Lolita Fashion in Anime vs. Real Life
Whether it’s talking dolls, fallen angel idols, or chuunibyou romance, you’ve probably seen a character wearing lolita fashion before. You may have even discovered the look through anime!
However, while these characters are extremely cute, you might find that their “lolita outfit” wouldn’t be considered lolita at a real-life meetup.
【ニュース】『映画 中二病でも恋がしたい！ -Take On Me-』の特報第2弾PVが公開！ 勇太と六花による恋の逃避行が始まる予感……!? #chu2koi https://t.co/2TqGYWlKMd pic.twitter.com/bN5s8UqaI8
— アニメイトタイムズ公式 (@animatetimes) July 21, 2017
Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions
If you’ve fallen in love with the look and are considering getting into lolita yourself, it may be useful to learn more about what makes anime outfits different from those IRL.
Today we’ll be looking at two of the biggest differences between anime and IRL lolita fashion!
そして、梱枝りこ先生のファフニール画集
『梱枝りこ画集 銃皇無尽のファフニール』
も発売決定！
7/2発売予定にて鋭意進行中です。
カバーイラストを先行公開！
今後の情報を楽しみにお待ちくださいませ！ pic.twitter.com/TNZwXEL74Q— 銃皇無尽のファフニール (@fafnir_anime) March 30, 2018
Anime version
【銃皇無尽のファフニール×BABY】ファフニールのコラボ衣装を徳井青空さんに着ていただきました！お洋服は現在好評ご予約中です♪詳細はこちらからどうぞ(・ω・)ノシhttp://t.co/oT38FL0eDI pic.twitter.com/4tpZhmhmjl
— BABY☆THE STARS (@BABY_THE_STARS) January 22, 2015
IRL version
If you’re not sure what lolita fashion is, check out our Encyclopedia entry first.
🌻本日よりSummerセールスタート🌻
開催期間 7/1～7/26
各ブランドの人気アイテムをお得にゲットできるスーパーチャンスです☝️✨
大好評のB品・サンプルセールも開催中🎶✨皆様のご来店心よりお待ちしております💗
アトリエピエロ新宿マルイアネックス 7階 pic.twitter.com/SC7KkFUg66
— ATELIER-PIERROT (@atelier_pierrot) July 1, 2020
A gothic lolita brand shop in Laforet, a famous mall in the Harajuku district of Tokyo.
1. Modesty
The biggest difference is the amount of skin shown. Lolita fashion in anime often uses short skirts, low-cut necklines, garter belts, and more to add a moe flavor. It suits the characters and looks great in cosplay!
「社長、まねきねこポーズにゃん♪」いまなら【限定】シアンちゃんブロマイドが貰えちゃう！SHOWBYROCK!!事前登録キャンペーンはこちらですぞ→http://t.co/lGIc89gBHZ #ショウバイロック先撮り pic.twitter.com/fnE4JKIIgL
— SHOW BY ROCK!!公式SB69 (@SHOWBYROCK) February 8, 2014
This cute dress would be too short to pass at a real lolita meetup!
However, real-life Lolita fashion is based on Victorian/Rococo adult & children’s fashion, along with the vintage doll aesthetic. Lolita isn’t a “sexy fashion” and places emphasis on the shape of the outfit over that of the wearer. This is especially prevalent in two areas:
Skirt length
Lolita-wearing characters usually have voluminous and short skirts paired with long socks to emphasize their zettai ryouiki, or upper thighs.
【キャラクター紹介①】
登場キャラを改めてご紹介！
まずは主人公・大鳥居あすか。
3年前のディストニア戦争で勝利し、生き残った“伝説の五人(マジカルファイブ)”の1人。
戦争中に心に傷を負い、いまは荒事から離れた生活を送っているが･･････。
CVは洲崎 綾さんです。#特殊戦あすか pic.twitter.com/7zjxbS1UZT— 「魔法少女特殊戦あすか」公式 (@MGSO_asuka) January 11, 2019
While this outfit is clearly lolita-inspired, it’s definitely not modest!
In real life, lolitas will usually wear longer skirts (often knee or calf length) in order to hide their thighs. Some gothic brands will opt for short skirts because they lean closer to traditional goth than lolita, but typically, a lolita skirt will reach just above the knees.
Neckline
While anime lolitas often wear dresses with low-cut necklines to show off their chest, real-life lolitas avoid this. While wearing a JSK (sleeveless lolita dress), blouses are usually worn to hide the chest and shoulders of the wearer. Pay attention to this aspect if you want to try it out for yourself!
【☆お知らせ☆】2018年3月10日～2018年4月9日までBABY, THE STARS SHINE BRIGHTとゴシックは魔法乙女の第3弾コラボ使い魔がゲーム内で配布されます♡ぜひお見逃しなく♪詳細はこちら↓https://t.co/QPoak2qkJ8 pic.twitter.com/N0SRSWYeut
— BABY☆THE STARS (@BABY_THE_STARS) March 9, 2018
Characters wearing lolita outfits designed by BABY, THE STARS SHINE BRIGHT, a well-known lolita brand. You can see how different the outfits are to those more commonly found in anime.
2. Gothic Isn’t Everything
Anime lolitas tend to wear gothic lolita, but in reality, there are a variety of styles. The big three are Gothic, Sweet, and Classic. Anime characters often wear the typical “black/white dress with contrasting accents” but to some IRL lolitas, these color schemes are too “anime-like” or “costumey” for comfort. Stripey socks are also less common than anime would have you believe, while lace tipped or printed socks are more popular. There are plenty of online resources, so it’s worth researching the style you want to try out. There are tons of brands out there, so you’re bound to find something that fits the look you’re dreaming of!
Lolitas usually respect the history of the fashion and recommend that you master the basics before trying out some experimental looks. This passion is what has kept the style alive for so long! Using the wrong fabrics or lace could make your outfit look more like an anime cosplay than a lolita coordinate, so be careful and make sure you do your research.
Now that you know the difference between anime and IRL lolita fashion, why not try it out for yourself?
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