Her newest album “Shinshoku Dolce” released 2 days ago on the 28th, so you Otakon goers will probably be some of the first to hear her new songs live. Defiantly don’t miss out on this, because it should be a real treat!

The video above is Suna no Oshiro. Still Doll also has a PV which can be found on youtube.

Over time, many sub-genres have branched out, and continue to to do so. Gothic, Sweet, Classic, Country, Punk, Shiro, Kuro, and most recently Fairy are just naming a few. Click here for a larger list (courtesy of the Lolita Handbook). The video above features a guy who seems really bad at Japanese interviewing Nana Kitade (she’s so adorable!) at the store Baby the Stars Shine Bright. It shows a variety of different girls wearing Lolita.

However, I think the best way to explain how wonderful this fashion is and why there is so much interest in it, is by asking Lolita themselves what they think. So I did! I got some excellent replies, and it’s a really great read.

The first question I asked was “How did you get into Lolita originally?”.

• I used to be a hopeless tomboy, until I saw a girl at school who wore her “Sunday best” every day. Her fashion sense made an impact on me, and the more I tried to look nice, the better I felt. After seeing lolita fashion online and at conventions, it seemed the obvious answer to my need for something alternate yet refined. Amethystcitrine US/GA

• I discovered Malice Mizer and Velvet Eden, and became obsessed, which lead me to discover Moi-meme-Moitie and Arachnophobia. love at first sight, I guess. XD Kagaminouso US/WV

• I’m into fashion as a whole, and my interest in Japanese street fashion sort of trumps my interest in other things. I got into lolita after learning about the other kinds of fashions (gyaru, decora, etc. etc.). Nevita US/VA

• I saw an add for an American lolita brand in shojo beat (manga magazine) and fell in love. Buttongirl_Loli US/CA

• I once watched an anime called Rozen Maiden. I fell in love with one of the character’s dresses (Suigintou) and while I was looking for pictures of them, someone described them as wearing Gothic Lolita. Some time later an assignment in my art class jogged my memory and I wound up finding lolitafashion.org. Lotussong US/CA

• I was an Victorian Goth, and really loved the frilly things and tulle. I kinda got into it from googling for clothing:) Eilonwyfantasy, Europe, The Netherlands

Second question: “What is your reason for wearing Lolita, or how does it make you feel?”

• I loved beautiful things, and when I feel beautiful, I am at my best. Lolita is so beautiful and detailed that I can’t imagine not wearing it. It’s more comfortable than a pair of sweats and a tank top. Poppingummies US/OR

• I think it’s beautiful. Who doesn’t want to feel like that? I also don’t like any of the current styles. Ribbetribbet US/MA

• I’ve always been called cute over sexy because I look quite young so I just sort of embraced that with Lolita. Also it just makes me feel beautiful. I also love the thought that goes into putting an outfit together, that you have to think about everything from head to toe. I love the elegance it it too. Pantheria UK/Brighton

• I love it because I can look like a little princess. It makes me happy because it’s how I’ve always wanted to dress, and makes me feel like I’m carefree and young. Kawaii_mew7 US/CA

• I don’t wear lolita much, but when I do I usually wear it just to feel pretty and cute. Regular dresses just don’t give me that same feeling anymore. Helleyez Queensland, Australia

• I love history, it is what I got my BA in, and I dress primarily in classical lolita. Wearing classical lolita allows me to incorporate aspects of historical dress into my wardrobe. While I can’t wear all out period garb most of the time, I can feel elegant and beautiful in period inspired fashion with a modern twist. Kyomu US/WA

• It’s pretty… and well, it makes me feel pretty and special and it’s a bit escapism too. Anonymous, Netherlands

Third question: “What is your funniest, best, or worst experience while wearing Lolita?” because this lifestyle isn’t always a cakewalk, but can also be so rewarding.

