Does the Japanese lolita community uses stricter rule?

What I means is: is the Japanese loli community stricter in what to call an "ita" and why?


After browsing through some blogs and web pages I found this site http://detail.chiebukuro.yahoo.co.jp/qa/question_detail/q1453076939?fr=rcmd_chie_detail


It is in Japanese but this is roughly what it says:

It's about what is "ita" and what is "lolita" (I write this in inverted commas  because the opinions vary strongly). Then there is a list of what they think the characterize of  "ita" are.

What I noticed is that they are very different from the western ones, they seem to be stricter.


Rules on brand or handmade clothing

•  Cheaper brand ( for High schooler)
•  Not well made hand sew lolita dress with terrible fashion sense

Itself not so surprising, even in the West many lolitas swear by brand. But the brands they name as cheep an thus "ita" are very surprising for me. For instance H. Nauto. But also Maxiciman and Putumayo.
There are also many good seamstresses in the lolita community. Not everyone can / may / wants buy lolita. Moreover, this unique clothing, so we should not criticize about it.

Rules on Cosplay lolita

• Same style as a character in Anime or comics
• Dress as maid and claim this is lolita style
• Buying Cosplay lolita clothes from bodyline

Most of the Japanese lolita seem to dislike Bodyline.  Probably for the same reasons as the West. When they brought out their first lolita clothing the quality and appearance was just awful! Poor quality, to many cheap lace and too short. Nowadays they are often commented on their prints, these are sometimes replicas.
Bodyline is now very good! But their old reputation continues to haunt them in Japan!

Of course anime's fashion or maid fashion are cosplay not lolita.

This is a link to a guid telling you good from bad bodyline!
http://lolita-tips.tumblr.com/post/12221100778/a-beginners-guide-to-telling-good-bodyline-from-bad

Rules about behavior

• It is "ita" behavior to
• Speak like baby
• sit directly on the floor
• Walk like man
• Bad mouth other lolita
• Laugh in big voice
• Pretend self not mentally stable, or living in a imaginary world
• Put "Sama" behind the brand name such as "Baby sama"
• Talking too much theory about lolita
• Showing too much Otaku spirit  or Anime taste

While in the west it really is just a fashion and only the clothes become seen important. Of course, the basic rules of etiquette need to be respected, but that is logical. It seems that the lolita lifestyle, in Japan, is almost mandatory. Also,certainly in my country, 99% of the lolitas seem to be big anime fans and I'm the one standing out (¬_¬). Nevertheless, no one wants be compared with anime!

Some rules about appearance also seem to be different too. These rules are also used in Western Lolita

•  Not wearing a proper wig but a cosplay wig
• Messy hairstyle 
• No make up for anyone who is high school age or above.  
• Never refine or shape the eye brow
• Just a pony tail ties at back with no other special arrangement
• Gyaru Make up/ Gyaru Lolita

Nevertheless the last four are not really used in the Western community. I personally find it always a bit sad when I see a photo of a girl with a perfect coord but without makeup. Her face seems to disappear in her dress, if that makes sense for you guys (≧ω≦).

But they also have some ridiculous rules 

• Over weight
• Ugly looking woman

Everybody allowed to wear whatever they want! Your look, gender, skin-color

 and weight do not matter at all! 

Rules on something that's totally not a lolita item

• School shoes (For high school-er)
• Normal sneakers
• High heel
• Pointing toe shoes
• Glasses

Shoes with heel or pointing may work for Gothic or classic I think, but not for sweet? 

If seen more and more girls wear big frame glasses ( fake ones). I think you could look very nice if you choose the right frame. Many say not too buy a narrow frame but  if glasses is something you certainly need it for your daily use I don't see any harm about it! Glasses are very expensice right? So make you're acessories match with you're glasses. 

Rules on Coordination

• Not wearing any blouse or Bolero or inner shirt 
• Not wearing petticoat or boomer
• Not wearing coat even it is winter and snowing out there
• No socks or tight
• Showing too much skin
• Mismatch coordinate
• Wearing exactly coordinate as poster or magazine like "Uniform lolita"
• No hair accessories at all on the head
• Lots of winkles and stains
• Lots of tears or unclean.

Coordination can be very hard! All wearing the same dresses are widely spread, so the trick is to be different from the rest. You don't want to look like a "Uniform lolita". Thus it is better no not buy the whole outfit from the same designer. Instead mix different brand and create your own style. Make sure it matches!

Everybody needs to look clean and neat even you are not lolita. Don't forget to (steam iron) your clothing to flatten the winkles 

I think Japanese lolitas have a stricter dress-code and lifestyle rules because this fashion exists for many years in Japan. Also, more people are in to this style compared to the west. This gave the fashion more opportunities to grow and the lolitas more places to shop. In the west most people have to order trough the internet witch is not that easy... Their are also less people in too this style.