Japanese Lolita Costumes
February 5, 2009 by Dreamer
Filed under Gothic Cosplay
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.
Gothic Cosplay Costumes
February 3, 2009 by Dreamer
Filed under Gothic Cosplay
The abbreviation of costume play is Cosplay. In Japanese the terms cosplay is pronounced as ‘kosopure’. It is a subculture of the Japanese which is based on dressing like various characters. The Gothic cosplay costumes include dressing in the Gothic styles. This type of costumes are worn by people in some of the shows, public events and some dedicated cosplay parties.
One type of Gothic cosplay costume, usually come in a combination of white and black. The dresses are often black in colour with white coloured laces and are decorated typically with laces, trims and ribbons. Skirts are mostly knee length and may include petticoat or crinoline to add volume to them. Like the mainstream Japanese fashions, these costumes also include stockings and over the knee socks which are very popular. Also common are black or white tights and black fishnet stockings. Boots and shoes with high heels like those of Mary Janes are worn with the costumes. The shoes usually do not include stiletto heels. In the EGL type of Gothic cosplay costumes, Victorian blouses with frills, ruffles, or lace trims are worn along with long skirts and jackets. Though sometimes their skirts are short, mostly their designs are modest. Sometimes the blouses also come with long sleeves which are lace capped.
The other type of Gothic costume includes an apron of the ‘Alice in Wonderland’ style. These costumes also include parasols, top hats, lace headpieces and lace gloves. The headgears worn are mostly black or white in colour and consist of headbands with bows, ribbons, ruffles and laces. Even bonnets are worn sometimes. Hairstyles with these costumes include curled hair to give a porcelain doll like look. The hair is usually kept in their natural colour of black or lightened to a shade of blonde. Sometimes wigs are also worn.
Makeup is normally used more with the EGL style of costumes; otherwise makeup is generally kept light. Since the pale complexion is the preferred complexion, white foundations are used on the face. Black eyeliner is used on the eyes and lipsticks of red or black colours are applied on the lips.
The Gothic cosplay costumes are worn with a variety of accessories and other props. They include conspicous pocketbooks, handbags, hat boxes and other types of bags having shapes of coffins, crucifixes and hats. Stuffed animals like teddy bears are also carried. Some brands make the special teddy bears from PVC or black leather solely for this purpose. Also in some cases, the Gothic costumes include super Dollflies which are carried around as accessories.
Gothic Lolita Cosplay Video
Gothic Cosplay Video