I got another Lolita Valentine today! I am going to assume the maker saw my Daily Lolita or blog entry because that was one of the photos I used! So a huge thank you!
http://loli-valentines.livejournal.com/115167.html#cutid1
I am number 8 today! I especially love how I got called a Cookie Girl! :)
A massive thank you again!
Saturday, 11 February 2012
Friday, 10 February 2012
Fox Cherry and TaobaoSpree review- Neutral
Today I will be reviewing my very first Taobao order! It came from a shop called Fox Cherry- http://foxcherry333.taobao.com/
If the name Fox Cherry sounds familiar, it is because there was a review of them on EGL. In fact, it was this review that made me go ahead and place an order. Fox Cherry make lolita inspired accessories (mainly hair stuff) and because it is Taobao, the prices are cheap. I ordered some things for myself and also some items for the Feb Ox Loli meet, which sadly, did not get here in time (more on that later)
The majority of this review relates to my experience using the Taobao shopping service Taobao Spree- http://www.taobaospree.com/
Communication
I was assigned Lucy, who was going to look after my Taobao order for me. I would love to say that Lucy was amazing but to be honest, I found the experience to be annoying. An example of this would be when Lucy attached the wrong spread sheet to my order. You fill in Taobao Spree's spreadsheet and then before they order, they send it back to double check to make sure they have the right order. We got quoted the right price but we got somebody else's order on the spreadsheet. Considering this was my very first Taobao order, this did not help my first-time nerves at all. It was hardly a massive mistake but it did not leave a good first impression. Of course, I also have to allow for China being 8 hours ahead of the UK, but despite this, I still found Lucy a bit too slow responding for my liking.
One of the biggest factors about my Taobao order was that I ordered on the 4th of January knowing fully well that Chinese New Year was coming up. And this was a risk that I had decided to take and obviously Taobao Spree was not in any way responsible for this. However, my order did come on Taobao Spree's last working day before they started their holiday. But unfortunately Lucy only gave me one hour to respond with my final payment and did I get that email in time? Nope! So I had to wait a fortnight for Taobao Spree to come back off their holidays before it got posted. Now, I cannot stress enough that this was my fault and NOT Taobao Spree's fault but I was a bit disappointed that I hadn't been given more time to pay before they went away. Whether this was because of the slowness of the Chinese post or whether Lucy was slow, I don't know. If you take just one bit of information from this review make sure it is this- NEVER order from Taobao right before Chinese New Year.
Ease Of Use
Taobao Spree's fees were relatively easy to work out because it was all set out on the spreadsheet. Before they order they double check with you if you want to go ahead, which gives you the opportunity to back out if you are unhappy. At first I found filling in the spreadsheet to order a bit daunting. Luckily, Taobao Spree have included Youtube videos (made by other people) on their website showing how to do it. I found the video very helpful and without it, I would have been confused.
Charges
Taobao Spree's charges were very reasonable. Even after all their fees were added on top, I only paid roughly £8-9 per item. This is still relatively cheap, especially considering how much re-sellers would probably charge.
Shipping
After the 2 week Chinese New Year break, my order was shipped by Taobao Spree on the 1st of February and it arrived on the 8th. I didn't have any nasty customs fees to pay so it came quite quickly.
My order was placed inside a bubble wrap envelope. It was very secure and not damaged at all.
Inside, every item was individually wrapped in plastic and then bundled in to a large plastic bag. The items were a bit squished together but nothing was damaged and it was all very secure.
Overall, I would like to give Taobao Spree a positive feedback rating. Despite Lucy's slip-up and the Chinese New Year fiasco, I don't think I have any solid complaints about Taobao Spree's service. The neutral feedback in the title of this post is actually for Fox Cherry.
I ordered 5 items- 3 rose corsage veils, a double pink rose hair comb and a pearl hairband with rose decoration.
These are the 3 headdresses. I got 2 in all-black and one in blue x black. When you order such cheap items you can always argue that you "get what you pay for". Actually, I was happy with the appearance of all of my items.
