As I mentioned in a previous post, I received an enormous package of secondhand lolita items last month. It may have been the most I've ever spent on lolita in a single order.
A lot of things needed to be laundered and due to health issues it took a while to finally get them all washed. Now the pieces are all scattered everywhere (read: put away in their places) so it's a bit inconvenient to take a haul photo at this point, especially because health issues are yet to be resolved.
There's also this matter of not wanting to encourage consumerism, as I also wrote about previously.
Anyway, I can't stand to not make some kind of record about it!
So... Now that I have been wearing the things from that haul, I am struck by a thought that it feels like this collection of items really represents my core values in lolita fashion. I've struggled a lot in the past with trying to define my lolita style, wanting that cohesive wardrobe but loving too many different things. My 10 year anniversary of wearing lolita fashion is fast approaching. I'm feeling nostalgic. Here's what I've learned:
I love old Innocent World. It is the quintessential lolita style. Without a doubt, that is because it was the first brand I ever saw, circa 2009.
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| Innocent World's Dot Stripe JSK, the first lolita dress I ever saw. |
When it comes to Angelic Pretty, I prefer their lavender line and Kira Imai prints the most. I'm surprised to realize that I prefer muted pastels. Does this mean I will get rid of my 2010 era AP? No, definitely not. There's another type of nostalgia there (but I am not writing about that right now).
My current predominant style is best described as sweet-classic or classic-sweet. I'm not sure which one is more commonly used or if they are considered to have different meanings.
I would also describe my style as casual. I prefer things that are simple or more plain, easy to wear and comfortable.
At this time, I'm confident in saying that Innocent World is my favourite brand. Their older pieces revives the flame that my first encounter with lolita sparked.
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| Here's a collection of stock images of my haul. Some items, I couldn't locate on Lolibary. |
I still have the original photos that started it all for me, but they were saved off of someone's personal LiveJournal so I wont be sharing them here. I can describe one of them though. It's a low quality photograph of a girl wearing the Dot Strike JSK in lavender, with no blouse, no socks or shoes. She's taking the photo in a mirror with a digital camera. Behind the mirror you can catch a glimpse of her closet, there's a white petticoat, a couple of blouses and a pink BTSSB skirt, it looks like the 2006 release of Scallop Hem Skirt. She's standing on a forest green Persian rug, the floor is wooden parquet. There's a bunch of beaded necklaces hanging off of one side of the mirror. In the background on the wall is what looks like oil pastel drawings of samurai. The lighting is warm.
I ALSO have to point out that I bought a black colourway of Doll's Tea Party. Black is making a comeback in my wardrobe, it's going to happen. I really am considering buying a few more black pieces. My closet is pretty full, but I love everything in it and also bought new hangers sooooo~
