Transform Your Style with Flatforms

If you haven't heard of flatforms by now, it's time you had a fashion intervention! Not only are flatforms a fashionable phenomenon in Asia, they have made their popular arrival to the United States as well!

Flat platforms, often referred to as flatforms, are shoes that can vary in style and design; however, they all share the common element that makes them a "flatform"- the shoes's soles are completely platform. Think David Bowie's platform shoes but made for modern times... though you can still totally get away with them in this day and age...

The Original Creeper

Flatforms also have an interchangeable nickname of "creepers," though creepers tend to have a smaller height than flatforms. I suggest if you want to dip into this trend, try a low height (creepers) for a more manageable, everyday piece. This way, you can strut around town easier (and more comfortably) while also having a shoe that can outlast the trendy height of the flatform.

T.U.K.'s Hello Kitty Mary Jane Creeper

Since flatforms have caught on, stylistic touches have been made that go far beyond the original style.  No longer must you sigh as you look through hundreds of black flatforms that all look the same. Now you  can pick from many new styles and designs that have come out of the woodwork. The list goes on and on- extra tall, gold accented, featuring cutouts, blue suede, and more. 

Gold accented, open-toed, leather flatforms...
All the trends in one shoe!

Flatforms with a distant Lolita-esque feel

Jeffrey Campbell High-Tops with a side of pizza, anyone?

T.U.K. Creepers. The vivid colors would make anyone's feet stand out!

Vivienne Westwood, a famous British fashion designer, created a beautiful style of flatforms called "Rocking Horse" that incorporated the style of a ballerina shoe. Now considered vintage, these have been coveted particularly among the Lolita fashion community. Knockoffs and replicas are abundant, especially on international shopping websites such as Taobao, and are available in different colors. However, you're most likely to see these beauties in black or red. 

One of Vivienne Westwood's most famous creations

My personal favorite brand of flatform is easily "Tokyo Bopper." I own two shoes from this brand and believe they outshine all its competition. The quality and fit are great (if you have small feet!) and the styles are extremely unique. Tokyo Bopper has taken over the streets of Tokyo; you can find tons of fashionable Tokyoites donning Tokyo Boppers. Like Westwood's Rocking Horse, Tokyo Bopper is facing off against their online replicas that have lower quality and pricing. 

Just a handful of what Tokyo Bopper has to offer

There has been a misconception that T.U.K. creepers have only been worn in an American "goth" or "punk" style, though this myth is far from true. Below are some of my favorite outfits across different ranges of taste that feature flatforms:

Casual outfit with patriotic flare! Wonder if these flatforms are uncomfortable...

Beautiful Lolita in a pair of white Rocking Horse style flatforms
(click here to see a better, closer up photo of her gorgeous shoes)

Low-key flatforms paired with a colorful & casual outfit

An urban style (common in Asia now!)
featuring studded flatforms modeled by Eva Cheung

J-Pop singer Kyary Pamyu Pamyu rocking chrome low-heeled flatforms

The always popular all-black outfit but feature a pop of blue thanks to flatforms!

Mixing patterns. Those leopard & pastel pink flatforms are too cute!

A fun style with glittery TokyoBoppers!
The fasteners always remind me of spiders' legs

The beauty about flatforms is that the styles, colors, designs, price points, and heights are virtually endless now. No matter what your style, there is a flatform out there waiting for you! 

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Shoe (1)- T.U.K. Shoes Official Website

Shoe (2)- Journey's Shoes Online Webstore

Shoe (3)- AliExpress
Shoe (4)- DHgate Online Webstore

Shoe (5)- "Love Jeffrey Campbell"

Shoe (6)- T.U.K. Shoes (UK)

Shoe (7)- FarFetch
TokyoBoppers- Sabanadepan's Blog

Outfit (1)- TokyoFashion

Outfit (2)- TokyoFashion
Outfit (3)- RidSnap
Outfit (4)- Kowaretadoll's Blog

Outfit (5)- Crunchyroll

Outfit (6)- TokyoFashion
Outfit (7)- TokyoFashion

Outfit (8)- JapaneseStreets

Please remember if you click the caption below all of my photos you will be redirected to its original location! The links presented down here are the exact same it's just more a reference section. =^.^=

Bangs on The Streets this Week

Hello Everyone! This week the streets of Tokyo had lots goin' on. I had a really hard time narrowing it down to just four (this is becoming a pattern...)! It's fun to see everyone showing more color and brighter patterns and designs...and bangs! Check them out below!

Cute overload! Cool and classic styles definitely complement each other

Her cheongsam is fabulous! Love this funky mix of black silk and yellow neon

Hardcore style with beatup boots and hair-raising, studded leather

My favorite of the week! Love the layers and unexpected pink jacket underneath

Blunt bangs are certainly the biggest trend in Tokyo right now; you can find them in almost every color! If you noticed, all the girls in these shots managed to have blunt bangs!
(Hence why this week the post is called Bangs on the streets...not very clever, I know.) They are fun and I am sure this will catch on in America very soon. Alas, bangs and oily foreheads don't really get along so I must wait this trend out... 

Hope you all have a great week full of fun fashion! See you next time!

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Outfit (1)- DropTokyo
Outfit (2)- RidSnap
Outfit (3)- TokyoFashion
Outfit (4)- RidSnap

The Weekly Street Snaps

Happy Sunday everyone!

This week's fashion street snaps have a focus on jackets; I was browsing lots of Japanese street style sites on and off this week and noticed it was a common theme. 

Whether they're leather, fur, nylon, heavyweight, cropped, or studded, jackets are a great functional and versatile style almost everyone wears frequently. 

With that being said, here are a variety of jackets seen on the streets of Tokyo this week.

Mixed Material Moto Jacket

This classic trench coat is balanced nicely with the baseball cap and sneakers.
My personal favorite this week!

Looking warm in a butterfly print 

Fabulous fur shines over royal purple

Whether you like to wear jackets or not, almost every person can agree they are a necessity in one's wardrobe- so why not pick out a stylish one? The world is full of jackets out there...Good luck deciding on just one! Have a good week everybody. (⑅•͈꒶૩•͈)୨୧˖

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Outfit (1)- FashionSnap 
Outfit (2)- TokyoFashion
Outfit (3)- FashionSnap
Outfit (4)- DropTokyo

Uniqlo takes on NYC's MoMA

Uniqlo may be a household name in Japan, but its working on becoming a fashionable phenomenon worldwide- particularly in the United States. Though it has stores located on the East and West Coasts, Uniqlo is diligently working to strengthen its presence even more in NYC than it has before. 

With its largest flagship located on 5th Avenue in NYC, Uniqlo 5th Ave. boasts over 89,000 square feet of shopping space for customers, 50 cash registers, and a whopping 100 dressing rooms. But that's not all Uniqlo brings to the table at this location. [1]

Easily accessible escalators that strategically
allow you to see Uniqlo's goodies as you ascend

To increase interest in Fast Retailing's private brand here in the United States, Uniqlo has recently teamed up with NYC's famous Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and Starbucks to create a fresh and exciting shopping experience for loyal Uniqlo customers and new visitors alike. 

Uniqlo's creative way of advertising even after a customers leave the 5th Ave. flagship

The Museum of Modern Art is now being partnered with Uniqlo to offer a new line of apparel called "SPRZ NY," which is short for "Surprising New York." Famous artists such as Andy Warhol, Basquiat, Keith Harding, and more now have their artwork featured on tees, bags, socks and more all at afforable prices. According to Marketwatch, the t-shirts are displayed as if they are works of art in a museum, making the visual merchandising for SPRZ NY memorable and unique. [2] Luckily for us, Uniqlo is offering these same prints and designs online with a great selection. Its interactive portion of the website even features Instagram posts that have used their hashtag. 

A modern take on Museum-like visual merchandising

The way Uniqlo is introducing these partnerships in America makes it noteworthy and, in my personal opinion, revolutionary in American retailing- it is attempting to reshape the way Americans shop and view the overall shopping experience. Many large shops, department stores, and malls in Asia (especially Japan and China) commonly feature restaurants/cafes and other community-focused areas in their retail spaces to increase the time customers spend inside. This feeling of community and leisure can make a customer want to spend time in the retail space while providing an overall better experience for consumers. If American retailers take a cue from Uniqlo and other Asian retailers, they may be pleasantly surprised. However, this particular strategy would (most likely) be most profitable and successful in large metropolitan areas initially. 

For one last point, Uniqlo is building even more exposure to its brand by having "Uniqlo nights" at MoMA. Staring in May, Uniqlo will be the corporate sponsor for MoMA's Free Friday Nights- this makes admission free on Friday nights from 4:00-8:00 p.m. [3] This gives the company exposure to museum-goers from all over the world. Visitors from Japan, China, and other countries may notice the signs and then stop by one of Uniqlo's NYC shops afterward; Americans unfamiliar with the brand may google it on their smartphones while waiting in line. 

Uniqlo's logo is clearly visible to visitors of NYC's MoMA

With Uniqlo already a modern staple in Asian consumers' wardrobes, the company is aiming to take the United States by storm in a quiet, strong manner. By embedding itself in New York City's fashion and art culture, it can grow its roots in one of the largest cities in America (not to mention it's the fashion capital of the United States). The ultimate goal of this strategic move is to be mutually beneficial to all parties. Whether a visitor in New York or a native New Yorker, this person may go visit MoMA and afterwards swing by Uniqlo on 5th Avenue to pick up an Andy Warhol tote bag and a Keith Haring bandanna; before you leave the store, you grab your favorite coffee from the Starbucks inside and walk out with a plastic bag and a Starbucks cup with Uniqlo splashed across them. 

