A fun picnic meetup!

Hey everyone! Apologies for not posting in a little while, but I've simply not had the time!

I thought I would do another meetup report, this time on an Oxford lolita meetup that happened on Sunday.

We decided to go for a picnic. Luna and Sammi organised a series of games for us to play such as lolita print bingo, and a pinata, and overall, it was a really funny meetup!

We set up camp under the shade of some big trees by a duck pond.

We had croissants, cocktail sausages, sausage rolls, grapes, strawberries and cream, fairy cakes (which were amazing), Doritos, couscous and sandwiches!

This lil ducky chilled out with us for a bit. She was rewarded with Doritos after we decided she was a "cool original" sort of duck.

James ended up in a tree in an attempt to set up the pinata so I gave him my camera so he could get some cool birds-eye view photos of us! Luna's dress makes me nostalgic as it's what she was wearing the first time we properly met! I decided to wear an Anna House blouse, Bodyline macaron print (because food theme!) and a handmade strawberry clip and handmade teapot earrings!

All of us waiting around for this bloody pinata to get it together! Despite Sammi having dried out the paper mache for days, it still had a weird gooey texture and didn't quite work out properly.

We each took turns to whack at this thing for so ages before finally deciding to just tear it open already!

My shoes weren't loli at all but I didn't have my black tea parties at my parents' house where I was staying. Oh well XD

After we were done with clearing up all the pinata mess, we went for a bit of a wander around the park, getting stopped for photos, and then going on a hunt for the toilets. We then headed for another shaded area to take group photos.

And here's all of us! We had a couple of newcomers and they were so lovely. Hopefully they'll come to more meets in future!

After this, we settled ourselves down once more so we could sample Nicola's chocolate cake.

It was delicious, of course! So far, Nicola's chocolate cake is the nicest I've tasted so far. I love that she doesn't overdo it with the chocolate so it's not overly rich or bitter. It's just perfect! I regret not asking to take some home with me!

After that we headed to the ice cream cafe to cool down. And then, the meet was over!

I had such a great day! Meetups are so much fun in hot weather because the days are longer, and there's so much more freedom when you can stay outside and be comfortable.

I hope you enjoyed this meetup report! Thanks for reading, and feel free to comment! ❤

Bag review: Angelic Pretty's Melty Moon Bag

Hi everyone!

When Angelic Pretty released their Melty Moon bag last year I thought it was pretty awesome. A bit of a strange concept, but definitely awesome. What I didn't find awesome, however, was the mad chaos that ensued as everyone tried to get their hands on it. It was stress I couldn't be bothered to deal with. I decided to bide my time instead. 

Recently I noticed someone selling the Melty Moon bag on the UK version of lolita sales on facebook. I watched as the price went down and down as the months passed, before deciding to get it before someone else did! I ended up getting it for a great price. Result! Anyway, I wanted to add to the list of reviews of this bag as there are surprisingly few of them. Let's go!

The size of the bag surprised me. It actually fits a fair amount of things in it! A phone, a camera, a small wallet, lip balm, a mirror and door keys. Perfect! One thing I would change is the writing on the star, making it white instead of silver. As it is, you can't really tell that easily that the text says "Angelic Pretty". Other than that, this bag is beautiful.

The opening is a good size and curves around with the bag.

The material of the bag caught me by surprise. I wasn't expecting it to feel so soft and well, like it was really made of leather. The texture is really gorgeous and I couldn't help but spend a little while stroking it.

There are many stars to be found on this bag, from the ones printed on the front of it, to the star shaped buckle, zip chain, studs, and little star shaped dangly thing (a mini coin purse? I don't even know but it's adorable).

The inside of the bag is quite roomy given the shape, and has an AP tag and a little zipped pocket for small items.

The bag is comfortable to wear, with a strap you can adjust. The theme of it is a bit unique though, so I'll have to try to find a plainer dress/skirt to wear it with so there's no print theme clashes.

