Sep 9, 2009 | Fashion
Isn’t Etsy just about the most fabulous invention ever?? I have likely spent a small fortune purchasing from the designers directly through the Etsy interface – and even just browsing and drooling over the mass creativity showcased there takes up a large portion of my time.
I’m in a gray, shapeless, non-definitive mood, and these pricey picks are what I’m lusting after as of late.
Since most of these fabulous finds I can’t really afford right now, perhaps I’ll tide myself over with this hauntingly, achingly beautiful print that reminds me of both the beginning and the end of a journey:
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Sep 2, 2009 | Fashion
How cute are these cosmetic bags? And what a great idea! 4-in-1 is like music to my ears. And it will match everything…everything I tell you! I’m just going to hit up my local Target and see if they’re as cool in person…or just cheap-looking. If they’re even slightly ok, I am definitely rocking them out with my next outfit!
(I’m liking the “Multicolor” print on the left much more than the “Snake” print…how about you?) Plus you can definitely just link up any small cosmetic cases/envelope clutches you own with the help of a hole-punch and a grommet-setter..thread through your own bracelet/clutch strap and you’ve just DIY’d this “which purse did I put my cellphone in again??” look!
Who says you can ever have too many bags??!
xoxo
Carly
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Aug 31, 2009 | Fashion
Alright, so shoot me…I love Forever21. Sure, their clothing and jewelry is cheaply constructed and will fall apart quickly, but when it comes to staying on top of the trends (and producing low-priced knockoffs) they’re the US’s answer to the UK’s ASOS. (ASOS is better-designed and a little more fashion-forward, IMHO, but F21 is the closest we’ve got stateside.) Is it just me, or does the necklace above remind you a teensy little bit of that House of Harlow black geometric necklace? (below)
(Edit 4/19/11: Actually, the Forever 21 necklace is a knockoff inspired by a necklace by Amrita Singh. Touche.)
And Girlprops.com…another cheap affordable accessories destination…with their version of that Fiona Paxton beaded chained elastic thingy necklace as seen on Hilary Duff (and if you already saw this in May 2009 issue of Cosmopolitan, I’m so sorry – it just took me awhile to get on the bandwagon).
[I’m going to DIY mine and add on a whole bunch of spangles and mirrored bugle beads so it looks more like the original version and not just a strip of elastic.]
What do you all think? Original Necklaces vs. Knockoffs: Chic or Cheap?
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Aug 16, 2009 | Fashion
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 more weeks and it will all be over soon, promise!*-) (what a smileyface ends up as on this keyboard)
In Japan there are so many little subgroups and fashionable variations on a theme it’s somewhat difficult to round up items into a single “trend.” There’s the Fruits or Harajuku-style, which is bright, mismatched, youthful, and layered, where anything goes; Goth-style, which is often asymmetrical, black, tailored, and androgynous; cutesy kiddie-style, which included striped armwarmers, shorts, ridiculous English printed tee…etc. The trends below are what I’ve been seeing on a number of different girls who ascribe to different styles of dressing, as well as what is in the stores I’ve been visiting in Shibuya and Harajuku.
1. Tees with Suspenders/Neckties
T-shirts with real suspenders attached to the shirt itself, or sold as a set with a mini-necktie, abound. Some just have the tie or suspenders printed trompe l’oiel style on them. Some tees have extra fabric tabs on the front of back to accommodate the suspender clips, and buttoned epaulets on the shoulders to keep them in place. (
Tee: Cecil McBee)
2. Black Buckled Boots (wedge, stiletto, or even chunk heel)
A chunky, stacked heel I find unusual in Japan, since boots have either been flats or stilettos for ages. Engineer boots are also popular for Fall. I almost bought a pair of multi-buckled Fall ’09 Balmain boot (you know, the one where the buckled straps cover the heel??) knockoffs at Cecil McBee, but there were scratches on them, and at the stores in Japan they will not discount damaged merchandise for the customer.
At all. There will be another Japanese girl who will come along in the next 20 minutes and pay full price for it anyway. (
Boots: R&E)
3. Vests (fur/suiting/denim)
Though the fur vest (long crimped Mongolian lamb being the forerunner for Fall) is too much for August in Tokyo just yet, there are still tons of girls layering suiting-style vests in black and gray over their tees, or opting for washed, bleached denim (often with studding) to add to their outfits. Apparently the trend for Fall is also to layer something under said vest – as in a sequined vest or a vintage-style, lacy tie-front dress so a contrasting texture peeps out at the front. (Vest: Kai Lani)
4. Stretch Front-Clasp Belt (2″ wide plus)
Worn at the natural waist or above (even right across the ribcage under the boobage – hah! silliest word ever). Here they also wear alot of mini bustier style dresses over mini tees, and then cinch the whole look with a belt, so it looks like you’re wearing a tee dress. Totally a way to get more use out of that mini you bought at Forever21. (Belt: Rose Fan Fan)
5. Leggings/Tights
Legwear abounds here, even with odd choices (garter belts and thigh-highs worn under super-short minis? Black large-scale fishnets (the usual threadlike netting made thicker, spaced with 3″ wide openings) worn over neon tights?) but black leggings dominate, year round. They come in just about every length imagineable, with stirrups, scrunched bottoms, or lace hems. (Leggings: Chocorouge)
6. Arm Covers
Sure the Japanese kids have always loved armwarmers to coordinate with a funky, punky outfit, but now I’ve been spotting them on older ladies peeking out from their t-shirt sleeves, and on women every age inbetween. Now they are no longer “warmers” but are instead UV protectant, cool-technology layers, that the savvy Tokyo-ite (and northern Japanese lady, according to my sister in law who went there earlier this month) adds to her ensemble. (Arm Covers: Niizu)
7. Mini Hats
Almost every store catering to the younger set had these, yet I saw few people wearing them. (In Harajuku, where many girls were decked out in Lolita fashions, I saw more, and Ageha Magazine was populated with them.) I was sorely tempted to buy a little black one for myself, when I realized Hub would probably hurt himself laughing if I donned one for my morning grocery shopping at the Fred Meyer back in Oregon. (Hats: FAIRYTEARY)
8. Vintage-Look Lace Dress
Big for Fall! the stores proclaim, and even if there are some who will never ascribe to the boho style of dressing, my guess is that even they will use tea-dyed and ivory lace dresses as a layer under cardigans and over leggings come cooler months. (Dress: Snidel)
9. Frilly Bloomers
I kid you not. Super-mini-shorts-style, with layers upon layers of lace, satin frills, or sequin layers, apparently you can wear these peeking out from under a tunic that’s just a wee bit short, or under a skirt that’s short enough to flash everyone when you’re going up on an escalator. I almost bought a pair and then realized even layered under a denim mini or tunic, they’re still too short for my comfort. For someone 10-15 years younger, perfect…? (Bloomers: C. C. Cross)
10. Popp
les
Japan has always had an infatuation with cutesy characters, and Barbie, Marie from the Aristocats, Hello Kitty, and Snoopy have been on t-shirts and cell phone lariats for decades. Last year to my pleasure I saw My Little Pony had made a comeback on t-shirts and bag charms (but the new G3 series models from this decade, blecccch…which don’t even hold a candle to the G1’s from the 80’s IMHO) but now it’s all about Popples. When I saw Puffball and Party Time plush dolls in a store, I almost went ballistic!! But then again maybe they’re back at the Toys R Us in the U.S…I just haven’t checked. T-shirts and cellphone lariats definitely crowd the stores here. And though 6 months ago everyone was mad for stuffed bear bag charms all decked out with rhinestones and chains now it’s characters dripping from bags, including the aforementioned Popples.
Other trends: Harem pants, in sweatshirt, jersey, or cotton woven fabrics (they call them sarrouel here, which I assume is from the French…?), striped nautical tees, straw panama hats, oversized black sunglasses, super-sparkly nails in a rainbow of colors, heat-set studs on tees creating a pattern or spelling out words, strange English phrases on shirts, destroyed denim, boyfriend blazers with contrasting sleeve linings, jumpsuits, suspender pants, and baggy harem pant overalls.
Jewelry does not seem very interesting or unique this time around…I’m seeing piles of gold and silver bangles and definitely some neon plastic accessories here and there, but for the most part, everything seems about the elastic belt and the studded shoes lately.
*-) from Tokyo
Carly
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Aug 14, 2009 | Fashion
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 the thought “this can’t possibly be 100yen!” floats unbidden through your mind. From the packaging to the instructions, the design to the coloring, pretty much every product is amazing, useful, cute, or something you’ve been missing in your life up until now. But for those homesick for Dollar Tree, they do sell ceramic cherub centerpieces (though in small supply).
Here is what I bought, for $0.97 a piece at today’s exchange rate:
1.) 3 dual-direction zippers – almost as good as YKK brand from Jo-Anns that they charge $5.49 apiece for. Grrrr. DIY Kate Cusack zipper cuff, here I come!!
2.) Paint for ceramics (in white and pink)
3.) Super-long-handled sporks and heart-shaped mini foil cups. Hub was thrilled at finding sporks, since we don’t have any at home, and threw these into the basket, not noticing that they were super-long-handled (for parfaits and sundaes). So now we have a complete set of parfait sporks. Or just sporks for eating food at great distances, which may in fact prove useful at some point in time.
4.) Pack of 3 Jewel-print plastic file sleeves.
5.) Eyelash extensions. I used up all the extensions that came in my Ardell Duralash kit long ago, and since I have tons of the glue left, I wanted to get proper extensions to use with it. (The individual clumps of eyelashes for single-day use do not work at all.) This was the only thing in my shopping that cost more than 100yen – 314 yen, to be exact ($3.10).
6.) 2 double-layered snap-lid boxes and a heart-shaped mirror. (I plan to DIY them after I get back to the States.) The Japanese love it when everything has a place and is in it. So many boxes and cases and compartments…for just about everything you own! I want to go home and box my whole house up into pretty, multi-functional cases.
7.) Clear fake nails with rhinestone and glitter art. Not sure where I’ll wear them, but they’re just so pretty…
8.) Mini-notebook and regular notebook. So many products in Japan are so incredibly chatty. They have English all over them as if they’re desperate to tell us something. The large notebook is the “Fruit Train” notebook. “Welcome to the country of the fruit,” is its kind greeting. “What do you see in this fruit? It is a train that carries your dream.” The majority of my dreams are filled with mini strawberry shortcakes, so this is perfect for me!
9.) Highlighters that draw over an already-highlighted area. Not pictured: Eraseable highlighter and highlighter with acrylic window in the tip so you can read the words as you’re highlighting them. Never had that need myself, but…now I do!
10.) Cute little rhinestone rings on a necklace.
11.) Mini sauce squeezy bottles. Perfect for adding to my son’s bento box that I will be forced to assemble for him twice a week come school days!
12.) White opaque gluesticks. Gluesticks come in a rainbow of colors here – and the crafter in me wants to sing!
13.) Puffy black 3D heart stick-ons, rhinestone variety pack, and 3 packs of mini fake food for all my decorating needs.
And, lastly but not leastly, 14.) 3 erasers for Hub: curry-scented, yakisoba [Japanese chow mein]-scented, and beer-scented.
After all, who would not want to leave the aroma of beer wafting from a freshly-erased page?
Total everything up, and I spent 3014 yen (about $30) on all this bric-a-brac!
xoxox from Tokyo
Carly
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