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ABOUT.

LaCarmina.com is a tribute to Gothic Lolita fashion, my style obsession du jour. I’ve always had a (perhaps unfortunate) penchant towards subculture-inspired clothing. My most outrageous outfits, however, pale next the youth street style I encounter on my trips to Asia. It was on one of these teen vacations that I noticed a new breed of freak. Japanese girls in foofy skirts and cravattes; think Queen Victoria meets Alice in Wonderland meets Marilyn Manson. It was a fashion with no parallel in North America. Later, I found out its name: Gothic Lolita.

I love to experiment with unconventional looks, but for those living outside Japan, Gothic Lolita isn’t exactly prêt-a-porter. Halloween and anime conventions aside, the style can come across as cringe-worthy. And so, much of what I wear does not fall under typical Japanese Goth Loli categories. This blog is not about the narrowest definition of Lolita, but the brands and aesthetics associated with the style.

Look around, bookmark the site, befriend me on MySpace + Facebook, and check back often – I update almost daily.

xoxo >> La Carmina

All the information on LaCarmina.com is for entertainment purposes only. I reserve the right to delete and/or moderate any comment.


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+ WHAT IS GOTHIC LOLITA FASHION?

Gothic Lolita describes a youth subculture/style that gained recognition in Japan in the late 1990s, inspired by visual kei bands such as Malice Mizer. Goth Loli fashions are based on old-fashioned silhouettes and details, particularly from the Victorian era. Typical outfits incorporate youthful, feminine details such as lace, cravattes, petticoats, high collars and crinoline. Colors are primarily black and white; accessories include mini top hats, parasols, lace headdresses, and stuffed animals. Gothic Lolita is the most popular subset of Japanese Lolita fashion, which includes Sweet (pastels/ruffles), Classical (slimmer styling), Punk (cut-up tops/chains), Kodona (the male counterpart), Erololi (erotic/fetish), and Waloli (traditional Japanese clothing). For photos and more info, see this post.

+ WHO RUNS THIS SITE?

La Carmina (Carmen Yuen). More about me...

+ CAN I USE YOUR PHOTOS ON MY SITE?

Please email me first, link to my site, and credit the source.
- General citation: Carmen Yuen, La Carmina: Gothic Lolita Fashion (2007-8), http://www.lacarmina.com
- Specific posts: Carmen Yuen, "Post Name," La Carmina: Gothic Lolita Fashion (date of post) http://www.carmenyuen.com/blog/THE-POST-URL

+ HOW DO I CONTACT YOU?

Message me here. Press inquiries welcome. You can view my past media coverage here.

+ HOW CAN I FIND OUT MORE ABOUT GOTH LOLI FASHION?

Be my buddy on MySpace, join my mailing list and Facebook group, and check out the links on the bottom right of my blog.

+ WHY CAN’T I POST A BLOG COMMENT?

You must enter an email address (it'll be hidden) and URL. If you don't have a website, just put any address in the box (ie., www.lacarmina.com). Your words won't show up right away because all comments are moderated. I try to review comments several times a day.

+ HOW CAN I BE THE GOTHLOLI OF THE WEEK?

Read this post, which has submission instructions. Please email me answers to the questions, along with at least two high-quality photos of yourself in Gothic Lolita outfits. Related styles (Gothic Aristocrat, Kodona, Punk Lolita) are also acceptable. I will contact you before putting up your profile. Since I’m only featuring one person a week, please be patient.