wanderlust: used clothing stores in harajuku, tokyo

Ragtag is a secondhand designer clothing chain store. The store carries famous designer brands such as Alexander Mcqueen,Chloe, Christian Louboutin, Christian Dior, Chanel, Givenchy, Marc by Marc Jacobs to name a few catering for women, men and kids as well. According to its website, there are seven Ragtag stores around Tokyo and one rt in Ginza. During my trip, I visited the store in Harajuku. Whilst I did not notice anything vintage but on the website it stated there is a vintage section. My guess is perhaps vintage can be found in other stores?

Ragtag Harajuku

Address: 6-14-2 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Telephone: 03-6419 3770

Opening hours: 11 am to 8 pm

Website (in English): http://www.ragtag.jp/english/shop.html

Jumble Store another secondhand chain stores with several stores around Tokyo. The stores carry past season's clothes from international designers and also unique items from smaller Japanese brands. The prices are reasonable.

Jumble Store

Address: 4-26-4 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Telephone: 03-5772-3427

Opening hours: Mon-Sun: 11 am to 9 pm

I am saving the best (in my humble opinion) for the last - Kinji Used Clothing store. Firstly the store itself is huge. The third photo shows the first half of the store. I felt I was in the heaven of secondhand clothing. And secondly you can find vintage here, yay! Lastly, the price is very reasonable. There is a section selling used designer items; clothes, bags and shoes. I had fun rummaging each rack trying to look for 'treasures' to bring back home. I found couple of treasures for the price of JPY3024 (approximately US$27).

I think this striped vintage dress is circa 1970/80s.

Scored this lovely French Connection pleated skirt

Kinji Used Clothing
Address: YM Square Building B1, 4-31-10, Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Telephone: 03-6406-0505
Opening hours: 11 am to 8 pm
Website (in Japanese): http://www.kinji.jp/

This post concludes wanderlust posts on Tokyo. Although this is not complete listing or coverage on used clothing/secondhand or vintage stores, I hope you find these posts useful for your travel planning. I can't wait to visit Tokyo or Japan again. 

Have a wonderful weekend and stay chic!

wanderlust: vintage stores in harajuku, tokyo

Nowadays when I have the chance to travel abroad, I always try to include some vintage stores onto my itinerary. This was no exception for my recent trip to Tokyo. Frankly, I was excited to check out the vintage scene as it has been raved that in Asia, Tokyo offers the best vintage stores selections. Here are some my vintage store visits experience...

Chicago Harajuku-Omotesando

B1F, Olympia Annext Building, 6-31-21 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Website: http://www.chicago.co.jp/

Chicago is one of the well-known used clothing or vintage chain stores in Tokyo. Hence it is also one of the most blogged vintage stores in the blogsphere. Personally, I think the selection is more focused on after 1970s and perhaps some 1960s. There is also a selection of used kimonos or yukatas and its accessories. Prices are reasonable as well, making Chicago one of the places to go for vintage lovers.

Another similar chain to Chicago is Flamingo. Just in Harajuku area, I came across three Flamingo Stores whilst looking for other vintage stores on my to-check-out list.The store has everything such as ladies and men's clothes, vintage items, accessories, jewelry etc. Here is the link to Flamingo's webiste: http://www.tippirag.com/company# for further stores details.

Slow-Omotesando

2F, 6-7-8, Jingumae, Shibuya-yu, Tokyo

This is lovely stores with great interior design. It has a good selection of vintage items from clothes, bags, shoes and accessories either designer vintage or just vintage items. The price range is a bit out of my budget as it is a bit pricey. However, I would say the store is worth to checkout.

Santa Monica curates a great selection of vintage ladies' clothes. The price range it is believed to be affordable. I got my eyes on a vintage silk slip (with little embroidery embellishment) which I did not get in the end. The price of the vintage silk slip is JPY4,500 (USD 43). If I recall correctly, this store is located on Omotesando Road.

