Lolita Fashion

For you to know Lolita more

Some words in the Lolita culture are not common and may make you confused without clarification. Here is a small dictionary of Lolita fashion for those who want to know Lolita more.

glb/Gothic Lolita Bible: It’s a Japanese magazine dedicated to the darkly cute Gothic Lolita. It contains everything you need such as photos, sewing patterns and lots of tips to perfect your look.

Mook: A hybrid word derived from both “book” and “magazine”. Mooks are the size of magazines and contain similar content but the binding is much sturdier and the pages are much thicker, like a book’s.

Shimotsuma Monogatari / Kamizake Girls: A popular book about a Lolita and a biker-chick written by Novala Takemoto. This book has also been made into a movie and a manga.

Rococo: A style of 18th Century art and design, also referred to as “Late Baroque”, it’s one of the important inspiration source of Lolita.

Ita Lolita: Basically, an Ita Lolita is a Lolita who is painful to look at. For example cheap lace, poorly made clothes with cheap looking fabric, a lack of coordination skills, etc.

Bonnet: A hat with a large brim and made of fabric or straw, it will be tied under the chin by ribbons.

Half-bonnet: A backless bonnet, it is more similar to a headdress with a brim.

Shirring:  Two or more rows of gathers used to decorate parts of garments, usually the sleeves, bodice and yoke.

Sock Toppers: A decoration made from ribbon and lace usually, sitting at the top of one’s socks.

Wrist Cuffs: A wrist accessory like a bracelet made of lace.

Jabot: A clothing accessory down the front of a shirt, blouse, or dress. It’s an ornamental cascade of ruffles or frills worn around the neck.

Kachuusha: A headband, most often with a big alice bow on top

Bloomers: Loose shorts gathered at the bottom and worn under a skirt to protect modesty.

Pannier / Petticoat: It’s a type of underskirt to extend the width of the skirt. It made of Organza usually.

Cutsew: A Lolita blouse with a little bit casual element and made of jersey or knit fabric normally.
jsk / Jumper Skirt: A Lolita dress without sleeves usually worn with a blouse.

op / One Piece: A Lolita dress with sleeves, consisting of or fashioned in a single whole piece.

Rockinghorse Shoes: Pair of shoes have very thick soles. Their heels made from wood or cork with a notch taken out of the back.

Lucky Pack: A secret pack of Lolita costumes which sold for a very favorable price by Lolita brands at different times during a year.

Pirate Lolita

While staying true to the qualities of lolita fashion, Pirate Lolita incorporates elements of historical and fantasy pirate attire. Mini tricorne hats, treasure chest handbags, and nautical or pirate related prints are all characteristic of this style.

Sumo/Fat Lolita  (Dosu Rori  – ドスロリ)

The word “Dosu Lolita” is derived from merging the words “Dosukoi” (a sumo exclamtion) and “Lolita.” This classification is given to Plump or well-rounded women who wear Lolita Fashion. The style of this is to look very much like a doll. Similar classifications are ” Chubby Lolita ” (Debu Rori), or ” Ugly Woman Lolita” (Desu Lolita).

Hurt Lolita  (Itai Rori 痛ロリ)

This style is worn when the person want to appear imature. Self tortureing or degrading onself. Using this term towards others can be deceived as deragatory. It is a simalar style to “Costume Play Lolita” (Cos Rori), or emulating “Gothic Loltia.” A similar version of this style is “Geek Lolita” (Ota Rori).

Aunt Lolita  (Oba Rori – オバロリ)

Also “Mama Rori” and “Shufu Rori Mistress Lolita”, it’s associated to older people who dress in Lolita Fashion to appear more youthful.