• I don’t have a funniest moment. However i have a best and worst. The worst experience by far was when my boyfriend at the time spilled his entire soda on one of my skirts at a hooters. I wasn’t mad at him but i was upset that one of my beloved clothing articles may have been ruined and i instantly began crying. The waitress we had there proceeded to make fun of me and make sarcastic comments like “how sad she spilled soda on her tutu” normally comments like that wouldn’t effect me but i was really upset about the possibility of my skirt being ruined and to me my lolita clothing is very important and not easily replaced due to expense and rarity. Xtechnokitty USA/PN

• I love children. All of my best experiences have to do with them. Most of the time they point out the “princess” at which time I am more than happy to ask their name and spend a few minutes talking to them. That always brings a smile to my face! My most memorable experience occurred in school. I am an Elementary Education major (studying to become a teacher), and we go into the schools for a month each semester to teach and be tested on what we have learned. I wear pants most of the time, but one day I promised the children that if they worked really hard and behaved I would come to school in one of my “frilly dresses” and sit with them at lunch. I’ve never seen children work so hard in my LIFE! You should have seen those 4th-graders’ eyes light up when they saw me in my dress! The girls wanted to introduce me to everyone in the school, and it seemed that the boys fell promptly in love with me (judging from some of the notes that I got, the amount of hearts on a note denotes love?;D). The whole school wanted to know who the “princess” was teaching. I was a little worried about how my professors would respond (I was observed on a lesson while I was wearing a dress…A gooey science lesson about fossils using plaster of paris…how nerve wracking!) but they said it was a fantastic “management measure” and said I should do it more often! Xeniph US/UT

• My family and I were watching this show called “Hee Haw”. It’s basically a show that’s about hillbillies. One character wears a square dancing outfit, and my dad says: “See! They’ve worn ‘Lolita’ before you knew about it!” *face palm* “Dad, that’s not even close to Lolita Fashion!” Emily1strange US/CA

• A year or two ago I was hit by a car while heading to my job, wearing a lolita coordination. As I lay in the street, unable to move, and onlookers called the paramedics, an old lady came nearer, intrigued by my knee socks and frilly skirts. When I was lifted onto the board and stretcher, suddenly there was this lady I didn’t know at all lifting up my skirts and going, “Oh, she’s wearing bloomers!” I couldn’t even move to swat her hand away. @____@ Hellowonderland US/IL

• Once wearing casual lolita at a Borders, a woman came up to me asking what I was. I was a little taken aback, I said, “A college student?” And she laughed, “Oh, well, what I meant was which character are you?” To which I replied, “I’m no character.” And she said, “So you’re just being yourself? I can respect that.” Ashley US/TX

• I walked into a shop on high street and the lady behind the counter said “You look so cute! WHY ARE YOU SO CUTE!?” really loud and almost angrily. I then explained the fashion to her a bit. =D Seamstressy, New Zealand

• Walking into a game store is always an adventure. I’ve been immediately greeted with “We have Cooking Mama”. It was fun to see his reaction when I skipped to the counter with Madworld in my hands. Bibiliobhulabalo Thailand-USA/UT

• In a bakery buying breakfast: “By Jove! That girl’s got a skirt under her skirt!” Then his wife poked him in the ribs: “Hush dear, that’s a petticoat”. It was pretty hilarious xDDDD;; Tsu, Melbourne, Australia

• One of my friends thought my skirt was accidentally poofy X) so she tried to push it down. Alexajizelle, US/CA

Fourth question: “What to you feel is the hardest part of being a Lolita?” It’s not as easy as it looks, and there’s a lot of problems that people on the surface wouldn’t realize.

• Buying the clothes, I’m plus sized and I can’t wear brand.. also the prices XD But it’s worth it. Lovelessbird US/TX

• Most people just don’t have the balls to wear it out in public. Whats the sense in paying well over 1000$ on an outfit if it’s just going to sit in the closet? Lolita also requires some serious dedication to fashion as a whole, considering that it’s abnormal you really have to look to for pieces that are both lolita AND look good on the wearer. Not to mention being this frilled requires that hair, makeup, nails, skin and body all need just as much attention as the dress. Anonymous US/NY

• The price tag! I’m in college so I have a limited budget. It’s hard seeing people get the brand new beautiful prints when I can’t afford one right now. Clearlyperilous US/GA

• Trying to convince my grandma, who I live with, that it isn’t the OTHER kind of lolita. She is constantly at me when ever I mention it about ‘oh it’s so sexual and blah blah blah’, and I can’t get through to her at all that no, it isn’t about that to most. On the other hand, my actual mom loves it and has bought me some items. Needless to say it sparks family conflicts. Anonymous, Canada

• It’s like drug, you are getting dependent on it. Buying new things when you feel sad to make you happy. Surfing too much on the Internet. And it starts to blind you view… you start to judge people according to how they look like and what they wear. Not by their personality. But once you realize these mistakes and beat them, you can truly enjoy the whole fashion:) Pet_chan, Europe, Czech Republic.

