In 1958, the most provocative and popular novel from Nabokov, Lolita, was considered to be pornographic, and not worthy of reading. John Gordon, editor of the Sunday Express called it “the filthiest book I have ever read.” The novel became a bestseller and was in the eye of the storm when it was banned from the UK and France. The conservative circles debated on how the book addressed pedophilia, while the more liberal ones spoke of the way the novel invited people to be tolerant towards sexual freedom. Taboos were slowly being challenged in the modern society of that time. Nabokov encouraged us to reflect on the meaning of the obscene and our own hypocrisy, as Marta Sanz once said.
In 1960, the Russian novelist collaborated with Stanley Kubrick to take Lolita to the big screen. The first script was credited to Nabokov and had 400 pages, but censorship forced Kubrick to change it. Most of the explicit sexual content of the book was removed from the film adaptation. Nevertheless, the film was a commercial success, earning US$4.5 million in the box office.
Nabokov was aware of the repercussions of choosing a 12 year old girl as the main character of his book. Years later after the movie and the novel were released, people still discussed Lolita’s intentions towards Humbert. Was she guilty of seducing a man, or was he to blame for taking advantage of a young girl? “Lolita is more than just a dirty book; it’s an upsetting one. And it disturbs us more than ever because pedophilia has moved from the murky, seldom-visited basement of our collective consciousness to the forefront of our moral awareness. We know now that it happens more often than anyone imagined, and with far worse consequences,” stated Charles McGrath in a New York Times article on September 24, 2005.
To the eyes of a twenty first century society, Lolita is still provocative. However, phenomena like the Japanese manga and hentai transformed her controversial image into a pop culture icon where they adopted the basics of her wardrobe and mixed it up with a Gothic style. Nowadays, we see public figures like Lana del Rey, Katy Perry, or average women replicating Lolita’s sensuality. They wear tiny skirts and heart-shaped shades to arouse the opposite sex. But only a true Lolita fan knows how to make of her clothes a weapon of seduction. These are the most iconic outfits women should wear, to conquer every men’s heart —like the character did with Humbert.
Crop top
As worn by Lolita:
The way you can adapt it:
Shorts
As worn by Lolita:
The way you can adapt them:
Bandeau
As worn by Lolita to seduce man:
The way you can adapt it to bring out your sexiness:
Polka dots or printed skirts
As worn by Lolita:
The way you can adapt them:
Heart shades
The iconic symbol of Lolita:
You can wear them for a vintage look:
Printed dresses
As worn by Lolita:
The way you can adapt them:
Playsuits
As worn by Lolita:
The way you can adapt them:
Overalls
As worn by Lolita:
The way you can adapt them:
Lolita was sensuality, transgression, subtlety, and seduction. She invited men and women to explore their sexual awakening, and at the same time she became a fashion statement. After 62 years of being in the collective imaginary of every avid reader, the book addresses subjects like nihilism, philosophy, and poetry, themes that are still relevant for the modern society of 2016.
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