Month Archive for January 2008
SHIRLEY TEMPLE: A LOLITA BRAND FOR KIDS.
Now here’s a brain-churner for you. It’s not hard to find Gothic Lolita clothing. Even if you live in the West, you can buy Japanese brands from online retailers. But if you want to dress your five-year-old niece… that’s when you run into problems. Oh, the irony: Lolita labels are a-plenty for those past puberty, but offer next to nothing for real little girls.
There is one major exception: Shirley Temple, a sister line to Emily Temple Cute. Many assume it is an add-on (akin to GAP Kids) – but the label has been around since the days of disco. Shirley Temple (named, of course, after the child film star) began as a kid’s brand in the 1970s. The original customers grew up, but wanted to keep wearing the girlish styles. And so, Emily Temple and Emily Temple Cute were founded to fill this market.
Shirley Temple’s designs are similar to those of her older sisters: light colors, adorable patterns, Sweet Lolita frills. If you’re tiny, you may be able to fit into “size 160.” Unfortunately, the brand is scarce outside of Japan. We’ll simply have to drown our sorrows in the starlet’s films (she always wears adorable outfits) and her namesake drink (or something with more of a kick)!
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GOTHIC & LOLITA ILLUSTRATIONS BY MITSUKAZU MIHARA.
You may not know the name Mitsukazu Mihara (let alone be able to pronounce it), but I’ll wager that you’re familiar with her art. The Osaka-based illustrator is the maven behind the first eight covers of the Gothic & Lolita Bible. She is recognized for her contributions to Gothic Lolita, both through the style of her drawings and the themes of her manga.
Mihara’s art conveys a deep sensitivity to Gothic Lolita. Her style is daintier and less exaggerated than typical anime; I love the fragility of the girls’ hands and faces in the drawings above. The neo-Victorian garments always hang well and are rendered in caring detail. Mihara captures every Gothic Lolita fashion signature: the sweet headdress, the tiny crown, the lace capelet.
The artist has received wide acclaim for her manga, some of which has been published by TokyoPop. She likes to explore boundaries, and her plots tread between the disturbing and the sublime. “Beautiful People” is inspired by Frankenstein and vampire legends. “The Embalmer” dwells on the relationship between the dead and the living (and yes, that includes necrophilia). “R.I.P” has a gory premise: an angel named Transylvania Rose rips off her wing and gives it to an undertaker who slits his wrists, trapping them both between life and death. “Doll,” her most famous work, is a series about lifelike robots that serve human masters, leading to explorations of the sadistic lust for possession.
Mitsukazu Mihara’s illustrations are dark, provocative, and unexpectedly beautiful – a perfect visual transmission of Gothic Lolita. More of her art is visible here, and several of her books are available from TokyoPop (just search for her name).
LA CARMINA
