Event Aftermath: Jusco Yukata Fair 2011

As promised, here is the post on my loot from the Jusco Yukata Fair this year!

First off, the yukata!

I seem to be in a pale colours mood this year ^^ There were way more black yukata than anything else at the Fair, but I just didn't like any of them.

The obi that came with the yukata.

This year has much nicer pre-tied obi that last year! I guess that accounts for the RM10 increase in price.

One more yukata for my brother.

This yukata really called to me because I love Ichimatsu check prints, and this one was in a really gorgeous shade of dark brown. I know my brother never lets me dress him up most of the time, but I couldn't resist ^^;

A kid's yukata.

Just cause it's cute XD

The geta collection.

They're actually brighter in real life.

A lilac-coloured obijime.


Uchiwa!!

My weakness~~

Some furoshiki.

One of the furoshiki came with a DVD on furoshiki!


On the Fair itself:

This year, the obi that were paired with the yukata were much much nicer than the ones last year! Not everything was slapped together with a red&yellow obi - this time, care and consideration were actually taken when matching the obi and the yukata. As you can see in the pictures above, the quality of the obi were also much better this time.

There were still some sets that were sold with the same ugly obi as last year's, but there were only two racks of those (priced at RM129 per set of yukata & obi). A majority of the yukata sets on display were priced at RM139, but there was a good selection of patterns. Most of the yukata were dark-coloured (black, dark purple) but there were a few sweet ones (light purple, pale blue).

(I kind of feel like I recognise some of the patterns - they are definitely similar to some branded yukata that were really popular a few years ago. One of those that I bought kinda looks like one I've been drooling over in a magazine from 2008! XD;)

A small section of higher range yukata was also present (half a rack of these, I think?) but the colours and patterns were just so pretty compared to the others! These ones were priced at RM299 for just one yukata.

The men's yukata section was also much better this year! There were more patterns to choose from and I had a really tough time choosing one for my brother. There were two other striped ones that I really liked, but I had to limit myself to just one yukata ^^;

For women's obi, Jusco brought in a better selection of higher-range pre-tied obi and quite a nice range of hanhaba obi. I thought they were rather overpriced, but maybe I was biased because I already had many of those colours in my closet ^^; The standalone pre-tied obi were about RM139 and the hanhaba obi were RM189.

The best part about this year's fair is that they started selling kitsuke items! So far, they only have himo (RM29 for a set of two) and datejime (RM59 each), but I'm hoping that next year or the year after, they'll start expanding to obi-ita and yukata slips or something ^_^

There was a smaller selection of fans to choose from this year (or maybe it's just that I got there late) but the ones that were left were pretty high quality :) They also had the same obijime, kanzashi, bag, parasols and obi-kazari for sale. The sheer number of geta was shocking! They stocked more kids' geta this round - I'm sooooo tempted by this incredibly cute pair of geta with light blue gingham check and sunflowers!

I feel like going back there to browse, just for the heck of it :)

If anyone's free and has cash to spare, why not drop by and keep the yukata fair alive for next year? XD

(P/S: There is also a Yukata Fair at Jusco Queensbay Mall in Penang, also ending this Sunday, 17th July ^^)

Event Announcement: Jusco Yukata Fair 2011 - Till Sunday, 17th July

Heya!

Jusco is having another yukata fair this year! It's abit of a late announcement, especially considering that they've been here since 4th July, but I'd only just found out a couple of days ago and finally had time to check it out today.

As before, the fair is at Jusco Mid Valley. Easiest way to get there is to enter through the Center Court entrance on the ground floor and just walk straight. Can't miss it!

The Fair will be here till Sunday, 17th July :)

I've already spent a fortune there on overpriced things, but anything to keep this fair alive and going! I'm hoping they'll have another one next year ^_^

I'll be posting about my loot next! Ta~

Tips & Tricks: Choosing Your First Kimono

-Refers to Tips & Tricks: Where to Buy Kimono-

Now you know where you can get your pretties, and you've been browsing through various websites, admiring all those lovely kimono that you now have access to.

There is only one problem: out of all the thousands out there, how do you choose one?

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when choosing your kimono, first or otherwise:

(By the way, please note that this post is mainly for those who are seriously looking into wearing kimono in the traditional way, and doesn't really apply to those who are just looking for a kimono for display, as a Halloween/dress-up costume or to lounge around the house in.)

~♥~

1. What condition is it in?

This, to me, is the first thing to consider before even look at anything else in a kimono, or even just clothes in general. After all, if you plan on wearing the thing, it should be in a decent condition! Stained clothes make for a very sloppy impression. In the case of kimono, this means that the kimono shouldn't have stains (at least, not very visible ones!) or be discoloured or have rips and tears. Most sellers will let you know the condition of the kimono, and will take upclose pictures of any flaws. Also, beware of patina (discoloured) spots, as most old kimono have them.

