Lolita 100 Questions (for International Lolita Day)

So, I got these questions from a good friend who has been involved in J-fashion much longer than I have. From what they have told me, these questions have been passed around in some form on Japanese and English websites with some modifications here and there (like playing telephone) for many years. I will have to modify the questions slightly to make them more applicable to me, but I hope you all enjoy my responses and get a better understanding of how I came into the fashion.

1. Please tell us your screen name, date of birth, and origin.
Licca is the screen name (with some variations along the way) I’ve used for years on the Internet. Due to security reasons, I will not be giving out my birthday or my origin (although most people who know me know those already).

2. What is your height, weight, clothing size, and shoe size?
I am 180cm (6’0″). My weight fluctuates too much to give you all a number. I generally wear t-shirts in US large. My shoe size is currently “I have no idea”. (I have a rant about shoe sizes and t-shirt sizes that I will end up typing up eventually.)

3. What made you start doing Lolita fashion?
My first exposure into lolita fashion was in 2013, when I was exposed to a variety of designers and their work. Unfortunately, at that time things went rapidly went out of control as the infamous issues at Anime Matsuri were being exposed to the public (the issues involving the J-fashion programming and the convention owners had been festering behind the scenes for many years before that). That alone, plus the inability to actually wear most of the clothing, put me off from actually wearing the fashion itself.

Around 2017, I discovered Otome no Sewing (in fact, the first volume I bought was Volume 11). I was in a bit of a low-point when it came to improving my sewing skills as I pretty rapidly started racking awards in cosplay contests to the point where I had to compete in the highest divisions, and I needed a new perspective on how to improve my sewing technique. What I learned from reading Otome no Sewing books was how the Japanese have advanced their textile arts and fashion to the level of what the French and Italians have done, and they did it in a way that incorporated their traditional techniques. In addition, the way J-fashion designers approach fashion and garment construction, as described in the books, gave me a new way of thinking when it came to garment construction. J-fashion has single-handedly given me my substantial improvement in my sewing skills over the past decade.

It was not until 2024 when I discovered that Metamorphose made dresses that were actually in my size. I bought my first main piece when they were at a convention, and I have not looked back since.

4. What is your favorite Lolita genre?
Depends on the designer. I tend to jump between sweet and classic (and unofficially “swassic”, although that definition is debatable). I have also dabbled with wa lolita, which I have found has gotten a lot easier with Meta doing a wa set ever year.

5. Do you have any particular commitment to that genre, or your own definition of it?
Sweet and classic is what I feel comfortable wearing in terms of my personality and what actually resonates with me emotionally. They were what I saw as my first introduction to the fashion, and what drew me in. For me, what I wear is an extension of my mental state and my emotions, and that is more important than many other considerations on what I choose to wear.

6. Do you have your ears pierced? How many piercings?
No, my ears are not pierced. I keep a box of clip-on adapters handy. One piece of advice: magnetic clasps for earrings are a bad idea.

7. What is your favorite brand?
For main pieces, Metamorphose is my favorite brand, and it dominates my wardrobe. However, these days they tend to not do as many accessories, so I do have a smattering of outfits and accessories from Baby the Stars Shine Bright (yes I have a Usakumya backpack), Angelic Pretty (the milk cat purses are so large they can fit a Nintendo Switch), and Atelier Pierrot (admittedly most of it in AtePie Overseas Purple). I also have a lot of items from indie designers, which would take me forever to list.

8. What is your favorite outfit?
Anything with a cat on the print!

9. How many lolita friends do you have?
Several. I have joined a local comm and a virtual comm, but those I wouldn’t consider friends per se. The few lolita friends that I have are people that I have known for many years outside of the lolita fashion side of things; they just happen to also wear the fashion.

10. What is the best thing about wearing Lolita?
Recall in question 5 where I mention how my clothes represent my mental state and my emotions. Whenever I wear the fashion, I can express my emotions in a way different from a printed t-shirt, and often do it more effectively and elegantly. Whenever I wear the dresses, I show a happy side to myself that I very rarely show any other way.

