Archive for the ‘shop news’ Category
FINISH!! Recent buys, dollywink and more…
Thanks for the tons of questions for the Ask Anything post. I’ll be trying to do one every 2 months as long as the questions/suggestions keep coming in ^_^v
School’s Over!!!!
Pre-sales have already started at some stores, Glad News, Gilfy, and Mar*s already have sale items. More to come soon!
Fukubukuro’s available:
Liz Lisa‘s 10,000yen for 50,000 of merchandise and a rolling suitcase and 5,000yen for a 10,000yen of merchadise and a bag.
Glad News also has theirs on their rakuten website 10,500 yen for 503,000 yen of mercandise and a bag.
Delyle has a 10000 yen bag and a 5000 yen bag on their website
It’s a hunt to find more, but hopefully those who are looking can grab them. I’m waiting for Lip Service and One*Spo, but I’m still on the fence @ buying the Glad News one.
Recent Buys
DIA
My first DIA purchase! My staff-chan was amazingly nice. I love their rough/oraora/haadi/rock style, but I just never nabbed a piece from them. I bought a tee that’s back-front reversable. ^_^
Christmas at 109
Christmas-time is a big shopping celebration at 109, but of course Christmas is a date night here. The #1 date night. That means party and date dresses pop up in 109 stores. I know people think it might be for New Years, but New Years is actually more of the family event in Japan with soba and Hatsumode. Stores usually also have freebies this time of year to get people into the buying mood more.
I am currently hunting for a party dress to take back to the States for NYE, there are a lot of options now at 109 ^_^v
Lip Service in Christmas
Lip Service has put out another catalog and it’s filled with all the dreamy goodness a girl could want for Japanese Christmas.
Cecil McBee’s Winter Catalog ’09
I picked up Cecil McBee’s Winter Catalog sold at bookstores and conbinis. It’s 920 yen, but you’re gauranteed a scarf (of decent quality) so I took the plunge and got a cute hot pink scarf. The Winter Catalog with its moniker “The Brilliant Lady” is more OL and Oujousama themed than Gal leaning. However the clothes are pretty and the coat selection looks lovely as always. Previous Fall 09 catalog here
50 pages of it for you, so I will not be posting all. You can download all 50 pages in a handy zip at mediafire.
One*Spo is growing! = Mitsu a happy girl
When discussing the then upcoming Girls Walker fashion show, I mentioned One*Spo was doing it and I hoped they got a webstore. Well if you read my twitter, they did!!! You do not realize how happy this makes me (okay okay maybe by the amount of exclamation marks)!!! One*Spo has been doing cute, creative lines that all types of girls can enjoy. I see it on lolita-types to rocker chics. Even the ageless Aki Hoshino blogged about her summer maxi dress from there.
Finally they had a fashion show with Girls Walker, which I was a little disappointed in since inside the shop the items are much better presented/styled and it was not their bests of the season on the runway IMO.
But then I saw that Girls Walker is now doing an on-line shop for One*Spo. WOOT! When I am in Houston I long to see the new looks and count down til when I can buy them in person instead of askng my friends to ship. Now, the new pieces are a click away!
One*Spo started putting out new fall merchandise in July and had already knocked out the trends with their own flare while other stores were full of tired summer goods. They are even working on major trends since their sparkly beret from last year is being turned out from stores from Delyle to ANAP.
I absolutely love their fall collection. It’s been my biggest desire in a 109 store for One*Spo to expand, and apparently my wishing is paying off. If these styles are cute to you but possibly too edgy, sister store Shiny Glamorous, tends to blend One*Spo cute edge with OL traditional looks. It’s on the 3rd floor of 109-2 next to Bonita. Inside you’ll find similar looks to One*Spo but with an OL style.Also Shiny Glamorous tends to use more color recently than One*Spo if you need some more color.
Congrats to One*Spo, doing it right deserves applause!
Cecil McBee 2009 Autumn / Winter Catalog
Cecil’s biannual catalog’s are huge, come with furuko, and go on sale at bookstores and conbinis around Japan. Unlike flimsy catalogs that get packed in shopping bags or are left for grabs in stores, the Cecil McBee and Gilfy catalogs are magazines in themselves.
Overall I think the catalog is well done and has some cute pieces I can definitely see myself picking up.
Edit Note: Hiroko Anzai is the main model of the catalog. (wiki and blog)
All 34 images available in a .zip through mediafire.
ENJOY!
Silver Week sales and Mar*s blogs
Silver Week
September 19 to the 23rd is known as Silver Week in Japan. We get a ton of time off all at once, so travel inside and out of Japan is more expensive ^_^;;; It’s Autumn’s answer to Golden Week. Just like Golden Week, Silver Week offers a great time to shop in Japan since retailers put out sales or special sets to get during this time.
These are definitely going on my blogroll
Fall Updates in 109 stores (the extended version)
Well those who have been staying up on my twitter, which wow so many people joined. It was overwhelming, but a happy surprise. Thank you! I’m happy to follow you, but I’d like to know more about you. So please message me and let me know a little about you. ^_^v
Gilfy and Backs:
Both have stayed within their styles, but I’m a little saddened that they keep bringing back old trends. Back’s coat had moko-moko as the lining, which was so overblown last Winter. Gilfy keeps putting out new pom-pom ski hats even though they reached their peak in 2007. However, if you’re a fan of both stores you may be pleased by Backs sticking to classic monotone and Gilfy’s use of bold colors.
Reinda:
I usually don’t talk about this store, which is a shame because it’s a great store that provides trends while keeping looks adult and sexy. They have a great pink blazer with runched sleeves as well as traditional ones. Overall cute dresses in great slim sillouttes.
Spiral Girl:
Looks a bit bland this season. Their summer was very fun and casual, while I’m not seeing anything that says must buy or even trendsetter.
Cecil McBee:
Should have a very popular season while sticking to their half OL / half gal styling they have cute accessories, good shirts and lots of variety.
Liz Lisa:
I am a little disappointed in their season. While lace is very popular this season, Liz Lisa went a little overboard with their use of it. It’s simply dripping off skirts, tops and other bits. However, they have kept a cameo trend throughout their clothing and it looks cute pinned to shirts and dresses. I was more heartbroken that I couldn’t find a dress that didn’t involve brown, no such luck for an all baby pink OP. I love having an excuse to buy more shoes, but brown shoes aren’t exactly my thing.
Me Jane:
Looks more like itself inside the store than their online shop, which was a welcome suprise. Lots of baby pink mixed with black that looks very sweet and sexy. They have brought back their fur stoles (like other stores such as One*Spo, Mars, Lip Service), but I was too nervous to look at the pricetag since last season they were 200.00USD D:
Mar*s:
Their gorgeous trenches drop this month, so I’ll be on the hunt when they really come out to see if they are as hot IRL. Their logo houndstooth dress, as seen in their catalog, was cute and cheap by Mar*s standards at $86.00, but I resisted. Their two piece coordinate was onesize and not made for tallies ^_^;; The fall plaid onepiece was cute but made of sweater material, and while it is still warm in Tokyo it’s not getting bought by me. They really need more stock, their store was looking a little bare. They however now have a perfume, self titled and available for $60USD. I haven’t smelled it yet.
Mar*s does have new fur stoles in at a suprisingly low 85.00USD. Their trademark hotpink color was available, and I keep thinking about it.
ReDark:
They have had such low seasons for the last year that I have been worried that they might close soon. Which is shocking since it was founded by powerhouse Gilfy and should always have a market. The store looked filled with fresh Amekaji blends and much more people (even during a typhoon) than I usually see in the store.
One*Spo:
Keeps putting out great looks while staying in their “girly rock” theme this season. Great use of leopard, leather and shiny black. I was slightly dissappointed by their Balmain jacket copy (center), but overall they have a great wearable season and cute jacket + skirt combinations that are their signature every season. I am very tempted to buy the zip halter dress on the left. ^_^;
Shiny Glamorous:
Another store I usually don’t talk about. It’s on the 4th floor of 109-2 and is part of the OneWay One*Spo fashion collaborative. It in the past has looked a little too OL for me, but they’ve recently taken a page out of One*Spo’s design handbook and have brought popular looks from One*Spo’s great winter collection last season and made them more adult. The sparkle shirt and beret from One*Spo are now at Shiny Glamorous, they are also using One*Spo’s popular trend of chiffon frouffy skirts to spice up their looks. Even their baby pink lace skirts seemed sweet.
Delyle:
Their jackets turned out of to be made of a heavy cotton (twill possibly) and felt a bit scratchy. Quite a let down. However their Chanel inspired cardigans felt like cashmere and represented the luxury and adult look of the brand. There were several skirts that looked adorable, and overall they’re having a good season with lots of buys that will last you onto next Winter.
Heaven and Earth:
I am not an often shopper of here, although I do like the look. Unlike other MitsuMaru brands that often just copy what the headlining gal brands are doing, Heaven and Earth has stuck with a nice Rock and Oraora blend. Their staff is always friendly and while they didn’t have much yet in for the fall collection it all looked close to the brand style, while keeping it hard and interesting. While Mar*s has a possible Nicole Richie print, Heaven and Earth has a possible Lindsay Lohan print. The staff girl and I weren’t sure if it was Lohan or not. Either way it was strong print and looked well with their tough selection.
Glad News:
Bold prints, great shapes and hot leather. As always it’s apt to say this brand goes “balls out” and takes no prisoners. Their thigh-high boots follow their forefathers of the brand in looking deadly and hella sexy. The front is all tiny lace-up and looks befitting an S&M queen if not for the color palatte of navy or bronze. I absolutely love their heart and leopard print hoodie. It’s hot and their leather jackets are always gorgeous.
