Gothic LolitaProbably the most used lolita term. The traditional blackxwhite scheme is very recognizable, but not all gothic lolita is black and white. This style incorporates the darker colors and themes (like cross motifs and veils) from Western goth into the more adorable lolita style to produce a very unique style that takes a lot of practice to perfect. So it's darker than sweet lolita, but much sweeter than Western goth. Most lolitas start off with this style because it much easier to find gothic items locally and it's very easy to coordinate. But be aware that Gothic Lolita is nt a substyle of Goth fashion, though it incorporates some of its elements.
This style may also be called 'loli-goth', 'goth-loli', 'Elegant Gothic Lolita' or 'EGL', but these terms are somewhat misleading, though they are commonly used so be aware. Some people also consider Gothic Lolita a coverall term for lolita fashion, probably because of the Gothic Lolita Bibles, but this is also misleading because many lolita styles possess no gothic elements.
Sweet Lolita
Now the most common lolita style and definitely one of the cutest and most colorful. It has all the traditional lolita elements but with a more wider choice of colors, like light pinks, baby blues,whites, and even sometimes colors like lavender, canary yellow and mint green. This is also where you'll find the most fluff and frill. Lolita brands that sells Sweet Lolita clothing might often have themes, such as fairy tales (i.e.: Little Mermaid, Sleeping Beauty, Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Snow White, etc.), cupcakes, fruits, and other sweets, puppies and kitties, and fragrances.
Classic Lolita
Classic lolita is a slightly more mature version of lolita. It's not quite aristo because the loli silhouette is still present, but there are fewer frills and it's a lot less cutesy. Generally classic pieces are decorated with a few self-ruffles or some ribbons, but you won't find yourself swimming in lace and large bows. Classic lolis tend to wear darker or more muted colors (as opposed to bright pink or blue) and floral prints are common as well but aren't required for a classic outfit. What makes this style harder to distinguish is that it is right between sweet and gothic lolita - the dark reds and blues and even blacks can be confused for gothic style while the light florals make it look like sweet. What separates it from both is that it relies on an elegant cut or print instead of a lot of trim. The perfect style for those who love lolita but who want a more subdued look.
Punk Lolita
Punk lolita is a really hard style to pull off because it treads a fine line between lolita and full-on Western Punk. Traditional punk elements are used - plaid, chains, spikes, deconstructed fabrics, etc. - but what separates punk lolita from traditional punk is really the fact that it's adorable and a bit cutesy. Good punk lolita tends to keep the bell-shaped skirt or the frilly blouse even with all the other more punk features, and lolita accessories are mixed with punk (for example, a lace trimmed spiked collar). This is the only lolita style where big stompy boots really fit, but honestly any shoes work for punk lolita so long as you have other lolita elements in your outfit. Though keep in mind you'll probably look a little ridiculous to real punks, so you may want to leave the frills behind for the Buzzcocks concert.