11. On the contrary, what is the most unpleasant thing?
The fashion here in the United States has actually been confounded with other things and activities that are not part of the fashion, and having to deal with this when wearing the fashion around people who are not familiar with it (or are just familiar enough with it to be dangerously ignorant) can test someone’s patience. On top of that, nearly every comm has to deal with people trying to use this fashion in a way that is contrary to the main goal of the fashion, which is to empower the wearer of the fashion with independence.

12. What is your favorite magazine?
I previously mentioned Otome no Sewing. It’s definitely more of a mook than a magazine, but close enough for government work.

13. Team Headdress? Team Bonnet? Team Headbow?
Team Headdress. I have had enough trouble with hitting bonnets against the top of door frames, and headbows have a similar issue (although not nearly as bad).

14. Do you have bloomers?
Yes. One of my friends who guided me through my first few months of wearing the fashion taught me that “thou shalt not show your [censored] in lolita”. Bloomers effectively solve that problem. In addition, I know petticoats alone won’t stop that problem (cosplay contest experiences).

15. Do you tie your headdress in front? or are you on the team that ties it behind your head?
I tie it in front.

16. Do you have a favorite music genre or band?
I mostly like listening to J-pop, as I understand the language. I don’t listen to very many songs in English any more, songs in Chinese sound like words being shot out of a machine gun, and I don’t understand Korean, so the songs there make no sense to me.

17. What is your mobile phone ringtone?
One of these two songs:
– Mogyutto “love” de Sekkin Chuu! – the Honoka-only version.
– Beautiful Wish – This song is from my favorite episode in Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch Pure, where Seira makes a wish that puts everyone in a fantasy world of peace.
(Unfortunately, both songs annoy my colleagues whenever my phone rings.)

18. Do you go to lives in Lolita?
Not yet, but I should!

19. For those who go to lives, do you headbang?
No, my neck wouldn’t be able to stand it.

20. What color do you like?
Pink, lavender, purple, and saxe. However, I only like certain shades of each (for example, I do not like Angelic Pretty’s pink, as it feels too bubblegum-like for me).

21. What are your hobbies?
Sewing/cosplay construction, video games, reading light novels.

22. Please tell me if you have a favorite perfume.
I mostly use this perfume that I bought years ago that features lavender scents. Lavender is my primary scent that I like, and lilac is my secondary.

23. Is there anything you say “I’m careful about this” when it comes to lolita?
From personal experience, I have to be careful that my outfits will take up space due to panniers/petticoats, and so I need to be careful not to hit people or objects that I would normally not hit if I were just wearing a t-shirt and shorts. I actually have accidentally knocked over a part of an artist’s booth at a convention with my bow and petticoats, and that was a very embarrassing mistake that I had to clean up.

In addition, as someone that wears lolita fashion, I am acutely aware that I am also representing a group to the wider world. I do feel happy when I wear the fashion, but my conduct while wearing these dresses must be in a way that promotes the fashion as a positive force for change and independence. I am not interested in going to jail dressed in lolita.

24. Where are the places you visit / hang out at frequently?
I am, for the most part, prohibited by my work supervisor from wearing lolita to work. When I do wear it, it is to meet people at restaurants and coffee shops, or I will wear it at a convention to meet friends.

25 How many times a week do you wear Lolita?
I try to wear it once a week, but I have had trouble doing so lately due to the weather. (This was written in the middle of summer.)

26. Please tell us the most embarrassing episode you had when you were a beginner in Lolita fashion.
I am still a beginner, but I have noticed multiple times that I had worn two petticoats that are different lengths. Oops.

27. What is your hairstyle and color now?
Dark and short without a wig. I have several blond and white wigs that are shoulder to waist length that I use when I wear the fashion.

28. How long have you been in Lolita?
2024, so less than a year at the time of this writing.

29. Do you have a dedicated lolita storage space?
No. My main pieces are in two separate racks and a closet, mixed with costumes and renfaire outfits.

