From the archives (IMAGE HEAVY)

Another one for the weekend!

I have an impressive amount of photos on my photobucket account, and one day I went through all of them. I was surprised to find pictures of things I used to own and things that are still more or less on my wishlist, so I wanted to make a post dedicated to them. A vast majority of these items are from my sweet lolita days, but I can appreciate the old-school feeling a lot of them have, not to mention the nostalgy these clothes and accessories carry.

Some things I had and loved

Including the year I bought them. I'd imagine some of these are still in circulation.

Baby seal bag (2009)

It was one of those baby seal backpacks you tend to find at cruise ships or thriftstores here in Finland, but I made it into something more fanciful. I still think this is rather cute in a scruffy way, but it stopped suiting my style.

Blue BtSSB polka dot JSK (2009)

At least I think it was BtSSB. I only wore this dress during one photo-shoot until I switched styles.

Blue AP polka dot daisy bow (2009)

 A bit of a shaky picture. It went perfectly with the jumper skirt above.

Demonia boots with faux fur (2010)

 Awesome boots for gothic lolita, but they broke about a year after I purchased them, and I just haven't gotten around to buying a new pair.

Pink AP sweater with knitted strawberries (2008)

This sweater was never really my favourites in any way, despite it being cute, but I just HAD to include it, since it's one of those ongoing jokes that this particular knit from the leaving lolita sales of Reetta/Elina has been worn by 90% of the lolita population in Finland. Here's proof that I was probably the second or third owner.

Heart-shaped AP headdress (2007)

A friend visited Japan again, and acted as a shopping service on the side for me.

Pink AP apron (2007)

She also sent me this.

Pink F+F coat& cape (modified), self-modified mittens (2007)

My first lolita coat, and how I loved it! I added the faux fur trim and lace hearts on the coat, and the paw-pads on the mittens.

Pink AP skirt (2006)

The same friend that acted as my shopping service in 2007, did the same in 2006 as well, and I got this skirt, which was my first brand item, along with a pair of pink AP socks. The feeling when I lifted it from the pink plastic bag and smelled it was incredible. I'd really want to know where this skirt is now.



Front




Back



...And some things still kinda want

 

THAT Black/black or red/white BtSSB heart bag

Metamorphose flocky rose bag in white or red colorway

Red polkadot AP knit bolero

BtSSB chess JSK (the official name of which I can't be bothered to google right now)

Red Baby shoes

These BtSSB bunny earmuffs, but black

Black&red winter crown headdress (I've wanted one since like 2006, but it would mean I have to make one myself. These were already a rare novelty in the available colours.)

Some things pretty

While there's plenty of amazing items of clothing out there, there are some things that I love for various reasons, and some of those even make my style feel like mine. Maybe there's some nostalgia in these items for some of you as well?

Headdresses

Headdresses, especially the traditional, rectangular ones are super cute and intricate accessories that finish an outfit without being overpowering or drawing too much attention to themselves. Very feminine and cute! Always a must-have with old-school Lolita.

Aprons

Aprons haven't been in favour for a while, many see them as too maid-like or only fitting an Alice-inspired ensemble. I, for one, wholly disagree! I've wanted this BtSSB apron (below) in black, or at least white-on-black for years, but it's hard to come by. Oh well, maybe one day...

Capelets

An autumn and winter essential! Thicker wool or velvet capelets bring a Victorian feeling to a coordinate and lighter cotton capelets deliver that little extra "oomph". Two different looks in one go; capelet on and capelet off!

Velvet

Soft, heavy and expensive, there's something very regal about velvet. Velvet was more common back in the old-school haydays, and some of the most beautiful velvet dresses and jumper skirts are from an era when the clothes were hardly even available for us westerners. Here's two examples that make me want to become a time lord:

The colour red

My favourite colour! It's typical that the only thing red in my coords is my hair, but it's the red items of clothing and accessories that never fail to catch my eye. Ones that suit the gothic look are few and far apart (or legendarily high-priced) but usually worth coveting.

Velvet and red? Talk about dream combo!

Turtleneck shirts

Sometimes an outfit just doesn't need a lace-collared, princess-sleeved blouse, but a simpler, sleeker choice is required. That's when turtlenecks come in handy! Either single-coloured or maybe even striped, turtlenecks can be a surprising eye-catcher that pulls a whole look together.

Crowns

 Miniature crowns were quite a big thing back in 2004-2007, but you just don't see them used anymore. Such a shame, especially when totally elegant and detailed crowns like these are a possibility. Whoever said small crowns have to be made out of dainty pearls?