Rose Palace by Metamorphose

Today I am looking at Rose Palace by Metamorphose. This series includes 3 dresses (the OP was not available at time of writing, so I will add it later if it comes out before publishing), a blouse, tights, a hair clip, a lace peplum and several corsets. EDIT- Okay, the OP has now come out but I will admit I completely forgot about adding it to the post. Sorry!

First is the Ribbon JSK. The bodice seems fairly well fitted. I think the shape of the bodice is simple, but elegant. The only thing about the shape I am unsure about is the very square neckline. The straps look a decent width and quite supportive. They are lined with a line of gold braid (which also goes along the neckline) and some pretty lace on the outsides. The way the lace has been shaped and gathered makes it look quite frilly, and I did wonder if perhaps it looked a little too cute looking for the gothic print? The waist line is topped with 2 bows made of the main dress fabric and a line of lace. I don't feel the lace sits particularly well on the waistline and it gets a bit 'lost' underneath the bows anyway. The bows are a lovely shape and I like the detailing on them, like the gold braid and lace. However, I think the bows are a bit big in size and are placed a bit too close together. The bodice has a chiffon ruffle topped with gold braid going up the middle. I don't think this detail works that well. I think it is the gold braid which makes this detail look odd and Meta should have just had the chiffon ruffle by itself. Some thin lines of lace could have subtly broken up the empty areas on the sides of the bodice without drawing attention away from the bigger features. There is a big bow on the neckline. This bow has a simple shape, but it has been well formed and works well. I love the cross cameo in the middle! None of the bows on the bodice appear to be detachable, which is a shame because it would definitely be great to be able to re-position the waist bows. The back is fully shirred which means loads of size flexibility, but also that the shirring is left exposed with nothing covering it. The stock photos show that the skirt has a decent amount of volume. It flares outwards well too and I think there is loads of potential to create a fantastic shape. The skirt is kept simple, so the print is displayed beautifully. The bottom hem is then finished off neatly with a line of Meta logo themed lace layered on top of a chiffon ruffle.

Next we have the High Waist JSK. The bodice material looks quite loose and baggy. I think this is because of the way the material has been gathered and is deliberate. I am quite underwhelmed about the bodice shape though. It is so square and basic. The straps also look a bit thin, although the do suit the style of the bodice. Wide straps would probably not suit this dress. The straps are topped with gold braid and a chiffon ruffle. These same details also appear along the neckline. I like how this makes the area look a lot softer and romantic, but without looking too cute. It also goes well with the use of chiffon at the bottom of the dress. The waist has a solid coloured panel, which sort of looks a bit like a belt. It is good how it helps to break up the printed dress material and does define the waist a little bit. This is topped with a waist bow. I think the bow is a good size, but I am not a fan of the bow shape. I feel as though it is lacking something. Maybe some lace and a more intricate shape could have helped to liven it up. But there is a gorgeous cross charm dangling from the middle and despite its size, it holds its shape well. It is a shame that the charm doesn't stand out more. This waist bow is detachable but given how plain the bodice is, I would leave it on, even though I don't like it that much. Or maybe I would consider moving it to the neckline instead? The back is fully shirred again, so there is lots of size flexibility but the shirring is still left exposed. The skirt looks full of volume and it flares outwards a lot. I like how the skirt is a bit longer in length, to help compensate for the high waist design. The skirt is again kept simple in design, so the print is displayed excellently. The bottom hem is then finished off with 2 wide chiffon ruffles and some small ribbon bows. I like the ruffles but think they could have done with being just a little less wide. The bows are a lovely finishing touch, despite being a little bit shiny.

Finally, this is the print. This series comes in black, dark blue and lavender. I think all 3 colours look beautiful. It is difficult to pick a favourite! As for the print, I am pleased to see Meta going a bit gothic again. Although these window prints are quite overdone (it is not even new ground for Meta) this offering has been well executed. The lines are neat and the way the print is set out is very tidy. The churches inside the windows are heavily detailed as well. The roses offer a refreshing pop of colour. In fact, I think the border part of the print could have done with a few more roses. The brand name features in a strip at the bottom, but this is kept nicely understated. I suppose people's feelings towards this series will depend on how you feel about originality, but this print does measure up well next to similar prints.

So if you are a fan of these kind of prints, then this is a decent series to add to your collection. The print is lovely, but there are a few small changes I would make to the dress designs. I think the colour choices are what makes this series. The black is quite a classic colour for the print, but the navy blue and lavender offer something a bit more unusual. Would I buy this series? Possibly, but it wont be going on my wishlist. My top choice would be the Ribbon JSK in lavender. I look forward to seeing some fantastic gothic outfits with this series

Cherry Berry Song by Metamorphose

Today I am looking at Cherry Berry Song by Metamorphose. This series includes 3 dresses, 3 hair accessories, wrist cuffs, a straw tote and socks.

First is the Bustle Dress. The bodice material looks a bit baggy and not that well fitted. I think the bodice shape is simple, but cute though. The straps look a supportive width. They are lined neatly with thin lace on the insides and a ruffle on the outsides. I think the ruffle is well shaped and gathered, creating a very sweet appearance. The straps also feature criss-crossed ribbon, which is maybe a bit too OTT. There is a ruffle of polka dot tulle going along the waistline. Not only do I think this detail has an odd appearance (it is almost gathered a bit too much) but I also feel it makes the waist area look bulky. It is not very flattering. The bodice features some thin lines of lace, with 3 bows and a fancier bow on the neckline. The lower bows are quite well spaced out, but the neckline bow has long tails which hang awkwardly. This gives the bodice a slightly crowded, messy appearance. It doesn't help that there are an additional pair of bows at the bases of the straps. The ribbon used for the bow is a bit shiny and the shape of the bows is a bit basic. I also don't like how the bodice bows appear to have buttons decorating their middles. The buttons chosen are very plain shirt buttons, which look very cheap. I do like the more intricate neckline bow, or at least I may have done if all of the bow positions had been better planned. It is part shiny ribbon, but also part stripy ribbon. I like the stripy part and the fake daisy decorating the centre. The neckline is decorated with a wide line of tulle, which matches the waistline. Overall, I think the bodice is too crowded and fussy. It doesn't help as well that the lines of ribbon in the print don't line up that great with the bodice bows. The back is fully shirred, which means plenty of stretch, but also that the shirring is exposed. The stock photos show that the skirt is generous in volume and flares out well. I like how the model worn photos show that the skirt can go really big. The skirt is generally kept simple in design, so the print is displayed excellently from the front. As the dress name suggests, there is a bustle, which is on the back of the skirt. This bustle is a good shape and the tiers are well spaced out. It does appear to have a lot of volume to it though, which makes it stick backwards an awful lot. This maybe isn't the dress to go for if you are self-conscious about the size of your bottom half. The bottom hem is finished off neatly with a ruffle of polka dot tulle. At least these details have been pretty consistent throughout.

