Twilight Gymnasium and the Seven Wonders by Alice and the Pirates

Today I am looking at Twilight Gymnasium by Alice and the Pirates. This series includes 3 dresses, a skirt, a beret and socks.

First is JSK I. The bodice looks well fitted. Although the shape is simple, the bodice looks really smart. It is a sharp design and seems to fit the 'feel' of the print. The straps are a decent width and very supportive. There is a belt, which nips in the waist line perfectly. I do think the buckle used on the belt is a bit basic though. The bodice features 6 buttons placed neatly in lines. Maybe the buttons could have been spaced a bit further apart though? The neckline features folded down flaps which are decorated with a line of ribbon and a ribbon bow in the middle. This is a really smart looking design. I do think the flaps could have been a bit smaller in size, but the shape is lovely. The back offers a panel of shirring, which is topped neatly with a ribbon corset. The stock photos show that the skirt has a fair bit of volume and flares outwards a lot. It should be possible to create a lovely, mature A-line shape to fit with the bodice. The skirt is kept very simple, so the print is displayed wonderfully. The bottom hem is left plain, which is a little bit disappointing. At the very least they could have added a thin line of ribbon to finish the dress off nicely. That would have matched the neckline details too.

This is JSK II. The bodice seems a little bit loosely fitted and the shape is far too simple in my opinion. The straps are a good width. I think the use of clips and buckles on the straps is interesting. It certainly livens them up a bit. The waistline has a band defined by 2 lines of braid. This does help to define the waist, but not as much as the proper belt on JSK I. The bodice features a yoke, which is a simple semi-circle shape. It features pleats inside and a row of pleats lining the edge, which give a bit of added texture and depth. There is also a row of buttons and a bow on the yoke. It makes it look more detailed and interesting. The buttons work well, but I am not convinced by the bow. I just feel the bow is a bit too cute looking. The back is fully shirred, so there is a lot of size flexibility but it also means the shirring is left exposed. The stock photos show that the skirt is very full and flares outwards plenty. It should be possible to create a great shape. The skirt is again kept simple, so the print is displayed excellently. The bottom hem is finished off with a line of pleats, which I think works brilliantly. This would have been a good way to finish off JSK I without looking too cutesy. It is definitely an improvement on a completely bare bottom hem.

Here we have the OP. The bodice seems quite well fitted but I am unsure about the shape. Something about the shoulder area looks very wide and a bit frumpy looking. I worry it wouldn't be too flattering. Even in the model photos the OP made the shoulder area look quite bulky. I think it the top printed part of the sleeves which throws things off. The arms are a generous length though and I like the smart buttons on the cuffs. Judging by the listing, it looks as though the solid part of the sleeves is not detachable. I like the dress with the full length arms anyway, but it would have been nice to have the option to wear this dress with shorter sleeves too. The bodice features a sailor style collar and a modesty panel going across the chest. This is set out very neatly and I think it looks very smart. I like the sharp lines of braid, which emphasises the lines. The modesty panel is emblazoned with the AatP logo, which mimics a school logo. It is very fitting! There is also a bow finishing off the collar. It is a bit sweet looking, but I think AatP just about gets away with it. The AatP logo charm is a nice touch too. My only complaint is the ribbon used for the bow looks very shiny. The back offers no shirring, so size flexibility is very limited. I think the print lines up well along the zip though, and the collar is a tidy shape at the back. The stock photos show that the skirt has a load of volume and it flares out really well. It should hold plenty of petticoat. The skirt is once again kept simple, so the print is displayed beautifully. Sadly, the bottom hem is kept bare again, which is a bit of a disappointment.

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

... and another part. This series comes in bordeaux, navy, green and black. These are very mature colours and are quite typical choices for school uniforms. Therefore all the colours look very suitable for the print. I am curious to know how a lighter colour option would have looked though. As for the print, it is very smartly set out. The building is well drawn and does remind me of a fancy school building. It is a bit too posh looking compared to the schools I went to, but I would have loved to be on a campus like this! I like how the building is covered with leaves as well, adding an extra point of interest. The school children are good as well, but I think they could do with a bit more definition to their features. I like how you can see inside the buildings. It would have been easy for them to just add a bit of sheen to the glass, but showing what is behind the glass adds depth.

So overall this is a nicely set out series. The print is nice enough. I am not sure if this is the sort of series that many would go out of their way to get hold of though. It is lovely, but nothing special. So I would not buy this series personally. If I did, my choice would be JSK I in navy. Out of all the dress designs I think that one is the most interesting and fits the school uniform vibe nicely enough. I think I prefer solid coloured school themed dresses over this print though.

Chateau de Nounours ~ Angel's Secret Winery by Alice and the Pirates

Today I am looking at Chateau de Nounours ~ Angel's Secret Winery by Alice and the Pirates. This series includes 2 dresses, a skirt, a blouse, 3 hair accessories and socks.

First is JSK I. The bodice seems quite well fitted and although the shape is quite simple, I think it works really well. The straps look a decent width and very supportive. There is a line of embroidered ribbon going along the inside of the straps and along the neckline. This ribbon is absolutely gorgeous and gives a slight 'folk' feel to the dress. There is an apron, which is obviously detachable if you are not a fan. I personally really like the apron though. It is a good length that doesn't obscure the border print and I think it has just the right level of cuteness to suit the style of the dress. The apron also features a line of the embroidered ribbon, which is a nice bit of continuity. There is a small solid coloured panel on the bodice, which is then topped with a ribbon corset. It is also lined with more of the embroidered ribbon on either side, which keeps the edges looking neat. I like that the panel gets more narrow towards the bottom, which is quite flattering. The ribbon is well spaced out, although I wish a slightly less shiny ribbon had been used. AatP have used some unusual ribbon colours, so perhaps they were harder to find in a matte finish. There is then a small bow on the neckline. I think this bow is a good size and shape. It adds a little bit of extra detail too, which stops the area from looking too plain. The back offers a panel of shirring, which is topped neatly with a ribbon corset. The stock photos show that the skirt is very plump with volume and it flares outwards a fair bit. I absolutely love the full, rounded shape created for the stock photos and have high hopes for it. Aside from the apron, the skirt is simple in design, so the print is displayed excellently. The bottom hem then features a lint of embroidered ribbon and a thin line of subtle lace. I think the level of detail here is spot on.

