6TH FLOOR OF MARUI: KERA SHOP ARENA, SEXY DYNAMITE LONDON, SUPER LOVERS.
Continuing our tour of Marui Young Shinjuku, we ride the escalator up to the sixth floor, and Kera Shop Arena spreads out before our eyes. The best (and most appropriate word) to describe the store is ANARCHY; all the Goth/Punk rock brands are crammed together in a bright, metal-studded, plaid and leopard print mosh pit.
Even the most jaded punk would have difficulty telling the brands apart. Hellcatpunks and Sex Pot Revenge are best at ripped, zipped, and patched t-shirts. Hypercore produces casual jackets and somewhat sporty punk tees. Deorart and No Future carry cheaper casual lines, but the former leaned to Goth while the latter went Punk. Toxic Star is similar but with brighter colors. Qutie Fresh can be described as cyber-dragon; there are very few who can pull of this futuristic kimono look. At the checkout counter, there was a display case of Wild Strawberry silver jewelry, such as a $1000 bracelet that resembled a piece of spine.
Yellow and pink against black dominated the Super Lovers rack; I think this brand could be quite popular in the West. Not sure about the Hello Kitty + Balzac t-shirt collaboration…
Postcards and knickknacks filled up every possible space. Blablahospital’s latest nurse caps and optic medic crosses stood out, and since they’re handmade, each design is an original.
A tall store clerk with purple spiked hair and facial piercings showed me to the dressing room and instructed me to remove my shoes. Some of you asked me about Hiderock, so I tried on one of their dresses (left). I fell in love with Blablahospital’s bandage-like layers; I hope to visit Akari soon in London’s Camden Market.
I saw skull prints and striped cardigans at Sexy Dynamite London, but no half-swastikas (I guess they weren’t popular). I considered buying a $40 leather belt strung with giant silver hoops.
OzzcCroce’s trailing, Asian-flavored designs weren’t to my liking. Artherapie’s leather bags and wallets were well-constructed and unusually subdued – your mom could carry one, and nobody would guess that a girl with a septum ring sold it to her. I liked the studded skull-shaped purses (far right) and the wallets with staring eyes.
Up next: we take the stairway to shoe heaven!
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LA CARMINA
41 Comments
I'm really loving ALL of these blogs
I’m really loving ALL of these blogs
It looks all so precious u must have been a shopping freak in these stores. Im sure I would have^^. Is Kera Shop Arena a bit cheap than other brands? B'cause I really adore the frilly white shirt with disdaining details.
I haven't really bought anything yet… yes, Kera Shop Arena is one of the less pricy areas. Overall, priciness is relative, IMO – for example, a MMM or Angelic Pretty dress costs the same as an Alberta Ferretti or Prouenza Schouler.
Silly Carmen. Super Lovers can be found on main in a few of the stores. Least there were some t-shirts and such about three years ago? I think that's when I saw them.
Hm, main? What do you mean?
I know they're in London…
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!
All of the outfits are all so gorgouse!!!!!!!!
I sometimes wish i lived in japan……cuz seriously ova here i can only find 3 ausome gothic/punk/lolita stores, but in japan theres like tons of them!!!!!!!!
lol ever ways im just happy I can find some really good gothic/punk/lolita stores!!
It looks all so precious u must have been a shopping freak in these stores. Im sure I would have^^. Is Kera Shop Arena a bit cheap than other brands? B’cause I really adore the frilly white shirt with disdaining details.
I haven’t really bought anything yet… yes, Kera Shop Arena is one of the less pricy areas. Overall, priciness is relative, IMO – for example, a MMM or Angelic Pretty dress costs the same as an Alberta Ferretti or Prouenza Schouler.
Silly Carmen. Super Lovers can be found on main in a few of the stores. Least there were some t-shirts and such about three years ago? I think that’s when I saw them.
Hm, main? What do you mean?
I know they’re in London…
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!
All of the outfits are all so gorgouse!!!!!!!!
I sometimes wish i lived in japan……cuz seriously ova here i can only find 3 ausome gothic/punk/lolita stores, but in japan theres like tons of them!!!!!!!!
lol ever ways im just happy I can find some really good gothic/punk/lolita stores!!
