Lolita Fashion #11: Hermes

“Hermes” is the 11th of 30 drawings of Kamiko dressed in different lolita styles. It started as a steampunk inspired lolita coord. I found reference for steampunk things like the googles, which I put over a military cap, an arm bracelet thing, and a corset. Then I thought, well if it’s steampunk, then maybe a bustle in the back makes sense as well as leather boots. When I designed the shoes, I started to think about Greek mythology -- mainly Mecury and his winged boots. So I put a feather in her cap and gave her a messenger bag, but the god Hermes fits her better. Quick and cunning, a messenger to the gods, and a god who traveled between the mortal and divine realms. That sounds like Kamiko.

How about a steampunk, greek mythology inspired lolita coordinate? “Hermes” is the 11th of 30 drawings of Kamiko.

Thought Process

It started as a steampunk inspired lolita coord. I found reference for steampunk things like the googles, which I put over a military cap, an arm bracelet thing, and a corset. Then I thought, well if it’s steampunk, then maybe a bustle in the back makes sense as well as leather boots.

Originally, I was going to add a giant pair of steam-powered mechanical wings to her back and then add all kinds of hydraulic wires so it looked like she had some kind of steampunk Falcon suit (a la Captain America) or Ironman-esque steam powered contraption. Here’s the really rough sketch:

There would be a steampowered backpack along with tubes to fire steam down her legs out the bottom of her stilettos so she could hover. She had a handheld controller that would direct the movement of the wings and of course the googles to protect her eyes in flight.

It’s a bit over-the-top (not that the design isn’t already pushing it) but I thought it would interfere with what should be front and center: her lolita coord and not a pair of mechanical wings.

I ditched it. It sounds crazy now that I write about it anyway and I’m glad I didn’t invest a lot of time into it. Since I made the shoes with feathers on the side, that reminded of the Greek god Mercury and how he wore winged shoes, that drove the design in another direction. I added a feather to her cap and a messenger bag. Turns out, Mercury’s not the best fit for this design, but rather, Hermes for reasons beyond the lolita coord.

As his wikipedia article states: “Hermes is considered a god of transitions and boundaries. He is described as quick and cunning, moving freely between the worlds of the mortal and divine. He is also portrayed as an emissary and messenger of the gods:[1] an intercessor between mortals and the divine, and conductor of souls into the afterlife. “

Hermes description is kinda how I think of Kamiko. She does move between the moral and eternal realms -- eternal is what I call the divine realm of the gods). She is clever and quick (especially in those shoes).

So that’s how a steampunk lolita coord turns into a greek mythology, steampunk inspired outfit. If you'd like to see the other drawings in this series, check out the Art Section for more.