To All The Dresses I’ve Loved Before: Part 2

Part 2, as promised! Don’t forget to check out part 1 if you haven’t already!

#13 Magical Painting A-Line JSK in Camel by Crown Label (Metamorphose temps de Fille)

There was a time when it was hard to escape this print on the secondhand market, and it took a while for this print to grow on me and I eventually bought it because I was curious about how the cut would fit me. When it arrived I was very surprised at how different the camel colorway looked in person vs. the stock photos Meta had released. I instantly loved it and the only thing that bothered me about it was that the fabric was very….loud, if that makes any sense? When I wore it, the texture of the material rubbing against itself and my petticoat was strangely off-putting and it bothered me more and more as time went on. I eventually sold it because I felt like a walking ASMR video on full-volume and the misphonia struggle is very real.

However, I love the obscene socks from this series and I own 3 out of the 4 colorways, and I plan on completing the collection.

Why I sold it: The material made me uncomfortable

Do I want it back? No, but it makes me a little bitter because the print is really, REALLY cute.

#14: Union Jack JSK in Brown by Innocent World

The navy colorway was my favorite in this series, but I settled for the brown because it’s all I could get my hands on and to be honest I wasn’t disappointed when it arrived. This was pretty early in my wardrobe-building days and I had a lot of red and brown items that I’d purchased for other coordinates, so having a variety of looks already accessible without buying more stuff was a big relief. I grew to love this piece but, it was another one that stopped fitting comfortably once I began to gain weight and as much as I hated to let it go, it was the right choice at the time. It would’ve collected dust for over 4 years and I’m glad I sold it to someone who was able to wear and appreciate it.

Why I sold it: Sizing issues

Do I want it back? Yep, now that I know it would fit again I would love to own this print in any colorway (but particularly the brown or navy).

#15: Name of the Rose in Blue by Chess Story

I think this dress was the very first one I purchased from taobao; at the time I was aching for Rose Stained Glass or Theresia Rose in blue so when I saw a print available with blue roses on it I leapt headfirst. I wasn’t disappointed with the quality because I paid so little for it, but it definitely stood out as a cheaper piece after I started accumulating dresses from other brands. Still, that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing because it was comfortable for daily wear and I was less stressed about damaging it…but in the end I let it go because I didn’t love it.

Why I sold it: Loved the concept, didn’t love the final product

Do I want it back? I wouldn’t hate it being in my closet again if someone gave it to me as a gift and I would definitely wear it if that was the case, but I have so many other comfortable casual pieces in my wardrobe that it’s not on my list of things I desperately want to bring back home.

#16: Cotton Candy Shop Salopette by Angelic Pretty

This was my first time buying a fukubukuro from Angelic Pretty and I took a risk with the salopette because I’d never owned one before and had no idea how it would fit…but I was determined to own the pink colorway so I gave it a shot. I loved the set as a whole and I kept a couple of items from it, but I ended up selling the salopette and the socks because it really just didn’t suit my bodytype at all.

Why I sold it: Fit issues

Would I like it back? I still LOVE this print and would die to own it again in any of the pastel colorways, but the pink and the sax are my top two favorites. This is a print I am actively looking to own again.

#17: Strahov Library JSK in Green by Innocent World

You’re probably starting to notice a pattern here, but as much as I loved this dress it quickly became unwearable when my bust size increased. I wore this JSK once and I was uncomfortable all day (which is why I didn’t end up taking any photos), and broke my heart because the print is really amazing and this colorway makes me so happy. I still have a lot of the green accessories I bought or thrifted to wear with this piece and I’m able to wear them with other things in my closet, but I still feel a gaping hole where Strahov Library used to hang.

Why I sold it: Sizing issues

Do I want it back? Definitely, in any cut or colorway (but the green is my preference).

#18: Dream Marine Skirt in Sax by Angelic Pretty

As a lot of you guys know, I am also an aquarium hobbyist and when marine-themed prints became more popular I dove headfirst into the trend. This skirt was the only piece my SS was able to snag for me on the initial release and for as much as I liked it, it wasn’t my preferred cut or colorway at all. As soon as I was able to get my hands on the tiered JSK in Navy I said goodbye to the skirt with little hesitation.

Why I sold it: Wasn’t my preferred cut or colorway

Do I want it back? Not particularly, but there are other Dream Marine items (like the pink special set) that I would love to own instead.

