Lolitas are clearly very specific about the photographs that are taken of them and find photos significant in various different ways. Photos are visual evidence of their socioeconomic status as well as a validation of their efforts in the Fashion. Lolitas also utilize photography in various different ways. Members use photographs as evidence of attending meet-ups and events as well as proving that they purchased a specific brand print or item. Lolitas also utilize
photography in social media to a wide extent by posting photos of themselves on various forums, particularly on Facebook.
Lolitas take an abundance of photographs of themselves, either during events, with friends, or by themselves at home. These photographs show the effort that the Lolita made in putting together a particular coordinate. The more photographs a member takes and the more
Figure 4.2.1A Lolita posing for a photo at the
coordinates that she displays to others, results in the accumulation of status in the community. A Lolita who only has photos of her or himself in one particular coordinate will not be viewed as a ‘true’ Lolita because they have not accumulated enough items. In order to feel validation by the community, members will make “wardrobe posts” on Facebook or Tumblr at the beginning of
each calendar year. The purpose of these wardrobe posts is to document and display every Lolita item that a member owns. Lolitas will have sections of their wardrobe posts reserved for
jumperskirts, skirts, one-piece dresses (OPs), headbows, petticoats, blouses, socks, tights, wigs, accessories, shoes, etc. Most Lolitas will carefully lay each piece out on their bed and snap a photo. The larger a member’s wardrobe post, the more impressive it is. If the majority of the
wardrobe post is made up of brand items, it is even more remarkable.
Members also use photographs as evidence of attending meet-ups and events. Lolitas reserve most of their photo-taking for meet-ups and large events. During these events, they carefully document their coordinates with photographs. These photographs are then posted on social media sites such as Facebook and Instagram in order to show friends, family, and fellow Lolitas their experiences from the event as well as their carefully put-together coordinates. The “pics or it didn’t happen” philosophy is particularly important when a Lolita obtains a new “print”. A Lolita will post on one of the many Lolita-based Facebook pages that she or he got a new “brand” dress. Since these products are so expensive, sought-after, and often difficult to
obtain, to community members it is extremely important that Lolitas provide photographical evidence of their purchase. This is often done by simply posting a photograph of her or himself in the particular dress or coordinate on Facebook. These photos can also be achieved by posting them along with the wardrobe posts.
Figure 4.2.2 Wardrobe Post Example #114
Figure 4.2.3Wardrobe Post Example #215
Aside from wardrobe posts on Facebook and Tumblr, Lolitas also often post pictures of themselves in their coordinates on Lolita-specific photosharing Facebook pages. The most popular is called “Closet of Frills: Daily Lolita Coords”. On this page, Lolitas will post photos of
14http://chiichick.livejournal.com/210683.html. Last accessed November 15, 2014.
15http://alyssiumbaby.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/wardrobe.jpg. Last accessed November
themselves along with the brand of each of their items. It seems that the goal of these posts is to receive validation of a particular coordinate. Closet of Frills is open to Lolitas all over the world and receives posts from dozens of people each day. It is exciting to see the regional variation in Lolita style and to see Lolitas from different countries represented. However, there is risk in posting to this page. Members of the page will offer “concrit” or constructive criticism, giving
the original poster of the photograph advice on how to better construct their coordinate. The majority of this “concrit” is helpful. For example, some members will suggest that a Lolita wear
a different blouse, or different colored shoes, etc. On occasion, however, some members will reply with nasty comments such as, “If you would stop being fat it would look better”, or
“Maybe you should try wearing brand and not that replica shit”. Closet of Frills also seems to be
fodder for Behind the Bows (BtB). It is common to see a Lolita post on Closet of Frills during the week and then see the photo reposted on BtB with mean comments or ugly drawn-on faces when the weekend rolls around.
There was recently an alternative to Closet of Frills created for plus-sized Lolitas. The group was created by Cheryth, a plus-sized member of the Atlanta Lolita and Japanese Street Fashion Community. The group is called “Fluffy Frills: JFashion Coord Sharing for size 14+”. She designed this page to be a safe space for plus-sized Lolitas to share their coordinates without fear of being slandered or being posted to BTB. Cheryth has witnessed many of her fellow Lolitas post to Closet of frills and received both helpful and hurtful “concrit”. During my
fieldwork, I posted to Closet of frills and received constructive criticism and was told to wear a more Lolita-like blouse with my coordinate. I felt apprehensive about posting on Closet of Frills because I was afraid that I would be posted on BTB. Luckily, I was not. My experience with
posting the exact same photo to Fluffy Frills was much more positive. I received praise for my coord and I did not feel self-conscious.
In general, photographs greatly influence a Lolita’s impression given off to other members of the community, resulting in them being overly-critical of their coordinate
photographs. These photos are not only a display of their coordinate, but also visual evidence of their socioeconomic status as well as a validation of their efforts in the Fashion. Members use photographs as evidence of attending meet-ups and events (Sontag 1977:3-24) as well as proving that they purchased a specific brand print or item. Lolitas also utilize photography in social media to a wide extent by posting photos of themselves on various forums (particularly on Facebook) in order to manage and enhance their impression given off to other members of the community.