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Shinjuku Marui Annex: Lolita, Gothic, Tokyo Punk clothing shops moved for 0101 renewal.

baby the stars shine bright jsk print

If you’re going to Tokyo, and want to shop for the best Goth, Lolita, Alternative and Punk fashion… then you’d better read this post for a head’s up. Marui One Shinjuku, the department store that houses these street styles, is currently closed for renewal.

Most of these brands, like Baby the Stars Shine Bright, have moved to Marui Annex for the time being. Where is it, and what’s it like? Scroll down for the scoop, and don’t forget to study my comprehensive Tokyo shopping guide for more shopping tips!

marui 0101 annex shinjuku mall

It’s not clear how long the Marui One “renewal” will take (a previous one took about half a year), or what it means exactly. The department store will be revamped in some way. My guess is that the Goth/Loli/Punk focus will be minimized, and that a larger variety of brands will be brought into the mix.

For now, you can shop for most of these alt labels at 0101 Marui Annex (Shinjuku, 3−1−26). To arrive here, get out from Shinjuku Station East Exit (near Studio Alta). Turn right, and keep walking down Shinjuku Dori. Annex is a tall modern building on the right side of the street, right before Armani.

milk, tokyo street style boutique

Annex has converted two of the upper floors into temporary homes for cute street fashion. Milk, with its twee and scalloped coats, is one of the first you’ll run into. (Links to all labels are at the bottom of this post.)

cute face purse, blue faux fur

Don’t limit yourself to the underground brands, however. Take a walk around each level; you never know what you’ll find. I got this blue cutie-faced purse at Mercibeaucoup, on one of the lower floors.

winking cat shirt, kitty sweater

I also spotted this winking cat top. There are a lot of cute but chic designs in Annex, which can suit a slightly older (but still offbeat) shopper.

japanese rock goth punk style

Mercibeaucoup had a Snoopy collaboration for winter. You can incorporate these garments into a rock-style coordinate like the one on the right.

godzilla cats, cute monster toys

In the gift store, I found these colorful Godzilla cats. I wouldn’t mind if these cute kitties terrorized Tokyo!

putumayo tokyo fashion

Most of the alternative street style brands, like Putumayo, are currently in two of the upper floors of Annex. The space isn’t as uniquely decorated, and the boutiques are smaller, but you can still shop the latest collections.

game of thrones fur collar coat

There are also some new brands in the melee. How about these Game of Thrones fur collar jackets?

acryl closet, handmade japanese clothes

They are handmade by Acryl Closet. I saw the designer sitting at the table, working on new clothes.

lolita shoes, lavender mary janes

In the old Marui One, an entire floor was dedicated to cool shoes. It’s been reduced to about a third of the size, but you can still find Yosuke and other Lolita lace heels.

kodona, jrock boys style

Peace Now is no more, but their aristocrat and boy-style designs live on in other labels.

alice and the pirates coffin purses

Alice and the Pirates remains one of my favorites. Oh, those coffin purses…

white lace pirate lolita boots

… and white ankle boots with adorable lace and ribbon detailing.

metamorphose temps de fille lolita dresses

I don’t particularly like “winter” Lolita fashions, like these dresses by Metamorphose temps de fille. The heavier fabrics and bulkier cuts aren’t to my taste.

angel wing purse, winged bags

Meta’s angel wing purses, however, are heavenly. (Couldn’t help myself…)

playing card print jacket

The Kera Angel area is home to a number of smaller Loli brands. You’ll find more experimental fashion here, which is hit or miss. I like this playing card king and queen collar…

cat face purse, egl skirt print

… but the angry cat-face purse and bunny kitty print dress are a bit much.

kera shop, weird harajuku fashion

Another example of “please no”… the creepy child-baker print on the JSK skirt. What’s with the giant fork and the “Use Yeast” caption?

ozz croce, ozzon wa lolita

I’m fond of the traditional Japanese “wa” influences in Ozz On and Ozz Croce, although I rarely wear clothes like these. I recently got a “hakama” skirt, so I’ll be playing around with this style more.

ne-net pandas, pop print sweaters

Most stores were relatively undecorated, since they are only in Annex for the time being. Ne-Net is an exception: the entire wall was covered in stuffed panda bears.

spirited away sprite toys, miyazaki

Totoro and Spirited Away fans, you can’t miss the Hayao Miyazaki store. I found these stuffed sprites, among other plush toys and goods.

goth visual kei outfits

Sex Pot Revenge and h.NAOTO still offer their signature Goth Jrock style.

kawaii twee jewelry

Annex has a boys love and anime/manga section, and kawaii jewelry as well.

spiky rings, leather gothic bracelet

If leather and studs is more your style, then there’s a good Goth selection.

marie antoinette purse

Love this Marie Antoinette antique-style purse with lace trim. You can find such unique and elegant items in Tokyo. That’s why it remains one of my favorite cities for buying clothes.

angelic pretty gothic sweet lolita dresses

A pink backdrop can only mean one thing: Angelic Pretty, the much loved Sweet Lolita label.

