Holy Theater by Angelic Pretty

Today I shall be taking a look by Holy Theater by Angelic Pretty. This series includes 3 dresses, a head bow, socks, a necklace and a ring.

First up is the OP. The main bodice looks well fitted and the shape of the main dress looks okay. I am really unsure about the chiffon shoulders and sleeves though. I don't like the off the shoulder join in the fabric and the way the arm parts have been shaped. The arm parts look too straight and the cuffs are too long and too basic in style. I also cannot stand the pearl crosses on the cuffs. Whilst I appreciate this is a "holy" themed print, the pearl crosses just look tacky and really poorly done in my opinion. I also feel that because of how dominating the over-skirt is on this dress, a short sleeve would have been a more sensible option. The long sleeves just don't seem to work. Speaking of the over-skirt, I really love the shape of it and the way it drapes. However, I don't like how this over-skirt has been paired with a high waistline. It just makes the dress look really awkward and I can't imagine it being too flattering on some body shapes. I also wish that the waist bow was smaller in size, although I do think the shape of this bow is quite cute. Maybe AP could have gotten away with not having any waist bow at all. The bodice features several lines of trims, lace and a line of pearls. This is refreshingly simple in comparison to the rest of the dress. I also like the heart shape "neckline" of the main dress fabric. The back offers no shirring, so size flexibility is very limited. The back of the dress is set out quite neatly, although in the stock photos the print does not line up that well along the zip line. The stock photos show that the skirt has plenty of volume and it flares outwards well. It looks as though there is the potential to create a really nice shape, but it is a little difficult to tell with that over-skirt in the way. The over-skirt means that there is just a small "window" of the print at the front which is displayed really clearly. Although given how I feel about the print, some might say this is actually a blessing. The bottom hem is then finished off with some beautiful cross themed lace.

Here we have the Standard JSK. The bodice material looks a bit puckered in some of the stock photos, but I the overall shape of the bodice looks okay, albeit a bit simple. I love the slightly heart shaped neckline. The straps seem a suitable width and I like that they have been lined neatly with gold lace. I think the chiffon shoulder parts could have maybe been shaped a bit better though, as they look a bit flat and lifeless. Maybe it looks better when it is worn though, rather than drooping down on an armless mannequin. I love the shape of the neckline as it is bold and a bit different. What I am not so fond of is the wide lace then used along the waist line. I think this waist line would have looked better with a sharper, simpler appearance and still had the gold trim to help define the waist line shape. The wide lace along the waist line just looks fussy and messy in my opinion. The bodice features many pleats, which have been done neatly and give the bodice an interesting texture. There are also some subtle thin lines of gold lace and a line of star shaped buttons. I like how the buttons have been spaced out, with the exception of the top button which is obscured by the lace along the neckline. The neckline has been lined really nicely with a line of good quality lace, which also has a nice design to it. It sits really nicely on the dress. There are also some ribbon bows topped with star buttons at the bases of the straps. These bows are cute in shape, but I wish they had been a bit smaller in size and maybe a slightly less shiny ribbon could have been used. The back has a panel of shirring, which has been topped neatly with a ribbon corset. The stock photos show that the skirt has a decent amount of volume to it and it flares outwards fairly well. There should hopefully be plenty of room for petticoat underneath. The skirt is kept simple in design, so the print is displayed perfectly. The bottom hem is then finished off with the cross themed lace again.

This is the Switching JSK. The bodice looks really well fitted, although the bodice shape is maybe a bit too simple (or have I just got too used to AP's more OTT designs?). The straps seem to be a fairly good width. I really love the lace used to top the straps that also goes along the neckline. It has been layered well and gives the neckline a cute, frothy appearance. The waist line features a very gathered line of lace which again, I don't feel looks right. I like my waistlines more smooth and defined. Perhaps a ribbon belt could have been a nice option here? The bodice features some lines of gold lace on either side, which have an interesting curve to them and looks a bit different to just having lines going straight down. There is also a triangular panel in the middle, which has been filled with lace. I initially didn't like this detail, but now I actually think it has been executed quite well and the design has grown on me. The neckline is then topped with a small bow, which I think is just the right size and shape. I love the glittery choice of ribbon that has been used for the bow too. The back has a panel of shirring, which has been neatly topped with a ribbon corset. The stock photos show that the skirt has a generous amount of volume and it flares out really well. I really like the shape of the skirt in the stock photos and think there is the potential to create a really cute shape. The skirt is again kept simple in design, so the print is displayed excellently. Once again, the bottom hem is finished off with the cross themed lace.

Finally, here is the print. This series comes in ivory, sax blue, lavender and navy blue. All 4 colours seem to compliment the print really well, but for once I think I may actually prefer the lighter colours over my usual go-to colour of navy blue. As for the print itself, I think it is a bit unusual looking. The animals are well drawn, but I find the eyes a bit creepy! I feel like if I stare in to their eyes for too long, they are going to take my soul. Whilst the curtains, drapes and bows in the print are really pretty and look nice, I feel that all together it makes the print look a bit too cluttered. Maybe everything needs to be a bit more spread out. I like the clouds and stars in the non-border part of the print and I personally would have preferred to just have this as an all-over print instead of having the border part of the print. This print also has the crosses, which seems to have become a staple part of AP prints lately, but thankfully they are not too obvious.

So here we have another AP series which is very similar in style to a lot of other recent AP prints... I am really starting to get fed up of these AP releases with the religious themes and the crosses. I think it is safe to say I will not be buying this series. If I did, my top choice would be the Switching JSK in lavender, but I would definitely add my own ribbon belt to it. If the recent fashion shows and lookbooks are anything to go by, it seems some of the upcoming AP releases look a bit less cross-dominated, which is a relief. Judging by how slow this series seems to be selling, it seems I am not the only one who is feeling a bit bored of AP at the moment.