Here we have the Ribbon Dress. The bodice shape is a bit simple, but it appears very well fitted. The straps look a supportive width, although I personally think they look a little too wide. They are lined very neatly with some ruffles though, which has an interesting looking texture. There is a waist bow, which I think is a suitable size for the dress. The bow has a pretty, well-defined shape to it. It sits well on the dress with no signs of drooping. There is also a strawberry charm dangling from this bow, which looks really adorable. This waist bow is detachable, but I really like the bow and would leave it attached. The waist features a 'belt' lined with ribbon when the bow is detached. I think this detail looks too plain when the bow is detached. The bodice has some lines of lace, which help to break up the bodice and give it a paneled look. There are some ribbon bows on the bodice, which unfortunately look poorly shaped and cheap. I feel they could have looked better if they were smaller. The size emphasizes how poorly the simple bows have been shaped. This dress also features bows at the bases of the straps. I feel this detail works a lot better on this dress, because the bodice is not overloaded with bows. These bows are decorated with fake daisies, which look pretty. Every single bow on the dress is detachable, but the dress looks far too empty and basic with every bow removed. If it was me, I would consider removing the 2 ribbon bows, but I would keep all the other bows. The back is fully shirred again, which means lots of size flexibility, but also that the unattractive shirring is exposed. I think it would have been nice to have at least one dress which is just quarter shirred, with a ribbon corset to help conceal the shirring. The stock photos show that the skirt volume is pretty decent and it flares outwards plenty. I think the skirt shape looks very cute in the model worn photos. 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 cute looking lace.

This is the A-line Dress. Alas, it is a shapeless sack. Even Misako Aoki struggles to make the dress shape look good (sorry Misako). It is frumpy, and there is almost no bodice at all. I also think the sleeves look quite limp and shapeless. Some lace would have been nice for the sleeves as well. They are fully elasticated and there is nothing decorating the sleeves, which is not the cutest of designs. There is a collar with a bow and a modesty panel. The collar shape is quite nice and it is almost sailor-like in appearance. I like the lace decoration on the collar. The double-layered bow looks cute too. Even though the ribbon used is shiny and a bit cheap looking, I think the overall bow design is quite bold. This bow should sit quite well on the wearer, provided they don't have a large chest. There is a sweet cherry charm dangling from this bow as well, which is a wonderful finishing touch. I wouldn't have bothered with the modesty panel though. It seem to me that the neckline wouldn't be too low without the modesty panel there. If it wasn't there, I think the collar could have created a lovely neckline shape. The back offers no shirring, so size flexibility is very limited. It seems this series swings from one extreme to the other with size flexibility. The stock photos show that the skirt seems to have enough volume, but I feel it would be difficult to create a flattering, cute shape with this skirt. At least it should hold a bit of petticoat, so there is room to experiment with the skirt shape. The skirt is kept simple in design, so the print is displayed wonderfully. The bottom hem is then finished off neatly with a line of pretty lace. I thought the lace looked a bit shiny in the stock photos, but I am hoping that is just the way it was photographed.

Finally, here we have one picture of the print...

... and another. I will edit with better pictures if they become available soon. This series comes in custard (ivory), blueberry (navy) and grape (purple). I really love all 3 colours and I think they all offer something a little bit different to each other. The blueberry colour is gorgeous, and I like how the grape offers something a little more unusual. The custard offers a slightly safer option, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. As for the print itself, I think it looks adorable. Considering how many berry prints (especially strawberry prints) get released every single year, it is unusual how the sweet lolita prints rarely feature straw baskets. I really like the baskets in this print. It also offers somewhere for the cute birds to perch. Some of the other birds in the print are sort of standing still and don't look as natural. I like to see my cute birdies frolicking and playing! Considering the print name, it is a bit surprising that strawberries seem to be the main fruit! Although there are a few cherries hiding in the print. I personally think the strawberries look a bit flat. They need a bit more definition. The result is that the berries look really unrealistic. So I think my overall impression is that some parts of the print really work, but other parts need improvement.

Out of all the berry prints released this season, this one probably is not one of the strongest designs in my opinion. The print had potential, but it could have been a lot better. I also feel that some of the dress designs need improvement as well. Sadly, I don't think this is a series I would go for. My top choice would be the Ribbon Dress in Grape. I think that particular dress and colour looks amazing. It is just a shame that the print doesn't live up to my expectations.

Phantom Gate by Metamorphose

Today I am looking at Phantom Gate by Metamorphose. This series includes 2 dresses (the shirred JSK comes in 2 lengths), 2 hair accessories, a lace clip, socks, a choker, a ring and an ear hook.

First is the A-Line Dress. There isn't really much of a bodice to this sack-like dress. I feel the sleeves need to be shorter in length, as they look a bit frumpy and shapeless here. These sleeves are elasticated. Although I think some will appreciate the extra stretch, I think some lace could have livened up the sleeves. The bodice features a solid coloured square yoke. This yoke is topped with ruffles, which gives the yoke a lovely bit of added texture. It stops the yoke looking flat and boring. The yoke is lined with a thin line of gold lace, which makes the edge look smart. There is also a ribbon bow attached to the bottom of the yoke. This bow looks a suitable size and the shape is pretty. It seems to sit well on the dress as well, although I wonder how this bow will sit on a wearer with a large bust. The ribbon used is a bit shiny, but it has a gorgeous golden pattern on it. The collar features a pearl chain dangling from it, with a further key shaped charm. I love the key charm, but I think it is a shame that the pearls sort of blend in to the white background. It is a lovely detail, but it doesn't stand out much. However, I do like the way the collar had been lined with gold lace. It stops the area looking too plain and also takes advantage of the gold accents in the print. The back offers no shirring, so there is limited size flexibility. I think the zip line has been decently concealed though. It blends in with the print. The stock photos show that the dress skirt has a fair amount of volume and it flares outwards okay. I never quite know what to make of these sack-like dresses, but at least it looks like this dress has enough volume to experiment with petticoats. 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 gold lace. My only criticism here is the colour of the gold lace here doesn't look as yellow as the gold used on the rest of the dress.

