions from veterans are mixed, ranging from support and encouragement to disgust and outrage.
• Costume Porn: The number of possible looks and styles are virtually limitless, despite being based on only one silhouette. Fans of the fashion often argue about what can be considered "Lolita" but generally, any style can be made to fit, in one way or another, after some modification.
• Darker and Edgier: Kuro Lolita, being a darker version of Classic or Sweet. Gothic Lolita is even darker than Kuro, and Guro is arguably the most extreme of the styles, being more explicit and more disturbing. Punk Lolita is seen similarly as well.
• Distaff Counterpart: Widely considered to be this to Visual Kei, since their origins can be traced at around the same period (late 1970s-early 1980s). However, there are also males who adopt the style, whether for VK performances or simply for shock and awe.
  • Spear Counterpart: Boystyle, a sub-set of Lolita where girls dress up as pretty boys with puffy pants. Aristocrat, while an androgynous style, is also considered as this.
• Dress Code: The basic requirements for Lolita are as follows: a puffy Pimped-Out Dress, frills, ribbons, a general look of modesty, elegance and cuteness, and stylish accessories. Anything more is fine (in fact, Lolitas are actively seeking out more and are trying to outdo each other), but anything less would not be considered Lolita under normal circumstances. Punk Lolita averts this, since it loosely adheres to the formula, with only the silhouette as the basic requirement.
  • No Dress Code: Though the subculture does allow personal freedom and exploration when it comes to creating personal styles.
• Difficult, but Awesome: Arguably so. Lolita is infamous for the extreme difficulty of pulling the look off (considering that one must adhere to a specific set of dress rules but said rules tend to be ill-defined) but when done properly and creatively, the end result is nothing short of awesome.
• Dude Looks Like a Lady: More common than it seems in the subculture. Justified by the fact that many important personalities in the Lolita subculture are feminine-looking men.
• Emo Teen: Possible aesthetic choices for Gothic Lolita and Guro Lolita.
• Eyepatch of Power: Common in Pirate and Guro Lolita.
• Fairytale Wedding Dress: Any of the styles, with Shiro Lolita, Hime Lolita and to a lesser extent, Gothic Lolita, fitting this trope to a T.
• Fandom-Enraging Misconception: Stating that Lolita Fashion has anything to do with pedophilia, is a sexual fetish, or is just cosplay. Just don't.
• Fanservice: Generally averted and looked down upon in the subculture, as Lolita seeks to de-sexualize females and members of the subculture try to avoid and erase any connotations or implications caused by misassociation with the abovementioned novel. Subverted in the Ero Lolita scene, though, as it emphasizes the Hotter and Sexier side of the subculture, while maintaining the modesty the scene tries to promote.
• Fluffy Fashion Feathers: A commonly used element in Lolita design. Usually used in the more mature styles.
• French Maid Outfit: Commonly misassociated with Lolita fashion. Sweet Lolita occasionally dresses have elements of this, though.
• Frills of Justice: Most commonly seen in Sweet Lolita and very often seen as a symbol of cute, fantastical, and fairy-like qualities typically associated with the style.
• Frilly Upgrade: Happens rather frequently as members of the subculture delve deeper and discover more styles.
  • It actually makes sense to upgrade one's wardrobe as one discovers more styles, and, according to many Lolitas, may actually be helpful in getting used to the subculture and its demands. Given the cost of outfits and difficulty of acquiring them, many newbies to the subculture start off by making/buying at least one outfit (preferably a simple one, to keep costs down) and just stock up on inexpensive but decent accessories over time (as an expansion pack of sorts) while saving up cash for higher-end outfits and accessories until they can make/purchase their desired coordinate set. The same process applies to Lolitas who wish to change styles.
  • This is basically what happens in Lolita Cosplay, when Lolitas lolita-fy the clothes of fictional characters. Add lace, ruffles, femininity, and you're set!
• From Dress to Dressing: Optional, but commonly seen in Guro Lolita.
