Sorry, guys, I'm skipping the Halloween post this year-
(except let's be real, I haven't posted in months anyway because I've been writing a book, oops)
-and I'm just moving straight on to the thing that I apparently missed in between a mini Moitie revival, the sharp decline of shirred OPs, and my massive disappointment that the only toy print I've ever truly loved is being rereleased in the worst cut.
Angelic Pretty's trying to bring back leopard print?
Like, didn't we... didn't we do this already? Metamorphose pumped out three nearly identical leopard prints, Baby once in a while hands out some printed faux fur accessories, and we were good. Jewel Leopard is the butt of many good-natured jokes because Meta's our crazy and fun spinster auntie and I think a lot more people like it than we like to give away, but "tacky" is still the word tacked onto it. And let's remember how many jokes were on Lolita Updates about how Angelic Pretty clearly kidnapped a Meta designer (Girly Leopard isn't the first offender).
No joke, though, while I'm baffled that this happened at all, I think AP did a pretty good job of the print. Better than Meta.
I know, guys. It's me. #1 Meta fan. But look at Rose Leopard and compare.
Anyway, the print does the Garden Alice thing where the actual leopard print is used as a background to more central elements. In this case, little frames with shoes, hearts, roses and stuff and little swags of jewels in between, so while the fabric visually has a more complex texture, the fact that it's leopard print is easy to forget. I dig it.
I think the colorways all work pretty well, for the most part. Nothing is intensely eye-gouging. I think I like the tulle overlays because they dim down the print and give the garments an extra bit of fanciness, but I'm on-the-fence about the velour bows and trim. They would've looked better in velveteen.
The fur tippet on the OP has some beading that I actually quite like, and I enjoy the neckline underneath it, too - but oh, look, another OP without shirring :'D Ah, well.
I'm so torn on this series. Some of it works well, and then other parts don't. The beret's pretty classic Angelic Pretty, but the animal ears make me cringe in the same way as lace with a netting base - it's just one of those things ingrained into me when I was first starting out. But then the little "ankle covers" (you could probably use them as wrists cuffs) in the same breath look like you could make them a really nice and cozy part of a late autumn or winter look.
Honestly, I'm not super concerned about the series and I won't judge anyone for getting it, I just really needed to stop and make everyone take a look at it because it's one in the morning and my sleepy brain doesn't know what to do with itself.
Lots of love, my little macarons~ Wear your spots with pride.