Toy Circus by Angelic Pretty

Today I am looking at Toy Circus by Angelic Pretty. This series includes 2 dresses, socks and a head bow. Some complimenting blouses and cutsews were also released at the same time.

First is the OP. The bodice seems a bit loose and baggy, or that is at least the impression I get. I think the overall shape is interesting though. It has been designed to look like a bustier JSK with a chiffon blouse and a collar. The chiffon 'blouse' part is quite pretty. I like the amount of puffiness to the sleeves and the way the cuffs are gathered. The bows and gold trim of the cuffs looks really neat too. I just feel that the 'bustier' part of the bodice could have been better fitted. Perhaps it is because of the material choice? There is a waist bow, which I think is a little too big. It has a lot of detail to it though, and I like the fancy shape. The gold braid on the bow really helps to emphasize the intricate shape. Sadly, this waist bow does not appear to be detachable, which I feel would have been a good option to have. The bodice is broken up with some vertical lines of lace. This lace is pretty and of a good quality. It also sits well on the dress. Then in the middle we have some cris-crossed  gold braid forming a diamond pattern, which is topped with golden emblem themed buttons. These details are well executed, although I personally feel there are a few too many buttons. There is then a solid coloured collar and bow. I appreciate that the collar is meant to look like a clown ruffle, but I feel it looks too stiff. It looks more like something you would see on a nun's outfit than on a clown. Maybe if it was ruffled instead of pleated it would have worked better. I am a fan of the bow though, so I am glad that both the collar and the bow are not only detachable, but also detachable from each other. So if you wanted to remove the collar but still keep the bow, you can! That is how I would wear it if I owned this dress. The back offers no shirring, so size flexibility is very limited. The stock photos show that the skirt looks very plump and nicely rounded. It looks very full and well suited for sweet lolita. The skirt is kept simple in design, so the print is displayed beautifully. The bottom hem is then finished off neatly with a line of lace.

This is the JSK. The bodice material again looks a bit loose (again, I think this is down to the fabric AP have chosen) but the overall bodice shape is quite cute. The straps are a suitable width and look quite supportive. They are lined with gold lace, gathered lace and a chiffon ruffle. This sounds like it would be overkill, but I think AP have managed to pull it off. The parts are well gathered and shaped. It compliments the waistline ruffles well. As mentioned, there are indeed ruffles going along the waist, which are made of chiffon. These add quite a bit of volume to the waistline, which is why I think it is a shame that the bodice material is so loose. It would have been nice to have the contrast between well fitted and to then have these voluminous waist ruffles. But this is just a minor nit-pick. As for the waist ruffles themselves, I really love them. They are shaped and gathered perfectly and sit well on top of each other. The gold lace lining the ruffles is a lovely finishing touch too. The bodice is set out in a very similar way to the OP bodice. Again, I feel there are too many buttons, but the lace and braid is generally well set out. The neckline is finished off with a gathered ruffle of lace and a bow. This bow is a suitable size and shape. It is very firm and holds its shape well. I wouldn't have bothered with the star buttons on the bow though, as they just make the bow look a little bit fussy and crowded. The back is fully shirred, which means loads of size flexibility but also that the shirring is left exposed. The stock photos show that the skirt is really full and flares outwards plenty. I love the shape created in the stock photos and I think it has a lot of potential. Waist ruffles aside, the skirt is kept very simple, so the print is displayed wonderfully. The bottom hem is then finished off neatly with a line of star themed lace.

Finally, here we have the print. As we can see, this series comes in blue, wine, green and black. These are pretty standard colour choices for whenever AP does a circus themed print and once again they all work very well. The dark colours compliment the gold accents in the print. As for the print, it is well executed but I am getting a strong sense of deja vu looking at it. If it wasn't for the harlequin colomns in between the toys, I would have easily mistaken this for AP's Toy March print. In fact, the toys in this new print are almost identical (there is no squirrel this time though). It is still a very well drawn print though. I really like the bunny riding the moon. That is my favourite part. The biggest variation with this print is the inclusion of the circus tent tops, which serves as a great way to break up the border from the non-border part of the print, and the diamond background. I really like these details, especially the diamonds, so I am inclined to like this print a bit more than Toy March. It is still disappointing when AP keep churning out similar looking prints though.

So this is quite a good series but once again, Angelic Pretty lose points for lack of originality. I personally don't feel that the changed details in the print are enough to make it different enough from previous AP circus prints. But if this does not concern you, it is a pretty decent looking series. There are things I would change about the dresses (mostly the OP) but they are generally well executed designs. This is not a series that I would buy personally, but that is because I am not really a big fan of toy prints anyway. My top choice would be the JSK in black. 

Queen Chocolate by Angelic Pretty

Today I am looking at Queen Chocolate by Angelic Pretty. This series includes 2 dresses, 2 hair accessories, a blouse, tights and a rosette.

First is the OP. The bodice looks well fitted and the shape is very cute. I really like how the dress has been made to look like a JSK with a blouse underneath. The arms are nice and puffy, with gathered cuffs. It is a lovely contrast to the more fitted bodice. The cuffs feature the chocolate part of the print as well, which is a nice touch. It is a nice bit of continuity but also looks very smart. I like the small ruffle on the cuffs too. There is a waist bow, which I feel is a bit big. But its large size does sort of suit the dress and I am impressed that a big bow like this is able to hold its shape this well. It sits well on the dress and looks very perky. The bodice features some emblem themed gold buttons. Whilst this is a nice idea, it feels a bit too bunched together and cramped. Maybe if the waist bow sat a bit lower and the 'neckline' was a bit higher up the buttons would have a bit more room to properly spread out. The fake halter-neck 'neckline' is well shaped and lined very neatly with a thin line of lace. I like its size too. There is another bow here, but given how large the waist bow is, I think this bow could do with being smaller. The 'blouse' part features several lines of lace, which sit neatly. This lace is of good quality and I love the added texture it gives to the chest area. The collar doesn't look too stiff or uncomfortable. There is also a line of gold buttons and this time they are well spaced out. These buttons are a very simple round design though, which seems in contrast to the emblem buttons lower down. There is also a detachable stripy bow. Although the bow is a cute size and shape, I don't think the use of stripy ribbon works here. There is not enough usage of stripes on the dress to warrant it being there. A solid coloured bow would have made more sense in my opinion. So I think I would definitely detach this bow. The back offers no shirring, so size flexibility is very limited. I am impressed with how neatly AP have lined up the print along the zip line in the stock photos though. The stock photos show that the skirt is plump with volume and it flares outwards brilliantly. I really love the full, rounded shape created here. The skirt is kept quite simple, so the print is displayed wonderfully. There are a couple of stripy bows at the bottom, which I still feel look very out of place. Bows aside, I love the cake themed lace lining the bottom hem.

Here we have the JSK. The bodice again looks very well fitted and I think the bodice shape looks quite smart. It is very mature looking with a slight military feel. The straps looks a suitable width and very supportive. I like how the straps feature a 'lapel', which continues down the bodice, giving the bodice a look of a tuxedo jacket. These 'lapels' are lined very neatly with lace, although I think a less 'frilly' lace choice or maybe even braid could have worked better. I am also not convinced I like the positioning of the buttons on the 'lapels'. I do wonder if they could have gone on the middle part of the bodice instead, as they make the 'lapels' look a bit fussy. There is a waist bow, which I think is the perfect size for the dress. It sits well and there are no signs of sagging. There is also a small solid coloured peplum at the waistline. I was initially a bit unsure about this peplum, but I think it makes a nice break in the OTT print. It does help to define the waist a little bit and I also feel it balances out the 'lapels' on the bodice. This peplum is decorated with some lovely lace, although I think the buttons overload the peplum slightly. The back has a panel of shirring, which is topped neatly with a ribbon corset. The stock photos show that once again the skirt is very full and has lots of flare. It will hold a lot of petticoat. The skirt is kept simple, so the print is displayed beautifully. Once again we have some stripy bows on the bottom hem. I think the stripes make even less sense on the JSK, because at least the OP has the other bow to help balance it out. The bottom hem is then finished off neatly with the cake themed lace.

Finally, we have the print. This series comes in ivory, pink, mint and red. Although the other 3 colours are quite typical for a chocolate print, I think the red colour is the real star of this series. It offers something a bit more unusual, but it also looks quite bold and mature. For some reason, the print feels a bit less busy on the red colour as well. As for the print itself, it is like Chess Chocolate and Wonder Queen had a lovechild. There is nothing particularly new or exciting about this print. The diamonds are set out neatly and the hearts are lovely. I like the piping around the edge of the hearts. The royal themes inside the hearts are well drawn too. But when you look at the print on the dresses, it just feels far too OTT. I think for me, the part of the print I dislike is the wide vertical bars of chocolate. I personally think this print would be nicer if it just had the diamond part of the print and didn't bother with the hearts or wide stripes of chocolate at all. It would look a lot less cluttered with just the diamond part, but still very bold and striking.

It is well known that Angelic Pretty chocolate prints are usually very popular. Therefore, it is very telling that all of the dresses for this series are still available a week after being released. I think it is because the print looks too cluttered and overall, the designs are very OTT and overwhelming. I also feel that AP have gotten a bit too repetitive with their chocolate prints lately. So it is safe to say that I would not buy this series. My top choice would be the JSK in either red or possibly the ivory. Sadly, I think this series is a bit too try-hard. If it had been simpler, I think this series would have sold out quickly.

Holiday Collection by Angelic Pretty

Today I am looking at Holiday Collection by Angelic Pretty. This series includes 2 dresses, a skirt, 3 hair accessories, a blouse and socks.

First is the OP. Considering the fabric choice, the bodice looks quite shapely and well fitted. The arms have a suitable level of puffiness to them and I really like the fitted cuffs. The cuffs are neatly decorated with emblem themed buttons, braid and some crown themed lace. Although I personally think the lace is too wide, I do appreciate how wonderful the crown lace looks. It is so apt for the overall theme as well. There is a ribbon belt, which helps to define the waist a little bit. I like that the ribbon chosen is matte, but if I am being honest the ribbon looks like bog-standard ribbon you would find in any craft store. For a brand release, the belt just doesn't feel that special. The bodice has a large square shaped yoke. I think this looks a little flat and boring. Some pleats could have been nice here. I do like the braid and lace lining the edge though, as it keeps it looking smart. There is also 2 small star charms with a chain dangling between them. I really dislike this detail and I don't think it is necessary at all. It doesn't really add anything to the design and it gets a bit 'lost' with all the other bodice details going on around it. There is also a ribbon bow topping the yoke. I like that the AP ribbon matches the brand name at the bottom of the print. The bow shape is simple, but well constructed and a decent size. The only thing I dislike about this bow is the teddy charm in the middle. I find it a bit too 'cutesy' looking. This bow id detachable, but I feel the dress looks far too plain with it removed, so I would leave it on. The back offers no shirring, so size flexibility is very limited. I am impressed with how well the print has been lined up along the zip line in the stock photos though. Fingers crossed it is this well executed on every dress. The stock photos show that the skirt has a decent amount of volume and it flares outwards plenty. I think there is a lot of potential to create a fantastic shape. The skirt is kept simple in design, so the print is displayed excellently. The bottom hem is then finished off neatly with a line of the crown themed lace.

Next we have the JSK. The bodice material is a bit loose and baggy and I am not completely sold on the bodice shape either. I think the neckline shape could have been a bit softer and that overall, the bodice looks too 'square' in shape. The straps are a little on the thin side, but the style of the straps fits well with the rest of the dress. They are lined with the crown lace on the outsides. I like how this lace has been gathered and shaped, making it look a bit more interesting. This dress also has a ribbon belt and my feelings about it are exactly the same as the belt on the OP. The bodice features lines of metallic lace running vertically upwards. This helps to break up the empty space without looking too OTT. The neckline features a 'collar' which has an unusual shape. I quite like it though! The shape is further emphasized by the neat lines of braid and lace lining it. The neckline is then topped off with a bow identical to the one on the OP. I know there is a teddy bear in the print, but I still dislike that charm on the bow. This bow is again detachable but I would leave it attached. Out of the 2 dress designs though, I think the JSK pulls off the bow-less look better than the OP. The back is fully shirred, which means loads of size flexibility but also that the shirring is left exposed. However, because of the style of print, the shirring sort of blends in a bit and isn't as noticeable. The stock photos show that the skirt is very full and flares outwards wonderfully. It should hold plenty of petticoat to create a full, sweet shape. The skirt is again kept simple in design, so the print is displayed beautifully. The bottom hem is then finished off neatly with a line of the crown lace.

Finally, this is the print. This series comes in ivory, red, green and grey. I think the ivory, red and green colours look very traditional. The grey is a bit more unusual and I am a bit unsure about it. I do wonder if black would have been better, as black would have been bolder (or at least easier to co-ordinate). As for the print itself, I really like how you could get away with wearing this for a Christmas themed outfit, but it is not specifically a Christmas print. Tartan is very popular around Christmas time but with the exception of the pile of presents, the print is generic enough to be worn outside of the holiday period. I really love the tartan and I think the frames are well set out and decently positioned. The frames themselves are very intricate with fun designs. The items inside the frames have been drawn well. I don't really have anything negative to say about the print at all. I think it has been really well executed.

So this series has proven that the old days of the AP bloodbath are not gone forever (this series sold out a lot quicker in comparison to a lot of other recent AP releases) and I can see why this particular print has done so well. Although I would change a couple of things about the dress designs, these changes are only minor and overall the dress designs are very strong. Would I buy this series? Possibly. I wont be adding this to my wishlist but that is not to say that I wouldn't consider it if the price was right. My top choice would be the JSK in green. I think the fact that I would even be considering getting a series with a strong hint of Christmas is a sign that I think AP have done very well!

Print Double

Today I am looking at 2 different prints, so scroll down for a look at a new print from Baby.

First today though, is Lovely Shopping by Angelic Pretty. This series includes 3 dresses (one is a more casual cutsew dress), 4 hair accessories and socks.

First we have the OP. The bodice shape is quite cute, although I am not sure I like the waistline being that high up. That waistline is bound to sit strangely on those with a larger bust. The arms look a generous length though. They have a suitable amount of puff to them and the cuffs finish them off smartly. I absolutely love the use of heart buttons on the cuffs! The bodice is mostly kept simple, but given how short it is I suppose this makes sense. There is a ruffle going along the waistline and sides of the bodice. This ruffle looks very cutesy and it is well gathered. I quite like it, although I imagine there will be some who find it a bit childish. The collar is nicely shaped, albeit a bit small. I do wonder if perhaps it is the bow attached to the collar which is throwing me off. The bow has really long tails and I think it looks too 'heavy' for the collar. Thankfully, the bow is detachable and I would be tempted to do this because I think it makes the collar look more in proportion. There is a line of cute heart shaped buttons underneath the bow on the bodice as well, which stops it from looking too plain. The back offers no shirring, so size flexibility is limited. I really dislike the way the print is misaligned along the zip line as well. It looks a bit messy. The stock photos show that the sack-like skirt has plenty of volume and it flares outwards decently. I think the level of puff that AP have done in the stock photos suits the bodice, but it looks as though it will hold plenty more petticoat if need be. The stock is kept simple in design, so the all-over print is displayed excellently. The bottom hem is then finished off with a solid line of ribbon and some polka dot themed AP logo lace. I like the lace, but I think that solid line of ribbon is quite jarring, especially the black on the red version.

Next we have the JSK. The bodice seems quite well fitted and the bodice shape is simple, but lovely. I think the straps are a tiny bit on the thin side, but they suit the style of the bodice. They are very neatly lined with some scalloped lace. This lace is very bold and striking. It is also used down the bodice too, which helps break up the empty space. There is a waist bow, which I think is a bit too big. Its simple shape works quite well though and it is well formed. The only real issue I have with the waist bow is that it blends in to the background quite a lot. The waistline features a 'belt' which is marked out by 2 lines of piping. I don't think this feature adds much to the dress. Perhaps a solid coloured belt would have not only broken up the print a bit, but also helped to define the waistline. There are 3 small bows on the bodice, which look very cute. They are well spaced out too. There is also a line of lace along the neckline, which helps to soften it. The back is fully shirred, so there is lots of size flexibility but it also means the shirring is left exposed. The stock photos show that the skirt is very full and it flares outwards generously. I am not 100% sold on the shape in the stock photos, but at least it looks as though the skirt has plenty of room. The skirt is again kept simple in design, so the print is displayed wonderfully. The bottom hem then features a wide ruffle with thin lines of lace lining both the top and bottom of the ruffle. This is the same lace used on the straps, so that is a good bit of continuity.

Here we have the print. As we can see, this series comes in white, lavender, red and grey. Some of the colours chosen are a bit more predictable than others, but I am glad to see there is a bit of variety in there. Grey really seems to be popular with the AP designers at the moment! As for the print itself, I am not quite sure what to make of it. When I initially saw a small photo of it, I thought that from a distance it looked like one of Metamorphose's camouflage prints! I was really surprised when I found out it was actually AP. If I am being completely honest, I think this looks like a load of clip-art pictures carelessly thrown together, especially the hearts. The mirror and shopping bag are lovely though. I like the little details on them. I don't think that is enough to convince me though!