The reason why I am giving Fox Cherry a neutral feedback is because as soon as I opened the packages this very strong smell of cigarette smoke hit me. All of the items I ordered absolutely stank of smoke. For some reason, the rose veils were the worst affected. It is a good job I managed to get the smell out with some Febreeze spray. I also found that everything was covered in thin strands of glue and I picked a lot of this off before taking this photograph. The edges of the material were rough in places so I am concerned they may fray. However, the ribbon used does appear to be of good quality.
This pearl headband was the least affected by the smoke and glue. It was actually meant for the Ox meet raffle and after trying it on, I don't think it suits me. So I will be looking to sell this soon. I doubt I will get very much for it. Despite not being affected as badly, I am still going to give it a quick spray with Febreeze.
A close-up of the flower bit.
I have decided to keep the pink rose comb for now. It is actually very beautiful in person.
For some reason, I got given a free Fifi Lapin mirror. I am probably going to chuck it in with the pearl headband as a free gift when I sell that. But it was a nice gesture.
So overall, this has been a very mixed experience. Although I got these items cheaply, I still can't justify giving Fox Cherry a positive review, because I don't think I am being unreasonable when I expect the items to not smell of cigarette smoke. Plus it wasn't much fun trying to peel little trails of glue off the items. I am just trying to be as honest as possible, and in all honesty, I was not majorly impressed with the items I received. I don't know... do you think I have been too harsh? Let me know what you think.
But I would use Taobao Spree again. I think with a little practice and a bit of "getting used to" the service, I would become more confident. And I still think it is a better option than buying from re-sellers such as Qutieland, whose prices work out a lot higher. So yes, Taobao Spree does get a positive rating from me. I just wish I hadn't been so stupid as to order right before Chinese New Year.
If the name Fox Cherry sounds familiar, it is because there was a review of them on EGL. In fact, it was this review that made me go ahead and place an order. Fox Cherry make lolita inspired accessories (mainly hair stuff) and because it is Taobao, the prices are cheap. I ordered some things for myself and also some items for the Feb Ox Loli meet, which sadly, did not get here in time (more on that later)
The majority of this review relates to my experience using the Taobao shopping service Taobao Spree- http://www.taobaospree.com/
Communication
I was assigned Lucy, who was going to look after my Taobao order for me. I would love to say that Lucy was amazing but to be honest, I found the experience to be annoying. An example of this would be when Lucy attached the wrong spread sheet to my order. You fill in Taobao Spree's spreadsheet and then before they order, they send it back to double check to make sure they have the right order. We got quoted the right price but we got somebody else's order on the spreadsheet. Considering this was my very first Taobao order, this did not help my first-time nerves at all. It was hardly a massive mistake but it did not leave a good first impression. Of course, I also have to allow for China being 8 hours ahead of the UK, but despite this, I still found Lucy a bit too slow responding for my liking.
One of the biggest factors about my Taobao order was that I ordered on the 4th of January knowing fully well that Chinese New Year was coming up. And this was a risk that I had decided to take and obviously Taobao Spree was not in any way responsible for this. However, my order did come on Taobao Spree's last working day before they started their holiday. But unfortunately Lucy only gave me one hour to respond with my final payment and did I get that email in time? Nope! So I had to wait a fortnight for Taobao Spree to come back off their holidays before it got posted. Now, I cannot stress enough that this was my fault and NOT Taobao Spree's fault but I was a bit disappointed that I hadn't been given more time to pay before they went away. Whether this was because of the slowness of the Chinese post or whether Lucy was slow, I don't know. If you take just one bit of information from this review make sure it is this- NEVER order from Taobao right before Chinese New Year.
Ease Of Use
Taobao Spree's fees were relatively easy to work out because it was all set out on the spreadsheet. Before they order they double check with you if you want to go ahead, which gives you the opportunity to back out if you are unhappy. At first I found filling in the spreadsheet to order a bit daunting. Luckily, Taobao Spree have included Youtube videos (made by other people) on their website showing how to do it. I found the video very helpful and without it, I would have been confused.
Charges
Taobao Spree's charges were very reasonable. Even after all their fees were added on top, I only paid roughly £8-9 per item. This is still relatively cheap, especially considering how much re-sellers would probably charge.
