Japan Haul!

Even though we were on a fairly small budget, we went quite a bit mental with lolita-shopping while in Japan! (Of course we justified it by telling ourselves we were actually saving money by avoiding shipping-costs! XD) Here is a complete overhaul of our respective purchases. ^.^

Töck

I was in desperate need of some new lolita blouses, so I made sure to get one (AATP's Baby Doll Chiffon Blouse) at the Laforet Grand Bazar Sale and another one (Starry Sky Horoscope Blouse) at a Tokyo Baby store. Incredibly, at the Osaka Baby store, I found my dream-blouse (A/P Shirring Pullover) in black on the sale-rack there after vanishing from the online shop a while ago! At Laforet I was also lucky enough to get my hands on the first Metamorphose dress I ever truly fell in love with ('Witch in the Forest' Corset Dress), as well as the matching ribbon barrette and gloves in black. ^.^ I absolutely ADORE this dress. I love all of the spooky little details hidden in the print, especially the good ol’ Aussie black swan! FUN FACT: After Australia was first colonised by Europeans in 1788, many black swans were bought back to Europe as curiosities. However, despite their popularity, black swans never became established anywhere in Europe. This was likely because of the still-prevalent superstition amongst commoners about black animals being witch’s familiars (black cats being the most famous example), and black swans introduced to Europe likely fell victim to this superstition and were wiped out before they could become established. I find this tiny little Australian involvement in the history of olden-day witch-hysteria absolutely fascinating!

 Phanty

Most of these purchases were made at the Grand Bazaar in Laforet, where I couldn't quite resist the urge to buy a new coord and accessories! All items besides the cute bear-eared cape were from the Harujuku BTSSB store, mostly at half price. The Fairy Bear Cape was from Angelic Pretty, also in Laforet! Most of these items are homogeneous pieces that can be swapped into mostly any of my pink-dominant sweet coords. I'm looking forward to wearing my new Creamy Scallop OP to a meet in the near future!

Adventures in Japan Part 5: Harajuku Fashion Walk & Departure

It was day of the Harajuku Fashion Walk. It was also going to be Töck and Phanty's final day in Japan, and what better way to end it all than by joining their fellow Connoisseurs of Kawaii in this legendary March of Appreciation?! ^.^

Compared with most Walks in the past, this one was relatively small - largely due to it being the Examination Period. :-p This meant that the majority of attendees were foreign expats, students and tourists rather than Japanese. These Harajuku fashionistas came from as far away as the US, UK and Italy!!!

T & P distracted by something skyward... D:

Töck wore a very poodley coord consisting of BTSSB's 'Circus Print' JSK, and Phanty wore a Creamy Scallop OP set he bought earlier at Laforet during the Grand Bazar. ^.^ 

'Circus Print' Ribbon JSK & Bonnet by BTSSB,  Offbrand Cardigan

Creamy Scallop OP, Creamy Headbow, Baby Diamonds OTKS & Kuma Kumya Pochette by BTSSB, Fairy Bear Cape and Shyness Bear Ring by AP, Shoes by Antaina, Offbrand Barrette

Töck

I have to admit that when I first arrived in Japan, I was pretty nervous. I felt so much like just another awkward tourist! But after wearing lolita in Harajuku for the very first time, I felt so much more comfortable. ^.^ THERE WERE SO MANY SPOILT LITTLE POODLES IN JAPAN!!! Also, Shiba inus are just poodles that are closer to wolves, and I think I need one. ^.^ Megu's wedding was officially the best wedding I've ever been to in my entire life, and one thing I'm going to miss every day in Australia from now on are convenient-store red-bean onigiri, vegan chicken karage and beany mochi (yes, pretty much all I did in Japan was eat) I LOVE RED-BEEEEAAAANS!!! It's now a goal of mine to one day live permanently in Mitaka with a poodle and a shiba and a koi-pond and a tanuki statue. ^.^ 

Phanty

I have many thoughts about my recent trip, but here are my main takeaways from Japan:

- They've mastered the art of vegan soy meat
- Tokyo is the cleanest city I've ever seen despite the fact that bins are hard to find
- Chunithm is one of the greatest video games I've ever played
- Harujuku, like many other suburbs are changing thanks to the influx of tourists perhaps for the worse
- Bring a LOT more than 20,000 yen to Laforet Grand Bazar
- One coat is never enough in winter
- I saw one of the original copies of the screenplay for Tokyo Story in the National Film Museum AND I MUST STEAL IT
- Sanrio Puroland is heaven on earth
- Akihabara is a never-ending town of discovery
- Everyone must see the Kyoto Bamboo Forest in the rain at least once
- Shinjuku is too busy
- Shibuya is really hip
- Forget getting AKB48 concert tickets in Japan
- Kabuki-cho is no longer as scary as people have made it out to be. Still seedy tho
- Lost in Translation fans won't be disappointed with the Park Hyatt Hotel, just expect to pay a lot of money for drinks
- The countless shrines in Japan will never cease to amaze
- The Japanese go to Shinto shrines when good things happen, and Buddhist temples when bad things happen
- Never underestimate how young you need to be to play visual novels and Monster Hunter on the train
- I need a Family Mart here pls
- Definitely bring people you love along to Japan! Was great to have Elliot, Goldie and Maya around at the same time to hang out with. Most of all, thank you to my travel partner Töck for taking me along on this incredible journey!

Gotta go back one day!

Thank you for having us, Nippon! We will miss you very much, and we will certainly be back soon! XOXOXOXOXOX