Gothic & Alternative fashion stores in Osaka

On my last day in Osaka I did a big walking tour from OPA to America Mura and the surrounds, checking out and snapping the various fashion stores there. Below are some of the alternative ones (ie gothic or too wacky for gyaru or mainstream fashion).  If you take the street that runs next to OPA, and walk towards America Mura (with its well known triangle park), a lot of these stores are on the road or just around the corner.

Naoto is further away…I discovered it on my way to see Benny at Chopstick Tattoo (although he is now located at Big Step, so much more central).

h.Naoto 
1-9-1 Minami-Horie Nishi-ku Osaka

 

Walking from the south back towards the central area of triangle park & americamura there is a greater concentration of alt shops.  Right opposite the traingle park, there is Qutie Frash, and a few doors down from it, Cheer.

 

As you can see by looking at them Qutie Frash has an asian cyber feel, while Cheer is much like Super Lovers in its bold use of colour and nu-rave approach.

Just up from these is the Loncourt Building, which houses many of the alt labels you know and love – Dangerous Nude (Kikirara Shoten), Sexpot Revenge, Super Lovers, ..

The shop at the front of it all is “Gross” – yes, I kid you not! It’s a great store though, with Iron Fist shoes and Lip Service USA clothing. Next to it is the arcade entrance – that is, Loncourt is to the left, and Gross is to the right as you face them.

  

 

Here’s a map just to help you get your bearings:

I headed straight upstairs to check out Dangerous Nude:

 

and then Sexpot Revenge:

   

On the main ground floor is Regulus, Super Lovers, Toxic Star, Deorart etc..great fun to have a wander through.

Further up the road, walking towards OPA, I discovered this great store ‘Speech’, that was obviously very funky & hip & I think frequented by Osaka stylists for styling shoots:

A little further, on the next corner was the amazing Alice Auaa store (same building as the music bar RockRock)

Alice Auaa
Atrium Bldg 1-8-1,Nishishinsaibashi,Cyuo-ku, Osaka

 

Of course I went in to check out the Alice Auaa store with its amazing interiors and fashion. However, I didn’t get back at night to see what Rock Rock  was like in action. But it’s on the list for next time!

  

I couldn’t forget Algonquins:

 

Arriving back at OPA, in the basement there is Peace Now/Black Peace Now and Super Lovers!

 

And that brings me to the end of the tour for today.

Suffice to say, you won’t run out of things to look at when you’re in Osaka, although you may run out of cash!

All I want for Christmas…Alice Auaa (Japanese Gothic Lolita fashion)

 If you asked me what I’d like for Christmas…it would be either a trip back to Japan…
…or a jacket from Alice Auaa – in my opinion the most exquisite gothic lolita designer today. 

I LOVE this top of hers that I bought from Closet Child, in the cobweb fabric for which she is best known:

Alas, the cost of her work is totally out of the reach of the everyday gothic lolita gal. This is why I bought the top secondhand, as Closet Child is a store that sells great gothic lolita designers like Alice Auaa, Black Peace Now, Algonquins, BTSSB, Vivienne Westwood etc pre-loved, at more affordable prices.
Every single time I go to Japan, whether Tokyo or Osaka, I visit the store and try things on. Just this last visit I tried on these gorgeous jackets, but in houndstooth not tweed:

alas my bust (puny as it is by western standards), just proved a little too big.
Here are 2 versions of the jacket I almost bought. You have to see it in person to appreciate it fully; the wool is so thick and plush, the design so chic. And, fashion-forward as ever, she has incorporated Balmainesque pagoda shoulders to the garment (and I ADORE pagoda shoulders).
and the longer coat version
The stand-up collar is amazing – you can bend and manoevre it around to make different shapes.
But again, the size proved a problem, even though I’m only 156 cm tall with a 34B bust. The bit that’s supposed to sit under the bust, came only 3/4 down mine. So taller people would have no hope.
And there are other items I just drool over…
and skirts, jumpsuits, blouses and pants as well..
I love the originality and assymetry of some of her work
Not to mention amazing shoes and boots
And don’t get me started on the accessories.
If you’d like to buy some Alice Auaa and cannot get to Japan, you do have a few options.
* I do a post on Tokyo gothic lolita fashion shopping here,
mention Marui One in this post from Halloween and another here,
and Closet Child here, in my Shinjuku post,
i-socks gothic lolita fashion store in Malaysia here,
have a lolita fashion shoot here, aww, just go check out my tags for more 🙂
For more on Alice Auaa:

Some other useful links about Japanese and lolita fashion generally: