Monday, April 19, 2010

Brave Cool

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I missed cherry blossom season, but there are still other beautiful trees around. This is near where I am staying (soooo much green for Tokyo!)

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Garter is my friend Koshiro's shop in Koenji's Kite Kori Building. He was working on opening it last time I was in Tokyo so it was great to see it finished. Remodel fashion is huge in Tokyo, using thrift store finds and coming up with something new and personal. Often the more hand crafted and altered it looks the better, which is a very different aesthetic to what I'm used to back home.

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Koshiro, next to 2 hats I wanted to buy but sadly didn't fit my huge gaijin head.

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Awesome shoe remodel.

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My fave remodel, this denim jacket is given new life with words, that sadly I can not read.

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Rachel's shop ilil recently relocated to the Kite Kori building. The whole building is a series of old sheds connected together, in parts it is 3 stories. The best way to describe it is to say its a "creative slum" in that bits are always changing and being added to and well it kinda looks dangerous. As we went they were adding a cafe to the 1st and a half floor. Rachels shop is on the 2nd floor, up some scary metal non stairs and accross a bridge and inside remnants of a bathroom wall block off half the store. It's really hard to describe so why don't you check it out if your in town?

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Some of the glasses Rachel has re-made with witty Japanese words that sadly I can't read just like Koshiro's jacket.

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There has been a bit of buzz around the Kite Kori building of late as Lady Gaga's team of stylists have been borrowing clothes for her Tokyo TV performances and everyone is in their studios making special one offs for her. In the top photo the belt the back up dancer is wearing is by Koshiro from Garter, and below the chain glasses are by my other friend Hachi's label Balmung. The rest of the pieces are by other Kite Kori building designers and young designers in Tokyo I just don't know them personally.

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Whenever I am in Koenji I try to eat at the Tacos Cafe as the food is amazingly cheap and oishi (yummy).

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One of the most exciting things about coming back to Tokyo was the chance to meet up with Gallermic again. He was my housemate when I lived here, but he was more than that. He was a great friend with such a kind heart who also happened to be the king of the party scene with his blog The Fashion Ramone and TFR parties. Those days are long behind him now as he went back to his native Peru for a year (hence I didn't see him last year) and has returned recently with ambition of becoming a serious artist, which he has achieved as he is now represented by a big gallery here, the magical art room. It was so exciting to see him and reminisce about the old days, who has come and gone from Tokyo and the scene and well just catch up on whats been happening in the 3 years since we last saw each other.

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No idea why this obasan (old woman) in traditional kimono was in the line for the toilet at Arty Farty (super tacky gay club in Shinjuku ni-chome)

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Another favourite meal in Tokyo, yasai tendon and cold udon, mmmm oishi.

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Had a quick squiz at the Opening Ceremony store in Shibuya. I had no idea it was going to be EIGHT floors of utter fashion love. The prices are better on the online store for us Aussies but it was great to see everything up close and to try things on so I can work out what size to order things in when I win the lottery.

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The title of this post comes from a girl sitting opposite us at dinner who said me and Hill were "brave cool" whatever that means. So this is what I wore when I was supposedly brave cool in Shibya crossing. Not too different from the last outfit just with a few changes.
Black & white stripe dress: Sportsgirl $79.95
Cardigan: City Chic gift
Leggings: ASOS $40
Boots: Forever New $129.95
Belt: Camberwell Market $10
Flower Necklace: Make Believe gift
Bag: Gift from my mum
White chain necklace and pom pom: I made

19 comments:

  1. Shopping in Tokyo was one of the best experiences for me. Here in the West, I can hardly find clothes to fit my skinny frame, everything I buy unless it is very vintage has to be taken in and its such a chore sometimes even though I love the creative aspect of sewing. Anway, I was overjoyed at my first experience of Shibuya, for the first time in my life I tried on a pair of skinny jeans and they fit like a glove! Heaven. I CANNOT wait until I can go back there. For anyone who hasn't been it is well worth saving up for and having a shopping splurge. So much choice. I miss all the trends that come and go. One has to be really on the pulse not to miss a beat of what goes on in that crazy city. Xx

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  2. Oh I miss Japan so much! Sounds like your friends are doing incredibly well over there too. Haha, "huge gaijin head", love it.

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  3. argh you are making me want to go back! (I lived near Kobe for about two years). I identify with the gaijin head problem too. :/

    Also the jacket says "yaruki" which is like, motivation or something? My Japanese has tanked since I moved back to Australia.

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  4. you look cute as! totally envious.. i need to go back right now! and lv that pink register thing in that shop! x

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  5. LOVE your photos of Tokyo-the food-keep em coming!

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  6. Hayley you look amazing and your photos make me utterly utterly homesick for Tokyo. Keep warm!

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  7. The top pairs of glasses say "hontou," {truth, reality)

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  8. oh my gosh hayley. I AM SO JEALOUS! secondly, koshiro! gallermic! oh man, we were party friends when I was in tokyo. korishiro's shop looks so great! and i am in love with those sunglasses in ilil. it's crazy how small the community is within the enormity of tokyo's megalopolis. some day i will definitely run into you in shibuya. in the mean time, i am stuck here in america, but this is getting me excited for the arrival of my japanese friend next week!
    have so much fun the rest of your trip!! :-)

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  9. ...and the bottom ones say "zenaku" which means "good and evil," "right and wrong."

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  10. LOVE LOVE LOVE this post. Thank you so much for the photos lady!!! ♥

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  11. that last photo is incredible!!! keep updating lots so I can feel like you're still here <3

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  12. Nothing like making the old new again. Something about giving it new life. In this world of disposable stuff, it means more to re-do, re-sue, re-cycle. And nothing says fashion forward crazy like Tokyo!
    Very snappy.
    snappy x
    www.snappylifestyle.blogspot.com

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  13. Hahah the obasan in the line for the artsy club made me laugh
    xx
    DD

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  14. I really enjoy reading your post about your trip!

    I have been reading about the Shibuya 109 shopping mall in Japanese fashion mags and would love to visit there one day!

    I love your necklace as well.

    I can certainly see why the girl said you were "brave cool". Your outfit is certainly very unique and cool!

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  15. ahaha great shots!!

    beautiful blog

    love
    xoxo

    http://factorystyle.blogspot.com/

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  16. I love the way you do you travel shots, you make it really easy to feel the vibe where you are, both for the big things and the little things.
    I love the merchadising in your friends store too - that jaw bone? Genius!
    Have fun! :)

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  17. i can't believe you found something nice in Sportsgirl, their extended bohemia seasons put me off forever (being a size 16 didn't help either as nothing even pretends to fit me!)love the dress, love the whole outfit!

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