Apr 30, 2012 | Fashion
Every year in late April the enormous Japan Hobby Show takes over a huge exhibition hall in Odaiba for 3 days straight. Buyers and avid crafters from all over Japan flock to Tokyo to visit the Hobby Show, see the latest techniques, pick up the newest products, engage in workshops and demonstrations, and celebrate all there is to love about crafting. I’ve never been before but luckily my last-minute trip to Tokyo happened to coincide with the 36th annual Show, so I was able to spend a day last week visiting the show and ogling everything.
I thought the giant saw outside the complex was quite apropo.
The place was packed and even though I arrived at 10 AM on the dot, I had to wait in a huge line for 40 minutes until I could get in the doors. That line of people above? It’s all one line that snakes around at the back to return on the left side of the photo. Yikes!
But once inside, there was such an array of things to be ogled!
Seriously, pretty much every craft I could think of that is popular in Japan was represented at booths and tables throughout.
(more…)
Apr 24, 2012 | Fashion
Last but not least…we have Day 6 of #DIY Bloggers Fashion Week and a post by Donatella of of Inspiration & Realisation.
I can’t believe how much like the original Donatella’s blouse looks…and how chic! So pretty!
Check out Tutorial #6:
This has been a really fun week, and hope you guys have enjoyed the DIY-a-day! What a marathon!
And speaking of marathons…I have a HUGE DIY project posting tomorrow that I can’t wait to share with all of you. What a way to finish a week of creativity!
Thanks for reading!
xoxox
Carly
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Apr 12, 2012 | Fashion
Ah, Tokyo is a shopping paradise!! I just love coming here and walking all over the city pocking in stores, touching everything, making lists, reading magazines to find out what’s in and where to get it, and eventually returning to said stores near the end of my trip to purchase a few items after I’ve been dreaming about them for weeks.
With my mother unable to leave her apartment just yet (except by car to go to her physical therapy appointments), and me unable to leave her side, instead of window shopping I have to console myself with web shopping. But thank goodness Japanese online shopping has blossomed over the past year or so and now I can get quite a few things on the Internet that before were only available in stores or via Rakuten’s third-party sellers [some of the time].
Here are some things on my wishlist:
1. MURUA Logo Photo T-Shirt / 2. Spiral Girl Wing T-Shirt in Beige Pink / 3. BORNY 2-Stone Earrings /4. WOND Mesh T-Shirt in Orange / 5. moussy Bi-Color Knit Cardigan / 6. maygloba earring set / 7. MIIA Marine Tote Bag / 8. Chihiro Baba Mirror Earrings / 9. Spiral Girl Hybrid One-Piece Dress / 10. Osmosis Grey Asymmetrical Sandal / 11. YOiM furfur Chiffon Pleats One-Piece Dress/ 12. flake Rhine Heart Earrings / 13. KAZA Jack Bracelet
Most of these items are only available if you ship to a Japanese address; you could perhaps use a freight forwarder to have it shipped to your foreign address, but I’ve never used one of them and really wouldn’t know how to go about it…
Hmmm…must research this…
xoxox
Carly
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Apr 8, 2012 | Fashion
So, despite the unhappy circumstances of my impromptu trip to Tokyo for a month…I thought to try and make the best of it in some way. So, in case anyone’s interested…
Here’s what I’m packing for an entire month of outfits for April/May 2012 in Tokyo!
(items still available or DIYs are linked; Japanese brands are in green)
1. Cropped grey sweatshirt [H&M] / 2. Striped puff-sleeve tunic [one clothing] / 3. Three pairs of leggings: Long black leggings [Old Navy] / long black leggings with attached legwarmers (can’t have too many black leggings!) [my honeybee] / grey cropped sweatpants [Forever 21]
4. DIY Lace Maxiskirt / 5. Knit grey maxidress [Forever 21] / 6. Two pairs of jeans: Acid Wash Skinny Jeans in Mint [Forever 21] / Black jeggings [UNIQLO] / 7. Grey tiered bandage skirt [BCBG] / 8. Marni flap-pocket Bandoleer bag [gift from my mother-in-law] / 9. Pastel blue tutu [Spiral Girl]
1. Pale grey camisole with attached chiffon skirt [YesStyle] / 2. Nude long camisole [SPANX] / 3. Swallow-printed black flared dress [Miss Selfridges] / 4. Hermes scarf [again a gift from my mother-in-law, which is why I’m taking it to Japan to show her how much I appreciate it!] / 5. Seafoam cropped hoodie [unknown, thrifted]
6. Hole-filled cardigan [osmosis, almost exactly the same one available here] / 7. Three tops: Putty sneaker-print LS Shirt [Spiral Girl] / Grey Mickey Mouse T-Shirt [UNIQLO] / Striped LS top [Mossimo for Target] / 8. Bustier Top with peplum [Forever 21] / 9. DIY Denim Shirt fit to my size [tutorial here] / 10. Bug-Print Chiffon Shirt
[ASOS]
Not pictured: 2 sets of workout clothes, cobalt blue wool coat [Forever 21], blue bootcut jeans [Old Navy “The Flirt” jeans]
Shoes (also not pictured): jogging shoes / hi-top sneakers [AllSaints] / Pointy black flats [Steve Madden] / Studded Motorcycle boots [Zara]
I always end up taking some things that I never wear…but I prefer to have too much with me than too little. Early April tends to be quite chilly in Tokyo, but it can get very warm towards May…so I tackled the problem with bringing lots of layering items.
All in all, that’s 3 pairs of jeans, 3 knit pants, 3 skirts, 2 dresses, 3 tees, 2 blouses, 4 sweaters/cardigans, 3 tanktops, 1 bustier top, and 1 coat. While in Japan I’m hoping that I might get the chance to go shopping and pick up a t-shirt or tunic dress, but if I don’t then I don’t. Hopefully what I’ve brought should cover looking relatively respectable for getting my mother from the hospital and running her errands, as well as any dinners or outings with my in-laws, and then enough dressed-down stuff to work out and take Lil Tot to the park or something. I’m really not sure what this next month will bring…and perhaps I won’t have the wherewithal even think about clothes at all!;-)
Upcoming post on Tokyo trends is in the works!
xoxox
Carly
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Mar 27, 2012 | Fashion
Coral-Dyed Howlite Cross necklace: handmade by me
Silk-blend Classic Pocket Tee: Kain Label
Rings: jumpring tool and twig ring from mocha (Shibuya)
Lace Maxiskirt: DIY (tutorial coming soon!)
Leggings: I forgot
Wedge-heel shoes: Qupid [from last year]
Grey trouser socks: Target
Well, Spring break’s now in full swing!…and Lil Tot has come down with a coughing, sniffling, feverish cold. (more…)
Mar 25, 2012 | Fashion
Hair: with Priscila Virgin Straight Extensions, braided into a low side French braid
Convertible Chiffon Top: Qojelly (from Marui 2, in Tokyo)
Rings: Limited Edition Marc by Marc Jacobs Daisy solid perfume ring, Love knuckleduster from Icing, Star pinky ring from Tokyo
Acid-Wash Skinny Jeans in Mint with belt: Forever 21
Glitter Canvas Flatforms: GoJane
Finally the weather’s been nice enough here to break out my new flatforms!! (more…)
