Celebrating Shalisa's Birthday!

It was Shalisa's birthday on Saturday and so a few of us decided to have a mini casual meet in Reading to celebrate! It feels like ages since I last got to see Shalisa and Sammi and I was so glad to have this fun day out before the TPC event Revelry (just over a week to go!). 

For most of this Summer I have barely worn lolita, as the UK went through a bit of a hot spell. But the night before this meet I was concerned that I was going to get too cold in my outfit! Typical English weather... In the end, I decided that I needed to fit in one last warm weather outfit before it got too cold and went with the outfit I had planned. I wore my Metamorphose March of the Duck skirt and went for a casual feel. I teamed it with ankle socks and loads of bright red Bodyline items to match the bottom of the skirt. 

We decided to go to Ed's Diner which looks just like one of those American 50's diners and plays a lot of music from that era. I got a chilli dog and shared some Atomic Fries with James. Atomic Fries are one of my favourite things about Ed's Diner! It is a shame Shalisa and Sammi didn't like their cheese and bacon fries, but apart from that we all seemed to enjoy our food.

After Ed's we went to the bubble tea stand in the Oracle Centre to discover if it was any better than the bubble tea at Mr Chips. The verdict was that Mr Chips is better! However, I still really liked my passion fruit smoothie bubble tea. Instead of traditional tapioca bubbles I went for blueberry jelly, which was a bit different.

After getting bubble tea, we decided to do a bit of shopping. Shalisa took us to this really cute little vintage shop called Frock and Roll. After getting a bit lost, we located it and I was able to buy some really lovely peachy pink gloves. I randomly found this hobby horse hidden away in the changing rooms. Of course, this was the perfect excuse for some silly photos! The photo I took with the hobby horse was a bit too embarrassing to post though, so here is Shalisa riding the hobby horse instead (sorry Shalisa!). 

Our walk back in to town took us along the canal and we got to make some geese friends. I think they were very disappointed that we didn't have any bread. One of the geese looked at me a bit funny, but maybe that was because I was wearing a print with ducks on it!

A nice little group shot by the canal. There were quite a few people walking by, so it was nice that we managed to get a few decent shots of just us. 

When we got back in to town we did a little bit more shopping. I was devastated when we went in T.K Max because I found a really pretty pair of reduced Melissa shoes in my navy blue. But they didn't fit me properly! I really would love to get a pair sometime. Sammi managed to find some cute boots that fit her, so it wasn't a completely wasted trip. And some random people in the store came up to us and started talking to us about lolita! It is always really funny when members of the public actually know about the style.

By the evening, we were ready to go to a pub for a nice drink. Sadly, the one we intended to go to made us feel really uncomfortable. We walked in to the Pitcher and Piano and everybody in the room turned to look at us. It was such an awkward feeling that we lasted about a minute inside before deciding we didn't like the atmosphere. I think that has to be one of my most uncomfortable experiences whilst wearing lolita in the entire time I have worn the fashion. So we ended up going back to the Oakford Social Club. We didn't have the greatest of experiences in there last time, but this time we settled in quite nicely and had a better time. But the Oakford really need to replace their board games. We decided we wanted to play a game of Kerplunk but when we opened the box we discovered all the sticks were missing and there was only one marble! It was pretty funny but I think some of us were secretly disappointed we couldn't have played it.

After a drink and some nibbles, we headed back home. I had such a good time. It felt good to see my friends again and I had a great time. Whenever I go home after these sort of casual meets, I always find myself impatiently waiting for the next meet to come around! But at least with Revelry around the corner I wont have to wait too long to see everybody again.

Le Petit Chaperon Rouge by Alice and the Pirates

Today I shall be taking a look at Le Petit Chaperon Rouge by Alice and the Pirates. This series includes 2 dresses, a skirt, a cape, 4 hair accessories, socks, a necklace, 2 blouses, a vest and a pair of shorts.

