Tokyo Fashion Week 2012

It's ended last October 20 one of the most interesting fashion events of the year. I'm talking about Mercedes Benz Tokyo Fashion Week 2012 during which some of the best and original talents of japanese fashion scene who presented their s/s 2013 collections. 

Many styles presented so different from each other and, even if there weren't remarkable innovative peaks, I have to say that many of collection presented caught my attention. Here, the ones that I liked the most.

G.V. G.V.

Nice collection presented for s/s 2013 by G.V.G.V. An easy chic style and a retro taste for clothes realized with linear cuts e simple shapes, enlivened by floral prints, pastel colors and sweet ruffles. Perfect for daywear, it's suitable for the young fashionistas.

MATOHU

Lovely, elegant and so ladylike this collection is one of cutest ones seen during the TFW 2012. With a delicious retro taste, it proposes nice lace dresses, flared skirts matched with short bolero jackets and maxi cardigans. Everything is completed by oxford shoes and maxi accessories.

SOMATRA 

This absolutely the collection that I liked the most. Light as a breath, it presents delicate dresses realized with fabrics like silk, organza, soft laces and precious jaquard matched with lovely embroyered collants and ottoman printed pants matched with soft blouses and cute jackets. The entire collection is so spring, with its floral prints and pastel colors. Chic and bon ton is perfect the modern Jacie O'.

TAE ASHIDA

Urban inspiration for the collection labeled Tae Ashida. This collection follows a progressive evolution: more aggressive with a rock allure, made by leather pants matched with classic blazers and patent pumps at the beginning, becomes more and more classy and bon ton with flared skirts and ladylike dresses. Thought for the women who love fashion, like new Carrie Bradshaws ready to face the urban jungle!

NAOSHI SAWAYANAGI

Wraped and soft shapes that caress gently the body, mini and misi lenghts, light  and dark colors  (like white, grey, green and black)  and some  printed inserts mixed together in a very classy and glamorous collection. A great work by Naoshi Sawayanagi who is confirmed as one of the best talent of japanese fashion scene.

MOTONARI ONO

This is perhaps the show that impressed me more. I like the idea of bring on catwalk clothes worn by mannequins. Talking about the collection, I really liked it. It has a very elegant and ladylike taste, delicate and sophisticated. Neutral colors, lace, nice ruffles and seductive tranparency are the hallmarks.

ALICE AUAA

This collection is the confirm of the brand's style: fantasy gothic. It's like a fashion gothic tale of dark tones. Among oversize volumes and shapes that wrap the body, it brings to life an atmosphere between dream and nightmare.

WE <3 C

Of course one of the cutest collection of this fashion week. So nice and colorful iit looks so kawaii and I think it's perfect for spring/summer season with its flared shapes and its 50's references, its pastel colors and its cute prints. I particularly like the ruffle inserts that give to it a funny and girly mood. So fresh and lively it's dedicated to the most romantic fashionistas. 

YUKI TORII INTERNATIONAL

Elegant, sophisticated and feminine but also comfortable and easy chic: everything you want from a clothing collection. And that is what this collection is. I really liked it and I think this is one of the best works of Yuki Torii ever. Amazing suits, adorable tulle skirts matched with ruffle tops, capri pants and cute jackets chanel style. Fresh, delicate and colorful suitable for the youngeras well as the more mature girls, more classy and bon ton.

YUMA KOSHINO

There's something nice in this collection that makes me like it so much. It's so colorful and funny and feminine... I don't know why it seems to me the perfect mix among the styles of Vivienne Westwood, Marc Jacobs and Jean Charles de Catelbajac. I like the mix of pastel colors and prints. I also like the combo of mini dresses and oversize jacket and that  je ne sais quoi of classy, evident in the use of fabrics and the cuts of the dresses.

What do you think?

I love shopping around the world: Tokyo

Before leave for my vacations (finally, I'd say!), another appointment with "I love shopping around the world". This month, I'll talk to you about one of the most beautiful cities in the world: Tokyo! Birthplace of the modern technology, is cool, lively, frenetic, in constant motion... the perfect union between ancient culture and passion for fashion. It's also a true paradise for shopping and, if you have the chance to go there, you'll see it for yourself. Since I've seen it, it was love at first sight.