This is JSK II. The bodice looks fairly well fitted. Again, the bodice shape is quite simple, but I don't think it has quite the same 'wow' factor as JSK I, despite JSK II having more details on the bodice. The straps look like quite a supportive width and suit the style of bodice. These straps are lined very neatly with a pretty line of braid. The braid is really lovely, but I prefer the embroidered ribbon of JSK I! This braid is also used on the neckline along with a line of lace. The lace is of a good quality, but it doesn't look like anything particularly special. There is a waist bow, which I think is a bit too big. I also wonder if maybe the shape is a bit too sweet and cutesy? The edges of this bow are lined with a matte ribbon. Despite the bow being quite big, it seems to hold its shape really well. There are no obvious signs of drooping. However, it would have been nice to have the option to detach the waist bow. The bodice features a wide neckline ruffle which is lined with the same ribbon used on the waist bow. I don't think this ruffle has been particularly well gathered and it looks a bit flat. I also feel that if they are going to do a ruffle like this on the bodice, it would have been good to have a similar ruffle on the bottom hem to give the dress a bit of balance. At the base of both straps, we have some further bows. There is a matte bow featuring a bunch of fake grapes on one side, and 2 shiny ribbon bows on the other side. I like the bow with the grapes, but overall I can't help but feel that these bows look a bit unbalanced. The design just doesn't seem to 'gel' if that makes sense? I would have maybe not bothered with the 2 bows on the other side or would consider putting something else there. I am not sure what else you could replace those bows with though. The back is fully shirred, which means there is loads of size flexibility but also that the shirring is left exposed. The stock photos show that the skirt is very full and it flares outwards plenty. It should hold plenty of petticoat. The skirt is kept simple in design, so the print is displayed wonderfully. The bottom hem is then finished off with a line of the matte ribbon and a thin line of lace.

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

... and another. This series comes in ivory, wine (how apt...), navy and black. I think the 3 dark colours work really well. The navy works well with the purple colours in the print, as does the black with the dark red. I like that there is a lighter colour option. It looks completely different to the 3 darker colours! However, I think the ivory colour could have done with being a bit darker in tone and less white. As for the print, I think this is a really cool idea for a print, and I am not just saying that because I came up with a vineyard print idea for a design contest years ago! (I didn't complete it in time for the deadline unfortunately...). The brickwork arches and barrels do remind me of a vineyard I visited in France years ago. I like how the grapes effortlessly drape around the other print details. The grapes feature a decent amount of highlighting and shading as well, which makes them look more three dimensional. I can take or leave the bows that appear near the bottom of the print. I don't think they add much. The mice add a touch of cuteness, but it is just the right amount of cute for the print. There are a few things that confused me about this print though. What do the random angels have to do with anything in the print? I think they look a bit out of place. Although it did make me laugh to think of a bunch of angels getting drunk! I also thought the chandelier above the mice is a bit strange, as I assumed they were outside! Overall though, I think my misgivings with the print are quite minor. It is quite a fun and interesting print.

So I like that this series explores a theme which is not really seen that often in lolita (I think there has been wine themed prints before, but they are not common, especially not by the big Japanese brands). With regards to the dress designs, I think it is obvious I prefer one dress design over the other! The print is also packed with detail. I feel as though every time I look at it, I am finding new details I missed before. Would I buy this series? Possibly, yes. My top choice is JSK I in black. I would have picked the navy, but I am a sucker for that black and wine red colour combination. I think this could be a series which would be really fun to co-ordinate. There are so many different directions you could go in. I hope we see more of these kind of releases from Alice and the Pirates in the future.

Regimental Carousel by Alice and the Pirates

Today I am looking at Regimental Carousel by Alice and the Pirates. This series includes 4 dresses (one non-print), a jacket, a vest, a skirt, pants, a blouse, socks, a head bow and necklace.

First is JSK I. The bodice seems well fitted, but I am not a fan of the dropped waist. Although the bodice shape is a bit basic, I think it suits the more mature theme of the print. The straps look a decent, supportive width. The neckline and inside of the straps is lined neatly with a line of lace. There are some emblem themed gold buttons on the bodice. These are well spaced out. I like the choice of button as well. What I am not so sure of is the style of bow on the neckline. Not only is the ribbon used super shiny, the shape looks too cutesy for this particular series. The lower half of the back features a shirring panel, which is topped neatly with a ribbon corset. I am a bit confused by the back though, as above the shirring there is a random panel gathered in the middle to create a bow. I don't understand why this 'bow' is here. Surely it kind of negates the shirring? Maybe the design is a bit more straight-forward in person, but it doesn't make much sense to me as a potential international buyer looking online. The skirt appears to have a fair amount of volume. However, the dropped waist and tiered skirt design gives the dress a very awkward silhouette. In the stock photos the skirt looks quite lumpy. The tier joins themselves are topped with a line of lovely lace with ribbon threaded through it. This design had potential, but I don't think it has been well executed. The bottom hem is then finished off neatly with a line of thin lace.

Here is JSK II. The bodice seems quite well fitted and the shape is interesting. The neckline shape could have looked quite harsh, but the gathered lace really helps to soften it. I think the straps are a good width. They are lined neatly with a line of thin lace on the outsides. Given how lacy the rest of the bodice is, I think it was wise to use a thinner, more subtle line of lace on the straps. There is a line of lace going along the waistline. I do think the lace chosen is very pretty, but it also makes the waist area look wider. The bodice has a line of lace topped with 2 small bows and a larger bow on the neckline. I think the placing of the bows has been done poorly, especially the one on the waistline. They are not well spaced out at all. Also, the bows use that very shiny ribbon again and the shape of the bows is still too cute. The back of the dress is fully shirred, so there is lots of size flexibility, but also that the shirring is exposed. However, with the style of print and the shorter back I don't feel the shirring stands out too much. It would have been difficult to do a shirring panel and ribbon corset on such a short back. The stock photos show that the skirt has a good amount of volume and it flares outwards well. It should hold plenty of petticoat. The skirt is mostly kept simple, so the print is displayed beautifully. There are some interesting details to the sides of the skirt, where the ruffle at the bottom rises up at the sides. This creates a fun bottom hem shape. I also think these ruffly side details suit the frilly lace details on the bodice. These side details are then topped with some shiny ribbon bows. At least this is consistent with the neckline bow.

