Lolita Charm: Overdressed

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Overdressed

In class the other day my economics professor was bemoaning the cultural loss of the suit and tie on campus (he's old-fashioned like that). My scholarly colleagues, of course, wore mostly T-shirts and jeans. I, the odd girl out, wore some semblance of casual lolita - skirt, blouse, but no elaborate hair or petticoats. After a few more wistful daydreams of the good ol' days, he slips in the kicker: "Enjoy the t-shirts while they last. It'll be suits and button-downs for you all very soon." Everyone felt the bittersweet taste of graduation in their mouths. College, with its laissez-faire, anything-goes style would not last for long. Some students in my academic hall (the School of Business) were already showing signs of transforming into grey and pinstripe butterflies - some young men in button downs and khakis, but mostly girls in razor-sharp point-toe pumps and black satchels, ominously ticking down the halls.

I finger my pink hair, looking down at my lap - corduroy printed in Innocent World's chocolate and almond Cinderella. The clock on my skirt struck midnight.

For many lolitas in high school and college, time seems endless. Caught in the limbo between the real world and childhood, in a place where freedom of expression has fewer restrictions, we become comfortable playing outside of the rules. Yes, there is the occasional disapproving adult or odd look, but mostly dress is free form. Plenty of today's youth have piercings, colored hair, crazy t-shirts, or even the proverbial college girl in cutesy sweats. Some girls even have the freedom to wear their jumperskirts and bows every day - a privilege I am lucky enough to enjoy, but don't take advantage of nearly enough. There are the days when I can't muster up the creativity to pair different colored hearts, or when I simply don't feel brave enough. I punk out with yoga pants, or skip the petticoat and curls for a coordinate that's kinda cute but I know doesn't make the cut. Simply put, it's easy to take my frilly freedom for granted.

Everyone has days like these. Late days, overslept days, too busy days, inappropriate days, hiding-out days. There's nothing wrong with a good batch of regular clothes to head to - the safety of a ponytail and the comfort of jeans. But they creep up on you. I didn't realize they had piled up myself until I was surfing the Internet, admiring girls in frills, and said wistfully, 'I miss dressing up like that...' That was my wake-up call. When I have the time, the ability, the freedom, I should make the most of it. I know there will be a day when my lolita time is limited to weekends and the odd outing, to large events like cons or Christmas tea parties. There will most likely be a day when I'll have a plethora of brunette wigs to wear to work, or demure black skirts with minimal ruffles. It's one reason I love OTT sweet so much - it holds nothing back. When you decide to fill your hair with little clips, why leave out the tiara? Why not add a couple billion star stickers? Or like the girl in the above photo, why not tack a carousel on your head? It's your vision and creativity run amok across the lolita form. If you dream of rainbow ponies, tons of fluffy lilac bows, and socks covered with candy, what's to stop you? Or if you wish for trailing black bustles, birdcage veils of fine French lace, and perfect spiral curls, why wait? There will be plenty enough time to grow up yet. People may say you're out of place. They might say you're overdressed. My own favorite quote, as I look in the mirror and adjust the dangling stars by my ear: "You are not overdressed. The world is under-dressed for you."

Today I wore my new Rose and Little Bird Innocent World cape, trimmed with milk tea fur and tied with a mauve pink satin ribbon about my throat. I styled my hair in puffy fish-tail braids, added bright pink blushed cheeks, slicked on lipgloss, and trotted to statistics class. Life is too short to spend not doing what you love.

Labels: culture, inspirational

24 Comments:

At October 19, 2010 at 9:50 AM , Celly said...: Too true~!
At October 19, 2010 at 10:08 AM , Rosalynn said...: As always so well written!
It actually made me cry...
At October 19, 2010 at 10:36 AM , YellowAzu said...: holy crap thats a lot of stuff shes wearing!
At October 19, 2010 at 11:30 AM , Anonymous said...: OMG! You're so true..
You also made me cry!
At October 19, 2010 at 1:14 PM , クリス said...: Beautifully written~!
I don't wear lolita enough as I should either. Those pretty little things just sit there in my armoire until a meet up or convention comes up.
At October 19, 2010 at 2:11 PM , Holocaust Journal said...: I come from a slightly different angle in that I actually prefer to wear lolita less often. I do so partially for practical reasons- I'm a high school student, and the terror of accidentally spilling iodine stain on my clothes in Microbio is always on my mind. But I also like to keep my lolita wear to a minimum because to me, doing so keeps it special. I'll wear my offbrand blouses with jeans till the cows come home, but wearing my Innocent World every day would cheapen it for me, put it at the same level as my "regular" clothes, tarnish the magic.

