Lolitas in Wonderland

Mandy Ma’s Rococo Rendezvous features fashions through the looking glass

By Jamie Hall
Published: December 3rd, 2008 | 9:10am

For months now, Mandy Ma has searched, in vain, for a rabbit hole to fall down. Like Alice before her, Ma has a passion for dress-up and tea parties (though platinum princess wigs and anything "Gothic Lolita" is more Ma than Alice).

In short, Ma refuses to be part of an ordinary existence. With no rabbit holes to be found, she dug her own. The result? Rococo Rendezvous: a masquerade ball scheduled for December 4th, at Royal/T, a Japanese teahouse and gallery in her hometown of Los Angeles.

A Japanese film, Kamikaze Girls, inspires Ma’s idea, with costume ideas borrowing from the pages of 18th century French Rococo-style. The entire event, from the flyers to the logistics, have been a labor of love by Ma herself, proving she's an event planner, on top of everything else.

"Life can be too... bland,” says Ma, who spends her weekdays working as a chemical engineer. Sitting before me in pale pink bloomers with white tights, her shiny black hair nearly to her waist, Ma, even without her crinolines and tulle, is still the stuff of fairy tales. She is slight and pretty, impish, of course, in her little girl garb.

Ma gravitated toward Gothic Lolita for several years before finally giving in full force about a year ago. These days her bedroom is more of a dressing room devoted to the craft: lacy tights, platform Mary Janes, and empire-waisted dresses abound. There are wigs on heads and hats — lots and lots of very small hats.

"I wanted to show case it — not just for me," Ma says of her push for Rococo Rendezvous, "but the other girls I know. It's a big deal, this interest…" and it is. There are fashion shows for Gothic Lolitas, there are bands, stores, and magazines all devoted to the culture. For reference, I spend an hour thumbing through glossy Japanese import magazines. It is Little Bo Peep meets Elvira — girls with the size and shape of Mary-Kate Olsen and the outfits of Strawberry Shortcake.

Ma's daily blog, zippercut.com, keeps her readers savvy on what's doin' in the world of Lolitas — and there's always something.

Rococo Rendezvous, which will feature not only Ma's most fantastic of frocks (she headed to Japan for Thanksgiving, in search of the perfect gown) and the collective costume ideas of many, is set to be the event du jour with over 200 people anticipated.

"And it's not just Lolitas," Ma is quick to explain. "We're anticipating a diverse crowd and bands, dancing and food — an experience for all sorts of people. But, yes, there will be Lolitas." Go West Young Man, boxViolet, the Hanks, and International Pop Conspiracy are set to DJ, and special appearances by the Suicide Girls and even "cyber-celebrity" Hannabeth are planned. Ma has booked photographers Andrew Yoon and Derrick Gomez, as well as commissioned photo booth portraits and Royal/T maids (girls in a cute rendition of the French maid get-up) to serve hors d'ourves. For the full experience, Ma encourages newbies to dress up.

With her collection, it's not hard to settle on the perfect costume — several times over. After many pictures and several changes, I have to say: I’m hooked. I thought I outgrew dress up, but Ma's quick to prove that playing princess never goes out of style. Rococo Rendezvous, here I come.

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To read Ma's daily blog, check out zippercut.com.

For more information on Rococo Rendezvous, go to zippercut.wordpress.com/rococo-rendezvous/.

Information on Royal/T can be found at royal-t.org/.