Talk about a win-win-win situation. 

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source [1]- Uniqlo's Official Website (5th Ave Location Page)
source [2]- MarketWatch

source [3]- MoMA's Official Website/Press Release

photo source [1]- Uniqlo's Official Website (5th Ave Location Page)
photo source [2]- Yeong Keun
photo source [3]- MarketWatch
photo source [4]- MoMA's Official Website 

Street Snaps of the Week

Hello All!

This week for the best street style I have decided to feature only males. Even though in American culture gender-neutral styles aren't as popular, it is always fun to take inspiration from both males and females. I personally enjoy wearing men's shirts and think nothing of it; to me, one piece of clothing is like paint- used to fill your body of a canvas. So, with that being said, this week's outfits range across a wide spectrum of styles for anyone to find some spark of inspiration! 

| Matte Streamline |
The mood of this style feels like it comes from Undercoverism

| Black and Blue |
The layers really make this outfit

| Vivaciously Visual Kei |
The white collar adds a nice focus to his face (and fun hat!)

| Bowtied and Blue |
A great pop of color with a classic, everyday look

Black and blue seemed to be very popular this past week with men. The second image is my personal favorite for it reminds me of Yohji Yamamoto (not a surprise). In regards to the third picture, I feel as if the strong presence of visual kei in fashion is on its slow decline- an inevitable event for all fashions; regardless, I am still giddy that people continue to embody such an interesting (and my favorite) Japanese subculture. Whatever you take from this week's outfits, make it your own! 


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Outfit (1)- DropTokyo
Outfit (2)- TokyoFashion
Outfit (3)- TokyoFashion
Outfit (4)- TokyoFaces

The Global Appeal of Sanrio & Hello Kitty

Hello All! ∩(︶▽︶)∩

Today's focus is not on Japan fashion but rather a modern and lasting piece of Japan's pop culture. Hello Kitty (ハローキティ) is easily one of the most recognizable cartoon characters in the world. Hello Kitty needs no drawn-out introduction, but her friends and company are always an interesting topic (and a profitable area) most do not always consider or associate with the famous white cat herself. 

A handful of Sanrio's creations

Sanrio created Hello Kitty in 1974. A multicultural feline, Hello Kitty- whose real name is Kitty White- is British (I wonder if she and Paddington Bear are friends?), speaks English, and knows all about Japanese culture. The cat has become famous worldwide and has become a symbol of happiness all over the world (even if she does not have a mouth). The absence of her mouth is so Hello Kitty can have the same expression as her owner. Kitty White has a boyfriend, Daniel ("Dear Daniel"), a sister named Mimmy, a mother and father, a set of grandparents, and a whole collection of friends often making cameos in her coloring books and stationery.  

Hello Kitty with her family

The following are just some of Sanrio's major creations- Some have sadly retired (my favorites unfortunately) while others have stayed and become major characters. 

(Showing my age here but) Sanrio's official website used to have a lovely interactive and fun portion of their site dedicated to exploring and learning about the characters when I was young. This is no longer available, so if you are interested in in-depth info for Sanrio characters Google must be your partner in your virtual hunt.

• Bad Badtz-Maru (バッドばつ丸) 
• A penguin with an attitude. He's a multi-career kinda guy and at one point in time has been a DJ, rocker, and astronaut (and more). Going by Badtz-Maru, this guy is a strong presence in the Sanrio collection and tends to have a large amount of merchandise for sale in the stores and online of the too-cool-for-school penguin.
• Charmmy Kitty (チャーミーキティ) & Sugar
• Hello Kitty's pets. Charmmy Kitty and Sugar were gifts from her family and Daniel. These two characters are relatively new but continue to have new products from time to time. The little cat and hamster are frequently featured together on products; however, and interestingly enough, it is very rare to see Hello Kitty alongside CharmmyKitty in Sanrio's products.
• Cinnamoroll (シナモロール)
• A floppy eared puppy (yes...it's actually a dog!) with lots of friends. Cinnamoroll, referred to at times as Cinnamon, is a baker of sweet treats and is over ten years old. The color scheme usually used with Cinnamaroll is blue but pink is also incorporated. I particularly enjoy his pink cheeks and the cute baked good themed stickers that tend to come with his stationery.
• My Melody (マイメロデ)
• One of the oldest characters, My Melody is a bunny with pink (sometimes red) ears with a mouse named Flat as a best friend. My Melody seems to be more a technological-focused character for she has had her own video games, soundtracks, and anime. A special plush My Melody was made for Build A Bear Workshop, a popular destination in malls where you can build your own stuffed animal. Her "enemy" is Kuromi (クロミ), a bunny who appeared in the anime "Onegai My Melody."  
  