If you're more adventurous or good with cleaning, you can still try buying stained kimono and cleaning them. I should warn you that I am not much of a cleaning person, and I tend to prefer modern kimono as they are easy to clean and care for and are most likely brand new i.e. no spots, stains or tears, so I'm afraid I don't have much advice for you on this!

~♥~

2. Does it fit?

I know that so many people say that kimono are free-size and fits everyone. Well, this is true - but only to a certain extent, i.e. only up to a certain height, measurement, etc.

(This part is for women only, as I don't have much experience with dressing men!)


For most modern kimono, the kimono is manufactured to a set length and width, so they fit most everyone from 150cm to 170cm tall who have a maximum hip measurement of about 100cm (believe me that it's the maximum - I've hit it already and can testify it's the max). Outside of the larger end of this range, you would have to find "Tall Size" kimono or "Big Size" kimono or have something made specially to fit you. If you are too small to fit this range, there are usually a few nifty tricks you can learn to make a larger kimono fit.

If you are looking to buy antique kimono, it is even more difficult to judge whether or not the kimono can fit, as most antique or vintage kimono are rather small.

You can still wear kimono that are too large or too small for you, but it will take some fiddling around and they aren't as easy to put on as kimono that fit well.

Here's just a quick way of measuring fit:

1. Kimono Length - not including the collar, the kimono's length down its center back seam must be the same measurement your height is, give or take 10cm. Eg, a 160cm tall person can wear a kimono that's 150cm-170cm long. However, please bear in mind that the more the kimono length deviates from your height, the more difficult it is to wear the kimono.
2. Hem Width - measure your hips and add on another 20cm. This measurement should be how wide your kimono is from the hem of the "skirt". If your hips+20cm measurement is the same as or less than the kimono width, you're safe. I think you can wear a kimono with a hem measurement of your hips+10cm or so, but it will take some fiddling around with it and might take up time.

I will be posting a longer, and more comprehensive post about kimono fit later. I've typed out part of it already, so hopefully it will be out soon!

~♥~

3. Where am I wearing it to?

This is pretty high up on my list because I place alot of importance on wearing kimono that are correct for the time, place and occasion (TPO for short). TPO is what decides the style of kimono you should wear, the formality level of the kimono, the appropriate way to accessorize, and a whole bunch of other rules that are actually too tedious to learn for most people.

(You can disregard this if you're not bothered much with TPO. Outside of Japan, the rules are far more relaxed anyway! :) I'm just the kind of person who feels bothered when not dressed appropriately for the situation no matter what I'm wearing - kimono or dresses!)

(Btw, this part is also for women only. As I mentioned earlier, I have very very little experience with dressing men in kimono ^^;;)

Since this is only meant to be about quick tips, I'll just highlight a few general rules here, and write another longer post later about formality. FYI, most of this information comes from one of my kimono books that is solely on TPO :)

• If you are planning on wearing your kimono to casual situations such as shopping, lunch at restaurants or even house-cleaning, use less costly materials such as cotton, wool and good-quality polyester. Less formal kimono in this category include komon, wool kimono and yukata. If you're going somewhere a little more formal than shopping, you can also wear iromuji with nagoya obi.
• For semi-formal situations (tea ceremony, parties, formal theatre), you can wear iromuji with fukuro obi, tsukesage or houmongi. Appropriate fabric would usually be silk or very high-quality polyester in rare cases.
• The most formal situations include weddings and coming-of-age ceremonies. Furisode is the most formal kimono for unmarried women, and cannot by worn by married women. These can be worn for just about any very formal situation for single women (parties at hotel, weddings, graduation, Coming of Age ceremony, etc). Irotomesode and Kurotomesode, on the other hand, are the most formal kimono for married women and cannot be worn by single women. These are pretty much reserved for weddings only, as most married women would wear houmongi for other formal occasions. Very high-quality polyester may be acceptable if accessorized appropriately, but silk is really the best choice here.
• Mofuku is a type of kimono that is all black except for five family crests - two on the front shoulders, three on the back. These should not be worn at all except in funerals. Some people modify mofuku so that they are wearable in casual situations, but I personally feel uncomfortable with wearing something that was once used for a funeral.

~♥~

4. What colour am I most attracted to?

We are always so spoiled for choice when it comes to kimono colours! Pale pinks, bright blues, sunny yellow, forest greens - anything from soft calming shades to bright neon eyeball-burning colours, you will be able to find them on kimono. And the best part is - somehow, everything still looks good on everyone! I find it quite difficult to find a kimono that makes me look pasty or sick or bad in general, as all I have to do is add in a few accessories like date'eri or han'eri (accessories at the collar of the kimono) and voila! The usual effect of certain colours is instantly offset by the new colour that is closer to your skin.

So how do you decide what colour your first kimono should be?

There are two ways you could go: either pick a colour that you know looks good on you and would feel comfortable wearing, or try to find a recurring colour that you are attracted to and go with that.