First up, we have JSK I. The bodice is a lovely shape and seems well fitted. The velveteen part looks a bit loose, although that may be down to the material used. The straps are a good width and the thicker velveteen material makes them seem a bit stronger and more supportive. The velveteen parts give the bodice a dirndl look. It does remind me slightly of Oktoberfest costumes, but at the same time I think the dirndl is a suitable look which matches up really well with the print. The velveteen parts are shaped nicely and I love the pointed waist line. It is also good to see the velveteen is lined neatly with colourful braid, which gives the edges a neat appearance and also looks very pretty. There is a ribbon corset running between the velveteen parts on the front. The ribbon used has a lovely matte look to it with no sheen at all. The ribbon is also spaced out well, without ever looking too bunched together. I also like how the ribbon is held in place by metal eyelets, as it feels like they are very secure. Underneath the velveteen, the rest of the bodice is made up of solid white material. Near the top, this white material is gathered slightly, which stops it from looking too flat. I do think the neckline is a little high up though. The neckline is finished off with a line of thin braid and topped with a rose corsage. The rose corsage is pretty, although I could take or leave it. The back of the bodice is solid velveteen. There is a bit of shirring, which is concealed neatly by a ribbon corset. The stock photos show the skirt has a very pretty shape. It is very rounded and flares outwards really well. It has plenty of volume to it. The skirt design is kept simple and the print is displayed really well. The bottom hem is then finished off with pretty lace.

This is JSK II. The bodice is very well fitted, although the overall shape is a bit simple. The straps are a suitable width for the dress. The straps are lined with lace on the outside, although I'm not too keen on their choice of lace. I think the lace looks a bit spiky and harsh, and something a little softer would have been nice. It also looks a bit messy. The same lace is used along the neckline as well. The bodice has a line of lace cutting across the bust area, giving the bodice a panelled look. I worry that this line of lace is going to sit strangely on some wearers and I get the feeling the bodice wont fit right on those with a larger bust. The lace used across the bodice is a bit nicer and softer than the neckline lace, although I still feel there are prettier options that could have been used. This panel at the top of the bodice is topped with a large bow. I really hate the bow shape. It doesn't look well proportioned and the shape is very simple too. I also don't think it sits well on the dress. On a more positive note, I do like the look of the bodice underneath the panel bit. There is a ribbon corset on either side of the bodice. The ribbon has been spaced so neatly and the sides are lined with lace too. The design looks very clean and well executed. The ribbon does have a slight shine to it, but nothing too obvious. My only slight complaint is the ribbon tails which run down the skirt. In the front centre of the bodice, there is a line of large rose themed lace running up the middle. The lace has a very pretty design with lots of detail to it. The lace really helps to fill in what would otherwise be a very empty and boring space. The back has a panel of shirring which is topped neatly by a ribbon corset. The stock photos show the skirt has loads of volume and flares outwards beautifully. There is the potential to create a very pretty bell shape. The skirt design is again kept simple and the print is displayed brilliantly. The bottom hem is then finished off with pretty lace.

And here is one part of the print close up...

...and another part. I can't say I am that impressed with Baby's stock photos for this print! This series is available in beige, red, navy and black (although the black looks very green to me). I am feeling very unsure about the beige colour way as I feel this print works best with a really bold, deep background. The other 3 colours work really well. As for the print, I like how it depicts the darker side of the Red Riding Hood story. The trees in the background are very sinister looking and one part is even shaped like the wolf, which I feel is a nice touch. I even spotted a few bats hanging from the trees! It is really great when you get a print that has a few hidden surprises in it. The characters in the print have been drawn well. My favourite part is Red Riding Hood and the wolf. The print is framed beautifully by the intricate gold at the top and bottom of the print. The non border part of the print features lines of roses and apples, which add an extra little pop of colour on the rest of the dress.

I'm not against tassels in lolita fashion provided they are used in a suitable way. However, I don't think the head bow from this series is a good example of how to use tassels. The head bow would have looked just fine without them.The tassels seem too big and I dislike the way they hang. Tiny little tassels maybe wouldn't have looked so bad. I dislike having them placed over the ear area either side, and I feel it looks a bit peculiar worn on the dress head in the stock photos. I just think it is a shame that AatP couldn't have offered just one simple looking head bow for this series.

I think that overall, this series is very promising. This is a very pretty fairy tale print which isn't too cutesy and sweet looking. The dress designs are also pretty good, although I would change some of the lace on JSK II. Would I buy this series? Possibly. I think it is a pretty series, although it isn't the sort of series I would usually go for. If I were to buy this series I think I would choose JSK I in either red or black (seeing as the black is actually a lovely green colour). I think the dirndl is a good match for this particular print!

Sheena's Bella Bows Review- Neutral

 I am a bit late writing this post as I almost completely forgot about it. But today I will finally be reviewing the tricorn I purchased back in July from Sheena's Bella Bows. Sheen's Bella Bows is an Etsy store and can be found here- https://www.etsy.com/shop/SheenasBellaBows

There doesn't seem much point reviewing the ordering process, as that is through Etsy anyway so I will just put in a quick mention that the Etsy website is quite straight-forward and the check out process was very fast.