SHOES
Flag-J:
Remolded their store a little and it looks much more accessible and sexy. Having 2 down seasons, they currently provide all the shoe trends (wedges, thigh high boots, lacing styles, pumpboots, pumps in every color) and I was tempted to buy 2 pairs when I was there. It also helps that their shopstaff is continually pleasant and attentive.
Bonita:
Nothing that’s a yet, and I usually trust them for my boot needs since in Japan Winters just eat up boots.
Esperanza:
Gorgeous pumps and stylish short boots. Their sky-high hooker pumps are suprisingly walkable and while I keep laying them down since I am already tall, I keep going back to drool at their supreme sexyness. Lots of hidden platform pumps and regular platform pumps, overall cute and whether you’re a bkei chick or a hime girl you will probably find a pair you can’t live without.
Random notes on all the stores:
- If you didn’t catch it on my twitter, most every store has a leather jacket and a blazer. It is so entrenched in most every top store that if you do not have one, you are not in fashion this season.
- Leopard print is back, but like I said please only one item at a time. Do not burn my eyes, ladies!
- Purple, red, grey, and lavender are key colors this season. If you are Lip Service you have also added green in mint.
- Thigh-high boots have arrived along with booties, and I for one am super happy about both trends.
- Fur stoles are back, and will be paired with many looks this season.
- Sparkle is here to stay. Hair accessories, berets, shirts, watches… it’s a glittery wonderful world.
Lip Service Fall Catalog = Sexy
Lip Service in 109 was packed with hot clothing. So much cute and trend styles, I was impressed. They were able to bring in tons of trends, but keep their looks very within Lip Service’s style. Some great looks without xeroxing runway styles.
Two trends that are packing in every store: One*Spo, Glad News, Cecil McBee, Spiral Girl and more… are the blazer and leather jacket. In my mind, they have done the best trend blazer and definitely given the leather jacket some beautiful feminine flair.
I did a lay down on Mar*s’ great houndstooth logo print dress, but instead fell for Lip Service’s sexy styled onepiece (I’ll post it up on my next shopping piece, it’s not in the catalog). Also, they have really packed their fall well with great releases and freebies. I picked up their special release green lace bag and a cosmetic bag in the white lace print. Packed in my shopping bag was also this great catalog.
In the catalog they were also nice enough to give advance on when certain pieces are coming in, which makes the weekly trek to 109 and wishful thinking in the past.
See for yourself their stylish looks in their sexy catalog (or download a zip of it through mediafire):
They’re doing trends like lace, plaid and studs really well. I’m really looking forward to 9/18. Love both those looks! What are your faves from the bunch?
It’s Hoshiaya (again). Companies just love to throw money at her. I’m accosted by a huge window billboard on my street with her doing ads for yet another company. (-{}-);;
So is Hoshiaya the new Tsubasa? It’s a valid arguement to say that Kumicky is the new Tsubasa since she’s plastered on every cover of Popteen and has a brand endorsement of Valentines High. However, Tsubasa sold for the big brands, Valentines High is a relatively smaller brand and it’s just one. Kumicky doesn’t have the grown up looks to pull off Lip Service, which is great since she’s cute and a fun teen.
Discuss!
Twitter note
Just a quick post that I will be tweeting while at 109 about some 109 shop updates and trends either Sunday or Monday. My twitter is miss_mitsu. Hopefully my flight goes smooth and I can get home, change and head to 109 to see what’s been happening in the last month. I’m way too curious, if you are too stay tuned to my twitter for those 2 days.
I’ll be making a blog post of what’s up for Fall in the stores, but if you want the quick and dirty stay on my twitter.
See you in Japan ladies. I’ll be missing some wonderful things about the States, but craving some good ramen, sukiyaki and shopping. Also I need my este! Carry nails, Argent Sue’s hair exte, Eyecandy’s eyelash exte… wait for me!!!
It’ll also be my last semester in Japan, since I’m graduating (YAY!). I’m staying 2 weeks after I graduate in December just to enjoy Tokyo and Japan without the pressures of school.
I plan to come back to Japan to teach for 6 months, but that’s a maybe since I need someone to hire me first ^__^;;
Fall Updates for 109 stores
In other shop news, Cecil McBee was scaring me for a while.

Wrinkled, ill-fitted and cheap. Prom from HELL!!

Handclap Cecil.
LDS also put out their version of the blazer. Very stylish. Berets are back as well.
What a weird drape. Slightly post-apocalyptic slightly just bad.
And then they put out this cute sexy corset print.
One*Spo also did one so I’m calling corset print a trend.

In black it’s adorable and grey it works as well.
Fab party dress, now shake it.
Also putting out this hot motorcycle jacket. Sexay sexay.
