Some Casual ILD Fun in Reading

I hope everybody had a good International Lolita Day on Saturday! There were many different communities hosting meets in the UK, which is always nice to see. As for myself, I didn't actually attend any meets and chose instead to just hang out with Sammi and Shalisa. I guess my attitude to comm meets has changed a bit lately and I need to have a bit of a break from them, especially ones that attract large crowds, which I am not so fond of. I feel really lucky to have some good friends I could spend the day with.

I chose to wear Lief's Gardenberries for the first time. I love this print! As you may recall, this dress was a bit big on me, but in the end I decided to wear it without bothering to do any alterations. I may still put a ribbon corset on the back to help make it go smaller, but I don't think the largeness of the dress is too obvious, like the photo above shows. As for my outfit, it turned out a lot more casual than I was planning because I chickened out of doing something a bit more daring. My initial plan was to use more red in the outfit, but it proved a bit of a challenge to get the shades of red balanced, even though there is some red on the dress. I did get a chance to use my Moss Marchen strawberry brooch though, which I pinned to the neckline of the dress, moving the detachable bow to the waist area. Also, please note that my tights were floral patterned ones, but for some reason the pattern wasn't really coming out well in the pictures! I was glad I was able to get one picture where my hair was curly, as the humidity destroyed my curls almost instantly. It was too humid to wear a wig though!

After checking out the selection in various supermarkets, we ended up with a satisfying picnic spread and headed over to Forbury Gardens. It was only after we had purchased our food that we realised Reading was holding their annual food festival that day! It was a bit devastating seeing all that gorgeous street food and the incredible smells coming from the stands, but I don't think we did too badly for food. It makes me smile to think of all the lolitas who sat down for nicely laid out afternoon teas and here we were with a casually thrown together picnic which didn't look too impressive!

Top food choice had to be the Party Ring biscuits that we picked up in Sainsbury's (reduced to 50p!). When we last saw each other we were reminiscing about children's birthday parties, and how it used to be a time where you could eat all the sugary party food that you couldn't normally have at your own home. Party Rings and Iced Gems used to be my favourites, so I insisted we picked up some Party Rings! To tell the truth, I enjoyed our cheap Party Rings far more than the chewy M&S macarons we also had (and M&S spelled macarons with 2 'O's which is always a big no-no!).

Choosing to have a picnic seemed to open up a world of opportunities for people watching and it is amazing some of the things people will get up to in public places. When we sat down it wasn't so bad, there was just one couple doing some intense kissing on a bench nearby. But suddenly, it seemed we were surrounded by couples! At one point there were 5 different couples surrounding us who were in various cuddled up positions and it got a little bit awkward. This couple got especially randy, and there was some bald head stroking going on and what can only be described as straddling and humping. As you can't see their faces, I decided to let this picture stay up on my blog for now! There was also a couple of mums with kids, who were smoking weed (the mums, not the kids!) until a couple of police officers decided to have a stroll around the gardens and a group of local youths on bikes. After a couple of hours spent in the park, I have come to the conclusion that people are very strange, just like the song by The Doors. It makes me laugh how anybody who dresses alternative is seen as weird, and yet we always seem to come across these quirky individuals who don't know how to behave in public.

A lot of the flower beds were barren in the gardens, but we can always rely on the rose garden part to have some nice blooms going on. I never feel like I truly capture how pretty the roses look in my photos. 

Okay, I promise this is the last of the flower photos! This was my favourite bloom that was out. The red was so vibrant. 

Here is a little group shot. I was glad we were able to get a good angle and not get any of the kissing couples in the background! Shalisa looked so cute in her handmade cherry skirt (it is making me want to add more fruit prints to my bursting wardrobe!) and Sammi looked her usual well put-together self in Melty Cream Donuts. 

We have finally mastered the perfect Instax shot! It is all about the distance and angle. It came out so well and I love the vintage feel to it. This makes me want an Instax camera of my own, but they are so heavy to lug about!

I was told there had been a duck in the pond earlier in the day, but I missed it! If I had known, I would have saved some of my bread for it. I know you are not meant to feed ducks bread, but I think it makes a nice treat for them every now and then.