Santa Monica Harajuku
4-25-5, Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Website: http://www.harajuku-santamonica.com/  (website in Japanese)

What do you think? Are you convinced that Tokyo has an amazing array of vintage stores? If you are planning to visit Tokyo, do check out these vintage stores. 

Until my next post, stay chic and stylish!

wanderlust: miyake issey: the work of miyake issey exhibition @ tokyo, japan

The Work of Miyake Issey exhibition showcases the great designer's work from the 1970s to the present. Miyake Issey is a Japanese fashion designer who is well-known for his technology-driven clothes designs. It was a great opportunity to get to know more of his work. I must admit, when I was studying fashion, I was more into European designers. After visiting the exhibition, I was really impressed with the technology incorporated into fashion.

The exhibition is divided into three main sections; 

Section A

This section showcases Miyake Issey's early design solutions; drawing, visually, a long introductory line to themes. These will resurface, differently yet regularly in his work. Miyake Design Studio was founded in 1970 focusing on ideas of freedom - of thought and body. For example, he created and designed a jumpsuit with a tattoo motif which looked like a wearable second skin. Such a cool piece of work.

Section B

In the 1980s, the human body, how to enhance, streamline and redesign, was the central work of Miyake Issey. Different materials were used such as metal, rattan, bamboo in his work to explore the human body. 

Section C

In this section, several themes are exhibited - pleats, A-POC, Material and Ikko Tanaka - Issey Miyake. Pleats, in my opinion, is one of the signatures of his work. Here, there are many pleats pieces showcased including a pleating machine. Too bad, during my visit, it was not the demonstration slot. It would be interesting to see how the machine works. He developed a special process of 'garment pleating". This means that a piece of clothing is pleated after it is sewn. This produces very sharp and defined lines.

In 1998, Miyake Issey and Dai Fujiwara developed A-POC. It is a revolutionary process that allows to shape clothes integrally through the production of a tubular piece of knit fabric. It virtually erasing all waste while doing away cutting and sewing. 

In Material section, the designer believes any material can be turned into clothing. Here he explored different materials such as Japanese washi paper, horsehair and raffia, in his work. Furthermore, he also experimented special treatments giving surfaces an alive, animal look and also exploring futuristic fabric; polyester which is heat-cut and molded into shape with the aid of snap buttons and the needlepunching treatment which produces unique textures by layering layers of different materials. To me, this is the most interesting section of all. 

The exhibition will end on 13th June 2016. If you are in Tokyo, do check it out at The National Art Center, Tokyo.

Till my next post, stay chic and have a wonderful weekend!

wanderlust: paris haute couture: the only gown in the world @ tokyo, japan

Paris Haute Couture: The Only Gown in the World; doesn't the title of the exhibition sound intriguing? I had short getaway to Tokyo last weekend and to visit this exhibition was on my to-do-in-Tokyo list. The exhibition will end tomorrow, 22 May 2016.

The exhibition showcases the history of haute couture from its beginning in the 19th century to the present. Interestingly, it was Charles-Frederic Worth, an English-born, who created the basis of haute couture in Paris in the late 19th century.  Haute couture means "high sewing" or "high dressmaking". Great pieces from great couturiers such as Chanel, Christian Dior, Balenciaga and Yves Saint Laurent to name a few are displayed in this exhibition.

Here's a snippet of the exhibition as most of the sections photo taking is not allowed.

Jean Pages, illustration 1935

Jean Patou, 1939

  

Premet, 1928 (left), Jeanne Lanvin, 1928 (right)

 

Chanel, 1937

  

Chanel, 1930

 

Lucile Paray, 1933

 

Robert Piguet, 1939

 

Jean-Paul Gaultier, 2006

Throughout my visit, I was drooling over the pretty and unique dresses and oh-ing and ah-ing almost non-stop. Who can resist such beautiful dresses? Furthermore, the amazing beading, embroidery and other embellishments are indeed making each dress display here the only gown in the world. Oh how I wish I could own one of the dresses....