~♥~

5. What's it made of? Is it easy to care for?

If you like to take good care of your belongings, it is probably easier for you to get something that's easy-care, such as polyester and cotton. Silk and wool are harder to clean and you always need to ensure that they're kept in suitable conditions. You ought to air out your kimono at least twice a year, aside from after each time you wear it out, but I prefer to air out my silk kimono more often, just in case.

Antique kimono are also especially hard to care for, as they are made of old silk and are very fragile, so even just touching them would require washing my hands and tying up my hair so that I won't accidentally get any natural oils on them (natural oils discolour silk and will attract moths!! x___x)

~♥~

I'm keeping this post to just five tips, because it's already far too long. I hope that these tips, coming from my experience with overshopping in my earlier days, will help you decide on your first kimono ^_^

Tips & Tricks: Where to Buy Kimono

I notice that a rather large amount of emails that I get via this blog have some variant of the same issue: where do I usually buy my kimono? Since this seems to be a very popular question, I figured it'd be best if I just made a post about it that can easily be referred to.

A majority of the kimono that you see on my blog (and even more that you don't see!) were bought online, as the internet is the easiest place to find plenty of authentic kimono. However, for every beautiful authentic kimono sold online, there are probably a hundred fake kimono that are being sold for ten times their worth.

It is important for an online shopper to be able to identify a real or a fake kimono just by looking at pictures on a screen. This can include a multitude of things - the fabric used, the build of the kimono, the pattern on the fabric. There are many indicators of fake kimono that are quite easy to spot once you get used to it.

However, as a beginner in shopping for kimono online, it will be quite difficult to tell a large number of these differences. In fact, there are some fakes that are so well-crafted that even a seasoned shopper can barely tell that something isn't quite right with it. There are also some sellers that sell authentic kimono at incredibly ridiculous prices (eg: $1,000 for a kimono that's been stained and cut to pieces!).

As such, I suggest to all beginner shoppers to stick to shops that are reputable and well known for selling good quality, authentic kimono at affordable prices.

I am outlining below the usual shops that I frequently direct my readers to as they are known to be reliable. I have bought from all of the shops listed in this post before, and can testify that all of my personal experiences with them have been good.

~♥~

1. Ichiroya
Webshop: Ichiroya
eBay Shop: Ichiroya - eBay

(Note: It seems that Ichiroya's eBay shop is currently empty. Check again later, though - when they post stuff, it's usually a great deal!)

Ichiroya is actually my favourite English webshop to browse through! They always have such beautiful items, and many of them are at quite decent prices. You can always find a multitude of things of any condition from brand-new to old and antique, and from wearable items to display pieces. One thing I really like about them is that they have full kimono sets for sale, readily matched and put together so that beginners in kimono coordination don't have to feel unsure about their choices.

Another point in their favour is their Kitsuke DVD, just about the only English DVD I know of that teaches you how to wear kimono. The main "stars" of the DVD are Yuka, the owner Ichiro's wife, and their daughter.

If you register for their newsletter, you will get to read alot of interesting news about Japan and kimono-related articles every Sunday. All of the Ichiroya staff are very helpful, and if you ever need help in anything, such as finding a piece with a specific motif, or finding an obi to match your kimono, or even tailoring service for their kimono bolts, they are always willing to help you in any way possible.

One down point is that compared to some of the other shops, their items may seem a little expensive. However, I still buy from them as they do carry some rare items, and their items are usually in better condition than other shops.

~♥~

2. RyuJapan
Webshop: RyuJapan
eBay Shop: RyuJapan - eBay

Ryujiro-san is another great seller with very affordable kimono. His supply isn't always consistent, but when he has a new promotion, there is always a great selection to choose from. Most of his new promotions are in line with whatever season is approaching - yukata in June, wool kimono in September, etc. His eBay shop also has a great choice of kimono and kimono items all year-round.

Nearly all of my wool kimono are from Ryujiro-san. He had a wool kimono promotion about 3 years ago and was selling them from USD1 to USD10, so I got a huge bunch of them for really cheap!

One thing that I really love about Ryujiro-san are his sales - on the last few hours of his sales, the discounts can go as low as 60%, sometimes 70% off. I can't tell you how many times I've gotten good quality yukata obi for USD4 just by waiting patiently :)

~♥~

3. Yamatoku Classic
Webshop: Yamatoku Classic
eBay Shop: Yamatoku Classic - eBay

Yet another favourite! My first kimono that weren't yukata were bought from their eBay shop :) I used to constantly drool over their kimono sets, which are more expensive but also more complete than the Ichiroya ones. Recently, they have been having more sales and promotions, with kofurisode being sold for as little as USD9.99, and proper furisode sold at a 30% discount.
The main negative point about buying from Yamatoku is that you have to be quite careful with the condition of the item you are buying - quite alot of them have stains somewhere on the kimono, and are quite highly priced for kimono in such a condition. Still, their recent festivals and promotions have had many mint condition items, so maybe this only applies to some of their older stuff :)

~♥~

There are, of course, far more shops than this that I have bought from and that are reputable, but these are my top picks for beginners :) This also does not include Japanese webshops and Yahoo Japan Auctions, my main source of pretties these days.

