Don’t Buy DIY: Anni Albers Washer Ribbon Necklace
(My DIY version, left) I fell in love with this necklace (found on SixSixSick, right photo), originally by artist Anni Albers. They sell the DIY necklace kit on Urban Outfitters for $14. (A little bit about Anni Albers and the necklace kit from the UrbanOutfitters...
Mags in Japan: Free with Purchase Free-for-All
(Free with Purchase, above: Blueberry-print mini-shorts with Sept. issue of GISELE mag; cher-print large tote and small lunch bag with Cher Fall/Autumn Collection Lookbook) In the U.S., you may come across an offer of a free tote or calendar or small handbag or makeup...
Japanese Nail Art: In Short, AMAZING
Okay, if someone asked you what images popped into your mind when you heard "nail art," would it be something like the image below? (Or, art drawn on the head of a nail...for those particularly out there people.)In fact, most style gurus out there decree nail art a...
Beauty Products You Never Knew You Needed…But I Know You’ll Want (I do!)
Japan is also fabulous for (among other things) innovative beauty and health products. [I know you're probably all sick of the whole "Japan is so great yada yada yada" routine, but honestly, if you got me started on the "Things I hate about Japan" that list would...
New York Fashion Week: Yigal Azrouel Fall 2009
[note: This was an article I wrote that was intended to post on FashionTribes.com sometime after New York Fashion Week. For unknown reasons, it never did. I felt really bad about that, and so wanted to post it on my blog to at least showcase the designer and his work,...
Help! What to buy….
Still in Tokyo, still shopping til I'm dropping... Having a great time, trying as hard as I can not to gain weight on all the ymmu food... (That word was supposed to be "yummy" but I thought ymmu looked so much better....) So - opinions please!! I already bought a...
No, No, No, NO! Zipper Pull Jewelry is EVERYWHERE!
Is it bad when DIY-oriented, non-mainstream jewelry is sold by such a large e-tailer as Uncommon Goods?? Zipper Bracelets, $70. Black Enamel Zipper Necklace, $100. [They also sell a Recycled Bicycle Chain Bracelet ($14), a bangle formed from an oversized nail ($145),...
Tokyo Trends: Summer-Autumn 2009
Well, since I'm in Tokyo right now the posts that I'm adding to my blog while typing on this annoying JIS-standard keyboard (where the apostrophe is shift-7) are going to be Japan-focused. Sorry for those of you completely bored with Japan...just bear with me a couple...
NY Fashion Week: Lela Rose Fall 2009 Runway Show Coverage
(all runway images: Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week) Designer Lela Rose drew inspiration for the Fall/Winter ’09 Collection of her eponymous line from the rich, jewel-like colors of the rainforest. A self-proclaimed “big fan of color,” the designer swathed her models in...
100yen Shop Haul
The 100yen shop (or Hyaku-En Shop, as they say in Japanese, which would make the title of this post nice and alliterative) licks the US Dollar Store into a cocked hat. Whatever that means. It's bigger, for one, sells a larger variety of goods, and each one you pick up...