I recently found my old LJ account from 2008. It wasn't my first (if I'm correct on the name, that one's been purged) but it did still have some early photos of me in lolita fashion!
I believe this was taken the summer before freshman year.
Top - Handmade
Skirt - Handmade
Floral headband, cardigan, socks and shoes are all off brand of unknown origin
I'm pretty sure I'm also wearing a birdcage and pearl necklace from forever21 in this, but it's not visible
Back then so many of us learned to sew to build our wardrobes by hand. I got lucky in having a seamstress for a grandmother who had begun teaching me long before I found the fashion, and helped me with any projects I could imagine. from 2004 until at least 2008 (I think actually until 2010) my entire wardrobe was handmade and off brand exclusively. I miss some of those pieces, although most wouldn't fit into the wardrobe I've curated now.
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