by Tricia Muller

Created on: November 13, 2009

Is the Lolita fashion look cute or creepy? This fashion has been among us in many forms since the 1970s and consists of many subcultures. As a fashion trend the look focuses on showing less skin, appearing modest, or childlike. Influenced by both the Victorian and Rococo periods, the clothing tends to short, flounced skirts, tights or knee length socks and high collars. The various subcultures include Goth Lolita, Sweet Lolita, and Classic Lolita, to name a few. As a way for teens and young women in their 20s and 30s to "dress down" and still appear cute and attractive, the Lolita fashion is gaining adherents outside of Japan every day. Since the clothing can be expensive many women turn to their own creativity to make their own outfits, giving each her own style.

Lolita has been made increasingly popular by Visual Kei, or Visual Arts, bands. It is seen increasingly in video games and anime art and can occasionally be found across North America at concerts and conventions.

The Lolita style invokes a more peaceful time, a time of innocence, for many of its adherents. The desire to be cute, pretty, and/or lovely is a strong need with woman of any age. The Lolita look enables a young, or grown, woman to express her dislike of the more aggressive and racy styles of clothing popular today.

For a woman who prefers to be modest, but beautiful, the Lolita fashion is a wonderful alternative to other styles and trends. She captures her inner child and shows her off to the world around her, saying, "I am a woman who can still be pure and innocent." This is not a sexual fashion for most, simply a form of expressing themselves. While many claim that the name itself comes from Vladimir Nabokov's famous novel, most who wear this fashion say that isn't so.

This fashion trend isn't just about looking cute, however. Many adherents prefer the more elegant Victorian look, with many ruffles, petticoats, and lace. These people enjoy the look of a "noble doll". The look of wide eyed, innocent perfection of a porcelain doll is seldom creepy at all. While it is true that the Gothic Lolita style can be seen as creepy, it is still a baby doll creepy. In a bygone era dolls were always elegant, always perfect, and that seems to be what the style strives for, perfected, elegant childhood.

Learn more about this author, Tricia Muller.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.