Shipping
After the 2 week Chinese New Year break, my order was shipped by Taobao Spree on the 1st of February and it arrived on the 8th. I didn't have any nasty customs fees to pay so it came quite quickly.
My order was placed inside a bubble wrap envelope. It was very secure and not damaged at all.
Inside, every item was individually wrapped in plastic and then bundled in to a large plastic bag. The items were a bit squished together but nothing was damaged and it was all very secure.
Overall, I would like to give Taobao Spree a positive feedback rating. Despite Lucy's slip-up and the Chinese New Year fiasco, I don't think I have any solid complaints about Taobao Spree's service. The neutral feedback in the title of this post is actually for Fox Cherry.
I ordered 5 items- 3 rose corsage veils, a double pink rose hair comb and a pearl hairband with rose decoration.
These are the 3 headdresses. I got 2 in all-black and one in blue x black. When you order such cheap items you can always argue that you "get what you pay for". Actually, I was happy with the appearance of all of my items.
The reason why I am giving Fox Cherry a neutral feedback is because as soon as I opened the packages this very strong smell of cigarette smoke hit me. All of the items I ordered absolutely stank of smoke. For some reason, the rose veils were the worst affected. It is a good job I managed to get the smell out with some Febreeze spray. I also found that everything was covered in thin strands of glue and I picked a lot of this off before taking this photograph. The edges of the material were rough in places so I am concerned they may fray. However, the ribbon used does appear to be of good quality.
This pearl headband was the least affected by the smoke and glue. It was actually meant for the Ox meet raffle and after trying it on, I don't think it suits me. So I will be looking to sell this soon. I doubt I will get very much for it. Despite not being affected as badly, I am still going to give it a quick spray with Febreeze.
A close-up of the flower bit.
I have decided to keep the pink rose comb for now. It is actually very beautiful in person.
For some reason, I got given a free Fifi Lapin mirror. I am probably going to chuck it in with the pearl headband as a free gift when I sell that. But it was a nice gesture.
So overall, this has been a very mixed experience. Although I got these items cheaply, I still can't justify giving Fox Cherry a positive review, because I don't think I am being unreasonable when I expect the items to not smell of cigarette smoke. Plus it wasn't much fun trying to peel little trails of glue off the items. I am just trying to be as honest as possible, and in all honesty, I was not majorly impressed with the items I received. I don't know... do you think I have been too harsh? Let me know what you think.
But I would use Taobao Spree again. I think with a little practice and a bit of "getting used to" the service, I would become more confident. And I still think it is a better option than buying from re-sellers such as Qutieland, whose prices work out a lot higher. So yes, Taobao Spree does get a positive rating from me. I just wish I hadn't been so stupid as to order right before Chinese New Year.
Wednesday, 8 February 2012
Lolita comes to the Victoria and Albert in London!
Yesterday I was very surprised to find out that there is going to be an exhibition about lolita fashion in the Victoria and Albert Museum! It has just sort of appeared out of the blue, and I think there are many UK lolitas who were pleasantly surprised by the news.
Kitty and the Bulldog: Lolita Fashion and the Influence of Britain will run between April the 23rd and October the 14th. That gives plenty of time for people to go and visit. There is also going to be a lolita meet held there in May (which I should be going to, so if you are coming I will see you there!).
Details can be found here- http://www.timeout.com/london/museums-attractions/event/250397/kitty-and-the-bulldog-lolita-fashion-and-the-influence-of-britain
It is part of the British Design Season and will be held in room 45.
Obviously, the V and A is a beautiful museum anyway, so it would be interesting to visit other stuff which is on display.
I find it interesting that this display has come up and at this time. Is this a sign that lolita fashion is growing even further in the UK? Will the museum "get it right" or will it be some strange version of lolita that is not really relevant? (Which could be a little embarrassing!) Either way, Hyper Japan was recently mentioned in a newspaper article and it is hard to ignore the growing number of new UK lolitas.
I have a good feeling about this exhibit. I am not suggesting lolita will become mainstream (and I wouldn't want it to become mainstream) but maybe, just maybe, the fashion is starting to get a bit of recognition here.
Kitty and the Bulldog: Lolita Fashion and the Influence of Britain will run between April the 23rd and October the 14th. That gives plenty of time for people to go and visit. There is also going to be a lolita meet held there in May (which I should be going to, so if you are coming I will see you there!).
Details can be found here- http://www.timeout.com/london/museums-attractions/event/250397/kitty-and-the-bulldog-lolita-fashion-and-the-influence-of-britain
It is part of the British Design Season and will be held in room 45.
Obviously, the V and A is a beautiful museum anyway, so it would be interesting to visit other stuff which is on display.
I find it interesting that this display has come up and at this time. Is this a sign that lolita fashion is growing even further in the UK? Will the museum "get it right" or will it be some strange version of lolita that is not really relevant? (Which could be a little embarrassing!) Either way, Hyper Japan was recently mentioned in a newspaper article and it is hard to ignore the growing number of new UK lolitas.
I have a good feeling about this exhibit. I am not suggesting lolita will become mainstream (and I wouldn't want it to become mainstream) but maybe, just maybe, the fashion is starting to get a bit of recognition here.
Monday, 6 February 2012
The Feb 2012 Ox Meet- our 1st Anniversary!
After going mental with planning, the Feb Oxfordshire Lolita meet finally came around! Although technically our anniversary was in late January, we celebrate it in early Feb.
For this special day, I made everybody heart-shaped sugar cookies! People thought the OX was for 'hugs and kisses' but it was actually meant to be short for Oxford! Here I am modelling my hard work. As you can see, I went for a cookie theme with my outfit too because I was wearing Wonder Cookie. The cookies were very tasty and everybody said they liked them.
We went to the Mitre for a nice sit-down lunch. I held a little vote for best sweet outfit, best classic etc. Some of the votes were very close and I almost ended up getting 2 of my prizes back! I literally lost out by one single vote for best sweet and best host. The 3 best outfit categories got given a rose corsage (made from an English GLB pattern) and other small prizes, such as hair accessories and letter sets. I was really worried about the roses. I have to admit that I am not a good crafter and the roses were just meant to be a bit of fun. Nobody complained though! At least I don't think they did...
Results-
Best Sweet- Sammi
Best Classic or Country- Jenni
Best Gothic or Alternative- Amber
Best Host- Jenni
Best handmade and creative- Nicola
We also held a raffle. Don't be fooled by the picture- there were a LOT of prizes that were kindly donated. I also put some stuff in too! I ended up with 3 new rings, which are very cute.
Here was my outfit for the day. The stupid waiter spilled coke down my dress. After Beau helped me wash it out in the bathroom sink, we got it out. Don't worry- the expensive Angelic Pretty dress is totally fine now! I got a free meal as compensation and the waiter was absolutely petrified of me for the rest of the day. He was very lovely about it, but there is something amusing about this waiter being scared of a little sweet lolita like me!
Outfit rundown-
Dress, head bow, socks- Angelic Pretty (Wonder Cookie print)
Bolero, shoes- Bodyline
Blouse (not shown)- K Star
Parasol- Baby the stars shine bright
Accessories- Chocomint and off-brand
A bonus picture of me pretending to be a Teenage Mutant Hero Loli!
We were meant to have 5-10cm of snow that day (the UK appears to totally shut down, even with a pathetic amount of snow). It did start snowing in the afternoon but thankfully, it didn't really settle and was not really an issue. The meet was quite large with most of the Oxford regulars being there, and also some new faces too (who were lovely!). Despite my minor bad luck, I have not been put off hosting... but I probably need to give myself a break before I attempt to host again!
For this special day, I made everybody heart-shaped sugar cookies! People thought the OX was for 'hugs and kisses' but it was actually meant to be short for Oxford! Here I am modelling my hard work. As you can see, I went for a cookie theme with my outfit too because I was wearing Wonder Cookie. The cookies were very tasty and everybody said they liked them.
