READER QUESTION ABOUT HONG KONG LOLITAS. JAPANESE STREETS SWEET LOLITA TEENS, ANGELIC PRETTY HARAJUKU FASHION PHOTOSHOOT.
NOTE: This blog post was written years ago…I’ve since visited Hong Kong and done many more articles about Goth/Lolita and Visual Kei culture. You can read all my articles here, and there’s some Lolita shopping maps here.
Japanese Streets, a comprehensive resource on Harajuku street style, kindly gave me permission to post these Sweet Lolita photos. The models are aged 13, 14, and 19 and mostly wearing Angelic Pretty — and their candy-floss hair is to die for! You can see more from the shoot on Japanese Streets.
Now, let’s reach for the Reader Questions mail bag. Liz writes, “I’ve got some questions for you Carmina :) They relate to Hong Kong…”
1. When you travel to Hong Kong do you dress to the nines in Lolita gear? I find HK to be a pretty conservative country, being blonde attracts enough attention for me — I’m curious how your experience with the HK people is if you dress “crazy” here? Do you get a lot of photo requests, etc.?
Ah, you gotta love Hong Kong attitude. In Japan, you can be half-naked and drenched in fake blood — and everyone will politely walk by. Whereas in Hong Kong, you’ll get scrunched-up faces and pointing fingers and a chorus of “Ai-yahs”! HK fashion can be pretty crazy, but the acceptability standard is: would a Cantopop singer wear it? If not (eg, Lolita/Goth/Punk), then you can expect some rudeness from strangers.
2. Do you have any favorite HK fashion spots for Gothic Lolita style?
I did a post about Hong Kong Lolita stores Spider, Baby Cupid and Dracula; you can read it here. It includes a map and detailed directions.
A few more to add to the Hong Kong shopping list:
† Sogo in Causeway Bay has a Liz Lisa (Princess Kei) and Hangry and Angry (the casual cat mascots from h.NAOTO) on the third floor.
† Right behind Sogo is Laforet. Several of the boutiques sell Japanese young women’s brands such as Milk and Jane Marple.
† Anna House sells custom-made Lolita clothing. The shop is near the Kwun Tong subway stop.
3. Where are all the HK Lolitas?! I’ve seen a small handful, usually in TST taking photos so I presume they’re not locals :( It’s such an interesting genre of style, and you probably know how into “street” fashion people are here. I’d love to get some photos of girls here dressed up & start publicizing more “unusual” fashion.
You’ll see Lolita and Harajuku-inspired outfits around town, but other than individual meetups, there aren’t really any events where the girls gather. Hong Kong is funny about fashion and money. Cantonese stars don’t wear the fashion, so few girls are interested. And there isn’t any money to be made by having Goth/industrial parties. However — dum dum dum — there may be an invasion in the works… keep reading and all will be revealed!
I welcome you to ask me questions, which I’ll reply in this blog feature (shoot me an email any time!). You can see my previous responses to Reader Questions here.
Song of the Day #188: Genki Rockets – Heavenly Star (the first song in my new Scottish Fold video — have you seen it yet?)
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42 Comments
WOW those girls nailed the lolita look to the T! I especially love the pink pig tail wig ^o^
I love Japanese Streets. Probably as much as StyleArena <3
WOW those girls nailed the lolita look to the T! I especially love the pink pig tail wig ^o^
I love Japanese Streets. Probably as much as StyleArena <3
If I had to buy a wig, I’d want one in that color.
Heart Style Arena. I had a Street Style week in January that feature photos — http://lacarmina.com/2009/01/tokyo-street-style-and-italo-disco-week-harajuku-and-marui-one-lolita-clothing-snaps/
I'm loving their hair and their dresses! The treatment of Lolitas and such in Hong Kong is unfair =[. The invasion must take place!
I feel sorry for them. They should be allowed to dress however tehy want!
I love your blog:)
I forgot to add — Women's Street Market in Mong Kok is one of my favorite shopping destinations on the planet. You can buy cute hair clips, tights, accessories etc for unbelievable prices. There will be a CNNGo article on how to bargain at the market, too!
Ah, I should clarify that anyone who dresses “funny” in a Hong Kong person's eyes gets ugly treatment… but that's Hong Kong culture. In Japan, people won't be upfront even if they're stewing inside — but in HK, you will know what the person is thinking! There are good sides to this as well :)
They persevere :)
xoxoxox
I want a cookie!
