"When I wear Lolita I feel more feminine than I usually do; and it’s like armour in a way. It just gives you a feeling of confidence.”
Lotti is a freelance writer. She’s one of a growing number of Australians who are exploring the Japanese subculture of Lolita; adults dressing like dolls. She’s been dressing this way for years.
The style was born in the Harajuku district of Tokyo, an epicenter of fashion subculture. Some liken Lolita's to real life Barbies; others say they take inspiration from vintage Victorian-era dolls. More than just an alternative fashion and not just cosplay, the signature Lolita look is hard to miss: big banana curl wigs, porcelain white skin, eye enlarging make-up and cupcake clad dresses. There are also subsects of gothic, classic and sweet styles.
They’re often described as living dolls, a title which most Lolitas prefer to avoid. Read More: Secret World of Lolitas
"Guys are going to shout some kind of sexual innuendo or something highly inappropriate so you just want to avoid that situation all together."
