Survey Results: Lolita Fashion & Finances

These survey results are related to the Lolita Fashion & Finances survey post. To find out more information about this survey, future surveys, and about this process, please check out the Research & Surveys page.

If you would like a PDF that you can print out of these results, please e-mail me and I will get them out to you. The PDF version includes visual graphs of each question. Warning - the large answer questions do not look great with the graphs I have! I would suggest putting the plain text data into your own graphing software to generate the graphs for the questions with 10 or more answers.

This survey ran from April 12th, 2013 until April 19th, 2013. There were 373 responses in total, spanning over the following countries:

The demographics went by the following majority:

18 to 21 year old females living in North America that primarily identify with the Classic Lolita style. They have been interested in Lolita fashion for 3 to 5 years, and have been actively participating for 3 to 5 years.

Below shows the exact percentages for each demographic question.

Gender Identification:

Male - 0.6%
Female - 97.8%
Other - 1.6%

Age:

13 years old or younger - 0.3%
14 - 17 years old - 15.1%
18 - 21 years old - 36.9%
22 - 25 years old - 29.3%
26 - 30 years old - 12.6%
31 years old or older - 5.7%

Time interested in Lolita fashion:

I have never been interested in Lolita fashion - 0%
Less than 6 months - 1.6%
7 months to 1 year - 3.8%
1 - 2 years - 12.0%
3 - 5 years - 46.1%
6 - 8 years - 22.1%
9 - 10 years - 7.9%
More than 10 years - 6.3%

Time actively participated in wearing Lolita fashion:

I have never particpated in Lolita fashion - 3.8%
Less than 6 months - 10.4%
7 months to 1 year - 12.0%
1 - 2 years - 28.4%
3 - 5 years - 33.1%
6 - 8 years - 8.8%
9 - 10 years - 2.2%
More than 10 years - 1.3%

Lolita fashion styles that survey responders identify with:

I have never been a Lolita - 0.7%
Gothic - 15.6%
Sweet - 19.3%
Classic - 24.5%
Hime - 2.9%
Shiro - 2.2%
Kuro - 6.4%
Country - 4.8%
Sailor - 3.8%
Guro - 0.6%
Punk - 2.9%
Ero - 1.0%
Pirate - 2.9%
Steampunk - 2.0%
Fairy - 1.3%
Deco - 1.8%
Kodona/Ouji/Boystyle - 2.1%
Aristocrat/Elegant Gothic Aristocrat - 3.3%
None of the Above / Something Else - 2.2%

Continent of primary residence:

Africa - 0%
Asia - 3.1%
Europe - 32.9%
North America - 57.1%
Oceania - 6.0%
South America - 0.9%

The following are the results from each section of the survey:

7) Please select your PERSONAL income (not household, just you) per year. If it varies, pick an average. This would include money earned from employment and benefits (ie. anything that's not a gift).

$0 - $5,000137 (46.9%)
$5,001 - $20,00076 (26.0%)
$20,001 - $40,00032 (11.0%)
$40,001 - $60,00016 (5.5%)
$60,001 - $80,0008 (2.7%)
$80,001 - $100,0001 (0.3%)
$100,001 - $150,0002 (0.7%)
$150,001 - $200,0000 (0.0%)
More than $200,0001 (0.3%)
I do not want to disclose this information.19 (6.5%)

8) Please select your HOUSEHOLD income per year. If it varies, pick an average. This would include money earned from employment and benefits (ie. anything that's not a gift).

$0 - $5,00012 (4.1%)
$5,001 - $20,00041 (14.0%)
$20,001 - $40,00044 (15.1%)
$40,001 - $60,00033 (11.3%)
$60,001 - $80,00032 (11.0%)
$80,001 - $100,00015 (5.1%)
$100,001 - $150,00020 (6.8%)
$150,001 - $200,00012 (4.1%)
More than $200,00018 (6.2%)
I do not want to disclose this information.65 (22.3%)

9) Please select the average amount of monetary gifts (only include gifts in the form of currency) you receive a year.

$016 (5.5%)
$1 - $10071 (24.3%)
$101 - $500120 (41.1%)
$501 - $1,00040 (13.7%)
$1,001 - $5,00028 (9.6%)
$5,001 - $10,0005 (1.7%)
More than $10,0003 (1.0%)
I do not want to disclose this information.9 (3.1%)

10) Who would be considered the source of your household income? You could have multiple answers. You must select at least one.