Here we have the Shirred Dress, which comes in 2 lengths. The bodice seems well fitted and the overall bodice shape looks really pretty. I am really impressed with the neckline shape. The straps look a suitable width and supportive. There is a waist bow, which has an interesting shape. This shape is emphasised by the gold lace lining it. I think the bow is a bit big, but it still suits the dress. This bow is detachable, which makes the dress more versatile if you are unsure about the waist bow. The bodice has a pleated triangle panel. I like the flattering look of this triangle. The pleats give that nice bit of extra depth and texture. It is worth mentioning that this triangle, the straps and the neckline are all lined with the same thin gold lace. It is very consistent and also looks stunning. There is also a pair of bows at the bases of the straps, which has a double pearl chain and key charm dangling from them. I like the chain (although again, the details are a bit lost on a white background) but I am not a fan of the bows. I guess I find them a bit too sweet looking for the overall feel of the series? The bows and chains are detachable, but I don't believe you can detach just the bows or chain separately. This is a shame, as I wouldn't mind being able to remove the bows, but leaving the chain! The back is fully shirred, which means a lot of size flexibility, but also that the unattractive shirring is very exposed. I really wish this dress was quarter shirred with a ribbon corset topping it instead. I feel the lumpy shirring doesn't quite fit in with the elegant feel the rest of the dress seems to have. The stock photos show that the skirt is very full and it flares outwards plenty. I usually find Meta's mini length is just above knee-length on me (I am about 5'4'') and the medium length is a good option if you are a bit taller than me. It is nice to have different length options. The skirt is kept simple in design again, so the print is displayed wonderfully. The bottom hem is then finished off neatly with a thin line of gold lace and a solid coloured ruffle.

Finally, this is a little bit of the print to show what it looks like. This series only comes in off-white and black. Although both colours look amazing, it really would have been great to have more colour options. A navy blue could have looked great, or perhaps a dusty lavender? As for the print itself, I really love the intricate gates. They are very ornate with loads of details, all in gold. It is very bold and striking. The phantom horse and cart adds a slight touch of gothic horror without looking too OTT. You could probably wear this print in a classic or a gothic outfit with the right styling. The Meta logo and gold swirls match the gates in the print and are a suitable way to separate the border print from the rest of the dress. 

So I feel that this series has a lot of potential, but some parts of the series are stronger than others. It would have been nice to have more than 2 dress cuts and also more than 2 colour options. I also don't feel this print is the right sort of print for the A-Line sack style dress. The JSK design is a lot more fitting. Would I buy this series? It wont be going on my wishlist, but I think it is a pretty decent offering. My choice would be the Shirred JSK in black (probably the mini length). It is not that original looking, but it is a decent design. I am not surprised to see that the black colourway appears to be completely sold out online.

Marching Toy Soldier by Metamorphose

Today I am looking at Marching Toy Soldier by Metamorphose. This series includes 3 dresses, 2 skirts, 2 hair accessories, tights, a bear shaped clip and a necklace.

First is the Band Dress. The bodice looks fairly well fitted. I think the bodice shape is a bit basic, but it fits the overall design of the dress. The straps are a suitable width. Usually I am not a fan of these shoulder details, but on this particular design, you can clearly see the epaulettes. I think the epaulettes are really pretty and well designed, although they are detachable if you are not keen on them. The bodice features a solid-coloured raised panel, which is topped with star shaped buttons. I like how the solid colour breaks up the print and I also love the pointed waistline shape it creates. This panel is lined very neatly with ribbon around the edge too. I personally am not keen on how the buttons have been spaced out though, and I think some emblem themed buttons would have worked better than the cutesy star ones. This bodice panel is removable, and the dress looks fine with it removed, but I would leave it attached if it was me. If you are after a more toned-down look though, at least you have the option. There are little folded down flaps on the neckline, which is a good shape and I like how it is a different solid colour for this part. These flaps are a colour which features heavily in the print. The flaps have some medals pinned to them. I really like the medal design, but I hope they have a simple backing to them so that you can pin them elsewhere. I don't like how the medals have been placed in the stock photos. There is also a detachable collar style choker. It looks a bit too much like a bog-standard shirt collar to me, even with the trimmings on it. So I probably would not wear it myself. The back is fully shirred, which means lots of stretch, but also that the unattractive shirring is exposed. The stock photos show that the skirt is quite full with enough volume. Despite being a bit obscured by the skirt flaps, I think I can see that there is a lot of potential to create a cute shape. These skirt flaps I mentioned sit on either side of the dress and end long before the border part of the print, so you can still see the print really well. The skirt flaps are well shaped and sit nicely on the dress. The bottom hem is then finished off neatly with a line of lace and a solid coloured ruffle.

Here we have the Button Down Dress. The bodice looks well fitted. I generally like the bodice shape, but I am a little unsure about the sleeves. I can't put my finger on it, but something about the sleeves look really unflattering. The folded sleeves are finished off neatly with gold though, which I think is a nice touch. As the name suggests, this dress has a buttoned front. I am pleased to see that despite this line of buttons, the print fits around the button line quite well. I think that on the darker colours especially, you can't immediately tell the front opens up. It is pleasantly discrete. The buttons however, are a bit boring in design. The bodice is generally kept simple, which I think works in its favour. There is a collar, which is a suitable size and a pretty shape. This collar is then finished off with a detachable bow, which is a decent size. I think this bow is really adorable with a fantastic design. I would certainly leave it on! The back offers a panel of shirring, which is topped with a ribbon corset. The back also shows that the collar has a square sailor-style. This really seems to suit the dress design and as an added bonus, it further helps to cover up the shirring. The stock photos show that the skirt has a great amount of volume and it flares outwards well. It should hold lots of petticoat. The skirt is kept simple in style, so the print is displayed beautifully. The bottom hem is then finished off neatly with a line of gold lace. This compliments the use of gold lace elsewhere on the dress.

This is the A-line Ribbon Dress. The bodice looks reasonably well fitted, although I really dislike the dropped-waist design. I think it makes the overall silhouette look awkward and lumpy. The straps are a fair width. These are lined neatly on the insides with gold lace, which continues down in to a scoop on the bodice. This same gold lace is used for lines going down the longer bodice. I feel these lines and the bows on the dropped waist emphasizes everything I dislike about the shape! These bows, and the 2 bows on the bodice, are slightly shiny too. I think the ribbon looks a though it may be of a low quality. Every bow is cutely shaped though. The lines of lace on the chest area are set out much nicer. This chest area is finished off with some star shaped buttons, which seem to fade in to the background. Maybe it is because there are stars featured in the print, so the buttons don't stand out that much. The back is fully shirred, which means plenty of size flexibility but also that the shirring is exposed. With the short back design though, there wouldn't be much room for a ribbon corset anyway. Despite the dropped waist, it looks as though there may be a bit of room to hold some petticoat. Maybe I am being too critical and the dress shape could look better in person. It is just not to my personal tastes. Even with the dropped waistline, which features a gathered ruffle and the bows mentioned earlier, you can still see the print clearly. The bottom hem is then finished off with a line of gold lace.

Finally, here we have a part of the print. I will get a better print picture if one becomes available. This series comes in Antique White, Napoleon Blue and Billiard Green. These colour choices are very mature and even though the print is sweet, these mature colours suit it well. I really like all 3 colours. Perhaps a red colour could have been interesting as an additional colour? As for the print itself, it is well set out with bold vertical lines. The toys are well drawn and look adorable. I think the distribution of toys and the positioning is really good as well. 

