Ophelia's Gaze: The State of Lolita Fashion in Second Life

Iris Ophelia's ongoing review of virtual world and MMO fashion

Lolita is a fashion-based subculture that is often misunderstood and slandered due to its name. It was through one of these misunderstandings that I first met Hamlet, way back in 2007 when the term "lolita" was banned from Second Life's search. SL Lolita has developed since then (and since the ban was lifted), but dresses often remain a goth hybrid that many RL Lolitas would frown on as commercial or costume-like. Because of this, I wanted to focus less on the run of the mill SL Gothic Lolita look, and more on the other genres of Lolita style that are available.

My first outfit could be called a Classic Lolita, featuring the new Maestro dress by Iki Akiri of Violent Seduction [Click here to teleport to Violent Seduction in CHIMA] as well as a pair of bloomers from another outfit, Muse. Though you can find a lot of exquisite Lolita-influenced clothing at Violent Seduction, much of it features cleavage that would be considered too immodest for most Lolitas, making Maestro an enchanting change of pace. Other key elements of this outfit are the Gothic Doll deco nails from Love Soul, the double-bun hairstyle Momo from Mikan Hair, *G Field*'s Square-toe Shoes, and a hairbow from Junwave.

Keep reading for three more unique Lolita looks!

Sweet Lolitas love pastel colours and all things adorable, so it was a no-brainer to base this outfit around pieces by Nekoko Noel of Honey Kitty [Click here to teleport to Honey Kitty in QUARTET]. I love this cutlery-print one-piece, Yumyum Cream, although by Sweet standards the skirt's flatness gives it a more casual look. Nekoko uses an extremely consistent colour palette which makes mixing and matching pieces incredibly easy, so I've added her Baby Stripe Blouse and Lace Dot Socks as well.

Along with Honey Kitty's pieces, I'm wearing Morrigan Denimore's Rocking Horse Shoes from his shop, The Black Canary [Click here to teleport to The Black Canary in WITCHING HOUR]. The Black Canary is a great place to go for Elegant Gothic Lolita and Aristocrat clothing, but his rocking horse shoes (an old-school lolita staple) are definitely my favourite item there. I'm also wearing a Bear Hairpin and Hair 102 from Love Soul, and the rather charmingly romantic Summer Straw Laced Shopping Bag from bakery and accessory shop KUE!, where you can also find the amigurumi bonbon pictured in my mouth.

I think the Classic look above borders on Country Lolita, likely one of the most underdone genres of lolita in Second Life so far. The dress set pictured is called Fleur, a recent release from Silver Rose Designs [Click here to teleport to Silver Rose Designs in URQHART]. Designer Yuriko Muromachi has a pretty broad line of virtual Lolita clothing, alongside her historical dresses. Fleur comes with matching lace stockings and gloves, and a hat with ribbon embroidered in French meaning "Beautiful girl, I love you".

I'm wearing another pair of shoes from *G Field*, a brand by Cerberus Noel that is also home to a few lovely Lolita dresses [Click here to teleport to *G Field* in YABU]. Since becoming more mainstream Cerberus has moved towards casual clothing, but her shoes have retained their Lolita roots. In addition to Cerberus' Kate Bow-Strap Shoes I'm wearing one of the gacha umbrellas from iTutu and the elegant Dunne pigtails from Milana.

My last look undoubtedly belongs to the Hime Lolita genre, a style that revels in decadent princess-like designs. You can find Lolita-inspired dresses like Flone scattered throughout Bare Rose's massive archive of outfits [Click here to teleport to BARE ROSE], and designer June Dion has recently made furniture to appeal to the princess-minded Lolita, like the vanity and dresser pictured. Bare Rose's Lolita selection often overlaps with their cosplay items, however, so I wouldn't be surprised to see purists turn their noses up at it. Also pictured are the Sissy Crown from Donna Flora, Junwave's hairstyle Rina, Lassitude & Ennui's Doll Ankle Boots, Love Soul's Lady in Love nails, and Lauria's Prince Charmant frog. 

