Gothic Lolita is a style that combines silhouettes inspired by historical fashion with a gothic aesthetic: flared dresses and skirts that usually fall to around the knee, puff sleeves, lace, bows and a high neckline. This collection features dresses, blouses, skirts, boleros, capelets, shoes and bags, so you can put together a complete outfit or add a lolita touch to your everyday gothic wardrobe.
Dresses and skirts with a flared silhouette
The dress is the foundation of the outfit. Two popular styles are jumper skirts (JSK), usually worn over a blouse, and one-piece dresses (OP), which usually have sleeves. You will find styles with a full skirt, lace trim and bows in our separate Gothic Lolita dresses collection. Instead of a dress, you can choose a flared, knee-length skirt, while a mini with bows works well for a more casual lolita-inspired look. Underneath, add a petticoat for volume, matched to the cut of the dress or skirt: bell-shaped or A-line.
Blouses with jabots and puff sleeves
Lolita blouses often have a small collar or a stand collar, puff sleeves and decorative details such as lace, a jabot or a bow at the neck. A white blouse under a black dress with shoulder straps is a classic of the style, while a black, burgundy or purple one looks great with a skirt. Similar styles, including ones for everyday wear, are in our women's gothic shirts and blouses collection.
Boleros, capelets and cover-ups
Choose a short bolero or a capelet with a collar and lace to leave the dress's flared skirt visible. Cat ears on the hood add a more whimsical touch to the look. With a flared dress, also choose outerwear that has enough room below the waist. More short layers are in our gothic cover-ups and boleros collection.
Shoes, bags and accessories
Platform Mary Jane shoes with an instep strap, coffin- or heart-shaped bags and an umbrella with a bat-shaped canopy complete the look. You will find more chunky-soled styles among our gothic platform shoes.
How to put together a Gothic Lolita outfit
Start with a dress or a blouse and skirt combination, then add knee socks or tights, platform shoes and a hair accessory, a bag or an umbrella. The colour palette is simple: black with white, burgundy or navy. Keep the proportions right: fitted on top, full at the bottom. If you prefer longer cuts with a stronger historical influence, take a look at our women's Victorian clothing collection.
Where does the Gothic Lolita style come from?
Lolita fashion was born in Japan, and in the 1990s it became a hallmark of the streets of Tokyo's Harajuku district. Its dark variant was popularised by Mana, a musician in the band Malice Mizer, who founded the label Moi-même-Moitié in 1999 and named his style Elegant Gothic Lolita. It is not about sex appeal, but about elegance, modesty and the charm of a porcelain doll.