Wednesday 24 April 2013

Schedule changes

Due to recent weeks, I've decided instead of posting once a week on Fridays, I will be posting 2 articles every other Friday or Saturday, starting this week. I hope nobody mind the change in schedule, I just think this way will work a lot better for me.

Thursday 11 April 2013

Accesories: Why bring a Parasol?

Parasols are a common accessory for all four of the Lolita styles, and for a wide range of the styles inspired by these. Originally, a parasol was intended to keep the sun off noble women of old times so that their skin would remain pale. Pale skin was considered very attractive in those days, as it meant you could afford not to work out in the sun and thus, all the paler women were more attractive. These days, a parasol is simply a cute accessory perfect for any Lolita preparing for a day out in the sun.

Of course, just because a parasol is a great addition to a Lolita outfit does not mean you can bring just any parasol. A parasol for a Sweet Loli may look awfully out of place for a Goth or Classic Loli. When choosing your parasol, it is important to consider what style of parasol you are bringing with you.

For a Sweet Lolita, any parasol in lighter colours such as whites, pinks, yellows and pastels is perfect. If it has a pattern, such as cats or strawberries or other such appropriate things, then all the better, and it'll be even more adorable if you can co-ordinate the patterns with your dress or other accessories. Be careful with lighter coloured parasols, as they will stain more easily if you don't treat them with care.

Gothic Lolitas should indulge in their darker side. Yes, you can bring a simple black parasol, but there are a lot of places to go beyond that. Extra lace and bows will add to your cuteness, while any more Gothic patterns will help accentuate your inner darkness. All in all, just remember to balance both elements and you should be able to find the best one for you.

Classic Lolitas have a much easier job. Simply pick solid colours or intricate Victorian patterns, using darker colours than the Sweet Lolis. Other than that, the very fact it's a parasol suits your more refined aristocratic air, so little effort is really required.

Punk Lolitas, on the other hand, may have a little bit of a harder time. You might want to either give this a miss or use an umbrella as a substitute, as punk patterns such as tartans and spikes will be more to your liking. This punk style makes an interesting clash with the parasol, so if you don't mind the lack of punk-style patterns you may be able to pull this one off.

All in all, I highly recommend parasols to any and all Lolitas in the days of summer when the sun becomes blazing hot. It's not only practical for being a handy portable patch of shade, but it makes a good addition to most any Lolis composition. You can mostly find parasols for personal use online or in gothic shops (though the Sweet Lolitas would have a hard time in those).

Classic Lolita: Subtle Elegance

I'm so sorry I didn't post anything yesterday. To make up for it, I'm going to post two entries today, the first being this one and a second focusing on a specific accessories, this particular time being a parasol. In future, I'll try not to let this happen, but I guess I got distracted and forgot. Again, I'm very sorry that I allowed this to happen and I promise to try harder to stick to my word in future.

Classic Lolita: Subtle Elegance

Classic Lolita, while one of the main four types, is similar to Gothic Lolita but different in enough ways to warrant it being one of the big influences of the Lolita subculture. Classic Lolitas are seen as the bridge between Gothic and Sweet Lolitas. While they are less macabre than the Gothic and less childish than the Sweet, they maintain the same sense of elegance both styles can have and can be seen as a more sophisticated and subtle style, perhaps best for those unsure if they wish to be quite so noticeable as other Lolitas.

The use of muted colours yet intricate designs, Classic Lolita is the more mature style of the four main types. Their clothes take a lot of inspiration from rococo, regency and Victorian eras, especially of the well-dressed upper classes, the dapper gentlemen and elegant ladies of those times. Shoes and accessories are more practical and less whimsical, though intricate designs are still a common part of any Classic Lolita's outfit. Makeup follows the same principles as Sweet Lolita makeup, but the colours used are less bright shades.

Classic Lolita and Aristocrat Lolita are very closely related. Both take parts of the old styles to create something classy and worthy of the upper classes of the time. It gives off an air of the sophisticated, while still maintaining a degree of child-like cuteness to it. Some brands to look out for if you're interested are Juliette et Justine, Innocent World, Victorian Maiden, Triple Fortune, and Mary Magdalene.

I must admit, I'm finding this particular entry quite difficult to write, as I lack the experience with it to fully grasp every aspect of it. I'd be happy if someone could tell me more so I can write a much better entry later on, but for now, this will have to do. All I have left to really say is that if you are interested in Lolita fashion, but feel you cannot commit to the more child-like aspects of it, Classic Lolita may be a perfect fit for you, combining maturity with Lolita style.

Related Lolita styles: Gothic, Shiro, Kuro, Gothic, Princess, Sweet, Oji, Wa, Qi, Casual
Notable media with Classic Lolita: Couldn't say.
Recommended pieces for Sweet Lolita: dark glasses, top hats, long coats, solid colour schemes, flat shoes, Victorian-style jewelry and dresses, black silhouette