Maiden Clothing Review- Positive

I recently placed an order with Maiden Clothing for a bag and so today I shall be reviewing my experience. They had a bag that I had really been wanting for ages so now seemed a better time than any to give it a go.

Ordering Process

As is quite common with similar sites, the overseas ordering process is a little bit different to how people in Japan order. However, the details of how to place an overseas order are quite straightforward. There is a button right at the top of the page which takes you to the instructions to place your order. Instead of using the cart system you have to fill out a form and send them an email with the items you wish to order. The form was very easy to fill in. I was able to simply copy and paste the form from their page in to my email and fill it in. Then they will get back to you with the shipping cost. Maiden Clothing take your payment via NICOS. We did have a little issue with the NICOS page because some of the Japanese text was a picture, so it didn't translate. But it was quite a simple form so it didn't cause too many issues. The emails went through reasonably quickly and my item was shipped out not long afterwards.

Shipping

My bag was sent out via EMS on the 7th and arrived on the 16th. To be fair, a lot of that time it was actually sat in UK customs. The bag only actually took a day or 2 to make it from Japan to UK customs. 9 days is still quite a fast time considering that included a weekend and I opted not to go for Parcelforce's Saturday delivery (£12 for Saturday delivery? I don't think so!).

The bag was shipped inside a paper parcel bag and was sealed up properly. I have to admit the bag used to ship the bag in was a little bit flimsy. As I was ripping off my address like I usually do when I upload photos on here, the parcel paper actually ripped open and came away with the address label. So perhaps some sturdier shipping bags are needed. The contents inside were absolutely fine and there was a further plastic bag covering my bag inside. It is more the fact that with a simple rip could expose the contents to anybody who is handling my parcel.

As mentioned, the bag was further wrapped with plastic inside. I do feel an extra layer of bubble wrap would have been a nice touch but my bag did arrive safely.

Was the condition as described as on the website?

Because Maiden Clothing is a second hand store, the condition of the items is ranked and any flaws are mentioned in the listing. I felt Maiden Clothing gave quite an accurate description of what I should expect from the bag. They have multiple photos on the item page. You have to click on the photos to go to them and you can't open them in a new tab, but that is just a minor inconvenience.

The listing for my bag mentioned there was a bit of a dent on the back. When the bag arrived I double checked this and I can confirm it was indeed the only damage on the bag. In fact, I think the bag actually looks better in person than it did on the Maiden Clothing website. They took a lot of precautions and I got a bag in better condition than I was expecting. So I am very happy. As for the dent, it is really small and superficial and I am not worried about it at all.

Furthering on the packaging details, I found that the inside of the bag had been padded out with a bag stuffed with newspaper. This is good as it meant the bag held its shape and didn't get squished in the post. The shoulder strap was neatly folded and taped up with a bit of cardboard.

So overall I am very pleased with my new bag. I felt Maiden Clothing gave very in depth information about the bag condition and was presented very well. If I am being honest, I think there are a few minor things that could be improved here and there but overall this was a positive experience. I would recommend Maiden Clothing to my friends and I would use them again.

Sweet Shooting Star by Metamorphose

Today's series is Sweet Shooting Star by Metamorphose. This series includes 3 dresses, 2 skirts (one with the print and one non-border print), tights, socks, bloomers, gloves and 3 hair accessories.

First up is the Shirring Pinafore JSK. Despite being fully shirred, the bodice shape is surprisingly good. I still don't think the overall appearance of the shirring looks very appealing though. There are 2 sets of straps. They look a reasonably good width but I feel only one set of straps is really needed. The straps are also quite basic looking, although with double straps this is probably for the best because they would look too fussy with lots of extra details. The waist area has a large solid coloured bow. The shape of the bow is a bit basic and it looks a bit plain, but it sits quite nicely on the dress. The good thing is, this bow is detachable so there is always the option to remove it or reposition it. The front centre of the bodice features a ruffle topped with many small bows. The ruffle is lined with lace, but it is kept quite subtle and is a good match for the subtle bits of colour in the print. For example, the pink version above uses gold lace which matches up with the gold in the print. The bows and buttons on top of the ruffle have been well spaced out and avoids looking too overcrowded. I think the bows have been shaped quite cutely and the buttons have an interesting design to them. The neckline is topped with 2 bows at the bases of the straps. I think the bows could have done with being a bit smaller in size but otherwise, they are a very cute shape. These 2 bows are detachable. Although the bodice already has a lot of bows, I think I would leave these 2 bows attached, as the straight neckline looks too plain without them there. As the name suggests, the back of the dress is fully shirred as well. I still dislike the look of the shirring but I admit I am surprised at how well fitted the bodice appears to be. The waist ties will help to pull the dress in further for smaller wearers, so there is a good amount of size flexibility. The stock photos show there is a lot of potential to create a very cute shape with the skirt. It has lots of volume and it flares outwards beautifully. The skirt design is kept simple and so the print is displayed excellently as well. The bottom hem is finished off neatly with a chiffon ruffle, which compliments the solid coloured chiffon bows on the dress very well.

