Reccommended reading for Lolita old and new.

[Yakuza Princess]

As the title suggests I would reccommend all Lolita's read this, as it's highly useful and far more accurate than that Morbid Outlook "Article", which as we all know is highly mis-representive of the style.

http://www.lerman.biz/asagao/gothic_lolita/guide.html

NOT MINE!

[Gackt_Girl]

Sorry for ressurecting this after about a week. But I'm currious..

I'm going to Japan in a year or two and I'm as into Lolita styles as an American 16 year old from Tennessee can be, I think. Since you've been to Japan, how receptive are the Japanese to combinations of different styles? I've read the same guide before but I've never known what the Japanese would think since my daily wardrobe consists of Gosurori, EGL, Erorori, and a bit Bandgirl. I don't consider myself a complete bandgirl because I dressed this way without the influence of bands. Granted I have enough from each category to create dozens of outfits of each, but I ask how they feel about this because I'm not the kind of person to twist and shape my style to satisfy society, but I'd like to know what to expect. ^^'

[faeriekawaii]

I went to Japan for about 6 months from early April last year as an exchange student. This is my take on Japanese style... and Americans.

Where you are in Japan as far as city and what part of the city you'll be in definately changes how receptive of "normal" Japanese culture is going to be of you as far as clothes go. Very similar to the US I think.

I think most Japanese teen tend to have their own "style" as a whole. Some of it can be really random and I would say they mix and match a lot of stuff- colors, styles, etc..

You're going to stand out anyway as an American. That's a given. Even if you're wearing jeans and a T-shirt. I think some people will think your style is awesome and really cool and want to talk to you and some people will probably be creeped out and shy away. But, people are going to do this anyway because you're American.

Overall though? Dress how you want. If you're comfortable with yourself, then things will be fine. You defy society's standards because you're American. You're taller, your skin is different, you talk different, etc. If you defy society a little more by your clothes, well, I don't think anyone's going to think of you any less for it.

My top word of advice though (off-topic of clothes)- if you're a huggy, touchy-feely person and you're going to be in Japan for awhile, then I highly suggest finding someone or taking someone (preferably non-Japanese) to be your hug-buddy. The Japanese as a whole aren't very touchy-feely and have a very large personal space bubble. I found myself very hug deprived while I was there.

[Gackt_Girl]

I went to Japan for about 6 months from early April last year as an exchange student. This is my take on Japanese style... and Americans.

Where you are in Japan as far as city and what part of the city you'll be in definately changes how receptive of "normal" Japanese culture is going to be of you as far as clothes go. Very similar to the US I think.

I think most Japanese teen tend to have their own "style" as a whole. Some of it can be really random and I would say they mix and match a lot of stuff- colors, styles, etc..

You're going to stand out anyway as an American. That's a given. Even if you're wearing jeans and a T-shirt. I think some people will think your style is awesome and really cool and want to talk to you and some people will probably be creeped out and shy away. But, people are going to do this anyway because you're American.

Overall though? Dress how you want. If you're comfortable with yourself, then things will be fine. You defy society's standards because you're American. You're taller, your skin is different, you talk different, etc. If you defy society a little more by your clothes, well, I don't think anyone's going to think of you any less for it.

My top word of advice though (off-topic of clothes)- if you're a huggy, touchy-feely person and you're going to be in Japan for awhile, then I highly suggest finding someone or taking someone (preferably non-Japanese) to be your hug-buddy. The Japanese as a whole aren't very touchy-feely and have a very large personal space bubble. I found myself very hug deprived while I was there.

That's good to hear.^^' I'm totally used to be avoided. I just wouldn't be happy if I was disrespected for my way of dressing. It happens a lot where I live and wasn't keen on the thought when I go to Japan. And I definately won't have a problem with the touchy thing.^^; I have a spaace bubble of at least 15 feet. Thanks so much! Now I won't be nervous ^_^

[DeathOfSoul]

I went to Japan for about 6 months from early April last year as an exchange student. This is my take on Japanese style... and Americans.

Where you are in Japan as far as city and what part of the city you'll be in definately changes how receptive of "normal" Japanese culture is going to be of you as far as clothes go. Very similar to the US I think.

I think most Japanese teen tend to have their own "style" as a whole. Some of it can be really random and I would say they mix and match a lot of stuff- colors, styles, etc..

You're going to stand out anyway as an American. That's a given. Even if you're wearing jeans and a T-shirt. I think some people will think your style is awesome and really cool and want to talk to you and some people will probably be creeped out and shy away. But, people are going to do this anyway because you're American.

Overall though? Dress how you want. If you're comfortable with yourself, then things will be fine. You defy society's standards because you're American. You're taller, your skin is different, you talk different, etc. If you defy society a little more by your clothes, well, I don't think anyone's going to think of you any less for it.

My top word of advice though (off-topic of clothes)- if you're a huggy, touchy-feely person and you're going to be in Japan for awhile, then I highly suggest finding someone or taking someone (preferably non-Japanese) to be your hug-buddy. The Japanese as a whole aren't very touchy-feely and have a very large personal space bubble. I found myself very hug deprived while I was there.

I know this wasn't directed at me, but it did inform me on 1-2 things I needed to know ^^ Thanks

[faeriekawaii]

Sure. I'm glad to help out. ^_^ If you have any more questions about being in Japan either of you or anyone else are welcome to PM me as well.

[Nina Star 9]

faeriekawaii> how would you describe the japanese attidute towards lolita, and fashion in general? like, how do the japanese percieve lolita fashion? what do the majority seem to think about it? about how many people know about it? (very rough estimates are perfectly fine. ^-^)

sorry for so many questions, but i would like to know! :D

[faeriekawaii]

I would like to state that I know very little about the lolita fashion in general, so these are just my opinions from what I saw while I was living in Japan.