So I can't say that I am overly impressed with this series. Dare I say, it even looks a bit tacky? It could have been a really cute design, but it misses the mark. I think it is safe to say that I wont be buying this series! I guess my top choice would be the JSK in lavender but I am struggling to find anything positive to say about any of the cuts or colours. However, I do really like the short crew socks with the heart pattern on them. I would want them for larme kei rather than lolita though!

Today I am also looking at Kumya's Snowy Kingdom (already on to the Winter prints!). This series includes 2 dresses, a skirt, a dress for an Usakumya doll, 2 hair accessories, socks, a blouse, a tote bag and a blanket cape.

First is JSK I. The bodice looks well fitted and the bodice shape is generally quite cute. I like the scalloped neckline, but I don't think the scallops work as well on the straps. There is not enough room on the straps to get any decent scalloped shapes. The straps are a suitable width though and look very supportive. There is a waist bow, which looks and okay size and shape. It sits well on the dress. I think I would have liked the waist bow a bit more if it was more in proportion to the neckline bow. Or maybe the waist bow should have been detachable so we could see how the dress looks with just the neckline bow. The waist bow features some small pom poms and is also lined with pom pom trim. Now, my long-term readers may be aware that I have a real hatred towards pom pom trim, but in this instance I do like it! I like it because it fits in well with the snowy theme (the trim looks a bit like snowballs). The pom pom trim has also been used in several lines going up the bodice and along the edge of a raised chest panel, which has a scalloped edge. I think this detail has been really well executed. The pom poms are appropriate and used neatly. It really helps to emphasize the scalloped edge of the chest panel. My only complaint is that I wish the pom poms stopped before reaching the arm pit area. Otherwise, I am really impressed. The neckline bow is made from this lovely matte ribbon. It has polka dots on it, which go well with the snow theme. I am still not sure I like the sizes of both bows together, but I don't know what Baby could do to improve it either. The back offers a panel of shirring, which is topped neatly with a ribbon corset. The stock photos show that the skirt is nicely rounded and very full. There is lots of potential to create a very cute shape. The skirt is kept simple in design so the print is displayed wonderfully. The bottom hem is then finished off with a neat line of good quality lace. I am surprised Baby didn't try doing something with the pom pom trim on the bottom hem, but the lace looks decent enough.

Next we have JSK II. I think the bodice looks very tube-like and the shape is very boring. It is very simple and quite square. A softer neckline shape would have perhaps been more pleasant too. The straps are a decent width and look very supportive. They are lined very neatly with thin lines of lace, which stop them from looking too plain. There is a waist bow, which I think is an okay size. However, I am not so keen on the bow shape. It looks slightly saggy as well. I am impressed that Baby used the Usakumya part of the print on the bow though, and managed to line it up so well. Fingers crossed you can see Usakumya on each dress and this isn't a one-off fluke! The bodice is broken up by some vertical lines of lace. This lace is of a reasonable quality, as is the lace on the waist bow and neckline. There is a yoke on the bodice, but I really dislike the shape of it. It looks too square and I think a more rounded shape would have been cuter. Even the lace lining the yoke doesn't contribute much to the shape. The yoke also appears to be very flat with little detail to it. It is topped with a ribbon bow though, done in much the same style as it is on the other JSK. This bow is a decent size and well formed. The back is fully shirred, so there is loads of size flexibility but it means the shirring is left exposed. The stock photos show that the skirt is very full and flares outwards plenty. It will hold lots of petticoat underneath. The skirt is again kept simple in design, so the print is displayed beautifully. The bottom hem is then finished off neatly with a line of good quality lace. It is decent enough, but nothing to write home about.

Finally, here is one part of the print...

... and another part. This series is available in pink, sax blue, lavender and navy. These seem like pretty safe colour options for a snowy print like this. I think the sax blue and navy versions especially stand out. As for the print itself, I am not really an Usakumya print person, but I do think this print is adorable. There are so many cute little details to the print. My favourite part is the Kumyas making a Snow Kumya. I like how they are wearing cute fur-lined capes and Usakumya's facial expression is so full of joy. The heart buttons on the Snow Kumya are a nice touch too. The rest of the print is filled nicely. The snow covered trees help to fill in any gaps, as do the falling snowflakes. The aurora in the sky is a nice touch too. There is only one bit of this print which I don't understand- the strawberries. It is not the first time Baby have done a Wintry print with strawberries in it, but this time I feel as though nothing has been done to fit the strawberries in with the rest of the print. They look so out of place. I associate strawberries with Summer!

So I think this is a cute series. There are some parts of this series which seem stronger than others. It is probably quite obvious that I favour one JSK design over the other. The print is really cute if I ignore the random strawberries. Would I buy this series? No, because it is not my style. But for an Usakumya print, I think this is a really good offering. I am sure it will have plenty of fans. My top choice would be JSK I in either the sax blue or navy (probably the navy!). I am sure this print is going to look super cute, especially nearer the Winter time.

Dream Masquerade Carnival!

So I am still feeling ill, but I am going to try and soldier on with this post. Please bear with me!

So on the 27th of August I headed to London for the Tea Party Club event Dream Masquerade Carnival. I was only able to attend the tea party on the Sunday this year, as I had other commitments on the Saturday. I would like to say that my bank account thanked me for avoiding the inevitable shopping spree, but I ended up spending my money elsewhere anyway! I think I have a serious shopping problem! The truth is, I almost didn't even make it to the tea party. I had received some really bad news just a week before, which has totally thrown me and is going to affect me for years to come. So that has been playing on my mind quite a lot and as a result, I was feeling super anxious. It just didn't seem right going to London and eating cake, but I told myself that this would probably be my only chance to see Maki and Asuka from Angelic Pretty. I had so much support from friends throughout the day and they made my decision to stay a whole lot easier. Seriously, I cannot thank you all enough (you know who you are!). 

I didn't do anything too OTT outfit-wise this time. I didn't have as much time to plan an outfit as I had hoped, as I have been exploring other hobbies outside of lolita a lot more this year. In the end, I decided to pick a dress that A) was Angelic Pretty B) went with my pink AP Tea Parties and C) I didn't think was going to get worn by a large number of other attendees. I came so close to wearing Daydream Carnival, but in the end Milky Swan won out. It would appear that I have recycled a fair bit from previous outfits this time! The shoe feathers made a return and I feel as though I have worn these gloves to death. But I wasn't really focusing on having a super unique outfit. My priorities have changed a whole lot lately. In fact, I didn't realise how profound an effect this one day was going to have on me.

The hair and accessories were inspired by Odette from the ballet Swan Lake. As this was a ballerina themed outfit, I also took some inspiration from my favourite artist Degas. The feather clips refused to stay in the correct position and the purple roses were not quite the right shade, but overall I was really happy with my choices.

The first room we were all gathered in was very small and tightly packed. It made finding people very difficult. I didn't see some of my friends until later on in the day because there was just no way of mingling without barging in to scepters, hair accessories and all the usual stuff that comes with dressing up super fancy! But I did manage to get a few pictures of other people's outfits and eventually I found Michelle sat at a table. We had a good talk and she really put me at ease. She was dressed as a beautiful fairy. Ayumi from Rose Marie Seoir picked Michelle as her best dressed and I think Michelle was the only person on the whole table who didn't see that coming! 

I didn't get many pictures of the venue itself, but here is a blurry photo of a unicorn tapestry I took! I am a huge fan of the series of unicorn tapestries and get very excited when I see any of them hanging at places I visit. They seem to be very popular in fancy hotels because I see them quite frequently. This year the venue for the tea party was the Royal Horseguards Hotel. It was this venue where the Tea Party Club hosted the 5th TPC anniversary featuring Juliette et Justine and my first time back here since that event. It did bring up quite a few memories. There was even another proposal this year, which was so sweet.

The tables had some lovely goodies available. My favourite was the AP themed temporary tattoos. I got a proper tattoo done a few months ago (I was going through a 'f*ck it' phase and just went for it) and I keep having to resist the urge to get more done! But I am not sure if I would want to get a lolita themed tattoo, just in case I regretted in later on. So having a temporary option is fantastic! There were recent prints featured as well as some carnival themed ones.

I was left feeling a bit 'meh' about the food. It was lovely, but I have to admit that it is not the best afternoon tea I have had. I think there could have been more cakes provided. We ended up with about one each. I opted for the fruit tart. The fruit was lovely and refreshing. It complimented the sweet custard filling well. There were lots of sandwiches though and the usual scones. I felt a little bit sorry for our waitress, because we kept asking for refills of the cream and jam!

The Triple Fortune designers Babi and Kaie went around each table to greet us and take pictures. I thought this was really lovely. They made such an effort and I really hope they will consider coming back to the UK again. There was a translator as well, so we got to tell them just how much the UK adores their products, especially their beautiful bonnets. 

Later on, I got a chance to have my photo taken with them. They told me they loved my hair accessories and how they reminded them of Odette. So that was definitely a highlight of my day!

But that is not all the happened... Unfortunately this is the end of the Tea Party Club. Kyra has decided to step down and it seems Mica and the others on the team are in agreement. It was a huge shock, but I think ultimately, Kyra has made the right decision and I can empathise with some of the things she has said about her decision. I will be forever grateful to the Tea Party club for the most fantastic events they have put on over the years. They have achieved so much. But this does not have to be the end of the UK lolita scene's bigger events. It may take a few years to build up to this level again, but it is not impossible. I wonder who will be generous enough to step up? Whoever decides to put on the next big event, I do hope that the community will help out and support them.

I also ended up having a very in-depth discussion with this lovely lady called Charlotte. She has made me rethink a lot of things and I loved talking to her, as she is very passionate about what she does. I don't want to say too much about it right now, but I am very excited about the future!

So if I didn't buy lolita stuff, what did make my wallet weep in London? Well after feeling so terrible in the run up to the event, I promised myself that if I made it to the tea party, I would finally treat myself to a bottle of Luna by perfume company Penhaligon's. Thinking back, I can't remember if I shared the story about this perfume on my blog or not. Basically, when I had afternoon tea for my birthday last year in London, I went in to Penhaligon's afterwards and a sales assistant got talking to me. I told him what I liked and he picked out a perfume called Luna. With a name like that, it felt like fate! It turned out to be the most beautiful rose scented perfume I have ever smelt and the shop guy sprayed it all over my arm. Then he told me the price (it costs A LOT) and I had to try so hard to not show my horror on my face! As he had sprayed so much on me, I spent the rest of the day getting painful reminders of the perfume that felt way out of my league. So this year I put the money aside and I found the perfect excuse to finally get it! I also got some Tarot themed Dunnys. Those are the little vinyl figures at the bottom of the picture. I used to collect them years ago and the tarot series reeled me right back in again. The bird themed stickers are from Artbox and the snacks are from both the Japan Centre and Artbox/Tofu Cute. I got myself quite a few DIY candy kits because I am going to be making them and uploading the videos to Youtube. This is a little side project I am doing because I thought it would be a good way to combat my anxiety and get used to talking more confidently. So if the videos do well then that is great, but if they are not a success that means less people will see me making a fool of myself on camera! I will be happy either way! The idea came to me because I am having therapy at the moment and this felt like a good step to take to improve my interactions with people online. This is just one of many lifestyle changes I am making at the moment. The channel is not up yet, so I am not able to link it. But if you are that desperate to see me being an anxious idiot, then I am sure you will be able to find me!

A quick picture of some of the items that were given away at the tea party. I adore the fans! There were also some chiffon bows, but there were limited supplies of them and they didn't match anything I had anyway. Long Ears and Sharp Ears Studio made a lot of effort with their gifts and donated so much to the raffle as well. And speaking of Long Ears and Sharp Ears...