Afterwards we headed to the Slug for cocktails. I went for flavour over alcohol content and got some Porn star martinis. I love passion fruit so much and it is such a nice drink to sip slowly. Our friend Will joined us for drinks as well, which was really fun. Will is so funny and easy to talk to. I think I may of had one drink too many but it was still good, despite the Slug being loud and a bit stuffy.

So despite not really feeling the comm vibe right now, I was still able to dress up and have a good time. I was glad we made the effort to do something other than going to the pub, even if it meant we ended up witnessing a couple getting their bonk on! I hope all of my lovely readers had a good day as well, no matter what you were all doing.

Melty Sky by Angelic Pretty

Today I shall be taking a look at Melty Sky by Angelic Pretty. This series includes 2 dresses, a skirt, a hair accessory and socks. Some new star themed pieces also came out at the same time as this series.

First is the OP. The bodice seems well fitted and the shape is okay, although I don't like the sleeves at all. The sleeves are split with the top being the main dress fabric, and then the bottom part being softer organza material. The combination of the 2 materials on the sleeves does not work with the puffy shape AP were aiming for. I also feel the 2 different materials and the scalloped "melty" hem make the sleeves look too busy, when there is already plenty of detail on the rest of the bodice. Personally, I would have made the whole of the sleeves organza. I do think the shape of the collar is really cute though and I like that AP haven't gone too far with the "melty" shape here. It just looks like a nice, scalloped collar, There is a waist bow, which I think is an okay size, and the shape of the bow is cute too. It holds its shape well and sits well on the dress. I like the continuation of the use of stripy organza here. The bodice features some subtle lines of silver lace, with some wider lace and a line of buttons in the middle. I like the lace choice here and how it isn't too overpowering. The lace sits nicely on the dress too. The star buttons are well spaced out and such a cute design. The collar has been finished off with a ribbon bow, which is a bit shiny, but is otherwise a decent size and shape. This bow is detachable, but I would leave it on, as I feel it makes the collar look unfinished when the bow is detached. The back offers no shirring, so size flexibility is very limited. I like how neat the back looks, although there is a rogue 'drip' to the collar shape on the back, which I am not so fond of. The stock photos show that the skirt is quite full and flares outwards well enough. I dislike the skirt though, and I think a big part of that is the over-stitched ruffle at the bottom. There is something about the spacing and how big the ruffle at the bottom is that feels a bit 'off'. Also, the over-stitched ruffle causes a very bumpy silhouette which just looks clunky and awkward. On a more positive note, the print is displayed really well. The bottom hem is then finished off neatly with some star and AP logo themed lace. Personally, I think the star lace used on the sleeves and bodice is a lot cuter, but at least the bottom hem lace is still of a good quality and matches the theme.

This is the JSK. The bodice looks a bit loose and droopy. I am also not a big fan of the waistline shape and I feel the neckline could have been rounder and softer. The straps are very thin and don't look supportive at all. The lace lining the outsides of the straps and the neckline is cute though, and at least helps stop the straps from looking too plain. The majority of the bodice is kept simple, with just some very thin lines of lace. Given how showy the neckline is, I can appreciate AP wanting to keep the rest of the bodice simple. The neckline features a dripping design, which uses the stripy organza again. To be honest, I do think the drips could have been better shaped, as in some of the close up pictures the edges look a bit too straight and not rounded enough. I also don't feel the choice of the stripy fabric works as well for this 'melty' part as it does for the collar on the OP. The melty panel is topped with a ribbon bow, which is a nice shape and size, but the ribbon chosen is a bit too shiny. The star charm dangling from this bow is very cute though. This bow is detachable, but with it detached, I think the dress looks odd and it feels like something is missing. So I would definitely leave the bow on. The back is fully shirred, so there is plenty of size flexibility, but the exposed shirring is not attractive to look at. The stock photos show that the skirt has a generous amount of volume and it flares outwards beautifully. I love the full shape used in the stock photos and think there is a lot of potential to create a great shape at home. The skirt is kept simple in design, so the print is displayed excellently. The bottom hem is then finished off with the same star and logo themed lace.