30. Have you ever thought about leaving Lolita? If so, why?
Not yet. As one of my friends mentioned, it is easy to enjoy the fashion without being in a community, so if the communities that I am in turn into horrible places, I can simply leave the community. (In contrast, being a cosplayer alone with no community is often considered the worst punishment you can inflict to a misbehaving cosplayer.)

31. What is your motto?
I want to be able to live my life in a way that I can hold my head high, to be able to fix my mistakes and flaws when I discover them, and to be someone that is trustworthy to others. I aim to be the grease that helps the gears and wheels turn, and I enjoy that kind of a role in life.

32. What are your dreams for the future?
I dream that we can live in a world where no one has to live in fear of not being able to survive the next day.

33. “This person would definitely look good on Lolita!” Are there any celebrities you think that about?
Actually, no, in terms of current “celebrities”, I would not think that.

34. Please tell us the item with the most memories and those memories.

35. What was the first item you got?

36. Do you have a signature pose for taking a picture?
I like to do poses where my back foot is lifted with my hands either softly placed on my waist/shoulders, or with my hands playing with my hair. When professionally photographed, I will leave the posing up to the photographer.

37. What is the “Bible” of your heart? (Like what Books, magazines, CDs, etc. represent your inner self)
I’m not sure if there is a book/magazine/CD/literary work that represents my inner self. I will have to leave this question unanswered.

38. How many centimeters tall is the highest heel you have?
10cm. Due to health reasons, I can only currently wear a 2.5cm heel or less.

39. Have you ever worn a tiara?
Yes. I have multiple tiaras.

40. Do you want to be a prince once in a while? What kind of prince? Dark and gothic? Ghostly in white?
No. Clothes do not make someone a member of royalty. Also, as an extension of how I perceive clothes as an extension of my mental state and emotions, and I see no way of feeling princely if I wear ouji style.

41. What kind of lace do you like?
Raschel lace. Due to the way the lace is made, it is possible to do very intricate designs and have it automated by machine. In addition, my method of making a “fake” lace using stitched machine embroidery designs in tulle resemble raschel lace from a distance.

42. Do you own a (ball jointed) doll? Those who have them are usually so enthusiastic about them!
Yes. I have several of various sizes. Also, even though it is technically not a BJD, with my Internet username, I definitely have a collection of Licca dolls. (If I am not careful, I can blow a lot of money in Licca dolls!)

43. What’s inside your lolita bag right now?
Right now, nothing. I have a different bag I use for work, and I only put what I need in my other bags as needed.

44. What is your favorite flower?
Lavender and orchids.

45. What is your favorite accessory right now?

46. Please tell us your favorite / recommended cosmetics.

A lot of the makeup I use is Nyx, which has great performance for a reasonable price; it works just as well as brands costing 3-4 times as much. Colourpop is my choice for eye shadow palettes, and for lip gloss I use Surreal Makeup; their lip gloss does not come off until you make it come off with makeup remover.

47. Bright eyes are the hallmark of being a doll! So do you use false eyelashes? If you have any tips on how to use them, please let me know.
I do not use false eyelashes unless it is a studio photoshoot in controlled conditions. The main issue I have is that they tend to obstruct my vision and work poorly with my glasses.

48. What is your particular eye makeup style?
I have double eyelids, so doing eye makeup tends to get annoying. The main feature of my eye makeup style has to do with matching the colors against a specific impossible eye color; I try to line my eyes in a way to make people think I have a specific eye color when I don’t. If I am not going for a specific eye color, I usually only do the upper half of my lids with a light glittery pink with a darker line across the bottom of the lid.

49. Is your lipstick red? Blue? black? pink?
I like a color that leans pink, but has enough red in it to not look unnatural.

50. What color do you often use for nail polish?
I do not use nail polish much to the point where I don’t usually have it, but I prefer something that matches my existing nail color to hide potential finger injuries involving blood underneath the nail.

