TOKYO REBEL: GOTHIC LOLITA SHOP IN NEW YORK CITY. NYC LOLITAS SHOPPING, GOTH PUNK STORES, BUYING HARAJUKU CLOTHES IN AMERICA.
Yell it to the rafters: there’s a Gothic Lolita store in New York City — Tokyo Rebel! The lovely husband and wife team behind the new boutique invited my all-girl Visual Kei group to visit. (I believe This Maddening Shroud is our favorite of all the killer band names you suggested for us.)
Jeff (a web designer) and Masayo (a nurse) opened Tokyo Rebel “because we love Japanese street fashion and we wanted to bring it to America.” Tucked away in the Lower East Side, they’re the only retailer in NYC to stock Japanese brand-name Goth Lolita Punk clothing and accessories.
Kanae headed straight to the vintage rack in the back (the store will accept and sell your secondhand Lolita clothing.) I couldn’t resist putting on an old-school Algonquins dress (left). Atelier Pierrot (right) is one of the bestselling brands because it appeals to a broad range of shoppers; a girl looking for an alt prom dress fell in love with the one I’m holding.
The Sweet Lolita dresses from Angelic Pretty (left) are the same ones on the racks at Marui One Shinjuku. Masayo and Jeff source the clothes and accessories directly from the Japanese designers, which include Victorian Maiden, Innocent World, Putumayo and Maxicimam.
All new Lolita clothing is expensive ($150-300 range). But at Tokyo Rebel, the price tags aren’t — or are barely — marked up. Amazing, and well worth saving up for.
I tried on an Evil Tail Frill One-piece by SEX POT ReVeNGe. Regi couldn’t resist buying a two-piece jumper set by Algonquins. We were also tempted by the crucifix/cute accessories under the glass counter, and the display of Kera Magazine. (Need we say the selection is excellent, and ranges from casual rock/punk to lace and bows elegance?)
I ended up with a warm and fuzzy Sex Pot Revenge skull scarf. And if I may reach for a metaphor… that’s the feeling we got from visiting Tokyo Rebel! Masayo tells me she first fell in love with Gothic and Lolita fashion over a decade ago, in Tokyo. She wanted to create a haven where she could be around the elegant clothing and meet others who appreciate the fashion — and the boutique was born.
Jeff says the store aims to stock more items from the current brands, including shoes, and expand to include more lines. If you’re in NYC, even for an afternoon, you’ve got to stop by to say hi and try on a couple of coordinates. Happy face for those who live elsewhere: you can order from Tokyo Rebel’s website as well. (All photos by Shichi.)
Have any of you been to Tokyo Rebel? What are your thoughts on the atmosphere and selection?
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Hehe I’ll be in NYC in June, so this is probably the first place I will visit xD
Excellent!! You’ll have to tell me what you think. Say hi for me, will you?
Oh yeah, definitely! ;D I better save up though because that shyte looks expensive ;D
“This Maddening Shroud?”
Frou Frou has a song called “Maddening Shroud, with that phrase in it (heh, obviously).
That sounds like a neat little store! I like the KERA poster outside.
Yeah! There’s a huge poster to draw people in. :)
Yes!!! Thank you so much for reviewing this place! not to long ago, about 2 months or so, I was looking for stores that sold lolita, even though many people have told me that their are only some in L.A. For some reason, i searched in N.Y. even though I was nowhere near it, I wanted to look and found Tokyo Rebel Thank goodness! then when I heard you could be visiting it, I was so glad to see what It was like, Thanks!! One question though. So they do buy and sell used Lolita garments? and if they do what is the price range for it? ah! I really want to go to New York and Califronia now! ;]
Oh good! You should check it out — everyone is so friendly there. The price range for used clothes is about the same as Closet Child… around 75% of the original, depending on the brand and amount of wear. So you can find dresses for under $100 — very good!
we definately need more shops like this one around here!…but I guess that’s hard 2 do when u live in the middle of nowhere like I do! lol
At least you can order online from Tokyo Rebel! :)
Adore that store!