This is the OP. The bodice is really well fitted and I think the shape looks very smart. It is a good, mature match for the print. It looks as though the arms have a generous amount of length to them. They would probably be too long for me! But this will be helpful for taller lolitas and the fitted style of cuff will keep them from slipping down beyond the wrist. The cuff parts are quite long, but I think it matches the use of solid colour elsewhere on the dress. There is a waist bow, which is a decent shape and size. I am not entirely convinced this waist bow is needed, but at least it suits the dress. It is just a shame that it doesn't appear to be detachable. The bodice features a large solid coloured yoke which reaches down to the waist. This is a very flattering triangle shape. The good quality lace lining this triangle sits so beautifully on the dress as well. The yoke is broken up by lots of tidy pleats and some thin lines of lace. This gives the area extra texture and depth. There is also a line of emblem themed buttons going up the middle. I think these buttons are quite well spaced out, but maybe there are a few too many. The collar doesn't look too stuffy. I do worry the wide lace may be a bit ticklish though! The back offers no shirring, so size flexibility is very limited. The stock photos show that the skirt has a great amount of volume and it flares out well. I think there is the potential to create a fantastic full shape. There is an opening on the front of the skirt, filled with solid coloured material. This panel, like the one on the bodice, features lots of pleats and it is neatly lined with lace. Despite this opening, the print is still displayed excellently. The bottom hem is then finished off with some pretty lace of a good quality.

Finally, this is the print. This series comes in turquoise, brown, navy and black. As this is a very classical print, I think the colour choices are really suitable. The turquoise offers something a bit brighter and more colourful. All 4 colours work brilliantly though. As for the print, I think it looks beautiful. It is well presented with a neat striped pattern. The carousel fits in neatly with the print and I love the carousel horses which feature in the rows as well. There are lots of lovely little details. I think what I like the most is that this is a more mature take on a carousel print. It makes a change from the sugary pastel carousel prints we see quite a bit.

So overall I am very impressed. I really love the print. The dress designs could have maybe been better, but I like how there are more understated and slightly more frilly, detailed options. Hopefully there is something here to suit a wide range of tastes. Would I buy this series? Yes, although it is not going on my wishlist. I am surprised to find that I like the OP the most. As for the colour, I guess I like the turquoise, but the navy would be my second choice. I like the wide variety of items released for this series and I feel this series has lots of potential.

Magical Popping Fantasy by Alice and the Pirates

Today I am looking at Magical Popping Fantasy by Alice and the Pirates. This series includes 3 dresses, a skirt, 3 hair accessories, a necklace and a blouse.

First is JSK I. The bodice looks fairly well fitted and the bodice shape is simple, but lovely. I think the straps look a reasonable width. They are lined neatly with lace on the outsides which stops them from looking too plain. There is a waist bow, which is a good size. It doesn't look too big or too small. It looks a lovely shape and sits well on the dress. I was initially skeptical of the use of the stripy fabric in the print being used for the bow, but I now think it helps to balance out the stripes throughout the dress. However, if you are not a fan, it is detachable. The bodice features a line of buttons with a ruffle on either side, before meeting a slightly raised chest panel. Despite the button design being very simple, it works well. The buttons are well spaced out and the ruffles really help to stop the bodice from looking too flat and lifeless. I think the only thing I would have liked to have seen is some thin lines of lace going up the sides of the bodice, just to help break up this empty area a bit more. The chest panel features a scalloped edge, which has been well shaped. This panel also features the stripy part of the print, which is good continuity. There is also a bold line of trim and a small bow on the panel, which makes it look a bit more interesting. I like that matte choices have been used for both these details. The back has a panel of shirring, which is topped neatly with a ribbon corset. The stock photos show that the skirt is full with a decent amount of flare. There is the potential to create a wonderful shape. The skirt is kept simple in design, so the print is displayed perfectly. The bottom hem is then finished off neatly with a thin line of lace, which matches the lace used on the straps.

Here we have JSK II. The bodice looks very well fitted, but I feel a bit unsure about the overall bodice shape. It generally looks okay, but I thought the neckline looked a bit low down? But it looks fine in the photos of this dress worn by a model. The straps are a suitable width. I love how the straps are lined with a layer of lace on top, which has ribbon threaded through it and the further ruffle of lace on the outsides of the straps. The final effect is really stunning but it doesn't look too OTT. The lace is of a good quality as well. There is a yoke on the bodice, which appears to be layered. Underneath there is lace and on top there is chiffon. I really want to like these details, but there is something about it which doesn't quite look right to me. I think it might be the way the chiffon has been gathered and sits on the dress. There is also a line of ribbon and a bow on top, which unfortunately uses very shiny ribbon. I feel this cheapens the design. It is a shame, because the bow is a really nice shape. The back is fully shirred, which means lots of size flexibility but also that the unattractive shirring is very exposed. The stock photos show that the skirt is very full and it flares outwards loads. I really love the shape created in the stock photos and have high hopes. The skirt is kept simple again, so the print is displayed beautifully. The bottom hem is then finished off neatly with a line of lovely rose themed lace.