Shipping and Communication

I placed the order on the 1st of July. The Etsy listing said that orders usually take an estimated 1-3 days. I thought this was quite a short time period, so I was expecting it to take a bit longer than that. Sure enough, the tricorn did take longer to make and I got a notification on the 11th of July (If we ignore the weekend then that is 8 working days later) that a shipping label had been created. As I knew the tricorn was coming from the USA, I didn't bother checking the shipping for a couple of days. But after a while, I became a bit concerned. The shipping label had been created, but USPS didn't have the item from the seller yet. By the 21st of July (10 days after the shipping label was created) I decided to send a message, just to double check that everything was okay. Sheena replied very quickly and was pleasant enough in our conversation, although I felt that my concerns were dismissed. It turned out that the tricorn hadn't in fact been ready on the 11th as she thought it would be. I appreciate the time and effort that goes in to making these items, but I felt it was a bit misleading to say that on average it takes 1-3 days to make on the listing, as in fact it was significantly longer than that. I was told that my tricorn would be shipped the afternoon of the 21st. My tricorn was eventually shipped out on the 23rd, which was 22 days after I first placed my order.

After being shipped on the 23rd, it arrived at my local depot on the 31st. That is just over a week, which is a reasonably quick speed for something coming from the US to the UK. 

My tricorn arrived in a sturdy box which was taped up well. The box was slightly bashed in places, although that was probably done during transit and the contents inside were perfectly safe.

Inside my tricorn was wrapped up with plenty of tissue paper, so the hat didn't have much room to move about during transit.

And here is the final product. The hat looks just like the stock photo and the colour is exactly what I was hoping for. However, I was a little disappointed by the quality of the hat. The material is very floppy and thin. I felt it needed to be a bit firmer. Looking at the base hat that was used to create the tricorn, you can tell it is cheap and of a low quality. Looking closely at the stitching, the folded up sides are only held in place with a few tiny stitches, which I think contributed to how floppy it is.

However, the braid around the edge and the ribbon had been stitched very neatly. The pleats in the ribbon are all the same size. The ribbon used is a little shiny, but of a reasonably good quality.

One of the things that really disappointed me about this hat was the elastic. I knew from the listing that the tricorn would be attached to the head with a band of elastic. What I wasn't expecting was such flimsy, thin elastic. It looks like it will break so easily. The hat also didn't feel very secure when worn and slipped about a bit. So I think I am going to have to replace the elastic. I may add some small combs instead to make it feel a bit more secure.

And as a bonus, here is the free gift I was given for having to wait so long. I'm not quite sure what I am going to do with it but it is always nice to get free stuff. I was thinking of making a medal brooch maybe? 

So overall, I was left feeling a bit disappointed with my order. The tricorn took a lot longer than predicted and I wonder if it would have taken longer if I hadn't sent a message to prompt her. I found the final hat to be very underwhelming. To be fair the tricorn wasn't that expensive, but I felt like I was expecting something a bit more from it. That elastic is definitely a bad choice and the general lack of stiffness put me off as well. I don't feel these issues are enough to warrant a negative feedback but I definitely can't give a positive feedback for my experience. I wouldn't recommend Sheena's Bella Bows as I have had much better experiences with other stores selling similar products.

Kuma Kumya's Royal Kingdom by Baby the Stars Shine Bright

Today I am taking a look at Kuma kumya's Royal Kingdom by Baby the Stars Shine Bright. This series includes 3 dresses (2 printed, 1 not), a salopette, a skirt, 3 hair accessories, 2 neck ties, socks, a vest, 2 blouses, 2 rosettes and a Kumakumya pochette.

