'Kitty and the Bulldog: Lolita fashion and the influence of Britain' is on at the V&A until 27 January 2013

Kitty and the Bulldog: Lolita fashion and the influence of Britain is an apt name for this display of Japanese street-style clothing based around Lolita fashion. This fashion emerged during the 1990s as a radical form of street style born out of the Japanese taste for Hello Kitty cuteness.

It’s a free fashion display in the V&A’s Toshiba Gallery.

The fashion isn’t just every day street fashion in Tokyo (or maybe it is for some). Its main focus is on the Lolita fashion, a Japanese ‘cult trend’ based primarily on two aspects: old British fashion (i.e., the Victorian style-lots of bows, nice dresses and decoration) and also the idea of ‘kawaii-ness’ or ‘cute-ness’ (often including lots of pink and tons of makeup). The selection also includes Gothic Lolita, Visual Kei (the Japanese take on Punk-rock) and even some more conventional Japanese style (a beautiful kimono!).

The display showcases nine examples of Japanese street style clothing, recently acquired by the V&A in Tokyo.

Dodo Potato (screen name), a girl with an interest in the Lolita fashion was pleased to go to the exhibition. Not only did she enjoy viewing the garments; the highlight of her day was meeting all the other Lolitas. “I don’t think any of us have ever seen so many [of each other] in one place before!” she said, amazed that there was about 115 total Lolitas there in the one day which she visited. Another visitor, Sapphira (screen name), was also happy with her visit to the exhibition. “I think the curator made a very good choice of outfits to represent different styles” She said, in her article also stating that she was glad that the Lolita fashion was being taken seriously, instead of being dismissed as “crazy Japanese stuff”.

This display is a great opportunity to yet again see connections between British and Japanese culture-it is also a great place for anybody interested in some less well-known fashion styles or even people interested in anything Japanese to come and learn more about the culture of young Japanese folks.

Friday Late – Loli-Pop (31 August)

On Friday 31  August, starting at 18:30, there will be an evening of free activities at the Victoria and Albert Museum themed around the Kitty and the Bulldog display : a Lolita meet-up called ‘Loli-Pop’. It will be a chance to see for yourself enthusiasts wearing these frilly, pink clothes from Japan. It is recommended to come dressed as a Lolita, i.e., lots of frills, make up, bright colours and hair accessories. If you’ve never dressed in this style before, this will be a great opportunity to take your first steps toward Lolita-ism!

The V&A has a landing page about Loli-POP! here: Loli-POP!

The exhibition is on at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, until 27 January 2013 and is free of charge.

It complements the V&A’s major spring exhibition, British Design 1948-2012: Innovation in the Modern Age

Post written by Rosanna Lee, student at St Dunstan’s College, Dulwich

References

http://poupee-sapphira.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/kitty-and-bulldog.html

http://lapetitemarionette.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/v-kitty-and-bulldog-lolita-fashion-and.html

http://dodo-potato.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/40kitty-and-bulldog-v-lolita-meet.html