Finally, here is what the print looks like. This series comes in white, pink, sax blue and blue. After looking at all the different colours, I have taken a bit of a disliking to the white version. I think the other 3 colours work well with the print and I especially love how the pink version has a nice combination of pink and purple tones. The non-sax blue version is pretty too, but I personally would have preferred a slightly darker shade than the one used. As for the print itself, it looks like an incoherent mess to me. I think the reason why I like the pink and darker blue versions more is because the drippy 'melty' mess in the background isn't as obvious on those 2 colours. The idea of teaming stars with a melting background just seems really bizarre to me. The stars in the print are adorable though. Replace the melting goop with clouds and this print could have been a slightly different take on Misty Sky, which would not have been a bad thing in my opinion.

I was surprised at how quickly this series sold out. Clearly people are seeing something here which I am not. I dislike the dress designs and the print itself is not much better. I don't mind when AP uses melting designs usually, but here I think the drips look really unpleasant. So I think it is safe to say I would not buy this series. My top choice would be the JSK in the darker blue, although I do love the colours on the pink version as well. For the moment I am just holding out hope for some cute star themed jewellery in the near future.

Recent Haul- May 2016

A few months back I asked if people were interested in seeing posts about my recent purchases, especially my auction ones and from sites I no longer review, seeing as I have already reviewed them. So today I am sharing some of my most recent additions to my wardrobe. I am still not sure if this will become a regular thing, but I may as well give it a try.

Recently, I have found my wardrobe space is dwindling and as a result, I have had to really think my purchases through. I need to make sure that the items I add to my wardrobe are items I actually want, rather than impulse purchases. So I have been focusing a lot more on my Facebook wishlist. All of the items in this haul post were a part of that album and I am getting a real kick out of gradually deleting all the photos!

First up is not a lolita item, but it is from Angelic Pretty. As a lover of all thing star and moon themed, I have wanted AP's Shining Star parka for a while. I was unable to get it at the time of release and it doesn't come up second hand that often. But after being unable to obtain a Taobao dress I really wanted, I was furiously scanning the Japanese auctions and ended up finding the parka in the very colour I wanted it in!

It arrived a bit wrinkly, but otherwise in fantastic condition. I really like the colour, which is a very vibrant shade of blue.

I absolutely love the print, although I am a bit worried about it cracking if I don't take care as I wash it. It doesn't feel like the design will fade or crack, but you can never be too careful! I obviously wanted this parka for casual everyday wear, but I was a little disappointed the ties are just bog-standard cords. I have AP's Dream Sky parka as well, which has star charms on the end of a ribbon cord and this style feels a bit boring in comparison.

As for the thickness, I would say it is a little bit thicker than your typical cutsew material, but it is still very light. It is definitely more for Spring and Summer time. The material feels so soft and it feels really nice on.

And unlike my Dream Sky parka, this parka has a decent amount of length to it. This parka goes the whole way down my torso. The arms are also a good length. I am hopeful that I can find more casual tops and parkas to add to my collection. I have a couple of designs in mind, but sadly those are also ones that don't come up for sale that often!

Next up is a new dress! My wardrobe rail is begging me not to add any more dresses and thankfully, my wishlist album now only has 4 dresses left and 2 of them are likely to never be obtained, as they go above the limit of what I consider an okay price to pay for a lolita dress. I am a bit in denial about my wardrobe space and keep putting off the inevitable sales post. But I am the sort of person who tends to like to hang on to stuff until I know I have done everything I can with it. So if there is still a potential new way of co-ordinating a dress, I am unlikely to sell it, in case I then regret it afterwards, even if it isn't as loved as one of my dream dresses.

My new dress is Baby's Princess Honey's Tea Salon rose ribbon JSK in pink. I don't know why I have always liked this print, I just sort of did and I knew I wanted it. I was adamant though, that it absolutely had to be this exact cut and colour. Despite not being a lover of scalloping, I have always loved the scallop shapes at the bottom of this dress. I found this dress on Closet Child for a reasonable price. I also got the matching head bow, but forgot to take pictures! The dress was listed as a '3' quality-wise and as per usual, Closet Child were spot on. I actually couldn't find anything wrong with the dress, apart from a few of the bows getting a bit bent in the post.

