THEY walk down the streets in platform heels and with frilly umbrellas held in gloved fingers. Their dresses are bedecked with lace and trimmed with ribbons, their expressions innocent yet coy.
This unusual style of fashion has captured the imagination of girls (and guys!) all over the world, including some in Malaysia.
Nineteen-year-old Ngun Mei Yan, or May, is the president of the (unofficial) Malaysian Lolita Club (MLC). Formed in 2006, the club began as a way to bring Lolita fans together.
Two years later, the club has over 70 members and they gather during school holidays just to have fun, dress up and truly get a “feel” of the Lolita life.
“I’d been interested in Lolita fashion for about five years, and so I decided to start a club. At the time, it was still a relatively rare interest,” said May. “Our main activity for now is to organise gatherings so that we can make new friends and, of course, dress up and have fun.”
The avid follower of Lolita fashion emphasised that it’s a style that suits her personality.
“Seriously, for me, it has to be the clothes. I just love the fact that everything is extremely feminine. I have to admit that I have a weakness for the lace, ruffles and ribbons. I’ve never been a ‘girly’ girl but somehow when I wear Lolita I really feel it’s my style,” said this college student who also cosplays.
“Furthermore, it’s a pretty elaborate kind of fashion and I love all the preparations that go into an outfit,” she noted. “You have to take everything into consideration - from your hair to your shoes and your nails. I also love the fact that it’s definitely not a style you see every day!”
May said she orders her outfits online or buys them whenever she goes to Japan.
“It can cost anywhere from about RM50 if you make it yourself to RM1,500 if you buy from the Japanese brand names,” she said. “The pricing really depends on the brand and quality of the dresses.”
She also mentioned that Japanese brand names, which are usually of higher quality, such as Baby, The Stars Shine Bright, can cost an average of RM1,500 or more for a full outfit, not including shipping costs if ordered online. “It can be expensive, but I think it’s worth it.”
Her favourite brand is Mary Magdalene (MM), because of its classic Lolita style and its slightly more mature look than other brands like Baby, The Stars Shine Bright, which have a more child-like feel.
“But the thing that I really love about MM is its use of material, like some of the most beautiful and high-quality lace. And with the abundance of lace in Lolita clothing, I find that the kind of lace used really affects the beauty of a dress,” she enthused.
May describes the Malaysian Lolita scene as “developing” as it is still relatively new, before adding that interest has increased in the past two or three years, especially among teenagers.
“Most of the fans here are new to the scene. There are many trend followers but fewer dedicated Lolita fashion devotees. And since they are new to it, they’re mostly exposed to only the basics of the fashion,” she observed.
She cited the lace, the ruffles, and the child-like look as the basics of Lolita fashion, but stressed that Lolita fashion is a lot more intricate than that.
“Lace and ruffles (or the lack of it) do not solely make or break a Lolita outfit. There are also a lot of misconceptions about Lolita fashion that need to be changed, even among the fans themselves.”
