Sweet lolita dresses

What defines sweet lolita

Sweet lolita is built on light, soft colours: pink above all, then lavender, mint, cream and "sax", the light blue that lolitas name after the saxe blue shade. Prints are playful and often tell a small story: a tea party, a bakery, a fairground, a toy shop. Bows appear everywhere, from the bodice to the headbow.

Sweet is the style most people picture when they first hear about lolita fashion, and it was made famous by Japanese brands in the 2000s. Chinese indie brands now release more sweet prints than anyone, often with several colourways of each.

Choosing a sweet dress

• Busy prints look best with a simple blouse and plain socks.
• Solid pastel dresses with lace and bows are easier to wear on ordinary days; see casual lolita.
• Colourways: most sweet prints come in three to five colours. We send you the brand's colourway photos before you choose.

Sweet lolita and petticoats

The sweet silhouette is fuller than classic, often a round "cupcake" shape. A dress made for a fluffy petticoat looks limp without one. Ask us to add a petticoat in the right length when you order.

Sizing

Sweet dresses usually have shirred (elasticated) back panels, which gives them a wider size range than gothic or classic cuts. Brands state a minimum and maximum bust and waist for the shirring; our size guide explains how to read them.

For headbows, socks, shoes and three levels of sweet coordinate, read sweet lolita fashion.