Overall, I'm really glad I got this bag! It's such a cool concept, and I'm excited to wear it. Lolita fashion definitely got me into the idea of unusual shaped bags and I look forward to adding more to my collection! I hope you enjoyed this review! Let me know what you think of the bag (and lolita bags in general!) in the comments ❤

A life update: Things I learned from selling at a vintage fair

Hey everyone! I didn't mean to go on a mini hiatus but ended up having a little Easter break with my partner in which I was barely online (my internet connection has been practically non existent as of late and I can't wait to get a new broadband provider) and generally did nothing too taxing or stressful! I ended up eating a lot of pub food, going on random adventures, and watching bizarre cosmetic surgery programmes (what all regular couples do I'm sure...). I'm back now, though, and realised that I never wrote about my first experience of selling items from my brand at an event.

I decided that for a first timer like myself I should probably start off small, as it would be a learning experience more than anything else, and I didn't want to end up spending lots of money just so I could make big mistakes! I ended up choosing a tiny local vintage fair. There are no set table/stall prices, and you are simply charged a set percentage of whatever you sell. The idea is that you don't end up paying a big fee even if you sell barely anything. I wish more events worked in this way, but I guess it would be too hard to monitor anything bigger than this as people would probably just lie about the day's takings, plus there probably aren't an abundance of cheap or free venues to rent out.

Anyway, I spent the week leading up to the event making last minute bits and pieces, and practising my table layout. I expected to get a small table as previous fairs I'd been to had been extremely short on space, given the fact the fair is held at a bar. However, this time the venue had been renovated and dramatically changed, so when I arrived, I ended up having a massive area to myself. There was a leaflet display awkwardly placed behind it that I wasn't too sure what to do with, but I figured it didn't matter too much as this was a very casual affair.

The fair was held from 12pm until 5pm, but boy did it feel like a long day! I only knew one person already, and I am not great in new social situations, so I felt too shy to go up and talk to the other vendors, who all seemed to be friends already. I fidgeted a lot and wandered around a few times, before deciding that slowly eating my packed lunch would be the best way to waste time and look occupied. Oh dear.

During the entire day, I only sold two items, and the organiser took pity on me and decided not to charge me a fee for being there, which I thought was very kind.

Things I learnt from this experience (and other things which will hopefully help me and any other vendor newbies in the future):

• If you're going to be selling at an event, you definitely need to have someone to be there with you for moral support, to watch your table if you need a toilet break, and to make the time go faster. I knew this already but simply didn't have time to sort it out. Make sure you plan this out well in advance.
• Try to make your table look as full as possible (though not cluttered). My table looked sparse, and I didn't have enough items at the time to improve it. Next time I'll be better prepared.
• Make your space look unique. Use a nice table cover (and make sure it's massive! Mine was way too small) and use different levels to add depth and interest. 
• Make your space look touchable! I need to improve on this. People want to feel as if they can pick things up and have a proper look, so don't try to create an art exhibit people will be too scared to come close to in fear of disrupting it.
• Talk to people who walk past, even if just to greet them. I know that nobody likes being harassed, but at the same time, I think my complete silence was off-putting! Be personable and approachable.
• Think about your target market when choosing an event to sell at. Mine is the Japanese street fashion scene, but I was at a vintage fair. There's a slight crossover there, but it's a thing of chance. I would like to try a small convention or an event specifically related to kawaii fashion in the future, as it seems more likely people will be interested in the things I make.
• Get a banner of some sort. I was just using a piece of card on top of my jewellery display, but it was small and unnoticeable. Business cards are also important, and they should be displayed on your table, and placed in with customer purchases so they know how to find your stuff again!

I wore a very casual lolita coordinate for this day, as I wanted to be comfortable.

Although some of the problems I had really were down to the nature of the vintage fair (as you can see it wasn't just a regular convention/craft fair table, but clearly some part of the venue's bar/some sort of bench... not even sure what my table was at this point) I do think I learnt some valuable things about selling to people in real life. Online, you just leave the customers to browse your shop and read descriptions and examine photos. In person, it can be more down to you and what you bring to your table. I'm going to work harder on dealing with my anxiety and being more confident in myself. Hopefully I can do better in future!

I hope you enjoyed reading this post, even if it's a bit more of a personal/life update sort of thing. Perhaps someone out there can get some use from my experience. Feel free to comment and I hope you all had a wonderful Easter ❤

I'm Your Present Review!

Recently I ordered a necklace from I'm Your Present, an Etsy shop that has got quite a huge following! They specialise in really cute and interesting handmade clothing and accessories, and I was drawn to the Japanese street fashion aesthetic of a lot of it.

I decided to get myself one of their necklaces, a nautical one that is very collar-like. Here's their stock photo:

I really liked the look of the bronze chain and the subtly pastel colours of the necklace, and looked forward to receiving it.

It only took about a week or so arrive. Everything was wrapped up in pink tissue paper which I thought was adorable. Let's start with all the extras I got in my package:

Free dolphin earrings! I really wasn't expecting that. I also got a lollipop, a discount code for my next purchase, a cat sticker, and a postcard sized business card for the shop.

This is the underside of the card:

How sweet is that?! I thought that was a really simple but thoughtful gesture. So in terms of the packaging and personalised service, this shop definitely gets full marks.

Now, onto the actual necklace. Let me start off by saying that when I opened the little cardboard box it was in (carefully placed in fluffy protective padding) I was immediately surprised because I didn't expect the colours to be like this.

The actual colour of the chain is a rather gaudy gold, and the assorted charms are white rather than various shades of pastel. Now, I can totally understand editing the colours of photos. I do it all the time. But when it comes to representing the product you are selling, you have to be more careful. I don't think you should have to carefully read an item description when the photo should tell you what you need to know about the product, at least where the colours are concerned.

After deciding I still did rather like the necklace (I'm not a fan of bright gold at all but figured perhaps I could make this work) I incorporated it into a very basic coordinate for a quick trip to the bank.

It matches the gold details of my bag well, and there are other clothes I have (plain black tops especially) that I think will be complemented by it. Top marks for how nice it looks worn!

Here's a close up picture of me wearing it:

The colours in this picture came out a bit instagram-ish but it still hasn't affected the fact the necklace is clearly bright gold with white charms. The side of the mermaid charm you can see here came with weird grubby marks on it and I'm not sure what they are. I'm going to have to try to get them off somehow.

I do really like this necklace, and I think the charms are simply adorable. The construction is faultless, and I do like that it's a statement piece for sure. But I think it's important for stock photos to be accurate, and for any small imperfections with the parts to be clearly stated, so I'm Your Present loses some marks there for me. 

Would I order from them again? Yes! Their prices are very reasonable and as far as online shopping issues go, the ones I outlined in this post are pretty minor. I was impressed with the service, and I do believe I'm Your Present value their customers in a big way. I don't think I've ever received such a cute package before!

So, what do you guys think of the necklace? And have you ever received something that wasn't quite what you were expecting it to be? Let me know in the comments, and thanks for reading! ❤

Hey Chickadee Review: Pusheen!

Today I thought I would review the Pusheen merchandise I got in the post earlier this week.

I don't know about everyone else but I absolutely love Pusheen! I think people into kawaii stuff tend to love Hello Kitty (me included), but I always found her a little lacking in substance! Pusheen on the other hand has a lot more personality and is overall adorable. I use the moving stickers in my Facebook messages far too much...

Anyway, I decided to get myself the Pusheenicorn t-shirt, career pins, and pretty phone charm from Hey Chickadee.

Everything took about a week to get to me, and there was no nasty customs charge. Yes!

First off, the phone charm:

Eeek, it's so cute! I do wish it was double-sided though. As it is, the back is just plain black. Still, this charm adds some cuteness to my very boring plain black phone case. I love her little bow!

Onto the badges:

Again, super cute! They're a bit on the small side, but I was expecting this as the measurements are listed on the website. I can't wait to pin them to my clothes.

Finally, the t-shirt!

This picture shows the colour quite accurately-- moreso than the website which made it seem like it would be a standard baby pink. I'm actually glad it turned out to be a pale peachy pink colour, as I think the print looks much better against it. I really love this top!

