Curi Valentine, 26, is a student in DePaul’s Japanese studies program. She sings and plays keyboards in the “gothic Lolita industrial jazz” duo Curiosity Valentine.
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I’m wearing my favorite dress by Baby, the Stars Shine Bright, which is a Japanese label, which I got at their store in Tokyo. My headpiece is by Angelic Pretty; I got it in Japan, too. The Harajuku mall has a couple stores that just cater to this style.
Gothic Lolita. I found out about Lolita from the Japanese street fashion magazine Fruits. It’s a style that incorporates Victorian children’s clothing and also rococo France. It’s meant to look innocent and beautiful without being revealing. It’s characterized by collars up to the neck, skirts that cover the knee, bloomers with a petticoat, opaque stockings. It’s very strict–it even covers hairstyle. It’s all for modesty. I did it because I think it’s just the most beautiful fashion and I want to wear it every day. I’m translating a book right now, a collection of essays about being a Lolita, from Japanese, and publishing them on the Internet. It’s a big partof my life. There’s a group of Chicago Lolitas I am part of, and my best friend is the organizer.
How did you dress before this?