Myself143 (30.6%)
My Partner (Spouse, Boyfriend/Girlfriend, etc.)68 (14.6%)
My Parent(s) / Guardian(s)178 (38.1%)
My Family Member (non-parent and non-guardian)20 (4.3%)
My Friend6 (1.3%)
Investment8 (1.7%)
Inheritence5 (1.1%)
Medical / Disability Benefit11 (2.4%)
Government / Charitable Benefit18 (3.9%)
Something else8 (1.7%)
Does not apply2 (0.4%)

11) Do you adhere to a budget?

Always54 (18.5%)
Often99 (33.9%)
Sometimes87 (29.8%)
Rarely30 (10.3%)
Never12 (4.1%)
Does not apply10 (3.4%)

12) Would you consider yourself financially independent?

Strongly Agree38 (13.0%)
Agree49 (16.8%)
Neutral57 (19.5%)
Disagree64 (21.9%)
Strongly Disagree76 (26.0%)
Does not apply8 (2.7%)

13) Please estimate the amount of current CONSUMER debt you have (credit cards, personal loans, etc.) If it does not apply, select $0.

$0192 (67.1%)
$1 - $10010 (3.5%)
$101 - $50019 (6.6%)
$501 - $1,00013 (4.5%)
$1,001 - $5,00020 (7.0%)
$5,001 - $10,00010 (3.5%)
More than $10,00022 (7.7%)

14) Please estimate the amount of debt related to Lolita fashion. If it does not apply, select $0.

$0240 (83.9%)
$1 - $10013 (4.5%)
$101 - $50023 (8.0%)
$501 - $1,0006 (2.1%)
$1,001 - $5,0002 (0.7%)
$5,001 - $10,0001 (0.3%)
More than $10,0001 (0.3%)

15) Please select all that may apply to you.

I have credit card(s)127 (34.3%)
I have mortgage(s)12 (3.2%)
I have car loan(s)14 (3.8%)
I have student loan(s)88 (23.8%)
I have personal loan(s)8 (2.2%)
I have home equity line(s)3 (0.8%)
I have some other form of loan/debt.15 (4.1%)
Does not apply103 (27.8%)

16) Charging Lolita fashion to a credit card is something I _________ do.

Always33 (11.8%)
Often20 (7.2%)
Sometimes24 (8.6%)
Rarely35 (12.5%)
Never124 (44.4%)
Does not apply43 (15.4%)

17) When it comes to purchasing Lolita fashion items, select all that may apply to what you have done in the past.

I pay with cash on hand, either in cash or through a bank account.238 (41.1%)
I pay with a credit card that I own.96 (16.6%)
I pay with a credit card that is someone else's.45 (7.8%)
I work out a payment plan with the seller and pay that way.69 (11.9%)
I do a full trade for an item, and pay nothing.57 (9.8%)
I do a partial trade for an item, and pay the rest.50 (8.6%)
I do something else.20 (3.5%)
Does not apply.4 (0.7%)

18) Please select the number of Lolita fashion items you purchase in an average month.

037 (13.1%)
1 - 2173 (61.3%)
3 - 442 (14.9%)
4 - 515 (5.3%)
6 - 77 (2.5%)
8 - 91 (0.4%)
More than 10 items3 (1.1%)
Does not apply.4 (1.4%)

19) On average, how much money do you spend on Lolita fashion items a month?

$023 (8.2%)
$1 - $100128 (45.4%)
$101 - $20060 (21.3%)
$201 - $30032 (11.3%)
$301 - $40012 (4.3%)
$401 - $50011 (3.9%)
$501 - $1,0006 (2.1%)
More than $1,0002 (0.7%)
Does not apply8 (2.8%)

20) Please select the range of months in which you find yourself BUYING more Lolita fashion items, on average.

January - February43 (15.2%)
March - April38 (13.5%)
May - June28 (9.9%)
July - August23 (8.2%)
September - October23 (8.2%)
November - December38 (13.5%)
Does not apply.89 (31.6%)

21) Please select the range of months in which you find yourself SELLING more Lolita fashion items, on average.

January - February17 (6.0%)
March - April19 (6.7%)
May - June11 (3.9%)
July - August17 (6.0%)
September - October17 (6.0%)
November - December19 (6.7%)
Does not apply.182 (64.5%)

22) Do you have a PayPal account?

Yes, it is solely my own.224 (80.3%)
Yes, I have access to someone else's account.41 (14.7%)
No, I no longer have an account.1 (0.4%)
No, I never have had an account.11 (3.9%)
Does not apply2 (0.7%)

23) If you have a PayPal account, what is the reason behind having the account?