Like any other self-respecting metropolis, even Tokyo has its fashion areas. I'm talking about the biggest and coolest districts of the city: Shibuya, Ginza, Harajuku and Minato. In these areas you'll find everything: from electronics to jewerly, from biggest fashion brands to low cost ones. Whatever you're looking for, is there!

Shibuya is one of the 23 special districts of Tokyo. Is one of the most dynamic areas of the city, with wide variety of fashion stores and restaurants. It's also the bornplace of cosplay and ganguro and kogal trends, that make it so colorful and characteristic. Here you'll find the fashion preferred by young japanese.

In here, you cand find the flagship stores of the brands like Gucci, Prada, Dior, Hermes and many others. But, if you can't afford a so expensive shopping session, I suggest you to visit: Three minutes happiness (Shibuya-ku, 3-5 Udagawacho), using some abandoned freezers, they show off their goods in a funny and original way. Another point in favor: the prices are very small!

Chanel flagship store

Restore (Shibuya, 3-2-2 Ebisu-Minami), an amazing store of second hand and vintage clothes, and other pieces of great brands like APC and Yohji Yamamoto; Hysteric glamour (Shibuya-ku, 6-23-2 Jingumae), where you'll find the true Tokyo style with a ironic but glamour soul, typical of Japan; Frapbois (Shibuya-ku, 19-5 Sarugakucho), a famous brand among the young japanese: his creations are inspired by the hippy aesthetic; Journal Standard (Shibuya-ku, 4-1-7 Shinjuku), is a local brand that creates elegant and original collections; Daiso (Shibuya-ku, 1-19-24 Jingumae), a kind of second-hand market in which you can find everything: from souvenirs to kitsch junk. If you're looking for something particualr, go to Don Quijote (Shibuya-ku, 1-16-5 Kabukicho), a store that sells thousands of brand name products: from electronic to design, form food to sexy shop's items. Open 24 hours on 24; Atelier magic theatre (Shibuya-ku, 3-20-21 Meiji-jingumae), sells alternative style accessories inspired by nature. They sell from simple silver items from wood sculptures, stones and gold; Kasukobo (Shibuya-ku,4-28-14 Meiji-jingumae ), jewerly that works especially silver creating jewels inspired by floral themes.

Three minutes happiness

Laforet (Shibuya-ku, 1-11-6 Jingumae), free identity and individuality are the key words that represent the products present. See this store is a nice exprerience and don't forget to take a look to the exhibition at 6th floor of the building. On sundays (Shibuya-ku, 3-7-6 Jinguname), linked to Watari Museum of Contemporary Art, in here you'll find selling advanced artworks and paints; Parco 1, 2 and 3 (Shibuya-ku, 15-1 Udagawacho), if you are a fan of Japan school style and Vivienne Westwood's punk style, here you'll find a personal and economic version of them. I suggest you to see itif only for the art galleries that propose paints, installations and screenings inspired by fashion world. If you don't want to spend a fortune, you can go to the most famous international low cost brands like Bershka and TopShop.

Laforet

If you like japanese culture and manga in particular, I suggest you to visit Book off (1-8-8 Jinguname), where you'll find every manga has ever been published. In Shibuya don't forget to see the shopping centers like Shibuya 109 (Shibuya-ku, 2-29-1 Dogenzaka), with its several stores it has the most coolest trends among the youth; Hacknet (Shibuya-ku, 1-30-10 Ebisu), is smaller than Shibuya 109, but it worth to see it if only for the design...

Book Off

Ginza is the one of the focal points of the shopping in Tokyo. Many international brands like Armani, Prada, Gucci and the most recent Chanel, opened flagship stores in here in these high buildings, where there aren't just fashion stores but also art galleries, restaurants, bars and night clubs. Center of the shopping in Tokyo, Ginza is the perfect place for luxurious stores, an uffordable area for those on a thigh budget. Here, I suggest you to see Matsuya, a true godsend for tourists. They offer services like packing, shipping, support for the tax exemption and english guides for tourists. Another place to see is the department store Mitsukoshi, the japanese version of the english Harrods.

