✶ EGL (Elegant and Gothic Lolita) wardrobe ✶

• About EGL and me: Info about Lolita and my experience with the fashion.
• My Wardrobe: all of my items (not yet...)
• Coordinates: outfits!
• 45 Questions: In the tradition of many EGL blogs, I answered a quiz.
• Inspiration pics: These are a growing collection of my favourite Lolita pictures.

I have edited these questions a bit but the original is here. This was inspired by Lori's post.

1. Please tell us your Hand Name and hometown.

(Toby) Elluin, Manchester.

2. About how long is your history as a Lolita?

I bought my first pieces in the summer of 2021, but I've been into various jfashions since I was 11 and found EGL after that.

3. What first motivated you to do Lolita fashion?

I had my eye on it for around 4-5 years and watched a lot of content about it. I just adored the dresses and the idea of dressing up in what to me was such an over the top feminine way. The "rules" aspect was also something I liked and after receiving a lot of gift money, I put it towards getting my first pieces.

4. After knowing Lolita fashion, have you had any time-gap or resistance till you actually started to be Lolita?

As I said, it was a few years of knowing but not wearing, because (1) it is an expensive fashion and as a child I couln't afford it, and (2) as a trans man I've had to wrestle with being uncomfortable (or "not uncomfortable enough") whilst wearing it.

5. Please define your Lolita style as much as possible. (eg. gothic Lolita, sweet Lolita, white Lolita…. Etc).

I wear "mature" sweet, particularly focused on Alice themes and casual cuts. It's 2008-2014 inspired. All my current JSKs are blue, I'm not opposed to other colourways! But I've just gravitated towards a less "obviously girly" colour (I want to acknowledge that a lot of my early ideas around EGL and not wanting to be feminine is something I'm getting over).

6. About how many Lolita friends do you have?

I wouldn't say I have any Lolita friends but I have some friends who have tried my wardrobe and people in my comm that I'm close with.

7. What is the best thing about wearing Lolita?

I love being a model for such lovely clothes! I like showing off such beautiful items and feeling pretty.

8. Conversely, what's the worst thing?

My confidence issues honestly. The fact that I don't wear it enough is really sad to me :( Also, the heat!! I cannot wear it when it's more than 20C...

9. Which Lolita Brands do you like?

Baby, The Stars Shine Bright / Angelic Pretty / Infanta / Metamorphose Temps de Fille

10. What was the first Lolita item that you’ve owned?

My first EGL order was a bundle of the essentials, but the first main piece was a Tiny Garden skirt.

11. What is the “must have!” Lolita item?

Petticoat is the obvious answer BUT I think have proper (as in cute and comfortable) shoes is so important!! Imo, bad shoes can ruin the outfit.

12. Do you wear drawers?

I do, bloomers is one of my favourite items to wear. I love being EGL top to bottom, and I LOVE the look of peaking bloomers.

13. Do you have any favourite Japanese music?

Yes! f5ve is one of my fave bands and they're a j-pop group. I don't listen to Lolita music though.

14. Where do you particularly visit as Lolita?

Cafes and galleries/museums, but as I try to wear it more, my university.

15. About how many times per week do you dress as Lolita?

er... (｡﹏｡") as of right now I wear it a couple of times a month.

16. Are you part of a local Lolita community?

Yep, I've only gone to a couple of meet-ups, but it was lovely to only be around people other people dressed up like me.

17. What's hairstyle and color that you think Lolita would suite the most?

There is no universal answer for me! For me, I do often wear wigs, and like mid-blond on myself but I'm starting use my normal (short blue) hair.

18. Have you ever thought of stopping Lolita? The reason?

Yes, I wasn't really wearing it in 2023 and found it hard to reconcile my love of the fashion and my discomfort in it at the time, but I'm out of it now! Finding a diverse range of people who wear the fashion really helped with this.

19. Please tell us your heart's bible as a Lolita. (anything like a book, magazine, CD, idol...)

Ooo, I would say @PinkFakeFlowers on youtube and my EGL pinterest board

20. Do you own a doll? Tell us your feelings about them intensely!

Sadly I do not, or not a BJD. I had a huge Monster High collection as a child (that my parents forced me to sell, and I'm still sad about it) and before I started wearing EGL I was into BJDs and doll redocorating. So I think I will get one in the future! I also had a victorian style doll as wee child, which I think explains a lot.

21. What kind of make-up do you wear when you wear Lolita clothes?

Usually it's a small wing, pink eyeshadow and blush, and some glitter. If I'm wearing any at all.