Lolita fashion is the sole reason for having the account.35 (12.5%)
Lolita fashion is one of the reasons why I have the account.181 (64.9%)
Lolita fashion is not a reason why I have the account.41 (14.7%)
Does not apply22 (7.9%)

24) Do you have a LiveJournal account?

Yes265 (95.0%)
No14 (5.0%)
Does not apply0 (0.0%)

25) Do you use the egl_comm_sales LiveJournal community?

Yes to buy75 (26.9%)
Yes to sell4 (1.4%)
Yes to buy and sell125 (44.8%)
Yes to browse only59 (21.1%)
No15 (5.4%)
Does not apply1 (0.4%)

26) If you use the egl_comm_sales LiveJournal community, how many times do you check it for updates and new posts?

More than 10 times a day13 (4.7%)
2 - 9 times a day65 (23.3%)
Once a day41 (14.7%)
Couple times a week55 (19.7%)
Once a week16 (5.7%)
Couple times a month39 (14.0%)
Once a month14 (5.0%)
Couple times a year17 (6.1%)
Once a year or longer1 (0.4%)
Does not apply18 (6.5%)

27) Do you have a Facebook account?

Yes246 (88.2%)
No32 (11.5%)
Does not apply1 (0.4%)

28) Do you use a group on Facebook that is for buying/selling/trading Lolita fashion? An example would be the English community, but there are others in different languages.

Yes to buy26 (9.3%)
Yes to sell11 (3.9%)
Yes to buy and sell60 (21.5%)
Yes to browse only49 (17.6%)
No116 (41.6%)
Does not apply17 (6.1%)

29) If you use a group on Facebook for buying/selling/trading Lolita fashion, how many times do you check it for updates and new posts?

More than 10 times a day8 (2.9%)
2 - 9 times a day22 (7.9%)
Once a day21 (7.5%)
Couple times a week45 (16.1%)
Once a week22 (7.9%)
Couple times a month15 (5.4%)
Once a month9 (3.2%)
Couple times a year2 (0.7%)
Once a year or longer0 (0.0%)
Does not apply135 (48.4%)

30) How would you rate Lolita fashion items as a FINANCIAL investment? (ie. you feel you will get a high sell-back for your items due to their rarity or popularity, etc.)

Always a good investment3 (1.1%)
Often a good investment41 (14.8%)
Sometimes a good investment, sometimes a bad investment152 (54.9%)
Often a bad investment40 (14.4%)
Always a bad investment16 (5.8%)
Does not apply25 (9.0%)

31) How would you rate Lolita fashion items as a PERSONAL investment? (ie. making you happy in the long run, owning pieces you love for a long time, will help fill out your wardrobe, etc.)

Always a good investment79 (28.5%)
Often a good investment141 (50.9%)
Sometimes a good investment, sometimes a bad investment43 (15.5%)
Often a bad investment8 (2.9%)
Always a bad investment0 (0.0%)
Does not apply6 (2.2%)

32) If you found a Lolita item that you really did not need, but it was on sale, how much percentage would need to be taken off the price that you would buy it anyways, if at all? (select all that apply)

20% or less16 (2.8%)
21 - 50%87 (15.0%)
51 - 75%150 (25.9%)
76 - 99%104 (18.0%)
Free, just pay shipping89 (15.4%)
Free, including shipping87 (15.0%)
Would not get, no matter the circumstance42 (7.3%)
Does not apply4 (0.7%)

33) Do you need to see a seller's feedback/reviews/etc. before going ahead with a purchase?

Always117 (42.2%)
Often93 (33.6%)
Sometimes36 (13.0%)
Rarely21 (7.6%)
Never1 (0.4%)
Does not apply9 (3.2%)

34) How would negative feedback affect your choice on purchasing? Select all that may apply.

If the negative feedback was less than their positive feedback.116 (23.9%)
If the negative feedback was old.113 (23.3%)
If the negative feedback was explained.231 (47.6%)
Doesn't matter - would purchase regardless of negative feedback.4 (0.8%)
Does not apply21 (4.3%)

35) How does a seller's involvement with negative Lolita fashion communities affect your purchase from them?

It completely affects my decision24 (8.7%)
It somewhat affects my decision105 (37.9%)
It does not affect my decision114 (41.2%)
Does not apply34 (12.3%)

36) How does a seller's bad social reputation, either online or locally (but had all positive feedback) affect your purchase from them?

It completely affects my decision57 (20.6%)
It somewhat affects my decision140 (50.5%)
It does not affect my decision60 (21.7%)
Does not apply20 (7.2%)