Lolita Fashion Purses - History, Styles, and Shopping Tips

The History and Style of Lolita Fashion Purses

Lolita fashion is a Japanese street fashion centered around dressing in a doll-like, elegant and modest style. The term "Lolita" comes from the novel Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov, though the fashion itself has no connection to the contents of the novel. Lolita fashion originated in Japan in the 1990s and has expanded worldwide, with Lolita clothing and accessories being sold both online and in stores catering to the Lolita subculture.

An important accessory for any Lolita outfit is the purse. Lolita purses come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but often feature elements like frills, bows, lace, and vibrant colors that align with the cute, feminine aesthetic of the fashion. Brands like Baby, The Stars Shine Bright and Angelic Pretty are popular sources for Lolita bags and purses.

Popular Styles of Lolita Purses

There are several common styles and types of Lolita purses that help complete a coord (coordinated Lolita outfit):

• Baguette purse - a small rectangular purse worn over the shoulder or across the body.
• Fruit purse - a round bag shaped like a fruit or food item like an apple, cake, or rabbit.
• Sweetheart purse - heart-shaped bags with lace, ruffles, and bow accents.
• Tea party purse - elegant bags with patterns like teacups and teapots.
• Coin purse - tiny coin purses, often shaped like fruits or sweets.
• Shopper purse - large, everyday tote bags.

Common Features and Materials

Lolita purses exhibit many decorative elements that align with the cute, princess-like style of Lolita fashion. Common features include:

• Ruffles
• Lace
• Ribbons
• Bows
• Beads
• Rhinestones
• Chains
• Charms

Popular materials used in Lolita bags include:

• Velvet
• Brocade
• Metallic fabrics
• Leather

Color Schemes

The color palette of Lolita bags tends to align with the vibrancy and elegance of the fashion. Pastels are very common, especially:

• Pink
• Mint green
• Lavender
• Baby blue

White, black, and red bags are also popular basics. Prints feature floral patterns, gingham, bows, and teddy bears.

Popular Brands

Some popular brands for Lolita bags include:

• Baby, The Stars Shine Bright - one of the most popular Lolita brands, they carry bags in traditional Lolita shapes and styles.
• Angelic Pretty - known for colorful and playful themes like fairy tales and carnivals.
• Jane Marple - elegant bags with beads, pearls, and opulent details.
• Triple Fortune - focuses on bags shaped like sweets and fruit.
• Atlantis Marina - known for bags that look like vintage doll cases and trunks.

How to Style Lolita Purses and Accessorize Outfits

Choosing the right purse is an important part of putting together a Lolita outfit. Here are some tips for styling Lolita bags:

• Pick a purse in colors that match your dress or coordinate. A colored bag can help tie together the rest of your look.
• Choose a bag that suits your particular Lolita style. For example, go for a fruit-shaped bag in Sweet Lolita, or an elegant Victorian-inspired purse for Classic Lolita.
• Don't overdo it - choose just one statement bag as the focal accessory, rather than piling on too many loud purses and charms.
• Display your bag prominently, such as tying ribbons to attach it to your wrist.
• Compliment with other accessories like gloves,Bloomers,headdresses that add to the opulent Lolita look.

Styling Tips for Different Lolita Substyles

Here are some Lolita purse styling tips for different substyles:

• Sweet Lolita: Fruit-shaped bags, sweetheart purses, coin purses, pastels, bows
• Classic Lolita: Elegant Victorian shapes, rich fabrics, beads, pearls, cameo accents
• Gothic Lolita: Darker colors like black, burgundy, and purple, coffin and bat shapes, chains, crosses
• Punk Lolita: Checkerboard patterns, skulls, safety pins, studs, chains, tartan
• Kodona: Simple leather pouches and satchels, buckles
• Boystyle: Briefcase style bags, simpler accents like bow ties instead of big bows

Do's and Don'ts

When selecting and styling a Lolita purse, keep these do's and don'ts in mind:

• DO choose a bag that matches your coords colors and themes.
• DO stick to one statement bag instead of too many accessories.
• DO tie ribbons to show off your bag.
• DON'T let your purse look out of place with the rest of your outfit.
• DON'T overload on too many charms, beads, etc. Keep accents stylish and balanced.

Where to Shop for Lolita Purses and Bags

Lolita purses can be purchased from the following retailers, both online and in stores:

• Lolita brand boutiques - Brands like Angelic Pretty and Baby have online shops as well as physical stores located in Japan, China, Mexico, and more.
• Secondhand sites - Lace Market and Closet Child are popular sites for secondhand Lolita clothing and accessories.
• Etsy and eBay - Individual sellers also offer handmade and secondhand Lolita bags.
• Japanese auction sites - Proxy shopping services allow you to bid on Japanese auctions.
• Retailers - Some mainstream J-Fashion retailers like Tokyo Rebel may carry Lolita purses.
• Local boutiques - Check for any Lolita or Japanese street fashion stores in your area.

Shop around to find your perfect Lolita bag! Pay attention to details like materials, size measurements, and colors to find one that will beautifully match your coords.

FAQs

What are the most popular Lolita purse styles?

Some of the most popular Lolita purse styles include fruit shaped bags, sweetheart purses, tea party purses, coin purses, and baguette shoulder bags.

What materials are common in Lolita purses?

Typical materials used in Lolita purses include velvet, brocade, metallic fabrics, lace, leather, and high quality synthetics. Features like ribbons, bows, beads, and rhinestones are also very common.

What are good tips for accessorizing Lolita outfits with purses?

Choose a purse in coordinating colors, stick to one statement bag, prominently display the purse, and complement it with other accessories like gloves or headdresses. Don't let the purse look out of place.

Where are good places to shop for Lolita purses?

Lolita purses can be found online at brand boutiques, secondhand sites like Lace Market, Etsy, eBay, Japanese auctions through a proxy service, and local Lolita fashion shops.

How can I make sure a Lolita purse will match my outfit?

Pay attention to the colors, patterns, materials, and themes of a purse to ensure it will complement your Lolita coordinate. Matching the style to your particular substyle of Lolita is also important.