Happy Shopping! :)

Note: For those buying from Japanese webshops or from YJA, you will most likely need to use a middleman service, which may significantly up your costs. I use Noppin (http://www.noppin.com/) but there are others out there that you may prefer. I'll write another short post on using middleman websites later.

Suggestions?: Obi-Matching Dilemma

As mentioned in my earlier posts, my godsis Carolyn bought a yukata at the Jusco Yukata Fair. Since the fair didn't have any proper undies or even koshihimo (shocking!) and she hated the obi her yukata came with, I decided to get her a proper matching obi and yukata undies set for her birthday. (Don't worry about my posting this in public - she already knows what she's getting for her birthday :P)

My only problem is deciding what colour obi I should get her. Her yukata has a base colour of dark purple, with lighter shades of purple and white, and a motif of sakura. I can see it matching with so many colours - mustard yellow, pale yellow, pale green, light blue, all sorts of pinks, white, lilac.... I just don't know what to get her :/

I did ask her what sort of colour she'd like, but she said it'd be very difficult to decide without actually seeing the obi in person. Also, her taste is generally a less bright and more sedate sort of colour combination. Her favourite motif is sakura, but I'm afraid of accidentally turning her outfit into a sakura overload ^^;;;

Soooo..... Any suggestions?

Event Aftermath: Jusco Yukata Fair 2010 - My Finds!

As promised, here is my post about the stuff I bought at the Jusco yukata fair!

1)Pale blue stripes and spots yukata. I found this pattern quite adorable, and I don't have any pale blue yukata.

I'm not entirely sure what sort of obi I'd like to wear this with, but I think the one in this photo makes for a rather refreshing combination. I'm not too fond of the idea of wearing such a plain yukata obi with this yukata, but the colours are really spot-on for my taste...


2) Brown with bunnies yukata. I was really happy to have found this! I haven't any brown kimono or yukata or even obi, so this was a very nice surprise. Plus, the saleswomen told me that they have only one yukata of this pattern, and they all remembered me for buying it ^^;;

I found this one obi that seems to be a great colour match for the yukata. It contrasts the darkness so well, and at the same time, the roses match the bunnies quite perfectly. I think it lends a rather cute appeal to a yukata that is otherwise slightly too old for me. Any ideas on other colour combinations? I think I might try a pale yellow or something.


3) Yet another navy blue roses and false shibori yukata! I love that sort of combination. The roses here look really elegant, I feel.

For this photo, I paired this yukata with a plain white obi so that I can show off my new obijime :)


4) Navy blue and gold yukata obijime. I bought this because the colour is quite hard to get right on screen, so it's more difficult to find the correct shade when shopping online.

I didn't really know how to tie the obijime properly, so I just fudged it ^^;; I think it turned out looking rather well!


5) All the obi that came with the yukata! (and one extra from my godsis, who also hated the obi)

I'm still not sure about what I'm going to do with all these... I think I might keep them to lend out to people who want to wear yukata, but can't tie an obi. However, if you want one, I'd be willing to trade! Just send me a message or leave a comment XD


6) One of the three pairs of geta I bought.

At RM20, these were really worth it. Even my godsis Carolyn, whom I dragged along and convinced to buy lots of stuff at the fair, bought a couple of pairs and said they were really comfy for everyday wear!


7) Navy blue uchiwa fan.

I'm of the opinion that you can never have too many fans! XD The fact that this fan matches my new navy blue yukata doesn't hurt either :P


8) Pearl obi kazari.

I've always wanted one, so I thought I'd just buy one to see. I ended up buying another one when this one worked so well ^^;


9) Kimono stickers!

These weren't actually from the Jusco yukata fair. However, I did bump into them at Art Friend, Gardens when my godsis and I went to the fair. I couldn't resist such cuteness!! I can't wait to start using them the next time I send a card or a letter to my kimono friends :)


These actually weren't all the items I bought - I also have parasols, more geta, more obi kazari, a child's yukata set, and a couple of items for my brother..... But I got lazy to post all of them :P

Bon Odori is this weekend (zomg forgot to post about it!) so I might wear one of my new pretties there ^_^ If my brother goes with me, he'll be wearing one of the yukata I bought for him yay! I can't wait 8D

Hope you enjoyed seeing what I purchased XD I certainly had a good time shopping haha!

Toodles and goodnight!

Event Aftermath: Jusco Yukata Fair 2010

As promised to a few people, I took pics of the Jusco Yukata Fair :) Here's a not-so-small post about it!

