How to choose Colors

Hello and konnichiwa to one and all.
We've now entered the month of April, and Tokyo is getting warmer as each day passes by. The store windows are filled with colorful items, and it's the season for designs adorned with strawberries and cherries -- a Lolita's favorites. Just thinking about it fills me with excitement! For this second Lesson in Lolita, I would like to talk a little bit about "colors".

Colors and Seasons

Unlike most mainstream fashions, the Lolita look is not influenced by the changing of the seasons. This is because the princess-like silhouette of a dress and sweet designs complimented by frills and ribbons are the unchanging and fundamental forms of Lolita fashion. What gives these enduring forms their diversity are colors and fabrics. Generally speaking, pastel colors are for the spring and summer seasons, while darker colors are reserved for the fall and winter months. Patterns with fruit motifs and gingham checks are popular designs for spring and summer, and the houndstooth pattern and tartan checks are often seen in fall and winter. With each design, the type of fabric will make a lot of difference to the overall look, but it is important not to look either too chilly or too hot and stifled.

The Basics of Color Coordinating

On many Lolita fashion related community websites, I often see people posing such questions as "I want to coordinate an xxx colored skirt with xxx colored shoes and an xxx colored headdress (hair accessories). It this weird?" The most basic and easiest way to coordinate colors is to match your accessories with the colors (for example the color of the lace) that adorn your "main item" (skirt, dress, etc.). This can be accomplished with an exact match or by matching with a similar color. Most people imagine that coordinating an item with patterns is difficult, but in fact as there are a wider variety of colors on a patterned item, there are more possibilities when it comes to color coordination. Once you start to feel more confident, you can add a contrasting color to accentuate your outfit.

As for the shoes, black, white, brown, red and pink are the most classic colors. You can coordinate these in much the same way, by selecting a color that is the same or similar to your main piece, or by matching it with the focal point of your outfit (such as the lace). If you would like to wear shoes that do not match your overall outfit, carrying a bag or wearing a corsage of the same color will help your footwear "fit" into the whole look.

Overall, a colorful combination will achieve a bright, pop look. If you would like to pursue a dainty and neat look, toning down the variety of patterns is the key. In any case, don't over do it, and if you feel you have balanced out the amount of each color, then you're perfect!

opular Colors in Lolita Fashion

There are many more ways of combining and coordinating colors than what I have mentioned above. However, I would now like to concentrate on the colors that are most often seen in Lolita fashion. Below are some colors that are considered to be "classics" for the Lolita look, and some examples of popular color combinations.

Pink

Pink comes in a range of shades; from eye-catching bright pink to subdued colors mixed with grays or beige, but choosing an elegant shade is always your best bet. Other than white, the "black and pink" combination is often observed, and in such cases a paler pink would be more appropriate, as it achieves a gentle look and avoids looking overly sexy.

Saxe Blue

A refreshing blue color that makes an appearance in the Lolita fashions scene during spring and summer. Think of the blue on the dress of Disney's Alice In Wonderland. White goes best with this color; however matching it with a pink of a similar tone is also very cute.

Mint

A color that is just between pale blue and green. White is the easiest color to coordinate mint with, however matching it with pink in a similar tone would be adorable too. Rather than combining it with dark colors, I would recommend choosing colors that bring out the refreshing look of the shade.

Natural (Cream)

A "natural" color (or "cream" color) is the color of unbleached fabric. The tone and shade can vary slightly depending on the brand. Along with white and black, natural is the standard color for blouses. It looks great with colors infused with a yellow tint (such as brown, beige and salmon pink) giving you a classical and gentle look.

Red

The sweet color of strawberries and cherries! Red comes in a variety of shades, with warmer shades laced with a yellow tint (such as vermillion) and cooler reds with a bluish tone (such as crimson). The former has a bright and active image, while the latter exudes an air of formal sophistication. Wear it with white for a cute look, and with black for a sexy style. It goes excellent with brown in fall and winter, and this remarkably versatile color even goes with blue shades too!

Bordeaux

A popular color for the fall/winter season, this color is a matured wine red. A more elegant and sophisticated shade compared to basic red, it has depth and adds luxury, making your outfit more formal and dressy. Bright and gorgeous when combined with white, and utterly bewitching when worn with black; it also looks great with rosy colors.

Brown

Another color for the fall/winter season, brown is a color that is classic and calming. Some brands refer to this color as "chocolat". Coordinate it with cream, beige, pink tinted with yellow or black to complete a classic and elegant look.

Black

A color that fails to go unnoticed, it evokes an aura of mystery and magic. Even with a sweet looking outfit, a touch of black brings the whole piece together for a captivating look. Combining it with white is a classic choice, however if you feel the contrast between the colors is too much, a natural creamy shade is recommended. A solid black outfit may feel a little somber, but adding a necklace to an open neckline or choosing delicate looking fabrics will soften-up the overall look.

White

The color that represents a pure maiden. Used on blouses, panniers and socks among others, it is a color that Lolita fashion cannot do without. When wearing all white, choosing fabrics of various textures; hard and light, soft and smooth, will prevent you looking flat and plain. For those of you who like bright colors and styles, a pair of pearly white shoes will go a long way. And don't forget to look after your white items; it doesn't need to be said that white becomes dirty very easily!

Practice Makes Perfect

When coordinating colors and fabrics, it is best to actually try the combinations out for yourself, rather than simply thinking about them. If you have a tailors bust that you can dress up with your coordinated outfit, that would be ideal, but simply laying out the outfit on your floor or bed can help you make sure that it all works together.

Also have a look at what's in your wardrobe before you go off on your shopping trip. If you buy items that you know will go well with the items you already have, you won't have any regrets later on (although often you can't help but buy an item because it is so cute, and I find I rarely have any regrets!).

Finally, practice is the key to success. Look to other accomplished Lolitas for inspiration, or be daring and choose a color that you usually wouldn't wear to brush up your color coordinating skills. Be imaginative, but perhaps not too overly eccentric -- try to preserve the Lolita cuteness. But what is most important is that you enjoy Lolita fashion even more by finding new and wonderful ways of coordinating your favorite outfits.