• Germans Love David Hasselhoff: Vivienne Westwood, an English fashion designer, is highly popular in the Japanese Punk Lolita scene. Also, Amy Lee is very popular among Japanese fans of Elegant Gothic Lolita (the same thing applies to Cristina Scabbia, Emilie Autumn,Tarja Turunen and pretty much every female Gothic artist out there).
  • The same can be said for the fashion in general. Most styles are based off classic European designs, and some Lolita models are European, but the style is more popular in Japan than anywhere else. Ditto for Japanese Lolita designs that become popular elsewhere.
• Giant Poofy Sleeves: Extremely common in all styles with the notable exception of Ero Lolita and Aristocrat, where more form-fitting sleeves are often considered desirable.
• Gorn: The defining feature of Guro Lolita. Can be very subtle and tame to so extreme that wearers of Guro Lolita tend to look like female Black Metal artists.
• Graceful Ladies Like Purple: Lavender is common in sweet lolita, and other shades of purple like plum are featured (although somewhat uncommon) in other styles as well.
• Hell-Bent for Leather: Punk Lolita frequently make uses of leather accessories, though it isn't a requirement. Ero Lolita have made this a defining feature. with some designs having leather accessories all over the place.
• Hotter and Sexier: Ero Lolita. Nuff said.
• Iconic Outfit: Many Japanese (and some non-Japanese) artists/musicians/models have become well-known for sporting a Lolita image, to the point where they have made the style their "hat". Some of the most notable include Amy Lee of Evanescence, Kanon Wakeshima, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, Mana, GACKT, Kaya and the members of Versailles.
• Improbable Hairstyle: Not necessarily a requirement, but many Lolitas do crazy things to their hair. By tying it up in pigtails, weaving it in braids, dyeing it in different colors, etc..., they can achieve a rather complex, sophisticated look.
  • Wigs and hairpieces are a popular (but optional) item among lolitas for this reason.
• Impossibly Cool Clothes / Impractically Fancy Outfit: The main thing that defines Lolita fashion. It gets crazier as you go to the more OTT styles.
• In the Hood: Optional, but darker styles include hoods in some designs.
• Incongruously-Dressed Zombie: One of the more popular Guro Lolita looks, complete with plenty of blood stains, fake wounds/bite marks, and lots of makeup.
• Kimono Fanservice / Kimono Is Traditional: Wa Lolita. Very elegant and classy in an oddly traditional way. Though it doesn't come cheap and is deceptively difficult to pull off.
  • Some brands have put out yukata outfits for their summer lines. YMMV on whether it counts as Lolita or not.
• Labcoat of Science and Medicine: Sometimes seen in Guro Lolita, and adds to the creepy factor.
• Lighter and Softer: Sweet Lolita. It's also the more sugary variant of Lolita, and anything associated with it oozes with Moe.
• Magical Girl: Invoked in the Lighter and Softer variants (Sweet, Shiro, Sailor in some occasions), to the point where adherents to those sub-styles start looking eerily similar to Sailor Moon, Puella Magi Madoka Magica, or Touhou Project characters.
• Man in a Kilt: Uncommon, but they do exist in the subculture, especially in the subculture's fringes. It is helped by the fact that many Visual Kei bands and artists have worn Lolita outfits and flaunted them frequently in live shows and music videos.
• Meido: Invoked in so many styles that outsiders tend to associate this trope with the subculture.
• The Merch: A very large part of the Lolita experience. One cannot be a part of the subculture without some form of Lolita clothing. Thankfully, the market for Lolita clothing is HUGE, though there can simply be too many clothing lines to choose from especially with the rise in independent lolita brands. In recent years, there has been an increase in secondhand and consignment shops that specialize in Lolita fashion, eliminating the issue of affordability for many wearers.
• Nausea Fuel / Nightmare Fuel: Guro Lolita. The idea of cute Victorian doll-like girls having slit wrists and drenched in their own blood would simply be sickening enough to incite outrage among those outside the subculture.
  • Then again, all of it is fake.
• Of Corsets Sexy: Common in Ero Lolita and Aristocrat.
• Official Cosplay Gear: Popular Japanese Lolita brands qualify.
