Madoka Magica x earth music&ecology Collection

I decided I want to cover some of the many super cute fashion collaborations that are released in Japan.  Many of these press release type posts are only in Japanese because the brands aren't sold internationally.

I'm a huge fan of magical girl anime series, so I really like Madoka Magica.  If you have never watched it, I highly recommend it in general but especially to people who are into the idea of a cute magical girl series with a darker plot.

I'm all about these winter pieces from the Madoka Magica x Earth Music and Ecology collaboration.  I am one of those people who gets cold often,  so every winter I feel compelled to replenish my warmer clothing collection.  The designs in this series are perfect for anime fans who would like to be a little bit subtle about their interests.  The collaboration items will be released on November 29th.  Check them out!

This Madoka Kaname inspired coordinate is adorable!  I love the subtle references to the anime through the Kyubey pattern in the sweater and the socks that reference Madoka's dress!

The Homura set items are a lot less of an obvious a reference compared to the Madoka ones but still look cozy nonetheless.  The article on SG109 says that the skirt has a soul gem flame embroidery pattern on it but it's difficult to see from this photo.

The overalls in this Kyoko set apparently also have a soul gem inspired pattern on them.  The headband also has an apple design on it and so does the necklace that's also available.

The colors in Mami's set match her dress in the anime really well.  I like this whole outfit, especially the long socks with the dress.

The Sayaka set is a lot different from the rest of them.  The shorts also apparently have a pattern on them that isn't visible from this photo.

I'm excited to see these in person or at least just a more detailed image of some of these items because I'm curious about these details referenced in the descriptions.  The coordinates look cute but it's impossible to see these intricacies in the photos.  I think it was really creative for them to release the graphic I used on top of the characters dressed in their respective new clothing!

I think out of all of the items, I want the Kyubey sweater the most.  What would you choose?

Nylon Premium Show at Laforet

On Saturday, October 11th, I headed to Tokyo to check out a Nylon fashion show that my blogger friend, Ashley Dy, found out about.  The event featured some of my favorite Japanese fashion models including Culumi Nakada, Amo and Una and featured brands including WALL, Diesel, and X-Girl. The event took place at Laforet mall in Harajuku which is one of my favorite places to shop.

They didn't care at all about taking photos so I tried taking fashion show photos for the first time!  I only had a prime lens on me so I felt a little limited.  I still don't have a copy of photoshop on my new computer so I am a little bit hesitant and unmotivated to take and edit photos which I'm kind of sad about.  I hope I can figure out an alternative soon besides just using iPhoto. But anyway, I have pushed through it and here are a couple that I snapped during the event.  I hope you like them!  (click them to view larger sizes)

I think my favorite look was Amo with the white top and red skirt.  I think it was from WALL so I just had to accept that I would never own it.  I'm still coming to terms with it but I think I'll be okay. Seeing all sorts of cute things that are beyond my budget and dealing with the intense emotions involved with that is kind of how life for me is here all the time anyway.

New Friends in Japan

I am long overdue for a post but I have been super busy lately.  So I've had a lot I wanted to post about but couldn't decide the best way to present it.  I just came to the conclusion that it might be best to condense a few fun days into one post.

Living in Japan is a lot of fun, but it can be really isolating at times.  It's difficult to make friends in a place like where I live (not a city like Tokyo), especially if you're not fluent in Japanese.  It's also hard to have people to talk to because all my friends are in an entirely different time zone.  Despite all of that, I have met some really wonderful people in these short few months here. 

My Favorite Tokyo Fashion Icons

I grew up thinking fashion wasn't something fun.  What "fashion" was to the people living where I grew up was something along the lines of Juicy brand tracksuits, UGGs and anything with Tory Burch's logo on it.  I didn't understand why people could possibly be interested in fashion because what I thought fashion was didn't interest me and I thought it was all like this.  But I'm happy to say I have changed my opinion of fashion and it's all thanks to Japan!