So overall, I feel there is a bit of a conflict between sweet and more mature elements of the designs, but weirdly it seems to work. The print is very sweet, but the dress designs stop it from looking overly cutesy. I also like that the dress designs are quite varied, so hopefully there will be something to suit everybody's interests. Would I buy this series? Probably not, but it is not really my style anyway. My top choice would be the Button Down Dress in blue. I normally hate Meta's Button Down designs, but this time I really love it. I am still not a fan of those sleeves though! 

A Print Double

Today I am looking at 2 different series. So scroll down further for Meta's Grapy Sweetie Fox Cub.

First up though, is Sweet Cream Princess by Angelic Pretty. This series includes 2 dresses, a blouse, a headdress, wrist cuffs and tights.

First up is the OP. The bodice material looks a bit loose and baggy in places. The overall bodice shape is quite cute though. I like that the sleeves are suitably puffy and the neckline shape is softened by the details around it. The lace on the sleeves is pretty, but I think the bows on the sleeves are a bit big, which is kind of distracting. There is a waist bow, which is quite a reasonable size. This bow is only slightly bigger than the row of bows going up the middle of the bodice. I like the stripy material used for all of these bows and how they are lined with gold lace. However, I feel the bodice bows could do with being just a little bit smaller, and I don't like the heart charms that top these bows. I think the hearts look a bit cheap. The bodice bows are detachable, although I can't make up my mind if the dress looks better with them attached or not. The panel underneath the bodice bows is filled with lace, which is layered nicely. I like the bow lace used here, although you could argue that there maybe could have been other lace choices which match the print theme better. The neckline is topped with a line of lace and some material which has been gathered to look like a row of sweets. I feel these 'sweets' look a bit shapeless and are not well defined. It could have been a suitable detail, but AP don't quite pull it off in my opinion. The back offers no shirring, so size flexibility is very limited. The stock photos show that the skirt is very full with plenty of volume. It will hold lots of petticoat. The front of the skirt is opened up, revealing a solid coloured panel. This panel features some lines of lace shaped in a scalloped pattern. I admit that it does mimic the appearance of the icing in the print, but I am really not a fan of this detail! It feels a bit too OTT for me, but I can imagine there are some who probably really love this design detail. Panel aside, the print is displayed really well. The bottom hem is then finished off with a line of bow themed lace layered over a tulle ruffle. This bottom hem looks soft and fluffy, although again I think a more suitable on-theme lace design could have been used. There are also a couple of bows at the bottom of the panel, which finishes off the sides nicely.

Here we have the JSK. The bodice looks well fitted and the overall shape is interesting. I think the scalloped edges of the straps is interesting. It is a very bold design choice. I don't think I like it, but I can appreciate it matches the scalloping used elsewhere in the design. There is a waist bow, which is massive. I don't think the shape is particularly cute either. In my opinion, something about the waist bow shape looks a bit 'flat' and basic. The bodice is simply broken up with a few thin lines of lace, which gives the bodice a nice paneled appearance. These simple bodice details means that the attention is on the raised scalloped panel on the chest area. The scallops are well shaped and overall I think the panel looks really cute. This panel is finished with a line of ribbon threaded ladder lace and a couple of pearls. I don't think these details add much to the design, but they are a nice little finishing touch. This panel is topped with a stripy ribbon bow. This bow is at least a bit more reasonable in size, but I don't think the stripy material works quite as well this time. Maybe it is because there is less of this stripy material on the JSK, so it looks a bit less balanced? The back offers a panel of shirring, which is topped neatly with a ribbon corset. The stock photos show that the skirt is very full with a lovely rounded shape. I think the skirt looks like it has a lot of potential. The skirt is generally kept simple in design, so the print is displayed beautifully. The bottom hem is then finished off with a scalloped hemline, which works amazingly well with the print. This is then finished off with a line of wide lace layered over a tulle ruffle. I think this lace choice is quite appropriate for the print.

Finally, this is the print. This series comes in beige, pink, mint and brown. These are pretty standard colour choices for a patisserie themed print, so they all work well, although there isn't much originality. I am a bit disappointed with the shade of brown used in the print behind the cakes though. I think a darker, richer brown would have looked better here. As for the print, it is very cute and nicely set out. The cakes and macarons are drawn beautifully. I especially love that macaron dessert. It looks delicious! The background with the smaller cakes is a bit busy though. I kind of feel as though this print lacks originality. There are some interesting points to the dress designs, but the print is giving me a bit of a deja-vu feel. It reminds me of a lot of past prints.

So I think with this series that AP are trying to recapture the glory of previous similar prints. But this could work against them and I can't see this series being a big seller. It is a shame because the print is really pretty, but there is nothing new or exciting about it. If you love these kind of prints, then you will probably love this series as well. I think the dress designs are more interesting, although these experimental designs are not going to appeal to everybody. Would I buy this series? No, but I would love it if AP did some home wares, like cushions, with the print! My top choice would be the JSK in mint.

Today I am also looking at Grapy Sweetie Fox Cub by Metamorphose. This series includes 3 dresses, 2 hair accessories, tights and a few pieces of jewelry.

First up is the Babydoll JSK. The bodice looks quite well fitted, although the bodice shape is a bit simple. It looks like a basic sundress. The straps are a bit on the thin side, but suit the style of bodice. They are topped with some shiny ribbon bows, which look a bit fussy. I would have left the bows off the straps. The bodice is shaped in a way that lives up to its babydoll name. The bust-hugging 'waistline' and neckline are lined neatly with metallic lace. I am not really sure that metallic was a good choice here. It doesn't really seem to fit in with the overall 'fell' of the series. The bodice is then finished off with a large ribbon bow. This bow is very basic in shape and the ribbon used is too shiny for my liking. However, the folded ends and teardrop beads adds a bit of interest to it. There is also a pretty grape charm dangling from the middle. The back is fully shirred, which means lots of size flexibility, but also that the unattractive looking shirring has nothing covering it. The stock photos show that the skirt is really full and flares outwards plenty. I would be careful about over-stuffing the skirt, as I think that makes the waistline look a bit strange, but it is good to know the skirt has more than enough volume. The skirt is kept very simple in design, so the print is displayed excellently. The bottom hem is then finished off with a neat line of metallic lace and a simple ruffle.

