Easter Egg Nails

Happy Easter for Sunday! I am hopefully seeing friends and off to my mum's house for a traditional Sunday roast dinner this weekend. Also, I am hoping for lots of chocolate! It looks like here in the UK we will still be freezing cold as the weather is still very bad here. Lately I have been curling up near the heater and not doing very much.

But I did take the time to do some Easter themed nails the other evening. They are inspired by Easter eggs.

They look a bit messy because my hands were very unsteady. I thought drawing ovals would be simple! I drew different patterns on each nail. I decided on a pink/lavender/white colour scheme, seeing as this is currently one of my favourite colour combinations.

Does it look like an Easter egg? I hope it does!

And this is my right hand. I prefer the left hand because it is easier to draw on that hand.

I have been thinking up some Spring inspired outfits but the UK hasn't even seen Spring yet! For now I will just have to settle for brightly coloured nails.

Mini March Meet Up!

So we just had the March Oxford Loli meet. It was a bit of a small meet because it was arranged right at the last minute and unfortunately, the UK weather has been truly miserable lately. British Summer Time is meant to start soon but we have not even had Spring yet!

Although it doesn't show in the photos, it was in fact snowing all day. The reason why I am wearing non-matching boots is that they were the only sensible footwear I had to hand after spending my Winter lolita boot fund elsewhere (oops...). I wore Bodyline's Love jewellery print skirt and matching bag. As this was a last minute thing I just threw on a load of pink and pearls. I got the chance to wear one of my new DreamV cutsews (a review will come eventually!). I was originally meant to wear Dream Sky, because a whole year after obtaining it, I finally put together an outfit for it! So I was a bit gutted that the weather put a stop to that.

I took a picture of the chest details only to discover afterwards that the necklace is the wrong way around in the photo... As you can see, I am making good use of my Claire's rose clips though! They are proving to be very handy.

I don't have a great deal of pictures because the plan was to get food and go shopping. The only photo I have of us in the pub is of Michelle and her boyfriend Alex playing magic. We went to the Mitre, where I held the first Oxford anniversary meet. The chips there are amazing and bottomless as well, so you get free refills! It was nice to just sit about and talk properly. Also, it was definitely nicer than being outside in the cold.

And a group photo of us! Shalisa was meant to come but sadly couldn't make it, which is a real shame.

I think this was a really fun day. Sometimes it is good to do something a bit more casual as there is less pressure put on the host and it is good to have a proper catch up where you can talk to people. Things have been a bit too quiet in my life lately, so this meet is just what I needed!

Paraiso Du Un Unicorn by Alice and the Pirates

Today I am looking at the latest print from Alice and the Pirates. This series includes 2 dresses, a skirt, a cutsew style print dress, a blouse, a cutsew, a barrette, socks and a bag.

This is JSK I. I thought the material on the bodice was very baggy looking in places. The straps are a bit on the thin side and don't look very supportive. However, they are decorated prettily with lace on the outer edge, which gives it a softer look. The lace on the neckline is lovely, with a simple rose design. The waist bow on this dress is huge and I think it adds unnecessary bulk to the waist area. It could do with being a lot smaller. It also looks a bit droopy and hangs on the dress limply. The pearl chains are a nice finishing touch, but overall I really dislike the bow. The back has a panel of shirring which is concealed neatly with a ribbon corset. I did think the colour choice for the ribbon was a bit odd though (on this colour way the ribbon is bright pink) as they have chosen a colour that stands out. I would have liked something which blended in a bit better, like being the same colour as the lace. I think the skirt shape is a bit odd looking in some of the stock photos. It looks like it is trying to have a rounded shape but at the same time it looks a bit triangular. It will hold a decent amount of petticoat though. The bottom has a pretty line of rose shaped lace and has a cute ruffle. The bottom hem is then finished off with simple, but good quality lace.

This is JSK II. There is hardly any bodice to this dress. I detest the waist line on this dress. The shape gives the illusion that the wearer is bigger than they actually are. I also think the overall look of the bodice is too basic and simple looking. It seems to casual to me. The waist bow is pretty and the colour used compliments the dress nicely. I am not too fussed by it though. The neckline is decorated nicely with lace and 2 small bows. I think this detail is quite pretty. Again, the straps on this dress are very thin, but wide straps wouldn't suit this style of dress anyway. The back has a panel of shirring running the whole way across. Normally I wouldn't like this but due to the style of print, it sort of blends in anyway. The skirt shape is horrible. It kind of reminds me of a pregnancy smock. I can't imagine it being very flattering on some people's figures. At least the print is displayed very well. The bottom hem is finished off with a line of lace and then two additional tulle ruffles. I think it looks quite pretty, but maybe looks a bit bulky.