This is the OP. The bodice looks decently well fitted and the shape is lovely. I really like the chiffon sleeves and the matching yoke. It makes this OP look like a JSK with a blouse! The sleeves look a long, generous length. I really like the cuffs, which feature some threaded ribbon and pretty lace. It looks really smart. There is something I find a bit odd about the bodice. It is basically broken up in to 2 parts, which the top part being slightly gathered. This gives the illusion of a corseted high-waist skirt and there is an obvious divide between the 2 halves. There are several lines of lace going up the bodice, which end at this join. To top things off, there is a stripy bow on top of the area where the bodice is divided. The bow itself is really pretty with a quirky design. The tails have been folded for extra depth and movement. I like the pearls dotted on the bow too. But overall, I feel this divide in the bodice looks a bit mis-proportioned and the placement of the bow emphasizes this. The yoke on the top half of the bodice is lined beautifully with lace, which sits really well on the dress. There is also a line of floral themed buttons, which contributes to that 'blouse layered under a JSK' look. I am not a fan of the collar though. Although the collar design is pretty, I think it is a bit too bulky and the lacy ruffles need to be reined in a bit. The back offers no shirring, so size flexibility is very limited. The stock photos show that the skirt is plump with volume and it flares outwards generously. It should hold a great amount of petticoat. The skirt is again kept simple, so the print is displayed fantastically. The bottom hem is then finished off neatly with a line of good quality lace.

Finally, here we can see a bit of the print. this series comes in ivory, bright green, navy and black. I think all 4 colours look fantastic, but in my opinion the bright green version is the stand-out colour. All the colours work so well together on the bright green version and I think it is stunning. As for the print itself, I am liking this mature take on the carousel print. It is a bit more toned down in comparison to the OTT sweet Angelic Pretty carousel prints and a lot less crowded. Although the horses appear to be floating in mid air, I think AatP get away with it. It just seems to add to the magical feel of the print. There is a Mary Poppins theme to this print, which is evidenced from the items floating around the horses such as her bag and the flying kites. The Mary Poppins theme is not overwhelming though, so it is possible to enjoy the print even if you don't like Mary Poppins. That bird in the print looks a bit more exotic than the pigeons in the film though! I really like how the birds are helping to hold up the drapes and the use of bows. There is a subtle nod to London with the skyline in the background as well. The only thing I am a bit unsure of is the stripy part of the print, but it has grown on me.

So overall I actually think this is a very promising series. The print is lovely. There are a few small changes I think I would make to each dress design, but it is a really strong offering. Would I buy this series? Possibly. It is certainly one of my favourite AatP prints in a long time. My top choice would be JSK II in bright green. Despite being a bit unsure of some of the bodice details on that dress, I still find it the most appealing. 

Print Double

I am looking at 2 prints today, so scroll down further for AP's Romantic Cat.

First today though, I am looking at Alice and the Labyrinth of the Clockwork World by Alice and the Pirates. This series includes 2 dresses, a skirt, 3 hair accessories and socks.

First up is JSK I. The bodice seems well fitted and the shape is simple, but cute. I think the straps look a very supportive width. These straps have ribbon threaded through them and are also lined neatly with lace. I really like these details, but less shiny ribbon would have been nice. The waistline is topped with a line of lace. I am not usually a fan of this kind of detail, as it can make the waistline look lumpy and bulky, but in this instance I think this lace being here works. I think it may be because the bodice has been set out to look like a corset, and the waistline lace 'completes' the look. The bodice features 2 ribbon corsets. The ribbon has been well spaced out and the lace holding the ribbon in place at least looks quite strong, so hopefully this detail wont get damaged easily. However, once again I feel the ribbon used is too shiny. The 'corset' ends at the chest area. Hopefully it will sit comfortably on most wearers, but I do worry it wont sit right on somebody with a larger bust. The chest area is loosely gathered, which I think works well with the more fitted 'corset' bottom half. I do feel the material could have been gathered a bit neater though. It looks a little lazy. There are 2 ribbon bows on the bodice, which are a good size and shape. The top one features an AatP logo charm. I did question whether these bows were perhaps a bit cutesy in design for AatP, but this seems to be the direction they are heading in nowadays. There is a wide line of lace finishing off the neckline. I like the lace, but I wish it tapered off gently before reaching the armpits instead of having all that lace just hanging there. The back offers a panel of shirring, which has been topped neatly with a ribbon corset. The stock photos show that the skirt has a generous amount of volume and it can flare outwards a great deal. It should hold plenty of petticoat. The skirt is kept simple in design, so the print is displayed excellently. The bottom hem is then finished off with a line of lace which has ribbon threaded through it. I think this is a really good choice for the bottom hem, as it matches the details elsewhere on the dress.

This is JSK II. Considering the shirring on the back and the gathering on the front, the bodice is surprisingly quite shapely. At least we also know that there will be a decent amount of stretch, as the neckline and sleeves (I refuse to call them straps, even if this is supposed to be a JSK) are elasticated too. There is a pair of neck straps as well, which hopefully will help to keep everything in place. As mentioned, the main straps are more like sleeves and I would be tempted to go blouseless if I had this dress. I think if you wore a blouse with this dress it would look a bit bulky. Whilst I admire the size flexibility, I don't like the overall shape of the sleeves. I think they look bulky. The lace lining the sleeves looks odd to me as well. I can't put my finger on why exactly, but that lace looks really strange. The front of the bodice features a gathered panel with floral lace going up the sides and some lines of wide lace on top. The way it has been gathered almost makes it look like a shirring panel. I am not really a fan of the look of this look, so these details do not really appeal to me. However, I will be generous and say that at least the lace choices look pretty decent and I like how ribbon has been threaded through the lace. Although the ribbon has been tied in to bows, I sort of feel as though the neckline could have done with a small bow or something. It feels as though the bodice is lacking something and a neckline bow wouldn't have been too difficult to add. The back of the dress is fully shirred, so there is lots of size flexibility, but it also means the unattractive looking shirring has nothing concealing it. The stock photos show that the skirt is very full and it flares outwards a lot. It is a shame I don't like the bodice on this dress as much, as I think I prefer the skirt on this dress! I think it has lots of potential. The skirt is again kept simple in design, so the print is displayed brilliantly. The bottom hem is then finished off with a line of good quality lace. I was a little surprised they didn't thread some ribbon through this lace, but the lace looks fine on its own.

Here is one part of the print...