In anticipation of Bon Odori, which is growing more and more popular every year, Jusco decided to have a yukata fair this year. I don't know if they've had it before, but when my friend told me about it, I definitely had to go and check it out!

The fair wasn't held at all Jusco outlets. In KL, it was only held in the Mid Valley outlet - which is incredibly convenient for me, since it's so near my office!

The location in the outlet was quite easy to spot - from the Center Court entrance, you can already see some pretties to entice you in.


Then you just walk straight in and you'll be greeted by a couple of mannequins in yukata.


Walking along the perimeter of the area, which is quite large. This side is showing more of the kids' yukata.


The screen was playing a video on how to wear yukata. It gathered quite a crowd when it was still on! ^^;


Just look at the amount of choice we have for women's yukata! *sighs dreamily*



This set was one of the more complete, but also more expensive sets.


I took a picture of the area that displayed lots of nice parasols, geta and bags, but I didn't take pics of the area for men's yukata, obi kazari, kanzashi, obijime, fans and other random deco stuff.


The price range was pretty decent for some of the stuff! I'm just going to put up a price list for reference if they have another fair next year XD

Women's yukata set (yukata + tsuke obi) : RM129 for most, with some at RM399
Men's yukata set (yukata + kaku obi) : RM129 per set
Kids' yukata set (yukata + obi, type of obi varies with age) : RM89 each
Folding Fan : RM29
Uchiwa Fan : RM10
Parasol : RM39
Geta : RM29
Decorative lace for obi : RM119
Obi Kazari : RM69
Obijime : RM49 - RM59

I'm afraid that's all I remember ^^;; I didn't buy any bags or kanzashi, so I don't remember how much they cost. I hope they'll have another one of these next year! It sure saves alot of hassle from dealing with Paypal, shipping and customs, and is pretty decently priced, considering the quality of some of the items!

Ok, I think this post has gotten quite long enough. I'll stop here for now, and will post on my purchases later ^_^ (I'm currently working on that, so it won't take too long before I post it, I hope!)

Toodles~

Event Announcement: Yukata Fair at Jusco Mid Valley

Just a quick post ^_^

There's a yukata fair at Jusco Mid Valley (Ground Floor - just enter from the Center Court entrance and walk straight, and you'll bump into it). I went there yesterday to check it out, and they have quite a large selection!

Prices are quite decent - a yukata and obi set are RM129 for men and women, and RM89 for children's sets. You can also get an assortment of accessories - RM10 for an uchiwa fan, RM39 for parasols, RM20 for geta... There are also some bags, obijime, obi kazari and hair accessories, which really completes each set. I noticed some decorative lace for obi too.

If anyone wants to check it out, please do it soon, because it's only there till this Sunday, 4th July 2010. This is really a great opportunity to get some cheap yukata for Bon Odori or anime/cosplay conventions :)

I've bought two sets for myself and one for my brother already! I also got one for my niece, but it's a little big for her age, so I'm going to have to go back and look for another one her size XP And I got 3 pairs of geta, a fan, one obi kazari and two parasols. I'm in love! I'm planning to go back to buy more ehhehehe~ XP

On a side note, I've been pretty dead coz I was in Singapore for a Summer Wealth Management Program by Merrill Lynch for two weeks. It was really fun! Made loads of new friends XD Didn't really learn so much new stuff, but got to see another aspect of the wealth management industry hehehe. Will post on it sometime soon, if I remember!

Toodles~

Happy Christmas!

Hi everyone! I just wanted to say..



HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!
May your dreams be merry and bright~


Happy holidays, too, everyone! ^_^

Just a small update, since I'm too excited over it to wait till later to post..:

Yesterday, I was hit with a sudden urge to buy wigs and what-not to achieve that incredibly cute head-of-curls look that the girls in the Gothic Lolita Bible have.

Today, I was wandering around a shopping mall during my lunch hour when I found a shop that sold clip on ponytail extensions! O_O I stopped by to have a look and bought a couple immediately, as it was quite a nice quality for a decent price (RM60!).

Once I got home, I had to try them on. I didn't put on any of my loli clothes, so please excuse the not-loli top ^^;;

The result:







What do you think? I think I should tie the ponytails a little higher and hide the straight hair parts, but I'm still rather happy with the result!! XD XD

Btw I'm still sorting through my UK/Paris trip pics. I'll try to upload them as soon as I can! ^_^

Ta~

Spending Money....

For the first time in quite a long time, I bought something online.

This time, it isn't anything kimono-related. This time, I bought some loli clothes.

I bought them from this website called "In The Starlight". The sellers (very talented ladies!!) are from the US and tailor make the loli clothes to your measurements. So far, the pictures of their sewing looks very nice, and the quality of the lace looks good from what I can tell. I'm very much looking forward to having something that actually fits me without having to wear my kimono bra and body-shaper thing!