If I had to buy a wig, I'd want one in that color.
Heart Style Arena. I had a Street Style week in January that feature photos — http://lacarmina.com/2009/01/tokyo-str…
True, true. It's best to be up front and *gives you a cookie* ^_^.
I’m loving their hair and their dresses! The treatment of Lolitas and such in Hong Kong is unfair =[. The invasion must take place!
Ah, I should clarify that anyone who dresses “funny” in a Hong Kong person’s eyes gets ugly treatment… but that’s Hong Kong culture. In Japan, people won’t be upfront even if they’re stewing inside — but in HK, you will know what the person is thinking! There are good sides to this as well :)
True, true. It’s best to be up front and *gives you a cookie* ^_^.
I feel sorry for them. They should be allowed to dress however tehy want!
They persevere :)
I love your blog:)
xoxoxox
I want a cookie!
I forgot to add — Women’s Street Market in Mong Kok is one of my favorite shopping destinations on the planet. You can buy cute hair clips, tights, accessories etc for unbelievable prices. There will be a CNNGo article on how to bargain at the market, too!
there is a store sells lolita/cosplay stuff in Mong kok mall… if you like Women’s street .. go by there too….
ive only seen one lolita in HK and she was outside the Spider.
*drool* I'm so excited to go back now ^^
ive only seen one lolita in HK and she was outside the Spider.
*drool* I’m so excited to go back now ^^
I am just someone who happen to browse your blog, I am from Hong Kong orginally and I have to agree with you about the rudness in dressing in Special clothings. but I am sure there is a very special time that you can dress like that without people yelling at you and that is usually the end of July and beginning of August, since the biggest animation convention is holding, I keep seeing people cosplay on the streets and so as lolita.
instead of having Funny fashion I somehow would like to point out that we are not not into fashion but we are technically into mostly Japanese, and Korean trends, you can tell when you are a teen there. but it is completely different from western trend.(just like I think westerner dress funny sometimes.)
about people eyeballing you, yeah that is the culture… but yet they still won't tell you how they think, luckily you will know how they react …as long as they don't claim they are your friends.
well, about getting lolita in Hong Kong, that is too tricky, I never really been to places you mention but I will tried next time I went home visiting.(I usually go to some mall and I know places to get dresses.)
oh, I was gonna say that those girls are Japanese , I think, at least the background is from japan, I hope when you were talking about the people who go lolita in Hong Kong, you weren't talking about them.
well I have to tell you the only lolita I ever saw was in Animation convention, if you really want to see them and yet. I love lolita myself but I can never wear it in Hong Kong.( reason, you mentioned it earlier…)
I hope you don't mind reading a stranger's reply but I like you blog.
there is a store sells lolita/cosplay stuff in Mong kok mall… if you like Women's street .. go by there too….
I am just someone who happen to browse your blog, I am from Hong Kong orginally and I have to agree with you about the rudness in dressing in Special clothings. but I am sure there is a very special time that you can dress like that without people yelling at you and that is usually the end of July and beginning of August, since the biggest animation convention is holding, I keep seeing people cosplay on the streets and so as lolita.
instead of having Funny fashion I somehow would like to point out that we are not not into fashion but we are technically into mostly Japanese, and Korean trends, you can tell when you are a teen there. but it is completely different from western trend.(just like I think westerner dress funny sometimes.)
about people eyeballing you, yeah that is the culture… but yet they still won’t tell you how they think, luckily you will know how they react …as long as they don’t claim they are your friends.
well, about getting lolita in Hong Kong, that is too tricky, I never really been to places you mention but I will tried next time I went home visiting.(I usually go to some mall and I know places to get dresses.)
oh, I was gonna say that those girls are Japanese , I think, at least the background is from japan, I hope when you were talking about the people who go lolita in Hong Kong, you weren’t talking about them.
well I have to tell you the only lolita I ever saw was in Animation convention, if you really want to see them and yet. I love lolita myself but I can never wear it in Hong Kong.( reason, you mentioned it earlier…)
I hope you don’t mind reading a stranger’s reply but I like you blog.
Thanks for your kind comments, and I appreciate your insight!
Yes, the images are from Japan (the citation is listed in the blog post).
Definitely, Korean trends are big in HK (from my personal experience), and I think Shibuya/gal-style Japanese fashion is popular. Goth/alternative styles, however, are less visible.
