Flyers, coupons, letters from credit card companies addressed to "Dear Recipient"... that's about all I ever get in the mail. But today, I pulled out the most oddly-shaped package l'd ever seen; a flaccid cross between a cone and a rhombus. Not surprisingly, it came from Japan.
I ripped it open and out waltzed Hello Kitty, donned in her best Gothic Lolita. Strapya World had sent me the charms I had ordered two weeks ago. On the left: h.Naoto's winking Hello Kitty, dressed in a bunny-eared cape and carrying a "h.N" purse. (She has a long white tail - a rarity.) On the right: "Pour Lolita Gothic Edition" by Novala Takemoto (author of Kamikaze Girls). No, I don't know what that means either! ("Pour" means "for" in French... "For Lolita Gothic Edition"? )
I hooked both Kitties to my cell phone, although both could also hang from a key ring. Now, I'll have a cute little reminder of Gothic Lolita wherever I am! I'm charmed by the design intricacies: the eyelashes, the anime-style eyes, the chunky heels on her shoes. All this, including shipping, cost only 1445 yen ($13.50 US).
Five stars for Strapya World's excellent service and prices. Check out their website and search for "Gothic Lolita" - you'll find several
cellphone and keychain charms that are unavailable outside Japan.
PS: how can you NOT love Strapya World after receiving an invoice that says...
Thank you so much for your patience!
Here you go ; ) you finally got what you had waited for!
Please love the stuff and let us know if you need a help.
BTW, it's been so chilly here in Japan these days (>_<)"
Please take care of your health and wear one more shirt and pants!
PPS: I know many of you are fellow cat lovers... here's another video of Basil to add some kawaii to your day!
Paris and Tokyo are the fashion capitals of the world – so it’s no surprise that a French juniors label has sprung up that’s heavily inspired by Gothic Lolita. Designer Corinne Prose created Kawaïko (Cute Girl), a juniors brand based on styles she observed on her frequent trips to Harajuku.
The “ambassadors” of Kawaïko are four anime-style teen girls who attend a Parisian fashion school. Kima and Elea are French, Miio is Japanese and Lina is Brazilian (pictured above). The official website describes the girls’ personalities, dreams, and fashion tastes; they even have individual MySpace pages! With this stylish quartet, Kawaïko is poised to be an entire lifestyle brand. Already, the company is working with a Japanese studio to produce a short anime and full-scale series, to be broadcast in France and Japan. Concept store Kawaïko
146 rue Saint Denis, 5002 Paris
Phone: 01 42 60 66 94
Hours: 10:30am to 7pm (7:30pm Saturdays)
Kawaïko has also opened up a flagship boutique in Paris. The store sells the brand’s clothing, as well as platform boots, accessories, manga, and J-rock CDs. If there were ever a Gothic Lolita hangout, this would be it; check out the bat-mobiles hanging from the ceiling!
I sent designer Corinne Prose a few questions in French, and she kindly responded. Here is the translation of our interview:
† How did Gothic Lolita fashion inspire the Kawaïko collection?
Whenever I visit Japan, I always take lots of photos, and I also bring back clothing. The Kawaïko collection is inspired by all of this, but it’s not a copy. I aim to create an original brand, a mix between Japanese style and European punk rock. † Is one of the four “ambassadors” a Gothic Lolita?
In the story, Kima (above) is the girl whose style is closest to Gothic Lolita. But she mixes this with her own designs; since she doesn’t have much money, she tinkers with her clothes!
† Have you visited Tokyo?
Yes, I’ve been there over twenty times. In fact, I’ve been going there to shop since 1984, when I began my career as a stylist.
† Do you have any stories or anecdotes about Gothic Lolita culture?
The style originated about fifteen years ago in Japan. In the beginning, there was only one label, Pink House, which made very romantic dresses, with flower imprints and tons of pinks and reds. Today, this brand has disappeared. It’s the singer Mana [actually, he’s the guitarist –ed.] of the band Malice Mizer who really popularized this fashion in Japan. I think that some Japanese people think that young French girls always wear clothes like that!
† Are your clothes made by hand?
Our clothes are made in Paris, in clothing ateliers near us. We make small samples, allowing us to run styles past our clients. Our boutique is a sort of laboratory, with a basement atelier to develop prototypes and patronages.
† How have girls responded to your products?
Girls love our products, and they are selling well! It’s very encouraging to see that they appreciate what we do, and that on Saturdays, they visit our boutique dressed in Kawaïko!
After the jump, you can read my Q&A with Corinne en Français. And if you're keen to get your hands on these clothes, you can order items from Kawaïko's website.
In real life, it’s unlikely that any of us has a closet full of intricate Gothic Lolita dresses like the ones above. But on Second Life, even the most destitute Loli can build up a wardrobe that rivals Mana’s. For those who don’t know, Second Life is a net-based 3D virtual world, which allows users to customize their avatars with clothes and characteristics (skin, facial features). Residents can interact with each other, explore various worlds, and create/trade items.
Of course, I was curious: are there Gothic Lolita-styled avatars on Second Life? Can you buy GL items, or engage in GL-oriented activities? (Basically, can the experience be like my “first” life, but turned up a few notches? ) Bob, who sent me these screen captures of his Second Life characters, replied:
Gothic Lolita and cosplay fashions are relatively popular in Second Life, although not as popular as goth, punk, neo-rockabilly and more mainstream fashions. There are definitely designers who specialize in Gothic Lolita. I bought ALL of those clothes from Second Life shops, instead of making them myself. The Gothic Lolita shops also overlap sometimes with the Lolita and dolly shops (some people role play enchanted dolls with big wind-up keys in their backs, ha)!
