Lolita Dreams is a visual sociological research on the Lolita fashion subculture in China. Lolita fashion is a subculture that originated in Japan and is primarily inspired by the clothing and general aesthetics of the Rococo and Victorian periods.
At first, it was a niche subculture where enthusiasts used this type of clothing to express their individuality and explore their identity. In the process of localisation, the subculture has merged with other mainstream cultures and subcultures, giving rise to numerous categories. Among young people, this culture is becoming increasingly popular. Gradually, Lolita subculture has developed into an industry, generating economic benefits and getting a lot of fans on the internet.
I've been involved in the ACG-related subculture for over 20 years, including anime, comic, games, cosplay, lolita and more. Together with other ACG-related subcultures, Lolita fashion influences the personality, identity, lifestyle and consumption habits of Generation Z and even a wider range of people in China.
Wan Rui. WanRui fell in love with the Lolita subculture almost ten years ago. She believes that Lolita gives her self-confidence and happiness and can help her overcome her social phobia. She is now a Lolita model and an independent photographer. She usually sets up her camera on a tripod, takes self-portrait using a mobile app and then shares her Lolita photos on social media platforms.
Xiao Sheng. Xiao Sheng finished high school. I met her at a Lolita party. She had bought two new dresses during the summer holidays. She asked me to take some pictures of her wearing her new dress.
Jing Zhi. After graduating from university, Jing zhi moved back to a small town near Chengdu, but still maintains close ties with the Chengdu Lolita community. She also works as a Lolita model in her spare time. This time she took advantage of her holiday to come to Chengdu for Anime Expo.
Yi Ling. I met her at an Anime Expo. This type of costume with a beautiful headdress often attracts the attention of many people at Anime Expo.
Huang Er. Huang Er is a model of ACG-related subculture. She dressed in a Qi Lolita which is a style of Lolita that is the combination with Chinese qipao. Be aware that Qi Lolita can come across as being appropriative when worn by people who are not from China.
Nai He. I met her through an online chat group. It was the first time I met her offline, at an anime convention. She was wearing a kigurumi mask. It's a spin-off culture of cosplay. She told me later that it saved her time putting on make-up.
Xiong Xiaomi. I took a photo for Xiong Xiaomi last year. I met her again this year at the biggest Anime Expo in Chengdu. She had changed into a completely different style of Lolita dress than last time, and I didn't even recognise her at first. For her, Lolita gives her the opportunity to be different from herself.
Fu Yang. She is a first year university student and a fan of Lolita culture. She also gets paid to do make-up for cosplayers and Lolita fans who attend Anime Expo. For her, this kind of subculture is both a hobby and part of her leisure income.
Le Le. Le Le is a Lolita costume and hanbok enthusiast who is preparing to study art in Japan this year. Before studying abroad, she spends her free time doing make-up for other enthusiasts.
La Pi. La Pi works as an original illustrator at a gaming company. Influenced by a female classmate in college, she found Lolita fashion captivating and gradually developed a fondness for it. Nowadays, she occasionally wears Lolita outfits to work. Through embracing the Lolita culture, she has expanded her circle of friends and discovered a more authentic version of herself.
Lancy. Lancy is a student who has loved Lolita for six years. At first she liked Lolita because it looked pretty, then she gradually adopted it as her everyday dressing style. She is independent and has made many friends with the Lolita community. She loves the style and design of the dress on her and has created a make-up look to go with it. We made the photo at Seminarium Annuntiationis, which is built in 1895.
Hao Fan. I've known her for 6 years. She was still at college when this picture was taken. At that time she liked Lolita dress and cosplay subculture, and often asked me to take pictures of her. This photo was taken during a shopping trip. Later on, as she got busier with her studies, she seemed to be less and less present in this subcultural community.
Fan Qie and Xiong Xiaomi. Fan Qie and Xiong Xiaomi were high school friends. It appears to be the first time they have been photographed together. They chose a twins Lolita dress with black and white. It is a style from ACG-related maid dress and is very popular recently in teenagers of Lolita fashion.
