Nicola Tabone
Lolita fashion is cuteness culture from Japan. Discover how it was an expression of defiance and how it spread globally.
Lolita fashion & cute aesthetics
From bows, to bonnets, to frills, pleats, and lace, Lolita fashion sets the bar for ‘cute aesthetics’.
What’s it like to be a Lolita? Mexico’s Kawaii Ambassador (Kawaii is another word for cute in Japanese), Briz Blossom gave us the answer.
As an ‘Ambassador of Cuteness’, it is her duty to spread Japan’s cuteness culture in Mexico and represent all things Kawaii. We got intel on the Lolita community, clothing price tags and what it means to be Lolita beyond Japanese parameters.
Originating in 1980’s Japan, this explosion of cuteness started out as an act of defiance. These Japanese women were tired of being shoved into a certain mold, so they turned to bombastic clothing to liberate themselves from the oppressive chains of the patriarchal ‘uniform’ culture which dominated Japan back then.
Lolita fashion as Japanese pop culture
Lolita is now a staple of Japanese pop-culture, and has developed into numerous sub-categories such as; classic, gothic and cute. But every Lolita is unique in her own right, staying true to the principles of self-expression that it stands for.
The highly modest clothing: features petticoats, blouses, and high necklines that all authenticate the Rococo, Baroque and Victorian eras it draws its inspiration from. A Lolita always emulates eternal innocence, elegance, and beauty in her own extraordinary way.
Tell us about yourself.
I am a lawyer with 2 MBA’s, working at a private law firm. I’m also Lolita for about 14 years and an Appointed Kawaii Ambassador for Mexico in Japan since 2016.
What does Lolita mean to you?
It’s my own way of expressing the aesthetic and beauty of what I feel from the inside and transmit it with cute and fancy fashion to help other people warm their heart and feel peace.
How does the average person react to the fashion when seen?
Most of the people like how I dress and they often want photos of me. They most of the time tell me that they really like how I look, even though they don’t understand much about fashion.
Lolita community
How would you describe the Lolita community?
In general, the Lolita community is friendly and they also like to share their love of this fashion to other lovers. Sometimes, as any other community of any topic, may appear some toxic people who spread hate or rivalry to other members.
Luckily they’re a very few of them and I really don’t consider them as part of a community because a group has to transmit positivity and love to this fashion with every kind of member.
Is the culture very popular in Mexico and are you seeing a growth in the culture worldwide?
Yeah, this fashion has been very popular and I’ve seen a growth in Mexico and in Latin America in general. However it mainly is spreading in many parts of Asia such as China.
You must spend a fortune on your wardrobe! How much would an outfit set you back?
I don’t spend much since I’ve been having a lot of experience getting very beautiful clothes without spending a lot of money. Nowadays, you can get a complete fancy outfit for about $150.
Visiting Lolita origins
Have you visited the home of Lolita, Japan? And what are your thoughts on the Japanese scene?
Yes, I’ve been there and it’s a very beautiful place, not much different from other parts of the world, but their big events are so beautiful and very well organized. The Japanese scene I think it’s just like any other Lolita scene in any other part of the world, since I’ve been there and I’ve seen it. It’s amazing as all the other ones.
As with a lot of fashion styles there seems to be a genre of music associated with – what is the Lolita’s musical style?
I think there’s not a specific genre associated with Lolita fashion, since any girl without the clothes is as different as any of us, with many different musical tastes.
But it’s common to hear that most of them listen to Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, Kamijo, Versailles, Malice Mizer, etc., basically J-Pop with alternative rock & visual.
Where would you like to see Lolita in the coming years?
Just the way it is now, with a lot of lovers for fashion, with the correct people there and out of toxicity and rivalry.
Getting into Lolita
Do you have any advice for anybody wishing to get into the culture?
If you’d like to wear something different in this fashion, just do it, because life’s very short, and without noticing it, you may later won’t be able to do it, so you’d regret not doing what you want, instead of listening to other unworthy opinions.
Any closing thoughts?
I hope anyone who sees a Lolita, can understand that she has the total right to wear what she wants and she deserves respect. Thus I hope we can all understand it and let people wear what they want without criticizing them in the first place.