This is the A-Line JSK. The bodice is a very peculiar shape and there is no defined waist line. The straps are a good width and look quite supportive. They are lined neatly with lace both on the inside and outside. The bodice features 2 thin lines of lace running vertically which gives the dress a more panelled look and fills in the empty areas with a bit of subtle detail. The chest area features a solid coloured chiffon bow. The bow is quite a cute shape and although a bit large, I don't think it looks too bad. It has a sweet little star charm in the centre as well. This bow is detachable and although I like the bow, I think I would position it differently to how Meta have chosen to place it. The neckline is very straight and lacks any real shape. The double chiffon ruffle helps to soften the straight neckline, but I think the ruffles give the area a very messy appearance. The chiffon sticks up oddly and I don't particularly like the placement either. The bases of the straps feature 2 detachable bows. The bows are a cute shape and size but I really dislike the way they look teamed with the chiffon ruffle and also the detachable chest bow. So I would definitely detach the strap bows. There are not that many pictures of this dress available but the sketches suggest the back has a shirring panel which hasn't been covered with anything, so is quite exposed. I really dislike the skirt shape. I appreciate the dress is meant to be A-Line, but in this case it looks like the skirt flares out too low down. When the skirt eventually does flare outwards, the skirt shape is then too rounded for an A-Line dress. The end result is quite awkward and reminds me a bit of a lampshade. The ruffle halfway down the skirt only emphasises the strange skirt shape and I really dislike it. This ruffle is topped with some detachable bows. I think the bows are a little bit big, but otherwise I think they look okay. Despite a bit of weirdness going on with the skirt, the print is still displayed quite well. The bottom hem is then finished off with lurex lace.

This is the Bustle Pinafore JSK. The bodice looks fairly well fitted and I really love the overall bodice shape. The heart shaped neckline could have been a little bit softer though. The straps are very thick and look very supportive. Meta could have maybe gotten away with making them a little bit thinner. The outside of the straps are finished off with a chiffon ruffle, which has been well shaped and I think looks very cute. It matches the chiffon on the bottom hem. The thin crossed halter neck straps are a nice little finishing touch too. The waist area is topped with a big bow. The bow size isn't too bad for the style of dress. The shape of the bow is simple but well formed and the bow looks so perky. It doesn't appear to droop at all and it holds its shape well. However, despite liking the waist bow, I sort of don't feel it is really needed with the rest of the bodice details. Sadly it doesn't appear as though this bow is detachable so there is no option to try the dress without it. The bodice is split in to panels by some thin lace, which has been used quite neatly. The front middle panel has been topped with a different kind of material. I don't think this change in material looks bad, but I think I would have preferred it if this extra material wasn't here. This middle panel is topped with cute buttons and bows. The bows and buttons are well spaced out, although I still feel it could have looked better without the waist bow. The 2 identical bows are a cute shape. They could have possibly been a little bit smaller, but I think they look quite good. These bows are in a colour which appears a little bit in the print. Although this works with the blue and purple colour ways, I think on the pink version the bow colour looks a bit off. The top bow is a bit bigger and has a more intricate design to it. It is nicely shaped and I love how it has been done. There is even a cute star charm dangling from the centre of it. The neckline is also lined neatly with some thin lace which keeps things very tidy. The back is filly shirred, which means the shirring is quite exposed. It would have been nice to have one option where the shirring panel is a bit smaller and topped with a ribbon corset for smaller wearers. The stock photos show the skirt has a very plump shape to it. It has lots of volume and flares outwards well. I think it could have been slightly longer in length though. The front of the skirt is kept very simple with just a thin line of lace and 2 small bows. The lace blends in and doesn't affect the skirt shape at all. So the print is displayed very well. The back of the skirt has a bustle which has a good shape to it. The tiers are well spaced out and layered on top of each other brilliantly. The material used is lovely and soft too, so it shouldn't add too much bulk at the back. The bottom hem is then finished off neatly with a chiffon ruffle, which blends in nicely with the bustle at the back.

And finally, here is the print. This series comes in purple (which looks dark blue to me), powder blue and pink. I think the pink has a slightly odd colour combination, but the other 2 colours work quite well. As for the print itself, it is very cute. I do feel the animals in the print are a bit simply drawn, but are still very sweet and have a nice bit of shading on them to give them a bit of extra depth. The clouds are suitably fluffy. The pots of candy are cute. It sort of reminds me of a slightly more dreamy version of Candy Star Rabbit. It is good there is a sax blue colour, as it offers a different colour to CSR. The print is split up neatly with smooth lines but overall the layout of the print is quite simple. I do love the stars and moons in the stripy non border part of the print though.

So overall the print is nice enough but I am not sold on the dress designs. To be fair, I feel the Shirred JSK turned out quite well considering it is fully shirred but it isn't my sort of thing. I can't stand the A-Line JSK at all. Would I buy this series? Probably not, although there are some decent options. If I were to go for this series I would pick the Bustle Pinafore JSK in purple. I feel this dress design is the most well thought out and it looks quite pretty. I really like the hair accessories and the socks from this series. It is definitely worth having a look at this series but for me personally, it isn't wishlist worthy.

Chilling Out in Reading

It was time for another long overdue catch-up with Sammi and Shalisa, so we decided to meet up in Reading for a day of casual fun. The great thing is, this day was timed perfectly, as the weather suddenly decided to warm up a bit. I am so looking forward to wearing some Spring time themed outfits very soon!

I went with my Metamorphose Apple print skirt as I hadn't had the chance to wear it out and it is also a good piece for a nice, casual outfit. It is also quite a retro and cute looking piece, so it is quite a fun skirt to wear. You can't really see it, but I am wearing polka dot tights to match one of the apples in the print. I think polka dots and the heart shaped bag add to the retro theme, as does the sailor collar on my Cherie Cerise cutsew. My only regret is not adding more pink to balance that colour out a little bit, but anybody who owns this skirt will tell you it is a very awkward shade of pink. It is almost a lavender colour.

I felt the white cutsew looked a bit too plain by itself and the necklace I wanted to wear didn't look right with the outfit. So in the end, I did a quick 30 minute craft and made this little apple brooch. Sadly, it was hidden by my bolero most of the day. Perhaps I should have pinned it to my very casual looking beret instead.

The great news is that we think we may have found our Reading equivalent of the Mitre in Oxford! The Outlook had really nice food (my burger tasted amazing and I know the others enjoyed theirs too), a nice atmosphere and a great location. My only criticism is I think they need to improve and widen their choice of ciders!

We also had a quick look around the shops in town. Sammi managed to find some cute macaron fabric in Fabric Land, although the queue in there seemed to take forever! Afterwards we decided to go to Mr Chips for bubble tea. I think I had too much ice though, as I ran out of juice long before the ice started melting. I was struggling to get the juice bubbles up the straw because all this ice was in the way and one almost choked me because it suddenly became un-lodged and fired in to my mouth! You can just imagine that... my gravestone could have read "choked to death on bubble tea". At least it would have been different!

In the late afternoon we decided we were a bit bored of shopping and headed back to the pub. This time we sat at the other end of the pub and got the window seats by the river. There was a really lovely view and I got to watch the ducks outside. We all ordered the fudge cake and it tasted better than the one at the Mitre. I feel very disloyal saying that, but it is the truth!

Finally, a little group photo of us. Shalisa nicked my photo to edit and brighten it, so I am stealing it back for this post! What amuses me about this photo is how well matched Shalisa and I are! We are both wearing the same bolero and shoes and both of us went for fruit prints. The funny thing is, Sammi had said she was going to wear her Milky Berry skirt, so we almost had a trio of fruity outfits.

So overall, this was a very fun and relaxed day. I am so relieved we have finally found a pub we can relax in. We haven't had the best of luck with venues in Reading in the past. Aside from the odd look here and there, we were mostly left alone as well. I don't think this day could have really gone any better. Although almost dying whilst drinking my bubble tea is not an experience I wish to repeat...

Salon de the Rose by Angelic Pretty

Today I shall be taking a look at Salon de the Rose by Angelic Pretty. This series includes 2 dresses, a skirt, a bonnet, gloves, wrist cuffs, socks and umbrella.

This is the OP. The bodice material looks a little bit baggy and loose in places. The overall bodice shape is quite pretty, although maybe a bit fussy looking. The sleeves have a pretty shape to them, although the length could be a little awkward on some wearers. The bell part of the sleeves flares out beautifully and the material is layered well. The lace used on the sleeves is absolutely beautiful, although there is perhaps a little bit too much of it. I think the lace on the sleeves sticks out a little too far at the bottom and the lace around the start of the bell part isn't needed. I also feel the bows on the sleeves are too big and the ribbon used for the bows is far too shiny. The waist area has a large solid coloured bow, which in my opinion sticks out quite a lot. It is a pretty shape and sits reasonably well on the dress but I just don't feel this bow is really needed as the dress is already very OTT. The bodice features multiple layers of lace. The lace has a pretty design and is layered well. The lace is then topped with a bow on the neckline, which again is quite large. The shape is lovely though and I like how neatly the edges have been lined with lace. The pearl chain dangling from the bow is a nice finishing touch. I just feel it needs to be smaller as it is quite dominant. The choker included with the dress is made up of good quality lace but I feel the ribbon bow makes it look cheap. I don't feel the bow is really needed here either. The back of the dress has a panel of shirring which is concealed neatly by a ribbon corset. However, the ribbon used for this part is once again very shiny and I feel it sticks out. The stock photos show the skirt has plenty of volume and will hold plenty of petticoat. It flares out beautifully and creates a pretty shape. The skirt is kept very simple, which given the OTT bodice is a bit of a blessing. It also means the print is displayed brilliantly. The bottom hem is then finished off with cute bow themed lace, although I think rose themed lace would have fitted better.

Here we have the JSK. The bodice looks very well fitted and the shape is quite pretty. The strap width really suits the style of the dress and I love how the straps and neckline have this pretty frilly appearance to them. The lace and ruffles create a fluffy appearance which also is a good match for the details on the rest of the dress. The straps do look a bit flimsy though. The waist area has a large bow which is a pretty shape, but looks a bit big in size. The bow is also lined with lace which doesn't help its large size but does blend in well with the lacy over-skirt. The bodice features multiple lines of lace and a ribbon corset. At first, I thought all the lace was a little too much and thought it would be better to take some of it away, but it has since grown on me. The lace is very pretty and it also provides nice continuity with the lacy straps and edge of the over-skirt. The ribbon for the ribbon corset is well spaced out and doesn't look too bunched together. The edges of the ribbon corset are well concealed by the lace too. It is a shame that the ribbon used for the corset and the bow on the neckline are once again very shiny though. The neckline bow is a cute shape and is a nice size as well. It sits well on the dress and looks quite perky. The back of the dress features a panel of shirring which is concealed by a ribbon corset. Again, the ribbon is shiny. The stock photos show the skirt is very plump with loads of volume. It flares out beautifully and there is the potential to create a lovely shape. The skirt features a lacy over-skirt which really fits in with the rest of the dress design. The over-skirt is a pretty shape and lined neatly with lace along the edge. It sits really well on top of the skirt as well. The over-skirt is detachable but I think it looks really good and I personally would leave it attached. Despite the over-skirt, the print is displayed very well. The bottom hem is then finished off with floral themed lace, although I don't think the lace is the prettiest and the line of lace is a bit too wide.

And here we have a part of the print close up. This series is available in pink, blue, mint and lavender. All four colours work really well with the print. I especially love the use of light and dark pinks on the pink colour way. As for the print itself, it really feels like this is an updated version of AP's Memorial Cake print. The cakes in the print are drawn beautifully and have lots of lovely little details to them. I love how the cakes are framed with ruffles. The cakes and the roses compliment each other very well and I really like the combination. I also like how the background has the diamond pattern made up of ribbons topped with roses. The roses have some lovely detail to them too. The only bit of the print I am not sure of is the gathered table cloth part right at the bottom of the print. I feel it looks a little flat and empty in comparison to the rest of the print. This part hasn't been drawn that well either.

So overall this is quite a pretty series. It is very dressy and perfectly OTT for a nice fancy event. The details on the dresses compliment the print really nicely. The only thing I really dislike is the shiny ribbon as I feel it looks cheap. I also feel the dresses would look too extravagant for a smaller event. Perhaps Memorial Cake would be a good option if this series is too OTT. Would I buy this series? Possibly, but it wont be going on my wishlist. If I had to pick a dress I would go for the JSK in pink. I love the use of colour on the pink version. I really love the JSK design too and I am not surprised to see it is so popular.

Model Application Advice

I had a reader send in a request, asking for a post about applying to be a lolita model at events. I am very fortunate to have been selected by both Haenuli and Metamorphose to model at the Tea Party Club events in the past but to be honest, I am not really sure how much advice I can offer. To really understand why I was picked on those occasions I would have to ask the designers themselves. I think there are a lot of attractive lolitas out there so perhaps the way I submitted my form did have an influence. I can't say for certain. I had a fun time modelling. Would I do it again? Possibly, if I got the chance to model for one of my favourite brands again. I have to admit, I felt I missed out on a lot of the Revelry event because I was backstage quite a bit. But I don't regret modelling at all. 