Japan has really strong traditions that are very strict about what you can and can't wear.  For example, tattoos have an association with Yakuza, organized crime, so there is a big stigma against it.  But because of strict rules like the ones against tattoos, interesting fashion trends evolve.  In this case, tattoo tights, sheer tights with designs printed on them to resemble tattoos, have become very popular in Japan (see Avantgarde).  A lot of people say they can really only feel like their true selves when they color their hair and dress how they want and the most welcoming place for that in Japan is Tokyo and Harajuku especially.  There is a perception that everyone in Japan is open to that kind of style but that isn't true at all.  Similar to how colored hair and certain piercings and tattoos are unacceptable in business situations in America, it's more or less the same in Japan just infinitely more strictly enforced with a stronger stigma.

There are various publications both in print and online that take street snaps, photos of people whose style they like, and publish them.  I have discovered the following people through street snaps on Tokyo Fashion and otherwise.  I really love the way these people dress and I hope that you do too.

♡ Kumamiki ♡

More photos here

Look how cute she is!! Kumamiki always looks amazing but one of my favorite things about her, besides how colorful all her outfits are, is that she designs her own clothing.  Her clothing line is called Party Baby and there's a really cute video about it here.  She also makes her own Youtube videos that are really cute but they're mostly in Japanese.

♡ Christina ♡

More photos here.

Christina really stands out in street snaps not only because she isn't Japanese, but because she pulls off colorful Harajuku fashion so well!  I especially love her yellow glasses.  Christina has always been inspiring to me because as a Canadian, she moved to Japan to study Japanese and became so good at the language that she is currently attending Bunka fashion college here in Japan!  I'm so excited that Tokyo Fashion is starting a video series on her too.  You can watch the first part here!

♡ Chun ♡

More photos here.

Chun's style is so cute!  I followed her on Instagram immediately after seeing her photos.  I really love the way she dresses and wish I had half as much skill in coordinating an outfit.

♡ Juria Nakagawa ♡

See more photos here.

Although Juria has kind of been on the down low lately, I remember her being one of the first people whose style I was really interested in.  Her street snaps were always my favorite.  I hope she makes a comeback soon.

♡  Elleanor ♡

Elleanor's street snaps are really cute and I love the way she always has really unique accessories.  She's really popular now for her video series through Tokyo Fashion.  It's in English too so check it out here!  Her videos are a really good way to start learning about fashion in Tokyo.  I got to meet her while she was in New York (and again in Japan~) and she's really nice too!

That's all for this post.  I recently took a trip to Harajuku and went to a local festival but I want to make a video of the festival just iMovie isn't the same as it was 6 years ago when I last used it! I was thinking about using Youtube but I'll have to figure all of that out first.  As always, feel free to ask questions/leave comments below or in my ask.fm!

Tokyo Adorned with Kumamiki and Aguko

I was so excited when I found out that Kumamiki was going to be in New York.  Kumamiki is a clothing designer and Harajuku fashion icon.  She has been posting videos with tutorials and general updates about her life here on YouTube.  She traveled to New York with Aguko, another Japanese fashion icon who wears mostly resale clothing, for an event promoting Thomas C Card's new collection of photos titled Tokyo Adorned.
Thomas was inspired by an article he read in the New York Times years ago that was loosely related to Harajuku fashion.  At the event at Kinokuniya on Tuesday, he explained that his perception of Harajuku fashion changed.  When he began the project he was under the impression that there were very specific subcultures but after he traveled to Japan and began taking photos, he realized that it was much more loosely defined than he initially thought.  He found it difficult to contact people involved in the Harajuku fashion scene from overseas so he and his assistant went to Japan and met Kumamiki on the street who then helped them find others to participate in the photo project.  He explained that the photo sessions were a maximum of 30 minutes.  He explained that most people who aren't models get uncomfortable after working in front of the camera for longer than that.

