The girl with the dragon tattoo tights…..and the spine heeled boots

AKA “These spine-heeled boots were made for walkin’ round Shinjuku”.

I thought I’d post this Vlog from when I was in Tokyo – filmed in my little room at the Hotel Vintage Shinjuku. In it I show off some fashion finds, like these amazing tattoo tights (below) from the infamous and fabulous gyaru mall Shibuya 109:

punk tattoo tights  punk goth japanese tattoo tights

japanese goth punk tattoo tights

The store is called Poco a Poco, and it has an extensive range of tights, including Celeste Stein.  See the Poco a Poco official website for the full range. Mine are the Dragon Tattoo tights. I felt so hip and trendy wearing these, I tell you; I just wish they came in a non-footless version.

I also bought some tights in turquoise leopard (so me).

punk tights

I also show off the Dsquared2 spine heel knock-off boots from Glad News (still my fave gal store)

spine heeled boots from Glad News

spine heels on Glad News boots

The boots are here in the Glad News webstore, (but they’re sold out except for a few left in small).

I also show a strange accessory that looks like a black PVC octopus, to be worn as a shoulder accessory or even a bustle! I saw it in Sexpot Revenge Harajuku (where I purchased it), and also in Nude n’ Rude. I have updated posts on these stores coming up soon; for past blog posts see my previous Nude n’ Rude post, and Sex Pot Revenge store in Harajuku.

I also chat about some of the walks I’ve been filming round Shinjuku, and what I’ve been up to. But heck, enough about what’s in it, why not have a look for yourself?

I also bought a pair of spiked ankle boots from Dog in Harajuku, that were Lita knock-offs. What do you think of the spine heeled knock-off boots? Given that they cost a third of the price of the original shoes, would you buy them? Have you ever bought knock-off iconic footwear? What are your faves? If you know of any other cool tattoo tights, do share as well!

3 year blogiversary! The Tokyo Obsession

I missed it by one week, but on October 7 this lil blog turned 3! I decided to re-post my very first blog post (originally on the blogger platform). It was titled “The Tokyo Obsession”.

Near Takuya Angel store, Harajuku
I have a confession to make. I know I’m not the only one to fall in love with Japan. But when I first visited last year, it was on a whim.

[Read more…]

Keepin’ it Teal

Yesterday’s outfit was all about the teal, with some metallic thrown in. I started off with a beautiful Issey Miyake top I bought at Takashimaya, from the Pleats Please range. It is a black fabric woven through with iridescent sapphire blue and emerald green metallic threads, so the total effect is a shimmery 2-tone effect. (The Pleats Please webstore is here, if you’d like to see more)

Beneath (for it is transparent), I wore a turquoise Topshop tank top. The leather skirt is from Australia..Sportsgirl I think (?) But something is definitely missing from the look…  The look is completed with the addition of lipstick, a chain necklace with crosses, and the star of the show – TA-DAA!! The beautiful feather jacket from Sly.

 teal feather chubby

teal feather chubby

Much better! (Though I do appear to have tickets on myself here, teehee).

Sly teal feather jacket

The jacket was definitely a splurge..but it is so gorgeous, so in tune with my hair colour, that I had to have it.  I’m sure I’ll get lots of wears from it in the cooler months.

Yesterday was Shibuya (where I only got as far as La Foret!).  So pumped was I to go shopping that I didn’t even stop when one of the papparazzi on Omotesando wanted to stop me for pics! (Ok, I regretted it later, but I figured I’d ever see the photos anyway). Today is a fashion exhibition on Cat St at the Cannabis store, called “Void Of Course“, which has an alternative/fetish bent…and then general wandering in the area, as well as Omotesando. I’ll let you know how it goes!

Harajuku Street Fashion – the Fashionate Traveller

Back in March I was in Harajuku, having finally made it to Tokyo…and got street snapped!! The website in question was Fashion Snap, which is one of my faves, and the link to my Fashion Snap pics is here.

There’s a stretch of road on Omotesando, just past La Foret, where photographers from various publications lie in wait for interestingly dressed people to photograph. Like here, where 2 gothic girls are being snapped, and I snap the paparazzi while he’s snapping them:

I got papped once before when with Hana of Finding Tokyo back in January, but never saw if it was published, as we forgot who it was who snapped us. This time I made sure I checked…but as luck would have it, my friends Rebecca and Samuel from Tokyo Telephone, who saw it before I did.