... I won one of their skirts in the raffle! This really made me smile because do you remember the post I posted literally just the other week about difficult colours? I commented about how I don't own any brown in my wardrobe and I ended up winning a skirt with lots of brown in it! But there is also red tones and some muted gold, so I am going to focus on those colours in the print. It just made me smile that a post I posted just 2 weeks ago has become so incredibly relevant to my current situation!

So I guess this is the last Tea Party Club themed post I am going to be doing on here. It has been a wild ride, and I feel as though there are a lot of things which I have forgotten to mention. Thank you Kyra and the Tea Party Club team. I set out to meet the AP designers and I made it! That is another goal to tick off the list. I hope everybody else had a great time and hopefully I will get to see some of you at another big event soon. This might give me the incentive to attend the next Street Fashion Europe event or search further afield. Who knows what the future holds!

Halloween Treats by Angelic Pretty

Today I am looking at Halloween Treats by Angelic Pretty. This series includes 2 dresses, 2 hair accessories, socks, a blouse and a bag. There are also some additional Angelic Bat items which were released at the same time.

First is the OP. Being a sack dress, it does not have a defined bodice and waistline. This is one of the few instances where I think a sack style cut sort of works though. The sleeves look a suitable length and have a good amount of puffiness to them. I like that the cuffs are more fitted as well, which is a nice contrast to the loosely fitted sleeves. The cuffs have a really cool shaped hemline as well, which go brilliantly with the Halloween and bat theme. There is a yoke, which also has a fantastically appropriate shape to it. I like the size of the yoke too. The yoke features several lines of lace and some pleats, which stop the area from looking too flat and boring. There is also a line of buttons, which are well spaced out. The only thing I am not sure on is how they alternate between star shaped and circular buttons. I would have stuck with one or the other. The collar is lined neatly with lace and doesn't look too tight or stuffy. There is then a large bow topping the yoke. Although the bow is big, I think the size of it really suits the dress. I also like how the bow is made of stripy material, although it is a bit on the shiny side. The bat shaped detail topping the bow is the most wonderful finishing touch. I really love it! This bow is detachable, but I would leave it on as I feel it really pulls the design together. The back offers no shirring, so the size flexibility is limited. Shirring probably wouldn't suit a sack-like dress like this anyway. At least the yoke looks equally well shaped on the back and the zip is reasonably well concealed. The stock photos show that the 'skirt' has a lot of volume and flares outwards well. Not that you would want to over-do petticoat with this style of dress! The dress is otherwise kept simple in design, so the all-over print is displayed perfectly. The bottom hem is then finished off neatly with the most amazing bat themed lace. I really like it!

Next is the JSK. The bodice looks quite well fitted, although the bodice shape is simple. The bat collar however, more than makes up for the simple bodice shape. It is bold with good lines and I find it very striking. It makes what would otherwise be a dull dress in to something much more exciting. I love the bat clip finishing off the collar as well. There is a waist bow, which I think is a suitable size. I feel it is very in proportion with the other details on the dress. This bow is a simple shape, but well formed. I wish the ribbon used was a bit less shiny, but this is only a very minor complaint. The bodice is broken up by several lines of star themed lace. This lace looks really cute and I like how it breaks up the otherwise empty space. The back offers a panel of shirring, which is topped neatly with a ribbon corset. The stock photos show that the skirt is generous in volume. I think it should hold plenty of petticoat and is a good option if the sack cut of the OP feels a bit too intimidating. The skirt is again kept simple in design, so the print is displayed beautifully. The bottom hem is then finished off tidily with a line of the awesome bat lace.

Finally, this is the print. This series comes in ivory, black and lavender. I do wonder if AP will release more colours later when they see how well this series has done, but for now these 3 colours look really great with the print. As for the print itself, it is the perfect mix of spooky and cute. The fact that the coffins and tombstones are cakes and other sweets makes it look adorable rather than creepy. I especially love the bat shaped cookies and the ghostly marshmallows! The items in the print are evenly distributed. The stars and moons in the background help to fill in any empty spaces. The only thing I felt a little unsure of is that the grey and brown colours used on the ivory and lavender for the cakes looks as though it may appear a bit 'washed out'. I think on these 2 versions the print details do not stand out as clearly as they do on the black.

I am not in the slightest bit surprised to see that this series has been a success. Angelic Pretty really excel at this creepy cute Halloween theme. There isn't much I would tweak about the dress designs, even though I am not a huge fan of sack dresses. I especially love the bat shaped clips and hemlines. That was a really clever idea. Would I buy this series? No, but that is because as my longer-term readers will know, I don't do seasonal prints. If there was a series to tempt me to get a Halloween print though, this print would be a strong contender!

Bonbon Bunny by Angelic Pretty

Today I am looking at Bonbon Bunny by Angelic Pretty. This series includes 2 dresses, a hair accessory, tights, a blouse and a cutsew.

First is the OP. The bodice seems well fitted and the shape is very cute. It looks as though the waistline is a little lower down as well, which I know some will be pleased about! The sleeves look a decent length. They have a slight bit of puffiness to them, which really suits the style of the dress. The cuffs are kept neat with a line of gold braid, lace and some gold heart shaped buttons. I think this is the perfect amount of detail. There is a waist bow, but to be honest I don't know why AP even bothered putting it on. It is so small in size. I also feel the use of ribbon and the simple shape make the bow too casual looking. I really wish it was detachable, as I think removing it would really improve the dress. The bodice has a square shaped yoke with a collar over the top. I am not a fan of the yoke shape. I think the square shape which gets slightly wider at the top looks odd and the line of lace underneath looks awkward. Perhaps a more rounded shape could have looked cute? I like how the yoke is pleated and has a line of heart buttons though. This makes it look a lot more interesting and gives it a bit of extra texture. The collar shape is super cute and a decent size. It would have been interesting to see how this dress would have looked with just the collar there. The collar is lined really neatly with a thin line of lace too. These bodice details are topped with 2 small ribbon bows. I think these bows look a more suitable size for their location in comparison to the waist bow. The back offers no shirring, so size flexibility is severely limited. Judging by the photos, it at least seems as though the zip line is very nicely concealed and the stripy print lines up along it well. The stock photos show that the skirt is plump with volume and it flares outwards plenty. It should hold plenty of petticoat. The skirt is kept simple in design, so the print is displayed beautifully. The bottom hem is then finished off neatly with a line of heart themed lace. I absolutely adore this lace!

