Friday, March 18, 2016

5 Things You Wish There Were More Prints Of (Lolita Blog Carnival)

Ah, yes--prints. Prints have become the cornerstone of Lolita fashion as it expanded--and it's no wonder. While it's impossible to deny the classic allure of solid dresses with impeccable tailored details such as ruffles, pintucks, and lace, there's simply so much more freedom when you allow a dress to become a canvas for artwork on top of that.

And with such freedom comes a terrible problem: No one has made the print you want; or, if they have, it's been simply lost in the sea of print releases every year.

So, what are my gripes? What are prints I'd love to see--or at least see more of?

1. Shakespeare Prints



Haenulie's "For Juliette" print is based off of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet"

This is one of those themes that I simply don't understand why we don't see more often. Shakespeare's plays are some of the most widely-spread and loved literary works of all time--and yet we rarely see them in prints! And even when they are, they tend to be more abstract than feature the actual characters (or simply use the name, a la Alice and the Pirate's "Midsummer Night's Dream" print).

I'd especially love to see prints featuring Hamlet and MacBeth; They're two of my favorite plays by him, and would lend themselves to absolutely gorgeous Gothic prints Hamlet's "to be or not to be" soliloquy, in particular, would be a great scene to depict--as would Lady MacBeth's infamous "out, damned spot!" scene.

2. Tarot Card Prints



Alice and the Pirates' Tarot Card print, JSK II cut in black (2010)

Another print I'd love to see more of would be Tarot Cards. They're such a great theme! They've got the right amount of mysticism and romanticism surrounding them that they could be the basis for some amazing prints. In particular, I'd love to see larger border prints depicting the Major Arcana around the hem. Tarot cards tend to have very graceful, elegant, and detailed drawings--which lends them very well to being featured on a Lolita print!

While Alice and the Pirates released a Tarot Card print in 2010 (pictured above), and a handful of other dresses featuring the theme are out there, I can't help but hope that the theme is revisited. I think that Innocent World could take a lovely approach on it with a more weathered or antique look, while Alice and the Pirates' detailed line work could make the revisit worthwhile.

3. Pagan Prints



Moi-Meme-Moitie's Stained Glass Print OP (2012)

Religious imagery is EVERYWHERE in Lolita. Crosses, stained glass, reproductions of religious paintings--hell, Juliette et Justine's L'Eclat de Croix series actually features Jesus on the cross. Noticing the beginning of a trend here? Christian iconography was one of the leading inspirations of Western art for quite a long time--from medieval manuscripts of the Bible with beautiful illustrations to Renaissance masterpieces from Da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raphael (to make a long story short, the church had the money, and commissioned a lot of the art; and when it didn't have the money, nobles who did have the money liked to look pious and would commission art on behalf of their church).

So enter one of my guilty pleasures: Pagan iconography. There are a plethora of myths to depict, and plenty of modern-day inspiration to draw from. How beautiful would a Gothic print inspired by Hades and Persephone be? How lush and beautiful would the story of Apollo and Daphne (a la Bernini) be? Could you imagine a painting print based off of the story of Eros and Psyche? Mythological prints are conversation pieces. Or take a nod from common, modern pagan religions. Pentagrams, pentacles, altars, runes, and so much more are out there--and I'd love to see more variety in prints like this.

4. Prints Based on Gothic Literature & art



The indie brand Lady Sloth has used Caspar David Friedrich's
"Klosterfriedhof im Schnee (Cloister Cemetery in the Snow)" for a print.
While it doesn't date from the usually accepted Gothic period,
it depicts many classic Gothic literature tropes.

Ah, yes. Gothic Literature. Is there anyplace else you can go for your fill of romance, adventure, mystery and suspense? There are dozens of beautiful, famous Gothic novels to choose from--from the classic Dracula and Frankenstein novels to Wuthering Heights and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde. These novels have inspired countless artists, and it would certainly be interesting to see takes on it within Lolita fashion. But perhaps that's my English-major Bibliophile coming out a little.

I'd actually adore to see Carmilla adapted into a print--a vampire story that predates Dracula, with heavy lesbian undertones. And if the oldies don't do it for you--couldn't the newer "Gothic" novels be just as appealing? I don't know about you, but I would certainly jump for joy for "Interview with the Vampire" or "The Woman in Black" prints.

5. Prints Based on Dark Fairy Tales



An illustration of "Little Red Riding Hood" by Jessie Wilcox Smith (1863-1935)

We've seen quite a few cute fairy tale prints from Lolita brands before. The "Rated G for Everyone" versions of fairy tales are cute and widely popular--so it's really no surprise that a brand would put out a Sleeping Beauty or Cinderella inspired print. But here's the more interesting bit: most fairy tales aren't originally as sweet and happy as they've become. Some are more pessimistic, sad, and just downright dark. Exploring the more gothic or artistically-minded aspects of fairy tales could be a great way to have a fresh look on an old favorite.

In particular, I'd love to see an interpretation of the original version of The Little Mermaid where, spoiler alert, she does not gain the love of her prince and live happily ever after--but instead dies and turns into sea foam. Little Red Riding Hood would be another great option, as would any other Brother's Grimm fairy tale, to be honest. I'd also love to see a print based off of "The Little Match Girl" released around Christmas, though it isn't strictly a fairy tale and it's grim nature may be unappealing to some!

What about you? What are some prints you'd like to see in Lolita? Leave them down in the comments below, and be sure to check out the other Lolita Blog Carnival posts on this topic! Links are located down below.



Other LBC Entries this week
ϿѺϾ It's Me Dezapi ϿѺϾ