I ordered a short-sleeved blouse, matching long sleeves, a longer black skirt, and two headdresses. All of them were black because I rather like the idea of being a kuro loli for now. Well, that, and I'd just bought a pair of all-black loli shoes on Saturday :P

I requested that the skirt be made at a longer length so that it would look more mature. I'm hoping it'd go some way into making a good aristocrat outfit somehow ^^;;

The sellers said that it would take them about a week to finish the items and send them off, then it'll take another 2 weeks to get here. I'm hoping it wouldn't get lost amongst all that Christmas mail!! x_x I rather forgot about that when I ordered. Maybe I should email them again and ask if I can register for a tracking number?

Oooooh I can't wait for them to arrive!!!

First Lolita Attempt~

I've always loved lolita fashion - in fact, it was a hobby-related love of mine before kimono or even cosplay! In London, I rarely went to Camden Town Market, but whenever I did, I almost always made a beeline for one of the lolita shops there. However, being rather stingy and unsure of how well it would suit me, I rarely ever bought anything.

Last week, I had received my first paycheck from my first official job. I decided to treat myself. Having recently found a few lolita shops around KL, I tentatively searched one out.

Although unforeseen events kept delaying my trip to the shop last weekend, I finally managed to make it late on Sunday evening. The shop (i-Socks in Times Square, if you want to know) is rather complicated and bothersome to understand - there are 4 or 5 outlets on the same floor of the same mall, and all but one of them are open to the public. That last store is the VIP store, which of course sells the better stuff.

In order to get to the VIP store, you need to go to one of the public ones and make a purchase of RM20 or more (I've heard varying minimum prices, but this one seems the most common). The shopkeeper may then give you a slip that will allow you a single-time entry for up to 3 people into the VIP shop. There, you must spend a minimum of RM100 (or so I've heard. I definitely went waaaaay past that) to obtain a VIP card, with which you may enter the VIP outlet anytime.

Of course, all this research was done before I went to scope out the shop :P

So in we (my sister, her boyfriend and I) went into a few of the public shops. I found a few things that I liked in one outlet, and bought them. Along the way, I was discussing lolita fashion with the shopkeeper, and she suggested that rather than dresses (which I'd mentioned I liked, but was worried about how I'd look in) I ought to try a skirt + blouse + corset combo. I rather liked the idea, despite having never really tried it out before, and immediately thanked her for it.

Once I was in the VIP store, I asked one of the salesgirls there for her opinion on what would be nice, and what would fit me. I mentioned the combo that was recommended to me, and that I liked black and white the best. She began pulling out stuff and coordinated an outfit for me, complete with shoes and headdress.

I did browse around the whole shop, in the vain hope of finding something else that fits me, but didn't dare buy anything other than the outfit that we'd already picked out.

And so, I finally bought my first lolita outfit. The best part of it is that it was on sale, and I got 30% off everything! Yay! Also, I paid for it with my own money - so no one can complain about spending money on such things, because it is, after all, my own money. Yay!

When I got home, I was really excited about putting it on. However, I had to wait, because first, I had to cook and eat dinner, shower, dry my hair, etc etc. By the time I'd finished doing everything and had the time to dress up, it was already midnight, and everyone was in bed.

Buuuut... I was so excited over my first lolita outfit that I couldn't sleep, and ended up trying on the dress anyway! ^^;

Here are pictures!

Front:

Back:

The outfit still isn't complete yet - I haven't gotten a good pannier, or a proper bag, and I'm not entirely satisfied with the stockings and shoes. I rather think I'd prefer white stockings with a bow, and black shoes with white lace. The pannier I'm using is also an old tailor-made one that's really flat now, and I have absolutely no lolita bags whatsoever! Oh well. Back to the shop this weekend!! XD XD

I also kind of have a slight issue with the corset - while I really like this look, I've read that corsets and lolita just don't mix. Well, I'm not really sure if what I read really meant proper figure-shaping corsets, or "bodices" like mine. But either way, I've heard that it doesn't sit well with lolita except in a few styles (corsets feature quite often in the aristocrat style) or if it matches the outfit in general. I'm really worried about whether or not this outfit does conform to proper lolita guidelines :/

On the other hand, I think that maybe it might look better if I added white lace to the corset? Or maybe I could leave the corset as-is, and use it with a black blouse, long skirt and elegant hat to achieve the "aristocrat" look. All you lolitas out there, what do you think?

I did think for a while that since this outfit was recommended by the shop people, it should be proper lolita. But then, I've read some very mixed reviews of i-Socks, so I'm not 100% confident that I can trust that the corset is lolita.

Some people love the shop and proclaim themselves everlasting fans of the shop. Others look down on it with scorn and say that the store sells low quality stuff (quite true to an extent, but the things in the VIP shop seem to be of a nice quality. Then again, what do I know?) and that this store is to blame for giving the lolita look a very "lala" reputation in Malaysia. ("Lala" is a very difficult term to explain... ^^;)

I myself, as a very new person to this sort of fashion, can't really form an opinion until I've tried the branded items. Only one problem: SIZE! I've looked through the brand shops' online stores, but I come across things that fit me very rarely. :( So for me, I'll take what I can get, and so long as I can fit into the clothes, I'm not really bothered much about quality for now.

