Kimonos are a popular type of wardrobe in Japenese culture. Just like
other forms of fashion in concerns to clothing, the kimono has taken on some
transformation throughout the years. A normal kimono is a brightly colored robe
with long sleeves and a strap for tying the robe shut. What makes a kimono such
an elegant piece of wardrobe is the floral patterns that are generally on them.
These brightly colored pieces, usually in blues or reds but can come in any
color, have vibrant floral patterns that really make them stand out. They are
also usually made of silk for a sleek and comfortable feel.
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The fashion industry has managed to take the concept of a kimono and
combine it with the concept of a Lolita dress, merging two exceptional pieces
of clothing into a masterpiece! Lolita
dresses are beautiful pieces that feature puffed up (or volumized) petticoats
either in an A-Frame style or bell style shape that come just to the knees.
They typically have long sleeves, although they are known for short sleeves as
well. These dresses can be embellished with lace, which really adds character
to them. Lolita dresses are primarily associated with the Victorian era and
specifically have a vintage vibe to them.
The merging of these two styles is specifically a combination of
Japanese Lolita cuts and kimono styles. Japanese Lolita cuts are definitive
types of cuts that present a particular look to a piece of clothing. Basically,
the Lolita dress is given a very unique look by these cuts. The two primary
cuts are plane cutting and three-dimensional cutting. These cuts are directly
associated with the Japanese style of Lolita. The style is pieced together also
by draping, or layering types of material together with the cuts.
Plane Cutting
Plane cutting in Japanese
Lolita can be described as a three-part cut of kimono material that is layered
among a Lolita skirt. The three-cut on the plane cutting places shorter pieces
of kimono material on a solid color of Lolita. These shorter pieces are draped
in the front and sides of the dress to create a dramatic contrast between the
kimono and the solid coloring. To further a kimono look with this type of cut,
there is often an overlapped neckline much like a kimono style is portrayed.
There are often embellishments like lace added to really accent the look as
well.
Three-Dimensional Cutting
The
three-dimensional cut on a Japanese Lolita is truly the king
of all cuts. This distinctive cut is extremely popular as it creates a
"popped up" or three-dimensional look to the piece of clothing. This
is done through the puckering of material to raise it from the base material in
which it is layered. This type of cut can also include three-dimensional
embellishments like bows in the center of the dress. These bows are often made
with the base color of the Lolita dress. Three-dimensional cutting can also be
applied with ruffles around the sleeves, the bottom of the dress, or on a layered
piece around the waist or breast areas.
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While the above format is a very common way that three-dimensional
cuts are portrayed, there are other ways as well. For example, a Gothic
version of a kimono Japanese Lolita dress has all the staple characteristics
of a kimono. These characteristics include long flared sleeves and a
middle bound piece of fabric for tying the dress closed. To give this look
an even more attractive look, the back of it is a bit longer, reaching to the
ankles almost while leaving the front of the dress in the traditional form
of a Lolita dress at the knees. The three-dimensional part comes in with
the raised fabric adornment all throughout the dress. In this particular
case, there can be raised laced floral pieces in black as well to match the
dress. The sleeves feature satin sleek ruffles along the cuffs, adding even
more personality to the dress overall. This Gothic variation is absolutely
stunning and really sets the kimono Lolita trend ahead of its time.
Kimono Lolita: A Beautiful Gem in Fashion Fusion
The melding of a Lolita dress and a kimono brings together two unique
fashion trends and creates something spectacular. As shown through the Japanese
Lolita cuts, this can be achieved in many ways. However, just admiring the
comprehensive look is breath-taking in itself. For example, take into
consideration the stark coloration of a dark teal kimono matched with the
three-dimensional bow. This look is the pure embodiment of what a kimono
Lolita should look like. Another great color choice for this style variation
is a dark red and beige or ivory floral pattern and coloring. The idea is to
get bold color with the vintage vibe of Victorian Lolita and kimono creating a
fashion fusion that simply cannot be matched.
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For an even more dramatic effect, another choice for an Asian Lolita
fusion is through the use of short sleeves and a corset layering. Corsets were
huge in the Victorian era and still are to this day. They create a definitive
look by raising the bust area and shrinking the midsection. For the purpose of
a Lolita dress, sometimes the corset look is applied as a top layer where the
bust is accentuated, the midsection is shrunk in, and the bottom flares out in
a bell shape on the petticoat or lace design underneath. Asian Lolita's present
this look by having the corset layer be a floral print among a solid color,
like a blue floral against a beige backdrop color. This particular fusion is
referred to as a Chinese Style Kirin Printing and is just as elegant and
stunning as the Japanese Lolita or kimono Lolita styles.
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The fashion world is constantly taking daring moves to create more
gorgeous and unique pieces of clothing. This innovation and styling process can
truly be appreciated both from the wearer's perspective and from anyone
admiring such exquisite fabrics and designs! This styling of Lolita's
fairytale costumes will continue to be alluring as well.