Here we have JSK I. The bodice looks decently fitted and the shape is interesting. I find the straps a bit odd though. Something about the placement feels a bit off. Baby have chosen to layer 2 pairs of straps on top of each other. The bottom straps are a very standard pair of straps with a good width and lined neatly with a thin line of gold lace. Then on the top is a pair of scalloped velveteen straps, neatly lined with gold braid near the edge. Whilst both sets of straps are done well, I am unsure the 2 pairs work together. However, the velveteen part is detachable if you dislike it. The dress does look a bit basic with them detached though, so I suppose it is down to the wearer's individual preference. Something that puts me off about the velveteen is that it makes up such a small part of the dress and the material isn't used anywhere else on the dress, so it does look a bit out of place. The front of the bodice has been neatly divided in to panels and divided neatly by thin lines of gold lace. The print on the bodice goes from diagonal lines to straight lines, but this seems to work okay with the style of the print. The front of the bodice has a military theme with buttons and braid between them. The buttons and lines of braid are spaced out neatly. The bold colour and golden detail of the braid is so pretty. It has a lovely luxury feel and adds a slight pop of colour to the bodice. The buttons also have a very well suited shield pattern printed on them. The neckline has the same style of pretty braiding as the front of the bodice with the addition of some extra gold lace. The neckline is then topped with a golden ribbon bow. The bow shape is pretty and it looks quite firm too. I think it could do with being a tiny but smaller though. The back has a panel of shirring which is concealed neatly by a ribbon corset. The stock photos show the skirt is full and flares outwards beautifully. It has a pretty sweet shape to it. The skirt design is kept very simple and the print is displayed brilliantly. The bottom hem is then finished off with the same braid and lace combination as the neckline. It looks pretty and it is good for continuity. 

And this is JSK II. The bodice shape is simple, but nice looking. It seems fairly well fitted too. The straps are a bit thin and don't look very supportive. And despite being lined with some quality lace, they look a bit dull. The waist area has a bow, which looks very big. I do feel it needs to be smaller. The bow is also lined with lace, which emphasises the large size, but at the same time I feel it helps make the bow a bit more interesting. The bow seems to sit well on the dress, but the shape is a bit sloppy. The waist bow is thankfully detachable. The bodice on this dress is also divided in to panels with diagonal and vertical striped parts. But unlike the other JSK, this dress doesn't have any gold lace to line the different panels. It looks very simple and I think I prefer the other JSK with the gold lace. The neckline is lined neatly with gold braid and then a line of lace. The lace is pretty and looks smart. Then the neckline is topped with a large bow on one side with chains leading to a button on the other. The bow looks very big, but the shape is nice and it sits quite nicely. The chains dangle down nicely and are a good length. This JSK uses the same pretty button as the ones used on the other JSK. However, something about the overall bodice feels a bit plain and there are large areas with a lack of detail. The back has a panel of shirring which is topped neatly with a ribbon corset. The stock photos show the skirt has a reasonable amount of volume and flares outwards plenty. The shape is okay, with a nice subtle bell shape to it. The skirt design is kept simple so the print is displayed beautifully. The bottom hem is then finished off with good quality lace, which is one that Baby uses quite a lot. It is a shame they didn't include a line of gold braid at the bottom, just to make more of a feature out of the gold.

Finally, we have part of the print close up. This series is available in pink/red, blue, navy/red and brown. I do feel all four colour choices work well with the print and are also interesting looking. However, a part of me wishes the colours were a bit deeper and bolder in places. As for the print itself, I am loving the British theme! I think it is a bit of a new area as far as lolita prints go and seems to be a bit of a new trend at the moment (Innocent World just released a Union Jack flag print too). Our old familiar bear friend looks very cute dressed as a Queen's guard! The carriage design is also has a very cutesy design. I love the frames around the pictures too. They are so decorative with the use of gold patterns. I especially love the stripy bow and the crown. The stripy background really stands out too. I think this series may be a little too cute for some people but I think it is good to have a sweeter regimental stripe print on offer.

So I feel this is a really cute series with a good print. I think JSK II seems to be lacking something but apart from that it is a decent series with lots of interesting items on offer. Would I buy this series? Probably not, but toy prints have never really been my thing anyway. I still think this series is a good effort. If I did go for this series it would have to be JSK II in either blue or navy/red.

Magnifibres False Lashes

I hate false lashes. Despite multiple attempts, I never really got used to those annoying fiddly strips and waiting for the glue to get to that desired level of tackiness. So any product that promises to mimic false lashes without the hassle is worth giving a try.

This is where Magnifibres comes in. It is a brush on product with false lash fibres in it. Products such as this one have been available on the market for a while now, so I decided it was finally time to see what the fuss is about. Magnifibres is about £20, so one of the cheaper options on the market. It is worth looking up some reviews to see which product you feel is the best for you. You can get black coloured fibres, natural fibres and all sorts. What appealed about Magnifibres to me is that you can use it with any mascara and the instructions are very straight-forward. The only thing I would say (which isn't mentioned on the packaging but is recommended on the Magnifibres website) is that for the best results, it is best to use a new mascara, as mascaras tend to dry out once they have been open a while. The site also mentions looking down when you apply the fibres, so they don't get inside your eye.

And so, on to the product! I would just like to warn you all that the photos didn't come out very well in this post. It proved very difficult to get close up shots of my lashes, even with the special function on my camera! But I definitely feel the end results were a lot more obvious in person than they appear in the photos.

So this is my naked eye.

And this is my lashes coated in just mascara (apologies for the different angle). Now it is time to brush the lash fibres on whilst my mascara is still wet.

And here is the end result. It doesn't look a great deal different from my mascara only photo, but it did look a bit more dramatic in person. The product says you can lengthen your lashes by up to 5mm. I can't say that I noticed a massive amount of difference with the length, but my natural lashes are quite long anyway. There was definitely some extra length there though and I really noticed a difference in the volume of my lashes. My lashes looked thicker and fuller.You have to be a bit careful, as the lashes can end up clumping together, so it might be worth having a lash brush handy to separate them. 

So does this product mimic the effects of false lashes? To some extent it did. My eyes were definitely more defined and my lashes looked a lot bolder. Length-wise, maybe false lashes would be better. But I do feel that it did look like I was wearing more subtle false lashes. I don't like really big, obvious false lashes anyway so Magnifibres may be my ideal product. You can also go back and repeat the fibre application for a more dramatic effect.

So now I have discussed the end results, I suppose I should make some comments on how the product felt. The fibres did feel a little strange going on! It felt as though I was coating my lashes with fluff. Magnifibres felt a lot lighter than false lash strips and glue does. It did tickle a little bit too but I made sure to be very careful applying the fibres. However, I would not recommend this product to anybody who has sensitive eyes, as you may find the odd fibre might stray away from your lashes if you are not careful. I ended up leaving my fibres on for about 4 hours and the effect did last well during that time and I am confident it would have lasted a lot longer. When I went to remove the lashes, I used make up remover like I usually would with my normal eye make up. I have to admit, I did have to scrub a bit more than usual! But my make up did eventually come off. When I woke up the following morning I only had one or two very tiny fibres left on my face, which I think was a good result.

So if you are a pro with false lashes, maybe this product isn't worth ditching your strips for. But if you are falsies-phobic like I am then it could be a good option. This product would not be suitable for very sensitive eyes, but I personally found Magnifibres to be fairly comfortable to wear. I think with a bit more practice I could see me using this product more frequently. Maybe next time I will try an extra layer of fibres for extra depth and definition to see how that turns out. Would I recommend this product? Possibly. I think the results will vary from person to person. I quite enjoyed giving this product a go.

Loyal Rosette by Angelic Pretty

Today I will be taking a look at Loyal Rosette by Angelic Pretty. This series includes 2 dresses, a skirt, a salopette, 2 hair accessories, socks, a hoody, 2 cutsews, a necklace and a brooch.

This is the OP. The bodice looks fairly well fitted. The bodice shape is quite pretty, although I feel the design makes the shoulder area look quite wide. The sleeves seem to be a good length, but overall I find them to be very boring and simple. The cuffs are finished neatly with the brand name part of the print and 2 pretty gold buttons, but it feels like the design is missing something here. Perhaps some thin lace would have livened the cuffs up a bit and softened the edges? The waist area has a band of brand name ribbon going around it. The ribbon helps to nip in the waist area. The ribbon design is very bold and matches up perfectly with the print. The waist ribbon is detachable, but I think it helps to tie everything in so I personally would use it. The bodice has 2 lines of very thin lace, which help to line the separate bodice panels and looks very tidy. This dress has a solid coloured collar which has a very pretty and interesting shape. It creates an interesting fake neckline, which I really like. The collar is lined with braid, which keeps the edges looking tidy. The collar itself has a nice folded design, although it looks like it may be a little uncomfortable to wear for long hours. The collar also features a row of gold buttons and further buttons on the folded over parts of the collar. Whilst the button design is pretty and the buttons have been lined up neatly, I feel there are far too many buttons used here. AP could have gotten away with just a few buttons, spaced out further apart. The collar also has a detachable ribbon bow. The bow is a good size and a pretty shape. The ribbon is the same used for the waist belt, and has a good design to it. I also think the bow sits quite nicely on the dress and adds a nice cute touch to the dress. The back has no shirring at all, so size flexibility is limited to just the waist ties. The solid coloured collar has a pretty design and shape on the back of the dress too, and although I doubt many would notice it, it is nice to keep things looking tidy. The stock photos show the skirt has a pretty bell shape to it. It flares outwards well, although I feel the skirt could do with a little more volume and length to it. The skirt design is kept simple and so the print is displayed beautifully. I feel the simpler details on this dress are well balanced, as the print is already very busy. The bottom hem is then finished off with a line of crown themed lace, which is a very good choice for the overall theme.

