ロリータファッションrorita fasshon
Quick definition:Lolita fashion is a Japanese street style inspired by Victorian and Rococo clothing, featuring full knee-length skirts, petticoats, lace and ribbons, and is about modest, doll-like elegance.
Meaning
Lolita fashion is a style that began in Japan and is worn by people who like a refined, doll-like look. Outfits typically include a knee-length skirt or dress held out by a petticoat, a blouse, lace, ribbons, bows and accessories such as headdresses, bonnets and stockings. Neat, modest shapes are central to the style.
There are several substyles. Sweet lolita uses pastel colours and playful prints, gothic lolita favours black and dark tones, and classic lolita uses muted colours and traditional patterns. Many wearers follow shared guidelines for coordinating dress, hair and accessories. The name does not refer to any sexual meaning; the fashion is about elegance and personal style.
Lolita fashion matters to anime and manga fans because characters in the style appear regularly in series, and because the look is a visible part of fan events and conventions. It also shows how Japanese street fashion became a worldwide community, with groups meeting up to wear the outfits together.
Origin:The exact origin of the name is uncertain. It was borrowed from the English word Lolita, but the style is based on Victorian and Rococo dress and is unrelated to the themes of the novel of the same name. The fashion grew in Japanese street culture during the late twentieth century, with Tokyo's Harajuku district a major gathering place.
Example:A typical lolita outfit might be a pastel pink dress with a lace-trimmed hem, a large bow and a matching headdress, worn over a petticoat for a rounded shape. Darker versions swap the pink for black, with gothic details, but the full skirt and neat, covered-up look remain.
Did you know?Lolita fashion is often worn at tea parties and meet-ups, where groups dress up and enjoy cafes together. Fans outside Japan have built their own communities, including online sales of second-hand pieces, to find items from brands that can be hard to buy abroad.