Have you been inside?
OMG I loovveee Kera!
I love it almost as much as Wired – and the only reason it has a slight edge over Kera is because I can actually read Wired (instead of drool shamelessly over the lovely photos/ensembles).
I’m excited to peruse this place’s website.
Also: I feel so super-special that you guys like my suggestion so much *happy tears*
Kera is definitely my favorite Japanese fashion magazine. :) We love the name!
I’ve walked past this store a few times when visiting home in NY, and I was always touched by how much it managed to remind me of shopping in Tokyo. I should definitely stop in next time and blow some hard earned cash! <3 You all made this store look like a blast.
I think it is a more friendly and homey atmosphere than in Tokyo. The shop girls there are polite, but you don’t feel like you’re being welcomed into a friend’s house… and I always feel a little “delicate” about trying things on. No such qualms at Tokyo Rebel. Do stop by and say hi for me!
Hehe I'll be in NYC in June, so this is probably the first place I will visit xD
If stores stocked it here, I would definitely save up for Moitie!
Moitie’s getting rarer and rarer, even in Tokyo… there are fewer offerings per season, and the old stuff is highly coveted (hence someone offered me $600 for my MmM dress). But you can still find deals at Closet Child. We’ll clean out the place when we travel to Tokyo!
Some of the shop girls in Closet Child aren’t really that polite. I can probably accidentally offend people with my gaijin ways, but because of the actual gaijin factor, I think they should excuse me a little. It’s odd when a girl in a sugary pink dress is acting somewhat rude and moody towards you, saying “FACE COVER” in broken English. o_O
Tokyorebel seems really great! I wish it was in Europe so I didn’t have to suffer customs… I love Atelier Pierrot though, and since they don’t ship abroad and I will have to pay customs either way, I will definitely consider Tokyorebel! It is awesome that shops are opening up outside of Japan! ^_^
It’s true… the contempt and passive aggressiveness underneath the cute sweet Lolita exterior! I’ll pick up an item to try on or look at, and 3 seconds after I’ve moved on, they’re re-re-rearranging the item that I placed back… <__<
but yes, the selection is great at T Rebel! They're one of the only places outside Japan to stock A Pierrot!
I agree. When I was there a couple of months ago the shop girl pretty much frowned at me, since I wasn’t dressed in Lolita. It wasn’t until she realized I could understand Japanese and bought a heap of stuff did she became that little bit friendlier -__-
Friendliest shop girls I’ve ever met in Tokyo were the Putumayo and Metamorphose girls at Laforet.
“This Maddening Shroud?”
Frou Frou has a song called “Maddening Shroud, with that phrase in it (heh, obviously).
That sounds like a neat little store! I like the KERA poster outside.
Yes!!! Thank you so much for reviewing this place! not to long ago, about 2 months or so, I was looking for stores that sold lolita, even though many people have told me that their are only some in L.A. For some reason, i searched in N.Y. even though I was nowhere near it, I wanted to look and found Tokyo Rebel Thank goodness! then when I heard you could be visiting it, I was so glad to see what It was like, Thanks!! One question though. So they do buy and sell used Lolita garments? and if they do what is the price range for it? ah! I really want to go to New York and Califronia now! ;]
we definately need more shops like this one around here!…but I guess that's hard 2 do when u live in the middle of nowhere like I do! lol
Adore that store!
OMG I loovveee Kera!
I love it almost as much as Wired – and the only reason it has a slight edge over Kera is because I can actually read Wired (instead of drool shamelessly over the lovely photos/ensembles).
I'm excited to peruse this place's website.
Also: I feel so super-special that you guys like my suggestion so much *happy tears*
At least you can order online from Tokyo Rebel! :)
Have you been inside?
Kera is definitely my favorite Japanese fashion magazine. :) We love the name!