Here is a little close up of the detailing I love so much. It definitely lived up to my expectations. I haven't really fallen in love with a lot of the more recent Baby releases and I really wish that they would go back to doing more pieces similar to this one. I was really shocked when I realised this series was released in 2010. It just doesn't seem that long ago, and I can even vaguely remember writing about this release on this blog! I seem to have a thing for pieces from the 2008-2011 era.

Here is a close up of the print. One thing I have noticed about this print in the past is that it doesn't seem to photograph that well. It looks so much prettier in person. 

I love all the pleats and lines of lace on the bodice. I like that it has an interesting appearance with lots of detail, but at the same time it doesn't feel too overdone. With all the nice weather we have been having lately, I am hopeful of wearing this dress very soon.

Finally, I have obtained another fairly old lolita piece (2009- the year I started wearing lolita!). This strawberry cake bag from Baby brings back a lot of nostalgia from my early days in the fashion and it has always been a dream of mine to own it. Who says a dream item has to be a dress? This was an auction purchase and I got it for a really low price. I was especially pleased when it came all nicely sealed in a box and wrapped in a Baby tote bag. I think it may have been the original packaging, so the original owner obviously cared for it well.

I love the pearl chains and the strawberry shaped lace. The subtle pink colour is really lovely as well. It is a such a soft, gentle shade.

The bow on the top needs a bit of reshaping, but the details on top are otherwise perfect! At first I thought that maybe the details would be a bit flimsy and prone to falling off, but from what I can tell they are very well glued down.

There isn't a great deal of room inside, but it is still a lot bigger than some lolita bags! The lining is so neatly done. If I were to make a complaint, it would be that I wish the top was held down by more than one single popper. It doesn't really feel that secure. 

In summary, I love this bag! I appreciate this style of bag is not really popular anymore, but I don't care. The important thing is that I love it. I can't wait to team this with my strawberry prints. It really means a lot to have this little piece of my lolita history finally in my wardrobe. I remember making a berry themed collage when I first got in to lolita and this bag was featured in it. So it is great that it has lived up to my expectations after all this time.

So those are my recent wardrobe additions. I am still getting over the shock that Princess Honey's Tea Salon is actually that old (where has the time gone!?) but it was nice to reminisce about that time when I was initially making lolita collages and Facebook albums of my dream items. I get the feeling that these new items in my wardrobe are going to be sticking around for quite some time and I can't wait to use them!

Rose Muse by Baby the Stars Shine Bright

Today I shall be looking at Rose Muse by Baby the Stars Shine Bright. This series includes 3 dresses, a skirt, a blouse, several hair accessories and socks.

First up we have the OP. The bodice seems well fitted, although it is hard to tell with all that floaty material going on. The large ruffles that make up the sleeves and shoulder area are quite dominating and I dread to think how this will look on somebody with wide shoulders. It does create a very interesting shape, but I am not convinced by it. I feel it makes the dress look a bit top-heavy. The ruffles are at least very neatly lined with some good quality lace. I think the lace used along the neckline is especially pretty. There is also a small bow in the centre which uses some very nice ribbon. The waist line is topped with a belt, which nips in the waist nicely. The lace overlay on the belt and bow is lovely. I am not sure about the bow that is a part of the waist belt though. It is very big in size with very long tails and I don't like the way it sits on the dress. I am also not sure the large bow works teamed with the bodice ruffles. Thankfully, this bow is detachable, and I would definitely consider detaching it. The back offers no shirring, so size flexibility is very limited. I also think the way the ruffles are done on the back is weird looking. The stock photos show that the skirt is very full and flares outwards plenty. There should be enough petticoat room to hopefully create a nice skirt shape to help balance out that bodice. The skirt is generally kept quite simple, so the print is displayed well. The bottom hem is then finished off with an over-stitched chiffon ruffle and lace. Usually I would prefer the ruffle to be under-stitched, but I don't think it looks too bad here. It gives the bottom a nice, soft and floaty look. 

Here we have the Palyi JSK. The bodice material looks a bit loose and puckered in some of the stock photos. I am also not sold on the bodice shape. This style of straps is not exactly wide shoulder friendly either. The waist is topped with a thin line of gold ribbon, which I don't think really adds anything to the design. The main part of the bodice is then kept plain. I suppose with all the neckline and shoulder details, you ideally want the bodice to be simple. However, I don't think that some very subtle thin lines of lace would have been too distracting and would at least have broken up that large, plain area. The neckline and shoulder ruffles have been gathered well and the use of gold braid and lace is lovely. The ribbon bow in the middle is cute too, and an okay shape and size. However, the roll of lace material with gathered areas topped with pearls, looks terrible in my opinion. It makes the inside of the neckline look too fussy. I also don't think the gathering of this lace material has been done well and the pearls sit awkwardly on the top. I wouldn't have bothered with this particular detail at all. The back has a panel of shirring which has been topped neatly with a ribbon corset. The stock photos show that the skirt is very full and and flares outwards beautifully. I love the plump, rounded bell shape of the skirt in the stock photos. The skirt is kept simple in design, so the print is displayed excellently. The bottom hem is then finished off with a line of sparkly gold ribbon and a lace-lined ruffle of organdie. Whilst I love the organdie ruffle, I think the sparkly ribbon is a bit cheap looking and looks a bit out of place. 

This is the Babydoll JSK. The bodice seems well fitted and the shape is quite interesting. The straps look a suitable width and very supportive. I really like the organdie ruffles which lines the outsides of the straps. What I am not so keen on is the way the lace goes part way along the neckline and then goes down the bodice in a harsh V shape. I feel this line of lace could have been done a lot softer and maybe a bit more rounded. It is a shame, because I think the lace used is very pretty, and it could have looked really good. The line of lace then goes back outwards, which creates an odd little shaped area above the waist line. I feel this makes the waist area look very odd, especially when you have the smaller ribbon bow and the large waist bow. The waist bow is again very large and I don't think the shape of this bow is that good either. It sits on the dress strangely. The good thing is that the waist bow, as well as the smaller ribbon bow, is detachable. I would definitely detach the waist bow, although I would keep the ribbon bow and place it on the neckline, as it is positioned in the photo above. The V shape at the top of the bodice is filled with lace, which gives an interesting texture. Overall though, I feel the bodice design is very confusing and it does not appeal. The back is fully shirred, which means plenty of size flexibility but exposed shirring, which is not that appealing looks-wise. The stock photos show that the skirt is very full and flares out generously. It should hold more than enough petticoat and there is the potential to create a lovely shape. The skirt is kept simple in design, so the print is displayed really well. The bottom hem is then finished off with several over-stitched organdie ruffles. The ruffles are layered fairly well and it creates a very soft and interesting looking bottom hem.

And here we can see the print. This series comes in ivory, pink, apricot and blue. All 4 colours seem to work well with the print and I am especially impressed to see an apricot colour, as this is something rarely seen in lolita. However, if you take a look at the photos of the dresses, it would seem that the print is a lot more washed out than this print close up would suggest, which is very disappointing. As for the print itself, I think some parts definitely work better than other parts. I absolutely love the arched windows with the muses in each window at the bottom. The muses are all drawn with flowing hair and different musical instruments. The roses surrounding the windows with the muses look very pretty and very conveniently fill in the gaps in a very pretty way. I also love the stained glass windows and think the glass has some very interesting uses of colour. However, I am not really feeling the bit in the middle with the massive sheet music pages and half-violins on either side. I just don't feel it fits in as well with the rest of the print. It is also a bit dull just having some flat sheets of paper just placed in the print with nothing much going on with them. To be honest, I would have been quite content if this print had just had the bit with the muses at the bottom.

So overall, I can't say I am really sold on either the print or the dress cuts. As I was going through this series I found myself wondering what Baby were thinking with a lot of their choices. I also don't like how the stock photos suggest that the print is going to look really washed out and faded. Here is hoping it looks a lot better in person. I think it is safe to say I wouldn't buy this series. I guess my top dress choice would be the Palyi JSK in apricot, but I would much rather go for the skirt. It is a shame, because I feel the print could of had a lot of potential.

The Secret Kawaii Lifestyler

I recently got a message from a friend of mine asking what I had been doing over the weekend and whether or not I had dressed in lolita at all. Considering I had been doing some DIY around the house that weekend, I think it is safe to say the frills stayed in the wardrobe that day! But it did get me thinking a bit about how different my weekend life is to my weekday life, and also about how it isn't always possible to wear lolita every day. Despite being self-employed and working from home, you are more likely to find me wearing my pyjamas whilst working, rather than lolita. But although I may not have much experience working in an office, I can appreciate that it is not an appropriate lolita environment. You have to at least appear professional a lot of the time but also, I think sometimes the idea of having to explain lolita or a love of all things kawaii to colleagues is a bit embarrassing! Some of James' colleagues found out about me wearing lolita last year. As it turned out, they were quite positive about it, but there was still this initial fear of being 'caught out'! I guess what I am trying to say is, I may love cute things, but at the same time I want to maintain some level of maturity in public, especially when I am not dressed up. It is not just work environments where lolita is not appropriate. I don't know of any lolitas who think wearing their frills to the dentist is ever a good idea, for example. But there has to be a way to add those little touches of cute to everyday life without it being overbearing. Here are some ways I have thought about adding a touch of cuteness to everyday life or trying to maintain a 'lolita lifestyle' when it is not always possible.

First things first, I feel that even if you do work in an office environment, it is important to have your own space and express yourself in a way that is still appropriate. It could be something as simple as having some cute stationery on your desk. Obviously if you are off to a serious business meeting it is probably a good idea to have some smart stationery to hand, but for your desk and more casual interactions, what is the harm in going a bit cuter? There are so many different stationery stores out there that offer cute choices. Off the top of my head, we have Artbox, Tofu Cute, Blott and Paperchase here in the UK. I am pretty sure those of you not from the UK can at least think of one store. Cute stationary can add a touch of fun without being too much. Some of these stores also carry stuff like mugs, which can brighten up a work's kitchen area.

It is also possible to wear items from a cute wardrobe in a more mature way. Classic lolita blouses for example, would not look too out of place in a work wardrobe, depending on your choice of blouse and how you styled it. It is well worth looking up Daily a la Mode looks online, as there are lots of outfits out there which use lolita pieces, but have a bit more of a 'normie' vibe to them. Recently, I have noticed more and more that a lot of lolitas are using high street clothing with their looks. If everyday clothing can be used in lolita, then why not the other way around?

If wearing your cute clothes in a toned down sort of way sounds too daunting, then I guess you could always resort to being even more subtle with your cuteness. How about painting your toenails with a cute pattern? Chances are, nobody is going to see it anyway. It is just a little bit of fun, and it can feel kind of sneaky, knowing you have this cute little hidden secret. You can always take pictures of your nails when you get home. You could even do your finger nails too. Nail art went through a bit of a boom in popularity, and nail salons are always popping up all over the place. I don't feel that nail art is really seen as being that outlandish nowadays and lots of people use it is a fun way to express themselves. The Spring and Summer is especially a good time if you are in to pastels.

The use of perfume is a good way to capture a favourite memory. I frequently wear perfume when I am in lolita because I feel it is a nice finishing touch. Now, whenever I wear certain scents outside of lolita, it brings me happy memories. Although I am in completely casual clothes, perfume feels like a way I can take my lolita memories with me.

If all else fails, I know several people who are frequently baking stuff like cupcakes and then taking them to work. I am not saying we should be like Momoko from Kamikaze Girls and only eat sweet things, but the odd cupcake with pastel icing and cute sprinkles is a nice way to cheer up the odd lunch time. And if you end up bringing more for others then to be honest, a lot of people are more likely to be excited about the free food, rather than how cutesy your food is! Besides, if all the trendy cupcake stands dotted about the place and all the cooking shows (like Great British Bake Off!) on TV are anything to go by, it seems cute cakes are not just for us kawaii fans. If cupcakes are not your thing, then try taking inspiration from bento boxes. There are some really good bento inspiration blogs on Tumblr which are packed full of ideas. Even shaping your lunch time sandwiches using cookie cutters can add a cute touch! (and yes, I did choose the picture above because of the duck cupcakes!)

So those are my ideas for adding a subtle touch of cuteness to everyday life. Can you think of any others? Please feel free to comment and share them!

Wrapping Cherry by Angelic Pretty

Today I shall be taking a look at Wrapping Cherry by Angelic Pretty. This series includes 2 dresses, a skirt, a hair accessory, socks, gloves, 2 bags and a yukata special set.

First up is the JSK. The bodice doesn't look that well fitted and to be honest, I think the shape of the bodice could have been a lot cuter. I really would have liked a softer neckline shape instead of this harsh, straight neckline. The straps are also very thin and look so flimsy. The lace on the straps is really pretty though, with an interesting design and being of good quality. There is a ribbon belt, which emphasises the waist area nicely. However, the ribbon used is very shiny and also has a cheap look to it. The bow in the middle has a cute shape to it and it is a nice size. I really dislike the bodice details. There is a V-shaped line of lace with a fabric heart in the middle. Although the lace is lovely, I think the way it has been used and the cheap looking heart makes it look really tacky. I also wonder how this detailing would look when worn with somebody with a larger bust. The neckline is finished off with more of the shiny ribbon and a bow, which I don't like the shape of. There is a panel of shirring on the back, which has been topped neatly with a ribbon corset. The stock photos show that the skirt is generous in volume and it flares outwards beautifully. The skirt is very full and I love how it looks in the stock photos. The skirt is kept simple in design, so the print is displayed excellently. Finally, the lace s finished off with some heart shaped cherry themed lace. This lace couldn't be any more perfect!

This is the OP. The bodice seems well fitted, although the high waist is not going to suit everybody. The shape of the bodice is cute though. I like how the short sleeves are suitably puffy and the neckline is quite cute too. The sleeves and neckline are lined so well with the lace as well. I like that the sleeve lace is kept narrow and doesn't look overpowering. The neckline lace is so pretty and it sits so well on the dress. I don't like the use of lace along the waistline though. I think the dress design would look a lot smoother without the waist lace, if that makes sense. Also, I don't think it adds much to the design, as the neckline lace is already very decorative. There is also a bow on this high waistline, which once again is very shiny and cheap looking. I also don't think the waist bow has been well positioned. I wouldn't have bothered with the waist bow at all. There is a line of pearls between the waist bow the the bow on the neckline. They don't really stand out or add anything to the design. The neckline bow is cute, but I think the tails are too long. Maybe it could have been a little bit smaller in size. There is a choker, which matches perfectly, although I am not a fan of it personally. I am not really in to chokers! The back offers no shirring, so size flexibility is very limited. The lace on the back looks neat. There is also a heart design on the zip line, but I don't think it is that noticeable unless you are really looking out for it. The stock photos show that the skirt has lots of volume and it flares out really well. I think the overall skirt shape could have been a slight bit rounder though. The skirt is kept dimple in design, so the print is displayed beautifully. The bottom hem is then finished off with the cute lace again.

Finally, this is what the print looks like. This series comes in black, white, pink and red. The colours are good choices for the print, but maybe a bit too 'safe'. Drained Cherry's colours were at least a bit more experimental. As for the print itself, the cherries are adorable and I especially love the heart shaped cherries. Sadly, I think all the writing and hearts in the background make the print look too cluttered. What you have to remember, is that the cherries in the print are actually very big on the dress. If the writing wasn't there, I think the cherries in the print could have been spread out a bit more evenly. If you look at the print on the dresses, the distribution of cherries doesn't quite look right. I would keep the arrows and hearts, but maybe make the hearts a bit smaller in size. I do think the bows on the cherry stalks are cute though. 

So overall, I think this series is okay, but if I am being honest I prefer Drained Cherry. The Drained Cherry print is simpler, as are the dress designs. Wrapping Cherry feels too cluttered for me and there are certain bits of the dress designs which feel too fussy and cluttered. I also hate the use of really shiny looking cheap ribbon! Would I buy this series? No, because as mentioned, I think Drained Cherry is a lot better. My top choice would be the OP in black. Despite my misgivings with this series, I guess I can understand why this series sold so well. It looks cute enough if you ignore the alternatives, and it is always nice to see a berry print which isn't strawberries. I think AP were missing a trick not releasing this before Valentine's Day, but it doesn't seem to have affected its popularity. 

Taobao Haul May 2016- Part 2

Today I am looking at the 2nd Taobao order I recently placed. This haul is a bit smaller because there was meant to be a dress (Le Mirroir re-released their cute bird print dress, but I literally just missed the reservation. I am still kicking myself for not placing my order sooner) and also a pair of bird earrings, which became out of stock during my order.

