Hello everyone! Today I'm going to be talking about some similarities and difference between the Living Doll style and Lolita fashion. If you aren't familiar with what a Living Doll is, check out my post here. For those unfamiliar with Lolita fashion, please check out the Wikipedia page or the Lolita Fashion webpage.
One of the main confusions with Lolita and Living Dolls is that they're the same thing. Part of this confusion comes from the fact that Living Dolls may wear Lolita fashion and many Lolitas may go for a more dolly look with their makeup and accessories. These two styles are not interchangeable though they do cross over in some places and have similar features. They both can be either just a fashion or an entire lifestyle and they both aim for a kawaii or cute look, but they're two separate and defined styles.
So let's talk a bit more in depth as to what the difference between Lolita and Living Doll styles are, beginning with them as just fashions, not lifestyles. In Lolita fashion, there are many "rules" or guidelines that make Lolita what it is. Lolita coordinates generally have knee-length, bell shaped skirts, delicate lace and ruffles, large and small accent bows, a modest neckline and elegant or cute accessories and round toed shoes, such as Mary Janes. Living Doll fashion is generally a lot looser and is defined as "looking like a doll." Whether that means frilly, Victorian-esque Lolita dresses, trendy Barbie style clothing, or even just a loose T-shirt with a girly design and a pastel circle skirt is completely up to the style of doll the wearer is inspired by. So simply put, Lolita fashion is generally a certain style of dress paired with particular accessories while Living Doll fashion can be just about anything.
Now lets get into the two lifestyles, being a Lolita VS being a Living Doll. (I'll be referring to them in terms of the lifestyle with the fashion as opposed to just the fashion now.)
**NOTE** It's not required to follow a certain lifestyle in order to wear either of these fashions. Some people choose to wear the clothing and style because they like how it looks while others choose to wear the fashion because it suits the lifestyle they follow or wish to follow. If someone wears the fashion without having a coordinating lifestyle, it doesn't mean they're any less a Lolita or Living Doll than someone who's lifestyle is more in line with their fashion.
With that out of the way, let's start with some similarities. Lolitas and Living Dolls both generally like to spend plenty of time taking care of their outward appearance and tend to have beauty routines and treatments to achieve a healthy, youthful exterior. Routines can include use of face, skin, and hair masks, manicures and pedicures, spa visits or home spa days, and facial treatments both in the morning and at night. Many Lolitas and Living Dolls also choose to surround themselves with décor that reflects their lifestyle. For example, a Gothic Lolita may have dark colored and black décor, skulls, small replicas or paintings of gothic architecture, and a shine to the Lolita God Mana in their home. (Disclaimer: Mana is human just like us, but he's gorgeous and perfect in the eyes of many a Lolita, so he might as well be a god.) A Living Doll may surround herself with cute toys and dolls that suit her particular style. For example, a Living Doll inspired by Barbie may have a vast collection of Barbie pink décor and Barbie dolls surrounding her and may even try to style her room like Barbie's Dream House. Additionally, Lolitas and Living Dolls may choose to act in a manner that suits their style or even arrange their diet to suit their style. For example, a Sweet Lolita may choose to follow a more Victorian inspired code of conduct, being more quiet and reserved and choosing to enjoy things such as flower gardens and art museums as opposed to clubs and sports games. They might also prepare their food to always look cute and delicate and enjoy sweets such as cakes and macarons with tea every afternoon. In contrast, a Living Doll may choose to spend her time fussing over her looks, shopping for new clothing, or trying new outfits. She may choose to eat a very balanced diet and work out regularly in order to maintain a slim, yet toned physique. As you can probably tell from these different descriptions, Lolitas and Living Dolls can have very different lifestyles, even though they both may live lifestyles considered abnormal for some.
Now, back to the general usage of Lolita and Living Doll (someone who wears the fashion and/or follows the lifestyle). Lolitas and Living Dolls, while two different and distinct styles, do have a fair amount of crossover, as I mentioned at the beginning of this post which is why they can be confused sometimes. Many Lolitas may choose to achieve a more "dolly" look with their makeup with false eyelashes, colored circle lenses (ones that make the iris look bigger), and flawless skin. At the same time, many Living Dolls may choose to wear pieces from Lolita fashion or whole Lolita coordinates, meaning a Lolita can also be a Living Doll. So while there is cross-over, being a Lolita does not automatically make you a Living Doll and vice versa.
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