Category Archive for Tokyo + Japan
EGG STORE IN STUDIO ALTA IKEBUKURO: GYARU GAL CLOTHES SHOPPING IN TOKYO, TRENDY YOUNG WOMEN'S JAPANESE BOUTIQUE.
Ah, a young Japanese women’s boutique we haven’t cracked before! The Egg Store is a gyaru (gal) fashion explosion. I found it while shopping in Studio Alta at Ikebukuro Sunshine City (one of my favorite spots for inexpensive accessories).
The boutique is a spin-off of Egg Magazine, the publication best known for plastering Ganguro / yamanba gals like black-faced Buriteri on the covers.
Today, the gyaru faces in Egg Magazine are less extreme. Still, the look is all about the streets, colors, and crazy eyelashes.
The Egg Store has a well-curated selection of one-offs.
There are lots of summer sales going on right now…
There’s nothing like shopping in Tokyo. I don’t buy a whole lot, but I love to look. Mountains of design inspiration everywhere you turn.
You’ll never find checkered shirts, cut-off jean shorts and baseball caps in my boudoir. But I enjoyed taking a peek into the world of this style tribe.
What are your thoughts on Egg Magazine and gyaru fashion? Have you seen my photos of cute stationery stores and toys in Ikebukuro Sunshine City? Or my new Ikebukuro shopping and eating maps?
Japanese Word of the Day: Tamatsuki = Billiards
Song of the Day: DJ SiSEN’s epic playlist. Industrial/power noise/Goth.
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GOTH LOLITA PUNK CLOTHING STORES IN TOKYO & OSAKA. GUIDE TO JAPAN ALTERNATIVE FASHION, BOUTIQUES MAPS.
Shiver me timbers! With much bloodshed and toil and Photoshop, I’ve over-hauled my Tokyo Gothic Lolita Visual Kei Punk Shopping Guide and Japan LGBT Goth Alternative Nightlife Guide. These sections have photos, videos, maps, directions and reports of pretty much EVERY Goth/Lolita/Alt boutique, bar, and club party in Tokyo (and soon, Osaka). Yo-ho-ho.
Here’s one of the many comprehensive Japan maps I’ve added. (Click it or go here to enlarge.) The rest are in the Clothing Store and Club guides.
La Carmina Blog has become a No-Face (from the anime film Spirited Away) — growing bigger by the moment, and chock full of stuff! More now than ever, maintaining it is a big responsibility, both to readers and collaborators in the J-rock/Goth universe.
In the Laos episode of No Reservations, Anthony Bourdain reflects on whether revealing a little-known destination on TV effectively destroys it. He comes to the conclusion that all he can do is try to live the experience, understand it and present it the best that he can.
Likewise, I’m going to keep working hard to bring you the best possible content. (There are over 50 blog posts on my to-do list!) I think that if readers have a genuine interest in Japan / dark culture / Visual Kei, they’ll be respectful when they visit the underground clubs and stores. And at the end of day, the vibrant scene remains very small. Many Goth parties only have 30-40 people in attendance. Anything I can do to get the word out for my friends, I will.
So I hope you enjoy the updated Tokyo and Osaka guides. It would make my day if you could share the links and tell your friends. I have much more ahead for you — including Osaka Gothic Lolita Punk store guides/maps and a compliation of Visual Kei / J-rock concert reports.
I don’t want to turn this into a subscription site (where you pay for access), or sell you an e-book. However, my Scottish Fold cat does get hungry…
So if you found my Harajuku / Tokyo Goth maps and photos helpful, please consider:
1) Buying one of my Jpop books here. My Crazy, Wacky Theme Restaurants book includes addresses, photos and stories about all of Tokyo’s best themed cafes.
2) Ordering a La Carmina x Basil Farrow t-shirt (this is your LAST CHANCE for a limited edition tee!)
† Pick up a Girls shirt here.
† Nab a Mens shirt here.
3) Leaving me a tip (click the donate button below). Even a few bucks for a spot of catnip is much appreciated.
Thanks everyone for your support — I will keep working hard for you! Please feel free to contact La Carmina if you’d like to work with me in any capacity (TV hosting, arranging, writing, etc.) You can also keep in touch via my social networks below. Domo arigato gozaimasu.
Ready to see the new, improved guides? Click the images below!