• Ominous Opera Cape: Optional, but it adds a lot to the look of the darker, more badass styles.
• One Size Fits All: Many clothing lines make clothes in one size that can make it difficult for larger girls to fit into.
• Pink Means Feminine: One of the most common colors in the fashion, especially Sweet Lolita, where it gets overused.
• Pimped-Out Cape and Pimped-Out Dress: For men and women, respectively, this has become a requirement. Use was pioneered by GACKT and Mana of Malice Mizer, respectively, and is now so ubiquitous that one cannot be called a part of the subculture if he/she doesn't wear these.
• Pointless Bandaid: A common accessory in Guro Lolita
• Pretty Boy: Men who wear Boystyle and Aristocrat outfits, respectively.
• Pretty in Mink: Features prominently in many styles, especially in the higher-end designs.
• Punk Punk: The range of Punk Lolita styles is actually broader than it seems. There's Steampunk Lolita, Cyberpunk Lolita, Diesel Punk Lolita etc...
  • The fashion in general has plenty of variants and counting.
• Ring Around the Collar: Prominent in the classier styles.
• Rule of Cool/Rule of Glamorous: Why Lolita fashion exists.
• Sailor Fuku: Sailor Lolita is patterned after this.
• Serious Business: The common stereotype of Lolitas holding tea parties in heavily decorated rooms while listening to Classical Music (or any music with "classical" elements) doesn't sound too exotic at all; in fact, some lolitas follow what is called a "Lolita lifestyle" where anything that adopts a similar aesthetic to Lolita (elegance and antiquity) is included in their lifestyle.
  • The lifestyle itself and the stereotype are exaggerated — some followers of the lifestyle go to extremes, incorporating lolita into most, if not all, aspects of their lifestyle to the point where it is nearly impossible to determine any dividing line between re-enactment/performance and actual lifestyle. Some just wear the clothes occasionally.
  • Actually, even non-lifestyle Lolitas stage Victorian-style parties and meet-ups with other Lolitas in cultural conventions and similar events.
• Sexy Whatever Outfit: Ero Lolita as well as some cheap costumes.
• Textile Work Is Feminine: Lolita fashion itself started out with young women making their own outfits from scratch, and to this day a DIY ethos is positively encouraged. High quality is still expected, mind you.
• Too Many Belts: Many styles. Special mention goes to Pirate Lolita for associating this trope with the style. Ero Lolitas make use of useless garter belts. Aristocrats often make use of seemingly useless belts as well.
• True Blue Femininity: Once of the most common colors in the fashion, especially in sweet lolita.
• Useless Accessory: Plenty, including: anklets, bags, belts (see above), bonnets, bracelets, feathers, hats, hoods, lace, ribbons, scarves, etc. that occasionally serve no other purpose aside from being worn alongside a Pimped-Out Dress. The OTT versions of the various styles, as well as Kote Lolita, have made these a defining feature.
• Un Built Trope: Compare pictures like these with current lolita dresses, there's a big difference and Lolita, which is a very experimental fashion, wasn't completely codified until the early 2000's. There's also even early subversion of the style when it didn't even had a name, the looks of Irish pop duo Strawberry Switchblade◊ are like the unholy daughter of lolita and Cyndi Lauper
• Waistcoat of Style: Common in Boystyle and Aristocrat.
• Wholesome Crossdresser: Crossdressing has become quite popular in the scene for men and women alike.
• Zettai Ryouiki: Very common throughout the subculture with its use of kneesocks (and over-the-knee socks,) exposing a small bit of skin between the skirt and the socks.
  • Has gained some controversy in recent years due to that fact that Zettai Ryouiki is perceived as sexual in Japan, going against Lolita fashion's standards of modesty and desexualisation. This is becoming very popular lately among Boystyle/Ouji fans, since part of the standard outfit consists in wearing shorts with long socks, some adherents to this sub-division started to wear very short shorts with over the knee socks.
• Zipperiffic: Punk Lolita designs sometimes incorporate plenty of zippers, simply because they adds to the "punky" look. Most of them are useless, though.

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