I love seeing new interesting takes on Lolita, or maybe I should say, takes on Lolita that are less common than the most popular styles. It’s a breath of fresh air when someone pulls off an ass-kicking Steampunk outfit or a really chilling Guro ensemble. One style or theme, if you will, that pops up once in a while and which I think is really intriguing is Circus Lolita. I think I can count the times I’ve seen it done on one hand, however, it’s a theme that seems to occur more or less frequently in art. There must be something fascinating about the circus to Lolitas. Several brands have even put out circus prints. I think it’s because, similar to the Lolita style, the circus is a little piece of magic come to life. Inside that arena the audience knows anything can happen. Artists fly through the air, breathe fire and juggle strange things. Maybe there’s a magic show, perhaps the tightrope artist, definitely clowns doing silly things. It’s all about being different and having a good time – something I’m sure many Lolitas can relate to.
Innocent World:
Besides the business of the first two prints, there aren’t really much of a common style to them in my opinion, which I suppose makes sense, as Circus Lolita isn’t really an official sub-genre or style of Lolita.
I’d say that there are two ways to pull off this circus look. Either one can wear a dress or a skirt with circus related prints like the above or one can put together an ensemble reminiscent of a character typically found in the circus; Something fun and playful, maybe with a bit of authority like the ringmaster. I’ve put together some outfits on polyvore that you’ll perhaps find interesting.
FIRST OUTFIT:
A black & white striped look. I don’t know, there is just something very circus-y about stripes to me for some reason. I really love those eyelashes and I’ve had the thought of using them in a Circus coord for quite some time. I’ve thrown in a little whip in this outfit. Maybe that’s a bit weird and can feel a little costume-y, but it’ll probably be all right for maybe a meet up or a specific event. Just try not to whip too many people – they get a bit uncomfortable. ; )
Another red & black outfit, but this time I chose to use a few brand pieces, just to show how it could look using a circus print in a themed coordinate. I’d actually love to wear this. The cool thing about this skirt is that there are so many colours in the print, so you could use other that just black and red to coordinate it. You could try to accentuate the light blue or the pink for a completely different look.
The trick to not making the whole thing look or feel like a costume is, as with Lolita in general, to make sure it looks elegant and you feel comfortable wearing it. Granted, a Circus outfit may not be what a Lolita will wear to the grocery store, but rather something more suitable for special events like, for example, meet ups or maybe a birthday party.
This isn’t really meant as a ‘how to wear’ post on Circus Lolita, it’s merely intended to be perhaps a source of inspiration and encouragement to explore this theme further, maybe it could catch on the way Pirate Lolita did. :3
Let’s have a look at some of the prints that brands have put out featuring circus themes.
Baby, the Stars Shine Bright:
Baby, the Stars Shine Bright:
(Alice and the Pirates also put out that Clown themed set, but let's not go there *wink*).
Angelic Pretty:
Innocent World:
Besides the business of the first two prints, there aren’t really much of a common style to them in my opinion, which I suppose makes sense, as Circus Lolita isn’t really an official sub-genre or style of Lolita.I’d say that there are two ways to pull off this circus look. Either one can wear a dress or a skirt with circus related prints like the above or one can put together an ensemble reminiscent of a character typically found in the circus; Something fun and playful, maybe with a bit of authority like the ringmaster. I’ve put together some outfits on polyvore that you’ll perhaps find interesting.
FIRST OUTFIT:
A black & white striped look. I don’t know, there is just something very circus-y about stripes to me for some reason. I really love those eyelashes and I’ve had the thought of using them in a Circus coord for quite some time. I’ve thrown in a little whip in this outfit. Maybe that’s a bit weird and can feel a little costume-y, but it’ll probably be all right for maybe a meet up or a specific event. Just try not to whip too many people – they get a bit uncomfortable. ; )
This one is a fairly basic red & black outfit. I think the waist cincher, the strappy boots and the eccentric top hat makes it circus-y, and then with some cute accessories you’ve spiced up a classic dress; made it unique and playful, while still retaining a sense of elegance.
Another red & black outfit, but this time I chose to use a few brand pieces, just to show how it could look using a circus print in a themed coordinate. I’d actually love to wear this. The cool thing about this skirt is that there are so many colours in the print, so you could use other that just black and red to coordinate it. You could try to accentuate the light blue or the pink for a completely different look.
The trick to not making the whole thing look or feel like a costume is, as with Lolita in general, to make sure it looks elegant and you feel comfortable wearing it. Granted, a Circus outfit may not be what a Lolita will wear to the grocery store, but rather something more suitable for special events like, for example, meet ups or maybe a birthday party.
This isn’t really meant as a ‘how to wear’ post on Circus Lolita, it’s merely intended to be perhaps a source of inspiration and encouragement to explore this theme further, maybe it could catch on the way Pirate Lolita did. :3
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