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… This post was brought to you by Goodbye Kitty. We specialize in Parody Hello Kitty clothing and apparel.
… This post was brought to you by Goodbye Kitty. We specialize in Parody Hello Kitty clothing and apparel.
Tags: t-shirts and apparel, sanrio, i hate hello kitty, hello kitty, hello kitty clothing, goodbye kitty, japan, funny, parody, kitty
… This post was brought to you by Goodbye Kitty. We specialize in Parody Hello Kitty clothing and apparel.
… This post was brought to you by Goodbye Kitty. We specialize in Parody Hello Kitty clothing and apparel.
Tags: sanrio, funny, t-shirts and apparel, kitty, parody, hello kitty, japan, i hate hello kitty, hello kitty clothing, goodbye kitty
What is it that imbues one handbag with timeless quality, while others are dated after a single season? Expert craftsmanship plays a large part in this phenomenon, as do forward-thinking, though traditionally rooted, designs. Classic handbags are rule-breakers (despite being informed by carefully studied rules), that may be worn by successfully by each woman in her own distinct way, whether she is 18 or 80. Ultimately however, it is a certain je ne sais quoi that catapults a handbag from “accessory” to “legend”. The Hermes Birkin, the Louis Vuitton Speedy, the Marc Jacobs Stella and the Chanel 5.55 shot from the 20th century poised to stay relevant, respected and revered throughout the 21st. Close on their tails are the nine handbags profiled below. All have what it takes to catch up to those Grande Dames of accessories, and perhaps even outshine their legends.
The Novak by Alexander McQueen - $1,200
This expertly constructed purse resembles a decadent shell, its hard exterior conveying strength, power and mystery: Does her Novak hold a subpoena or is it hiding expensive French lingerie? Only the wearer knows for sure. McQueen’s Novak is a classic take-anywhere handbag for any haughty, icy, femme fatale (or for anyone who harbors one within and seeks to offer the world a subtle glimpse of her).
The L’Orient Ariane by Kate Spade - $195
Reminiscent of Chanel’s legendary 5.55, Kate Spade’s L’Orient Ariane brings American insouciance to the sophisticated continental shoulder bag. Whether you are seeking to add a glamorous accent a serious suit, or a dash of grandeur to your favorite jeans and tee, the L’Orient Ariane is a handbag for every occasion. Available in a variety of shades from “Luxuriant Black” to “Feminine Fuchsia” to “Whimsical Watermelon”, at only $195 each, you can practically purchase one in every color, for the price of a single 5.55.
The Nicole Carryall by A+N - $185
The “love child” of LL Bean and Prada, A+N’s Nicole Carryall expertly combines New England utilitarianism with European sleekness. This bag is a must-have for the everywoman in every woman. The Nicole Carryall’s functionality lends itself well to the schedule of the modern woman: careerist, athlete, social butterfly, adventuress and glamour-puss, rolled into one. As designer Anna Medvedeva says: “We are not trying to create the new “It Bag” of the moment, nor are we trying to catch ever-changing fashion trends. Instead, we work on creating the ultimate everyday bags so versatile, that everyone can bring her their own style to them.” Made from weatherproof nylon canvas, in a trend-defying design, the Nicole Carryall transcends not only time, but also the elements, in functionally decadent fashion.
The Large Saddle Bag by Andrea Brueckner - $525
The woven leather of Andrea Brueckner’s Large Saddle Bag carries a whiff of “I picked this up in the Mediterranean” artisanal exoticism, while its embossed sheen provides a patina of urbane polish. At first glance, the Saddle Bag may appear to be the gregarious grandchild of the Bottega Veneta hobo, but closer inspection reveals that it is a true original: With painstaking attention to detail, designer Brueckner has created lightness from suppleness, airiness from the earthly. This is anything but your average handbag - don it and you’ll be sure to encounter a chorus inquiring “where’d you get that bag?!”
The Roxanne by Mulberry - ₤595
The ultimate in hippie luxe, Mulberry’s Roxanne conjures imagery of well-heeled bohemian icons Talitha Getty and Marissa Berenson. Embodying both uptown pedigree and downtown street credibility, the Roxanne, like all natural beauties, only gets better with age. This is the perfect day bag for the woman who is more inclined to choose Masai beads over diamonds, to pair with her little black dress.
The Maya Tote by Kooba - $655
“The Maya bag is for a classy working woman who is fashion conscious and knows how to make a smart handbag investment.” says Shopbop.com buyer Alle Fister. This supple, statement bag is not for the faint of style, but it is the perfect everyday handbag for the particularly fashion-forward. A graduate of the Marc Jacobs School of Understated Opulence, the Maya Tote oozes style without screaming “look at me”. Kooba spokesperson Katie Fox says: “Kooba has combined functionality with style, making it easy for the modern woman to keep herself organized with plentiful pocket room.” This is the perfect bag for the downtown girl, with a sensible, suburban past: its large size accommodates well-organized efficiency, but the design is all cosmopolitan cool. It’s the bag for hip girls who have successfully transitioned from being “restless in Raleigh” to “chic in the city”.