 

 

Unfortunately I’d been out late the night before, at Shibuya Eggman and the Trump Room, and here I am a bit rough and with last night’s make-up on, and no lashes. But you’re not gonna say no when a photographer asks, are you?  Must remember in future to always look immaculate when in Harajuku, just in case…

Naoto News!

There are so many exciting events coming up shortly in the gothic fashion and music stakes, which I’ll be posting about in the next week. Some of them are in Tokyo and I’m getting VERY excited now, as I leave for o/s again on the 14th – a week Monday!! After 3 days in Seoul, South Korea, I head once again to Tokyo, which leads me back to the topic at hand.

Today I want to focus on fave Japanese gothic designer, Hirooka Naoto.

March 19h.NAOTO Frill Collection 2011

To display his latest “Sweet Frills” range, Naoto is throwing a Lolita Sweets Party! (And it’s when I’m there, muahahaha…) Gothic Lolita celebrity Aoki Misako (world ambassador for “Cute”) will be there, having returned from her jaunts round the world (read more at her website):

Naoto Creative Designer Hiroshi Oka will also be there, as well as other guests, photo sessions, and from what I can make out, a Best Co-ordinate Competition. Oh, and of course, delicious sweet cakes and tea, all in a genteel atmosphere. So Tokyo lolitas have a wonderful excuse to dress up and come along! I think I *might* just get to this for the photo opportunities, even though I myself am not at all into the sweet side of things.

  • DATE / March 19 (Sat)
  • OPEN: 15:00 START: 16:00
  • PLACE / h.NAOTO + Harajuku
  • Tickets dealer / h.NAOTO + Harajuku, Laforet Harajuku, Shinjuku Marui * Tickets are 1,575 yen (tax included) 
  • Contact / h, NAOTO + Harajuku (03-3478-6454)

March 26 –  T. KUNITOMO & gouk FASHION SHOW & PARTY

Fashion show of brand new collections, set in a party atmosphere with food and drinks

  • DATE: March 26 (Sat)
  • OPEN: 18:00 START: 19:00
  • PLACE: T.KUNITOMO Gallery
  • Contact: 03-5766-3910

There are soo many upcoming Naoto events – check this page for what’s happening in the next few months. One I definitely want to check out is the exhibition in Marui One from March 24-30:

h.Anarchy Army Collection

ANARCHY will present a punk rock and “ARMY” theme.  Expect wild and powerful camouflage fabrics in military designs. 

  • DATE:  March 24 (Thu) ~ 30 (Wed) 
  • PLACE: h.NAOTO store, Marui Shinjuku
  • Contact:  h.NAOTO + store (03-3478-6454) , h.NAOTO Marui Shinjuku (03-3358-1889)
  •  

    Pet cat 101 MINT SHOP 

    This is a pop-up store in Marui One, on the 2nd floor from 5 – 23 March, featuring the popular Sixh offshoot brand, “MINT Cats” . To commemorate this, the character “Sakurako” T-shirt has been designed, and  the first 50 people who spend over 5,250 yen,  will win a “Sakurako” badge.  See the t-shirt and badge below.

     

    Naoto has also released new items on the website for March 2011 from h.ANARCHY, Blood, and H.JELLY, Gramm, Frill,Sixh, Hangry & Angry, and Gouk.

    Just last week on Feb 26th, the Sixh 2011 Summer Collection was unveiled at Naoto HQ in Harajuku. This time there was definitely a rock and quirky/indie vibe happening, and far from being all-black, there was blue and purple in the designs, and even plaid! 

      

     

     

    Of course you want to check out the runway show, I’m sure:

    Fans will recognise IBI, Mint and Gashicon from Sixh the band – who will all be attending the Anime Matsuri convention March 18-20 in Texas, along with La Carmina! See her post on Anime Matsuri here for more details. And…the band itself will be playing only a day later, back in Tokyo, on the 21st of March!

    Sixh. Night Vol 3 in Ikebukuro BlackHole

    Of course it will be an event fusing fashion and music. Sixh is joined by God Circus Dog

     

    Sixh. Live sponsored project

    • DATE: March 21 (Mon)
    • PLACE: Ikebukuro BLACK HOLE
    • Doors open 18:00 for 18:30 start
    • Advance ticket 3,000 yen / 3,500 yen

    That’s another one to try to get to…but there’s so much else on!

    So that’s a whole lotta Naoto love for now; hope you enjoyed 🙂 Other posts you might like: Naoto at Japan Fashion Week, Naoto fukubukuro day and h.Naoto gothic lolita fashion designer extraordinaire.