Anatomy of Lolita

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Lolita fashion is constantly evolving as new trends come and go and new people add their influences to the style, however the core of a lolita outfit has always remained the same. The "rules" of the fashion are what differentiate it from others and allow it to stand out from the rest to remain strong through the test of time. Thus the rules of lolita fashion are important; some can be tweaked and mixed to your liking, however for your outfit to actually fall within the category of lolita fashion it must adhere to the following three rules:

A poofy knee length skirt, which requires a hoop skirt or petticoat
Covered shoulders
A form of legwear, either socks or tights

Like anything in life there are exceptions to some of these rules, however to truly understand the fashion one must know the rules before they can know how to break them. One thing is always certain though: a poofy skirt is crucial, and without some form of petticoat your outfit is not lolita.

With those basics out of the way, here is a rundown of what an average lolita coordinate usually consists of:

An OP, JSK, or Skirt as the main piece, must be around knee length
A blouse or cutsew if wearing a JSK or Skirt
A headdress
A petticoat or hoop skirt
Bloomers or drawers
Socks or tights
Shoes
Wrist accessories
Purse or bag

Below are some popular diagrams to illustrate these points:

Examples of exceptions to the rules:

For hot weather, chiffon blouses can be used, as well as no blouse and instead covering with a lacy bolero or cardigan.
For cold weather, some OPs can be worn with a long sleeved blouse layered underneath.
A headdress could be anywhere from a few clip-in bows to a full bonnet. Flower crowns, headbows, headbands, half-bonnets, canotiers, and hats are just some of many used in lolita.
Bloomers are not a necessity but are highly encouraged so one doesn't upskirt the general public on stairs or elevators. Anything that covers you will do, such as regular shorts or cyclist shorts, so long as they don't show with the rest of your outfit.
Over the knee socks and tights are most popular, but in summer many lolitas wear ankle socks.
Wrist cuffs are popular accessories, but any bracelets that match your outfit will do.
Mary janes or tea parties are common shoe choices, but heels in general can work if coorded right. Fluevog, Demonia, and Vivienne Westwood are popular brands to name a few.
Many bags can work for lolita, but backpacks can also work. As long as they are clean, well kept and generally match the color of your outfit, they are acceptable. Betsey Johnson is a popular Western brand that is accessible to most.

For more in-depth analysis, here are a few other takes on the anatomy of a lolita outfit: