I was around 13, and my first exposure was going to a lolita meet without even knowing what lolita was. My friends and I were going to a haunted house, and our ride was a lolita, so the meet was our first stop. I was in a big tomboy phase and socially awkward, so I hung back. (Secretly loved cute stuff, but thought it made me lame/weak to like it and thought I was too ugly to dress up.) Later, I got on Tumblr and followed a ton of J fash blogs and just pretended I liked to see other people dress cute. I’d draw my favorite anime characters in AP and MM dresses.
When I was about 14, I fell HARD for BTSSB’s Sweet Fawn coat in ivory. Didn’t ask for much as a kid, but I needed that. I asked my mom to buy it (she said yes without either of us knowing how much it actually cost kek) and then discovered you couldn’t buy it from the BTSSB store because it was an old release. Sad day.
Then, college comes, and three things happen: I realize it’s stupid to think femininity is weakness, I discover self-esteem, and I have the money. Fanny Rosie’s toned down, classic style inspires me to get into the fashion. Researched forever, bought dresses using shopping services, and nervously but excitedly attended my first meet in a Mary Magdalene dress (my favorite then and since brand). My community was absolutely amazing, and I had a blast with those girls until I moved back home. I miss them to this day, and hope to start a community here (comms come and go here) with the help of another local lolita I connected with once we can all go outside and have gatherings again.
I have a large classic/sweet wardrobe I adore. Found the Sweet Fawn coat in my preferred colorway, too. Little me would be so pleased with where I’m at.