Japanese Lolita Costumes

Many Japanese young adults or teens dress amazingly in elaborate Japanese Lolita costumes and walk the streets of Osaka and Tokyo. Looking pretty, these young ladies sit around and pose for pictures taken by tourists. These costumes which they wear are glamorous and beautiful like those worn by their favourite visual rock stars.

The basic looks of these Lolita costumes include a Victorian look. The costumes have the following criteria.

i) Frilly and poofy skirts of mini size or knee length size with crinoline, which do not show under it. Victorian blouses that are ruffled and elegant.

ii) Blouses that are generally black with cuffs, sleeves and white Peter Pan collars. At the collars and the capped sleeves’ bottom, white laces are present. These blouses can be both embellished and plain.

iii) The baby doll costumes are mostly knee length, mini or sometimes below the knee length. These dresses mostly come in the colours white or black or sometimes a combination of both. They also come in the colours of pastel blue, pastel pink and red which are only worn with white.

iv) In the ‘Alice in Wonderland’ look or the French maid look, a white apron is worn over the baby doll dress of black colour. This costume which is not worn much now was one of the original Lolita costumes. Thigh high or knee high stockings are worn with these skirts or dresses. The stockings are mostly of opaque material and black in colour. Sometimes they may also be white coloured with ruffles and bows at the top or in black fishnet with or without holes. With this kind of costume wearing a black and white or a black headdress is a must. The headdress is a rectangular and small headband which is made of ribbons, lace and ruffles. The headdress is worn under the chin with a bow and at the head’s crown just above the bangs. They can also be used to hold in the hairpieces. Most of the white headpieces extend like a small bonnet over the forehead. Sometimes this costume includes a small top hat that is worn on the head askew.

v) The shoes worn are large platform shoes or platform heels of Mary Jane type. The shoes are clog like and very chunky.

vi) Ladies wear with these costumes large, short curls or long curls on their heads’ either sides, or full head of curls like that of Shirley Temple. Also worn sometimes are straight and long hair with bangs. Mostly the hairs are of black or brown colour. To achieve these shades and looks hairpieces and wigs are also worn.

vii) The makeup worn with the Lolita costumes are little or none. A pale complexion is required and shades of red lipsticks are worn with black eyeliner of a small amount with black eye lashes.

viii) Pocketbooks of large sizes are carried, which are large container like suitcases. These suitcases have various forms, from the form of circular hatbox to carpet bags. Sometimes women also carry handbags having the shapes of coffins and bats.

ix) On some occasions the costume includes lace arm warmers of opera length and lace gloves.