The Lolita Lifestyle

There are people out there who say that the Lolita Fashion is just a fashion choice and doesn't dictate the rest of their lives. Then there are the people out there that say that because they wear Lolita, they choose to live in a more elegant way. Then there are people like me who live a lifestyle that fits in perfectly with Lolita, but they found the fashion last.

Any way you put it, the Lolita Fashion is going to have some "lifestylers" out there. These are the people who want to live like what they perceive to be the perfect Lolita Lifestyle. For many people, as soon as you say the words "Lolita Lifestyle", the first thing that pops into their head is Momoko from Kamikaze Girls.

Momoko is (at her core) a spoiled brat who lives in the most elegant way possible. She doesn't like sports because it isn't dainty enough. She prefers to embroider, look at pictures of flowers, eat only sweet things, listen to classical music, and basically live a life of elegance and luxury as best as she can. Don't get me wrong, I love Momoko and Kamikaze Girls is one of my favorite movies out there, but I don't think it portrays a good version of the Lolita Lifestyle that everybody thinks of.


A lifestyle is more than a style of dress or what music you prefer listening to. A lifestyle is made up of your hobbies, habits, general aesthetic and (for some people) your job. I'm not saying that you should go out and try to find a job that fits in with you love of the Lolita fashion. But if you want to make your love of Lolita fashion part of your lifestyle, then you should do it.

 A lifestyle makes up who you are and you shouldn't be chained in by what you think that other people think you should do just because you are a Lifestyle Lolita. As Momoko would say, "if it makes you happy, do it!"

Almost all of my hobbies fall into the category of the Lifestyle Lolita, so I am going to do a series of posts about Lolita friendly hobbies if you are interested in picking a couple up. There are tons of activities out there that could be considered proper for the sometimes cute, sometimes sassy, sometimes elegant lifestyle of a Lolita, so I am just going to write about the hobbies that I have a personal experience in. Keep your eye out for them and I hope that you will enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy writing them.

A Closer Look at Classic Lolita

Picture from lolitafashion.org

“Lolita do not recognize any authority. They follow only the values they have chosen for themselves, regardless of what anybody might say.” ― Novala Takemoto
 
 Understanding the lolita fashion is simple enough. All you really have to understand is the basic silhouette and remember that the key to any lolita fashion is modesty.  That means skirts are down to about knee length, knee-high socks are in, blouses are worn with jumperskirts, and you don't show off your cleavage. Knowing those basic guidelines is easy enough, but what about all the different styles? You have classic lolita, sweet lolita, gothic lolita, hime lolita, and more. What's the difference between all of them?

Out of all of the lolita styles, I feel drawn to classic lolita the most, so that is the style I'm going to talk about first.

When people talk about classic lolita, they like to reference it as the "grown up sister of sweet lolita". On one hand, this is an entirely true statement. Classic lolita looks more mature and grown up than sweet lolita. It focuses a fair amount on solid colors and floral prints instead of the bright pastels and sugary sweet candy prints of sweet lolita. Classic lolitas are also more likely to wear tights instead of knee high socks. Brands like Victorian Maiden and Innocent World are also more likely to focus on simpler all over patterns than prints (but they still have their share of classic prints). Gloves and hats also seem to play a part in this style more than the oversized bows and bonnets.

In my opinion, classic lolita is more about looking refined and classy. Imagine being invited to a fancy garden party. All the flowers would be blooming all around you, the guests are decked out in their formal sun dresses and pearls, and even the refreshments are stylized in a manner that says "this is important, this is classy, this is sophisticated". That is what classic lolita is trying to embody.

From Rags to Frills

Drawing by the talented AmaneMiss on deviantArt

"Shedding my disguise of being normal for the princess I am is priceless. The world has enough ordinary people. Why waste my life trying to be mediocre and average as well? I refuse to be common. I refuse to assimilate." -Lady Kristen, Princessly Living

I am not fashionable. I have never understood high fashion or why every one of my classmates were obsessed with the latest styles on Seventeen or Vogue when I was in high school. My "style" consisted of jeans (that may or may not have had holes in them), oversized t-shirts, and a pair of sneakers. When I got older, that expanded to several pairs of different earrings and a little bit of eyeshadow if I was lucky.

 I have been looking at lolita fashion for long enough that I know that it is not a phase that I am going through. I would truly like to start wearing it because I like the style. But, I wasn't sure why I still liked the style. Compared to all of my other friends, it is more frilly than anything else I have seen. Being a full-fledged gamer tomboy when I was younger, this fact both amused me and made me wonder why there was such a shift. I used to complain when there was even a little ruffle or piece of lace on my clothing. Now, I'm flocking to a fashion that is covered in ruffles, lace, bows, ribbons, and even sweets (in the case of sweet lolita).

I sat down for a while to think about it. I have always been overweight. I have never really felt pretty. I have always wished I had the confidence of some of my favorite television heroines like Wonder Woman, Sailor Moon, and Piper from Charmed.

Then it hit me.

Ever since I started to get interested in this fashion, I could imagine myself wearing it and I felt pretty. When I felt pretty, I felt more confident and kick ass. Who cares if the fashion was different? I could bring in different styles and make it truly my own. Having an off day? How about a fun skirt with no petticoat and a favorite blouse? Need to be more professional? How about a more simple skirt with a blouse and a hand-knit sweater vest over it and business shoes with a strand of natural pearls? Want to go over-the-top? Break out all of the crazy candy colored accessories and have a blast!

For once, I feel like I can finally wear something that will make me look good and make me feel like a princess while wearing it. For once, I feel beautiful and I don't even wear it yet.