In terms of Gothic Lolita or cosplay hangouts, I'm sure there are some, but they are harder to find than the shops. Either you get Gothic Lolita themed events or more commonly you get dance clubs with a mix of fashions. I used to hang out at a couple of really cool Tokyo-themed "sims" (i.e., parcels of land run on a single server), but unfortunately they never achieved a critical mass of regulars. So I was by myself most of the time.
But things are changing all the time in Second Life. I would not be surprised if a popular cosplay sim springs up any time.
Wicked, right? For a few dollars, you can wear a Gothic Lolita gown that cost thousands in the real world. You can even be Mana, if you want, wandering around the streets of Shanghai (above left).
I did some digging and learned that several Second Life retailers sell Gothic Lolita items. In this metaverse, the leading brands aren’t BTSSB and MMM – but Draconic Kiss, Ohlala!!, Tekelili, and Bare Rose. Bob bought the cute crucifix dress from Japanese Lolita designer Lico Nyanda (shown above). Her brand, LicoLico, also offers dolls that you can dress in matching outfits.
Sounds like a wonderland – so why isn’t there a larger Gothic Lolita presence? A major explanation is that Linden Labs (Second Life’s developer)… put a ban on the word “Lolita”! Residents cannot input this word into certain types of listings, meaning that a search for “Lolita fashion” will turn up nothing. Second Life has been criticized for enabling virtual child pornography, and “Lolita” is a word associated with this offense. Of course, the Japanese fashion has no link to this meaning – but Linden’s search engine fails to tell the difference. Since residents are unable to use the word to advertise meet-ups and clothing stores, the growth of a Loli community has been hindered.
I've explored Second Life, but it never hooked me. The virtual fashions, however, can be as stunning as anything in the Gothic & Lolita Bible. And thank goodness that Linden's word ban doesn’t extend to our real lives... or we’d all be in trouble!
Roku requested a post on Kaori Yuki, a Tokyo-born manga artist whose work is associated with Gothic Lolita, both in style and substance. I’m not much of a manga reader, but I love how Gothic Lolita is represented in this medium. Artistic renderings of the fashion (and the girls that wear it) may not always be true to life – but they can express subtexts that are impossible to capture in a photograph. Without a doubt, Yuki’s work falls in this special category.
One reason I find Gothic Lolita so compelling is that it brings what we hide or deny – mortality, morbidity – right to the surface. And Yuki does that to the furthest extent. Her tortured protagonists have closets full of skeletons; Cain Hargreaves (Count Cain, Godchild) is the son of incest, Ian (Fairy Cube) can see fairies and ends up trapped in their world, Setsuna (Angel Sanctuary) commits incest with his sister.
It’s easy to write off her shocking storylines – along with the graphic sadism and heresy – as gratuitous. In fact, Yuki has great empathy and humanity for her characters. She probes our darkest impulses, inviting us to question our prejudices and contradictions.
And in her Gothic art, Kaori Yuki turns this frightening psychological journey into something beautiful. Many of her female characters wear Victorian-era dresses, hats, and bonnets; she has a knack for capturing the intricate details of their clothing. I love the expression in the couple’s eyes above. So much meaning can be read into that single frame – the chains, the black roses, the way they grasp at each other (is she struggling or swooning? )
Gothic Lolita can be thought of as nothing more than a black and white fashion. But I think underneath the petticoat layers, it is full of tensions, fears, nuances. Kaori Yuki's art resonates with me because of what it exposes. If all you see are pretty Goth Lolis... it's time to take a deeper look!
† Name/URL: Marie † Age: 19 † Location: California, USA † How were you introduced to Gothic Lolita fashion?
It was such a long time ago! I saw it first through Mana the summer before high school started. Then through the website Blue Period I saw scans of Gothic & Lolita Bible. Though I loved it, at the time there was no way to buy the clothing through the internet, and I had absolutely no sewing skills. I bought my first dress in Japan after I graduated from high school and kept adding to my collection since then.
† What do you find appealing about GL style and culture?
I've always been into Victorian style and the overall elegance of it. I like to live in a dignified and sophisticated manner. † What are your favorite GL clothing brands? Emily Temple Cute,Victorian Maiden,Angelic Pretty,Innocent World. † Any other comments? Be creative!
If you would like to be the next Gothloli of the Week, please read the submission instructions here.
Oh Mana-sama... how do we love thee... let us count the ways! I saw that many of you have Moi dix Mois and Malice Mizer on your MySpace playlists, and figured that I should get in on the action. I've created an Elegant Gothic Lolita playlist of every Mana-related song available on playlist.com. "Illuminati" and "Kyomu no Naka de no Yuugi" are my favorites - what about you?
I’ve been working non-stop on a new project… can’t reveal details as of yet, but I’m very excited and promise to keep you updated! For now, here’s a teaser… No, I won’t be starring in “Attack of the Giant Octopus.”
White blouse: Lolita brand Spider, which my dad brought back from his trip to Hong Kong Stuffed octopus (or rather, quadro-pus): handmade
Blouse:Westmend (click to read about the brand and Vancouver store) Beaded crucifix choker: handmade
To me, the most tedious aspect of Lolita fashion is when the elitists go around thumping their (Gothic & Lolita) Bibles. Are fishnets Loli, are striped socks Loli… hmm, are you missing out on what makes the fashion uniquely rich and compelling?
Yes, my style is Western-influenced. No, I’m not always going to cover my shoulders and arms. I’d rather take a cue from the Gothlolis of the Week and have fun, be creative, and get to know others who share this spirit. Let's raise a toast to Miss Gothic Lolita, for she's the reason many of us have found friends from around the world. Here's to beauty, to elegance - and to all of you! DIX love! (=^@^=)
