Burgerlita 2.0 in the middle of NYC at NYAF
Perspectives
Early in the article, I asked what comes to mind when you hear the phrase “lolita.” The examples I provided shows that one phrase can have different perspectives and ideas. Similar to the word “lolita,” the fashion, which is identified as lolita, has a variety of views, including positives and negatives. According to Moos, the fashion has a unique community surrounding it. What provides the positive aspects of the fashion is the “gorgeous” designs and styles developed in the lolita fashion industry, and the male and female admirers of the fashion. “Lolita fashion enthusiasts have started their own design labels, magazines, bands, and charities, often integrating their love of the fashion with their other ambitions.” Even with a growing group of lolita fashion enthusiast, there is a down side to the fashion. “In general the downs of lolita are being misrepresented by people who don't understand the style, like someone thinking you're doing it because of Gwen Stefani's Hairajookoo Girls or that you're trying to be an anime character or a French maid or Bo Peep.” Another downside to keep in mind is related to your wallet. The cost of buying and spending money on lolita fashion is expensive. The prices that I have seen are in triple digits and sometimes the three-figure price is for a single skirt! “So many people try to find a way around it, but the fact it's an expensive hobby because of how niche it is. To look good, you have to shell out money. Unless you can sew!” So, for someone who adores the fashion and wears it, keep in mind that there is going to both positive and negative aspects. For Moos, “the ups are that I can outwardly express my personality through a style that's unique and beautiful, and that wearing lolita fashion actually inspires a lot of confidence in me and attracts a lot of complimentary attention. The downside is that it attracts an equal amount or more of negative attention, both on the Internet and real life.”
For all the ups and down faced by Moos, there is one important lolita fashion experience that she had to deal with that helped her in understanding the fashion. “I think the most important experience I've had was the first time I attended a meet up and got to know that something as silly as frilly dresses could really inspire amazing camaraderie in people. Wearing lolita in public has taught me that people are a lot more tolerant and less scary than you'd ever imagine, and that I can hold my head up high and laugh at myself when people are laughing at me. I think being able to take yourself a little less seriously is important, because sometimes you get so caught up in what your inner circle thinks of you that you forget that, to most people, you look pretty silly whether you're doing it "wrong" or doing it "right".” Even though Moos has personal experience with the ups and downs of the fashion, the Lolita fashion was inspirational to her. The influence of Lolita has cause her to “change” on how she views fashion, expression of oneself through the style, and “it's totally warped my view of reasonable spending, unfortunately.” According to Moos, “I think I went through stages with it, where at first I tried to do it and failed, and then I didn't follow any of the guidelines and tried to make it too ‘unique’. Then I followed the rules very rigidly, and now finally I'm at a point where I can wear it according to the rules or wear it with my own personal flair and please myself either way.”
© 2010 Linda Thai
Thank you Mary Moos for the photograph! Stay tune for Part 5 of the Mary Moos interview!
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