Next is the JSK. The bodice seems decently fitted, but I am feeling a bit 'meh' about the bodice shape. It is okay, but a bit simple. The straps look a decent width and very supportive. These straps are lined with gold trim and a line of the heart themed lace, which then continue down the bodice to the waistline. The trim and lace then go along the neckline as well. I kind of feel as though the very straight lines are a little bit boring. The lace is so cute that it kind of makes up for it a little bit though! There is a waist bow, which seems a lot better proportioned compared to the one on the OP. This bow is shaped simply, but it sits well on the dress and at least it is an appropriate size. The bodice between the lines of lace is a solid coloured panel, which is neatly pleated. There is also a line of gold heart buttons going up the middle. These buttons have a lovely design and are well spaced out. The neckline is then finished with a small ribbon bow, which looks very sweet. I kind of feel as though the overall bodice design is a little bit 'lacking' though. It is like AP have played it a bit safe. The back is fully shirred, so there is loads of size flexibility, but it also means the shirring is left exposed. The stock photos show that the skirt looks very full and can flares outwards a lot. There is a lot of potential to create a great shape. The skirt is again kept simple in design, so the print is displayed excellently. The bottom hem is then finished off neatly with the cute heart themed lace.

Finally, here is the print. This series comes in ivory, pink, wine and black. I personally am favouring the pink and the wine. I feel the ivory colour could have done with being a little bit darker, as the dresses feature a lot of white parts and the ivory kind of blends in to the details. The black is okay, but I would have thought that brown would have been a more obvious choice. As for the print, I think it is very adorable. It is definitely my favourite AP print in a while. All the boxes are full of interesting details. I especially love the tin with the bunnies on it! The chocolate bunnies add a much needed touch of cute and are a lovely contrast to the sharp straight lines of the boxes. I like the stripy background and the 'falling' sweets too. I sort of feel that this print would have been better suited to a release around Valentines Day though!

So overall I think this is a pretty decent series. I think the dress designs could have been a bit more interesting, but the designs are strong and solid. There is very little that I would change about them. The print is really cute as well! Would I buy this series? No, but only because it is not really my usual style. If I was a chocolate print fan though, I imagine I would be very pleased with this release. It is a bit cutesy, but I think it works. My top choice would be the JSK in wine. I think this print has a lot of potential for some cute matching jewelry, so it will be interesting to see if AP release some at a later date.

Peaceful Sleeping Toys by Angelic Pretty

Today I am looking at Peaceful Sleeping Toys by Angelic Pretty. This series includes 2 dresses, 3 hair accessories, socks, a bag, a sleeping Lyrical Bunny plush and tote bag for the plush.

First is the OP. The bodice looks a bit loose and baggy, but that could just be the fabric AP have chosen for the dress. The sleeves look a decent length though. I like how they are slightly puffy in shape and the contrast with the more fitted elasticated cuffs. The cuffs are kept nicely simple too, with a thin ribbon bow and some very cute star themed lace. The bodice features a massive yoke which takes up most of the space. Although I like the neat ruffle along the edge of the yoke, I feel it is far too big. I think the large size of the yoke makes it look exaggerated and almost childish. The yoke is topped with a ribbon bow which is a simple, yet well formed shape and a decent size. I like that the ribbon used has a hint of metallic in it and the star charms dangling from the ends of the bow tails. Thankfully, the yoke part is detachable! The bow is as well, but I would consider leaving it on. I think removing the yoke is a massive improvement. When it is removed, there is a simple line of star shaped buttons with a tidy ruffle of lace on either side. I think the collar looks a lot better with the yoke removed as well. It is a really cute shape and neatly lined with star lace. When I first saw the bodice without the yoke it really raised my hopes for this dress. The back offers no shirring, so size flexibility is sadly limited. I think the yoke looks big and bulky from the back view as well, which is another reason why I would remove it. The stock photos show that the skirt has a lot of volume and it can flare outwards plenty. I think there is the potential to create a really lovely shape. The skirt is kept simple in design, so the print is displayed beautifully. The bottom hem is then finished off with a smart ruffle with a line of lace layered over the top. This lace is AP logo themed and I was a little surprised that they didn't use the star lace here as well. At least the lace is still of a good quality though.

Next we have the JSK. The bodice looks a little bit wrinkled and baggy in some of the close ups but again, that could be because of the fabric AP have chosen. The overall bodice shape is quite cute. I like the soft neckline shape. My only complaint is that I wish the star lace on the neckline was a bit more tapered where it reaches the arm pits. The straps are a bit on the thin side and I think they look a bit flimsy. I suppose the thinner straps suit the style of the bodice but I would have preferred them to be just a little bit thicker. They are very neatly lined with the star lace on the outsides though. I like how this lace has been gathered slightly, giving it a more interesting shape and look. The bodice is mostly kept plain because of the massive bow on the neckline. This bow is fairly well shaped. I am surprised it isn't drooping more considering the size, although I suspect it has some discrete stitches to hold it in place. The fabric chosen for the bow is pretty and looks of a good quality. I do wonder though why AP have chosen a stripy fabric for this bow. It is not that I don't like it, I am just curious! If I am being honest, I think just placing a massive bow on the bodice is a bit lazy and knowing AP, they could have done a whole lot more with the design. I am not saying I don't like the bow, just that I don't feel this is AP at their full potential. The back is fully shirred which means lots of size flexibility, but also that the shirring is left exposed. The stock photos show that the skirt has a great deal of volume and it flares outwards enough. It should hold a fair bit of petticoat. The skirt is again kept simple, so the print is displayed brilliantly. The bottom hem is then finished off with a slightly gathered ruffle and lined neatly with lace.  

