Anyone who says it's easier to buy your first lolita fashion coord than it is to make it has never tried to find lolita in a size Women's 24.
Someone who's been sewing for years is going to have successes in the process of making a lolita garment that someone who's worn lolita for years but never sewn won't have.
Some people still use the term "cosplay lolita" as a negative (which y'all should stop doing), but a cosplayer who approaches lolita fashion as making a cosplay of an existing dress might make a better lolita dress.
The contents of thrift store clothing racks hugely depends on the communities that donate or sell their clothes to that store. The frequency of a good thrift-store find is location-based, among other things.
Every well-accepted piece of newbie EGL advice out there has someone for whom it does not apply. We all bring our unique experiences and perspectives to the fashion. If you are mentoring a new person in lolita fashion, the most important thing that you can do to make sure you're giving good advice is to listen to them.
