Lolita VS Steampunk

The Inventor Loli by dizzylolibliss featuring flower jewelry

Here is the first installment of Lolita vs Other Fashions. Lets begin!


This time around I want to focus on Steampunk Lolita, but let's begin with a quick overview. 

What is Steampunk any hoo?

Steampunk is a sub-genre of science fiction, alternate history, and speculative fiction that came into prominence during the 1980s and early 1990s.^[1] Specifically, steampunk involves an era or world where steam power is still widely used—usually the 19th century and often Victorian era Britain—that incorporates prominent elements of either science fiction or fantasy. Works of steampunk often feature anachronistic technology or futuristic innovations as Victorians may have envisioned them; in other words, based on a Victorian perspective on fashion, culture, architectural style, art, etc. This technology may include such fictional machines as those found in the works of H. G. Wells and Jules Verne or real technologies like the computer but developed earlier in an alternate history. 

From Wikipedia

Let's have some fun:

What is your Steampunk sensibility? Take this fun quiz to find out Hello Quizzy

Needs some guidelines? Check here: A sense of structure

Steampunk Lolita, wtf?


Many will argue til they are blue in the face that Steampunk-Lolita is not a substyle of Lolita, some will hear nothing less than that is is a valid substyle. Why is it so controversial a style? Well, it boils down to the question: "Is Steampunk cosplay?"

Lolita and cosplay are at odds. Most Lolitas do not want to be associated with cosplay in anyway, and rightfully so. Lolita isn't a costume, it is a fashion ( of course we needn't even mention the reasons here). No with all the technology that is invented for Steampunk outfits anything from jewellery to "hand guns," the cosplay line gets very blurry at best and non existant at worst. This doesn't mean that you have to swear off the Steampunk aesthetic in your Loli. If you have just been shot like Momoko in Kamikaze Girls by this hybrid, resist the urge to just throw a pair of googles on with your favorite Lolita garments. This hybrid will probably not mesh to well with OTT Sweet styles of clothing or gothic. The best would have to be classic especially if it is heavily influenced by the Victorian Era ...no Rococo please.

If you want more Steampunk heres a LJ community: Steampunk Fashion and for more Steampunk Lolita here's a LJ community for you too: The Aesthetic Engine!

In Her Shoes: Flats

I cannot tell a lie. I do not like Lolita shoes (well most). I haven't liked them since I first came to know of the fashion, and though some styles (the famous Tea Party shoe and the original Vivienne Westwood ballerina rocking horse shoes) have grown on me. Most styles still boggle me.
I often find that most Lolita brand shoes are to bulky, to rough looking, the complete polar opposite of the frilly, airy delicate and graceful garments. I've heard that the bulky footwear is meant to stabilize the fashion, to act as a solid base. Honestly I think that's a load of manure and the combination makes for an odd couple.

So what are some alternatives? Let's travel into the land of mainstream fashion particularly.

The Ballet Flat
How much graceful can you get, inspired by the ballet slipper.

Lavender set 1 by dizzylolibliss featuring ballerina flat shoes

Or it's sisters

The Mary Jane Flat

The T-strap flat

To be continued...

April Showers Bring May Flowers

Spring is here and so are spring showers. How's does a Loli to dress during the rainy season?

Here are some ideas...

Classic Lolita

Classic Rainy Lolita by dizzylolibliss featuring wedge boots

Sweet Lolita

Rainy Polka Dots by dizzylolibliss featuring western chief boots

Gothic Lolita

Gothic Storm by dizzylolibliss featuring a black umbrella

Remember to stay warm and to bring your umbrella.

Thoughts on Japan

If you haven't already received the news, yesterday Japan was hit by a 8.9 earthquake and that unleashed tsunamis. Death tolls have gone in to the hundreds and still counting. In this tragic time our thoughts and prayers are with Japan today.

Calling to All Sailor Lolita

Spring has brought a renewed interest of Sailor Lolita to brand fashion, both Meta and AP will release sailor themed items that are too cute to pass up.