22. Have you ever secretly changed clothes in a train station bathroom on Lolita day-out?

Not in a train station, but my school bathroom during a heatwave. I just couldn't take it all day.

23. Do you find lolita clothes uncomfortable or tiring to wear?

Yes for different reasons. One is the sensory aspect, sometimes my coords do not prioritise my comfort (*cough* headbands and non-shirring dresses *cough*) and I really feel it. And sometimes it's tiring to be stared at and have your gender questioned by strangers.

24. How much do you spend in your Lolita clothes & accessary monthly?

I spend very irregularly, but averaging all I've spent this year it would be £30 a month.

25. What is the most expensive Lolita thing you've bought so far? How much was it?

My BTSSB "Wonder Story Comes In The Rose Blooming Night Heart JSK" for £130ish.

26. So far about how much has the expense been for Lolita goods?

£750-800 (excluding shipping, I don't want to know what that total would be lol).

27. Lolita outfit really costs money. How do you raise money to cover the cost of Lolita?

I'm very fortunate to have a good amount of savings, be gifted money by family, and I've had two jobs during and outside of studying.

28. Have you ever bought from an online store? If so, please tell us its good and bad points and some advice for the future. If not, please tell us why not.

I've only shopped online so far (although would love to to AP Paris and one day Japan). I'se shopped from: Depop; Devil Inspired (big yikes ik); Lace Market; Sweet Moment Lolita; Vinted.

29. Even if you sort of want to keep it a secret, please clandestinely tell us about a private manufacturer that is the best.

I'm guessing this is asking about indie brands? I'd say Infanta! or maybe Lief.

30. Is there a brand and/or an item that you think, "I could never get it! But I unreasonably want it!"?

Absolutely, Garden Alive Print Babydoll JSK or Sweet Cookies Alice OP by BTSSB. Or Twinkle Mermaid, or any Milky Chan print.

31. What do you think about people who only do Lolita at music-lives or cosplay?

I don't care about when other Lolitas choose to wear the fashion, but I would appreciate it if when you did wear it as a popular muscian it wasn't for kind of kink inspired by child aesthetics...

32. From what age to what age is it acceptable to do Lolita? Do you think that there's a state in which someone must graduate from Lolita? (you can answer as ‘never graduate’)

As it's an expensive fashion hobby that's made for adults, I do think that under 16s are not really part of the fashion? But I certainly don't think there should be age restrictions or a "graduation" age.

33. Is there a Lolita fashion or behavior that you think "I don't want Lolitas to do this!" about?

Not really anything EGL specific, I don't care if someone wants to wear the fashion however a person wants and no one should change themselves to fit into "princess behaviour".

34. Is there something you think "Lolita has to be this way!" about?

Again, I don't care to police other people, but I do like to follow a lot of the old "rules" myself. Such as not wearing a JSK without a blouse.

35. While doing Lolita, has something changed from earlier than you did Lolita?

I've really solidified what style I really like to wear! I first started with wearing country, I got a gothic dress, and have thougt about ditching everything for Old School or Shiro. I would like to try those two styles but know what I like and want to invest in that.

36. Do you go to school/work as Lolita?

I do go to school in it, both my sixth form and now at university. I potentially would at work, depending on the job.

37. Do you wear Lolita clothes as casual wear?

Yes! I often add blouses to my non-Lolita wardrobe, as well as wearing my AP cutsew OP with jeans.

38. Do you have a partner? Do they understand Lolita?

I don't currently have a partner, but all my previous partners have loved it and I've dressed up with them before :)

39. What do the people around you think of your doing Lolita? Do they accept it?

Somewhat. My friends absolutely do, even if they don't understand it, my parents certainly don't and they don't like how expensive it is but... Some people find it hard to reconcile my gender with the fashion, but that's their fault.

40. Who are your biggest Lolita inspirations?

I've already mentioned PinkFakeFlowers, I also love LolaTrue, Dreaming Marine, RoyalSealy, and SewBlack.

41. Have you ever made your own Lolita clothing or/and accessories? If so, what was the best item that you’ve made?

Not yet. Yearning to make a sailor or old school piece. I should probably make a headdress first though.

42. If you have an ideal Lolita outfit or coordination, please tell us.

Full back shirring babydoll OP, OTKs that stay up, a rectangle headdress, and rocking horse shoes ( ˘͈ ᵕ ˘͈♡)

43. Is there a motif that you think “this is a symbol of Lolita”?

This is so hard. For me, it's roses and cookies.

44. What is the Lolita item you have the most of?

Blouses hands down. I feel like I need a top for everything.

45. What's your image of the ideal Lolita?

See the inspo pics!