Behold, my new hair color! I’ve been a red-head since March, so it was time for my superb stylist (Isolde from Avant Garde Hair in Vancouver) to turn me dark purple. Note that it’s not one solid color: there’s plum and chocolate brown textures weaved in. Happy.

Here’s what I wore for the first part of my NHK Kawaii TV shoot:

Babydoll dress with key pattern: Banana Fish (so sad the brand is gone), from Closet Child Shinjuku
Lace Gothic Lolita purse: gifted from ModaRevise. More photos and info about the brand in this post.
Lace circular hair decoration: gifted from my friend Heathyr

I wore purple eyeshadow to match my new hair. The doll eyelashes cost a meager 100 yen; gotta love Japan.
Horror necklace: gifted from Sourpuss
Blue gem ring: from Closet Child

The ever-transforming Yukiro Dravarious wore flaming red.

Our first stop: Abilletage, a recently-opened Gothic vintage and handmade corset shop in Shinjuku. The NHK cameraman filmed me meeting my spooky friends, exploring the boutique and doing my coolhunting-blogging thing.

The lovely owner Bambi (right) is a talented corset-maker, who made outfits for Jpop stars Koda Kumi and Ayumi Hamasaki.

Abilletage is lushly decorated with thick red curtains, chandeliers and antiques. There’s also a coffee and tea section, popular with Tokyo’s Gothic ladies and gentlemen. (Order the ice chai, you won’t regret it.)

Bambi laces me into a purple-and-black lace corset that she sewed and decorated with crystals.

Her studded black design is perfect for Mistress Maya. On the right: “Despite all my rage, I’m still just a rat in a cage!”

The NHK Kawaii TV segment is about La Carmina’s world: the spooky places and people that inspire me.

Bambi’s accessories are lovingly scouted from vintage and foreign sources. Many of the items are handmade by her designer friends.

There’s currently a steampunk-fetish leather display. My first mate, Naomi, tries on a mask. (Photos by Naomi and me. Have you seen her comic series Domestic Animal, about her travels?)

When Yukiro gives the middle finger… deadly.

Abilletage is a gem of a store, created and supported by Tokyo’s vibrant Goth-steampunk-fetish subculture. Step away from the big brands and give this boutique a visit (Bambi speaks some English).

It’s located here (map) in Shinjuku, next to the AM/PM in a white building. Go up stairs and take the elevator to 3rd floor. The address is 東京都新宿区千駄ヶ谷5-32-6 大西ビル303; it opens 1:30pm.

Filming with NHK TV was a wonderful experience, and I’m excited to see the program! Coming up: reports from the next two locations we shot. And before you ask — yes, I’ll let you know when the show airs, and put up clips.

But the important question… what do you think of my new hair? Were you surprised by the color?

Song of the Day: The Smashing Pumpkins – Bullet With Butterfly Wings (“The world is a vampire”)