Confessions of a Wal-Mart Loli...(and pics!)

[pejabunnie.livejournal.com]

I love pretty loli dresses, especially the ones of the BTSSB persuasion. But alas, I am without such funds, and even if I managed to scrounge up the big bucks, nothing would fit me as I am a size 16, with a DD chest...(Damn me for taking after the American side and not the Japanese side! (><)

Well, my grand adventure began when I found a vaguely loli-esque black blouse at a bargain discount store for a mere $7.99. Several trips to Wal-Mart and two excursions to the thrift store later, I had created my ensemble...The means may have not been elegant, but...






The Specs:
The skirt is made of fabric I found for $2 a yard, which was trimmed in craft variety lace that Wal-Mart sells for between $0.33-$1.00 a yard. I trimmed the blouse with the same lace, and cut the points off the collar to make it look more like a peter pan style.

The slight flounce of a petticoat is actually a black tutu taken from a thrift store ballet costume that cost $5. The mary janes were another great thrift store find, that were marked $7, but rang up for only $3.49, and appeared to never even have been worn!

The dolly was $4.99, and came with that perfect expression and darling ringlet hair, and I made her dress from scraps of my skirt plus a little piece of $1 a yard black and white diamond fabric. My black over-the-knee socks are from Wal-mart, and I rigged up really basic garters out of more cheap lace. My crowning glory is the headpiece, which was made with the same fabric from the skirt, plus ribbon and lace and a bit of felt.

Some misc. expenses included hair rollers to curl my pigtails, curl sprays, some new make-up, sock glue (Japanese school girl approved!), and Mana worthy eyelashes...

My Mana Eyes.

I figure this whole look didn't cost any more than $50 or $60, and was very simple, since even with the machine I can barely sew worth crap.

My dolly, Porcelina.

It may not have the fine quality of a real BTSSB, but I really was proud of the way it turned out, since this was my first big project...And for the price, I think it didn't turn out half bad! (^^)

Comments

[batty.livejournal.com]

Looks adorable to me. Good luck on the sewing. :)

[pejabunnie.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the support! <3 Sewing is not something I'm a natural at, but I'm not going to give up!

[ex-pantheria458.livejournal.com]

That looks worthy of any true EGL-able outfit, you look totaly adorable! I wish I could sew but alas I am doomed to spend exessive amounts of money which I don't have on Ebay! I absolitely adore your dolly & socks, I can never find anywhere to get socks like that *Boohoohoo*, thats what I get for living in crappy UK! But yeah I'd say you did a fantastic job on your outfit & your eyes look really cool too, well done!

[pejabunnie.livejournal.com]

You mean you guys in the UK don't have access to over-the-knee socks? Such a travesty! lol. Actually, I think that my timing was good, you know, with Halloween going on and all...It really facilitates loli inspired shopping! <3

[prisonofdesire.livejournal.com]

So cute :)

[pejabunnie.livejournal.com]

Thankies! (^^)

[junnokoneko.livejournal.com]

Thats an adorable outfit. I really love that shirt a bunch~ The sock garters and skirt look great. ^^ Makeup too! Though curious on that sock glue, because I just usually sew the lace onto the sock its self and adjust the tightness with ribbon woven through the lace. Does it work okay?

Your skirt has so much life and bounce... @.@

[pejabunnie.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

Well my sock garters and socks are two separate things because I wasn't creative enough to figure out how to tighten the lace to the sock cuff, and all the pre-elasticized lace was really tiny.

I used the glue just to keep my socks up. (^^) The garters were just a piece of ungathered lace I sewed a piece of stretched out elastic on, and then let the elastic go and voila! instant garter! Then for decoration (though you can't really see it) I tied a thin black ribbon around, which also helped cover the elastic underneath. Nothing fancy, but it stayed pretty well!

[seeinglife.livejournal.com]

impressive! don't feel bad, most of my lace and fabric comes from wal-mart, too.

[pejabunnie.livejournal.com]

Yay! I'm glad to hear I'm not alone! (^^) You know, I can't stand the people who work there, or the majority of people who shop there, but you can't beat their damn prices!

[storknightmares.livejournal.com]

yes i love the blouse. i need to get a shirring foot for my sewing machine. i love how that looks. you are very adorable!

[pejabunnie.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I might have said the same thing about needing one, but then again I have no idea what a shirring foot is or how one would go about using one! (><) I think I was just really lucky to find such a perfect blouse to begin work with!

[raino.livejournal.com]

Oh, how cute! The blouse is excellent, shirring in front is very flattering for curves and the colar is wonderful. You look like a total doll!

[pejabunnie.livejournal.com]

I was lucky about the shirring, since it was the only thing that got me into the blouse! There was decorative elastic on the front that was nice and stretchy, so even though the blouse is actually a *little* small, I managed to make it work. (That and I wore a sports bra for some slight mashing action, hee.)

Yay, I get to be a loli dolly! Thanks <3!

[electroblood.livejournal.com]

wow that dress is GORGEOUS, and you look amazing in it!

[pejabunnie.livejournal.com]

Wow, a pretty word in all caps! *blush* Thank you!

I'm so happy everyone is being so sweet to me! I love my fellow lolis!

[mb2u]

Trust me, you have nothing to appologise for! You look wonderful, and you probably had lots of fun putting everything together. And nobody else will ever have one just like it-unlike someone who bought a "real BTSSB" outfit...