Even though I can't say for sure that my application form influenced me getting picked, I did put a lot of time and effort in to it. In the past I have been a bit lazy with my forms and as a result, I haven't been picked for things. So here I will go in to detail about what I did with my form and if it works for you, then that is great. But be aware that even if you do follow every bit of advice out there, you may still not get picked. If this is something you feel passionate about, then just keep going. My general attitude is that if I don't submit a form then my chances of getting picked are instantly zero. You never know what is going to happen.

Firstly, if you can, you should try to wear the clothing of the brand you are aiming to get picked by. At the very least, you should try to make sure your outfit is in the style of your chosen brand. With Meta, all of the people who got selected had worn Metamorphose in their applications. I am not suggesting that the people got selected just because they owned items from Meta, but it doesn't hurt to show a little bit of brand loyalty. Also, because some of my favourite dresses are by Metamorphose, I felt quite confident in the outfit I wore and I feel this showed in my application. Show your passion for lolita fashion and the clothing and it will show you in a more positive light.

You should consider the time of year this event is being held. Depending on how many models are picked, the brands will often want to showcase dresses that are coming out a few months after the event. If the event is being held in the Spring, then the brands may be wanting to show off their Summer lines. So there is not much point wearing a heavy Winter themed outfit in your application. Also, certain brands re-release the same series every year. For example, Angelic Pretty usually does a Royal Chocolate series every year and Meta puts out a Summery sailor series and a kimono print in the Winter. 

When choosing a pose for your application photos, try to think about the outfit you are wearing and how you can show it off to its best potential. For example, if you are wearing a wide princess sleeved blouse, make sure your arms are not by your sides. Show those sleeves off! This is important because the brands will want to see that you can show off their clothing as best as you possibly can. I don't mean to sound harsh, but during fashion shows the focus should be on the clothing and not you. You are just there to help sell their clothing.

It is also worth choosing your a time and location for your application photos carefully. Don't go for a location which has lots of distracting features, such as plants, because it takes away attention from you. You should also be careful to pick a time where the sunlight is not too harsh. Squinting in the harsh light does not look attractive! And whilst on the subject of distractions, try not to go too overboard with the make up. The brands will want to be able to see your face, no matter how cute your new eye shadow and stick on gems look! It may also be worth putting down the props, such as sceptres. On stage you might not be allowed to use props, so you need to be confident with your posing.

When you are taking your photos, it is also worth taking your time to make sure you get shots you are happy with. If you settle for a photograph that you don't think is that good, then it will show. If you don't think the photograph looks that good then the brands will probably think the same. Make sure you are 100% happy that the photo doesn't look blurry. Try a few different poses, as sometimes poses can seem like a good idea, but when you see the photographs afterwards they don't look as good. It can get a little bit frustrating standing there for a while and having to go through loads of photographs afterwards, but it is worth it if you can get a shot you are happy with.

Finally, never EVER lie on your form about your measurements and do not photoshop your photographs. This may sound really obvious, but I once knew somebody who lied about their measurements and then on the day had an embarrassing moment when they realised the clothing didn't fit them properly. The clothing was too tight for them and unfortunately, it showed. Is it really worth having an embarrassing situation like this happen to you?

Well, I hope this post was helpful to the reader who requested it and also for those who are curious about being a model at these big events. I can't guarantee it will help but you never know, a bit of extra time and effort might make a difference. I feel I should point out that you should only apply to model if you are 100% confident that you can get up on stage and pose as instructed. Remember to enjoy yourselves.

Print Discussion Double

Today is going to be another print double. Once again, I am getting behind with all of these! Scroll down further to see my verdict on L'ecrin deVotre Gauche by Alice and the Pirates.

First up today I shall be taking a look at Re.ci.pe by Baby the Stars Shine Bright. This series includes 4 dresses (one non-print), a skirt, a lace apron dress, 8 hair accessories, a necklace, a bracelet, 2 blouses, a handkerchief and a pair of tights.

First up is the Shirly JSK. I feel the bodice shape could do with being a bit more interesting but it seems fairly well fitted. The neckline seems to be halfway between being a straight line and heart shaped and I think it needs a more defined shape to it. The straps are a bit thin but look like quite a suitable width for the style of dress. The straps are lined on the outside with a thin line of gold braid and then a line of some very pretty lace. The lace sits really nicely and makes the straps a lot more interesting. The gold braid keeps things neat too. I am not so fond of the way the gold braid and lace has been used at the waist area though. It sits quite awkwardly on the dress and I think it makes the waist area look wider than it actually is. There is also a waist bow, which I think is far too big. The shape of the bow also isn't that appealing and the bow appears to be really droopy. It sits really badly on the dress and just seems to sag. The bodice is kept quite plain, although there is enough detail elsewhere to keep the dress looking interesting. The neckline has a very pretty solid coloured bow. The ribbon used is a little bit shiny but has an interesting textured design to it. The bow is a good size and shape and sits nicely on the dress. In the centre of this bow there is a gold coin charm which looks quite pretty (although I am trying to work out how the gold coin fits in with the dress theme. I feel like I may have missed something here). I really like this neckline bow and I think the dress would have worked just fine without the waist bow and lace on the waist area. My only criticism is that I wish they have made more of a feature out of this neckline bow by using the same ribbon elsewhere on the dress. Perhaps 2 very small bows placed somewhere along the bottom hem could have looked cute. The neckline is finished off with a line of gold braid and lace, which is a nice bit of continuity. I would have liked it if the lace thinned out and finished before the armpits though, as the lace sticks out a bit weirdly here and is probably only going to get crushed by the wearer's arms anyway. The back is fully shirred, which means it is quite exposed and doesn't look too appealing. The stock photos seem to show that the skirt has a reasonable amount of volume which would be suitable for a more classic shape. It flares out a decent amount for the style of dress. I feel the details at the waist area make the overall silhouette of the dress look a bit awkward though. The skirt design is kept quite simple and so the print is displayed very well. The bottom hem is then finished off with a line of gold braid and a line of wide lace. The lace is pretty but I think it is a bit too wide.

Here we have the Diana JSK. The bodice of this dress feels a little awkward. You have the bottom of the bodice which is well fitted and the gathered part of the chest, which is quite pretty. The problem is that the ribbon between these 2 parts of the bodice cuts across the chest area. It looks like it will sit awkwardly on some wearers. I think the ribbon could do with being a bit lower down, which would also make the overall bodice shape more attractive. Either that, or they shouldn't have the ribbon line there at all. The straps are a suitable width and look quite supportive. I like how the straps are lined neatly with thin lace on the outside to liven them up a little. But I do feel that the bows on the straps are too much and are not needed at all. If Baby insist on putting these bows on the straps then I think they need to make them a lot smaller as they look very bulky. The waist area is topped with 2 solid coloured ribbon bows on either side of the waist. They are a cute shape and sit on the dress nicely. I think the ribbon tails could do with being a bit shorter though, as it starts to cover up the print and also looks a bit messy. The bodice features 2 bows. One of these bows is placed on top of the line of ribbon and the other is at the neckline. Both bows are a cute shape and size but I don't feel that they both work together. I think either bow could look good by itself but together it looks a bit much. The neckline bow again features that gold coin charm and gives the bow a more decorative appearance. The neckline is topped with a line of pretty lace which I think sits a lot nicer than it does on the neckline of the other JSK. The back of the dress has a panel of shirring which is concealed neatly with a ribbon corset. The stock photos show that the skirt has a good amount of volume and flares out quite well. Overall, I think the skirt shape is quite pretty. However, because of the way it has been gathered, it means the print sits in quite a wonky way and it looks a bit messy. The bottom hem features a raised edge at either side which has been topped neatly with ribbon bows. The bottom hem is then finished off with a line of gold braid which keeps things looking tidy, and then a wide line of lace with the addition of a sparkly tulle layer underneath. 

This is the OP. The bodice doesn't have a real defined shape to it and it just looks like such a mess. The sleeves are shapeless and I am unsure about the length too. I also think the cuff part of the sleeves is too wide and doesn't suit the length of the sleeves. The cuff part of the sleeves is decorated with pearly buttons and ribbon bows and then finished off with lace. The end result is quite fussy looking. There are also these random ribbon bows on the shoulders, which look very out of place. The actual waist line on this dress is around the chest area, and this has been lined with a line of lace, which looks quite pretty. The thing I don't understand is the ribbon belt, which in the stock photos has been placed a bit more where the wearer's actual waist would be. It creates a lumpy silhouette and looks dreadful. I don't think this ribbon belt looks good at all and thankfully, it is detachable. The dress looks a whole lot better without it. The lines of lace around the neckline are pretty, but have been strangely positioned and it adds to the messy appearance. The neckline and lacy waistline have been topped with ribbon bows. The bows are a cute shape and size. I absolutely love the ribbon they have used. It does feel as though the dress is very overloaded with bows though. Perhaps these 2 bows on the bodice would look better if it wasn't for the shoulder and sleeve bows. The back doesn't offer any shirring so the size flexibility is very limited. The ribbon belt may help to pull it in a little bit, but as I mentioned, I hate the way the ribbon belt looks with the dress. The stock photos show that the skirt has a good amount of length to it. When the ribbon belt is detached the overall skirt shape looks quite nice. There isn't a massive amount of volume here but you don't want too much with this style of dress anyway. The skirt design is kept simple and so the print is displayed fairly well. The bottom hem is then finished very neatly with gold braid and pretty lace.

And finally, here we can see the print close up. This series is available in ivory, pink, sax blue and green. All four colours work really well with the print. I think the pink is my favourite though, especially with the contrasting red ribbon they have used for the bows on this colour way. As for the print itself, I am not really feeling the square box design, as it looks a bit too simplistic. The design inside the boxes is pretty and drawn well. I don't think it looks very exciting though. The floral border around the boxes livens up the straight edges a little bit. I really hate the tiled look at the bottom of the print though, which has also been used on the bodice of 2 of the dresses. For some reason, I just don't feel the tiles look that appealing. Also, after looking at how the print looks on the actual dresses, I am not sure the print is that balanced. The tiled part of the print looks too wide and I think it need to take up much less space. I see the tiled part as more of a border than the main feature of the print and it is too attention grabbing.

So overall I can't say I am really that impressed with the dress designs and I think the print is a bit underwhelming. I can find faults with every dress design and none of them really stand out as being that appealing to me. So this is not a series I would buy. If I had to, I would choose the Diana JSK in pink, but that is mostly because I think I am small enough that the bodice ribbon wouldn't be an issue for me. I also think Baby need to accept that these longer skirt designs, like that on the OP, don't necessarily work with every series.

Next up today I shall be looking at L'ecrin de Votre Gauche by Alice and the Pirates. This series includes 2 dresses, a skirt, 2 hair accessories and socks.

This is JSK I. The bodice seems fairly well fitted. I think the bodice shape is a bit basic though. Perhaps the neckline is a bit too straight. The straps seem to be a good width and very supportive, although it is a bit hard to tell with all that lace obscuring them! The lace used is of a good quality but is quite a basic looking design. It has been layered beautifully though and sits really nicely. It gives the straps a really frilly appearance. The bodice features a thin chiffon ruffle line, which breaks up the bodice and creates the appearance of a yoke. The chiffon ruffle also continues along the neckline, which helps to soften it a little bit. The inside of the yoke features lines of lace and sparkly buttons. The lace sits really well on the dress and the buttons are quite well spaced out. The yoke and neckline are then topped with a large bow. The bow looks a little bit droopy so could do with being a bit smaller or attached to the dress a bit better. The bow also seems to blend in with the design quite a bit and overall, the bodice feels very simple in design. It feels like it is lacking something. The back has a panel of shirring which has been concealed very neatly by a ribbon corset. The stock photos show the skirt has lots of volume and it flares outwards beautifully. The overall skirt shape is very pretty. The front of the skirt is kept very simple and the print is displayed beautifully. The bottom hem is then finished off neatly with the same lace used on the straps.

What is interesting about this dress is what is going on with the bustle on the back of the skirt. The bustle is a good size and shape. The chiffon layers are layered neatly on top of each other and well spaced out. What I really like though, is how if you look closely, each tier is a slightly different colour. The colours blend very well together and the end result is quite interesting. The colours used are a good match for the print as well. I really like the end result and it makes the dress much more interesting. It is a shame it is hiding away at the back though!

Here we have JSK II. The bodice is well fitted, although the shape is a bit weird. I think the waist line which arches upwards gives the illusion of a larger stomach. The dress has 2 sets of very thin straps. They look quite flimsy and not very supportive. I would have preferred one set of slightly thicker straps. The straps are also quite basic looking. The waist line is lined very subtly with very thin lace. It isn't very noticeable but it does give the waist a bit of a neater appearance. The bodice is very plain in design, but it is so short it is a bit difficult to fit a lot of detail on it anyway. The neckline is topped with a line of lace. The lace used is of a good quality but is a bit basic looking. I don't think it is maybe the best of choices and I think it sticks out a bit. The bases of the straps are topped with 2 ribbon bows. The ribbon used is quite shiny, but apart from that the bows are pretty decent. The size and shape is good and they sit really nicely on the dress. The back is fully shirred, which means the shirring isn't concealed by anything. The shirring isn't that noticeable with the dark colours this series comes in anyway. The stock photos show that the skirt has lots of volume and it flares out brilliantly. I am still not convinced by the waist line, but overall the skirt shape looks quite attractive. The skirt is again kept simple in design and the print is displayed excellently. The bottom hem is then finished off neatly with 3 chiffon ruffles. The ruffles are a good width and layered well. Like the other dress, these chiffon ruffles are different colours. The colours compliment each other very well and I really like this detail. 