Finally, here we have a bit of the print. This series comes in white, pink, grey and dark blue. It is interesting to see the rarely seen grey make a comeback again. It offers a slightly more mature looking option and I am not surprised it seems to be the most popular colour. The other 3 colours do look adorable though! As for the print, I do think it is well drawn. We get to see some of our favourite AP characters throughout the all-over style print. I especially think it is cute how Lyrical Bunny is clinging on to the moon shaped cushion! (off topic, but I would love a moon shaped cushion like the one in the print) The cushion designs are nicely detailed with uses of gingham and fun shapes. The empty space between the mascots is filled in well with simple moons and stars. However, the overall look of the print does remind me of this wallpaper I used to have in my bedroom when I was a kid. It is super cute, but I am not sure I would want to wear it on a dress myself!

So overall I think this series has a bit of potential. I was initially a bit underwhelmed by the dress designs, but after seeing the OP without the yoke part I warmed to it a bit more. The print is adorable, but it is a bit too cutesy for my personal tastes. So this is not a series that I would buy. If you are a fan of any of the AP mascots, then I reckon this would be a good addition to your collection though. My top choice would be the OP in dark blue. I would pick the grey, but it is such an unusual colour that I am not sure I would feel confident co-ordinating it. I have fallen in love with the heart shaped cushion bag from this series though (it sold out in pink long before I had a chance to consider buying it) and as a further suggestion, I think making cushions like the ones in the print could be a fun novelty item for AP to put out!

Milky Pony Carnival by Angelic Pretty

Today I am looking at Milky Pony Carnival by Angelic Pretty. This series includes 2 dresses, socks and a head bow.

First is the OP. The bodice seems well fitted. I personally feel the bodice shape is a bit dated, but perhaps that will make it more appealing to those who like the 2009 era of sweet. The sleeves are a cute length and suitably puffy. They are finished off neatly with some good quality lace. There is a waist bow, which is a bit big, but I think AP just about gets away with its size. It has a well formed shape and sits nicely on the dress. It looks as though this bow is not detachable though, which would have been a great option to have. The bodice features a dropped scoop neckline with a solid coloured modesty panel going across the chest. This panel is loosely gathered, but otherwise the only real detail to it is the 2 bows (one on the scooped neckline and the other on the chest panel) and the lace lining the neckline. Maybe I have just gotten so used to AP's more modern designs, but something about this bodice design feels a bit plain. I think it is the boring looking panel which is putting me off. At least the lace sits well on the dress. I can take or leave the bows. They at least break up the 'emptiness' of the bodice, but they are very basic in design and the ribbon used is shiny. The back offers a panel of shirring, which is topped neatly with a ribbon corset. The stock photos show that the skirt has a fair bit of volume to it and it flares outwards plenty. It should hold plenty of petticoat underneath. The skirt is kept simple in design, so the print is displayed wonderfully. The bottom hem is then finished off neatly with a line of pony themed lace.

Here we have the JSK. The bodice is quite well fitted and the shape is certainly interesting. I know from experience of owning one of these halter neck style dresses from AP that they can get a bit uncomfortable around the neck sometimes, but the straps at least look a decent width and very supportive. There is also a regular set of straps supporting the dress, which are mostly hidden by the halter straps, so if you wanted to tie the halter straps a bit looser then that is a possibility. The halter straps are decorated with neat pleats and a bow in the middle. I am not overly fond of the bow and think it could be a bit smaller. Also, I think this bow could have been shaped better, as it looks a bit flat and lifeless. There is also a waist bow, which is done in the same sort of style as the halter strap bow. I personally feel it looks a bit strange having both bows almost the same size. As mentioned, I think the halter neck bow should be smaller, which could compliment the waist bow more. The bodice features a solid line connecting both bows, which is topped with gold heart shaped buttons. I think the buttons are adorable. They fit in with the card suit theme in the print as well. There are then several lines of lace running up the bodice which are well distributed and sit decently on the dress. The back offers a panel of shirring, which is again topped neatly with a ribbon corset. The stock photos show that the skirt can flares outwards wide and has plenty of volume. There is the potential to create a fantastic sweet shape. The skirt is again kept simple, so the print is displayed beautifully. The bottom hem is then finished off with the pony lace again.

Finally, this is the print. This series comes in pink, mint, lavender and black. These are essentially the Sugary Carnival colours, but cooler and with sax blue being replaced with mint. I always thought Sugary Carnival would look fantastic in a mint version, so I guess this lookalike print sort of fulfills that dream! As for the print, it is essentially a less sugary, slightly more mature looking Sugary Carnival. There are still some stripy marshmallow-like poles and the layout is pretty similar. The big difference here is the inclusion of the lines of card suits breaking up the stripes. I personally think it would have worked better if the card suits were smaller and a bit less prominent. This print just looks far too busy and crowded. I am also a bit peeved that AP included babyish letter blocks in one of the card suits (why!?). This had the potential to be a mature Sugary Carnival. Instead we got a weird SC and Wonder Queen hybrid with added childish elements.

So I think it is safe to say that I will be sticking with Sugary Carnival! It is a shame, as I feel as though this series could have had a lot of potential. Instead it just looks like a re-hashed print which feels a bit try-hard. I wont be buying this series. If it had been more appealing to me, my top choice would be the JSK in mint. Instead I am just mourning what could have been.