Ok, personal opinion time, but I think make-up is important to consider when wearing lolita, especially for a local lolita meet out in a public space, or say, a Japanese fashion-centered convention in which you expect a lot of photos to be taken. There are many personal reasons I have for saying this, mostly because I feel everyone should look proper and put together, like we take the fashion seriously and wish to put it on a level worthy of respect, not something to be mocked or misunderstood by outsiders. I'm not saying you need to pay to have a professional artist do your face every single time you want to wear your lolita outfits, but I believe the more effort you put into looking polished, the easier it is for you to feel good about yourself, and make other lolitas feel good about themselves, and in turn, help the rest of the world not give us so many weird looks because we look schlubby and possibly stole all this jewelry. Alas, appearances are everything in this judgmental society.
Another reason being, I paid a lot of money for a dress, it deserves my best treatment, and so everything from head to toe should look like it matches the value of the dress. So an expensive much desired brand name dress deserves full make-up and wig treatment, but casual handmade t-shirt and Bodyline skirt and offbrand hairbow not so much, unless I really wanted to experiment or something. If I don't do it like that, it feels like I wasted my money and time getting the dress, like someone could have worn it better, like I'm a fraud, etcetera. Let's be real, we got into the fashion so we can feel better, not to feel worse, which is why I take the time to learn about putting on makeup, utilizing the resources in the Gothic Lolita Bibles.
Also because I bought all this makeup and need to use it before it expires and has to be thrown away lmao.
But otherwise, if you're not expecting to have photos taken of you or it's a casual lunch with a few friends, something like that, sunscreen is the only requirement I would say to wear out of the house, and I recommend that as a medical professional, not a lolita.
When I first started out and Mana-sama was our main idol, I obviously did not wear much makeup, Mana-sama's makeup game was (is still) too strong for me. I had clear skin and wore glasses, so I didn't need foundation or powder and any eyeshadow or mascara would be lost behind my glasses. Even in college and graduate school I didn't wear much makeup. Then I was able to afford circle lenses and a smartphone with selfie options and a DSLR camera, and that all changed. Now my old and haggard face was in the spotlight, and so I do what I can to not, you know, embarrass myself later. I read books on makeup, researched articles, bought some non-drugstore and Asian brand stuff; it was a whole new world of pretty packaging and addictive sales!
I love the look I have when I'm completely made up with circle lenses, false lashes, foundation and powder and blush and eyeliner, it's like I'm a different person, a princess worthy of wearing lolita. It's a transformation process which I adore, like a magical girl henshin scene, except slower and painstaking and full of cursing, hahah. I've never actually gone the full route of contouring or bleaching my eyebrows or wearing face jewelry, and probably never will, but most anything I'd try. That being said, I understand when some girls prefer to go au naturel, for health reasons or whatever, I used to be like that, and it's just honestly better for your skin and eyes to wear less makeup. At least go one day a week without a lot of makeup, definitely. But otherwise, if you have no health problems with makeup, experiment with it, your self-confidence will go way up when you find a look you like! Plus, if things don't work out, you can always wipe it off and start over again.
Hair and Wigs!
I'm no expert hairstylist, and really, I only started wearing wigs when I got back into the cosplay scene after a few years of no cons. But I think hair style is also super important, nay, even more important than makeup. Especially for those of us with sensitive skin and can't wear as much makeup, a good wig or hairdo can boost the look of the coord with no fear of getting pimples, yay. Hair styling can really change your look from classic to sweet to gothic. Since I'm not an expert, all I can say is... do your best and learn from your mistakes, which you inevitably will make like I did. The signature look of lolita is bangs straight across the forehead, with medium to long waves or curls, as this look works well with most styles and headgear. However, I've seen many great looks with center parts or sideswept bangs or pulled back.
The key is to work with your hair accessories if you're wearing them. For example, if you're wearing a rectangular headdress, this almost certainly requires some sort of fringe in front to make it look symmetrical and intentional. Sideswept bangs look great with more asymmetrical placement of hair accessories, such as Alice bands and flower corsages and mini barettes. Hair that is pulled back off the forehead work well with flower corsages and many hats, but not so much headbands or hair chains that hang over the forehead. One look I really love but no one really does (at least not where I've seen) is multiple coronet style braids wrapped around the crown of the head. Actually, I have done so but have not worn it out yet. Someday!
I personally wear sideswept bangs and a hime-gyaru bouffant if I'm wearing my natural hair, and try to wear wigs with longish straight cut fringe that can be swept to the side as necessary. I feel like that pretty much coordinates with all of the accessories I usually wear. The colors I choose for my wigs is auburn red, brown to red gradient, platinum blond, honey blond (not a great color for Southeast Asians to be honest), light ash blond and medium brown. A bob pageboy cut with a fringe and a medium to long wig with ringlet curls will work for nearly all styles of coordinates, but I know many a lolita who own a pastel color wig with twin tails for the perfect over the top sweet coordinate. And if you're into ouji or male aristocrat, those cosplay wigs for anime and videogame bishounen (but not so spiked of course) will do just fine.
Those are my insights into beauty and hair. I hope that helps someone out!
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