Meta's Sailor Line

AP Sailor Line

I have to say that Meta's Sailor Pinafore Dress with Collar is my favorite. I love the vintage feel, it reminds me a little of Baby's Cherry Ribbon OP, which is one of my dream dresses. My favorite line? Well the jury is still out but I will day that I do love AP's mini cancan hat. Meta's line is all clean lines and can be seen on both sweet and classic lolita (changing accessories and hairstyle). AP's is definitely a sweet lolis interpretation of sailor especially with the pastels colorways. Which is your favorite?

Lolita vs Other Fashions: Introduction

I love Lolita fashion, it is easy to tell. I dress up. I gush at new prints and releases. I dream of Lolita. I stalk blogs and site dedicated to Lolita. I write a blog dedicated to Lolita fashion. I love Lolita fashion, I do, I do, I do.

Now don't get the wrong idea, this isn't one of those post about how Lolita Fashion is superior to other fashions, or how much I hate [insert fashion] because it clearly taking Lolita fashion in the wrong direction. No, this article isn't about that at all. Indeed it is quite the opposite.

I am sure that since Lolita fashion first occurred as an epiphany there has been a desire to stretch it in many directions. To combine it and mod it to suit all taste. There are some that would get red faced arguing that Lolita wasn't intended to be that way but for those that believe that, there are many others that are just itching to explore the boundaries of what Lolita fashion can be.

This is an intro to some of the more controversial lolita hybrids. A series titled Lolita vs Other Fashions.

The next number posts will try to detail these new emerging fashions, I hope you enjoy them. I invite you to comment on any Lolita hybrid you want to see. Of course please give me your opinion of the subject of these lolita hybrids.

Many thanks and much love to you.

Sailor, Pirate Lolita

The next set of Lolita sub-styles are the center of many debates of whether they count as an actual sub-style ( ie sweet, classic, or gothic) or if they are cosplay.

I like to begin with a definition of cosplay or costume play:

A type of performance art in which participants don costumes and accessories to represent a specific character or idea. Characters are often ^[2] drawn from popular fiction in Japan, but recent trends have included American cartoons and Sci-Fi as well as other pop-culture. Favorite sources include manga, anime,tokusatsu, comic books, graphic novels, video games, hentai and fantasy movies. Any entity from the real or virtual world that lends itself to dramatic interpretation may be taken up as a subject. Inanimate objects are given anthropomorphic forms and it is not unusual to see genders switched, with women playing male roles and vice versa.

Cosplayers often interact to create a subculture centered around role play. A broader use of the term cosplay applies it to any costumed role play in venues apart from the stage, regardless of the cultural context.

From Wikipedia

I like this definition, it is very in-depth. Of course it can be taken to mean that Pirate and Sailor are or are not cosplay. Ultimately it is in the eye of the beholder. For our purpose we will describe these styles as a sub-style of Lolita.

Sailor Lolita:

Sailor Lolita was more popular a few years back and like other sub-styles has fallen out of favor. Of course the name clearly implies what it is, it is lolita infused with the sailor theme.

Popular motifs are anchors, nautical strips, sailor collars and ties, cute sailor style hats. The usual colors are white and navy, white and black, or white and pink but red, white and blue combo can definitely work to achieve this look.

Since this sub-style isn't as popular there aren't many brands that release sailor style lolita. If you are interested in wearing this style be open to searching through off-brand sites like Bodyline and Fanplusfriend, or being vigilant for any brand releases.

Pirate Lolita

Pirate Lolita is rarely seen but it hasn't truly gone by the wayside. Baby's Alice and the Pirates is a brand that caters to this particular style.

Within Pirate Lolita there are sub-styles too.

• Sweet : link 1, link 2, link 3, link 4
• Gothic : link 1, link 2, link 3
• Classic : link 1, link 2, link 3

These separations have much to do with color, and motifs used. Sweet pirate lolita uses pinks and pastels, while gothic might use darker colors like black and purple , etc. Classic would probably dive into browns, maroons.

All use the same motifs with slight modification:

Skulls and cross bones, treasure chest, jewels, pearls, swords, cannons, eye patches, buckles

The use of tricorn hats, big lapels, buckle shoes and boots is prevalent.

Again Baby's Alice and the Pirates is a great place to begin your pirate lolita wardrobe but other brands, off brand and non japanese brands do occasionally release pirate theme items.

So keep an eye out if this is your flavor of Loli.