I've found a few other lolita shops in KL. I'm thinking of slowly going about to check them out ^^ I also stumbled across a forum post with a list of lolita shops in Singapore. I'm thinking of organising a weekend trip down to Singapore so I can shop away the whole weekend! Yay!

*coughs* Well, enough of all the rant. Please comment ^_^ Thanks for reading!

Back from Singapore! (again)

It's been a while since I actually came home, but I'm baaaack! I was in Singapore last week for 3 days for a business trip ^_^

Singapore was exhausting. It was a little hard to deal with, especially since so many clients had joined us, and it was my first time actually pitching in a hopefully useful hand on a trip like this, but we pulled through just fine ^_^

We had gone to Singapore on Sunday morning to make preparations for the two-day trip, and I managed to find a little bit of time to sneak off and do a little shopping. I brought a few of us to my favourite lingerie shop, and after I'd paid for my stuff, I left them to run upstairs and check out L'escalier, a shop that sells Japanese items, and occasionally some kimono and kimono accessories. I've bought a fukuro obi and a few obijime from this shop before, and I must say, the quality is excellent!

Anyway, this time around, since I hadn't even visited the store during my September Singapore trip, I picked out three obijime. It's a small picture and doesn't do my lovely obijime any justice, but here they are!!


There is a blue and purple one, a pink and purple one and an orange and white one with multicoloured stripes! So cute!! I paid SGD69 for all three of these. A little pricey, but given that they look and feel brand-new and I didn't have shipping to pay for, it was worth it! ^_^

I'd also bought myself a nice gradiated lilac obiage at the Kokon Tozai outlet in the airport (which I'd finally found!) but I was lazy to take pics ^^;; Maybe next time?

Closet Feature: RyuJapan Sales Loot

I've been feeling guilty since I haven't updated about kimono at all in a long long time (except when whining about how much I've wanted to buy/wear/etc kimono). I still haven't been able to wear kimono so far (boooooo) but as a small consolation, I shopped a little yesterday!

RyuJapan had his summer sales last week, and yesterday was the last day. There was this one obi I've been drooling over for the past year or so. Three of Ryu's sales have passed and this obi still hadn't been sold. Yesterday, I really couldn't resist anymore and I got it at 60% off! XD Yay bargain!

Here's my new little beauty:


I also saw this cute hanhaba obi being sold for $6USD, so I bought it for fun :P


Ahhhh, I'm happy with what I bought! XD

Things to post about later:
1) Singapore trip
2) Genting trip
3) Johor trip
4) New camera
5) New kimono books
6) New kimono stuff

Closet Feature: New Kimono!!!!

I know I'm not supposed to be buying any kimono, but I was checking out eBay for fun, and I stumbled across this kimono that was so very much like my dream kimono set (click HERE to see that post).



Isn't it so beautiful?? It's far more sabishii (lonely) in pattern than my dream kimono, and it doesn't really have that look-into-distant-forest-over-plains look, but it has distant mountains to it like the Misty Mountains, and the grays on the kimono is almost like a water feature, like on the Anduin! Also, the colours are much younger and warmer than that drab, old and cold gray of my dream set, although the gray background does give it a certain gloomy aura that suits Lord of the Rings. Still! This makes me think of Arda in autumn, when everything is still happy and Dark Lord-free :)

According to the seller, the outside part of the kimono is in mint condition! No stains!!! I don't know if I trust that or not, but from the pictures I see, it's fairly reasonable. The price was really what made me buy it on the spot ;) It was only $32.40USD on Buy-It-Now, as opposed to the $1,200USD on YJA of my dream kimono set!!! I was absolutely head-over-heels in love with it, and it was cheap, and I was afraid someone might snap it up quickly so I bought it straightaway.

Oh joyness!! I can't wait to receive it!!! (Although I actually haven't paid for it yet....)

All that I need to complete it right now is to get a similar obi with a beach, the ocean and a ship, all in watercolour style....

Event Announcement: UNIQLO yukata

They've already been up for sale for at least a week, but UNIQLO has started selling this year's yukata already! Or, at least, they're selling the women's yukata already :)

CLICK HERE TO GO TO SITE

Usually, I'd be drooling over everything, but for the moment, only one or two sets actually appeal to my taste. *determined* I will keep checking for updates!! Maybe they'll have some nicer ones later on in the season :D

They usually sell men's and kid's yukata sets too. I'll post something when they start selling them :)

For those who want to start wearing kimono, these are actually really great. Yukata are the easiest form of kimono you can wear, excluding jinbei, and are the best for beginners. The sets from UNIQLO contain almost everything you'll need for wearing yukata, including an instruction booklet on how to put them on! Plus, they're really cheap ;)

For women's sets, they come with two himo (the ribbons you use to secure the yukata in place), the yukata, a matching obi, and a matching bag. All you need are shoes (you can use nice sandals) and undies, which can just be a spaghetti strap top and a thin knee-length skirt slip. I think the instructions booklet is easy enough to understand, but then again, that may be because I already know how to wear a yukata haha!

