Ruh roh! The Committee returneth with its panties in a bundle. Ronan and La Carmina debate the merits of Gothic Lolita underwear. As always, they stumble into some disturbing gender confusion.
CARMINA: What would it take to get you into these?
RONAN: ...Someone really hot wearing them?
CARMINA: HAHAHA!
RONAN: That... tends to be my policy on underwear.
CARMINA: These undies are for your gender, you know. So, David Beckham in lace tighty-whities would be a yes?
RONAN: They're for DUDES?
CARMINA: Hello!!?? Do you not see the flap?
RONAN: Don't ask me to decipher what's going on in those photos!
CARMINA: What would the purpose be otherwise?
RONAN: I see lace and my brain stops functioning. Well, my assessment is not gender transferable. These would be a dealbreaker on a dude. I would seriously question the judgment of any man who would slip into such lacy atrocities. Wouldn't you?
CARMINA: I guess these belong under the Visual Kei skirt.
CARMINA: Ok, what's going on here?
RONAN: Well, the fronts looked suspicious, but they're bizarre looking anyway. Who am I to question these Gothic Lolita disasters?
CARMINA: What is the purpose of the cigarettes? The horizontal opening held together by two bows?
RONAN: I shudder to think. I can't get excited about undies, even with cigarettes and lace.
CARMINA: Not even these??
RONAN: Where in god's name do you dig up these things?
CARMINA: In my closet!
RONAN: So you're a girl that wears guy's panties that look like they're for girls. I'm so confused right now.
CARMINA: Actually, these ones are girl's panties. And I'm joking - you know what I really wear.
RONAN: I know, I know. Nothing, sometimes!
CARMINA: SOMETIMES?
RONAN: hahahah
CARMINA: Finally, what do we think of these? They look like they'd itch.
RONAN: My chest is itchy.
CARMINA: Huh? Did you just shave?
These Gothic Lolita undies are the unsettling creations of Japanese brand Rose Hip. Check out the site and buy them, if you dare!
† Name/URL: Jara/Janoir
† Age: 15
† Location: Munich (Bavaria, Germany)
† How were you introduced to Gothic Lolita fashion?
When I was 11/12 I often read Manga/Anime magazines and some reports about Gothic Lolita. Since this time, I’m totally in love with the Lolita Fashion. At first I only drew girls in Lolita but since one year or so I’m wearing it by myself and loving it!
† What do you find appealing about GL style and culture?
I love that the fashion is both cute and dark/mysterious. I think the historical elements, mixed with modern elements are together stunningly beautiful and I like the femininity of Lolita fashion. It makes me feel beautiful and self-confident.
† What are your favorite GL clothing brands?
Angelic Pretty, Moi Même Moitié, Innocent World, Baby the Stars Shine Bright.
† Any other comments?
These are the battle clothes of the precious ones, the few chosen to fight the many
who lack the power to see dreams. (Novala Takemoto)
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>> May 29, 2008, 6:11 pm
by
La Carmina
in
Fashion >>
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I don't know much about Japanese shoe brand Antenna by Kreuz - other than that they produce some of the most kickass Goth boots around. The photos speak for themselves. Doll-like platforms, skull-stamped silver buckles, corset lacing, dangling chains... let's just say you won't find anything like this in your local Payless.
For the daintier types, Antenna by Kreuz has a line of Sweet/Gothic Lolita shoes. Scowling skulls are replaced by hearts, bows, and pearls.
These unisex slip-ons with sturdy soles could do some serious damage. At the very least, they'll raise your height by three or four inches.
Now here's a unique design: stilettos with barbed wire lacing that wraps around your legs! Imagine if the spikes were made of wire instead of plastic... ouch. I'm inspired to replicate the look. In fact, I'm going to get out of my chair right now to make a long overdue visit the hardware store. Stay tuned.
>> May 28, 2008, 9:19 pm
by
La Carmina
in
Fashion >>
† View Comments
Whenever I travel to a new city, my first priority is to hunt down the Goth/Lolita stores. Never mind the Louvre – take me to Baby, the Stars Shine Bright! My friend Fredo is the same way: as soon as he touched down in Paris, he was Googling for Gavilane, purveyor of “mystic jewelry and decadent accessories.”
Many of my darkly-inclined friends have moms who are really into the aesthetic as well. (Mine is no exception – she recently got me a lace-up ruffled corset and handcuff necklace from Hong Kong.) Fredo’s stylish mother (pictured) is perhaps even more of a Goth enthusiast than he is. On her last visit to Gavilane, she emerged with a leather corset and this elegant cameo necklace: a lady's profile framed with crystals and black stones.
Fredo says the clothes in Gavilane aren’t anything you'd write home about - but the refined, handmade accessories are a different story. The vibe? “It’s definitely Goth, but not harsh like spikes so much as skulls… more literal Gothic, as in a couple of centuries ago.” Fredo surreptitiously took photos of silver cackling skeleton-kings, dangling fleur-de-lis earrings, over-the-top hats with feathers everywhere. He bought a pair of skull and crossbones cufflinks, made from black lacquer and black stones.
