What's a Lolita?

 Japan's Lolita style of fashion, is at once Japanese, and heavily Westernized/globalized. Lolita fashion emerged in Japan in the late 70s/early 80s. It is characterized by European Victorian-style dresses, blouses, skirts and petticoats. Its style of makeup emphasizes a "doll-like", sometimes garish style, which is almost a sendup on makeup use, itself. Most Lolitas are women, but there are a minority of male Lolitas. Its popularity greatly increased in the 90s, and Lolita fashion can be seen throughout the world. I wanted to include a piece on fashion in my blog of shojo anime, because so much real life is reflected in anime and vice-versa. Lolita fashion became popularized in the 90s due to fashion designers and fashionistas, alongside popular bands and celebrities. The anime voice actress Yukari Tamura was an influential force in bringing Lolita to the mainstream. Lolita has many different subfashions, including gothic, steampunk, punk, kawaii, rock, ugly, and girly. 

     Fashion is a form of identity, and Lolita's over-the-top appearance in somewhat conservative Japan can be seen as a form of feminine resistance. This quote from Undressing and Dressing Loli: A Search for the Identity of the Japanese Lolita describes the Lolita fashion phenomenon better than I can, "To sum up, presentation of the lolita aesthetic creates a visual form of resistance against the dominant culture and provides both the subculture and its members with agency and identity." Well said. I first encountered this form of Japanese fashion at a comic convention. Interestingly enough, the fashionistas were Americans, and not Japanese. I guess that is one for commentary on increasing globalization of media. Here are some lolita videos that show what it is.