Lin Er. Lin Er is a male Lolita enthusiast. Men have always been a niche presence in the Lolita scene. Although there is a small amount of Lolita clothing for men, most of the time they also wear female Lolita dress. They are often seen as an anomaly both inside and outside the community. For various reasons, Lin Er rarely wore women's Lolita clothes after he started working. I took this photo of him in full costume at the largest Lolita tea party in Chengdu.
Xiao Nan. Xiao Nan is the organiser of the Lolita Tea Party in Chengdu and one of the leaders of the local Lolita community. 2023 was the end of China's strict epidemic prevention and control policy. She organised a huge tea party that attracted over 150 Lolita enthusiasts, even more than before the Covid-19 pandemic. After the tea party, she took off her wig and I took this photo of her looking a little tired.
Li Li. Li Li is a photographer of the Lolita community and she is also a fan of Lolita fashion. She usually wears a Lolita dress when she takes pictures. I took this picture when she was working as a photographer for a Lolita party.
Lai Lai. I met her at a small Anime Expo. She loves the style and feeling which is called Doll.
Tong Tong. I met Tong Tong at a Gothic tea party and she loved this style of Lolita dress. However, due to her busy schedule, she now rarely has the opportunity to wear similar outfits. For her, dressing the way she likes is sometimes a way to relax.
Gang Gang. She is my friend's sister and is police. She saw the Lolita photos I took and thought the dress was very pretty, so she wanted to try it on too. It was the first time she wore a Lolita dress and for her it was a different feeling from her everyday life.
Cha You. Cha You is currently in her third year of high school. She developed a liking for Lolita fashion back in her second year of junior high. Faced with academic pressures, the joy of wearing a Lolita dress for the first time momentarily eased her stress. Since then, she's regarded Lolita as a form of reward. For every memorable moment in her life, she rewards herself with a new Lolita dress. She prefers dresses that have a narrative design, where the patterns resonate with her inner self, symbolizing how different traits construct a complete version of herself. She reached out to me to make photos of her with Lolita, hoping to commemorate her 18th birthday with them.
Xiao Fu. Xiao Fu began embracing Lolita fashion around 2016 and currently works as a teacher. Lolita has seamlessly integrated into her life, and she enjoys experimenting with various accessories to complement her outfits. Wearing these distinctive dresses attracts more attention, and as urban culture becomes increasingly inclusive, the majority of the attention she receives is positive. These affirming responses have contributed significantly to her growing self-assurance. Additionally, she owns a large motorcycle, which she uses for her daily commute. I made a portrait of her alongside her motorcycle.
Mo Su. Mo Su developed an interest in Lolita fashion around 2018, enjoying both Gothic and Classic styles. To her, Lolita represents freedom and audacity, prioritizing personal joy over conforming to the expectations of elders. She follows her inner aesthetic and pays no mind to others' opinions. Often on Fridays, she wears Lolita attire to the office. As she closes the office door at the end of the day, she feels liberated.
Guai Guai. Guai Guai is a Deco Lolita (or as it is known as OTT) based shopkeeper with many other subcultures. This style decorates the entire outfit from head to toe with a high amount of accessories such as hair clips, ribbons, bracelets and various other layers. It is extremely visually appealing. They often appear to have an outgoing personality, but are extremely sensitive on the inside.
Zhu Zi. Zhu Zi is a type of enthusiast who wears Lolita dress as daily wear. Relatively speaking, this group of people is more likely to be found in large cities with more developed economies. Lolita is a part of her life and she doesn't feel that wearing it is something special in her life.
Cindy. Cindy began following Lolita fashion around 2022 and is currently a sophomore in college. I got acquainted with her through social media and arranged to meet on a free weekend at a park near her school. She mentioned that Lolita has made her feel more refined and confident, also instilling in her a sense of being uniquely independent and cool in her own way.