Oh good! You should check it out — everyone is so friendly there. The price range for used clothes is about the same as Closet Child… around 75% of the original, depending on the brand and amount of wear. So you can find dresses for under $100 — very good!
Yeah! There's a huge poster to draw people in. :)
Excellent!! You'll have to tell me what you think. Say hi for me, will you?
I've walked past this store a few times when visiting home in NY, and I was always touched by how much it managed to remind me of shopping in Tokyo. I should definitely stop in next time and blow some hard earned cash! <3 You all made this store look like a blast.
I think it is a more friendly and homey atmosphere than in Tokyo. The shop girls there are polite, but you don't feel like you're being welcomed into a friend's house… and I always feel a little “delicate” about trying things on. No such qualms at Tokyo Rebel. Do stop by and say hi for me!
If stores stocked it here, I would definitely save up for Moitie!
Moitie's getting rarer and rarer, even in Tokyo… there are fewer offerings per season, and the old stuff is highly coveted (hence someone offered me $600 for my MmM dress). But you can still find deals at Closet Child. We'll clean out the place when we travel to Tokyo!
Some of the shop girls in Closet Child aren't really that polite. I can probably accidentally offend people with my gaijin ways, but because of the actual gaijin factor, I think they should excuse me a little. It's odd when a girl in a sugary pink dress is acting somewhat rude and moody towards you, saying “FACE COVER” in broken English. o_O
Tokyorebel seems really great! I wish it was in Europe so I didn't have to suffer customs… I love Atelier Pierrot though, and since they don't ship abroad and I will have to pay customs either way, I will definitely consider Tokyorebel! It is awesome that shops are opening up outside of Japan! ^_^
It's true… the contempt and passive aggressiveness underneath the cute sweet Lolita exterior! I'll pick up an item to try on or look at, and 3 seconds after I've moved on, they're re-re-rearranging the item that I placed back… <__<
but yes, the selection is great at T Rebel! They're one of the only places outside Japan to stock A Pierrot!
I really should look into this whole goth and visual kei thing. The multi-colored, multi-layered skirt you were holding is the bomb!!! Or was that different pieces on one hanger? (Because I’d still wear them as one piece.)
That was a single skirt by Algonquins, I believe… the Tokyo Rebel website has more skirt styles. :D
Oh yeah, definitely! ;D I better save up though because that shyte looks expensive ;D
I swear the first thing I’ll do when I get to NYC is head straight to Tokyo Rebel.
Good girl. ~__^ Will you say hi to Jeff and Masayo for me?
Of course! =) I’ll be raiding their shop, hunting for those elusive dream prints of mine…
I really should look into this whole goth and visual kei thing. The multi-colored, multi-layered skirt you were holding is the bomb!!! Or was that different pieces on one hanger? (Because I'd still wear them as one piece.)
I swear the first thing I'll do when I get to NYC is head straight to Tokyo Rebel.
Good girl. ~__^ Will you say hi to Jeff and Masayo for me?
That was a single skirt by Algonquins, I believe… the Tokyo Rebel website has more skirt styles. :D
I agree. When I was there a couple of months ago the shop girl pretty much frowned at me, since I wasn't dressed in Lolita. It wasn't until she realized I could understand Japanese and bought a heap of stuff did she became that little bit friendlier -__-
Friendliest shop girls I've ever met in Tokyo were the Putumayo and Metamorphose girls at Laforet.
Of course! =) I'll be raiding their shop, hunting for those elusive dream prints of mine…
This store is in the EAST VILLAGE not the Lower East Side. The Lower East Side is from Houston to Canal and from Bowery to the FDR. Totally diff than the East Village.
This store is in the EAST VILLAGE not the Lower East Side. The Lower East Side is from Houston to Canal and from Bowery to the FDR. Totally diff than the East Village.
At least you can order online from Tokyo Rebel! :) ….