The Metal Mesh Ruffle Clutch by Felix Rey - $196
This isn’t your grandma’s evening bag! Felix Rey’s youthful alternative to the dowager-favored minaudiere comes in three shimmering, metallic shades to accentuate every outfit, and highlight every skin tone. The Ruffle Metal Clutch is everything an evening bag should be: small, sparkling and with a sense of humor. Felix Rey designers Sulaika Zarrouk and Lily Rafii have carefully created a bag with “hanging ruffles [that] move and catch the light, which creates an almost liquid effect”. Both designers are long-time fans of metallics and evening bags, and says Zarrouk, they sought to create “a more modern shape with this classic material.” Hold it as a clutch or utilize its small handle for extra “security”. This is the perfect bag for the charming, bubbly party girl inside of us all.
The Fan Hobo by Botkier
The Fan Hobo epitomizes understated luxury. It’s ideal for the woman who prefers to speak through her presence, rather than her accessories. It’s ideal for the woman who is most comfortable in cashmere and pearls. It’s ideal for the woman who knows that although one may not be a fashion risk-taker, she can still cultivate her own unique personal style. Reminiscent of Gucci’s classic Medium Hobo, the Fan Hobo is always appropriate and will always exude subtle elegance.
The Tote by Bulga - $405
So, you’ve finally realized that your “Hello Kitty” handbag has to go and you should move onto something more grown up, have you? Enter Bulga’s tote to the rescue! While the silhouette of the handbag says “adult”, the playful, rainbow-like crescent and dangling tassel add playful elements. It’s a must-have for any woman who is committed to celebrating the little girl within.
Sacha Phillip is a freelance fashion writer in New York City. She has a column on handbags at http://www.handbagcollectors.com
… This post was brought to you by Goodbye Kitty. We specialize in Parody Hello Kitty clothing and apparel.
Tags: kitty, funny, hello kitty clothing, goodbye kitty, i hate hello kitty, japan, hello kitty, parody, t-shirts and apparel, sanrio
Harajuku, the common name for the area around Harajuku Station, between Shinjuku and Shibuya. Local landmarks include the headquarters of NHK, Meiji Shrine and Yoyogi Park.
It is a wild and crazy place best seen on a Sunday or any other holiday for that matter. It is located just 1 station north of Shibuya and some consider it to be the extion of Shibuya. You may be suprised to find teen dressing up in cosplay, anime, or other gothic type costumes right out side the station or street performers acting out for a little extra money. The area known as “Ura-Hara” (back streets of Harajuku) is a center of Japanese fashion for younger people, with brands such as Bathing ape and Undercover having shops in the area. Harajuku street style is promoted in Japanese and international publications such as Fruits. Harajuku offers a means as a city center to various other locations and is a must see.
Harajuku refers to the sector around the station of Harajuku in Tokyo, a station north to Shibuya on the Yamanote line. It is Japan’s center of most extreme teenage cultures and mode, but also offers shopping spot for adults and historic sight.
The focal point of Harajuku’s teenagers culture is Takeshita Dori (Takeshita Street) and its side streets, which are lined by many trendy shops, fashion boutiques, used clothes stores, crepe stands and fast food outlets geared towards the fashion and trend conscious teens.
Japanese are still great west trends consumers, so when you hang around the boutiques of Takeshita street in Harajuku you’ll in big chance see many teenagers wearing mod clothes. Harajuku is a Vatican for artists, freedom spirits, and burgeoning fashion trends that provides a space of free expression from the conservative Japanese culture. But Japanese fashion has no doubt to make a one step further, dressing-up in costume is seen as a main idea of fashions, so no-one will bat an eyelid at a nice and beautiful girl wearing a plastic fried egg round her neck as a fashion statement.
One nice thing about Japanese and their Harajuku fashion, is that it’s not a matter of shops and brands (like Gap) instructing what people wear, but teenagers instracting what the shops will start selling.
Nowadays there are many clothes and websites which sell harajuku fashion and lolita fashion, but the spirit of this japanese style has come up from teenagers not being in deeep confusion to customise and accessorise their own clothes, and to wear crazy outfits with a sense of humour to retaliate against social expectations of nice clothes, nice jobs, nice attitudes.
In order to feel the culture of the teenage at its more extreme, come to visit Harajuku on Sunday, when many young people meet around the station of Harajuku and engage in cosplay (?costume play?), dressed up in crazy costumes to resemble anime characters, punk musicians, etc.
Stores, cafes and the restaurants for all ages are found along Omotesando, a broad, tree lined avenue, sometimes indicated under the name of Champions-Elysees of Tokyo. The hills of Omotesando, a recently opened complex of stores along the avenue, had attracted huge attention.
However, Harajuku is not only about teenage culture and shopping. Meiji Dori, one of the principal shrine of Tokyo, is located just at the west of the railway ways in a large green oasis divided with the Yoyogi Park, a roomy public park. Beautiful paintings of ukiyo-e are performed in the small Ota Memorial Museum of Art.
Harajuku is now internationally famous, that’s why anyone wearing harajuku style being photographed as much as the London punks who hang out in Trafalgar Square in tartan trousers and mohicans, waiting get paid by tourists to pose for photos. And that’s no problem? When you’re a punk you have fewer job options because of the extremity of your dress code, and however you have to make money.
If you decided to harajuku style you are required to be full dedicated. It is only as serious as you expect it to be. You may prefer not having a regular job or attending school and be fully dedicated into the band scene, but essentially the look of harajuku style is based on clothes and make-up which can be removed as you want, so it is extremely ok if you want to be a part-time Harajuku girl Punks with mohicans and piercings have to be punk (to some degree) all the time, but teenagers who harajuku-style, no matter they are boys or girls can wear ordinary outfits then dress up harajuku-style at the weekend. Pure pop fashion, but achieve a lot of fun!
For Japanese youth culture “cool? and ?nice? - Harajuku, northern Shibuya, is the number one central of mode, recreation, maniac, ridiculous and crazy “crib” to “chill out”. Come on Sunday and you’ll watch them all!
Anyone who makes it to Harajuku is in for a treat because the fashions are unbelievable. Like Camden in London, but a lot more weird. In 2001, believe it or not, the look was like the Amish folk in the Harrison Ford film ‘Witness’. In 2002, the look was grunge for the boys and Lolita Goth (also known as Goth Lolita, GothLoli, Gosurori and Loli-Goth) for the girls.
Lolita fashion is a style of dress that originated in Japan. Lolita is inspired by the clothing of Victorian women and children. It often aims to imitate the look of Victorian porcelain dolls. Other influences include goth style, horror movies, the punk subculture and anime characters.
Harajuku burst the first time on the scene in 1964 - the Olympic year. The Olympic gymnasium and the village being located very close, the prospect for meeting someone famous in the street attracted many people attention. Today, the sector includes the Takshita Street, The Avenue of Meiji Dori and The Aavenue of Omotesando Dori.
The Takeshita Dori Street is opposite to Takeshita Dori Exit of Harajuku Station. Here, the stores sell the most extraordinary mixture of the goods reflecting the Japanese concepts of ?nice?, ?cool and American? and “rebellious and British”. In other words a strange mixture of Hello Kitty, hip-hop and infamous British punk. As for the customers? Well, any shape of fancy dress accepted.
Turn right at the bottom of Takshita Dori Street, walk along Avenue of Meiji Dori as far crossroads, then turn left into avenue of Omotesando Dori. Sunday, the avenue of Omotesando Dori is fulled with street performers. Look out for the resident Rockerbilly Band.
Timing is certainly amiss, but quiffs rise high. Thus as well as the two men in the costumes which lose the major part of their day speaking with pink rabbits, it is certainly a curiosity. At the end of the avenue of Omotesando Dori, you will find Aoyama, an elegant sector full with the expensive stores and boutiques.
For however more street performance on sunday head up to Yoyogi park. It’s near Harajuku station. The plaza of NHK broadcasting is across it. You’ll be in Shibuya only five minutes walking over the plaza.
Harajuku became famous in the Eighties due to a great number of street performers and an extravagant dressed teenagers who crowded there on Sunday when Omotesando traffic was closed. This led to the vibrant ?Hokoten Band Scene?. This was stopped at the end of the Nineties and of the number of performers, visual Kei fans, rockabilly dancers and punks firmly decreased since.
Harajuku is as much a mythical entity as it is ground Zero for Tokyo street style; its mysterious borders blend with nearby, upmarket Aoyama and bustling Shibuya. Here, in its tangled back alleys, lives the New Japan where left-wing artistic types mix with fashion-conscious teenagers in one oxymoronic m?lange of youth culture. Meanwhile, the beau monde fights for turf on Omotesando? a concrete catwalk and Tokyo’s Champs Elys?es?as creatives toil away in the quiet back streets of Aoyama and sports enthusiasts take in a game on the grounds of Meiji Jingu’s Outer Gardens.
Today on Sunday one can see many Gothic Lolita also many foreign tourists taking photograph of them on the way to Meiji Srine. Some tourists are astonished to see so great exposure of the Japanese youth dressed in often shocking outfits. Close to the train station there is Meiji Shrine, which is a popular attraction of tourists, just like the Yoyogi Park.
Also close to the Takeshita Street, a street furnished with the shops of mode and the various goods, mostly for young teenagers, and Omotesando, a very long street with the coffees and the upscale mode boutiques, popular with residents and tourists.
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Tags: japan, t-shirts and apparel, hello kitty clothing, funny, kitty, goodbye kitty, hello kitty, sanrio, parody, i hate hello kitty
