Generally...

I love Lolita. So, so much. That said, I don't know a whole lot about it, and I would like to. But I like everything I know so far (except what I have heard about the Lolita community being elitist, but I haven't even met two Lolitas so I can't throw in my opinion on that front) and I would like to get deeper into Lolita fashion. Unfortunately, as a full-time student I don't really have the budget for Lolita clothes... though I'm about to get a part-time job so maybe soon I'll be able to afford a special piece... which I keep looking for. In the mean time, since I think I've jumped into Lolita a little too fast, I think I'll retreat quietly into my little corner of goth and try and incorporate just a few Lolita items as a start.
Hopefully, I'll eventually look like one of these beautiful girls ;D

Just a Collection of Beautiful Lolitas

A bunch of pictures that I love, outfits I take inspiration from and dresses I would love to wear:

Russian Exchange

I wore this. I did put on shoes, yes indeed I did. And then a member of the delegation from our Siberian sister city, Andrei, came over with the translator Olga.  I taught them to play the Wii while my schnauzer played dead on the ground ;) Andrei had the cutest English I've ever heard. It was very hesitant and accented, and he didn't actually know all that much English to begin with so we taught him just a few situational words. He learned "frisbee" very quickly

 After he played frisbee with my mom's dog Java and pet my dog Boomer, we made dinner. He had only ever had the Russian version of hamburgers, which are apparently quite different, though because he spoke little to no English and I speak absolutely no Russian, it was a little difficult to communicate how they were different. Olga was very very helpful, though, and very sweet. Turns out, she's married to a Spanish teacher at my high school! Small towns, huh? Yep.

 Bits of dinner cooking.

Since my mom and I participated in the exchange of Russians to America, next fall we have the option of participating in the exchange of Americans to Russia. Yay!! 

My Lolita or Lolita-Inspired Wardrobe

two high-waisted skirts (pink and seafoam) and my purple lacey shirt

 sunglasses, jewelry

 hair bows/roses

 petticoat and undershirt

 shoes ^.^

 polkadot sweater, black shirt with lace accents and peter pan collar

 shoes ^.^they're a little bit big and the ankle straps broke in the first few days, but I fixed them pretty well I think

 hair bows to match everything!

Desperately Seeking Lolita

It's hard to be Lolita in my town. It's hard to even get an idea of what Lolita is. I've met one Lolita in real life, seen two, and I cannot tell you how many hours I've spent online trying to get a handle on the whole idea- I was first interested in Lolita when I saw a couple pictures of Lolitas online. At first, though, I kind of dismissed it as just another pretty subculture. But then I read the book Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov. I loved it, thought it was creepy and terrible and loved it. About two days later, I heard the song "Gothic Lolita" by Emilie Autumn, and began thinking "okay, now I just HAVE to revisit this whole Lolita idea." About a week after that, I met a real live Lolita! In a mall about 40 minutes from where I live. We only talked for about five minutes, she liked my broken gothic dolly look of the day and I loved her bell skirt and curls... I think she was a Hime Lolita, she had a little tiara. Just so perfect <3 Apparently the Universe was conspiring to make me Lolita...

I think these girls are perfect.

I'm goth. I like certain elements of many different styles, from punk-inspired to Victorian Gothic to cybergoth. Gothic Lolita is my newest interest to add to the collection. If I could have two or three skirts, three or four tops and a dress or two, I would be very very extremely happy. It is not a style I think I could pull off every day, but I do love it quite a lot. Maybe one day I could wear it more often, but right now I just don't have time for elegance. I keep ending up in ripped skinny jeans and band T-shirts. But then I have made some progress- I have a bell petticoat and some pastel, high-waisted skirts to put over it, and I've discovered that some things I already owned can be converted to Lolita with minimal effort! I have a purple shirt with a ruffled collar, stockings, and cute black and white Demonia shoes:. I own also a few over sized hair bows, a cupcake necklace and various other small jewelry items that could be or are meant to be Lolita. One day I will own a lovely dress like one of these:

So basically right now I'm just keeping my hopes up! Someday I'll be pretty! Though sadly I don't know that I could ever afford some of the brand names, Angelic Pretty in particular :(

San Francisco Plans

 Obviously while in San Francisco, I'll be doing my very best to go to Angelic Pretty and Black Peace Now, as I have never been in any Lolita stores (where I live there just aren't any within a five-hour drive, but five and a half hours away lies San Francisco! Squee!) 

 I like Alice in Wonderland themed dresses, sweet Lolita and of course Gothic Lolita. Hopefully I can get one dress from San Francisco. *crosses fingers* but I know how expensive Lolita brand names can be, so I'm hoping to hit a sale or some fairly plain skirt or dress that I can pair with everything... 

I waaaaant these. They go so perfectly with so many aspects of my imaginary style. I would wear them every day.

Online Shopping Results

 cupcake necklace from amazon.com

 pink and black heart sunglasses also from Amazon, polkadot sunglasses from Deb's

 cupcake fabric from JoAnn's (it was on sale- and it's just so cute!) 

 bubble umbrella (since I'm going to Seattle next ween and I want to live in places that get a lot of rain, I look at this more like an investment... it's from amazon.com too, I think the retailer was greatlooks)

 a short petticoat! It gives my skirts that perfect bell-shape. I am so happy about it. ^.^