After explaining his process in creating the book, he allowed the audience to ask questions.  The people who attended this event were really interesting.  I had anticipated many young people like myself but there were only a handful of them, many dressed in lolita and some who had walked into the store without knowing about the event beforehand.  I met so many nice people at this event too.  However, most of the people seemed to be friends of the photographer who were otherwise unfamiliar with Japanese fashion.  They had a lot of interesting questions and I appreciated their curiosity.  
There was a translator to assist Aguko and Kumamiki when they responded to questions.  Aguko's English was so good!  After years of studying Japanese, my language skills are very sub par.  I know how difficult English is to learn so I'm always beyond impressed when someone learns it as a second language.  Kumamiki is also good at English as far as I can tell from her videos but she was much more hesitant to use it.  No judgments here though because it's not like I even attempted to speak Japanese to her or Aguko and if I had to sit on a panel in Japan, I would much rather go through a translator.
My favorite question someone asked is how long they intend to dress the way they do.  Aguko said that she is going to dress how she wants until someone stops her so basically she will be this way forever.  Thomas explained that he found many of the people he photographed said that they don't feel like they are their true selves unless they are dressed in their preferred style.  I really felt inspired and empowered after I visited Harajuku 2 years ago.  I felt like anyone could express themselves through their clothing however they wanted and it's encouraged.  No matter how outrageous it is, it's appreciated and respected.
I got my copy of the book signed by Thomas, Aguko and Kumamiki!  It's a lot bigger than I imagined which is awesome because the photos have much more of an impact at this size.  I  feel like the event and book didn't have much press but now after the event is over, I have seen tons of articles like this one publishing Thomas' photos!  If you're curious about what's in the book definitely check that link out.  Thomas also includes photos from some of the people's rooms that they were kind enough to allow him to photograph.

Me and Kumamiki!

It was so cool to meet these two girls.  There's a really great Tokyo Fashion video about Kumamiki that I loved so much.  It actually inspired me to name my senior art show "Korona" which is a word she created to mean "adult with a kid's heart".  I found my work identified with the word because it appeared to be childlike but had darker meanings.  You can, and definitely should, watch the video here.  It makes me want to get infinitely better at sewing or just save my money and buy her creations.

You can buy the book online for a lot less than I ended up buying it for (eek) and it's an amazing thing to have around your house or apartment or whatever it is that you live in.  Definitely a must have for any fashion fan.
This entry was rather long because I get so enthusiastic about this topic.  I know I said my last entry would be the last one for a while, but I think this one is it before I go to Japan!  I want to make some videos but I'm not sure I have the equipment for it.  We shall see.  I will definitely be off the radar for a bit, but if you have any Japan related questions and things, leave them in my comments or ask box and I am more than happy to answer them.  Thank you for reading my blog.  Things will definitely get more interesting from here on out.

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5 Cool Collabs

There are a whole bunch of really cute wishlist-able collaborations available now just in time for the holidays.  Here are a couple of my current favorites, with images of a few of many products from their lines.  I don't own anything from these collections, but I can dream.

Tokidoki x Sanrio

I absolutely love both Sanrio and Simone Legno's work.  For the longest time, I was under the impression that Tokidoki was designed by a woman, but I was wrong!  Simone Legno is actually a really cool dude.  In his own words, “Tokidoki is the hope, the hidden energy that everyone has inside, It gives us the strength to face a new day and dream about something positive and the hope that something magical will happen to us.”  So it's very fitting that he worked with Sanrio for a new line of products including bags and plushies that can be found here.

Tokidoki x Sanrio Characters 8" Plush: Cinnamoroll, $28.00

Tokidoki x Sanrio Characters Handbag, $75.00

Onch Movement x Sanrio

Sanrio is on a roll this season with a second amazing line of products designed by artist Onch Movement.  Onch has done some work with Hello Kitty previously through his line with Forever 21.  His jewelry is always really cute and unique.  I have followed him on social media since discovering his work and he seems like a genuinely kind person which makes me like his designs a million times more.  Although I anticipated these products being a bit more out there than they actually are, I think they are still very cute and a lot easier to wear for every day compared to some of his past creations (eg. bacon bracelet).  His Sanrio products are available for purchase here.