51. Have you ever changed your clothes in the toilet at the train station?
When I was in Japan a few months ago, I did not change my clothes in the toilet at the train station. I could have done so, but I was bulky enough that myself and my doubled petticoat would barely fit the stall. I have, in other toilet stalls, added additional petticoats.

52. Have you ever had twin loli or triplet loli? Impression?
I haven’t worn the fashion long enough to have the chance to twin or triplet with someone else. My friends that wear lolita have substantially different styles than I do, and so twinning is not practical.

53. What are you doing to keep in shape? Recommendations?
My main recommendation is going to make people angry, but abstaining from alcohol and hydrating with water is the secret of how I look the way I do at my age.

54. Do you feel calm when alone in lolita?
It depends on the dress; putting it on a spectrum, I feel calmer the closer I am to wearing classic, and more excited the closer I am to wearing sweet.

55. How much do you spend on lolita each month?
[redacted]

56. Did you have any time lag between learning about Lolita fashion and actually doing it or resistance to starting?
Yes. In my case, it was over a decade between me learning about the fashion and actually wearing it. I have been told while this is a long time, it is perfectly normal.

57. What is the most expensive thing you have ever bought? (In relation to Lolita)

58. Lolita really costs money, doesn’t it? How do you pay for Lolita?
My secret is that I work a day job as a research scientist at a university lab. The job is not glamorous, it does not have the perks of a job in the tech sector, and I am not allowed to work from home. However, I have picked up a lot of ideas there that I have used in cosplay construction, and my job allows me to have a reasonably steady income over the years. Since I tend to live pretty frugally in most other aspects of life that do not involve hobbies, I can spend some money on myself.

59. Just here. How much is the total cost you have spent so far?
[redacted] for the total cost. I will mention that there are a lot of us that are willing to spend extra money for blouses and main pieces that have full shirring (instead of half or no shirring).

60. Is there a store you would like to see nearby?
As much as I would like to see a store specializing in J-fashion near where I live, I am not sure if it is possible to do so and allow the store owners to actually make a profit. The nearest store that did sell J-fashion relative to where I live might as well not exist due to the owners’ unethical misbehavior (and the store has since gone out of business).

61. Just between us, is there a store that makes you say: ‘that’s a rip-off!’?
For a specific brand store, no. The brand store have the right to set what they feel to be a good price for their work. The resellers on auction sites are a different story, though. They tend to be rather obvious, though.

62. Have you ever used an online shop? If you have, please give us some advice on the good points and bad points. If you haven’t, tell us why not.
Since it is significantly easier to buy from Japanese online shops compared to 10 years ago, I am happy to buy my items online from the official brand stores, as well as online auctions and online secondhand shops. In terms of advice, most other bloggers and content creators can discuss this better than I can, but the one huge gotcha as an international shopper is that you must be aware of your home country’s laws about duties on your imported goods. Since I know the limits, it acts as a limiter on my spending too much money at a international shop.

63. Just between us, even if you want to keep it your own secret, what’s an indie brand that makes you go “this is exactly my style.”
[redacted] I’m going to keep this one a secret.

64. Absolutely out of reach! But I want it! Do you have any brands or products like that for you?
No. I do not want items that are absolutely out of reach (either from rarity or from price). If something is out of reach, it might as well not even exist.

65. What do you do with your tired old clothes?
I have not been in the fashion very long, although I will probably end up giving them away in a swap meet. Also, I have costumes that I have made over 10 years ago and I still wear them today.

66. What was the most recent lolita and non lolita item of clothing you bought?
Lolita: Angelic Pretty Ribbon Shirring JSK (it popped up briefly on Fril and I had to jump on it after a friend alerted me to it)
Nonlolita: Palladium Baggy boots. My old pair that I had for over a decade was too small, and I wanted a new pair.

67. What is something you missed out on that you’ll never see again, but you can’t forget?
I do not think I can answer this question, as Metamorphose in particular likes to rerelease sets on a yearly or biennual basis.

68. What do you think of dressing as a Lolita only during live performances?
What someone else wears at a live is none of my business as long as the clothing is allowed per dress code at the venue.

69. What do you think of No-Makeup-Lolita?
I actually do it quite often. Makeup was my least favorite part of cosplay, and it is my least favorite part of wearing lolita fashion as well.

When I started wearing the fashion, I was wearing it mostly at conventions, and I was masking at conventions for my health. Makeup has the potential of breaking the seal between a N95/KN95 respirator and the face, rendering the mask worthless.

These days, I will wear makeup, but it will be rather minimal.

70. You suddenly meet another person totally wearing Lolita! What do you do?
Unless if I am greeted/called upon, I just ignore the person and mind my own business. If I know the person, what I do would be dependent on what is happening.

71. How old is a Lolita allowed to be?
Wearing lolita fashion is ageless. Age does not disqualify someone from wearing it.

72. Under what conditions do you think Lolita should graduate? (You can answer ‘continue forever’)
Only the person wearing the fashion can answer that question for themselves. Everyone’s reason for not wearing the fashion is different, and all of them are equally valid.

73. Stop this! Are there any things no one should do in Lolita fashion?
I have heard stories from multiple people about certain people not ever washing their lolita outfits. I fully agree with them; if you don’t wash your outfits, they will smell like sewage. Also, for me personally, if it is obvious an outfit or other accessory is not going to fit your body, don’t force it on your body!

74. Do you have a specific sense of what a perfect Lolita should be?
No, and it is because you cannot objectively quantify what makes a perfect person that wears Lolita fashion. I also personally think that having a “perfect” example will stifle the empowerment and the indepedence that the fashion truly represents as a whole.

Also, over the years, I have seen multiple “perfect” examples fall very rapidly from grace from just one mistake. I think it is better to not strive for absolute perfection, but to be willing to learn from mistakes made and continually learn from new perspectives.

75. Other than what you said 73, what is something you wish people wouldn’t do?
This is two sides of the same coin, but I really wish people would quit lowballing my friends selling items on LaceMarket, Mercari, or Depop. If you can’t afford the dress, you can’t afford the dress. Also, I really wish people would put their money into necessities such as rent, medical bills, and food before buying a lolita dress that is not required to live.

76. What do you think about Lolita fashion for men?
Yes. There is a reason why the term “brolita” exists.

77. Have you changed in any way since you started Lolita?
Yes. Wearing lolita is, for me a change from really hustling on the cosplay scene. This is something that would take a lot more space to answer than this question intended, as I have to go into a lot of history of the cosplay contest scene in my area.

78. What do the people around you say about you wearing Lolita? Do you accept it?
This question is obviously meant more for wearing it in Japan, but at least in the United States, people who do comment about it are generally appreciative of the outfit. I have worn it during my last trip to Japan (in Harajuku no less) and the only comments I get are from the tourists, not knowing that I am also a tourist.

79. What kind of lolita fashion do you do in the hot summer months?
This is my first time trying to tackle this during summer, but I think I will stick with OPs (to reduce one layer) that are at least a cotton blend on the outside (to allow for breathability). Another thing I was planning was to just wear a blouse and a skirt.

80. Do you go to school or work in Lolita?
My school days are long over, but my workplace considers my dresses “costumes”, and I am prohibited from putting on a costume at work unless on Halloween or very specific days as designated by management.

81. What is your usual outfit style?
I tend to keep things simple; JSK+blouse or OP, bloomers, headdress, necklace, and if appropriate cuffs or a bracelet. If I am driving to a meetup, I will only wear one set of panniers/petticoat because two sets makes it unsafe for me to drive. If I am doing this at a convention, I will wear two sets since I do like the extra poof. My shoes are either mary janes with no heel, or tea party shoes with a 2cm heel.

82. Do you have any objections to second-hand goods?
No. As long as they are not too badly damaged, I am happy to buy and use second-hand goods, and that extends to more than just clothing. In particular with lolita fashion, it allows people to get into the fashion for anywhere from 25% to 75% off the full price of a whole coord purchased new.

83. Do you have a girlfriend (or wife)? Do they understand?
(Original question was “Do you have a boyfriend (or husband)? Does he understand?”)
I had to change this question, but the answer is no, I am single. Answering this question opens up a huge Pandora’s box that is not really relevant as someone who wears lolita fashion.

84. Please tell us your ideal female image.
(Original question was “Please tell us your ideal male image”)
Unfortunately for this question, I have to answer this similarly to question 83. I am not opening up Pandora’s box on this one.

85. What kind of person is the Lolita who left the biggest impression on you?
I have not been in the fashion that long, so I cannot really answer this question.

86. Have you ever made your own clothes? What kind of clothes is it?
Oh, yes. I have made my own clothes as part of cosplay. I have made just about everything, all the way up to entire wedding dresses. I like to put my own touches with my clothing and do something wild, such as the wedding dress with the 5.6m (18.4ft) long cathedral train.

87. Have you ever made an accessory yourself? What did you make?
I actually have multiple 3D printers in my home, as well as a pretty large supply of beads. I have made just about every kind of accessory, including bracelets, necklaces, earrings, chokers, and tiaras. I actually like to use semi-precious stones whenever I can for anything that is strung on a cord.

88. This thing I made was a great success! Is there anything you feel that way about?
Well, if we want to fill this page with hundreds of photos…

89. Tell us if you have an ideal Lolita outfit or coordination.
This is a wild, pie in the sky futuristic fantasy, but if materials are developed that allow for a fabric to act like an LCD screen, I could put any desired print or design on the outfit at any time.

90. Is there anyone you admire? What kind of person are they?
Based on how this question is probably worded, [redacted].

91. You can date any person for just one day. The other person will also dress however you want. Who is it and what kind of date?
I am not sure if I can even answer the question.

92. What kind of store would you like to have if you were to open one in the future?
Probably a bridal shop. It was my plan 10 years ago if I ever lost my job back then.

93. When looking at lolita, your eyes will go straight to this motif. What is it?
I actually do not go straight for any sort of motif on a garment. I first will take a look to get a general overview of how I feel about the garment. Based on that overview, I then will go to whatever appropriate motif that is relevant.

94. Do you want your child to be a Lolita too?
It would be a mistake to have little clones of me running around.

95. How much can I spend on one Lolita outfit?
It is based on how much someone budgets for the outfit and any appropriate accessories. As mentioned in question 75, never go into debt for this fashion.

96. This is quintessentially Lolita! Is there a certain gesture that makes you think this.
Relaxed arms to the side, standing on one leg, other foot pointed down to the back.

97. I want to wear that once in my life! Do you ever think that about any style other than lolita?
Considering that I have worn just about every kind of outfit as part of being a cosplayer, not really.

98. Looking at your Lolita collection or style, what one word would you use to sum it up?
Cute!

99. What is your ideal Lolita image?
In previous questions, I emphasized that lolita fashion is about empowerment and independence, and the garments are a vehicle to express that. I think my ideal picture of lolita is of people wearing the fashion out on the streets of Japan and in other countries, and I definitely saw a lot of that in the magazines that I have read. The fact that people can wear this style of clothing, go about their business, and do it in a way that expresses their personality definitely beats out a lot of the fashion that I see the Europeans do in their fashion shows.

100. Thank you very much! Please give us your impression of answering 100!
My views about the fashion itself has a heavy slant into practicality. I tried to express why it has taken me so long to actually start wearing the clothes, and how my cosplay crafting experiences has influenced my views on lolita fashion. The fashion has given me a wealth of sewing knowledge that I could get nowhere else, and because of that I am more than happy to answer any question that I can capable of answering.

By the way, this was what I wore for ILD for the local comm meetup: