Lolita Fashion - Frills, lace, and everything salty!

[takemetoyourgrave]

Lolita fashion is the fashion for petty girls to spend thousands of dollars on dresses, wear borderline age play, and be general bitches to anyone without brand. Ultimately Lolita is the fashion of overindulgence.

An Overview

Lolita began in like the 80s looking nothing like it does today. For example, no petticoat, much more toned down, a lot of it was handmade and featured a boxy silhouette.



This subculture was a niche that not many partook in until it gained in steam around the 90s with what is now called “Old School”

Old School

Known for printless dresses, velveteen, and lace monsters, Old School is where Lolita as we know it began to take shape. Petticoats while not common, began to be used more and more often to create a distinct cupcake silhouette. This began to branch into the three main substyles we know and love today: Classic, Gothic, and Sweet. Many girls now try to recreate the nostalgia of old school.

Old School Then


Old School Now



Classic

The most influenced by the Victorian Era. If you can blend in with grandma’s couch you’re ready to go. The big brands are Innocent World and Victorian Maiden



Gothic

This isn’t your typical mall goth. We’re talking thousand dollar dresses with gates and shit on them. Do not buy any shit from Hot Topic and call it Gothic Lolita. Doesn’t have to be all black. The big brands are Moi Meme Moitie



Sweet

Pastel bullshit and some unicorns and stars and sweets. The more crap you can pile on your head the better. The big brands here are Angelic Pretty, Baby the Stars Shine Bright, and Metamorphose Temps de Filles.



Lesser known “Sub Styles”

Spoiler

Pirate

Like pirates



Sailor

Nautical!



Casual

Tee-shirts/Cutsews and less shit on your head.



Punk

it's not a phase mom



Wa

For Weeaboos



Qi

What’s a Chinese Weeaboo?



Steampunk

Not for beginners



Ero

Sexy, but no sex. NOT CHEAP AND NO SATIN PLS



Guro

This is halloween



But wait what about the boys?

Ouji, Kodona, and Aristo



How to not be an ita

• Learn how to match colors.
• Don't buy from Milanoo
• Don't buy from Milanoo
• Don't buy from Milanoo
• Don’t buy cheap clothes unless you want to look like these trainwrecks.

Spoiler: Itas

Spoiler: Some Terms

• Brand – The brand name of a dress
• Coord - Short for coordinate. The overall outfit
• Ita – Derivative of the Japanese word for “Ouch” or “Painful” as in it is literally painful to look at. Used to describe lolitas that are dressed horribly.
• JSK – Jumperskirt. A dress without sleeves
• OP – One Piece. A dress
• Print – The design on a dress.

Useful Links

• LaceMarket - For second hand lolita
• Lolibrary - For looking up pieces

Disclaimer:

• No, it is not a fetish or ageplay.
• No, we don’t have sex in it how the fuck would you get cum out of chiffon
• No, it’s not named after the book.
• Yes, we really go out like this.
• Yes, it's a lot of money.

 

[RI 360]

It's funny when they're fat messes:

 

[takemetoyourgrave]

It's funny when they're fat messes:

The first would be an ita regardless of size. The second and third, if they were a lot skinnier would be average.

But for being actually really heavy it's not horrible...

 

[#Triggered]

would you rather fat people wore that post maternity garb posted on the fat acceptance thread? Crop tops so we can see their fat rolls in the flesh? LOL

im with @takemetoyourgrave on this one, those don't look too bad. fat cosplays on the other hand... could you imagine a fat rikku? what about a fat rikku with droopy/flat boobs? down to her waist? o____o

 

[The Lizard Queen]

Ah... so many bad memories.
I tried to get in with the local lolita group years ago (I was going through a phase), and I can say it was like everything bad about social cliques in high school, but worse.
There's so much backbiting and infighting in the lolita community. They may act inclusive, but secretly they're ridiculing everyone else when they're not looking. You'd best know everything about the fashion before you join, because if you don't know what harajuku, or dandy is, you're going to get laughed at.
Friendships (if you could call them that) were constantly being made and broken. I saw girls who had been best friends the week before suddenly get into fights over tiny hat placement -- not to mention the endless arguments over petty differences... and if a boy is involved, heaven help you. It's just nothing but a different level of mean girls.

 

[melty]

tiny hat placement

If it's those mini top hats that's ita as fuck. Yes I'm a horrible elitist lol.

I've been in a couple of local comms. The first one was nice to newbies and willing to help, with a couple of exceptions. As long as people were willing to learn, nobody got mad if they didn't know what some term was. The exceptions were really autistic people no one wanted to deal with.

The second comm is also overall good but it has its own troubles and quirks which I won't go into. Not as bad as what you're describing though.

I have a lot of really good friends from lolita, so there's good and bad. You also don't have to join a comm, it's just clothes, you can wear them whenever.

 

[takemetoyourgrave]

I have a lot of really good friends from lolita, so there's good and bad. You also don't have to join a comm, it's just clothes, you can wear them whenever.

That's the big dilemma for a lot of lolitas. Is it ok to go out alone dressed like this?

I know the first few times I went out I only dressed up with my comm (who are all absolute lovelies). After that I just kept enjoying myself so much that I wanted to keep dressing up even if it was on my own.

There are always horror stories of girls getting harassed in lolita so there's that to consider

 

[Mechanical Hugbox]

I see them all around the place by themselves (but to be fair I do currently live near a university)

 

[melty]

That's the big dilemma for a lot of lolitas. Is it ok to go out alone dressed like this?

I know the first few times I went out I only dressed up with my comm (who are all absolute lovelies). After that I just kept enjoying myself so much that I wanted to keep dressing up even if it was on my own.

There are always horror stories of girls getting harassed in lolita so there's that to consider

It of course depends a lot on your area and what kind of person you are. I don't mind going out alone, sometimes people make stupid comments, but I'm pretty confident in standing up for myself and live in a good area. It's also nice to go out with your boyfriend or normie friend(s). That actually gets a lot fewer stupid comments than going out with other lolitas.

 

[Lackadaisy]

Are the men who do this gay? Because they look gay. Very gay. Almost too gay.

 

[Sadcake]

I love the look but have always been terrified at the price required. There were girls at my college who were into this stuff, and most of them were so glamorous you could cry.

I would personally never want to get into something like this without being able to commit financially well. Because when it's done poorly, it's a fucking train wreck.

 

[takemetoyourgrave]

Are the men who do this gay? Because they look gay. Very gay. Almost too gay.

They come in all orientations tbh

I love the look but have always been terrified at the price required. There were girls at my college who were into this stuff, and most of them were so glamorous you could cry.

I would personally never want to get into something like this without being able to commit financially well. Because when it's done poorly, it's a fucking train wreck.

It can be done "on a budget". It just takes longer to build a wardrobe. Most second hand dresses run $100-250 and accessories are even less.

 

[Potatomongrel]

Why?

 

[Broken Pussy]

Why?

Because they like it?

 

[Potatomongrel]

Because they like it?

That's kinda vague but okay. I guess my question was too. What is so appealing about lolita fashion? What makes people participate in said subculture?

 

[Wet Bread]

While I personally have no interest in wearing lolita myself (being a broke, lazy male), I admire how dedicated the people who do wear it are. I can't imagine how much of a pain in the ass it would be to put on all that stuff on the regular.

 

[Broken Pussy]

That's kinda vague but okay. I guess my question was too. What is so appealing about lolita fashion? What makes people participate in said subculture?

The same reason anyone participates in any subculture. As a way to differentiate themselves from what they view as uninspiring in mainstream culture. What's hard to understand about people investing in frilly dresses that are expensive and therefore exclusive? You make your subculture financially prohibitive for people so that it remains niche, which reinforces its specialness and also makes it easy to spot people you view as insufficiently committed. "I like clothes that are too expensive for people who aren't me" is practically the thesis statement of fashion for the past few centuries.

 

[Sailor Earth]

That's kinda vague but okay. I guess my question was too. What is so appealing about lolita fashion? What makes people participate in said subculture?

I think that's a fair question. Personally I would never dress in lolita, or if I did I wouldn't call it lolita or wear it properly. The 'rules' are too strict, petticoats are hells creation, and head bows feel tacky to me. Not to mention I think a lot of the sub styles are gaudy as fuck. But that's all a personal thing.
What I do like is classical edging on romantic gothic lolita. It reminds me of more modern and wearable twists to older fashions I've loved since I was a kid.

I enjoy the attention to detail, the rustic twists and textured fabrics. Clothing that has a bit of emotion to it and reminds of pieces like this.

 

[Broken Pussy]

I think that's a fair question. Personally I would never dress in lolita, or if I did I wouldn't call it lolita or wear it properly. The 'rules' are too strict, petticoats are hells creation, and head bows feel tacky to me. Not to mention I think a lot of the sub styles are gaudy as fuck. But that's all a personal thing.
What I do like is classical edging on romantic gothic lolita. It reminds me of more modern and wearable twists to older fashions I've loved since I was a kid.

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I enjoy the attention to detail, the rustic twists and textured fabrics. Clothing that has a bit of emotion to it and reminds of pieces like this.
View attachment 205677

Some of those jackets are TDF. I have a shit-ton of military-style jackets, because every time I find one in a new color, I must own. I actually have one that looks a little like the burgundy colored one shown in your post.

 

[Sailor Earth]

Some of those jackets are TDF. I have a shit-ton of military-style jackets, because every time I find one in a new color, I must own. I actually have one that looks a little like the burgundy colored one shown in your post.

I have the same problem ngl, haven't found anything burgundy yet though.

But the basics of my feelings and views on lolita fashion is that;

I think it's a very fascinating and unique sub-culture. It puts focus on quality over quantity (or is supposed to), it's a memento of the past with honorable mentions of antique trends in every style, it steps away from harmful fast fashions, and is diverse enough that anyone with an eye for fashion can find a sub-style that they can at least appreciate the effort and art put into it.

The problem is it can just go so wrong so easily. People who get greedy and attention hungry. Thinking they're the best, and enforcing strict rules to the point that it frightens others away. Lolita is notoriously catty. Pretty dresses can only do so much for some of the girls (and guys) that prance around thinking they're the shit with their superiority complex and hoard of burando. There is a lot of great community and acceptance out there, but it can get pretty depressing and upsetting very very quickly when all the awful things seem to cloud the good. You just can't get into lolita or learn about it without being body slammed with the negativity within the community.