We went to the Mitre for a nice sit-down lunch. I held a little vote for best sweet outfit, best classic etc. Some of the votes were very close and I almost ended up getting 2 of my prizes back! I literally lost out by one single vote for best sweet and best host. The 3 best outfit categories got given a rose corsage (made from an English GLB pattern) and other small prizes, such as hair accessories and letter sets. I was really worried about the roses. I have to admit that I am not a good crafter and the roses were just meant to be a bit of fun. Nobody complained though! At least I don't think they did...
Results-
Best Sweet- Sammi
Best Classic or Country- Jenni
Best Gothic or Alternative- Amber
Best Host- Jenni
Best handmade and creative- Nicola
We also held a raffle. Don't be fooled by the picture- there were a LOT of prizes that were kindly donated. I also put some stuff in too! I ended up with 3 new rings, which are very cute.
Here was my outfit for the day. The stupid waiter spilled coke down my dress. After Beau helped me wash it out in the bathroom sink, we got it out. Don't worry- the expensive Angelic Pretty dress is totally fine now! I got a free meal as compensation and the waiter was absolutely petrified of me for the rest of the day. He was very lovely about it, but there is something amusing about this waiter being scared of a little sweet lolita like me!
Outfit rundown-
Dress, head bow, socks- Angelic Pretty (Wonder Cookie print)
Bolero, shoes- Bodyline
Blouse (not shown)- K Star
Parasol- Baby the stars shine bright
Accessories- Chocomint and off-brand
A bonus picture of me pretending to be a Teenage Mutant Hero Loli!
We were meant to have 5-10cm of snow that day (the UK appears to totally shut down, even with a pathetic amount of snow). It did start snowing in the afternoon but thankfully, it didn't really settle and was not really an issue. The meet was quite large with most of the Oxford regulars being there, and also some new faces too (who were lovely!). Despite my minor bad luck, I have not been put off hosting... but I probably need to give myself a break before I attempt to host again!
Saturday, 4 February 2012
An Ox Loli Valentine thank you!
I have just come home from hosting the Feb Ox Meet (more on that on Monday). And what do I see? The Ox lolis got a valentine! Our group celebrated our first anniversary.
http://loli-valentines.livejournal.com/114515.html#cutid1
We are all in number 5!
After the waiter spilled coke all over my white Wonder Cookie dress (Don't worry, the coke came out! Thank you Beau!) it was so lovely to spend time today with the girls and then come home to a lovely valentine! So a huge thank you to the maker. I am 95% sure I know who you are ;)
http://loli-valentines.livejournal.com/114515.html#cutid1
We are all in number 5!
After the waiter spilled coke all over my white Wonder Cookie dress (Don't worry, the coke came out! Thank you Beau!) it was so lovely to spend time today with the girls and then come home to a lovely valentine! So a huge thank you to the maker. I am 95% sure I know who you are ;)
Friday, 3 February 2012
Brilliant Princess by Meta
Today I will be looking at Brilliant Princess by Meta. I didn't get the chance to save all of the series pictures, so if there is something missing I am sorry!
This is the pinafore JSK. The bodice looks a good shape and is very well fitted. The waist has 2 small bows on either side. The bows are very shapely and sturdy. I also think the waist bows are not over-powering and blends in well with the design. Around the neckline there is another small bow. Without it, the dress would probably be too plain. The bow here is also nicely shaped. The folds give it extra depth, texture, and makes it more interesting. I absolutely hate the way the straps have been done on this dress. 2 sets of straps are not uncommon but... 3 pairs? Is that really necessary? And they are all very thin straps as well, so they are not really adding anything to the design. The neckline also has some very subtle thin lace along it, which stops the neckline edge looking too harsh and flat. The back has a panel of shirring which is concealed by a ribbon corset. It has been done very tidily, apart from a trail of ribbon dangling down at the bottom. The back is still better looking than most Meta dresses. It is a shame this dress doesn't have more generous measurements. The skirt has that very rounded shape. Meta usually make their skirts too straight, so I am impressed by the skirt shape. It looks like it will also flare outwards a lot, but not as much as your standard Meta piece. However, some might see that as a good thing. The skirt is very plain with just some more thin lace on the bottom hem. Some will say this dress is too plain, but actually, I think this is the best dress in the series.
This is the frill pinafore JSK. The bodice is very well fitted and has a good shape. The waist has 2 small bows, exactly the same as the previous dress. The bodice has 4 thin lines of vertical lace running down the front. Vertical lines are meant to be slimming but the contrasting colour lace means you will emphasise your figure. This dress has very small measurements and that is probably a good thing, because this style will suit a smaller waist and flatter stomach. The front also has a ribbon corset. The ribbon is very shiny and I think the dress would look better without it. There is also a chiffon panel, which fits in with the bottom of the skirt. The chiffon looks soft and has been used well, but if you don't like it, it is removable. The straps are a good width and cross over at the back, which looks good. The back has a panel of shirring but it is so ridiculously small that it really doesn't need to be there. The ribbon corset concealing the shirring looks very crowded too. The skirt has that typical Meta shape- wide and flares out a lot and slightly triangular in shape. Meta also appears to be copying Angelic Pretty and making the skirt length shorter. The skirt will hold a lot of petticoat underneath, but if you put too much underneath, it will end up even higher on your leg. It is about striking that perfect balance without looking too OTT. Despite the shape, I do like the skirt design. The bottom hem has 2 layers of soft and floaty looking material; definitely suitable for a princess. The top of the chiffon is topped with 2 small bows. They are small enough that they don't ruin the design, but maybe they could have been moved apart a bit more because they line up with the wast bows. So you have a very bunched together cluster of bows which appear in a square shape.
This is the OP. You can sum up this design in 3 words- lots of lace. The bodice doesn't look as well fitted as the JSKs but it still has a good shape. There is a large waist bow, with a line of small pearls dangling from it. It has a pretty shape, but looks a tiny bit droopy. The front has vertical lace and chiffon running up it, only to be met by even more lace, because there is a massive panel near the neck. Sadly, this time the panel doesn't appear to be detachable. There is also a choker, which is not shown in these pictures.
This is a close-up of the sleeve detail. I don't think all of the lace is needed. I also thought the sleeves were too wide, but I guess it is good for your typical hime lolita style.
The back has a shirring panel but I also think the shirring is too narrow. Because of this, the ribbon corset concealing it looks too bunched together and messy. It also means that all 3 dresses wont be that good for plus-sized lolitas which is usually something Meta is good at providing. The skirt shape looks very triangular and flares out loads. It is good for stuffing lots of petticoat under, but is very OTT. Judging by the model pictures, the skirt length is short on the OP too. The lace and chiffon from the bodice continues down on to the skirt, and spreads outwards, giving a very princessy shape. This line is also topped with bows made from shiny ribbon. I really dislike the use of wide lace at the bottom because I think it cheapens the design. I guess the whole point of the OP is to look like an OTT princess, but I really dislike it.
And here is what the print looks like. Is it just me, or does something with the print look a bit off? I don't know whether it is the colours used, or the actual print itself. All I know is that as soon as I looked at it, I thought it looked strange. There are parts of the print that I like. The 2 swans, swimming on water inside of a heart shape is pretty. All your essential princess items are there. There is the castle, the royal emblems and use of gold. But as a whole, I don't think the print works well.
I quite like this hair accessory from the series. I like the versatility of the design. You could probably wear this with both sweet and classic lolita. The colours might be a bit too sweet for classic, but I see no harm in trying it! The print is not that dominant here, meaning you wouldn't have to wear it with Brilliant Princess.
These are the socks that come with the series. There is nothing particularly "new" about the design and there are similar designs out there. However, they are quite pretty. They would be a good purchase because you could match them to other series with a fairy tale sort of theme.
So overall, I am not impressed by Brilliant Princess. Just recently, I have not been as enthusiastic about new Meta releases. If they keep releasing prints like this, I am really going to fall out of love with Meta. The first JSK helps redeem the series a bit, but there is just so much here that made me shake my head. I can't see Brilliant Princess or Cotton Candy (which I reviewed recently) selling well. If I had to pick something, I would go for the first JSK in navy. But I probably wouldn't waste my money on it. Ouch!
