Doll Delight designer Lumboy models for her own line

The streets of Manila may not be as sartorially colorful as the streets of Harajuku, but many Filipino kids actually follow the kind of fashion the famous Tokyo district has been famous for. These animated dressers populate the universities and malls, if only in few subtle doses, and, of course, cosplays, where most of them come out to play. Such is the kind of market that has kept Cyril Lumboy’s little project called Doll Delight very much alive. A 21-year old designer from UP Diliman, Lumboy has founded Doll Delight, an online portfolio-turned-store, which offers Japanese and Lolita-focused fashion, that sub-genre of Harajuku style consisting of Victorian-influenced, ultra-frilly dress-up.

“I pursued my interest in Lolita by hand-sewing my own head accessories and eventually selling them to my friends who began to like Lolita,” remembers Lumboy. Her father, she said, noticed this interest and got her a sewing machine and, soon enough, she was designing and making dresses. Although she did not have formal training in design, her designs were warmly received and she began doing commissioned work. Unlike Baby the Stars Shine Bright, one of the famous online stores for Lolita fashion, which Lumboy admits to like and follow, Lumboy chose to cater to all Lolita sub-styles: girly Sweet Lolita, kimono-inspired Wa Lolita, and edgy Punk Lolita.

“Aside from doing various styles, I prefer making detailed dresses with layers and layers of ruffles,” says Lumboy and adds that she also gets inspiration from outside-the-scene sources such as Hollywood, artists like Katy Perry and Lady Gaga, Tim Burton, and Alexander McQueen. “This, I believe, is what makes my work stand-out from other local lolita designers,” the young designer declares.

Lolita, light of my life

The problem with Lolita fashion is that it is not Philippine weather-friendly as not only are the dresses heavily-laden with frills, but are also featured with petticoats. Lumboy also adds that “the Filipino crowd is not as open to this flamboyant fashion as the Japanese are.” However, for people who want to try the look, here are five tips from the young Doll Delight designer:

1. Research and decide which Harajuku style suits you best.

2. Invest in your wardrobe. Investing does not necessarily mean spending—go ukay hunting! 

3. Create your own pieces. If you are trying to pull off such an individualistic style, you can achieve that best if you incorporate things you made yourself.

4. Wear suitable makeup. Makeup is supposed to make you look young, not the other way around.

5. Be confident. If you feel silly wearing such clothes, then you will definitely look silly.