These are some of my favorite stores!! Especially Kara Shop Arena ♥
Me too – I like the friendlier and more casual feel of the sixth floor of Marui.
i wanna go at this shop it's paradize!!!! *________________________________________________*
hey i really like that bandana-over-the-mouth look on you.
These are some of my favorite stores!! Especially Kara Shop Arena ♥
Me too – I like the friendlier and more casual feel of the sixth floor of Marui.
i wanna go at this shop it’s paradize!!!! *________________________________________________*
hey i really like that bandana-over-the-mouth look on you.
Forgot to mention Listen Flavor – they had a number of electro graphic t-shirts and casual wear.
if your ever poping to Camden London market be sure to let me know theres a few loli's who would be willing to meet up ^^!
Any excuse for a lovely cup of tea :P!
Hanni Love
xx
I haven't been to London since 2004… hopefully soon! Tea sounds lovely.
Wow! The whole thing looks so awesome! I'd love to go there and splurge all of my money on clothes and accessories there!! By the way, since Marui Young is a department store, everything's got to be pricey there, right? Or are there some real bargains in there? If I go to Japan next next summer, I'd like to find some cheap prices for awesome gothic/punk/lolita clothes (sounds like a myth I know). There's only Takeshita street in Harajuku (or is the store on Takeshita street? O.o) that I know of that has some low prices, or so I heard. It looks like Lotte Department Store in Seoul, only gothified, punkified, and lolita-fied! XD
Hi Ruka,
Yes – Takeshita Doori has a number of shops that sell no-name GL Punk clothing. But for quality, I think it's worth it to splurge on an item or two from Marui… there's no comparison when you try on a h.NAOTO or MMM dress. Some of the items are Marui aren't pricey at all, especially in the Kera Arena section. I think priciness is relative… a dress at J Crew can go for $150-200, the same price as an h.NAOTO or Peace Now.
I hope you make it to Tokyo! I was in Seoul a few years ago.
Forgot to mention Listen Flavor – they had a number of electro graphic t-shirts and casual wear.
if your ever poping to Camden London market be sure to let me know theres a few loli’s who would be willing to meet up ^^!
Any excuse for a lovely cup of tea :P!
Hanni Love
xx
I haven’t been to London since 2004… hopefully soon! Tea sounds lovely.
What a fast reply- I was just browsing through your older entries (great photographs, by the way :D). Oh, if a dress is like $150-200, then I can splurge a little on one dress or something else! Now I'm even more excited by the very idea of going to Japan! I'm going to have a summer job to help work towards my goal to go to Japan with my Japanese teacher (currently like 1/6th of the way there… >.<). I'll probably struggle communicating, but I have enough knowledge of basic Japanese that I can survive. Are you currently struggling with communication in Tokyo? If you are, don't worry, it's just a part of travel and culture! And ahhh, you've been to Seoul? I just went this year, have you visited Lotte Department Store and Dongdaemun and COEX Mall? Lotte's way too expensive but Dongdaemun is heaven! ^.^ Too bad it didn't have any gothic/punk/lolita style clothing, since it IS Korea, after all XD Sorry for the long comment and bombarding you with questions but I hope you have a blast in Tokyo! =)
Wow! The whole thing looks so awesome! I’d love to go there and splurge all of my money on clothes and accessories there!! By the way, since Marui Young is a department store, everything’s got to be pricey there, right? Or are there some real bargains in there? If I go to Japan next next summer, I’d like to find some cheap prices for awesome gothic/punk/lolita clothes (sounds like a myth I know). There’s only Takeshita street in Harajuku (or is the store on Takeshita street? O.o) that I know of that has some low prices, or so I heard. It looks like Lotte Department Store in Seoul, only gothified, punkified, and lolita-fied! XD
Hi Ruka,
Yes – Takeshita Doori has a number of shops that sell no-name GL Punk clothing. But for quality, I think it’s worth it to splurge on an item or two from Marui… there’s no comparison when you try on a h.NAOTO or MMM dress. Some of the items are Marui aren’t pricey at all, especially in the Kera Arena section. I think priciness is relative… a dress at J Crew can go for $150-200, the same price as an h.NAOTO or Peace Now.
I hope you make it to Tokyo! I was in Seoul a few years ago.
