First off, I recommend you check out some of the pages listed on the "Helpful Links" page to get acquainted with what lolita fashion is. Here are some common questions I see asked on lolita facebook groups, tumblr, etc..
1. What is lolita fashion?
Lolita fashion, also referred to as EGL or elegant lolita fashion, is a fashion that originated in Japan. EGL incorporates silhouettes from historical European fashion eras, such as Victorian and Rococo. One thing that is vital in lolita fashion is wearing a petticoat.
More recently, indie brands like SoufleSong have been taking inspiration from medieval fashion as well. EGL fashion is typically rather modest, with most of the body being covered. Although EGL began in Japan, it has spread across the globe and is growing in popularity outside of Japan.
2. Doesn't lolita get it's name from Vladimir Nabokov's novel, Lolita?
No one knows for sure exactly why this fashion was named lolita. It likely sounded feminine and cute and thus seemed fitting. Lolita fashion itself has nothing to do with anything sexual, whatsoever. It is simply a fashion style, just like grunge, goth, or what have you. It's unfortunate that it shares a name with a novel like Nabokov's, but it is what it is. A lot of us prefer to call it EGL to avoid confusion.
3. Is EGL/lolita a form of cosplay?
No. Lolita fashion/EGL is a fashion style or way of dressing oneself. It is not a costume because it is not based on any character. Some anime/manga characters are depicted wearing lolita fashion, however.
4. Where can I buy lolita fashion items?
There are many online stores that sell EGL goods. The major Japanese lolita brands have websites and webstores, but for most you will need to use a shopping service if you live outside of Japan. A shopping service is based in Japan. They will order your items, have them shipped to their headquarters, and then ship them to you. Most Japanese brands do not ship internationally, however, a select few have physical stores outside of Japan, which have their own webstores and may ship to your country. For example. Angelic Pretty is a very popular lolita fashion brand that is based in Japan, but has stores in Paris, San Francisco, and Shanghai. Some other major Japanese brands include Baby the Stars Shine Bright, Juliette et Justine, Innocent World, Metamorphose Temps de Fille, and Atelier Pierrot. A lower end, more affordable Japanese lolita brand is Bodyline, however please note that the quality is inconsistent and not at the level of major brands.
There are also many independent Chinese lolita brands that sell their items on Taobao, which is a Chinese online marketplace somewhat similar to eBay. You will need Google Chrome to translate from Chinese to your language, and you will need a shopping service as Taobao shops do not ship outside of China. There are more and more Taobao resellers popping up nowadays as well, which allows you to skip the shopping service, but you are limited to what they have offered on their website. A reliable Taobao reseller for lolita items is Lolita Warbdrobe.
There is a growing number of Western/non-Japanese/non-Chinese lolita brands, as well. Lady Sloth is a Polish lolita brand that will craft handmade garments to your measurements.
For a master list of lolita shops, check out the Lolita Reference blog.
5. How do I find my local lolita community (comm)?
For years, the lolita community at large operated on livejournal. Livejournal is pretty dead these days, and most of the lolita groups can be found on Facebook, including local lolita groups. Try some Facebook searches and see what comes up!
6. Can I find items at thrift stores that will work for lolita?
Yes and no. Thrifted/vintage/non-lolita brand items that work for lolita fashion are often called "loliable." Not everything is loliable. You need to keep the silhouettes of lolita in mind when thrifting. This blog will have more content concerning lolita and thrift shops as time goes on.
7. Why are lolitas so mean?
The lolita community has garnered quite a reputation for being "mean." This is partly due to CGL and Behind the Bows, which can be viewed as platforms for online bullying and general shade-throwing, to be blunt. Honestly, people are much bolder online than they are in real life. It's easier to be cruel behind a screen than it is face to face. My advice is, if CGL and BTB (Behind the Bows) makes you feel uncomfortable in anyway, just avoid them. Ignorance is bliss! I want to stress that MOST of the community is not like this at all. Most lolitas are friendly and polite, especially at meetups.
This page is a work in progress and will grow over time.
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