Kawaii & Fashion: Interviews with Lolitas (Sophie)

What does lolita fashion mean to those who dress in this kawaii, feminine, and nostalgic style? How has lolita fashion traveled beyond Japan to be embraced by people around the world? This series of interviews from the Kawaii in Japan & Beyond: Theory & Praxis project documents the diverse perspectives of lolita fashion practitioners from the Atlanta Lolita Community in the United States.

In this interview, we hear from Sophie, a lolita who also enjoys cosplay and ball-jointed dolls. Topics Sophie discusses include how she engages with lolita in a creative and frugal way together with her other hobbies.

Sophie says, "[Kawaii] literally means 'cute,' but to me, within Japanese subculture, I tend to differentiate the kawaii side from the gothic side. So when I think of kawaii, I think of decora [an aesthetic of hyper accessorization] or Sanrio."