The convention sounds interesting — I will have to check it out one day. :)
Thanks for your kind comments, and I appreciate your insight!
Yes, the images are from Japan (the citation is listed in the blog post).
Definitely, Korean trends are big in HK (from my personal experience), and I think Shibuya/gal-style Japanese fashion is popular. Goth/alternative styles, however, are less visible.
The convention sounds interesting — I will have to check it out one day. :)
I love the Gothic Lolita look. I have bought Gothic Lolita goods for me and my dog at
http://www.japangoodsfinder.com
and I just wanted to recommend it to you girls, because sometimes it is a little difficult to find.
Love
Elegant Chaos
I love the Gothic Lolita look. I have bought Gothic Lolita goods for me and my dog at
http://www.japangoodsfinder.com
and I just wanted to recommend it to you girls, because sometimes it is a little difficult to find.
Love
Elegant Chaos
Taiwanese people have a similar reaction, according to my mother and grandmother. They were discussing my attempts to bring VK and Lolita fashions to the people of Texas, and I said I ought to take my crusade to Taiwan. ^^
This also reminds me of an incident on the train to Ikebukuro. I was dressed in punk Lolita and sitting near a group of Chinese guys. Assuming I was Japanese, I overheard them talking in Mandarin about how weird I looked with a tiny top hat and a tattered skirt. It amused me because not only did I understand every word they said, it was such a typical response (my parents do the same).
You have the right attitude — laugh it off and dress how you want to! :)
Taiwanese people have a similar reaction, according to my mother and grandmother. They were discussing my attempts to bring VK and Lolita fashions to the people of Texas, and I said I ought to take my crusade to Taiwan. ^^
This also reminds me of an incident on the train to Ikebukuro. I was dressed in punk Lolita and sitting near a group of Chinese guys. Assuming I was Japanese, I overheard them talking in Mandarin about how weird I looked with a tiny top hat and a tattered skirt. It amused me because not only did I understand every word they said, it was such a typical response (my parents do the same).
You have the right attitude — laugh it off and dress how you want to! :)
ha ha!!
true that!!
i came to hk round a few months ago (3?), and i swear, all these ppl are hidding very well!
mostly, they have a very casual korean or jap fashion, very few VK or loli's..kinda sad..
and yea, these peeps gives madd weird looks!
i mean, i dun even dress this way (i just really admire the styles), and they get scared of me..
but i would really like to meet some hk loli's or VK wearers. it would be nice if they come out of there tree and express themsleves more freely
ha ha!!
true that!!
i came to hk round a few months ago (3?), and i swear, all these ppl are hidding very well!
mostly, they have a very casual korean or jap fashion, very few VK or loli’s..kinda sad..
and yea, these peeps gives madd weird looks!
i mean, i dun even dress this way (i just really admire the styles), and they get scared of me..
but i would really like to meet some hk loli’s or VK wearers. it would be nice if they come out of there tree and express themsleves more freely
ha ha!!
true that!!
i came to hk round a few months ago (3?), and i swear, all these ppl are hidding very well!
mostly, they have a very casual korean or jap fashion, very few VK or loli's..kinda sad..
and yea, these peeps gives madd weird looks!
i mean, i dun even dress this way (i just really admire the styles), and they get scared of me..
but i would really like to meet some hk loli's or VK wearers. it would be nice if they come out of there tree and express themsleves more freely
Well, I don’t completely agree with everything you say(as few can expect others to completely agree with them), but most of your articles on lolita have been spot on~
Well, I don't completely agree with everything you say(as few can expect others to completely agree with them), but most of your articles on lolita have been spot on~
just happened to drop by….
wow…I dunno if I’m experiencing the same hk as you xD
maybe it’s the area I live in.
I regularly see VK and lolita (LOCALS) running around. sure there are a few stares and rudeness (but hey, you expect that EVERYWHERE)
HK isn’t conservative from my point of view. especially since most of them actually follow japanese fashion (and lolita is pretty big. they may not wear it because they can’t not because they don’t want to)
Hi dear!! This blog post was written years ago… I’ve since visited Hong Kong and done many more articles about Goth/ VK culture here.
Check out the posts and photos:
http://lacarmina.com/category/hong-kong-macau/
http://lacarmina.com/2008/01/hong-kong-gothic-lolita-stores-spider-dracula-baby-cupid/
Would love to hear your thoughts!
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