Onch x Hello Kitty Necklace: Candy Chrome Bow, $66.00

Onch x Hello Kitty Necklace: Dear Daniel, $125.00

Takashi Murakami x Shu Uemura

Takashi Murakami is by far one of my favorite artists.  Japanese artist Murakami created the art movement "superflat" which has continued to inspire younger generations of artists.  He previously did a line of bags with Louis Vuitton but that was a good couple of years ago.  Murakami is back with a high-end line of makeup products, inspired by magical girl anime, through Japanese brand Shu Uemura.  I really wish I could try some of these but I have no idea where to even find this in a physical shop in the US.  However, they are available online here.

Heart-full Pink Parallel Eyes and Cheek Palette, $69.00

Lip and Cheek Fun-tasy (5 colors), $25.00

Meadham Kirchhoff x TopShop

I wasn't always huge into fashion and I still don't even know most of what is going on.  Meadham Kirchhoff caught my eye recently and I was 50% upset that it was inaccessible and 50% pleased that it's hard to find because it's quite expensive.  Someone heard my prayers and  now this TopShop collection is a thing that I was really excited for, cried about once I saw the prices, decided to go to TopShop during my lunch break and play dress up instead of making any financially irresponsible decisions.  They didn't have a lot of it in stock in the store and it does seem many items have sold out online already.  The one dress I tried on was really cute but it fit weird  because it was definitely made to be worn by a person with a small chest.  It was also so see-through that I can't even post a picture of myself in it.   Probably all for the best though.  Shop for it here.

Rainbow Print Pleated Skirt, $90.00

Red Glitter Mac, $400.00

Dylan's Candy Bar x LeSportsac

LeSportsac always has really cute prints that I feel like mostly slip under the radar.  I noticed these cute prints while walking past their SoHo store and was shocked that it was the first I was seeing of this collaboration because they are largely covered with images of candy and how is that not exciting?  Shop it here.

LeSweet Tote with Pocket in Sugar Stash, $128.00

DCB Voyager Backpack in Candy Spill, $168

That's all I have for now. I hope you thought these products were as cute as I did.  Let me know if you get your hands on any of these things.  I am interested to hear all about it, especially how the Murakami makeup is.  I guess I will probably never know.  (◡‿◡✿)

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Spice World!

This outfit post is a little bit overdue.  My friend Kaleb and I took some fashion photos one of my last days on campus so he could use them for his internship.  This look was one of two that we shot.  He also helped me put together these outfits out of things I already had which was nice because sometimes I feel like my wardrobe could use a new perspective.  This outfit is all about giving a new context to older pieces of clothing, as the t-shirt and hoodie are items acquired when I was much younger.

The Spice Girls shirt was a 10th birthday present that was far too big on me at the time but I'm glad I kept it around because it finally fits over 10 years later.  The skirt is my favorite tutu I bought from Forever 21.  When I bought it, I wasn't sure if I would regret the purchase because I didn't know what to wear it with.  It turns out that it makes any t-shirt into something much cuter and less sloppy looking.  I went through a phase where I only wore it with my black Siouxsie and the Banshees shirt but I have since evolved beyond that.  The hoodie is from my high school days and the backpack is from Sanrio. 

The gold and purple glitter tights were a spontaneous purchase from Icing and the shoes are my first pairs of Jeffrey Campbell's.  As cute as look, they were a big purchase that I am still questioning.  The extreme height makes it really disorienting when wearing them.  I am so far from everything and stairs are a nightmare.  And I think it's more difficult to walk in them because I have thin ankles and the straps only go so tight.  I may have to try and make an extra hole and see if they're easier to wear that way.

new blog // new outfit

It was finally nice enough weather that I could wear a couple new clothing items.
I feel like this is a nice music festival outfit, but I would definitely wear different shoes for that.  I bought the top on sale from Urban Outfitters last year not knowing what I'd ever wear it with but have gotten a lot of use out of it since.  The skirt is from Urban Outfitters as well and it was painful to buy it during the winter because it wasn't warm enough to wear it.  I bought the shoes off of ASOS (my first purchase!), also on sale.  This is actually a good idea of how useful sale items are.  And I bought the bracelets from an on-campus Bollywood club sale.  I was so happy to finally find bangles that won't fall off of me.

Here are some photos and close-ups: