JAPANESE KINK

KINKY WEDNESDAY doing Tuesdays. Just for the kick. Hope you rike.

DRESS LIKE A DOLL - Part Three in the Land of Lolis

CASUAL LOLITA  - or toning the dollyness down a knotch...


This sunday is dedicated to the style of Casual Lolitas, which basically is a sort of everyday look for lolitas & it's also the style that is adapted by many western dollys, as the gear is more accessible to all & less OTT.

So far we've discovered what the Sweet Lolis & The Gothic Lolis styles consist in & eventhough the word casual may not be the first word that springs to mind when flicking through the images in this third post on the style & ways of true fashion lolitas, then nevertheless it is an actual loli style.



The Casual Lolita - which sort of tones down on the details of the outfit but keeps the basics of the lolita silhouette. Actually it is the easiest of the styles to wear, as a lot of the casual style is about finding lolita like stuff from non-lolita shops & then put them together with lolita pieces of clothing for a more everyday look that stays away from the OTT.




But even though you might find it easier to relate to the more toned down versions of the living dolls, then know that putting together a real, perfect, casual, balanced lolita outfit is almost an art.

Casual Lolita can best be described as what a Lolita would wear when not 'dressing up.' Still modest, and elegant but not as over the top as most other Lolita styles. A great Casual Lolita can be compiled out of any colour, as long a you remember to match colours, prints, etc. as you would with any other Lolita style. A simple cardigan over a skirt creates a nice casual look.



If you're unsure if your outfit could be classified as casual loli, just make sure you have a traditional loli skirt (one you could put a petticoat underneath) and at least 2 of the following items. If you have more than 4 f these items your probably more on the road to fullblown/grown lolita.

Casual Loli Checklist:

• ♥ Elegant blouse or adorable cute as hell cutsew-esque shirt.
• ♥ Petticoat.
• ♥ Hair accessories - headdress, bow or bows, mini-crown, etc.
• ♥ Loli hairstyle - sausage curls, pigtails, braids, hime cut, etc.
• ♥ Loli shoes (ex. Mary Janes), or Doc Marteens, or Uggish boots.
• ♥ Stockings or frilly socks.
• ♥ Frilly parasol.
•    Bag shaped as teddy/hello kitty/something cute
• ♥ Additional item - frilly coats, aprons, shrugs, cardigans, etc

The best thing about casual lolita is that there are less rules/guidelines, so if you keep the basics of lolita aesthetic in your mind, then you shouldn't worry too much about whether or not you're doing it "right".

Makeup & Hair

• Usually simple hairstyles, normally no wigs.
• Mascara.
• Eyeliner if desired.
• Eyeshadow if desired.
• Red or pink blush.
• Lipgloss/lipstick in red and pink hues.

Note: Of course, these are just simple occurrences that are commonly seen within this style. They are no absolute rules of any kind. Be creative and experiment!



I think that I wear the lolitastyle in the casual way, because I'm so much more into the less rules & dresscodes & more imagination & crazy, brave, gutsy whatthehellle'tsjusttryit -outfits. Also I find it harder to pull the OTT style of as a non asian. It always seems like something is missing... But then again I've never given into my secret fantasy of pink hair/lolitawig... But maybe soon I will!

Reading about the lolis & investigating Japanese fashion is so inspiring & fascinating to me & I hope that you will find this too by reading my Sunday posts & becoming experts on Japan style. I think the streets could use more of the crazy outfits,  so go crazy & make people turn their heads & smile:-)

LINKS: 

http://lolita-handbook.livejournal.com/1696.html#cutid2


http://lolitafashion.org/casual_lolita.php


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lolita_fashion


http://www.freewebs.com/brokendolly/styles.html


http://hellolace.net/styles/casual


http://www.ehow.com/how_5736570_add-little-lolita-everyday.html

DRESS LIKE A DOLL - Part Two in land of Lolitas

SWEET LOLITA 

ama-loli  

(甘ロリ, 

ama rori

The outfits of Sweet Lolitas are probably every little truly girly girl's dream of a dress. In many ways they are the exact opposite of the Gothic Lolitas, especially the dominating babyshade pastel colours & the girlygirls motifs like flowers (roses, jasmines, lily, cherry blossoms), toys, animal themes (cats, bunnies, puppies), cherries, candy, strawberries, polkadots & cakes puts them in complete opposite worlds. 