egl lolita wardrobe

Nearby is Baby, the Stars Shine Bright. Wouldn’t you like to have a pastel and lace EGL wardrobe like this?

sweet lolita ruffle sleeves

Close up on long, white ruffled sleeves and a dollhouse fabric print.

black rose cakes, swallowtail butler cafe

If you’re getting tired, you can stop by Swallowtail for a black rose cake. This Ikebukuro butler cafe has a bakery and tearoom in Annex, minus the cute butlers sadly…

excentrique, victorian fashion

But there are female servers wearing modest, Victorian style dresses, like the ones found at Excentrique.

velvet victorian lolita dress

I leave you with a velvet Gothic Lolita dress. Here are links to the websites of all these Goth Lolita Rock brands. For more Tokyo fashion photos and maps, read my Japan alt shopping guide.

What do you think of the current collections inside Marui Annex? Which items would you most want in your closet?

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Zagreb’s alternative music scene! Indie concerts, Croatian restaurants & rock bars.

beertija zagreb, beer garden club

I’m glad you enjoyed my first post about Zagreb, Croatia. Ready for more? On Day 2, I dove into the indie side of the city.

Andrea’s friend, Dražen Goreta, showed me his many projects — all of which have to do with indie music, art and culture.

PS: I’m hiding something under my top… read on to see what’s underneath…

glowing rows of lights

Dražen owns several music and nightlife venues, including The Beertija (Pavla Hatza 16). It’s a patio and pub covered in rock memorabilia, serving over 120 kinds of beers from around the world.

courtney love autograph, signature

Inside, a wall of photos includes Courtney Love, covered with the signature of Lana Del Ray.

Dražen is passionate about indie and punk rock, and wants to create a space for music-lovers in Zagreb. He plans on building an “rocker hall of fame” with sculptures of underground musicians, like Joe Strummer of The Clash.

lavender lipstick, purple lip color

That day, I wore a TwoPercent top with a sheer white overlay, and teal shorts by Izzue, both bought in Hong Kong. My black-white sunhat is very close to this hat sold online.

tvornica kulture, shonen knife poster

We also visited his Tvornica Kulture or Culture Factory (Šubićeva 2), an oasis of alternative rock in Europe. Bands like Japan’s Shonen Knife, Pixies, Public Image Limited, and The Mission have played here.

Croatia Culture Factory, indie alternative concert venue

Doing my best Yoko Ono impression. There are three halls (with a capacity of 300, 600 and 1600), each designed for the best possible sound quality, as the logo hints.

Tvornica kulture, Zagreb sushi cafe

In addition, there’s a sushi restaurant, bar, and outdoor cafe. Like at Warhol’s Factory, you’ll often find underground types hanging around.

rockmark rock music shop zagreb, david bowie poster

Music fans always stop by Rockmark (Ulica Petra Berislavića 13), a basement filled with rocker clothes, books, and memorabilia. I wanted the David Bowie Dark Side poster.

Brokula & Z, zagreb eco friendly fashion

Eco-conscious hipsters also love Brokula&Z, a local clothing label by famous marketing firm Bruketa&Zinic OM.

zagreb hipster clothing, broccoli and bird

The undergarments and T-shirts are decorated with the “idealistic broccoli and snarky bird”, two characters inspired by the firm’s partners. (Zagreb photography by Eric Bergemann and Melissa Rundle.)

Ribice i Tri Točkice, zagreb fish bistro

Dražen’s ventures extend to restaurants too. We ate lunch at Ribice i Tri Točkice (Preradovićeva 7/1), a seafood bistro seafood. In Croatia, the food is lighter and more ocean-based, as opposed to the meat-and-potatoes heft that characterizes Eastern Europe.

double headed fish, twee art

We began with a white-fish spread with olives, eaten on bread. I ordered sea queen, a juicy local fish that was de-boned at the table by the waiter. White wine and ice cream rounded out this perfect meal.

zagreb fish restaurant, croatia seafood

I adored the quirky, colorful, twee art by Vojo Radoičić displayed all around the restaurant.

Tratoria Al Pitor, zagreb italian restaurant

Down the street, Dražen also owns an Italian trattoria, Tratoria Al Pitor (Bogovićeva ulica 3).

Vojo Radoicic colorful artwork

The distinctive art is also by Vojo Radoičić. Each table is hand-painted with a different charming image.

Vojo Radoičić art, paintings

Now, I’m ready to lift up my shirt, and show you what’s under… or rather, who. It’s Miffy! (Yes, I have a lot of this bunny’s goods, including the Miffy designer lamp.)

miffy nail art, japanese bunny rabbit nails

I have Miffy nail art too, by Glam Nail Studio. This studio, based in Vancouver BC and specializing in Japanese nails, has won multiple awards for their work. You can see more cute pictures on LaCarmina Instagram and Tumblr.

bruce lee lamp, art

What’s your impression of the music and underground venues in Zagreb, Croatia? Did you know the city had this alternative side?

Thanks to Andrea for being the perfect guide. We hope you’ll get the chance to meet her, by renting out her central Zagreb or Croatian coastal apartment. Hope to come back soon!

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