And finally, here is the print close up. This series is available in sepia (which looks more like grey to me), navy, green and black. I really dislike the sepia colour way, but the other 3 colour choices look very pretty. The navy looks beautiful. As for the print, I think it looks very pretty. The window design reminds me a little bit of AatP's Midsummer Night's Dream print. The window frames are drawn beautifully. I like the use of black shadowy figures and objects which contrast nicely against the softer colours. I especially love the pretty singing bird in the print. The grassy bottom with the flowers looks pretty too. My only real criticism is the background of the non-border part of the print is a bit cluttered. 

So overall, I think this series has a lot of potential. The dress designs are a little bit simple, but there are also some really interesting features too. I really love the use of multi-coloured chiffon on both dresses. The print is lovely too. Would I buy this series? Possibly, yes. I am a little bit torn by which dress design I would go buy. I like the bustle on JSK I but I think the colourful chiffon is more noticeable on JSK II. Also, whilst I love the navy colour way, I really like the colours of the chiffon on the green version. If I were to go ahead and buy this series, I would need to think of some sort of compromise between my favourite details!

Getting Back in to the Meet-up Groove

I love lolita fashion and usually I will look for any excuse to wear my frilly clothes. Going to meets is a fantastic way to see the friends I have made through this fashion and I am very lucky to live close by to several local communities. But despite this, I will sometimes be preparing for a lolita meet and I will wonder whether it is really worth all the effort. This is nothing personal against the people I meet with, it's just that sometimes the one thing I really crave is a lazy day, slobbing out on the sofa and not really doing anything. For me, going to meets requires getting up earlier than usual, spending a lot more time getting ready than I usually would and praying for some decent weather. To be fair, once I have made the effort, I do really enjoy myself at meets and I am glad I went. But if I haven't been to a meet in a while or if I am feeling depressed, it is really difficult to push past that reluctance to get myself ready in the morning. You know you are going to have fun, but you just have to push past all that preparation and feelings of doubt first!

How exactly do you make this easier? Is it just me being lazy, or is something deeper going on? I have been attempting to come up with ways to make sure I get through the preparation and make sure that I do attend meets.

First things first, I always make sure that I do any preparation I can before the day of the meet. Whenever I go to a meet I always lay my outfit out the night before, make sure my bag is packed with the stuff I need and get all the hard stuff out of the way. That way, on the morning of the meet, I know where everything is and I feel reassured that everything should be sorted. I find making lists is helpful too. There is something very satisfying about ticking items off a list!

I also come up with music playlists full of songs to get me in the mood to meet up. I play whatever songs I happen to like at the time. I have noticed I seem to go through weird phases where I really love listening to certain songs. They don't even have to be really cheerful songs, just songs that you know you love and really want to listen to. Strangely, one of my current favourites is Psycho Killer by Talking Heads (don't ask...). All I know is, that when I listen to music whilst putting my make-up on, I feel more geared up for facing the day.

I also like to treat myself at meets. When I am at home, I don't usually allow myself that many treats. I mostly drink water, eat fairly small meals and lead a pretty simple day-to-day life. I don't deny myself treats, but I also don't go overboard. As somebody who does unfortunately have social anxiety, I do see leaving the house and meeting up with people as a big deal. So yes, I will treat myself when I go out, because I come to associate leaving the house and making an effort to meet people with positive feelings. I know this may be hard for some people to understand, but for me, this is a really huge deal and I honestly feel like I have achieved something.

It is also important that if there are issues within the group, that you at least try to sort them out. If you have had some sort of disagreement with one of the guests, then you are less likely to want to attend the meet. It can feel very horrible when you can sense these negative vibes amongst your group. Sometimes arguments can't be resolved, but at the very least attempt to do try to fix things. At least then you can say you have tried. It is very rare that you will become best friends with everybody in your local community, but it is important to try and remain civil with those you don't get on as well with.

And finally, if you are not new to meets remember the clothes, the friendships and how much you have enjoyed past meets. Look through old photos, go through your wardrobe and just look at things, remember the happy times. I am always making up outfits with my wardrobes, even when I don't have any meets coming up, because I find it reminds me why I love this fashion so much. Creating new outfits is one of my favourite things about lolita, so that is what I focus on. Try to remember why you got in to lolita and why you still wear it today.

I have found myself in a bit of a lolita meet slump before and have found myself almost not going to meets, so I do understand how it feels. I do hope this post is helpful to somebody out there. If nothing else, I just want you to know that you are not alone.