obsession : sweet lolita

Fashion is universal.  In high school I had always had a mild interest in the Japanese lolita styles, but never really dressed the part.  I recently ran across photos of the style, and my love for it came right back.  I figured I'd post about it because it is a style that is more unfamiliar in the United States, and while it may not be something you try, it is a fascinating source of inspiration and the lifestyle has an amazing otherworldly quality to it that really sucks you in. 

Lolita is a fashion subculture from Japan based on Victorian clothing.  It has many subtypes, and my favorite is sweet lolita.  More Rococo-influenced, this style features pale colors, pastels, bows, candy and fruit imagery, and anything falling under the "sweet" label. 

Skirts with border-prints are incredibly popular.  Typically outfits match head-to-toe (Source)

Makeup is kept natural.  The idea is to look childlike - neutral eyes, pink cheeks, powdery skin.  Nails are usually a very pale pink, lavender, or mint.  

 Yes, an American girl on the left.  Two-tone hairstyles are also popular, where 1/4 of the hair is a different shade.  Pastel hair is also very common.

It seems a little over-the-top, so how can we use this as inspiration?  Here are how some real girls are doing it:

 Mixing textures like rosettes and lace give a nod to femininity.  Pale florals are sweet and subtle.

Very understated - it's all in the pink socks and shoe - whereas on the right, it's all about ruffles and flowers.

Images from Chictopia.com; all other unsourced images from Tumblr.  If you know the source, posting would be much appreciated!