And here is the print. This print is available in pink, ivory, navy and black. I think this sort of print looks best with pastel dreamy colours, so I really think the pink version is pretty. Of course, I am again a fan of the navy version as well! I don't feel the ivory version works as well with this print. It looks a bit dull. As for the print itself, I can't work out whether I like it or not. On paper, an Alice and the Pirates unicorn print sounds amazing. After all, both BABY and Metamorphose have brought out awesome unicorn prints in the past. Surely AatP can bring the same magic? Well, the unicorns in the print are very pretty. I love their wings and the roses around their necks. They look beautiful. I also like the castle and the cloudy sky. I am not really a fan of the use of green grass in the print though. And when you look at the print on the actual dress it looks very busy and cluttered. Somebody remarked that at first glance it looks like a camouflage print and I can definitely see where they are coming from. The spacing and sizing just doesn't look right to me. At first I thought I would grew to like this print but after seeing the dresses it has really put me off.

The print dress is horrible! The sleeves look too bulky and frumpy looking. The print on the top part could do with being a bit smaller so it is displayed a bit better. And what is with the random addition of a striped skirt? The top half is bad enough, but I don't understand why it has been teamed with the skirt part, which doesn't really match the print at all. It just doesn't look right to me at all. 

I find the bag from this series quite interesting. When it comes to wings on bags we are probably most used to seeing wings stuck on a backpack. What I like about this bag is that AatP have taken the wing theme and done something different with it. The result is unusual, but quite pretty. It is a bit more mature. Also, it looks like the bag size is quite generous, making it more practical and useful. I can't see it being to everybody's tastes, but I personally quite like it.

I think this series had the potential to be good, but the dress designs really let the series down. There seems to be something a bit off about the print as well. I doubt I would buy from this series but if I did I would go for the skirt over either of the dresses. The pink version is by far my favourite colour for this print. I would definitely consider the bag though. I think I will be giving this series a miss. In my opinion, Meta's Twinkle Journey is still queen of the unicorn prints!

I Know Who I Want To Get My Next Birthday Cake From...

So... I was scrolling Facebook when I found a friend had posted this on her wall...

Yes, that IS a cake. How amazing! It is by Pimp my Cake with Mama Rhu. I believe it was made as part of a competition and the detail is amazing. I couldn't help but get drawn in when I saw the cake had a bit of a lolita influence to it. I don't think the creator intended the cake to actually be a lolita but it has got a lolita look to it. It shows that it is possible to make a lolita out of cake!

Now it is probably way out of my price range to commission a cake like this... but I want her to make me in to a cake too! A girl can dream...

Candy Fun Fair by Angelic Pretty

Today I am looking at Candy Fun Fair by Angelic Pretty. This series includes 2 dresses, a salopette, an apron style skirt, a cardigan, 2 head bands, hair ties, candy hair pins, a candy headdress, lots of different pieces of jewellery, a bag, tights and socks.

This is the OP. The bodice looks like it is fairly well fitted, although the overall bodice shape is a bit boring. The sleeves are very cute. They are the right kind of length and they have a suitable amount of puffiness to them. The sleeves are finished with very cute looking heart lace and topped with a simple bow. The lace doesn't look too bulky and it finishes off the sleeves nicely.

I am not really sure how I feel about the tuxedo style on the bodice. I get that it ties in nicely with the theme of the print but I am unsure I like the overall look. I like the pleats as it gives added texture and stops the area looking so flat and plain. The stripy buttons are also quite cute. Although the bows are nicely shaped and kept fairly small, I don't think I really like them. I think the bows look too much when they are paired with the buttons as well. Given the choice, I would remove the bows and keep the buttons. I would maybe keep the very top bow as it tops the folded over " tuxedo collar" well. I also wish that AP hadn't used ric-rac trim on the collar part because that stuff rarely seems to look nice. I also think that the tuxedo styling gives the waist a very straight appearance and I think it looks a bit odd and harsh looking.

The back is fully shirred the whole way across, which isn't the most attractive thing to look at but at least offers size flexibility for larger wearers. The skirt has a pretty full shape to it. It flares outwards beautifully. The skirt is divided in to 2 tiers, but the tiers are joined together well and don't give the skirt an awkward shape. However, the tiers are topped with more of that awful ric-rac trim. The print on the bottom tier is maybe not displayed as well as it could have been but the right sort of petticoat should help greatly here. The bottom hem is then finished off with very cute candy themed lace.