#19: Tartan Doll JSK in Red by Angelic Pretty

I had a funny love-hate relationship with this JSK, because on one hand it felt so cute to wear and I loved the cut…but on the other hand, it was SO SHORT on me (which is not normally a problem I have at 160 cm). Plus, it’s unshirred and pretty unforgiving overall, so I eventually bid this JSK a bittersweet goodbye.

Why I sold it: Sizing issues

Do I want it back? Yes, and to be honest I love all colorways of this goofy series, but I’m not sure if I’ll ever be able to fit into them again. It completely depends on where I am with my weight when I see another one for sale.

#20: Chocolate Fountain JSK in Blue by Innocent World

Another Innocent World JSK, another case of boobloaf ruining my day. Chocolate Fountain was a bit intimidating to me as a newbie but I feel like I handled coordinating it pretty well (especially for how small my wardrobe was back then), but I didn’t have many regrets about selling it when it stopped fitting because the blue wasn’t my preferred colorway anyway.

Why I sold it: Sizing issues

Do I want it back? Yes, but I would much rather have the JSK in ivory than any other colorway.

#21: Royal Chocolate Round JSK in Ivory by Angelic Pretty

Strangely enough, this was one of the pieces in my closet that I sold because it was too big for me at the time. It was the L size and gaped enough all around that it was tough for me to wear without it looking rumpled up somewhere (which is why I always wore it with cardigans or other outerwear). I sold this one during the first big financial stress but I wasn’t too sad to see it go because it was also my least-favorite colorway and I had my heart set on the chocolate version.

Why I sold it: Financial stress, fit issues, not my preferred colorway

Do I want it back? I was finally able to obtain it in my dream colorway and I wouldn’t say no to also owning it in pink or mocha…I just wouldn’t go out of my way to buy the ivory again.

#22: Bambi Skirt in Milk Tea by Innocent World

This was the very first item I bought directly from the brand (on sale, but still…), and it taught me a hard lesson about paying attention to measurements when I was a new lolita. Up until this point, I had zero issues fitting into anything I’d purchased…but the waist of this piece was never comfortable on me even when I was at my smallest. Also, as much as I loved the print, I really wanted to own it in the JSK and I was never able to shake the feeling that I had “settled”. Still, I had fun laying out some of my very first floordinates with it and seeing this print makes me feel very nostalgic.

Why I sold it: Sizing issues, not my preferred cut

Do I want it back? Yes, but I’d much rather have the JSK in this colorway.

#23: Milky Berry OP in Mint by Angelic Pretty

Ohhh Milky Berry, how I loved and hated you at the same time. This was my first piece from Angelic Pretty and I LOVED it for the details and how it stirred something very warm and happy within my soul. In fact, this print contributed heavily to the rebranding of my online presence and why I started using the name “pinkstrawberrytea”. However, the horror stories I’d heard about the red in this print bleeding stressed me out quite a bit – the very first time I wore it out, we were at a convention where it rained almost all weekend and I spent a lot of time indoors/away from our hotel room because I was too nervous to go outside. I hated that feeling, and I eventually sold this OP with that stress in mind. In hindsight I realize might’ve been overly-paranoid, but I don’t regret that because I’d rather err on the side of caution (especially when it comes to my favorite pieces).

Why I sold it: Financial stress, fear of damaging it

Do I want it back? Maybe not Milky Berry per-say (though I would DIE to own the yukata in any colorway), but I feel a very strong calling to bring any of AP’s more recent berry prints home and I’m surprised I haven’t actually done it yet.

#24: Honorable Mention: Teresa OP in Milk Tea by Innocent World

I have never actually owned this dress, but of the handful of brand fashion shows I’ve been a part of this is arguably my favorite dress I’ve ever modeled. When I learned that I’d been accepted to model for Innocent World I was actually very afraid and worried that there had been some kind of mistake, and I had an unshakable feeling of dread all the way up until the fitting. I don’t think I can describe the relief I felt when I slipped on the OP and it fit so comfortably; I was so panicked that I had packed several a lot of shapewear and compression garments, none of which I actually ended up needing. This all gave me the peace of mind to consider shopping with Innocent World again after I’d had so many problems fitting into their pieces in the past, and have since purchased several pieces from them again to make up for all that I’ve sold.

Why I didn’t buy it: I didn’t bring enough disposable income at the time and wasn’t expecting to love a dress this much.

Do I want it in my closet? YES please, in any colorway!