And here we have the JSK. The bodice looks well fitted. The overall bodice shape is a bit simple but with a print this bold, that may actually be for the best. The straps are a very good width and are lined neatly with thin gold lace. The straps are made up of the pretty AP logo ribbon. The one thing I dislike about the straps though, is the way the design continues all the way down the front of the bodice. I just feel it is a bit too OTT looking when the bodice is already full with lots of bold details. The waist area uses the AP ribbon again, but this time it doesn't appear to be detachable. It does emphasise the waist area brilliantly though. There is a waist bow topping the waist ribbon, but I don't think the shape is that appealing. It looks more like the ribbon has simply been folded over and there isn't really any defined bow shape to it. It also blends in to the waist ribbon a bit too much and I don't think I would have bothered putting a bow here at all. The bodice features a bold military themed design with solid coloured mini panels, topped with buttons. Everything has been spaced out well, although I still feel it would look better without the stripes of ribbon from the straps on either side. The button design is very pretty and the military theme is a good match for the print. The neckline is then lined with a line of thin, simple lace which stops it from looking too plain. The back is fully shirred, so it isn't concealed by anything. However, with the style of print the shirring sort of blends in and doesn't look as obvious anyway. The stock photos show the skirt is very full with a very pretty bell shape to it. It flares outwards really well and has plenty of volume. It still looks as though it may be a bit short in length though. The skirt design is kept simple and the print is again displayed very well. The bottom hem is then finished off with pretty crown lace.

And here we have the print close up. As we can see, the print comes in red, blue, green and brown. All 4 colours work very well with the print. I'm not surprised to see that the red and green are proving to be the most popular colours. I think the blue offers something a little bit different too. However, I am surprised that the brown doesn't seem to be selling as well. I thought AP's chocolate print fans would perhaps take a liking to it, even though the print itself doesn't feature chocolate. As for the print itself, I love the bold combination of rosettes, emblems and the tartan background. For the most part, everything in the print works well together. The only part I really dislike is the part right at the bottom which is made to look like the furry part you see on the bottom of some crowns. That part to me, really sticks out and I would have preferred it if the print just ended with the band of gold. The band of gold is very pretty and would have been a perfect way to end the bottom of the print. The rosettes are drawn beautifully and are a perfect match for the tartan. I love looking at all the different medals and the emblems have lots of pretty details to them. As for the tartan itself, it is a good option for the upcoming fall season.

So overall, I think this is a very strong series. I think there are a few tiny things I would tweak with the dress designs but apart from that they look like very good. The print is also very bold and striking. I am actually glad that the rosette trend hasn't died out yet. It is just a shame that the very bottom of the print doesn't match up with the rest of the print. Would I buy this series? Possibly, but to be honest I think I prefer AP's other rosette print, Chocolate Rosette over this series. If I did go for this series though, I think I would choose the OP in green. I think the simpler dress design of the OP is a good combination with the print. The only other thing I wish AP had done, would be to make actual rosette accessories using the designs in the prints!

Take a Theme- Carnival

Today's post is another Take a Theme, where I search for items that match the selected theme. Today I am doing one on carnival related items. Seeing these items really made me want to visit the circus!

Potential sub-themes- Circus, tents, bunting, carnival food, ring master

Brand prints of note- Starry Night Theatre, Fantasy Theatre, Puppet Circus, Candy Funfair (Angelic Pretty), Twilight Circus (Alice and the Pirates), Golden playground (Infanta)

1. Ring Master Mini hat 2. Popcorn bag 3. Tatty Devine Bunting Necklace 4. Diamond Harlequin tights 5. Toffee Apple Earrings 6. Old Gold Boutique tent ring 7. Admit One Bracelet 8. Popcorn hair clip 9. Ringmaster Jacket

When it comes to carnival themed items, I think bold colours work best. It looks like I ended up using a lot of red! I adore the mini hat, but sadly it has in fact sold. However, I have included the link to the page anyway because maybe the Etsy store owner would take on commissions if you asked them. She also had quite a few interesting looking hats in her store as well. It proved very hard to find an adult sized ringmaster jacket which wasn't part of some cheap costume. I'm not sure the one I picked is the best out there, but for ages it was the only one I could find. I think my favourite item from this post is the tent ring though. It is such a shame it is unavailable any more. But there are lots of similar rings out there done by other stores, so do take the time to google tent rings and have a look.