Is there any chance of you sharing pictures of your coordinate with the IW cape? I'd love to see what it looks like worn!
At October 19, 2010 at 3:05 PM , Victoria Suzanne said...: @Rebecca: There is a big surprise for LC in the works and then you'll definitely see the cape! I have the matching double-button down coat as well, which will debut on LC soon!
At October 19, 2010 at 3:28 PM , Anonymous said...: Thank you for this article, it's beautifully written. ^^ Yes, we should enjoy our dress up possibility as much as we can. ^^
At October 19, 2010 at 5:31 PM , Holocaust Journal said...: Oh, a "big surprise" sounds lovely. :)
At October 19, 2010 at 7:14 PM , Melody said...: Ironically, the days when I have less time to get dressed are the ones when I look most unusual. I am always happiest when I have a pair of long bloomers sitting on top of my laundry basket, because it means I get to wear a knee-length skirt and knee-high socks and cute shoes.

I am really lucky- I don't have to work for a living. I get to do exactly what I want to do- sew and teach people to sew. At 32, I get to do that with BRIGHT pink hair and rude t-shirts.

I wouldn't take a job that forced me to change who I was in order to conform with their ideals, but... I'm such a flaky artist.
At October 19, 2010 at 10:41 PM , Andie said...: I love that quote.

It's easy to get caught up and forget to do the things we enjoy. This really makes me want to dress up tomorrow.
At October 19, 2010 at 11:12 PM , theblackram said...: I adore that picture, it really sums up what lolita is for a lot of us - an escape.

I like the idea of hiding your real hair with wigs in order for it to look more ordinary. How bizarre!
At October 19, 2010 at 11:30 PM , Mykki said...: Fantastic post!
At October 20, 2010 at 5:41 AM , Miss Jayce said...: love this post.. so meaningful!

http://sparklyplayground.blogspot.com/
At October 20, 2010 at 8:10 AM , Anonymous said...: I don't wear "lolita" just anytime because I do not have a lot of the "clothes". Yet, in college I aways wear a dress or skirt to classes. I try to have my lolita love shine through just normal but "dressed up" clothes.
At October 20, 2010 at 9:37 AM , Anonymous said...: I'm glad I'm not the only one who cried, knowing that made me feel a lot less like a soppy wet blanket. x3

I suppose, looking at it, college and university students really are so lucky. What are odd stares when I can wander into a maths class in full regalia?
It's scary to suddenly feel time creeping up on oneself. I've been given a reprieve with my gap year, taking more A-levels, but reading this I realised how little time I have left - three, four years, five if I'm lucky? By the time I'm twenty-three, I'll be expected to join the adult rainbow and settle down, and now that I'm the other side of adulthood twenty-three doesn't sound nearly old enough to stop being outrageous. I feel like mourning for my youth before it's even gone!

Thank you with all my heart for inspiring me again, as ever - I needed a push like this so much right now. (OTT Sweet and lavender hair here I come, whatever it takes, before time runs out!)
At October 20, 2010 at 12:54 PM , The Evil Banana said...: "You are not overdressed. The world is under-dressed for you."
i love this, it's pretty much how i feel when i go to a birthday party and I'm the only loli in the sea of cotton tees and denim jeans. The only thing i can take pride in my outfit today is my teal hair, glitter hair clip and textured tights. Luckly i have a very understanding job and i choose to dress loli every friday. I can't everyday because i have to get up @ 650am as it is without much effort or make up to recall.
At October 21, 2010 at 12:39 AM , PetiteTomoyo said...: This is totally lovely and inspiring. ♥

Reading texts like this remind me why I wanted, and why I love wearing lolita so much. ♥

Thank you for your kind words. ♥
At October 21, 2010 at 4:19 PM , xShelly said...: You're so right. (;__;) Please never stop blogging'<3
At October 22, 2010 at 10:40 PM , Anonymous said...: Very short, yet very inspiring post.
At October 24, 2010 at 1:28 AM , Amy said...: Amen to that. I feel this, because although I've collected a number of clothing articles in the past year I just LOVE, many of them don't really seem appropriate for everyday dressing. When did I start worrying about THAT? My life is not filled with special occasions, so if that's all I buy things for, what's the point?
At October 25, 2010 at 9:46 AM , crimson said...: I really enjoyed reading this post. It kind of opened my eyes and made me want to dress up and feel fabulous. Because... when if not now? Thank you for writing it.
At November 4, 2010 at 9:19 PM , Anonymous said...: Great post, as usual! I really loved the part about taking your frilly freedom for granted. It made me think of how much I don't dress up when I should take the opportunity to.

While I was at work today I thought of this post and I looked around at my co workers, then myself (dressed in a baggy t-shirt and jeans) and I wondered why I didn't try a little harder with my appearance. We all look so glum at work that I want to dress up more.

Thank you very much for inspiring me! :D
At November 7, 2010 at 4:12 AM , Anonymous said...: Aww! What a sweet post! Thank you for the encouragement!
My favorite part is the phrase "girls in razor-sharp point-toe pumps and black satchels, ominously ticking down the halls." :D

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Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Overdressed

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