"You're Only a Lolita If..." Common Concerns for Newbies
Starting a new fashion style can be an intimidating change! Like most newbies to this fashion, I had worries about what I needed to accomplish before I could call myself a Lolita. I hope this list takes a veteran to lolita fashion back to when they were new, and gives beginners some piece of mind!
1. "You Only Wear Name-Brands"
You are a Lolita if you own indie brands, handmade pieces, or name-brands. The manufacturer of your lolita pieces is unimportant. While lolita fashion does have requirements for it to be, in fact, lolita, the requirement of your pieces being name-brands is not one of them! Whether your item is by Angelic Pretty or a lovely independent brand, you should love what you wear regardless!
©Mansion de Jullietta
2. "You Wear It Everyday"
No - you do not need to wear lolita fashion daily to be a Lolita. Between jobs and school, many people in this fashion can only enjoy lolita in their downtime. There are other factors at play, too. Are you able to comfortably wear lolita for long periods? Would you wear lolita even when you aren't feeling up to it? Have plans that require you to be active? Can you clean your lolita clothes easily? These are just some of the factors that come into play when you wear lolita daily.
I wear lolita in my downtime. Between work, access only to a laundromat, and health reasons, there are days when I cannot wear the fashion I love. Does that make me any less of a Lolita? Not at all!
©Mansion de Jullietta
3. "You're Active in a Lolita Community"
©mooshuu
Whether online or in-person, there are many lolita communities you can be a part of. That being said, you do not have to be active, or even be a part of a community, to be a Lolita! Many people in lolita fashion celebrate their love of this style just by wearing it! While communities are a great way to connect with people who share your passion, this fashion style is just for you and that is 100% OK!
4. "If You Own a Closet Full of It"
You're a Lolita whether you have one piece or twenty! While many Lolitas aim to have an entire closet of our favorite pieces eventually, it is not required to be a part of this niche fashion. Enjoy the dresses you own but keep your heart open to pieces you would like to maybe own in the future!
©Mansion de Jullietta
5. "You Have a Set Lolita Style"
Of course not! There are plenty Lolitas that wear multiple styles. While having a favorite style is extremely common, it can be fun to try something new! This is a fashion hobby that is all about having fun and expressing yourself. Feeling a bit dark and mysterious one day, and bubbly and happy the next? Let the fashion help showcase that side of yourself! You don't have to limit yourself!
©Mansion de Jullietta
What are some things you worried about as someone new to lolita fashion? I'd love to know!
Stay Frilly~
“I know this is two years old, but I really needed to hear #4 today. I’m very new to the fashion (wanted to wear the pretty dresses for years, but only recently had the courage due to a chance encounter with a local meetup) and so many people talking about “dream dresses” and whatnot. I’m just not that girl. Not only am I plus-sized (making that harder to begin with) but when I see a piece of clothing I want, if I know I can’t get it in the next year (or three months if it’s fast fashion) I have to put it out of my head because I just do not have the energy to try and hunt it down.
For me I want to have enough dresses to coord for different seasons and like 3-4 holidays. I have style ideas in my head, but nothing that involves a specific piece (well, except this one red classic beauty I’m not even sure comes in my size, lol). The hunt for me is less about a brand piece, and more about wanting something in a kind of style for a certain time.
Sorry for the ramble. Anyway, the point is I figured it was just a difference but I’ve been feeling a bit anxious about the fact that I don’t seem to be as keen on the hunt itself as so many other girls, so hearing you don’t have to have a closet full makes me feel a bit better.”