I can't wait till they start selling men's yukata sets again. I really really want to buy a nice set for my brother, and UNIQLO sets are always so comfortable and they look good. Here are a few pictures of me and my friends and family wearing UNIQLO yukata:

Liss and I at home, on Christmas hols '07. I think these two sets were from the '06 UNIQLO yukata season.




My sister is wearing a red bunny UNIQLO yukata. The set it came in had a different obi, but this obi is the same one I'm wearing above. I bought this set second hand, so I don't know which season it's from.




Mel (on the right) is wearing my black bunny yukata set from the '08 UNIQLO yukata season.




I bought this one second hand, too, so I don't know which season it's from either. But isn't it soooo cute???? :D




Some of my most comfortable and most loved yukata too :D I have a second-hand hanabi (fireworks) motif yukata that I bought second hand, but it wasn't in a set. I've got a few outfits for it, and I'm planning to wear it to Bon Odori this year! But I'm not sure if I should keep "saving" it for then. There are soooo many beautiful outfits Hong and I have created out of that one yukata, and it'd be nice to wear it out to London one day....

Anyway, this post turned kinda long, even though I just wanted to let people know that UNIQLO is selling yukata again ^^;;;;;; I hope more non-Japanese people will buy them and post lovely pictures for us to see! (*hint hint hint....*)

I want this furisode set!

Hey, if anyone wants to give me a gift and had $500USD lying around, this would be perfect! XD

(Click HERE for the page)

I've actually been eyeing this set for months. The patterns and colours really appeal to me, plus it's a really great fit, if a little too long for me! I love that the sleeves are so long (113cm - that touches the floor when I put it on!) because the longer the sleeves, the more elegant it looks.

*sighs sadly* But that is really waaaaay too much to spend. Maybe if it hasn't already been bought by the time I start working..? :P

My Dream Kimono set!!

*gasps* Oh my word, I do believe I have found my absolute dream kimono!!! Ah, if only the kimono's base colour was cream!! Then it would truly be my no.1 wanted kimono of all time!




If I owned this, I would call it my Lord of the Rings kimono set. The mountain range and peaceful scenery motif of the kimono really makes me think of Lord of the Rings! I can't really say what scene it reminds me of at the moment, but the sleeve does make me think of the Valley of Imladris! The design along the hem makes me think of the Misty Mountains, perhaps being seen from afar along the Anduin, and Lothlorien, perhaps even Caras Galadhon in view at the side! *hearts*

The obi, with it ships and the sea, just reminds me of the Grey Havens, like when a new elf-ship leaves, and loved ones are left on the beach. Ahhhh <3

Sadly, I will never own this kimono set, because it's really really expensive! You know all those horror stories you hear about a kimono costing over a thousand dollars? This is one of them. Have a look here at the auction: CLICK!

Yeah... expensive. *sighs sadly* Ah well... I'll just have to be content with the scarce but beautiful pictures and maybe keep an eye out for a bolt of silk that may look similar to this, and test my sewing skills ;)

Lots of 5 yukata on sale at YJA!

About a year ago, I'd bought two lots of 5 yukata on Yahoo Japan Auctions (see this post!)

I've just found out that the seller has once again put up a load of these lots of 5 for sale on Yahoo Japan Auctions! I'm very tempted to buy another lot, but I already know I have waaaay too many yukata, and that I'm not supposed to be spending money on kimono, so I'll restrain myself, somehow. Maybe by eating cake.... :P

These lots of 5 are cheap (about Y5000, although there are lots that cost about Y6800), and they do kinda look cheap too. From afar, they do look decent, but their low quality is quite obvious when it's upclose. For example, here are various pictures of my sister and I wearing yukata from my lots:

A nice striped blue one...


One of my favourites, a sky blue one with goldfish:


My sister is in another favourite, my only green yukata, while I'm in a nice red one:

See, they don't look that bad, do they? I feel as though some of them really do look cheap, but maybe it's just that I can't get the feel of the cheap material out of my mind!

Anyway, I just wanted to let people know that there are these lots up for sale, and to warn them that if they do buy one or ten of these lots, the yukata look and feel their price. I think that it would help alot if you were to wash them a few times, to get the stiffness out of the fabric. Once that's one, it'll look and feel alot more comfortable and less cheap :)

Just for anyone's information, you can see the sellers' pages here:
1) Link to adakinu_kyoto
2) Link to adakinu

^_^ If you buy a lot, please post a comment and let me see pictures when you get them and wear them! Hehehe.