Cosplay and Lolita

[Anonymous No.7475935]

"Whichever Lolita look one dresses in, it is difficult to tell whether one is a real Lolita or a cosplayer. When I started my research in 2004 [...] I could not tell the difference between a maid costume worn by a waitress at Maid Café in Akihabara and Lolita Fashion"
Yuniya Kawamura: Fashioning Japanese Subcultures

What do lolitas feel about this quote? It might have been hard back in the days to distinguish the difference but how is it today? I so often hear that lolitas get offended when they're called cosplayers, and with all rights since they're not dressing up as a character.
I'm really interested in your opinions!

[Anonymous No.7475938]

2004 lolita did just look like maid costumes, though.
If someone said that NOW I would think they weer a bit daft but back then it's perfectly legitimate.

[Anonymous No.7475959]

This book is written in 2012 though....

[Anonymous No.7475967]

>>7475935

well "back in the day" elegant gothic was really close to English maid style.

that's where the boom started, and it just sorta spread. I still like the goth/maid look a lot, and still wear it to meets.

[Anonymous No.7476015]

>>7475959
But she said "back in 2004..." so I assume the person quoted isnt saying modern loli looks like maids

[Anonymous No.7476025]

>>7475935
It's accurate? Aprons and b/w coordinates used to be big in lolita, and headdresses were more popular than head bows.