  
• Keroppi Hasunoue/Kerokerokeroppi (はすの上 けろっぴ)
• Usually known as Keroppi, this guy is a round-eyed frog that enjoys singing and swimming. It appears  Keroppi enjoys striped clothing because he tends to wear this style. He, like My Melody, has enjoyed starring in videos games and has had continued success in sales and popularity. 

So many to pick from and this isn't even the complete collection!

Sanrio has been involved with countless collaborations- ranging from Uniqlo to LizLisa, from Porsche to DuckTape- and continue to spread the face of Hello Kitty, Chococat, Kerroppi and the others across a wide variety of products and target markets. Cookware, guns, bowling balls, rollerskates, toilet paper, footwear, toothbrushes, airplanes- you name it and Sanrio has most likely put Hello Kitty (or one of its other characters) on it.

A Triple Collaboration!
Hello Kitty & famous fashion brand Kitson teamed up with Uniqlo to create these tees!

I promise not to bore you by showing you my personal Hello Kitty collection (which spans from plushes to pill boxes and cosmetic bags to clothing), but I will vouch for the quality of Sanrio's goods. I take relatively good care of my things and my Sanrio goods have withstood the test of time. My personal favorite collections ever made by Sanrio were the Nugeisha Hello Kitty and the Y2K Millennium McDonald's Plush Collection (yes, this is actually a thing). I managed to snag the Nugeisha large plush (gift from a friend) and the matching laptop case. It was a beautiful design and, in my opinion, one of the most lavish styles of Hello Kitty to date. 

My Nugeisha Hello Kitty.
I'm a sucker for any Hello Kitty with eyelashes...

The Sweet Millennium Collection was a collaboration between McDonald's and Sanrio in celebration of the year 2000. Hello Kitty was featured with Dear Daniel and were sold at McDonald's. Certainly one of the oddest collaborations (the reason why I like it so much) for Sanrio, Hello Kitty and Dear Daniel wore couple outfits with the famous gold arches scattered across some of the pieces and had six limited edition wedding styles to pick from- Korean, Malay, Japanese, Romantic, Millennium, and, my personal favorite, Chinese. 

My Chinese Hello Kitty & Dear Daniel
According to my boyfriend, in Chinese weddings females are symbolized by a phoenix;
while males are represented by a dragon. Red is the prominent color because it is believed to be lucky.

(Showing my age again) I recall purchasing two of these sets at a drive-through in Honolulu as a kid, and I still remember my confusion at the astronaut set. I still have both the Chinese and Astronaut set to this day and were the reason I started liking Hello Kitty. Since information on this collection is limited since it was released back during the youth of the  internet, I cannot find if each set was available in all areas. 

Article about the 2000 McDonald's/Hello Kitty Collection

Needless to say, Hello Kitty has gained a strong following worldwide. Though she is not as popular in Japan anymore as she is in the United States, she tends to be known as a Japanese cat. Her cuteness certainly does stem towards a decora and kawaii style, so it is easy to understand why she is still strongly associated with Japan. Her likability across a wide range of ages allows this cartoon cat to continue selling merchandise, collaborating with other brands, and winning the hearts of people everywhere. Whoever said  things get better with age must have been talking about Hello Kitty & Sanrio.

Be sure to visit Hello Kitty's official website for the newest merch.

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Photo [1]- Tinkevidia's Tumblr
Photo [2]- Esther-Kexin91's Blog
Photo [3]- Panda0-0's Deviantart
Photo [4]- Uniqlo
Photo [5]- Own Image
Photo [6]- Own Image
Photo [7]- I Heart Hello Kitty

Street Snaps This Week

Hello All!

For some of my readers, Sunday marks the last day of Spring Break- I hope you have enjoyed it! This week's street snaps can hopefully inspire you to go back to school or university to give some new twists on old favorite pieces in your wardrobe. Check out the best of the week below!

A G-Dragon-esque Style (My favorite this week!)

A Plate Full of Pink & Pigtails!

Slick & Sophisticated

A Dapper Duo with Beautiful, Glossy Boots

This week has been such a fun one for fashion in Tokyo! Mercedes Benz Tokyo Fashion Week has come to a close and now begins the trickle-down process of fashion! I'm looking forward to seeing Japanese designer brands' styles slowly make their way down to the masses. Have a lovely week and see you again soon!

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Outfit (1)- DropTokyo 
Outfit (2)- TokyoFashion
Outfit (3)- DropTokyo
Outfit (4)- Tokyo StreetSnap