Here we have the Ribbon Shirred JSK. The bodice looks well fitted, but I don't like the simple shape. I think the neckline is far too straight and it makes the bodice look a bit 'boxy'. The straps are an okay width and look quite supportive. They are topped with a ruffle, which continues down the bodice to the waistline. I think this works quite well with the other ruffles on the bodice. In some of the stock photos, the ruffle was sitting a bit strangely on the bodice, but a simple going over with an iron should hopefully fix that. There is a waist bow, which it quite modest in size. I would almost say that it is a bit too small. It is also very plain. The shape is very basic and there are no adornments or trims to decorate it, apart from a small grape shaped charm. It is a shame that this charm doesn't stand out a bit more, as it is the only part of this bow which is remotely interesting. As mentioned, there are more ruffles going up the middle of the bodice. These ruffles sit either side of a line of lace and a set of bows running up the bodice. The details are set out quite nicely, with the lace looking of a fairly good quality and the bows being well spaced out. However, I do again have to question why Meta have chosen a metallic colour for the bows and used a line of metallic line of lace along the neckline. It just doesn't make sense to me! The back is fully shirred, so again there is lots of size flexibility but it also means the shirring is left exposed. The stock photos show that the skirt is really full and flares outwards lots. I really like the full, rounded shape created in the stock photos. The skirt is again kept simple, so the print is displayed perfectly. The bottom hem is finished off with a line of metallic lace and a ruffle, but this time the line of lace is topped with some small ribbon bows. This detail looks really cute.

This is the OP. The bodice looks well fitted, although the overall bodice shape is a bit 'old-school' looking. Maybe that is why Meta decided to bring back the old favourite, the detachable collar, to go with this dress. I really don't like the collar teamed with this dress. It looks really bulky and I don't think it works well paired with this particular neckline shape. It looks like the collar has just been thrown on carelessly, like an after-thought. The bows on the collar make it look very OTT too. So I think it is safe to say I would wear this dress without the collar! Ignoring the collar, the bodice shape is okay, if a bit old-fashioned, like I already mentioned. I do think the neckline shape and sleeve style give the illusion that the shoulder area is wider than it actually is though. As I have wide shoulders myself, this would put me off this dress design. I like how puffy the sleeves are though, and I think they are a good length. It is good how they are kept simple as well, with just a line of lace to finish them off. There is a waist bow, which is an okay size. Once again, the shape of this bow looks a bit simple. There doesn't appear to be a grape charm on this bow either, which is unusual. This waist bow is detachable, but because it isn't absolutely massive, I would probably leave the waist bow attached. The bodice features some cris-crossed ribbon and lines set out in a way which again I feel is a bit of a throw-back to past lolita bodice designs. These details are at least set out neatly, although it is bugging me that the ribbon is shiny again! The back offers a panel of shirring, which is topped neatly with a ribbon corset (hooray! Finally!). The stock photos show that the skirt has a decent amount of volume and it flares outwards generously. If the stock photos are anything to go by, I think the skirt shape has a lot of potential. Once again, the skirt is quite simple in design, so the print is displayed wonderfully. The bottom hem is then finished off with a simple ruffle and some shiny ribbon bows, which feature some lines of pearls. I don't think the pearls really add anything to the bows, but I suppose you could argue they sort of mimic the round grapes in the print. They will also be a good match for the jewelry released as part of this series, which uses a lot of rounded beads.

Finally, here we have the print. I will get a better picture if able. This series comes in deep blue and off-white (sort of grey shade). It is a bit disappointing that this print only comes in 2 colours. I personally think the off-white colour is a bit dull, but the deep blue offers a lovely solid background colour, which really helps to make the print stand out. As for the print itself, the foxes are adorable. I love their bushy tails! It is really sweet how they are frolicking among the grapes too. The use of grapes is also a slightly new take on the overdone fruit prints we see every single Spring. I think a bit of 'shine' could have been added to the grapes to make them look a bit less flat and more realistic. I also think the print is a bit sparse. The completely plain background makes the print look a bit flat too. It is a cute print, but the simplicity makes it almost look as though it is unfinished.

So overall I think there are some cute ideas here, but the print falls a bit flat. I also question the use of metallic details throughout the dress designs. I don't get why they have been used. The dress designs also feel a bit simplistic in places. So I wouldn't buy this series personally. It is a shame, because I think those foxes are so cute! My top choice would be the Ribbon Shirring JSK in deep blue. I am disappointed there are only 2 colour choices. This series could have had a lot of potential, but it fails to meet my expectations.

Tales of Kingdom by Metamorphose

Today I am looking at Tales of Kingdom by Metamorphose. This series includes 2 dresses, 3 skirts and a head bow.

First up is the Bustle Dress. The bodice seems quite well fitted and the shape is lovely. I think the straps are a decent width and look quite supportive. However, I don't feel the second set of off-the-shoulder straps really work here. They look messy in appearance and look accidental, rather than being a deliberate style choice. I also think no care has gone in to how the fabric for these straps has been gathered and the final effect. In addition to the second pair of straps, there is also a pearl chain. This doesn't look as bad as the off-the-shoulder straps, so I am not sure if I would keep it attached or not. The off-the-shoulder straps are also detachable, and I would definitely remove them in an instant. The regular set of straps and the neckline has been topped with a line of lace, which sadly does not sit very well on the dress. I think a lot of this is to do with the pair of bows at the bases of the straps, which disrupts the lace, causing it to sit awkwardly. I wouldn't have bothered with the strap bows anyway, because they look too fussy on a bodice which already has a lot of details. The ribbon used for these bows, and some of the small bows on the bodice, is really shiny and cheap looking too. There is a waist bow, which has a simple, but well defined shape. It is a bit too big though, especially when teamed with the large bow on the chest. When you factor in the over-skirt and other bodice details as well, it looks overcrowded. I personally wouldn't have bothered with a waist bow, or at least not a big one like this. The bodice features 2 sets of criss-crossed ribbon and a row of shiny ribbon bows between them. This part of the bodice also looks cluttered, although these details do get concealed a little bit by the chest bow. The chest bow actually has a lot of potential in my opinion. It has an interesting layered effect with the different materials used, and I really like the charm in the middle and the chain with the dangling crown charm. Annoyingly, it is the chest bow which is detachable, but the strap bows and waist bow are not detachable. It is really frustrating when you can't get rid of the bows you dislike, but you can remove the only bow you do like! The back is fully shirred, which means plenty of stretch, but also that the shirring is quite exposed. However, the style of print and the dark colour choices makes the shirring look a tiny bit less obvious. The stock photos show that the skirt has a lot of volume and flares outwards generously. It should hold plenty of petticoat. I really dislike the shape of the over-skirt. Something about the way it has been gathered doesn't look right to me. It makes the material sit funny, which causes some odd lumps and bumps. I also feel unsure about the choice of material used here. There is a bustle on the back of the skirt which is made of the same material, so at least that part is consistent. The bustle actually looks okay, with it being a nice shape and having well spaced out tiers. However, having both an over-skirt and a bustle is absolute overkill in my opinion. It is far too much detail and it makes the back look really bulky. I would get rid of the over-skirt and just have the bustle, which I think could have potentially looked pretty if the over-skirt wasn't there. Despite all this detail going on, the print is still displayed excellently on the front. The skirt is tiered, with the join being topped with a chiffon ruffle, but fortunately this sits above the border print and isn't too distracting. The bottom hem is then finished off with a line of gold lace layered well on top of a chiffon ruffle. I personally am not a fan of how the gold lace looks, but the chiffon ruffle has been well gathered.

Here we have the Collared Dress. The bodice looks well fitted. Although the bodice shape is quite simple, I think it looks really smart and suits the overall 'feel' of the dress. I don't even mind the straight neckline, which is something I seem to end up complaining about a lot on this blog usually! The straps look a decent, supportive width. There are some small military style epaulettes on the shoulder part of the straps, but unless you were looking from above, you would not really see this detail. The waist is topped with a belt, which I absolutely adore. Some may say the belt is a bit basic looking, but I like it like this. It really helps to define the waist area too. The bodice features a fake jacket 'lapel' design with a row of buttons running up the middle, and several lines of gold lace. I think these details have been set out really neatly and the 'lapels' are a good shape and size. My only slight complaint is the placement of some of the buttons. I am not a fan of the buttons that appear on the lapels, or the very bottom button in the row of buttons, which is so low down it is almost sitting on the lapels. I really like how the lapels and neckline have been lined with gold braid. It keeps the lines looking sharp and not too 'frilly'. The back has a small panel of shirring, which is topped neatly with a ribbon corset. The stock photos show that the skirt is very full and flares outwards plenty. I think there is the potential to create  a great shape. The skirt is kept simple in design, so the print is displayed beautifully. The bottom hem features some small flaps with buttons, which are a suitable match for the bodice details. This is then finished off with a gathered ruffle. I think pleats could have looked quite smart here, but the ruffle looks pretty too.

Finally, this is a rough idea of what the print looks like. I will update with a clearer picture if I can. This series comes in black, wine and deep blue. The dark colours are very mature looking and I think all 3 colours fit the overall 'feel' of the series. As for the print itself, it is not particularly original, but it is well set out. I really like the thrones and I feel the way the curtains drape around them frames them perfectly. There are some lovely extra little details in this print as well, such as the roses trailing around the pillars and the subtle golden 'M' hiding behind some of the thrones. The brand name is placed on a banner underneath the throne, which is broken up with pretty roses. Overall it is a nice, regal looking print.

So overall I have some mixed feelings about this series. The print is lovely, but not something that I would go out of my way to get hold of. Despite being pretty, there is nothing particularly original or groundbreaking about it. As for the dress designs, I think I have made it very clear that I favour one design over the other. So I guess it is safe to say I would not buy this series, or at least not at full retail price. My top choice would be the Collared dress in black, as I really like the deep purple on that colour way. 

A Print Double

Today I am looking at 2 different prints. So scroll down further to see Alice with the Lost Pieces by Metamorphose.

First up today though, is Memorial Library by Angelic Pretty. This series includes 2 dresses, a beret, socks and a blouse. There is also a British Bear themed book bag.

First up is the OP. The bodice seems quite well fitted and the overall shape is cute. It has a sweet, yet mature look about it. The arms look as though they have a fair amount of length to them and I like the way the cuffs have been set out. The cuffs have 3 emblem themed buttons, a line of gold braid and are finished neatly with a line of lace. These details have been set out well and I feel the cuffs go well with the collar. There is a belt, which helps to define the waist area nicely. The belt matches the rest of the dress and I love how bold the gold buckle is. The bodice is broken up with some thin lines of gold lace and some emblem themed buttons. I was going to say that the buttons are quite well positioned, but with the collar ribbon bow attached you can barely see any of them. However, the collar bow offers an interesting pop of colour. I also think the bow is a cute shape and size, although the ribbon used is a bit shiny. So I am very undecided about whether I would want to leave this bow attached or not. I guess it is down to personal preference. The collar is a very striking shape and lined really neatly with gold braid and lace. This matches up with the details on the cuffs. I was initially unsure about the collar shape, but it has grown on me. The back offers no shirring, so size flexibility is very limited. The back is very neatly set out. What I love is how the edges of the waist ties have been shaped so it follows the tassel part of the print. I thought this was a nice touch. The stock photos show that the skirt is very full and flares outwards generously. I really like the full, rounded shape created in the stock photos. The skirt is kept simple in design, so the print is displayed wonderfully. The bottom hem is then finished off neatly with a wide pleated ruffle. I think the pleated ruffled is very smart and goes well with the overall 'feel' of the dress. Lace here would have maybe looked a bit too cutesy.

Here we have the JSK. The bodice seems quite well fitted and the shape is simple, but lovely. I am not keen on the straps though. I don't like the way they appear to be slanting outwards slightly (maybe this is just how it looks in the stock photos) and I feel they could have been just a little bit wider. Despite being lined with gold lace, the straps also look a bit plain. This dress features the same belt design, which again I feel works really well. The main part of the bodice is also set out in a similar style with the gold lace and buttons. I personally feel the buttons look a bit too close together, but maybe it is because the bodice looks quite crowded anyway that it gives off this impression. The neckline features 2 folded down flaps and a 'tie'. I personally think the tie looks awful and I am not fond of the shape of the flaps on the neckline either. I was very relieved to discover the tie part was detachable, although I still don't like the look of the bodice even with it detached. The back offers 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 flares out well. There is a lot of potential to create a great shape. The skirt is once again kept simple in design, which means the print is displayed excellently. The bottom hem is finished off with the same pleated ruffle as the OP. Again, I feel the decision to use pleats here is wise.

And this is what the print looks like. This series is available in pink, wine, navy blue and black. I personally don't like the combination of black with brown, so I dislike the black version. There is something about the pink version that doesn't look quite right to me too. So for me, the best colour is a choice between the wine and navy blue. As for the print itself, I like that it offers a slightly sweeter alternative to the library prints we see classic brands offer a lot. The books are well stacked and Shy Bear fits in well with the print. The chess pieces are well drawn, but feel a bit random in my opinion. I feel that if AP wanted to include chess elements with the print they should have included a chess board somewhere to make it a bit more balanced. But I personally wouldn't have bothered including chess pieces at all. Considering this is AP, the background for the print is surprisingly subtle. I really like it. My main concern with this print though, is the sizing. If you look at the size of the print on the actual dresses, something about it looks a bit 'off'. It's almost as if the print is too big.

So overall I can't imagine this series being a bit hit. I do feel the balance of cute and more mature features has generally been handled well, with the exception of that awful tie on the JSK. I am not overly impressed with the print though, especially the way it has been sized. So this is not a series that I would personally want. My top choice would be the OP in wine. I suppose this series does offer a slight alternative to the more classic styled library prints though, which tend to look quite similar to one another.

Today I am also looking at Alice with the Lost Pieces by Metamorphose. This series includes 3 dresses, a corset, tights and 2 hair accessories.

First up is the Ribbon Dress. The bodice material looks just slightly baggy and loose. I also feel some of the bodice lines could have been softer, giving the bodice a nicer overall shape. The straps are a reasonable width. Despite being lined with lace though, the strap and neckline area looks rather bare. I feel this area is lacking something. There is a ribbon belt, which nips in the waist area nicely. However, the ribbon used looks really cheap and shiny. It looks like cheap ribbon you can find in any craft store and I am really unimpressed. The bodice features several ruffles. These ruffles are well gathered and are layered neatly. It creates a cute frothy appearance. There are then a few small ribbon bows running up the middle. These bows are a cute shape and size, although once again the super shiny ribbon has been used for them. The back is fully shirred, which means lots of size flexibility but also that the unattractive looking shirring has nothing to cover it. The stock photos show that the skirt is very full and has plenty of flare. I think the rounded shape in the stock photos looks very cute. The skirt is kept simple in design, so the print is displayed beautifully. The bottom hem is then finished off with a thin line of lace and a neat ruffle of the main dress fabric.

Here we have the Bustle Dress. The bodice looks quite well fitted but the overall bodice shape is a bit plain and uninspiring. I especially don't like that really boxy looking neckline. The straps look a good width though, and very supportive. The straps and neckline are lined with a thin line of lace. Again, it feels like this area is lacking something. Perhaps a small bow could have adorned the neckline at least? There is a waist bow, which is made out of ribbon. Unfortunately the super shiny ribbon has been used again for this bow. I also think the shape of the bow is very basic. There is a small clock charm dangling from this bow, but it doesn't really add much to the bow and is barely noticeable. The bodice features several lines of lace and a row of card suit shaped buttons running up the middle. This is all really neatly set out, but also looks a bit boring. I do like the use of the shaped buttons though. The back offers a panel of shirring, which is topped neatly with a ribbon corset. The stock photos show that the skirt is very full and flares outwards well. There is the potential to create a great shape. The skirt is again kept simple in design at the front, so the print is displayed perfectly. As the name suggests, there is a bustle on the back of the skirt. Sadly, it is not the most attractive of shapes and I personally think the bustle looks really awkward. It is such a shame. The dress would have looked a lot better if there was no bustle at all, albeit a bit simple. The bottom hem is then finished off neatly with a line of thin lace.

This is the A-Line Dress. The bodice is quite short, and I do worry how that waistline is going to sit on anybody who is even slightly busty. I also feel the sleeve length is a bit odd and looks a bit frumpy. I think shorter sleeves would have looked much cuter. The sleeves are finished off with just a thin line of lace, which I think is appropriate. Any more detail here would have probably looked too OTT. There is a waist bow which is made of the main dress fabric and then topped with a line of ribbon. I don't think the ribbon looks particularly attractive or really adds anything to this bow. The bow is a good shape and size though. I think the collar has a really interesting shape to it. It is a good size and is neatly lined with lace too. Underneath the collar there is a tiny yoke. I don't think the yoke adds anything to the design and it is mostly obscured by the collar anyway. I wouldn't have bothered putting a yoke there, just so that all the attention was on the collar. The yoke just makes it look a bit fussy. The back offers no shirring, so size flexibility is very limited. I think the back is set out quite neatly. The stock photos show that the skirt has a good amount of volume to it. I don't think this is the most flattering of skirt shapes, but at least it looks as though there is enough room to experiment with petticoats until you get a shape you are happy with. The skirt is again kept simple in design, so the print is displayed beautifully. The bottom hem is then finished off neatly with a line of lace.

Finally, here we have the print. If I manage to find a better picture of the print I will edit the post. This series comes in black, off-white and Alice blue. I feel that a lot of the details are lost on the off-white (both the print details and some of the details in the dress designs). The Alice blue (basically sax blue) is very typical for an Alice series and I like how the print details show up well on the black version. As for the print itself, I think it is an interesting take on what is a very overdone theme. I really like the idea of having puzzle pieces in the background. It helps to fill in the empty spaces in the background without looking too OTT. The heart shaped rose bush is beautiful too. All the elements of the print have been well drawn. It is generally a nice looking print.

So I guess your feelings towards this series will depend on how much you like the Alice in Wonderland theme in lolita. I personally think the dress designs let the print down a bit. There is so much more that could have been done with the dresses and I think Meta could have chosen better materials, especially for the ribbon. I also feel that off-white was a really bad idea for a colour way and that the print details wont show up that well. Who knows, maybe it looks better in person. Would I buy this series? No, I would not. My top choice would be the Ribbon JSK in Alice Blue, but that is only because I dislike that dress design the least, rather than me actually liking the dress. I would have quite liked to see a skirt released for this series, especially when I feel so uninspired by the dress designs.

A Print Double

Today I am looking at 2 different series. Scroll down for Meta's Tailor's Bear.

First up today though, I am looking at True Rose Story by Angelic Pretty. This series includes 2 dresses, 2 hair accessories and socks.

First up is the OP. The bodice seems well fitted and the shape of the bodice is suitably princessy. It is not to my tastes, but I know the shape will appeal to some. I do feel that the sleeves are a pretty overall shape, but there is so much detail going on. It is far too much, especially for a printed dress.

I decided to include a picture of the side of the sleeves so you can all get a better idea of just how OTT they are. As you can see, the main dress fabric opens up to expose lacy material underneath. On the main length of the sleeve, I don't think this idea is too bad. But on the cuffs, I don't think the opening has been well shaped and I personally feel it looks a bit messy. In the first photo AP have fanned the sleeves out to their maximum, but this second picture probably gives a more realistic idea of how the sleeves will actually look when worn. In this photo the bell shape is a bit shapeless. But my main complaint is that the sleeves are further topped with velvet bows, with some even having fake flowers on top. It is detail, on top of detail, on top of even more detail and it is too much. As I was hinting above, these sleeves could have possibly looked okay if this was a solid coloured dress, where the OTT details would have been the only focal point. On this printed dress though, the sleeves are competing with the over-skirt and the print.

I think the neckline shape is very pretty. The gold braid really helps to define the neckline shape and the lace lining it sits very neatly. I really like the rose themed lace that was chosen. There is also a detachable modesty panel made up of lace, although with the pretty neckline I think I would be tempted to detach it. The bodice then features a small ribbon corset, but the interesting thing here is that AP have put the lace and braid continuing on down from the neckline underneath the ribbon, instead of to the sides. I am really unsure about this design. It means that you get bits where the ribbon is poking out of the lace and the ribbon has no defined lines. It is hard to put in to words, but it just doesn't look right. There is a matching choker too, which goes well with the neckline lace. I like that velveteen has been used for the bow on the choker as well, for a nice bit of continuity. I wouldn't have bothered with the pearl chain on the choker though. There is also a waist bow, which is a cute, well defined shape, but is also a bit too big. It seems to sit well on the dress though. The back offers no shirring, so size flexibility is very limited. The stock photos show that the skirt has plenty of volume and it flares outwards generously. It will hold more than enough petticoat to create an OTT sweet shape to match the overall feel of the dress. There is an over-skirt, which in my opinion is one of the worst over-skirts I have ever seen. It looks like lacy net curtains. The choice of material seems a bit cheap looking for the regal princess feel of the series. I also hate the way it has been gathered at the front, which only adds to the curtain-like appearance. Whilst I appreciate there are curtains in the print, it does not translate well on to the actual over-skirt. Thankfully, this over-skirt is detachable! I think the dress looks loads better when it is removed. When the over-skirt is detached, the skirt is quite simple, so the print is displayed beautifully. The bottom hem is then finished off with a line of the rose lace layered over a ruffle of the lacy floral fabric.

Here we have the JSK. The bodice looks well fitted and the bodice shape is simple, but lovely. I think the straps are a suitable width. They look quite plain from a distance, but the straps are actually lined neatly with some subtle lines of lace. I feel this enough, just to stop them from looking too plain. The bodice features some criss-crossed gold braid, which is lined neatly with lace on either side. I think the gold braid looks bold, and the use of gold really brings out the gold parts of the print. The gold braid is also neatly spaced out. I think the choice of lace looks okay, and it is of a good quality. There are also 2 velveteen bows at the waist area, which are a cute shape and a suitable size. I think the positioning of these 2 bows looks pretty decent as well. The neckline features a line of wide lace with rose shaped lace layered in top. I think this is quite pretty, although I wish it tapered off gently at the sides. There is also a bow on the neckline, which is a cute shape and very sturdy, but it is also massive. But despite its size, I think it works really well on the dress. I like the use of gold braid and the fake rose on the bow too. The back has a panel of shirring, which is topped neatly with a ribbon corset. The stock photos show that the skirt is very full and flares outwards plenty. I really like the full, rounded shape created in the stock photos. The skirt is kept quite simple in design, so the print is displayed brilliantly. The bottom hem is then finished off neatly with a line of rose themed lace.

Finally, this is the print. This series comes in pink, wine, blue and black. The colours on the black version don't particularly appeal to my personal taste, but I think all 4 colours work nicely with the print. As for the print itself, it is bold and interesting. I think the curtains are well set out. It is really sweet how the curtains have a line of rose embroidery and gold on them. It makes the curtains look a lot more interesting and stops there being large areas of the print with just plain, solid colour. The crowns topping the curtains are a nice touch too. The areas inside the curtains are well filled in. I like the bird cages and the spinning wheel is a lovely subtle nod to Sleeping Beauty. The Sleeping Beauty theme is not overwhelming, so it is not as if you have to like that fairy tale to be a fan of the print. The non-border part of the print is very striking with the swirls of gold and roses. It is a bit busy, but this is clearly a series with a lot to say.

I have very conflicting feelings towards this series. Personally, I feel the OP pushes the OTT too far and it comes across as a costume rather than a fashion dress. The JSK is a lot more restrained in comparison. The print is really pretty, and nothing in the print looks out of place. I think the colours are a good mix of cutesy sweet and more mature colours. Would I buy this series? No, because I don't think the print is my style. I think it is pretty obvious I would go for the JSK, and my top choice would be the blue colour. The blue, red and gold colour combination looks very regal in my opinion.

Today I am also looking at Tailor's Bear by Metamorphose. This series includes 2 dresses, 2 skirts, a blouse, a vest, shorts, a cape and 2 hair accessories.

Firstly we have the Stand Collar OP. The bodice looks well fitted and the shape is very smart. I think it looks very mature. The arms appear to have a good amount of length to them. Although the cuffs look quite plain and a bit like work shirt sleeves, in this instance I quite like them. Meta could have added a ruffle to the cuffs, but I don't think it is needed. The bodice features a button up design, which ends mid-skirt. Seeing as this line of buttons is how you appear to get in to the dress, it was probably necessary for the buttons to go a bit further down, so that the wearer could comfortably get the dress on. But purely based on appearance, it would have been better if the buttons stopped at the waistline. It would have been easy to have a zip at the back instead. The buttons and lace used are very cute though. I really like the pleats and ruffles to the sides of the button line too. It is all set out very neatly. The buttons are then topped with a ribbon bow at the collar and another bow at the waistline. The waist bow is a cute shape and I think the size is spot on. It holds its shape decently as well, with no obvious signs of drooping. The ribbon bow is okay too, although I could take or leave it. The back offers a bit of shirring, which does not have anything covering it. Although the shirring is exposed, it kind of blends in to the print. I don't feel the shirring looks that obvious. The stock photos show that the skirt is very full and it flares outwards enough. I absolutely adore the shape created for the stock photos. Aside from the button line, the skirt is otherwise very simple, so the print is displayed perfectly. The bottom hem is then finished off neatly with a double ruffle, which looks very cute.

This is the Collared JSK. The bodice seems quite well fitted, but the shape of the bodice is very square. I don't like that very straight neckline either. The straps look a suitable width and quite supportive. I don't think the shoulder details really add anything to the straps and some subtle lines of lace could have livened them up a bit. Or perhaps the straps could have been lined with braid like the folded down collar has. This collar is very neat, but I feel the overall collar shape could have been cuter. Maybe a more rounded shape could have worked? In the middle, there is a bow on the neckline. This bow is a lovely shape and size, although I am note sure I like how it looks with the collar. But I still feel it is the collar that needs changing and not the bow.  This bow is detachable, but I would leave it on. I think the dress looks too plain with it removed. There are also 6 buttons on the bodice. These buttons have a pretty emblem design and are well positioned. However, some of the buttons seem to be drooping and pointing downwards in some of the stock photos. I hope they are sewn on well on the actual dresses, although resewing the buttons would only need a quick fix. The back is fully shirred which means lots of size flexibility, but it also means the shirring is very exposed. The stock photos show that the skirt has a good amount of volume and it flares outwards generously. There should be plenty of room for petticoat. The skirt is once again kept simple in design, so the print is displayed wonderfully. The bottom hem is then finished off neatly with a line of gold lace.

Finally, this is the print. This series comes in burgandy, deep blue and brown. All 3 colours look amazing with the print. I don't think Meta could have picked better colours. As for the print itself, the bears look adorable. I really love their facial expressions and how some of the bears have mustaches! The cotton reels and buttons are nicely drawn. The ribbon swirls in a fancy way around the bears. If I was being picky, there is maybe a bit too much empty space in the border print. Although maybe this is better than having an overcrowded print. The check background is perfect and I think it is a great choice to go with the border print. The little items floating around the background are nice and subtle too, so they are not distracting. 

So overall I think this is a really cute series. The print is lovely and I quite like both dress designs, even if there are a few small things I would tweak here and there. Would I buy this series? Probably not, because teddy bears are not really my thing. But if I were to go for a teddy print, this would definitely be one of my top choices. My top choice would be the OP in burgandy, despite the buttons continuing down the skirt on the OP. Although I may not be going for this print, I was a bit tempted by the check pattern only shorts and vest. I think those pieces look really smart, but look a bit cuter than some of the boy-style pieces from other brands. I would really love to see these pieces worn, so do let me know if you brought them!