I was living in Nagoya (a large city about 2 hours south of Tokyo) near the Sakae area. I think that particular area as well as Nagoya Station were the main places to see lolita fashion. At neither place did people stare very much, so I think it is a rather normal occurrence.

I didn't get to travel nearly as much as I wanted to, so I can't tell you much about other cities in Japan. I'm sure Tokyo has a huge population of those who dress in the lolita style.

Most of my friends (high school age girls) were really amazed and surprised about the fact that some of my American friends were into lolita fashion. I think they were slightly weirded out, but also a little bit in awe. I think it takes a lot of defy society's standards in a very strict society such as the Japanese.

I really don't know how adults percieve lolita, but I do think that they think higher of those than American adults think of goth/punk kids here in the US. Why? I don't know.

Obviously there is a higher demand for lolita fashion than there is in the U.S., so there would be more access to stores, magazines, etc. However, comparing lolita to American goth/punk style (just because both are not standard society clothing) I think there is a lot more to access for lolita. There are a lot of magazines and books on the subject as well as stores. One of the buildings in Sakae had a whole floor of different lolita stores. It's definately expanded to more of a life style or a hobby than just a way of dress.

One thing that all girls (and some guys) lolita or not, like to do is go to "Purikura" booths and get their pictures taken. Then you're able to write on and around the picture and put little symbols and stuff on it and then print out a bunch of them and they are little stickers which you can put in your own notebook or trade with friends. It's a little hard to explain, but very cool. Some places have outfits to try on and get your picture taken in so sometimes "normal" kids will dress up in lolita style. It's very interesting to watch.

[Gackt_Girl]

Definately sounds interesting. It sounds like lolita is as popular as I've heard it is. That's good, hopefully when I go as an exchange student I can bring back lots of things with me. ^^' I'm thrilled about going so if it's ok I'll pm you with more questions about being en exchange student in general since it nothing to do with egl really.^^; Thanks much!

[Sarcasm-hime]

Obviously there is a higher demand for lolita fashion than there is in the U.S., so there would be more access to stores, magazines, etc. However, comparing lolita to American goth/punk style (just because both are not standard society clothing) I think there is a lot more to access for lolita. There are a lot of magazines and books on the subject as well as stores. One of the buildings in Sakae had a whole floor of different lolita stores. It's definately expanded to more of a life style or a hobby than just a way of dress.

You may not be aware that for many people in NA goth/punk is also a lifestyle, and there are lots of stores and magazines devoted to those subcultures.

Some places have outfits to try on and get your picture taken in so sometimes "normal" kids will dress up in lolita style. It's very interesting to watch.

.....hmmm, that sounds almost like COSPLAY. One in the eye for all the GL purists that scream "IT'S NOT COSPLAY, IT'S A FASHION STYLE", eh? IMO if you're wearing something special that you wouldn't normally wear, it's a costume. GL may be a lifestyle for some people in Japan (and even then, they don't wear GL all the time), but I don't live in Japan, and I only wear GL stuff occasionally. Hence, costume. I don't see anything wrong with that.

[Nina Star 9]

not saying that lolita cannot be cosplay, this is just a thought, and my take on the whole "is lolita a costume or a fashion?" thing.

really, anything can be a costume. i never wear tight jeans and t-shirts. most people wear tight jeans and t-shirts, and for them it is a fashion, right? well, for me it obviously is not, so if i only wear tight jeans and a t-shirt on odd occasions, then it woudl be a costume for me, right?

the same, i suppose, can be said for lolita. sure, some brands are pretty obviously costumey, such as bodyline. but what about the higher-end lolita stuff, the stuff that a lot of lolita treat as normal clothing for weekend outings? does that mean that clothes that are worn just on the weekends, such as fanicer stuff for church, etc., are costumes? most people would not consider it as such. what if you only wear fancier stuff for outings every other weekend? is it still clothing, or is it a costume now becuase you wear it less? what is the point at which something stops being clothes and becomes a costume? does it have to do with outrageous looks, such as lolita? many other fashions can be considered outrageous, too, though, such as emo, or even the american hot topic "gawth" stuff, even though it is considered normal clothes by many. or is it how often it is worn? as i said about the clothing for weekend outings- are those costumes, then?

i personally do not think that lolita is a costume, unless you make it into one by only wearing it and treating it as a costume.

meh, sorry i make no sense. ._. just trying to explain my random thoughts. *pokes brain*

[faeriekawaii]

You may not be aware that for many people in NA goth/punk is also a lifestyle, and there are lots of stores and magazines devoted to those subcultures.

I guess I could see it being a life style, though for me I don't consider it as such. I do think that the availability of stores and magazines for the goth/punk style in the US is smaller than GL in Japan. Maybe it's just where I live (St. Louis, MO), but I know that if I go to Borders or Barnes and Noble, I'm probably not going to find a goth/punk magazine on the magazine shelf, where as in Japan I probably would find multiple GL magazines.

As far as costume vs. clothing goes. In Japan, you would have to consider that most Japanese schools require uniforms, so if you were a student and dressed in the GL style, then you would pretty much only dress on the weekends as such. Does that make it a costume then?
What about if you wear a uniform for work? That's not how you would normally dress if you could. So I would think that most of all your other clothes wouldn't be costumes.

Maybe it varies for everyone. Some people consider GL a costume, others do not, so does it just depend on matter of a opinion or are some people in the wrong?