End of Year Lolidrobe Reassessment 2025

What a year 2025 has been. I might have said that about every year in these end of year reassessment posts, but each year is its own thing 

Overview of Acquisitions

It is pretty impressive that I managed to keep the purchases quite so low in volume this year. That doesn’t, however, mean that they were cheap as I indulged in four whole main pieces bought directly from the makers upon release. Though I guess they were balanced out by my getting rid of a bunch of stuff. Swings and roundabouts, eh?

• 4 JSKs (1 sweet in green and red)
• 1 skirt
• 4 tops
• 4 boleros/jackets
• 1 cape
• 1 apron
• 3 pairs of shoes
• and 11 sets of accessories (1 sweet ring in red, 1 pair of sweet earrings in brown, 1 sweet ring in white, 1 pair of sweet clips in orange, 1 classic brooch in green)

My trajectory certainly is a downward one. In 2023 I acquired 90 new-to-me things, in 2024 only 44, and now here I am at 29. And whilst last year this was balanced out by non-lolita fashion shopping, I have slowed down on that too. If anything, this year my spending has gone into books, but that’s not for this blog to discuss. I’m very glad to not only have featured so many of my new purchases over here in worn coords, but with the overall rate of selling to acquiring this year. It feels healthy and sustainable, a good run up to a year that will kick off with a bit of a no buy (more on which will come in the 2026 goals post).

The Year of More Millefeuille

The collection may not be quite complete – but I managed to score all the different lace kinds of the Millefeuille bolero. That is arguably the more impressive feat and the pink bolero will appear when it appears. There is something extremely satisfying about having them all. I have found my niche and if anyone ever wants any closeups of any of them, feel free to DM me, I will more than happily oblige. And once I have a pink one to complete the collection, I will do a blog post or maybe even a video about them all. It does make me hope, however, that despite what I asked for in one of Innocent World’s surveys, they won’t re-release it in new colours.  I really can live without one in sax…

I was hoping to find the pink one still in 2025, but the frilly gods did not will that to be.

The Year of More Wardrobe Cleansing

I finally committed to getting rid of more of my sweet things. The pressure of owning things that were bringing me more discomfort than joy was getting to me, and I really wanted to shift what was in my wardrobe. The more than impressive sale of Meta’s Bubble Bath was the catalyst that I needed and more pieces followed since. Whilst I still have a small bunch that hasn’t shifted yet, the mental freedom of not having them in my actual wardrobe is significant. I’ve gone from something like 52 main pieces at the start of the year down to 45, including the few that I bought this year. And truth be told, if the other ones don’t shift within the next few months at the pretty significant discounts that they’re already at, then I might even give them away or dump them on auctions with starting prices of £1 and to heck with it.

Just some of the sales I made this year (the ones conducted via LM). I'm not even sad because I know these pieces are seeing more use now , which in itself is a great sign that I made the right decision.

The Year of More Alterations

The goal of altering more pieces was absolutely smashed this year. Not only that, I was able to trial two new-to-me seamstresses for their alterations, both of whom are much more local. The important thing is that going through the process breathed a new life into my wardrobe by giving me back the pieces that I love to wear. This means that I should now only have items that fit me comfortably and well in my wardrobe, and I shouldn’t be dreading any of these main pieces coming up in my last worn spreadsheet. And if any sense of dread does appear – that’s an immediate sign to either do more alterations or get rid of the thing. (Unless it’s my Mary Magdalene JSK, that one will go with me to the metaphorical grave.)

If you are still on the fence about getting yur pieces altered, then this is your sign frm the universe to just do it. If you're terrified of the prospect, I cannot recommend Naddine Atelier enough!
Photo by Pavel Danilyuk on Pexels.com.

The Year of Less Pressure to Create Content

This goes out especially to my now very much dead YouTube channel. I’m not saying that I’ve given up on making videos entirely. However, since I didn’t have anything to say or show, I wasn’t going to force myself to put something out just for the sake of it. The channel may still get the odd upload if I decide to vlog an event or find something to talk about. But right now, I’m very happy to have gone back to just blogging. This blog is what I care about first and foremost, writing is my primary form of expression, even as I’ve let go of a big chunk of pressure to post here as rigorously as I once did. I’m more in my mid-30s than anything else, it’s time to stop pretending like I have the energy or will to push myself so much for something that ultimately is a passion project. And the YouTube channel lasted nearly 9 years, that’s very good going by any measure.

Reiterating where my true passion and priority lies with content.
Photo by Pixabay from Pexels.com.

Review of 2025 Goals

I am very pleased with my goals’ progress for 2025. 

1. Did I get my pieces altered? 100% yes! Three out of three done this year, even though one isn’t actually finished yet and is still with my seamstress, but it will be done. That plus a small handful of pieces sold has had a big impact n my wardrobe.
2. Have I bought more classic and casual main pieces? I’d say so. Out of the 5 main pieces purchased this year, three are very firmly classic florals, the Forest Girl Clothing skirt can certainly double up for more toned down looks, and I could even argue (though I won’t) that Meta’s Cyber Neon Girl will be worn in more non-lolita ways, so it counts as casual. That last one is a stretch, but I’ve done very well overall. As much as I’d like to carry this goal onwards onto next year, to fill my wardrobe with a few more skirts, I’m going to have to be a lot more choosy with my spending in 2026, so let me think on this for a bit. Look out for the 2026 wish/need/replace list for details!
3. Have I gotten roped into organising anything? Also a resounding success, with only one casual meet and the annual CLAM Christmas Lunch on my record for this year. On numerous occasions I was tempted to volunteer or to do something, but I resisted. As much as the extra time to myself was great, I did miss organising things. This is another aspect of my life that I’d like to have a serious think about as I chase that elusive perfect balance.

Again, what a year it’s been. Right now doesn’t feel like the same year as my going to Chicago for The Great Lace (did that even happen for real?). Hell, I’ve been living in a different place since April and it’s now surreal to consider that only at the start of the year I was living on my own, that I didn’t have my own office/lolita room (the one you see me take my outfit pictures now). And so many people across Europe are coming up with events for 2026 already, I wish I could attend them all, but that is physically (and financially) impossible. But I will definitely be going to some, so catch me around if you’re also travelling to the same ones.

And, above all, I hope that you get some rest and time to engage the creative parts of your brains right now, and that you have a peaceful, inspiring, healthy, and safe 2026!