Popping the Perplexing New Look Cherry

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I never thought I’d see the day that I was donning cherry print AND heart print simultaneously but here it is.  Did I ever mention my complete abhorance of heart/rainbow/star/cherry print… I just can’t bear it and I haven’t a clue why.  I like it on other people fine enough  but I put any of those prints on me and I just screw up my face and wail ‘Noooooo!’.  It’s like watching a car crash of faux cutieness waiting to happen.  The problem alas lies in the stereotypes of my ethnicity and the genes that I have been given.  Long haired Chinese girl with a fringe in cherry/heart print just adheres to that demented statement of ‘Oh she’s so kawaii!’  As it is I get ‘Oh you’re so CUTE!’ a fair amount of times.  Nothing wrong with that but I’m not going to add fuel to fire by piling on prints that I never liked in the first place that accelerates said comment. 

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Despite all of this, I was keen to see what New Look Limited Editions was all about…. with a tag that says 1/400 – i.e. indicating there are only 400 of these dresses available, this is New Look’s version of something like Topshop Unique/Boutique for prices that aren’t ridiculous (this dress is ¬£45).  The material is most definitely a cut above being 100% silk and giving a teadress the texture it deserves and it has real grosgrain as a trim.  It’s all a bit warped really because it’s a teadress, which I tend to look for in vintage shops only, it has that godforsaken cherry print AND it’s from New Look, a store where I can never find anything right no matter how many times I venture in there…. it’s perplexing me to no end hence the expression on my face… I’m asking the camera ‘Will you somehow magic an answer to my questions?’.  Oh, and I’m also thinking to myself ‘If I added some heart shaped glasses, some sort of boxy patent bag and a pair of chunky chunky heels and a Project Runway Kenley haircut, I’d be some sort of rubbish Katy Perry cliche…’ 

So many questions to ponder…at least the sky was pretty blue today… 

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49 comments

  1. so cute! I love the simplicity of this outfit. Where are those polka dot burnout tights from?? They’re amazing. =]

  2. I like it – but I think your slightly sulky facial expression is what’s doing the most for me.
    And never speak of Kenley from “Project Runway” – it’ll only encourage her. I spend half the show yelling obscenities at her from the sofa. She’s evil I tells ya!
    You’re not though. You look smashing.
    Becky.

  3. Ooh, I really love this dress. I’ve loved New Look for so long (I remember it being the first high street shop I actually bought things from with my mum) but recently its just not been that great. A new store has opened near me, so I’ll definitely be checking it out tomorrow and hoping they have this limited edition collection in there!

  7. Oh… so kawaii! Sorry, couldn’t resist. *heh heh* Funny though, I was just thinking about how far New Look has dropped out of the loop for me in recent years. This Limited Editions stuff isn’t too bad, but I have to say it’s still pretty boring.

  8. I see where you’re coming from (New Look, Cherry + Hearts, ‘cute’), but you make it work! Like you do everything else, it looks gorgeous on you (not cute ;))

  10. I can understand your aversion to those prints because of the stereotypes. I’d find it annoying as well. But, you look good in the print. Plus, I think from a distance the prints don’t look very cherry and hearts. Just interesting. <3

  11. for some reason, asian guys are not considered kawaii. i’m asian (japanese) too.
    and, hey, kawaii is not even chinese. people should call you another adjective. don’t you think?
    i found the look amazing. 🙂

  13. wow, i know you’re mixing two unlikely patterns, but it’s like the simplest outfit i’ve seen on you. it does look lovely. the soft colors are nice.

  15. I love it! The dress itself is nice but not fabulous, but with those tights and those shoes it rocks!!!

  18. I avoid those prints and anything too ‘lolita’-looking for the same reason… too bad though, i really like those little ruffled skirts…
    btw, your look is too edgy to be ‘kawaii’

  19. you STILL look cute – but not because of the cherries and hearts. the skirt and colour in general makes it adorable, and it’s not a bad thing!

  20. I’m not crazy about the dress, but i think with something a little less simple to edge it up it would work

  21. oh, the print has nothing to do with it. the soft colors are really special and they suit you. i’m glad you decided to wear the dress. xo

  22. i actually like the colors..it suits you very well..but i’m not crazy about the dress..or maybe it’s because your hair cover the front side of the dress. however, you look gorgeous.. 😀
    pls visit mine..
    fashionlover-blog.blogspot.com

  24. Ah…I’m afraid my wild mane is covering the dress a little…. but nevertheless…. it’s cherry print that I like…that’s the main thing…. a rarity that I thought would never happen….

  31. I’m not asian but I know exactly what you mean. I’m small and have a fringe and if I wear those kinds of prints I usually cop the dreaded “cute” remarks too.
    That dress is very pretty on you, and I think the spotty tights manage to make it Bubble rather than kawaii stereotype!

  38. Oh wow, I love how you paired the dress with those tights, the colours are lovely. I think it’s a great buy!

  40. i am in utter agreeance with you about New Look, BUT this dress is fabulous! it looks as if it sits really well on the body, and I personally like the way that you have really amped it up with the tights, and offset it with the choice of shoes (and expression, of course! ha ha) it would be fierce with a cropped biker jacket and some spiked balenciagas, though. really, really good.

  42. having the stereotypically youthful asian face and petite frame I too avoid such cutesy prints and frou-frouness in general. it’s good to know i’m not alone. even wearing my middle-aged yoga teacher garb i still get random elderly Korean couples telling me i have a “Lucky Face.”
    the neutral color palette and abstract design took a typically cliched and potentially cutesy dress and made it a fun, ageless piece to wear for all times.

  44. how did i miss this post?! i definitely agree in dipping toes in something you wouldn’t normally touch, change is good! hearts and cherries, oh yes

  45. So much stamina is required to brave that store but occasionally treasures can be had.
    A few weeks ago I scored leather brogues and when I flipped them over I was shocked to see a ‘Made in Italy’ stamp. They only cost me ¬£15.00.
    Do you remember Eley Kishimoto’s New Look range?

  46. i don’t think this dress feeds any of that stereotype at all. you look great (as always)

  49. I always associate cherry prints with soda shops and 1950s pinups, which I know it’s a look you’re into.

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