 This is the JSK. The bodice has a nice shape to it but the material looked a bit loose and baggy in places. The straps are a good width and look very supportive. Sadly, there is more ric-rac trim on these straps, but the way it has been sewn on at least conceals it a bit, so it doesn't look as bad as it could have. I think the waist bow is a pretty shape and looks very sturdy. It is a bit on the big side though. It gives the waist a very bulky appearance and could really do with being a bit smaller.

The bodice on the JSK also has some tuxedo style styling to it, but the area is kept smaller, taking up much less bodice space. I think this looks much better and the OP should have been done in a similar style. But maybe the JSK would look better if it had some pleats on the tuxedo part like the OP does. As it is, it looks a bit bare. I am not a huge fan of the use of ribbon around the edge either. But the buttons are spaced out well. The ribbon bow is a bit big, but I think it finishes the bodice off fairly well. I am not a fan of the lace used along the neckline as it looks too soft and floaty when teamed with the sharper details.

The back has a wide panel of shirring running the whole way across the bodice. Again, it looks a bit untidy. The skirt has a beautiful shape to it. I think it is pretty how it flares outwards. The skirt has a line of ladder style lace with ribbon threaded through it. It ties in with the bodice ribbon quite well. It adds a bit of detail to the skirt but without looking too bulky and the print is still displayed well. The skirt is divided in to two tiers lower down. The tiers are layered nicely. Sadly, there is more of that dreaded ric-rac trim on the edge of the top tier though. Thankfully, it blends in quite a bit on most of the colour ways except the ivory version.

And here is the print. The print is available in the 4 colours shown in the picture. It is an interesting selection of colours. I am surprised AP didn't do it in pink and went with mint instead. However it is a pleasant surprise, as I think the mint version may be my favourite! Something about the ivory version looks a bit off to me and I don't think it works as well as the other 3 colours. For some reason, the print reminds me of something Metamorphose would put out, just with AP using brighter colours. I like the idea of the balloon cart and the candy shape balloons are adorable. The candy bouquets are cute too. But overall, I am not hugely impressed by the print. I don't like the way the items are randomly scattered about. It's not my kind of thing.

Oh AP... what are you doing? This series is hardly understated, but I really feel this candy shaped headdress is pushing things too far. It looks a bit silly in the stock photos and I can't imagine how it will look in real life. It will probably sit quite awkwardly on the head. Also, how on earth do you style your hair to go with it? With such an OTT print you would probably want to do something big and interesting with your hair and I don't think that pairs up well with this headdress. And don't get me started on the ric-rac trim... As I think it is crystal clear to see, I am really not a fan of this item!

So overall, I am not a fan of this series. I think I find it a bit too cartoonish for my tastes. I also can't stand the use of ric-rac throughout the series. If I absolutely had to pick an item I would go for the JSK in mint. But there is no way you would ever get me to wear that candy headdress! I can't say I am that impressed by any of this series. Here's hoping that my next AP print discussion is a bit more positive!

R.I.P Peace Now

Peace Now is not a brand I ever personally brought from. However, that is not to say that I didn't admire their work. So I am sad to hear that Peace Now has gone in to administration. Peace Now was one of the first brands I was exposed to and in the early days, they really inspired me. I loved seeing their stuff in the GLBs.

But if I have learnt anything from this, it is that brands are more fragile than we realise. They don't make as much money as people think they do and they need our support. There have been times where I have wondered if some of my favourite brands have been struggling as their items don't appear to sell as well as they used to. It could quite easily happen to any brand.

So here is hoping we don't see any more big casualties. I get the feeling it wont be the last one though.

Another Valentine Thank You!

Thank you very much to whoever made another Valentine for the Oxford group this week! I really appreciated it.

http://loli-valentines.livejournal.com/142608.html?view=3820048

We are number 21 this week!

It was also great to be featured in a post with some other very awesome lolitas who definitely deserve every Valentine they get. I was definitely nodding my head in agreement when I saw who got Valentines this week.

Thanks again Valentine maker!

Icing Dancing Cake by BABY

Today I will be taking a look at Icing Dancing Cake by Baby the Stars Shine Bright. This series includes 2 dresses, a skirt, a blouse, 5 different hair accessories, socks, a necklace and a ring.

This is the Cream JSK. The bodice is a pretty shape and well fitted. The straps are a little on the wide side, but at least look very supportive. The straps are lined neatly with thin lace, which finished them off nicely. 

One of the things I am unsure about is the number of bows on the bodice. The ribbon bows are very cute and a good shape. They are a bit on the shiny side but this is just a minor issue. However, I don't think 4 bows are really necessary. I would have been happy to just have the 2 bows at the base of the straps. I don't think it would affect the dress design too much to remove the other 2 bows. I do like the yoke, although the straight edges look a bit harsh. The ribbon around the edge of the yoke at least ties in with the bow material. The tulle inside the yoke looks very pretty and gives it a soft appearance. The neckline is lined neatly with lace. I don't think the lace is the prettiest, but it looks okay.