This is the pinafore JSK. The bodice looks a good shape and is very well fitted. The waist has 2 small bows on either side. The bows are very shapely and sturdy. I also think the waist bows are not over-powering and blends in well with the design. Around the neckline there is another small bow. Without it, the dress would probably be too plain. The bow here is also nicely shaped. The folds give it extra depth, texture, and makes it more interesting. I absolutely hate the way the straps have been done on this dress. 2 sets of straps are not uncommon but... 3 pairs? Is that really necessary? And they are all very thin straps as well, so they are not really adding anything to the design. The neckline also has some very subtle thin lace along it, which stops the neckline edge looking too harsh and flat. The back has a panel of shirring which is concealed by a ribbon corset. It has been done very tidily, apart from a trail of ribbon dangling down at the bottom. The back is still better looking than most Meta dresses. It is a shame this dress doesn't have more generous measurements. The skirt has that very rounded shape. Meta usually make their skirts too straight, so I am impressed by the skirt shape. It looks like it will also flare outwards a lot, but not as much as your standard Meta piece. However, some might see that as a good thing. The skirt is very plain with just some more thin lace on the bottom hem. Some will say this dress is too plain, but actually, I think this is the best dress in the series.
This is the frill pinafore JSK. The bodice is very well fitted and has a good shape. The waist has 2 small bows, exactly the same as the previous dress. The bodice has 4 thin lines of vertical lace running down the front. Vertical lines are meant to be slimming but the contrasting colour lace means you will emphasise your figure. This dress has very small measurements and that is probably a good thing, because this style will suit a smaller waist and flatter stomach. The front also has a ribbon corset. The ribbon is very shiny and I think the dress would look better without it. There is also a chiffon panel, which fits in with the bottom of the skirt. The chiffon looks soft and has been used well, but if you don't like it, it is removable. The straps are a good width and cross over at the back, which looks good. The back has a panel of shirring but it is so ridiculously small that it really doesn't need to be there. The ribbon corset concealing the shirring looks very crowded too. The skirt has that typical Meta shape- wide and flares out a lot and slightly triangular in shape. Meta also appears to be copying Angelic Pretty and making the skirt length shorter. The skirt will hold a lot of petticoat underneath, but if you put too much underneath, it will end up even higher on your leg. It is about striking that perfect balance without looking too OTT. Despite the shape, I do like the skirt design. The bottom hem has 2 layers of soft and floaty looking material; definitely suitable for a princess. The top of the chiffon is topped with 2 small bows. They are small enough that they don't ruin the design, but maybe they could have been moved apart a bit more because they line up with the wast bows. So you have a very bunched together cluster of bows which appear in a square shape.
This is the OP. You can sum up this design in 3 words- lots of lace. The bodice doesn't look as well fitted as the JSKs but it still has a good shape. There is a large waist bow, with a line of small pearls dangling from it. It has a pretty shape, but looks a tiny bit droopy. The front has vertical lace and chiffon running up it, only to be met by even more lace, because there is a massive panel near the neck. Sadly, this time the panel doesn't appear to be detachable. There is also a choker, which is not shown in these pictures.
This is a close-up of the sleeve detail. I don't think all of the lace is needed. I also thought the sleeves were too wide, but I guess it is good for your typical hime lolita style.
The back has a shirring panel but I also think the shirring is too narrow. Because of this, the ribbon corset concealing it looks too bunched together and messy. It also means that all 3 dresses wont be that good for plus-sized lolitas which is usually something Meta is good at providing. The skirt shape looks very triangular and flares out loads. It is good for stuffing lots of petticoat under, but is very OTT. Judging by the model pictures, the skirt length is short on the OP too. The lace and chiffon from the bodice continues down on to the skirt, and spreads outwards, giving a very princessy shape. This line is also topped with bows made from shiny ribbon. I really dislike the use of wide lace at the bottom because I think it cheapens the design. I guess the whole point of the OP is to look like an OTT princess, but I really dislike it.