It is also the most child-like of the lolita styles, using many bows, ruffles and light colours to make up an outfit. I find it hard to pull of an entire sweet lolita outfit having crossed the 30 year line. I don't think it is just me. It just feels wrong somehow. But I have to try it. At least once. If only I had known of this fablúlous world when I was a bit younger - You can be sure that I would have dived in & I would have gone full on ama-loli.

The most common colors used in a Sweet Lolita outfit are pink, white, and powder blue, but an outfit can be made with nearly any pastel or plaid, (or nearly any color at all as long as it is not neon). Prints inspired by fairy tales are also quite common & references to Alice in Wonderland are quite common as well.

Light, natural make-up complements this style. Teased out pigtails and bouncy curls are commonly worn by Sweet Lolitas. A shade of bright pink, red or sometimes nude-pink lipstick, is commonly used as well.

Sweet Lolita Outfits are heavily influenced by Rococo styles as well as Victorian and Edwardian clothing. Focusing on the child and fantasy aspects of Lolita, the Sweet Lolita style adopts the basic Lolita format and uses the lighter colors and childlike motifs in its design to emphasize this.

Headdresses, bonnets and bows are a popular hair accessory to the sweet Lolita look. Bags and purses usually have a princess-like design and often take the shape of strawberries, crowns, hearts, and stuffed animals.

Examples Sweet Lolita brands are  Angelic Pretty, Baby, The Stars Shine Bright and Metamorphose Temps des Filles.

Angelic Pretty, Baby, The Stars Shine Bright and Metamorphose temps de fille. 

HOW TO DRESS SWEET LOLITA STYLE

• Look for lightly-colored accessories, such as purses, head dresses, and socks with designs like flowers, music notes, candy or anything sweet printed on them (knee-highs or over the knee socks)

• Go for frilly and sweet. You can still wear dark colors, but it should definitely be toned down 

• Your skirt should go 1" above the knee usually.

• Shirts/Dresses shouldn't show any cleavage, or shoulders.

• If you're wearing a jumperskirt (Like a lolita dress, but sleeveless), wear a blouse underneath. Lolita fashion aims to be cute and modest and is not supposed to be a sexy style! 

 

• Prepare yourself for a lot of attention. It might not be what you are actually looking for, but it is almost impossible to avoid when you look like a reallife beautiful walkiin' talkin'livin' doll. Learn to enjoy the attention & if people tease you, just ignore them or if you're feeling particularly charitable, try to explain them about the style. Just don't get mad or insult them back!

 

• Find prints with gingham, cakes/sweets, animals, bows, hearts, musical notes, etc.

• Try going to a thrift store! They have some things that could be modified with a little extra lace or ribbon that may turn out very nice. 

 

• For headbands, try bows, bonnets, headdresses and flowers & make your own delicious headwear - good thing is to invest in a gluegun;-)

• Popular hairstyles are pigtails, princess curls, or straight hair with blunted bangs. Coloured wigs are also a possibility.

• To get more tips on Lolita fashion, pick up an issue of The Gothic and Lolita Bible, it  includes sewing patterns, pictures, interviews, and tutorials!

 

 

Well that was Sweet Lolitas for you. I hope you enjoied this little insight into the world of lolitas, I know I did. I just love finding out more about this intriguing style of dressing & the pictures alone can make you smile for years & go aaaaaw like a trillion times. 

It is late & will jump into bed hoping my dreams will be coloured by this little visit to land os sweet lolitas.

Oyasuminasai.

P.S. Here's a link to a webshop where you can make your very own Sweet Lolita styled dress:

http://www.sweetrococo.com/?locale=en

Sources for this article: 

http://www.wikihow.com/Be-a-Sweet-Lolita

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lolita_fashion

http://www.lolitafashion.org/