• Definitely enduring constant looks, stares, comments, and sometimes insults being shouted on a daily basis. Not all women have the strength to endure all of that just so they could be what they are and not let the remarks of others get to them or make them start feeling as though this what they’re doing isn’t right. The worst thing that could happen is that a young person looses their confidence and starts feeling awkward wearing lolita clothes she/he likes so much. Herfluffyness, Zagreb, Croatia

• Getting the outfit completely together. You need shoes (it is so hard to find cheap-ish lolita shoes), socks, a blouse/jsk or a dress, a headdress, a bag, a petticoat. It’s hard to look completely put together. It takes a while to save up for all of that. To add on to that, building a wardrobe. Oh, and doing your hair/makeup goes along with putting your outfit together as well. Rosalius_belle

Fifth Question: “Do you have a favorite video game?” What? Frilly girls get their hands dirty too. Just cause we look like cupcakes doesn’t mean we play like them!

• Favorite mmo is wow but i’m starting to fall for Aion. favorite rpg is final fantasy vii or eternal sonata. favorite survival horror is silent hill 3. Randomisgemini US/TX

• Pokemon, harvest moon, guilty gear, the sims, various other games that tend to run in a series. Royalgreen Canada

• Kingdom Hearts series, Chibi Robo, Cooking Mama games, and Touch Detective ones. Bloodrosebed, Puerto Rico

• Mirror’s Edge, BioShock, Team Fortress 2. Top 3, couldn’t really decide. Catzpurr US/New Mexico

• I have a bunch of favorite games. XD I love Resistance: Fall of Man, Resistance 2, Medal of Honor, Civilization IV, and Sims. I’m sorta getting into Company of Heroes. Rubyjiangmei US/NJ

Sixth Question: “What meet up activity/destination have you always wished for?” Often Lolitas will gather together to have fun for the day. Usually to places like aquariums, zoos, the movie theaters, and more.

• I haven’t been at a meet up in a while, so just strolling around the city with others in frills sounds wonderful right now. I’ve always wanted to go to a karaoke joint too. Deleciel US/IL

• I would love to get a bunch of Lolita together and go have tea at the Empress in Victoria BC. It would be such a beautiful location for a meetup, and a lot of fun in general. Moshi_mochi US/WA

• An RPG convention. Would love to have a RPG-group in lolita. Would be fine to play Cthulhu in Victorian Age. Dollblue, Germany

• An opera or musical would be awesome, but I’ve always wanted to do karaoke with a group of frilly chicks. I’d belt out some rock and air-guitar with the mic stand! Corfina US/TX

• In first place, I would absolutely love to rent a castle an old a stately home for a month in Britain with a group of lolitas. That would be the ultimate meet-up vacation for me. It’s not very possible though, so in second place, I’d love to go to Japan! Dreamsoflace, Puerto Rico

• I have always wanted to have a meetup in Cape May, New Jersey. They have so many cute shops and antique stores and beautiful Victorian homes! It would be great to go on a ghost tour in Lolita too! I actually went on a ghost tour in Lolita last year, but it wasn’t much fun being the only one. Neko_nekogami US/PN

• I want to have an epic tea party, of course. Lolita hiking would be for the win! Creator_chaos, US/SC

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Useful Links:

Eras of Lolita influence: [x]

EGL Community on LiveJournal: [x]*IMPORTANT NOTE: This is a community of 10,000+ people, if you plan on posting you need to read the rules first. Also check “memories” and use the “Search EGL” function. Without them it would be a very chaotic place =)

LJ Lolita Handbook: [x]

Lolitafashion.org: [x]

Wikipedia entry: [x]