Morbid Outlook

Morbid Outlook

Screenshot of Morbid Outlook Archive on 6 March 2022
Available in	English
Founded	1992
Website	http://www.morbidoutlook.com/
Current status	Active

Morbid Outlook was an English-language zine that started out as a photocopied paper zine in 1992. An online version was available on morbidoutlook.com.

History

Morbid Outlook started out as a print zine published by Mistress McCutchan. The first versions were made by physically cutting and gluing together content created by McCutchan, then Xeroxing it and staple binding it. Other authors and artists were added making it a true zine.

Around November 1995, they went online as well, and in September 1996 they became web-only. In the early 90s, there were two issues per year, but after going online, they eventfully moved to a monthly format.

The Zine ceased publication in 2010.

Lolita Fashion

In Late 2000, Morbid Outlook published 'The Japanese Fashion Experience' by Alison Douglas which talked about various types of Japanese street fashions. This article didn't break out lolita specifically, but makes many references to what is most likely lolita in the gothic section.

The 2002 article, 'Elegant Gothic Lolita', written by Kyshah Hell was one of the first comprehensive English-language articles on lolita fashion and was widely cited by authoritative English-language lolita sources at that time, including Avant Gauche.

The article contained the following rundown of lolita fashion:

• Mini to knee length frilly poofy skirts, most likely with a crinoline that does not show under it.
• Ruffled elegant Victorianesque blouses.
• Mostly black blouses sometimes with white Peter Pan collars, cuffs and sleeves. White lace can be at the bottom of the capped sleeves and at the collar. Both plain or embellished blouses.
• Babydoll dresses, sometimes below the knee but mostly mini to knee length.
• Colors for these separates are mostly black or white or a combination of both. Sometimes red, pastel pink, and pastel blue. The later two colors worn only with white.
• The French Maid look or Alice in Wonderland look of a white apron over a black babydoll dress was an original Gothic Lolita look. It is not seen as much now.
• These dresses and skirts are worn with knee-high or thigh high stockings. Some times white with little bows and ruffles at the top or in black fishnet with holes and without. Mostly black opaque stocking material.
• Headdresses are a must. Mostly in black or black and white. A small rectangular headband headdress made of ruffles, ribbons, and lace. Can be worn with a bow under the chin. It is worn at the crown of the head, just above where bangs are. Can be used to hold hairpieces in.
• Sometimes the headpiece can extend over the forehead like a small bonnet, this happens most often in white.
• A small top hat worn askew on the head is sometimes seen.
• Shoes are Mary Jane type platform heels or large platform shoes. Very chunky and clog-like.
• Women wear long or short large curls on either side of the head, or a full head of curls ala Shirley Temple. Long straight hair worn sometimes with bangs is a common look as well. Many wear wigs and hairpieces to achieve these looks. Hair is mostly black but can be any shade of brown.
• Little to no make-up is worn. The look requires a pale complexion, which many Japanese women already have. Any shade of red lipstick is fine with black eyelashes and a small amount of black eyeliner. Fresh faced and young.
• Large pocketbooks are carried. Some are huge container-like suitcases in a variety of forms from the carpetbag to the circular hatbox. Some women carry handbags in the shape of bats and coffins.
• A parasol is a must on sunny days in the park.
• On occasion lace gloves and lace opera length arm warmers complete this look.
• When the look begins to lean towards Victorian mourning, with long dresses and ghouly make-up, it is Visual Kei or Gothic and not Gothic Lolita. But the elegant Victorian look with a long skirt is still Lolita.

In 2003, Alison Douglas published 'Trends in Japanese Fashion' which was a follow up to her earlier Japanese fashion article, which directly mentioned lolita fashion.A 2004 article, 'Lolita Galore', featured a gallery of submitted photos of readers wearing lolita fashion.

A follow up article to the 2002 'Elegant Gothic Lolita', titled 'Gothic Lolita Fashion' was written by Kyshah Hell in 2008. In the follow up Kyshah writes that the original was written by "analyzing hundreds of photographs for common style elements" and that she "did not understand many aspects of the burgeoning subculture". In her own words "This article is an attempt to set the record straight on the origins of the subculture, and a resource for all things Gothic and Lolita."

External links

• Morbid Outlook
• Elegant Gothic Lolita – 2002 Article about Lolita Fashion