I my last post I mentioned some of the labels I wore to the Black Cherry night, and I’d like to share a bit more about them here.

The skirt

Algonquins is the designer of the skirt I wore (also mentioned in this Tokyo shopping post).

Algonquins can be found in the Goth department store La Foret in Harajuku. It also used to be in Marui One in Shinjuku, but now has its own store just across the road. Often seen in Kera magazine, it has a lot of cute outfits, multi frilled skirts, hoodies with cats ears etc, but also punk oriented wear. The staff are incredibly friendly – just this last time I went, they liked the look of me and gave me a little Halloween present, BEFORE I’d even bought anything there!

For more:
Check out Tokyo Rebel’s great Algonquins store tour.
La Carmina has done a great guide to lolita stores in Tokyo, with a photo of an Algonquins store and links including video footage, here.

Where to buy if not in Japan:
Order from Marui One online
Tokyo Rebel – both online and at their NYC store. Tokyo Rebel’s blog updates when new items arrive too 🙂
CD Japan
Clothing Drop

The bolero/jacket

This comes from an independent and upcoming design duo from Tokyo, the label being called Ann Vanilla. They make corsets, lolita dresses, great jackets, skirts and pants. I first discovered them at the Alamode Market earlier this year in Kawasaki. Here’s me with some new friends at the venue, and below that, the market hall.

Alamode Market gives designers and crafts people who are too small for the stores, a chance to sell their work and make it known. Not only clothing but nail art, illustrated postcards, hats and headwear, jewellery and more is on display. 

You really will just cream yourself if you go – there are so many beautiful, handmade things! And just going there, seeing all these lolitas walking ahead of you, as the cherry trees drip with blossoms overhead, is just divine 🙂

La Carmina does a great rundown on Alamode Markets too.  They are organised by D’s Valentine, who runs Alamode Night (where we are here), and other club nights.

Artism is a great site he maintains, that gives you a rundown of the various clubs coming up in Tokyo (such as ones at which Sisen and Chihiro DJ).  He also runs Alamode Magazine – he’s a very busy man! Yet he found time to welcome me when I first attended Alamode.

But to get back to the original subject, Ann Vanilla and the jacket. I noticed it because of the polka dot patterned fabric, but as I looked more closely at it, I saw all this amaaazing detail. Such as how the front sections form a heart when brought together. And the lovely pleated edging.

There is artistry in how half of the back is pleated – b
ut not just in ordinary vertical pleats, oh no. The designer has made the pleats curve in an S wave. Astonishing!

What’s that on your head – A WIG!!

My wig is from Plastikhaar – a FANTASTIC seller of top quality synthetic hair in all colours, dreadlocks, bright hair colour, clip-in streaks, as well as hair accessories, hair care products and tools. This is a wig very similar to mine, but without the dreads.

Have you been to Tokyo and any of the stores or places I mentioned? Where do you get your lolita clothing from? Do you wear wigs?  I tell you, writing this has made me think about when I can return to Tokyo, so I’m off to check out flights…