John Lewis has stopped promoting a kids’s celebration costume named “Lollita” after it was criticised on social media.
The maroon costume, which featured lace embroidered sleeves and a flowing knee-length skirt, is made by clothes model Chi Chi London and was being offered on the division retailer’s web site.
Retailing for £50, it was obtainable in sizes for kids aged three to 11 years previous.
Social media customers criticised the costume’s title, which has similarities to Russian-American creator Vladimir Nabokov’s 1955 novel Lolita.
Lolita tells the story of a 12-year-old lady named Dolores who’s sexually abused by her middle-aged stepfather, who calls her “Lolita”.
Sharing a screenshot of the costume on the John Lewis web site to Twitter, author Victoria Coren Mitchell mentioned: “Should you have been going to think about a reputation for a kid’s celebration costume, what would you NOT name it?”
The submit has acquired greater than 600 replies and has been favored nearly 8,000 occasions.
“Are you kidding @JohnLewisRetail? Who’s answerable for this? Do you’ve gotten anybody with the training to know why that is completely unacceptable?” one consumer commented.
One other wrote: “Even when you haven’t learn the e book then certainly, certainly somebody on this course of will need to have had some inkling that possibly this didn’t appear fairly proper…”
Previous to eradicating the costume from sale, John Lewis’ web site described it as a “partywear favorite”.
“Lined with satin for a tender and comfy end, this beautiful costume options delicate metallic embroidery, scalloped edges and a chiffon skirt with tulle underlay that’s excellent for twirling on the dance ground,” the outline mentioned.
The costume is not listed on Chi Chi London’s web site. It was additionally beforehand obtainable on the Littlewoods web site.
A spokesperson for John Lewis mentioned: “We eliminated this product from sale as quickly because it was dropped at our consideration, and we apologise for the upset triggered.”
The Impartial has contacted Littlewoods and Chi Chi London for remark.