Taobao Ring packaged my order in quite a small box again, although as my order was smaller, this time the box size was probably more suited. And to be fair, this time my more fragile items were wrapped in so much bubble wrap. I actually struggled to get the feather clips open!

These are the feather clips I just mentioned, which were from here. Please excuse the lighting, it has been very overcast and rainy lately! I can confirm that in person, these clips are beautiful. They have lots of detail to them. The gems have been attached neatly too.

The clip on the back was a little bit stiff to open, but after opening it a few times it got a bit easier to do. The clip is secured well and seems strong enough to hold the clip in place. If I could change anything, I wish the back had a pin as well as a clip.

Next up are these Miss Moe Gloves. I got an off-white and a black pair. I was mainly curious to see what materials had been used for these sheer looking gloves. Sadly, the materials were really cheap. I had heard mixed reviews about Miss Moe before, so I only have myself to blame!

Size-wise, the gloves fitted really nicely. Usually with one-size gloves, I find the fingers are too long, but these gloves were not too bad. 

My main complaint with the gloves is the wrist part. Not only are the materials cheap, but they feel cheap too. The wrist bit feels so scratchy and itchy. The material is a lot more stiff than I was expecting, which caused the wrist bits to stick out at funny angles. The ribbon bow was a bit better, with a fair quality ribbon and sealed ends.

I think this photo demonstrates how bad the wrist material is! I really struggled to get the material to sit in a way I was happy with. It was determined to stick out at this funny angle. I guess an accessory is not the best way to judge a store that sells a wide variety of items, but if I was asked about Miss Moe, I would say avoid this store.

Next up is this headband from Cutie Creator (the most recent name for Ciciwork). The adornments are generally of a good quality and are well positioned on the band. One of the strawberries did have a small mark on it though. I couldn't really see any visible glue marks. The ribbon was well gathered along the band as well.

Here is a little side view. I really like the way the white bits fill out the empty spaces.

Despite the masses of bubble wrap, a pine cone did fall off though! I did manage to glue it back on okay. It does make me a bit concerned about other bits falling off.

The ribbon is matte and I really like the crimped edges. I think the ends could have been done neater, but I am generally happy with it. The bows are a nice shape too.

Here is a dodgy worn shot. For some reason, the band was determined to lean forward. I don't see why, because the band is not particularly heavy and the hair band is big enough to fit comfortably enough for an adult head. I guess I will pin it in place. There is the odd little things I am not completely happy with but overall, I actually quite like this hair band. It is definitely worth the price paid.

Next up are these Red Maria tights which I am so glad I finally got hold of, as they previously were temporarily taken off the store. The print is so pretty, that I got them in burgandy too. The packaging included some washing advice, which is handy.

When worn, the print is still crisp, but the colours are maybe not as bold as they could be. The colours especially look faded nearer the top. It doesn't look as bad nearer the bottom, so I am glad that most people will only see the bottom half of my legs when I wear them! The size is pretty much like most Taobao tights. I found they fitted my legs (I am about 5'4'') and they felt comfortable.

I just though I would share a photo of the bottom of my legs, just to show how it looks. Despite the colour not being as bold as hoped, I am still fairly happy with the tights I got. They look better in person than they do in my photos.

Finally, I got these tights from here. I got 2 pairs because the tights are of a low denier and they looked very fragile! I have made this mistake before and then found the listing had disappeared, so I try to buy multiple pairs where I can with cheap tights. The tights are a beautiful ivory colour.

This is what the floral pattern looks like close up. It looks really pretty. The rest of the tights is a very small fishnet, but the fishnet is barely noticeable. The tights feel nice too.

This is the worn photo. I found these tights were maybe a bit too small. I managed to pull them up, but it was a bit of a struggle. The pattern looks absolutely beautiful when worn though. I am really pleased with their appearance. They were actually better looking than I was expecting.

So this order has not entirely been a success (I don't know if I am going to use the gloves or not) but has overall been very positive. With the exception of the gloves, the items I got were definitely worth the price I paid. The feather clips and floral tights are my favourites from this order. I am really looking forward to adding these items to my wardrobe.