Lolita Charm: Blossoming: 8 Checkpoints for Young Lolitas

Monday, January 17, 2011

Blossoming: 8 Checkpoints for Young Lolitas

Recently I got an email from a girl in Norway who wanted to start dressing in lolita fashion. The only trouble was she had just turned 12 and wasn't sure where to buy any lolita clothing, and wanted to know where she could shop locally. I had to break the news to her that lolita clothes are online, or in Japan for the most part, unless you're in the area of NYC, San Francisco, or Paris, France. And when you're young, especially if you're not old enough to hold a part-time job, shopping online isn't easy - usually you need a credit card, too. I'm not even sure if lolita clothing, small as it runs, would fit her younger size. I admit I felt a little bummed for her - and besides the ubiquitous, 'there are patterns' I wasn't sure where to send her. I won't mention her name, as she seemed shy, but I'd also like to wish her a happy birthday!

This article is a gift for her, and all lolitas who are young and just starting out!

A lot of young girls are interested in lolita fashion, but can't seem to figure out where to start - especially when shopping on the Internet isn't an option, and there are no local stores. But even though you're limited by your purchasing power, there is no need to despair and give up your love for lolita fashion. These are 8 easy checkpoints for young girls who admire and want to start dressing in lolita fashion, but perhaps aren't sure how.

1. Your jewelry box. You might not be able to shop online or afford extravagant brand jewelry ($40 for a plastic Angelic Pretty bangle, anyone? ...not that I can talk), but there is plenty of adorable lolita-style jewelry to be found in ordinary boutiques, antique shops, or possibly in your relative's leftover costume jewelry. Strands of pearls, heart-shaped lockets, antique keys, or crown pendants are easy to come by. If you're more interested in sweet lolita, you can usually find small pendants of ice cream cones, cupcakes or popsicles (ice lollies I think is the other term?) in your typical accessory shops. Lots of rhinestones are also popular. I went to a imported-accessories-from-Asia kind of boutique that are popular these days (like Temptations, which are popping up in malls around here) and found cute pocketwatches, a cut-glass star pendant, tiny tiaras, and little butterfly clips shaped like bows.

2. Your hair accessories. Even if you can't get your hands on a full lolita outfit, you can cute-ify your daily wear with pretty hairbows or simple ribbons to tie off pigtails or braids. Headbands are in fashion right now and easy to find, but a simple and adorable look would be to tie a velvet or silk ribbon in your hair like Victorian girls did.

3. Your hair style. There are also plenty of lolita hairstyles that can be added to your everyday look. Learn to use a hair straightener or curling iron for fluffy, easy curls, or try your hand at pin curls or rag curls. French braids, sideswept bangs, or even ordinary pigtails will look very lolita-like. If you have access to lolita magazines or magazine scans, feel free to copy the styles in them; if you don't, look through older resources for vintage hairstyles. Victorian, 40s, and 50s styles can all give the same feminine and antique air.

4. Your color palette. I'm a sweet lolita, so naturally I feel most at home in pastels. Even when you're not dressed in lolita, keeping those signature colors with you can give you the same feminine, elegant feeling - whether those are mint, lavender and sky blue for sweet lovers, or sage and dusty rose and china-cup blue for girls interested in classic. For those who are interested in gothic lolita, there is always black - but rather than look like your typical angsty youth, throw in antique white, Mana's signature midnight blue, or deep jewel tones like ruby, wine, or merlot. Take a peek through the pages of your favorite brands and see what colors are popular this season. While you might not be able to buy this year's favorite skirt, there's no reason to say you can't copy its chocolate and coffee color palette.

5. Look for classic styles. I don't mean classic in the lolita way - I mean 'the classics', or trends in fashion that never die. A beautifully simple Peter Pan collared blouse could be found in many young ladies' departments, or even at some uniform stores - back in the day, when I first started wearing lolita, many girls were referred to the online uniform retailer French Toast. This Secretary's Blouse has a very sweet bow-adorned collar, with gathered cuffs; this blouse has delicate puff sleeves. You could easily buy these locally, and would look very lolita-like under a jumperskirt or cardigan. Likewise, Mary-Janes and elegant kitten heels never go out of style.

6. Shop vintage. Trawl your local vintage shops for good finds. While you're unlikely to run across any brand or 'instant lolita', you may find something cute that you can modify, or with just a soft style. Vintage pinafores, delicate floral prints, or antique lace could all be worn to create a lolita look.

7. Learn to sew, or ask a family member to help you. Learning to sew used to be considered a vital skill for a lolita, back when lolita fashion was run by DIY and not by brand houses. Either learn yourself by reading from books or taking a local class (like at a sewing machine shop or a crafting store), or ask a family member to teach you - but don't ask your mom/grandma/aunt/dog to just whip up a dress for you! The important part is making it your own and understanding the fashion, so be a part of the process. You can either modify vintage or existing patterns, or there are some patterns online.

8. Don't worry about 'doing it right.' When you are just starting out, and are learning to find lolita clothes from more unusual places, don't stress about doing it exactly right. Don't worry about how-to guides that insist on a certain petticoat or hairstyle; don't fret over being 'lolita enough.' Follow your heart and explore what feels beautiful for you. Maybe lolita is the perfect look for you, and you'll grow up to buy your first brand dress, proud to have those precise curls. Or maybe lolita reveals to you that you love soft linens, embroidered handkerchiefs, and something not-exactly lolita. There's nothing wrong with that. Work on cultivating your sense of beauty and shaping the feel you want to give with clothes - whether that turns out to fit into the lolita box, or perhaps something else like dolly-kei, mori-girl, or a style all your own.

Lolita fashion is a gorgeous world unique onto itself. While it may sometimes seem vast and intimidating, little steps are all you need to find your way. By focusing on your own inner compass rose of beauty and discovering what lolita means to you, you too can become a beautiful, confident lolita.

The next step: convincing your parents to support your forays into lolita fashion? I'm no help there, but Caro-chan of FYeahLolita has written a great article on the subject!