And here is what the print looks like. Is it just me, or does something with the print look a bit off? I don't know whether it is the colours used, or the actual print itself. All I know is that as soon as I looked at it, I thought it looked strange. There are parts of the print that I like. The 2 swans, swimming on water inside of a heart shape is pretty. All your essential princess items are there. There is the castle, the royal emblems and use of gold. But as a whole, I don't think the print works well.
I quite like this hair accessory from the series. I like the versatility of the design. You could probably wear this with both sweet and classic lolita. The colours might be a bit too sweet for classic, but I see no harm in trying it! The print is not that dominant here, meaning you wouldn't have to wear it with Brilliant Princess.
These are the socks that come with the series. There is nothing particularly "new" about the design and there are similar designs out there. However, they are quite pretty. They would be a good purchase because you could match them to other series with a fairy tale sort of theme.
So overall, I am not impressed by Brilliant Princess. Just recently, I have not been as enthusiastic about new Meta releases. If they keep releasing prints like this, I am really going to fall out of love with Meta. The first JSK helps redeem the series a bit, but there is just so much here that made me shake my head. I can't see Brilliant Princess or Cotton Candy (which I reviewed recently) selling well. If I had to pick something, I would go for the first JSK in navy. But I probably wouldn't waste my money on it. Ouch!
Wednesday, 1 February 2012
Bonjour Honey (Etsy) review- positive
Today I will be reviewing a gold star clip replica which I have brought from Bonjour Honey on Etsy. Some of you may have already heard of this shop because it has been posted to various communities. Why? Because their shooting star clips are almost identical to the Chocomint star clips. Her Etsy feedback is 100% Positive!
Here is a link to the Etsy store- http://www.etsy.com/shop/BonjourHoney?ref=pr_shop_more
I didn't actually intend to buy a replica, but the thing is, the gold Chocomint star is a bit harder to get hold of. Gold was always the most popular colour choice. Most places stock the pink, but not gold. So I gave in because I had heard such strongly positive things about Bonjour Honey.
Ordering Process
Ordering from Etsy is quite straight forward. You will need an Etsy account, but it doesn't take too long to set one up. We were able to place an order very quickly. You can pay with Paypal, which is also a bonus. The owner of Bonjour Honey was very good at updating the order status so I always knew how far my order had processed. I didn't need to contact the seller, but I get the impression that she was a very sympathetic and responsible Etsy shop owner.
Shipping
From ordering, it took just over 3 weeks to get to here in the UK from America. The standard time it usually takes to deliver from the US to the UK is about 2-3 weeks for the type of shipping that was used. So when you take away the item making time, the shipping time was quite reasonable. There was never any need to panic. The item was shipped in a bubble wrap envelope with additional bubble wrap inside. So it was very secure indeed.
So is the replica star clip the same as the real thing? Yes. The 2 clips are almost identical. The differences are very subtle.
On the left we have the Bonjour Honey replica and on the right is a pink Chocomint star clip. There are a few subtle differences. The material used is the same, but the replica is slightly less shiny.
The edges on the Chocomint clip are slightly more rounded and the Chocomint star is also a bit plumper.
The stitching has been done very neatly. When compared to the chocomint clip, the stitching on the replica's 2 smaller stars is slightly more noticeable, but it has still been done well.
The replica's clip is a teeny bit smaller.
As you can see, the replica is VERY good. It is very close to the original and if you were quickly glancing, you wouldn't necessarily notice the gold one was a replica. The gold clip cost me about £10 including shipping. I think this is good value for money because of how well made it is.
The good thing about Bonjour Honey is that you can also ask for custom coloured stars. They have all sorts of options. If you have a particular colour in mind, it would be worth asking the shop owner to see if she can do it. Some of the additional options include black and silver stars. You can also change the pearl colour. The only thing which lets the Chocomint clip down is it only comes in pink and gold. If you get the 6% Doki Doki version, you have the additional choices of hot pink and blue (which is harder to find). So Bonjour Honey is also offering you colours which are not available elsewhere, which is brilliant!
So this was a very positive experience. I would definitely order from this Etsy seller again.
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