What a fast reply- I was just browsing through your older entries (great photographs, by the way :D). Oh, if a dress is like $150-200, then I can splurge a little on one dress or something else! Now I’m even more excited by the very idea of going to Japan! I’m going to have a summer job to help work towards my goal to go to Japan with my Japanese teacher (currently like 1/6th of the way there… >.<). I'll probably struggle communicating, but I have enough knowledge of basic Japanese that I can survive. Are you currently struggling with communication in Tokyo? If you are, don't worry, it's just a part of travel and culture! And ahhh, you've been to Seoul? I just went this year, have you visited Lotte Department Store and Dongdaemun and COEX Mall? Lotte's way too expensive but Dongdaemun is heaven! ^.^ Too bad it didn't have any gothic/punk/lolita style clothing, since it IS Korea, after all XD Sorry for the long comment and bombarding you with questions but I hope you have a blast in Tokyo! =)
Oh, not at all – I wish more people started convos in the comments!
Even though I’ve spent time in Tokyo before, the first few days are always tough – disorientation and culture shock. But I’ve found some great people here, and I’m getting my work done without any hitch. I also have a fantastic intern to help me with scheduling and translation.
I need to go back to Seoul… I didn’t check out the GLP fashions back then because I wasn’t so familiar with the stores and brands. (I went maybe 8 years ago!)
Oh, not at all – I wish more people started convos in the comments!
Even though I've spent time in Tokyo before, the first few days are always tough – disorientation and culture shock. But I've found some great people here, and I'm getting my work done without any hitch. I also have a fantastic intern to help me with scheduling and translation.
I need to go back to Seoul… I didn't check out the GLP fashions back then because I wasn't so familiar with the stores and brands. (I went maybe 8 years ago!)
Forgot to mention Listen Flavor – they had a number of electro graphic t-shirts and casual wear.
if your ever poping to Camden London market be sure to let me know theres a few loli's who would be willing to meet up ^^!
Any excuse for a lovely cup of tea :P!
Hanni Love
xx
I haven't been to London since 2004… hopefully soon! Tea sounds lovely.
Wow! The whole thing looks so awesome! I'd love to go there and splurge all of my money on clothes and accessories there!! By the way, since Marui Young is a department store, everything's got to be pricey there, right? Or are there some real bargains in there? If I go to Japan next next summer, I'd like to find some cheap prices for awesome gothic/punk/lolita clothes (sounds like a myth I know). There's only Takeshita street in Harajuku (or is the store on Takeshita street? O.o) that I know of that has some low prices, or so I heard. It looks like Lotte Department Store in Seoul, only gothified, punkified, and lolita-fied! XD
Hi Ruka,
Yes – Takeshita Doori has a number of shops that sell no-name GL Punk clothing. But for quality, I think it's worth it to splurge on an item or two from Marui… there's no comparison when you try on a h.NAOTO or MMM dress. Some of the items are Marui aren't pricey at all, especially in the Kera Arena section. I think priciness is relative… a dress at J Crew can go for $150-200, the same price as an h.NAOTO or Peace Now.
I hope you make it to Tokyo! I was in Seoul a few years ago.
What a fast reply- I was just browsing through your older entries (great photographs, by the way :D). Oh, if a dress is like $150-200, then I can splurge a little on one dress or something else! Now I'm even more excited by the very idea of going to Japan! I'm going to have a summer job to help work towards my goal to go to Japan with my Japanese teacher (currently like 1/6th of the way there… >.<). I'll probably struggle communicating, but I have enough knowledge of basic Japanese that I can survive. Are you currently struggling with communication in Tokyo? If you are, don't worry, it's just a part of travel and culture! And ahhh, you've been to Seoul? I just went this year, have you visited Lotte Department Store and Dongdaemun and COEX Mall? Lotte's way too expensive but Dongdaemun is heaven! ^.^ Too bad it didn't have any gothic/punk/lolita style clothing, since it IS Korea, after all XD Sorry for the long comment and bombarding you with questions but I hope you have a blast in Tokyo! =)
Oh, not at all – I wish more people started convos in the comments!
Even though I've spent time in Tokyo before, the first few days are always tough – disorientation and culture shock. But I've found some great people here, and I'm getting my work done without any hitch. I also have a fantastic intern to help me with scheduling and translation.
I need to go back to Seoul… I didn't check out the GLP fashions back then because I wasn't so familiar with the stores and brands. (I went maybe 8 years ago!)