... and another. This series comes in lavender, green, navy and black. I suspect you all think the navy is going to be my favourite, but actually I really love the lavender! There is something about the colour combinations on the lavender version which I find quite appealing. But all 4 colours work quite well with the print. I am not so fond of the black version compared to the others, but it still works. As for the print itself, I am not 100% sure what is supposed to be going on in this print (Alice in Wonderland meets Steampunk?) but what is in the print has been drawn well. All of the clockwork mechanisms have interesting details to them which makes the print more fun to look at. I especially love the moon carrying Alice and the prince. In fact, I wish I had a moon shaped carriage like that! On a slightly more negative note though, I do feel as though there are a lot of conflicting themes going on in this print. Among the clockwork pieces we can see clouds, musical notes, flowers, butterflies and a series of dots making buildings in the background. It is very overwhelming and the print has a lot going on in it. I feel that at least some of these elements need to be removed from the print. If I were to choose, I would get rid of the flowers and butterflies (although it was mainly the flowers that attracted me to the lavender version of this print...). Out of all of the items in the print, I think it is the flowers which stick out the most and look the most out of place.

So unfortunately I don't feel a great deal of enthusiasm towards this series. I like certain aspects of the print, but not all together. There are things that I would want to change about both dress designs too. So I think it is safe to say I would not get this series. My top choice would be JSK I in lavender. If the flowers have to be in the print, then I think I may as well pick the flowers which I think are the prettiest colour! It is a shame, as I think there are parts of the print which are really lovely and would have looked amazing if they were not in this cluttered print.

Today I am also looking at Romantic Cat by Angelic Pretty. This series includes 2 dresses, a head bow, socks, wrist cuffs, a bag, a necklace and a ring.

First up is the OP. The bodice looks well fitted. I generally like the bodice shape, with the exception of the sleeves. I feel they could have done with being a little bit shorter and a bit puffier. The use of pretty lace on the sleeves matches the OTT lacy bodice well though. There is a lacy belt and waist bow, which I think is a reasonable size for the dress. The bow is a cute shape and it sits well on the dress. What I really love though, is how the bow has a layer of lace layered over the ribbon. Not only does it distract from how shiny the ribbon is, but the lace has a beautiful design to it as well. The bodice can pretty much be summed up in one word- lace. There is a lace panel, several lines of lace running up the bodice, a lace jabot and many lines of lace on the neckline. It sounds like an OTT disaster, but for the most part I think it kind of works. The only part I don't like is the lace jabot. I just don't feel it works here and the rest of the bodice details would still look good if it wasn't there. I would also lose the 2 gold rose buttons, as I think it looks a bit strange just having 2 random gold buttons here. Thankfully, the lace jabot and neckline bow are detachable, which I think looks a lot better. I think it could do with a bow being there though, so I would be tempted to add on a matching bow of my own. Removing the lace jabot also reveals another gold rose button, so they look a bit less random. The back offers no shirring, so size flexibility is sadly limited. The stock photos show that the skirt is very full and nicely rounded. It will hold plenty of petticoat. The skirt is kept simple in design, so the print is displayed wonderfully. The bottom hem is then finished off with a double layer of lace. I think the top layer of lace is pretty and of a good quality, but the layer underneath looks a bit cheap. So it is lucky that the layer of lace on top helps to disguise it a little bit.

Here we have the JSK. The bodice looks quite well fitted and the shape is simple, but lovely. I think the straps are a bit on the thin side, but I also feel they suit the style of the bodice. The strap design is really pretty though. It features lace with ribbon threaded through it. I could take or leave the shoulder bows though. Unlike similar strap designs, it looks as though the bows have been angled slightly forward, so you can actually see the bows properly. I just dislike how shiny the ribbon used for the bows is. There is a waist bow, which is a bit big, but again I feel it suits the dress. The shape is really sweet and well formed. This bow is dotted with fake pearls as well. I have to be honest though, I do prefer the waist bow on the OP! The bodice features several lines of lace, leading up to a lacy panel on the chest area. These lines are neatly set out and I really love the lace choices here. There is a line of gold rose shaped buttons and this time they look better positioned and spaced out. Where the lines of lace meets the lace panel, there is a line of lace with ribbon threaded through. This matches up perfectly with the straps. The bodice is finished off with 2 large bows on the chest area. The bows are a cute shape, but I am not fond of the size of them. It would have been nice if AP had made them detachable, but the dress listing seems to suggest you can't detach them. I feel this is unfortunate, as the size makes them look very bulky. It would have been good to have the option, as perhaps the bows would look better if there was only one attached. The back offers a panel of shirring, which is neatly topped with a ribbon corset. The stock photos show that the skirt has plenty of volume and flares out well. I think there is a lot of potential to create that super sweet AP skirt shape. The skirt is again kept simple, so the print is displayed beautifully. The bottom hem is then finished off neatly with a line of the better quality lace. Thankfully, the scratchy cheap looking lace does not make an appearance this time!

Finally, here is the print. This series comes in pink, mint, lavender and grey. I know there has been a bit of confusion online about how similar the lavender and grey versions look. I personally think both these colours look fantastic and they are my favourites from this series! The other 2 colours look good as well, but I think the grey is my absolute favourite. As for the print, it is not exactly original, but I think there are enough differences here to keep the cat print fans happy. Unlike other AP cat prints, the cats in this print feel a bit more 'animated'. They look playful, rather than just sitting still in the print and not looking natural. They look super cute too! The lines of ribbons and drapes fit in well and help to break up the border and non-border parts nicely. I do feel some parts of the border print, such as the frames, look as though they have been drawn in for the sake of it. However, they do at least help to break up the empty space. The non-border part of the print with the roses is lovely. I would have loved to have seen this used with a floral border print! But the cats are still pretty good.

So overall I think this is a lovely series. I don't really go for cat prints myself, but I can definitely understand why this series has been so popular. The colour options are lovely and there are just a few small things I would want to tweak with the dress designs. Would I buy this series? No, but only for the simple reason that it doesn't really fit my usual style. Otherwise I would be all over this! My top choice would be the JSK in grey. I love that the grey offers a slightly more mature and non-pastel option. I think there needs to be more grey dresses. It is such a fresh alternative to black and still works with the print. This print offers a lot of different co-ordinating options, so I am looking forward to seeing how people wear it.

