Laced with Extravagance: The Lolita and "Living Doll" Stakeholder

Sometimes I feel pressured to dress lolita merely because I typically dress lolita. It’s like I’ve actually built myself a 2-D character to fit into – pink-haired girl in poofy dress, end of story - Victoria Suzanne (Parfait Doll) 

  During my research process, I found the most interesting discourse community to be the world of "living dolls" and Lolitas. Although these two stakeholders differ from each other, a common theme of fashion and body consciousness was evident in these groups, who usually admired the Japanese culture. Reddit and Tumblr were commonly used to share outfit ideas, events with other members and links to online stores in which Lolitas crafted their own jewelry for sale.

  The image below represents the questions that I asked in a Lolita Fashion subreddit. I chose to list the questions accordingly to differentiate how my topic about women in anime might or might not relate to the participants. Responses discussing outfit choices for "high tea" and frustrations with being wrongly associated with Vladimir Nabokov's famous novel were expressed. I also noticed how they chose to color their area of Reddit with a feminine, magenta header and icons specifying what type of Lolita they were next to their username. 

  Furthermore, I decided that I would pose as a prospective Lolita and ask a question that might have impaired major outfit choices. Stating that I had a breathing issue and could not wear a corset, I found that the Lolitas responded with many other options and stores where I could purchase less-restrictive apparel. I learned that certain Lolitas with health complications often did not wear corsets and waist ties, but instead, achieved their silhouette with denser petticoats. I chose the name "panda-pirate" to adhere with the outfit choices (Steampunk or Classic Lolita) that I admired in order for this community to view me as a legitimate participant. 

  

  In conclusion, Lolitas altered my perception of their interests and how they did not directly relate to anime, but were inspired by Japanese street fashion. They provided an inside look into how they accomplish their outfits and characterize their lifestyles after I posed as a prospective member.