One thing I've also been wearing in all of my pictures is the newest skin from Ispachi by Diarmuid Miklos, named Audrey [Click here to teleport to ISPACHI]. I've saved a special mention for it at the end because I want to emphasize how important a sweet-faced skin is to a Lolita look. Keep it simple and limit the lipsticks, liners, and shadows unless you're going for something highly stylized. Audrey's bare makeup is a good balance in this way because there's just enough makeup to make the face look appealing (I love the pearlescent lips in particular), but not so much that it goes against the simplicity I'm aiming for.

Remember: At its core Lolita is a romantic exploration of doll-like aesthetics and femininity. Leave your Nabokov at the door and enjoy this this beautiful subculture.

Iris Ophelia (Janine Hawkins IRL) has been featured in the New York Times and has spoken about SL-based design at the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan and with pop culture/fashion maven Johanna Blakley.

Comments

[Melissa Yeuxdoux]

I'm showing my cultural illiteracy here, but I have to ask: what's the deal about the cookie/bonbon in the mouth?

[Iris Ophelia]

Just cute for the sake of cute! :D

[Hitomi Tiponi]

Thanks for this article and some great looks Iris. It has given me a few more shops to check out as well.

[Renee Galicia]

Thanks for the links ^_^

[Nomi Lee]

For me is missing a bit the sub-genre with slightly sexual connotation which is quite widely spread in SL. Shops like Hal*Hina, Lo*momo, Pinky*Gals, Umi-Usagi etc. They have the cutest stuff but one senses very fast that it is created with a certain 'purpose' in mind (although quite subtle). Exclusively Japanese designers inspired by their manga/animee (we could add hentei) cos-play pop tradition.

[Iris Ophelia]

I loveeee Hal*Hina and Lo*momo, though I'd consider them more casual, sometimes even mori kei/forest girl. I've never gotten much of a sexual undertone from them, though Umi Usagi totally ^^;

[Iris Ophelia]

Whoops I forgot to add... To me, Pinky*Gals seems to have more of a Gyaru influence, a bit like Bijou had. Gyaru are quite different from Lolita (even though people can be forgiven for confusing elements of Hime Gyaru and Hime Lolita) in that they are very sexy, interested in clubbing and dancing all that. They usually consider Lolitas to be too prudish and old fashioned even though things like their hairstyles and accessories are often very similar.

[Nomi Lee]

Hal*Hina skins i would put into the category "sex skins" (like Cherry Girl etc) and the bustlines and other subtle features of her dresses as well as Lo*momo's complement these 'assets'. Also looking at Lo*momo's vendor-pics and flickr this is way beyond 'innocent' lolita cute.

[Nomi Lee]

I was not aware of a difference between Hime Gyaru and Hime Lolita ... this really is a complex matter lol. Image-googeling both looks pretty similar to me, but i guess the difference is in the details ><

[Flo2]

"I'm showing my cultural illiteracy here, but I have to ask: what's the deal about the cookie/bonbon in the mouth?"

You are so naive and innocent :) it's a metaphor (instead of her saying "I would l..ck yours, too").

[Iris Ophelia]

@Nomi Skins are a bit of a different issue. Japanese-designed skins often have a very distinct and specific style, especially with the breasts. That's just what a lot of the market values, Japanese or otherwise.

I don't personally see much that is super sexual about the vendor ads for Lo*Momo or Hal*Hina's clothing, but it depends on the outfit itself. No designer really stays on one style and never deviates, American, Japanese, or otherwise, and just because you like one look doesn't mean you have to commit to it alone. Gyaru styles tend to be revealing around the legs and chest especially, but Lolita will usually be a bit more buttoned up, covering most cleavage and featuring skirts from mid-thigh to knee length. Lolita styles often encourage socks, stockings, or tights to cover much of the bared leg as well.

And, returning to the bonbon for @Flo2, I couldn't be rolling my eyes more. It's a craft designed to look like cute food; food goes in your mouth. That's all there is to it.

[Imnotgoing Sideways]

Oh, nearly all my favorite stores here. =^-^=

While she hasn't had an update in a while, Edelweiss is a great place for EGL, school, and maid stuff. Wretched Dollies, too. (^_^)

My dollies, Glass and Krystalle, reeeeeeally bring the cute on. (^_^)y

http://snapz.me/s/496251