The new MaruiOne is more spacious than its former incarnation (which you can see in my Tokyo Shopping Guide). Some of my friends hate the redesign, while others think it’s an improvement. I don’t have strong leanings in either direction. The refurbished department store is easier to navigate but I enjoyed the grungier feel of the old Marui, especially the Kera Shop Arena (punk/Goth) floor.

I love how both shopgirls and customers wear Lolita clothes! The first two photos are from the Emily Temple Cute boutique on the third floor. I’m a big fan of the brand’s 1950s flair and delicate knit fabrics.

The third floor also holds kawaii and gyaru accessories. You can find cheaper (but less delicate) ones in no-name Harajuku stalls – or how about making them yourself! Find a tiny pink top hat and glue lace around the brim; add a hair clasp and you’re done. Or adorn thin gold hoop earrings with fake flowers from the dollar store…

Same goes for these caterpillar barrettes: just glue a few fuzzy balls from the craft store to a hair clip. I spent a long time awww-ing over the cute stuffed animals at Peach Club (and YES, that is a Hello Kitty lamp!).

I was tempted by these boxes of Japanese fake nails – but then, I remembered there were FIVE more floors to explore! Tomorrow, we continue our climb… What do you think of the new MaruiOne so far?

Pulsing lights, clustered crosswalks… you gotta love Tokyo! Here’s what the brand new 0101 department store, Marui One Shinjuku, looks like on the approach. Right inside is Quolomo, a t-shirt/casualwear brand that collaborates with Hello Kitty, Play Set Products, and Studio Pierrot (above right).

Further down, you’ll find Hello Kitty and her friends, including bags and toys from the h.NAOTO collaboration. Funky Street Star (below) is another addictive stop for kawaii souvenirs.

The FRUiTS MiX is on the second floor, and I wasn’t too impressed by the selection. Overpriced vintage (eg: faded Nintendo leggings), a few funky indie designer pieces, and a stack of magazines… it reminded me of the old saying, “style can’t be bought.” I did enjoy Spank’s cuddly pastel corner, where I picked up my black velvet “Goth Alice” headband for $15. I also liked the high-contrast art panels between each floor.

Over the next few days, we’ll keep going up the escalator to gawk at Blythe dolls, Jesus Diamante shoes, Lolita dresses, and more! Have you been to the new Marui One Shinjuku? Do you prefer it to the old one?

Okay, Marilyn Manson contest time! We had over 100 entries – thanks so much! Using random number generator, I narrowed the 3-word descriptions of Manson down to fifteen:

Unique Villain Model — aggressively fantastic dick — sexy little devil — ENIGMATIC CLEVER PERSONA! — UNABASHED WRITHING EVIL — 1-art 2-dark & 3-wow — Ghoulish Idea Monger — sweetest creep ever — Sadomasochistic aural bliss — Devil’s Beautiful Vampire — Ghoul-Eyed Guy — God’s Freak Show — Lucifer’s Eccentric Iniquity :) — gods private joke — “Indivisually Infinated Inspiry”

Then, the almighty Committee (Ronan, Basil Farrow and I) picked our favorite.

RONAN: Maybe UNABASHED WRITHING EVIL or Sadomasochistic aural bliss.
CARMINA: I kinda like the funny ones, like God’s private joke, Ghoul-Eyed Guy. Hm… or we can let Basil decide somehow.
RONAN: Yeah, I don’t have strong feelings. Let Basil pick.
CARMINA: Right side or left side of his face? I’ll count the whiskers and that’s the number.
RONAN: Left.
CARMINA: I only counted the long, thick ones. He has 13! So the winner is Lucifer’s Eccentric Iniquity :)
RONAN: Ahahah, I like that one! Basil is never wrong.
CARMINA: NEVER.

So congrats to Yana K (who also purchased something from my Online Garage Sale)! You’ll soon receive a 7-inch vinyl signed by Marilyn Manson and his band!