An Interview with Lolita Charm Blogger Victoria Suzanne

What has been the most surprising reaction you've had to the way you dress?

I think my most surprising moment is who hits on me when I'm in lolita! I don't consider lolita overly sexual - or no moreso than any other conservative manner of dressing, with buttoned up cardigans and mostly covered skin - but the people who find it attractive on me are always surprising. From an insistant guy wearing the flag of Spain, to the large hip-hop type guys on campus, it's always the person you least expect!

What are the absolutely essential fashion elements someone needs to pull off the Lolita look?
As said, hairstyling is very important to finishing the look. I would say that if you're going to do the entire look, all-out, you should have very styled hair. I'm fond of wigs and hair extensions or clip-ins, but just following a style in a magazine with your natural hair is fine too. It's also important to be neat, like making sure your nails are in good shape. The other big one is to accessorize, or just to do something people won't expect. A star-shaped bag or particularly fancy bow is a good focal piece, or something like bright or lacy tights.

What inspired you to start the Lolita Charm blog, and did you expect it to become as popular as it has?
I was writing little pieces for just my personal journal or small communities, about lolita things I was doing or thoughts on lolita. One day I realized that I should collect them somewhere, and it ballooned from there. As for it's popularity - I'm not sure how popular it is! Lolita blogging is a small pond right now, and in the non-niche blogosphere I'm sure I'd be considered a rookie. But I'm glad that my readers like the site - that's the real reward behind popularity, knowing that you have the power to positivitely affect other peoples' lives.

What are your top tips for someone who wanted to start their own blog?

If I could turn it into only three quick bullets, I would say: love your subject, be dedicated, and treat your blog like it's your baby. If you're debating choosing a subject (much easier than, say, fashion, love, life & everything) make sure you are fascinated by it. It's been a year and half and I still have things I want to write about lolita. The other is to be dedicated! Update it regularly, or at least twice a week, if not on a schedule. Updating in a flurry and then going two months without a peep will not sit well with your readers, who will lose interest. The final is to treat it like your baby - like a baby you want to send to college. I'm always thinking of ways to expand my blog, or to tap into new areas of readers - how to better it. If I could, I would spend all my time chasing around after article ideas and going to events to cover - so that I could amp up my blog.

Do you think you will always dress as a Lolita, or will your style change as you become older?

I think that like any good style, my personal look will continue to evolve. Depending on how old I look (or feel!) it may be odd for me to wear lolita into my forties - but if my life went differently, perhaps it'd be very natural! But my style has changed since I was a green little lolita of sixteen, and will into the future. And I'm always inspired by new trends or ideas, so I'm sure my style won't remain static. If it still fits into the lolita box years later, then fine - if not, then that's okay too. As long as it feels like my idea of beautiful, then it's right for me.