Mitsukoshi department store

Harajuku is the youngest district of the city, where ther are two main streets: Omotesando (the biggest fashion street, with several stores of international brands. There also is Omotesando Hills, the japanese answer to Rodeo Drive of L.A.) and Takeshita. The first one is dedicated to youth's trends and presents some stores that sell clothes and accessories typical of gothic lolita style,  visual kei, rockabilly, punk and cyberpunk. The second one, instead, has seen an increase of flagship stores of brands like Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Tod's and many others. In here, I suggest you to visit Takeshita-Dori, where you'll find the coolest stores of the city, Hanae Mori Building (Harajuku, 3-6-11 Kita Aoyama), this building conteins more of 30 stores fo antique shops with a section dedicated to clothing.

Hanae Mori Building

Other great stores you should see are: Maroui Young (Shinjuku-ku, 3-18-1 Shinjuku), here you'll find the typical ghotic lolita style; Mikimoto Pearl (Chuo-ku, 4-5-5 Ginza), founded in 1899, this is the most famous pearl store in Tokyo; Ohya Shobo (Chiyoda-ku, 1-1 Kanda Jimbocho), come in this library is great experience: here you'll find the famous ukiyo and hold maps; Undercover (Minato-ku, 5-3-18 Minamy-Aoyama), what happens if an the leader of a punk music group, totally out of mind, decides to focus on fashion? That's how was born the store that proposes a personal reinterpetation of the streetwear dedicated to youth. If you want to see more about it, visit his Undercover Lab, designed by the architect Astrid Klein; Uniqlo (Chuo-ku, 5-7-7 Ginza), the famous japanese low cost brand that have more than 80 store just in Tokyo; Venus Fort (Koto-ku, Palette Town Aomi 1-chome), if you're a woman and you love shopping you can't not to go here. Located on a building inspired by the baroque Rome, they proprose 170 boutiques and restaurants dedicated to women, with a bit of kitsch touch. 

If you are in Tokyo you can't not to visit the flagship stores of the most famous Japanese brand: Comme des garçons (Minato-ku, 5-2-1 Minami-Aoyama), Yoji Yamamoto (Minato-ku, 5-3-6 Minami-Aoyama) and Issey Miyake (Minato-ku, 3-18-11 Minami-Aoyama).

Uniqlo

Issey Miyake flaghsip store

As always I hope I've been helpful. I wish you a nice trip and see you next month!

Tokyo Fashion Week 2012

Is also ended few days ago the Japanese fashion week, held from 19 and 24 march 2012. As happened for New York, London and Paris, I was pretty satisficed by presented collections , even if, to be honest, I didn’t find in them innovative ideas. All of them, in different ways, are full Japan style. But you know what they say, never change a winning team, so I also promote Tokyo Fashion Week.

Among the collection that were presented, these are, in my opinion, the best ones:

ALICE AUAA

Alice Auaa f/w 2012

 A collection that remember a fashion gothic tale with dark tones. Among oversize volumes and shapes that wrap the body, it bring to life an atmosphere between dream and nightmare.

ARAISARA

Araisara f/w 2012

Feminine and a bit graceful style and asymetric shapes that brand proposes for season f/w 2012.

ATSUSHI NAKASHIMA

Atsushi Nakashima f/w 2012

For f/w Atsushi Nakashima proposes a woman with two souls: one serious and strong, with an androgynous style; the second more feminine, that loves to wear soft dresses with a particular touch, to be always unique.

EVERLASTING SPROUT

Everlasting Sprout f/w 2012

A lovely collection, Kawaii style. For the next seson the brand proposes an explosion of colors and girly prints on dresses, stockings, shoes and accesoories.

HIROKO KIOSHINO

Hiroko Kioshino f/w 2012

The fashion show of this collection is a true escalation of colors. It goes from black to bright colors like lyellow, cobalt blue and red. For a woman who knows what she is but who doen't take herself too seriously.

KAMISHIMA CHINAMI

Kamishima Chinami f/w 2012

Simple shapes that wrap the body and a pallet of colors that goes from white to black, from orange to dark green: that's the highlights of this collection.

MODEACOTE

Modeacote f/w 2012

The woman proposed by the brand shows a urban chic style that reflects the soul of Japan: colored and lively.

MOTONARI ONO

Motonari Ono f/w 2012

Basic shapes and soft colors are mixed with floral prints, ruffle skirt and lace inserts. For a simple and refined elegance.