Elegant Gothic Aristocrat
Encyclopedia
Elegant Gothic Aristocrat (EGA) is a subset of Gothic Lolita fashion, popular in Japan. The term Elegant Gothic Aristocrat was originally coined by Mana
, a fashion designer and former band leader of Malice Mizer
, and is used to describe his brand of clothing carried in his store Moi-même-Moitié
. EGA gained momentum on the Japanese fashion streets in the late 1990’s when their onstage rock-idol attire spread like wild fire among his fans. Eventually, the style became more accessible when mainstream stores began to carry EGA apparel.
, with emphasis on simplicity and elegance. It is an androgynous style consisting of black and white, dark colours and natural tones with delicate detailing such as ruffles or lace trimmings, and completed with black, clunky boots and heavy makeup. Accessories are also essential items in achieving the EGA look. They include corsets, gloves, waistcoats, conspicuous pocket books, stockings, bows and top hats. Unlike the Lolita fashions, Elegant Gothic Aristocrats
wear long skirts or wide-legged trousers, tailored and streamlined jackets, and tight-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and blouses.
Mana (musician)
Mana is a Japanese musician and fashion designer, best known for his role as leader and guitarist of the visual kei band Malice Mizer. His clothing label, Moi-même-Moitié, helped popularize Japan's Gothic Lolita fashion movement. Mana is currently working on his solo project Moi dix...
, a fashion designer and former band leader of Malice Mizer
Malice Mizer
Malice Mizer was a visual kei rock band from Japan. They were active from August 1992 to December 2001. Formed by Mana and Közi, the band's name stands for "malice and misery", extracted from "nothing but a being of malice and misery" — their reply to the question "what is human?"...
, and is used to describe his brand of clothing carried in his store Moi-même-Moitié
Moi-même-Moitié
Moi-même-Moitié is the Gothic Lolita fashion label of Mana, the co-founder and former guitarist of the Visual Kei Malice Mizer. It was founded in 1999 and features the specific styles of Elegant Gothic Lolita, which blends the innocence and cuteness of the Lolita fashion with the darkness and...
. EGA gained momentum on the Japanese fashion streets in the late 1990’s when their onstage rock-idol attire spread like wild fire among his fans. Eventually, the style became more accessible when mainstream stores began to carry EGA apparel.
Style
The style imitates the mature decadence of the late Victorian eraVictorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
, with emphasis on simplicity and elegance. It is an androgynous style consisting of black and white, dark colours and natural tones with delicate detailing such as ruffles or lace trimmings, and completed with black, clunky boots and heavy makeup. Accessories are also essential items in achieving the EGA look. They include corsets, gloves, waistcoats, conspicuous pocket books, stockings, bows and top hats. Unlike the Lolita fashions, Elegant Gothic Aristocrats
Aristocrat (fashion)
Aristocrat is a Japanese street fashion that is inspired by what is thought to have been worn by Middle Class and higher social status Europeans in the Middle Ages, as well as the upper class in the 19th century...
wear long skirts or wide-legged trousers, tailored and streamlined jackets, and tight-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and blouses.
See also
- Japanese street fashionJapanese street fashionJapan began to emulate Western fashion during the middle of the 19th century. By the beginning of the 21st century it had altered into what is known today as 'street fashion'. The term 'street fashion' is used to describe fashion where the wearer customizes outfits by adopting a mixture of current...
- AristocratAristocrat (fashion)Aristocrat is a Japanese street fashion that is inspired by what is thought to have been worn by Middle Class and higher social status Europeans in the Middle Ages, as well as the upper class in the 19th century...
- Madam
- Lolita fashionLolita fashionis a fashion subculture originating in Japan that is based on Victorian-era clothing as well as costumes from the Rococo period, but the style has expanded greatly beyond these two. The Lolita look began primarily as one of modesty with a focus on quality in both material and manufacture of garments...
- Gothic Lolita
- Sweet Lolita
- Classic Lolita
- Punk Lolita
- Wa Lolita
- Guro Lolita
- Sailor Lolita
- GanguroGanguroGanguro is an alternative fashion trend of blonde or orange hair and tanned skin among young Japanese women that peaked in popularity around the year 2000. The Shibuya and Ikebukuro districts of Tokyo were the centers of ganguro fashion...
- KogalKogalThe kogal fashion involves wearing an outfit based on a Japanese school uniform, but with a shortened skirt, loose socks, and often dyed hair and a scarf as well. The phenomenon was prominent in the 1990s, but has since declined. The word "kogal" is anglicized from kogyaru, a contraction of kôkôsei...
- CosplayCosplay, short for "costume play", is a type of performance art in which participants don costumes and accessories to represent a specific character or idea. Characters are often drawn from popular fiction in Japan, but recent trends have included American cartoons and science fiction...
- Visual KeiVisual Keiis a movement among Japanese musicians, that is characterized by the use of make-up, elaborate hair styles and flamboyant costumes, often, but not always, coupled with androgynous aesthetics. Some sources state that visual kei refers to a music genre, or to a sub-genre of Japanese rock, with its...
External links
- DarkFashionLinks - community driven alternative fashion directory.