[pejabunnie.livejournal.com]

You know, it was fun...although there were definitely some blood, sweat, and tears involved! (^^) And I think you have an excellent point about it being just my own...it even gets to the point where some of the tiny imperfections make it special to me. Thanks for the encouragement!

[indivia.livejournal.com]

Sooooooooooooooooo cute! Good Job!! :)

[jolie-laide.livejournal.com]

I love how the poofiness your skirt and the entire ensemble looks adorable! :)

[pejabunnie.livejournal.com]

Thanks! You know, I was worried about the poof factor with the tutu as opposed to a real petticoat, but it seemed to work out. The only annoying thing about it was that I had to wear it low, like slung around the lower part of my hips, because it wasn't right if I wore it ballerina style up on the waist. But it didn't fall off! (^^)

[xmonsterbabex.livejournal.com]

That's an absolutely adorable dress!

[pejabunnie.livejournal.com]

Thank you! *hugs*

[kalhara.livejournal.com]

You're so cute! I'm another Wal-Mart loli and sometimes despair of completing an entire outfit; I'm glad to know it can be done! Thanks for sharing.

[pejabunnie.livejournal.com]

Well I was pretty surprised myself when I got it all put together! I figure if someone like me can do it (I am the kind of person that always quits if things get tough, cos I'm lazy) then ANYBODY can!

You get your outfit done and we can be Wal-Mart lolis together! Whee! Can't wait! (^^)

[cast-aside-love.livejournal.com]

Oooo! So cool! Great job! There's nothing wrong with saving money! (and it looks darn authentic to me!) Plus I think it's better to make your own outfits, so then you know you're actually unique, and you put time and effort into your outfit, y'know? :)

[pejabunnie.livejournal.com]

Thanks! (^^) I'm glad nobody's mad about me trying to look authentic with cheaper accessories! I know Wal-mart does kind of take the "elegant" notion out of egl a little bit, but I wanted to prove that poor lolis with few fabric working skills don't have to despair.

And you know, I think uniqueness is the true spirit of egl anyway, and it just wouldn't be the same if you went to Harajuku and saw a couple of lolis wearing the exact same ensemble!

I am in love with your little moose-chan icon...I just want to squeeze him! (^^)

[pejabunnie.livejournal.com]

Thanks! It really was a rewarding project, and I hope other lolis out there are not afraid to look in slightly unorthodox places for their ideas, because I love looking at everyone all done up!

Besides, invention is born of necessity, and I just couldn't be a good loli with a pretty lacy something! I'm starting to think that even if I had the money, I would put it towards nicer materials, or maybe some sewing lessons, and try again! (^^)

[marle777.livejournal.com]

*claps* Brava! Absolutely adorable and well done! ^__^

[pejabunnie.livejournal.com]

Thank you! <3 *takes a little loli bow* I feel just like your little kawaii icon right now!

[bloodsugarh20.livejournal.com]

oh my gooosssh what a pretti loli you make <3

[pejabunnie.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I think your icon is hott! (^^)

[clarice.livejournal.com]

Oh, I think you look great, hun! The blouse really works with the outfit and you've got the poof, which is the most important part, after all! ^_~ Very cute! ^_^

[pejabunnie.livejournal.com]

Yay! Thanks so much for your stamp of approval! It means a lot coming from someone who I know is a real amazing seamstress and has the know-how!

Heh, you should see me I'm practically dancing circles around my living room right now! I was so nervous to see what people would write, and now I feel so loooooved!

Yay for poof factor! (^^)

[sinisterf.livejournal.com]

I think that is adorable, there is nothing wrong with shopping at walmart for fabrics, especially if they turn out so nicely! And your eyes are so very pretty!

[pejabunnie.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I loved your elegant take on loli-dom, but I'm a sucker for the frills! (^^) And who woudda thunk that with mile long eyelashes and gobs of liner and black shadow I could have freaky loli eyes too? I was so happy! Hee.

[pejabunnie.livejournal.com]

Waaaa, Ureshii!!! Domo arigato, ne! (^^) <3

[dahlia-.livejournal.com]

there is nothing wrong with being a frugal loli!!!!!

*hugs* I heart your thriftiness, especially as a lolita whose main source of clothing comes from thrift and second hand stores, and then is just doctored

[pejabunnie.livejournal.com]

It really is quite amazing what a girl can do with random stuff from thrift/discount stores and some $0.33 a yard lace. There should be a whole movement for poor lolis with big dreams. (^^) *big hugs back* You've got to post some of your doctored designs, because I'm always curious to see what wonderful things people come up with!

[felicity869.livejournal.com]

Hurray for the bargain loli! You look lovely. :)

[pejabunnie.livejournal.com]

Thank you oodles! <3 (^^)

[shinysilvercoin.livejournal.com]

^__^ I think you've done marvelously! You look terribly cute, and have pulled off the whole style so well.

I think it's great that you've used the resources around you, and have been able to make something so beautiful, out of things that are, perhaps, less than desirable. Go you~ =D

Kazzii :~*X*~:

[pejabunnie.livejournal.com]

hee, "less than desirable..." yeah, I suppose the raw materials themselves weren't the glammest, but it was quite a satisfactory result!

Thank you kindly for the love-love! <3

[dollishrubbish.livejournal.com]