A Print Double

Today I am looking at 2 different prints. Scroll down further for AP's Creamy Cherry.

First up today though, is Psyche ~ The Doctor and the Eternal Sun Shine by Alice and the Pirates. This series includes 3 dresses, a skirt, 2 hair accessories, a travel pouch, socks and a few items of jewelry. 

First up is JSK I. The bodice looks well fitted (in hindsight, I chose a bad picture) but the shape is a bit boring. The straps are an okay width and look reasonably well supportive. I think the width if the straps suits the style of the bodice. The straps are lined very neatly with a line of modest lace on the outsides, which stops them from looking too plain. I do feel this dress design is lacking the 'wow' factor though. There is a ribbon waist bow, which looks a suitable size. I really like the way this bow has been shaped. However, the ribbon used is very shiny which makes it look a bit cheap. This waist bow is detachable and even though the dress looks too plain with it removed, I would unfortunately remove the bow if it was me. The bodice features a chest panel, which is lined with the same lace as the straps. I don't think this panel does anything to make the bodice look more interesting. Overall I think the bodice is really boring. The back has a panel of shirring, which is topped neatly with a ribbon corset. The stock photos show that the skirt flares out well and has a decent amount of volume. It is a shame the bodice is so dull, a the skirt shape looks like it could be really nice! The skirt is kept simple in design, so the print is displayed beautifully. The bottom hem is then finished off neatly with a line of pretty looking rose lace. This goes really well with the roses in the print.

Here we have JSK II. The bodice looks quite well fitted. Despite the bodice shape still being very simple, I think it is an improvement on the last JSK. This dress features 2 sets of very thin straps, which look quite flimsy. I think the neck straps look quite restrictive and uncomfortable. These neckline straps seem to be detachable, but that just leaves one set of very thin straps. They have been lined with ribbon though, so that at least makes them a bit more interesting. There is a ribbon belt, which helps to define the waistline nicely. However, once again very shiny ribbon has been used. I am also not fond of the way the bow has been tied in the stock photos. The bodice is kept super plain, with just a thin line of lace going along the neckline. It is like AatP have put no effort whatsoever in to these dress designs. The back is fully shirred, which means the shirring is exposed. The back is very short though and the belt helps to cover it a bit. So the shirring doesn't look super obvious in my opinion. The stock photos show that the skirt has a fair amount of volume. It looks like there is the potential to create a very pleasant shape. The stock is once again kept simple, so the print is displayed excellently. The bottom hem is then finished off with the same dull thin lace. I wonder why they didn't use the rose lace on this dress?

This is the OP. The bodice looks a bit baggy, although that could just be the way the material has been gathered. The shape of the bodice is simple still. It seems that 'simple' is the overall feeling I seem to be getting from this series. The sleeves are elasticated, so they should be very comfortable to wear and they have a suitably puffy appearance. However, I still feel the sleeves could have been a better shape. The sleeves and neckline are finished off neatly with lines of thin lace. I think this lace works quite nicely on the sleeves, but maybe something a bit more eye-catching could have been added to the neckline. There is a 'belt' on the waistline, which doesn't seem to contribute much to the design. It doesn't define the waistline that well. The bow on this belt is kept a reasonable size, but the shape of this bow is so basic. The bodice is pleated, which gives the area a bit of added depth and texture. There is then a row of buttons going up the middle which is neatly lined with lace on either side. This lace sits really nicely on the dress. I do think the buttons chosen are very plain in design though. I think more could have been done here. The back does not have a shirring panel, but with the elasticated parts and gathered material there is a small bit of size flexibility. It wont be that much, but it is better than nothing. The stock photos show that the skirt is very full with plenty of volume. It should hold plenty of petticoat. Once again, the skirt is kept simple in design, so the print is displayed wonderfully. The pretty rose lace then makes a reappearance on the bottom hem. 

Finally, here we can see what the print looks like. This series comes in off-white, beige, navy and black. The colours are quite subdued, but I think they are excellent choices for this sort of print. All 4 colours work really well. As for the print itself, I think it is really neatly set out and I like the individual elements, but when I look at it as a whole I find it underwhelming. I can't even find the words to explain why. I just don't think it is anything spectacular. The books are well drawn and I like the way the roses and other objects are positioned around them. One part of the print I really do like though, is the butterfly background. I am a fan of butterflies in prints though, so I may be a bit biased there. 

I think I would describe this series as "pretty, but nothing to write home about" because the designs are nice enough, but they lack any real oomph. If you are a fan of understated dresses though, then this series probably has a lot of appeal. I personally think that more effort could have been put in to the dress designs without them looking too OTT. The dress designs are almost verging on being lazy. So I think it is safe to say I would not buy this series. My top choice would be the OP in navy. I have to say though, that I was so uninspired by each dress design that there wasn't much separating my favourite dress design when I opted for the OP. I feel so underwhelmed by the whole series.

Today I am also looking at Creamy Cherry by Angelic Pretty. This series includes 2 dresses, a blouse, a cutsew, socks, 3 hair accessories and a few items of jewelry.

First we have the OP. The bodice material looks a bit baggy, but that is a given when you use chiffon anyway. I think the shape of the bodice is really cute. I like the arm length and the use of chiffon gives them a soft, floaty appearance. The cuffs have been finished off modestly with a thin line of pretty lace. I think this is just the right amount of detail needed here. There is a ribbon belt, which defines the waist nicely but also helps to break up the all-over print. I am really impressed that AP have gone for a matte ribbon. The bow on the belt is small and simple, but looks really cute. This belt is removable, but I would definitely leave it on. The bodice is broken up by some thin lines of lace, which helps to break up the empty space. There is then a lacy yoke. The polka dot lace used here is really pretty and of a good quality, but I don't think it sits well on the dress. In some of the photos the lace is sitting awkwardly. It may just be the way it has been gathered. This lacy yoke has a line in the middle which is topped with 3 ribbon bows. These bows are a cute size and shape but I was really disappointed that very shiny ribbon was used, especially seeing as a lovely matte ribbon was used for the belt. There is a collar, which is a cute shape, but I think it is too big. It reaches the shoulders, which I think emphasises how wide the area is. I am a fan of the use of sheer material for the collar though. It makes it look a bit less formal. The back offers no shirring, so size flexibility is very limited. The stock photos show that the skirt has loads of volume and it flares outwards plenty. It should hold plenty of petticoat. The skirt is kept simple in design, so the print is displayed beautifully. The bottom hem is then finished off with the most adorable cherry themed lace. I like that the cherries are heart shaped! This is such a perfect lace choice for this series.

Here we have the JSK. The bodice looks well fitted. The bodice shape is quite simple, but I think it looks lovely. I think the neckline could do with being a bit less straight though. The straps are a suitable width and I think they really suit the style of the dress. They are lined neatly with a thin line of lace, which stops the straps from looking too plain but also still fits in with the rest of the design. I like how the strap lace sort of lines up with the lines of lace going down the bodice. There is a ribbon belt, which really helps to define the waistline. Again, the material used looks quite matte, which I approve of. Judging by the size of the bow in the pictures, it looks like the belt has a fair amount of length too, so there should be enough to tie a decent bow. The bodice has a row of alternating button and bows. These are well spaced out. Once again though, a shiny ribbon has been used for these bodice bows! The buttons are also very basic in design, although I think in this instance that actually works in the design's favour. The sides of this line of bows and the neckline are both lined with wide polka dot lace. I like how it has been gathered on the neckline, which makes it look frothy and creates a lot of movement. I think a more understated lace would have sat better for the lines going down the bodice though. There is then a slightly larger ribbon bow on the neckline, which despite being shiny, I think it finishes off the design nicely. The back has a panel of shirring which is topped neatly with a ribbon corset. The stock photos show that the skirt has loads of volume and it flares outwards widely. I don't like the petticoat AP have used for the stock photos, but it does demonstrate that it is possible to create a very full shape. I think it has lots of potential. The skirt is again kept simple in design, so the print is displayed really well. The bottom hem is then finished off with the cute cherry lace again.

And this is what the print looks like. This series comes in white, pink, navy and black. All 4 colours work amazingly with the print. I am especially fond of the white and the navy. I think the navy really makes the cherries in the print 'pop'. As for the print itself, it is pretty basic but well thought out. It allows the cherries to stand out and grab all of the attention. The cherries themselves are well drawn. I like the use of shine and shading on the cherries to make them look more 3-Dimensional. They certainly look very inviting! The cherries are well spaced out and positioned. The line of whipped cream is a cute finishing touch which helps to fill out the space at the bottom. I think this goes well with the lacy parts of the dress designs too.

So whilst this is nothing particularly new or original, I am not surprised that this print sold out so quickly. AP know what works with cherry prints and pushing the retro vibe was definitely the right way to go. This print doesn't look too dissimilar to Drained Cherry, but the print is bold enough to keep people interested. Would I buy this series? Yes, I would. I would have really liked to have seen this released as a skirt as well though. My top choice would be the JSK in navy. 

Alice Wonder Car Chase by Alice and the Pirates

Today I am looking at Alice Wonder Car Chase by Alice and the Pirates. This series includes 5 dresses (2 non-print), a skirt, 5 hair accessories, a tote bag, an apron, a cutsew and a parachute shirt.

First up is JSK I. The bodice is well fitted, although the overall shape is a bit simple. I am also not keen on the neckline shape. The straps are a suitable with and look quite supportive. They are lined neatly with thin lace, which stops them looking too plain. There is a waist bow, which is an okay size. The shape is pretty and well formed. It sits well on the dress. It is neatly lined with lace too. The bodice features a raised panel with a scalloped edge. It will be interesting to see how this bodice detail will sit on bustier wearers. I really like how the edge of this panel is lined with lace. I think this looks really smart. The line of trim used to create the love hearts is an interesting idea, but I am not sure I like the way it looks. It is hard to say exactly why, but something about this design just doesn't quite work. I do appreciate AatP trying to do something a bit inventive with their dress details though. The chest area is further topped with 2 ribbon bows. These bows are a cute shape and a good size, but the ribbon used is too shiny. The same can be said for the gathered ruffle of ribbon going along the neckline. I do like the card suit shaped lace also going along the neckline. This particular detail has been well executed. It's just a shame the ribbon is so shiny. The back features a panel of shirring, which is topped neatly with a ribbon corset. The stock photos show that the skirt has a lot of volume and it flares outwards plenty. I really like the shape depicted in the stock photos. The skirt is kept simple in design, so the print is displayed beautifully. The bottom hem is then finished off with the card suit lace and a gathered ribbon ruffle. Once again, the ribbon is too shiny, but at least this bottom hem is consistent design-wise with the neckline.

Here we have JSK II. The bodice looks well fitted, but the bodice shape is just bizarre. I really hate the little panel inside the lacy straps. This is another bodice design where it is questionable how good it will look on larger busted wearers. The straps at least are a good, solid width. I really like the ladder lace with ribbon threaded through it layered over the straps as well. On a different bodice shape, this strap detail could have looked really pretty. It doesn't work having the strap details finish halfway down the bodice in this way. There is then a line of lace running from where the straps finish to the waistline, which is topped with some small bows and a bow. These details feel a bit 'forced' and I don't think they are needed at all. I think the bows look cheap too. The back is fully shirred, which means lots of size flexibility, but also that the unattractive looking shirring has nothing covering it. I am also not a fan of the way the straps cross on the back and how the lace abruptly ends. The stock photos show that the skirt has a good amount of volume and it flares outwards lots. It should hold plenty of petticoat. The skirt is again kept simple, so the print is displayed excellently. The bottom hem is then finished off neatly with the same style of ribbon threaded lace as the straps. So again the design features a lot of continuity.

This is the OP. The bodice looks quite well fitted, but the overall bodice shape is a bit frumpy. I think the sleeves are too long and lack shape. They look really flat and lifeless. I also don't like the dropped waistline. The lace topping the waistline only makes the dropped waist look worse, because it emphasises it. I think the sailor cuffs and collar are a cute idea, but it would have looked better on a simpler dress rather than with this busy print. The bow is cute though, and I like the size and shape. There are also some emblem themed buttons on the bodice. They are set out quite neatly and well spaced for this style of bodice. I think some thin lines of lace could have helped to break up the bodice and make it look a bit less flat though. The back offers no shirring, so size flexibility is very limited. I don't think the print lines up that well along the zip line. The stock photos show that the skirt has a decent amount of volume. Despite the dropped waistline, I feel the stock photos show that it is possible to create a really cute shape with the skirt. It is such a shame that the waistline lace spoils it, in my opinion. The skirt is again kept quite simple, so the print is displayed really well. The bottom hem is then finished off neatly with a line of thin lace.

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

... and another part. This series comes in ivory, sax blue, red and black. The colours generally work well with the print. However, I think the red version looks a bit dull and almost brown in colour. A richer red would have possibly worked better. As for the print itself, the first thing that came to my mind when I saw it was the cartoon Wacky Races. It is certainly a unique idea for a print, but as I am writing this, I have the Wacky Races music going around my head! There are a couple of ideas in the print which I think are really cute. I like the fact that the 'track' is in fact a ribbon. It is also interesting how the Lewis Caroll imagery has been incorporated in to the print. Even slightly more minor characters like the Dodo get featured. This is quite rare for an Alice themed print, which will typically feature Alice, the Red Queen and the White Rabbit at most. I am not really sure how the sweets fit in with the print though.

So overall I think this was a cute idea for a print, but it hasn't been that well executed. At times, the dress cuts are very strange. I don't feel they will look that flattering when worn either. I think the main problem is that this is a busy print and there are lots of details going on in the dress designs. It is good to experiment with new ideas, but I am not sure this was the best place to try out some of them and definitely not all at the same time. I can't see this series doing that well unfortunately. My top pick would be JSK I in black, but I think it is safe to say I wont be buying this series at all. I don't even like the print enough to consider the simple skirt.

Fortune Teller by Alice and the Pirates

Today I am looking at Fortune Teller by Alice and the Pirates. This series includes 2 dresses, a skirt, a veil, socks and a cuff with a chain and ring.

First up is JSK I. The bodice looks very well fitted and the shape is interesting. The shape sort of reminds me of JSK I from their Midsummer series. I think the straps look a suitable width and very supportive. They are kept very plain though, with not even a thin line of lace lining them. There is a subtle thin line of lace going along the neckline, but it is not that noticeable. There is a high waist with a ribbon belt. I think it looks far enough down that it shouldn't hit the wearer's bust area, but this style of dress wont suit everybody. The ribbon used has a beautiful design to it, which is very bold. It gives the ribbon a really luxurious feel. The bow finishing the belt is well formed and I like the size. There is then a triangular shaped panel, which has a lace overlay. This looks fairly neatly done. I especially like the gorgeous looking lace lining this panel. It really stands out and is of a high quality too. The back offers a panel of shirring, which is topped neatly with a ribbon corset. The stock photos show that the skirt has a good amount of volume to it and flares outwards generously. It should hold a good amount of petticoat. The skirt is kept simple in design, so the print is displayed perfectly. The bottom hem is then finished off with a line of lace. This lace looks quite elaborate in comparison to a lot of the lace AatP usually uses. I think it is lovely.

Here we have JSK II. The bodice looks a bit loose and baggy, but it may just be the way the material has been gathered near the waist. The overall bodice shape is a bit basic and if it wasn't for the detachable ruffles, it would look like a basic sundress. I think the straps are way too thin and look very flimsy. There is also the detachable ruffles, which can be used as an additional set of straps, or dangling under the arms, as shown in the photo above. I personally prefer the look of the ruffles worn as straps, as it makes the bodice look a bit more elaborate. But I don't know why they didn't just add ruffles to the straps anyway, without having to bother with these detachable bits. There is a line of lace going along the waistline, which draws attention to the waist. There is then an elaborate line of gold braid, which is carefully looped, and then has a pearl chain design dangling from the braid. I am really impressed with how well this has been executed. The braid has been well positioned and the way it has been shaped really works with the pearl chains. I think the pearl chains are the perfect lengths. Even though the pearl chains are detachable, I would leave them attached. I think they are beautiful. There is also a ribbon bow on the neckline. The ribbon used has a pretty design to it and the bow is a lovely shape. I only wish it was just a little bit smaller in size. The back is fully shirred, so there is plenty of size flexibility. It does also mean the unattractive shirring has nothing concealing it though. The stock photos show that the skirt appears to be very full with plenty of volume. I think the skirt shape created in the stock photos goes well with the bodice. The skirt is again kept simple in design, so the print is displayed excellently. The bottom hem is then finished off neatly with a line of pretty lace.

Finally, this is what the print looks like. This series comes in beige, emerald, blue and black. There has been a bit of talk about how unusual the colours for this series are. Some of them are certainly a bit 'out there'. I think my main concern would be trying to colour co-ordinate some of the colourways offered. There are one or two colours which may be a bit easier to co-ordinate though. As for the print itself, the fortune telling tables are pretty with lovely drapes over them. There is lots of little details. I think this is also a brilliant idea for a print. Although similar sort of prints have been done before, I think it is not an overdone idea. The background behind the tables in stunning too. I am a bit unsure about the text floating around the tables. I am not sure if it is really needed. But it is really lovely to see a print that isn't too overcrowded. I really like the spacing in the border print, although I know it wont appeal to everybody. The non-border part of the print is pretty too. I like that the cards have a bit of detail to them, but are not too attention grabbing, so your eyes are drawn to the border part of the print.

So I think this is a series which is possibly going to get a mixed reception. I personally really love the print, but I admit I would struggle to wear some of the colours confidently. There are some interesting elements to the dress designs too. I think there are things I would tweak about both dresses, but there are some good ideas. Would I buy this series? Possibly not. I want to love it, but I feel very unsure about it. My top choice would be JSK II. It is difficult to pick a favourite colour, but for me it is between the emerald and the blue. I like both colours for different reasons.