The back has a panel of shirring which is concealed very neatly by a ribbon corset. It looks very neat and tody. The skirt has a pretty rounded shape to it. It flares out well and looks good teamed with the very fitted looking waist. It is very full looking and will hold a decent amount of petticoat. The print is displayed very well. The bottom hem is then finished off with a line of thin lace and also some tulle. I like how soft the tulle looks and how it ties in with the tulle on the bodice.

This is the Sugar JSK. I thought the bodice material looked a bit baggy in places. The shape is also quite basic. The straps are a bit thin too and I would have preferred them to be just a tiny bit wider. The straps are at least lined with lace on the outside, so they don't look too plain. There is a waist bow. I think that the bow is a bit big. If the bow didn't have lace along the edges it would probably be about the right kind of size. However, the waist bow lace does tie in with the lace on the rest of the dress, so maybe I would have just preferred much thinner lace on the waist bow. I don't think the bow is the most attractive shape but at least it looks fairly sturdy. So hopefully it wont droop too much.

The neckline has 2 layered lines of wide lace. Whilst I think the design is pretty I am unsure if I like the lace used. I think softer lace could have looked very pretty here. The neckline is topped with a ribbon bow. I don't think the bow is really needed here and if there had to be a bow, I would have made it smaller. There is a pretty Baby logo charm dangling from the bow, which adds a nice finishing touch.

The back has a panel of shirring running the whole way across the back. It is left very open and exposed. I don't think it looks very attractive but at least it offers a lot of size flexibility for bigger lolitas. The skirt shape is again very full and rounded. It flares out beautifully and will hold a lot of petticoat. The skirt is clutter free and the print is displayed very well. The bottom hem is then finished off with some good quality lace.

And this is what the print looks like. This print is available in ivory, pink, sax blue, brown and black. I think my favourite option is the sax blue because it looks very cute. But to be honest, I am not really fussed by this print at all. I think the woven looking part, which is a huge part of the print, looks very strange. I also feel that there are things in the print that look a bit random when teamed together. I don't quite get how everything is supposed to work together as a print. On a more positive note, I think the macarons are very cute and at least everything has been drawn quite well. Overall though, I am not finding it very appealing.

I can't help but think that the bonnet looks a bit strange in the stock photos. It looks huge! I really hope it looks better when worn on an actual person.

So overall I do think the dress designs are okay, but the print is not my style at all. I find it very hard to get excited about any of the items in the series. I suppose if I had to pick something I would go for the Cream JSK in sax blue. But I wouldn't buy from this series. I suppose this may appeal to those who like their sweet lolita a bit more subtle but I will be giving this a miss.

Loving Lavender

As my regular readers will know, I am going through a real lavender phase at the moment. I have completely fallen in love with the colour!

I was recently really pleased to acquire a lavender bolero from Angelic Pretty. It is the Dolce Ribbon bolero. It wasn't the one that was on my wishlist, but this design was so similar I decided to go for this one instead. It is such a lovely shade. 

I am a currently having troubles matching up my lavenders, but I seem to have a bit of an addiction to the colour right now. So I have been looking up lavender items everywhere. Here are some of my current favourite purple items-

The top left bolero is from Etsy and I love how soft and floaty it looks. The top right is the AP bolero that was on my wishlist. The one I got has a similar front ribbon (I just didn't tie it neatly in the photo!). The flower crown is another Etsy find. Flower crowns are very easy to make and find online. The satchel is from my current favourite bag company the Cambridge Satchel Company. The tights are We Love Colours. The earrings are from an unknown source. I found them at random and I thought the petal shape was very pretty. And the macarons are there because I am yet to try a lavender flavoured macaron and I really want to try one!

One the day I wrote this I managed to find some beautiful lavender rose clips in my local Claire's branch. Thankfully they match a few of my current lavender collection. As Spring comes in, I am hoping to see even more lavender items pop up. I think I am going to be in love with this colour for quite some time yet.

Thank You For the Valentine

Thank you so much to whoever made me a Lolita Valentine this week. I have only just seen it and it was a nice surprise. I saw the Oxford group got given a group one as well, so another thank you to whoever made that one!

http://loli-valentines.livejournal.com/142096.html

I have a feeling it may have been a blog follower or reader who made mine because they seemed to pick up on me not being 100% happy with my outfit. Well, thank you for the confidence boost Valentine maker! I hope you see this and realise I appreciated your words.