Lolita Styles
Common Styles
Sweet Lolita: Pretty obvious isn't it? Sweet, sugar, cupcakes, cutesy! If your loli induces a tooth ache, it's sweet. Pastels colors dominate, such as pink, white, and otherlight colors. Lace and frill are found almost everywhere on a sweet lolita. You're more likely to see a sweet lolita carrying around a stuffed animal prop than any other lolita.
Gothic Lolita Often mistaken for a blanket term of the lolita fashion in general, many fail to realize that gothic lolita is its own seperate devision. Also, gothic lolita is not to be confused with 'elegant gothic lolita' which refers only to Mana's brand of gothic lolita clothing. The easiest, and possibly most famous colors for this style, are black and white. If you attempt gothic lolita, take note that the 'gothic' only takes influences from victorian and romantic 'gothic', not industrial, cyber, or fetish. Also, while heavier makeup can be appropriate for this style depending on the situation, no whitefaced blacklipstick. Ever.
Classic Lolita: This is what Lolita-chan does after she's grown up. Muted colors and longer skirts help for the more "grown up" look. Floral patterns and solid colors take classic lolita closer to the victorian roots than any other style. Classic lolita is also unique in that an A-line skirt shape is dominate over the bell shape prominent in every other style.
Punk Lolita: Hard to do! It's a cross between western punk and lolita-—two very contradicting trains of thought collide in this fashion. Huge, clunky boots are acceptable here, plaid (red is the favorite), spikes and chains meet cute, frilly, and adorable. Deconstruction of lolita outfits is possible in this style (as is common in regular punk styles, with tears and safety pins as an example) This style is famously difficult.
Less Common Styles
Country Lolita: Sometimes considered a subset of sweet, country lolitas are distinguishable by fruit and gigham patterns. Straw (or otherwise) hats help make the style more 'out-doorsy' than any other. Props include baskets--country lolitas usually appear as if they are out for a picnic.
Wa Lolita: Kimono and yukata outfits are cut up and made to incorporate a petticoat in this style. Traditional Japanese elements are sometimes used in this style in place of other lolita accessories, but the baselines of the lolita fashion still apply: it must be elegant, modest, and feminin.
Hime Lolita: Literally means 'princess lolita'. Mini tiaras and crowns atop a head of big, teased hair help define the style. Expect to see more rococo influence in this style than in any other.
Sailor Lolita: Indirectly, influence is derived from the British naval uniforms of old. Sailor colors, navy blues, and white help make sailor lolitas distinguishable, as do boat-anchor decorations and any element adding to the 'sea worthy' apperance!
Guro Lolita: Means 'gorey lolita'. Any style with bandages, slings, and even blood splatters added becomes guro lolita. Still, all other guidelines--modesty, femininity, and even elegance--must still exist in the style.
Kuro Lolita: Means 'black lolita', and refers to the clothes--not skintone! Any all-black coordinate is kuro lolita.
Shiro Lolita: Cousin to Kuro, it means 'white lolita'--again, the clothes not the skintone! Any all-white coordinate is shiro lolita.
Ero Lolita: Means 'erotic lolita,' and in this style the rules of modesty can be bent a little bit, but just a little! It's important to keep a classy look about you when attempting this style, which is not reccomended for beginners. What really sets ero loli apart is added elements and materials such as leathers and colars and coresets, fetish peices not found anywhere else in the fashion.
Qi Lolita: A Chinese qipao cut and modified to accomodate a petticoat define the style. Qi-loli is rarely seen and difficult to do.