Gavilane has several locations in Paris; the main store sells clothes and more elaborate pieces, and there is a branch dedicated to accessories about five blocks away. The primary location is at one end of Rue Rosiers, a street about four blocks long that anchors the Jewish quarter. The other end runs into the beginning of the Marais, the gay district of Paris. Fredo adds: "Another nice thing about it is there's the best falafel in France just down the street at L'As du Fallafel (34 Rue des Rosiers)!"
Gavilane
† 14 Rue Malher, Paris, 75004 † Metro station: St. Paul
† Also at: 8 Rue des Francs Bougeois and 39 Rue Vieille du Temple
† Phone: 0148877313
† Fax: 0148877333
I woke up this morning, unsure what to write about... and lo and behold, there was a lone email in my inbox that held the answer! (If only life were always this easy.) Beth Robinson, a doll artist from New England, kindly sent me a link to her latest creations. Over the past few months, Beth has been working on Gothic Lolita dolls for an upcoming show. "Obviously the fashion aspect was of the most interest since I really wanted to take on the challenge of creating those clothes. But then, I wound up getting sucked in to everything else! I am a fan."
I previously wrote about the Pullip and ball-jointed dolls; it's fascinating to see the myriad ways an artist can convey Gothic Lolita. From the criss-cross lacing to the grey under-eye shadow, Beth has the sensibility down pat. Every feature is meticulously detailed - down to the lace-trimmed bloomers under the skirts!
Beth's Gothic Lolita dolls will be showcased at Vermont's Lazy Pear Gallery from June 5 to July 13 (opening reception: June 6, 4-8pm). Definitely check out her Strange Dolls blog for more dark and inspiring visuals.
† Name/URL: Valentina
† Age: 26
† Location: Milano (Italy)
† How were you introduced to Gothic Lolita fashion?
I met the Lolita style reading books about Japan and manga. I immediately loved the Harajuku girls!!!
† What do you find appealing about GL style and culture?
The Gothic Lolita girl has an irresistible charm: we are always baby in a world of dream…
† What are your favorite GL clothing brands?
My favourite Gothic Lolita brand is surely 'Baby the Stars Shine Bright', because I think about it as very romantic and so cute. Colors, tones and accessories seem to come from a beautiful tale, a fable.
At the same time, I love Vivienne Westwood's style, that's quite exactly the opposite thing, whith sadomaso tools, pins and blades, in perfect punk style.
† Any other comments?
My artwork are inspired by the Lolita culture and my thesis at “Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera” called 'The Concept of Kawaii in the Contemporary Art Japanese'. I love sweet Kawaii accessories… Kissu at all ^_-
If you would like to be the next Gothloli of the Week, please read the submission instructions here.
Do you remember the scene in Kamikaze Girls where Momoko takes out her school lunch? Everyone's nibbling on rice balls and sandwiches - but our Lolita heroine opens up a pink heart-shaped box filled with girly-colored sweets, meticulously arranged for maximum cuteness.
She is not alone. Every school day, Japanese children tear open their bento boxes at lunchtime and squeal "KAWAII!" Their mothers had risen at dawn and spent three hours arranging slices of egg, cheese, and seaweed into Doraemon, Pikachu, and Super Mario. Okay, I'm hyperbolizing... but "charaben" (character bento boxes) arranging is in fact soaring in popularity in Japan.
In his new book Face Food, Christopher Salyers documents the art of the kid's meal. Character bentos are a modern spin on elaborate food arrangments dating from 12th century Japan. To my surprise, the driving force behind these visual feasts is not artistic fulfillment. The parents toil in the kitchen for the sake of their children; one arranges ham slices into Piglet to delight them, encourage them to eat nutritiously, and hopefully boost their social standing in the classroom.
The book includes helpful hints on how to make your own bento box character lunches. Above are some adorable animals that would suit a Sweet Lolita. Rice is dyed with curry powder or pink food coloring. Egg, sausage, and fish cake form the facial features.
Gothic Lolitas would never be deficient in iodine: a lot of black seaweed (nori) is required to sculpt Emily the Strange, Jack Skellington, and Spiderman.
I whined to my mom: "I'm so deprived! You should have woken up at 5am to craft Goth-themed lunches for meee. Like a skull-shaped sandwich, impaled with red peppers and dripping with ketchup-blood. Or a soy-based interpretation of the Seven Sins, one for every day of the week." She snapped: "Well you were lucky to have ANY FOOD at ALL!"
† From Face Food: The Visual Creativity of Japanese Bento Boxes by
Christopher D. Salyers (New York: Mark Batty Publisher, 2007). For more bento box imagery, check out the Face Food blog.
