Japan had been having a rough time in the retail sector the past couple of years but 2013 saw a slew of new store openings, including ever more luxury brands as well as edgy street outlets. Take a look at this list the next time you want to find some new shops to visit in 2014
Popular Tokyo-based high end brand Christian Dada’s first shop. Think studs and gold embroidered yakuza tattoo motifs on sharp, slim jackets. Lady Gaga and KISS have worn designer Morikawa’s designs.
Japan had been having a rough time in the retail sector the past couple of years but 2013 saw a slew of new store openings, including ever more luxury brands as well as edgy street outlets. Take a look at this list the next time you want to find some new shops to visit in 2014
This concept store by Undercover is found on the 1st floor of Shibuya PARCO and sells diffusion lines SueUNDERCOVER and JohnUNDERCOVER as well as accessories and other small goods from the main line.
The word of 2013 in Japan is “rin 輪” or circle, but I would nominate “yuru 緩” for loose. Yuru- is a prefix added to anything to make it seem like you’re not really trying. It started as a fashion genre of loose, baggy clothing or leisure-wear but the whole “yuru-kei” has taken on a life of its own reaching into all aspects of life. What started as a cool “out” for people to take it easy and stop being so perfectionist has become an excuse for being “half-assed”. Thatz not okay.
What is so wrong with saying “hi, how are you?” upon greeting people? Because in Tokyo people don’t even waste time cutting to the chase. It’s all about asking, “How busy are you?” Because when you’re busy it means you’re successful. And if you don’t feign terribly busy-ness then something might be wrong (like, unemployment?).
Of course, this is coming from the city where it takes a two week advanced reservation to get dinner with friends. OR even boyfriends will say, “Sorry babe, busy this week…maybe next week?” True stories.
So I`m always so surprised when I go to Shanghai or then to New York or Paris and it’s possible to call a friend for dinner that same night, or get people together for a club. THE SAME DAY! Tokyo can’t possibly be the busiest place on earth, can it? Who makes me feel guilty for NOT working til 4am everyday? The only excuse I can come up with is that in Japan, business meetings tend to take place mainly during dinner, rather than during business hours. So night plans get packed with business meetings and it leaves little time for lovers and friends.
So I did…well, attempted to, this weekend. Saturday called for afternoon tea with the Mari Natsuki crew to celebrate the launch of her online magazine Natuskirock.com (more on it soon)
Later, at the Capitol Hotel, which I just learned existed this day. There is an adjacent shrine that requires climbing an absurd amount of tree–lined stairs to get to it, like the ones you see in the movies in Thailand…and it’s right smack in the center of Tokyo. A beautiful and extraordinary little surprise that the city delivered to me.
Mari’s dresscode called for red so I obliged with an enamel origami skirt from Harcoza.
skirt: Harcoza top: Camilla & Mark tights: Quantize blouse: IronFist shoes: United Nude
Then on Sunday we went to Sunday Brunch, a daytime private party hosted by friends Fig&Viper designer Alisa Ueno and Stylist Yukari Ohta at her new space Creme de la Creme in Sendagaya. It was an excuse for everyone to drink sangria (in my case, a vodka soda) at 3pm in the afternoon and jam out to DJs.
…and of course, to ask everyone how busy they are. Oh woe.
それで日曜日はみんなでサンデーブランチに出掛けたの。友達のFig&Viperのデザイナーの上野ありさちゃんとスタイリストの大田由香里ちゃん主催のデイタイムのプライベートパーティ 由香里の新しいスペース、千駄ヶ谷のCreme de la Cremeでね。真昼なのにみんなサングリアを片手に沢山の会話を交わした(私の場合はウォッカのソーダ割りだったけどw)。そしてDJたちのジャムセッション…。
And today was the start of another truly busy week! Excited about this one though…so I guess I will embrace my busyness and just work to live another day.
