Category Archive for Tokyo + Japan
GOTHIC LOLITA PUNK SHOPS AT MARUI ONE, SHINJUKU SHOPPING COMPLEX 0101. BEST YOUNG WOMEN'S DESIGNER CLOTHING SHOPS IN TOKYO. B-MOVIE BLOOPERS!
Shut your eyes and tap your Goth boots together… and wooosh, we’re back in Tokyo! And right outside 0101 (Marui Young Shinjuku), home to almost every Gothic Lolita Punk brand.
The first floor is a mix of kawaii gift shops. From the glass doors entrance, you can glimpse Galaxxxy Returns and Funky Street, both of which carry cute designer stationery, cups and other small things. Prices are (of course) steeper than Daiso, but you’ll find a charming well-made selection here.
On the Shoe Heaven floor, there was a Halloween display of Goth boots and pumpkins. Ah, the two go so well together! (You can see more Gothic Lolita shoes here.)
Angelic Pretty’s display is pretty in pink. A little too sweet for my taste, but lovely to look at.
Kera Arena had a hot selection of J-rock and punk coats. That day, I wore an Algonquins Addition dress and Harajuku striped knee highs. (Rain, rain, go away…)
For more photos from Marui One and other Tokyo contemporary streetwear stores, please visit my shopping guide.
Who doesn’t love a bloopers reel? Here is a selection of the many boo-boos from our B-movie Horror Glamor film. As Yukiro puts it, “Prepare yourself for laughter. Don’t miss the things that went wrong but still so right!” (You can see the film itself here.)
I’ll be signing Crazy, Wacky Theme Restaurants: Tokyo tonight at GiantRobot2 in LA, 6:30-8:30 pm! Info here — hope you can come.
Song of the Day #248: OMD – So in Love (1980s crooners, yeahhhh)
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VISUAL KEI J-ROCK MEMORABILIA STORES IN HARAJUKU, TOKYO JAPAN. WHERE TO BUY JPOP STARS PHOTOS & SOUVENIRS.
Harajuku is just like my favorite movie, The Ten Commandments: each time you revisit it, you discover something new and amazing! The legendary Tokyo district may not the Fruits fashion heaven that people imagine it to be, but if you ask me, it’s still the best place around to shop and soak up colored-hair, pierced-faced, punk-booted inspiration. (Where else would a cute fetish polar bear make total sense?)
I’ve posted hundreds of Harajuku boutique photos, but neglected to put up pictures of rock star merchandise shops. Usually packed with teenage schoolgirls, these stores are plastered with J-pop and Visual Kei posters, photos, tour souvenirs…
Pop idols take up most of the racks, but you’ll find Hide, X Japan, Gackt, Mana and your other favorites in the mix. Most stores offer gachopon (lottery machines); insert 200 yen in this one and you’ll get a Nightmare trinket.
I leave you with a D’espairs Ray 10th anniversary poster from the music store inside Laforet, the Harajuku shopping complex. You can see more Visual Kei music store photos, as well as every Gothic Lolita Punk brand inside Lafore, on this page.
And here is my new CNNGo article: Asia WIN! A photo gallery of epic epicness. Hope it makes you chuckle. See you in costume at my LA book signings!
Song of the Day #247: Laura Branigan – Self Control (I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again: 1984 was a very good year.)