They might seem like out of place in the cosplaying crowds of Harajuku and Shibuya. Their fantastic dresses harkens to childhood 19th Century England or France, with a somber twist. These girls are the gothic lolitas of Japanese Fashion.
Gothic Lolita or Gothloli is a fashion that rests between the sweet, innocent appeal of lolita and the dark maturity of the goth. Gothic lolita normally do not fall into the category of cosplay as they don’t normally dress up as a character or an idolized personality; rather, they try to embody an idealized concept of an untouchable young girl. Also, the lolita style where it falls into does not have the same sexual connotations as “lolita complex”. Most gothic lolita outfits are intended to look elegant, mysterious and beautiful, not sexy. They take their cues from visual kei bands like Malice Mizer and Dir en Grey, performers who go onstage wearing elaborate costumes. A former member of Malice Mizer, the guitarist Mana, helped popularize the look by wearing established his own clothing line Moi-même-Moitié that carries an elegant gothic lolita look. The look has been seen in manga and anime series like Ai Yazawa’s Paradise Kiss and Clamp’s Chobits, and spawned its own magazine, the Gothic & Lolita Bible. This magazine is full of information about makeup tips, and sewing patterns for aspiring gothic lolitas.
They wear beautiful outfits inspired by Victorian dolls and mourning fashion. These are usually dresses with knee-length skirts, trimmed with lace, ribbons in black, white, and occasionally hints of blue and red. Petticoats, crinolines, high-heeled shoes and stockings are also part of the ensemble. Gothic lolitas sometimes sport ruffled headdresses with ribbons or bonnets, which also keeps their hairpieces or wigs in place. Accessories like parasols, teddy bears, or oversized pocketbooks complete the look. Though some are home-made, outfits can be bought in the shops by Yoyogi Park or .
[tags]gothic lolita, gothloli, Japan, Japanese fashion[/tags]