Really naff worn picture (I'd just got out of bed) but oh well! I finally have something to go with the weird peachy pink tights that never seemed to quite match anything! I don't think they even match here but close enough!

Overall, I'm very happy with my order and would definitely use Hey Chickadee again.

I hope you enjoyed this review! Do you like Pusheen? Let me know in the comments ❤

Bodyline Review: Bolero L072 and Shoes 251

Hey everyone! On Thursday 16th January I received a Bodyline order I made on December 19th! I chose AIR shipping to be fair, but it doesn't normally take quite so long! Oh well. Everything arrived safe and sound.

I've only ordered one pair of Bodyline shoes before, back in 2010 and they were chucked into a shipping bag and sent to me. This time, however, I received them in a shoe box!

I was so excited! I love shoe boxes! Plus, it means my shoes arrived in pristine condition. They were stuffed with balled up tissue paper and each had a plastic stick inside to prevent loss of shape/denting. The shoes were separated inside the box with a piece of cardboard. I was really impressed.

There's not a whole lot to say about the bolero. It fits fine (though was a touch darker than I was expecting but that's ok because it matches the shoes perfectly) and is soft and great quality. I already own this bolero in red, and am pretty tempted to get the pink one next. I don't think you can have enough boleros, especially in the winter!

Anyway, onto the shoes.

My feet measure about 24cm, and I ordered size 24.5. They fit most beautifully. I have sensitive feet and these have just the right amount of room in them for socks and toe wiggling!

I like that the heel isn't completely thin as with ballet flats. These have just the right amount to be comfortable for walking. The scallop details are adorable.

They have really good traction, another thing ballet flats often seem to lack. I wore these shoes today and felt comfy and secure. The straps are easily adjustable and the poppers remain closed when walking.

I love the bows and shape of the shoe. They are nice and rounded so your toes don't get pinched or rubbed. I adjusted the straps after taking this picture and they are now perfect. I would recommend you not to buy shoes which are exactly the same size as your feet, but to round up to the next half centimetre. Overall, I am really impressed with these shoes, and I am pleased with my Bodyline order overall!

I wasn't very impressed by the £13.31 customs fee on such a small order but that's another story altogether!

Thanks for looking, and see you next time!❤

Metamorphose Sweet Cherry Jumperskirt Review

Hey everyone! I hope you enjoyed your festive holidays if you had them, and that you're already well on your way to achieving your new year's resolutions!

I feel like I'm slipping up on my positive thinking for the new year already, and I've had a few minor set backs. Still, all I can do is keep ploughing forward and getting things done.

Yesterday was good because I got up really early for once, and met up with a dear friend for breakfast at our village caff! After that, I went home and whiled away a few hours watching old WWE episodes with my brother, before the doorbell finally rang. Yes! My Meta package!

I ordered the Sweet Cherry jumperskirt in cream (it's yellow, basically). It was actually something of a dream dress of mine for a little while now, but I finally plucked up the courage to buy it two days before Christmas, as a late present to myself.

It is made of a really soft, lightweight cotton which will be perfect for the summer months, but will still be fine should I want to brave cooler weather in it. Layers are everything! The print has a lot of colours, even navy blue, so I have a feeling this will be easily "coord-able". I often find that Meta's prints have a retro vibe to them, and this one is no exception. It's quite long, too, but luckily the straps are adjustable so I'll probably fiddle around with them so the bodice of the dress sits in just the right place.

The print has not only cherries, but blueberries and raspberries! Plus there are daisies, gorgeous lace bows, and even a lace print with Meta's swans becoming part of the pattern. I love the fact it has a striped background, as it adds a bit more interest than a block colour would.

I am so glad I bought it, and seeing as it was in the 50% off sale, it turned out to be quite the bargain, even with the extortionate customs fees factored in. Definitely a great way to start off a new year of lolita!

Here's the review vlog I did of it, where I go into a bit more detail about the ordering process and why I love the dress so much!

Thanks for looking and watching! I would love to know your thoughts on this dress in the comments!  ❤