Japan

Asian-Inspired Fun For Back to School!

DIY thing on Aug 31, 2009 2:21 PM PDT

We've been surfing our favorite sites looking at back-to-school fashion and we keep finding ourselves drawn to fun, Asian-inspired looks. becky oh!'s Japanese Retro Wristlet will add style to your wrist for $35 and can be found at What Designers. The bright, funky print is made from Japanese linen. If you want an elegant look, check out the designer Hairpin Flowers Silk Chiffon Scarf by Yosifa Silk - get it at Smashing Darling. And for just plain fun during the school day, you will want one of these handmade Fortune Tellers from Sycamore Street Press. And there are a host of fun totes and bags at Tokyomade. Check out ColorCult's Winged Tote, or the Vintage Obi Messenger, an original, hand made bag by Japanese designer Honmonoya. And Ichigo Seijin's Bento Box bag is pure fun. See all of our picks in our slideshow!

Tags : school supplies , school bag , school , retro , japan

Uniqlo To Team Up With, Gulp, Disney?

The Frisky on Aug 30, 2009 5:30 AM PDT

Uniqlo has been trying hard to keep up with the Topshops and H&Ms of the world lately by announcing new initiatives and designer collaborations. Yet, the Japanese retailer seems to be lacking in direction-- last week's debut of its Jil Sander collection didn't quite live up to fab collab standards. Now Uniqlo has just announced that they've teamed up with Walt Disney to release a line of Disney-themed products next month. Is this move to satisfy Japanese American fandom? Uniqlo trying to be ironic? Or, the more likely scenario... an attempt to produce something cute. Or, as they say in Japan, kawaii. Want to know more about this Uniqlo/ Disney venture? Click on over to The Frisky!

Tags : uniqlo , style , shopping , jil sander , japan

Solange & Beyonce Knowles Debut Their Samantha Thavasa ...

Qianna Smith on Aug 27, 2009 7:23 AM PDT

Celebrity sisters Solange Knowles and Beyonce Knowles took Japanese fashionistas by storm with the debut of the Samantha Thavasa & Disney Handbag Collection at Tokyo Disneyland Hotel. "It's tough, it's fun, and it's sexy," says Beyonce about the flashy bags that are accented with a Mickey Mouse doll. Samantha Thavasa is a Japanese fashion company that specializes in handbags for trendy young women in their twenties. The bags have gained a cult following since launching in 1994. Find more great Samantha Thavasa handbag designs, check out the Samantha Thavasa website! Want to know more about Beyonce and Solange's efforts with Samantha Thavasa? Click on over to our friends at Essence!

Tags : solange knowles , solange , samantha thavasa , purses , japan

Vintage Fashionistas Love Fashion Origami

Mary Kincaid on May 15, 2009 8:11 AM PDT

Origami is a world-wide art form that can be traced all the way back to about 500 A.D. Originating in China, the birthplace of paper, it was brought to Japan by Buddhist monks and today refers to the sculptural representation of folding in any medium. In fashion, that medium is fabric, suede, and leather. And while origami has been used in recent collections by many designers, this isn't the first time that designers have been inspired by the ancient craft. That means that there are plenty of fine vintage examples to be found in the marketplace with some devoted searching. Whether it's on a handbag, a skirt, or a knock 'em dead dress, three-dimensional texture inspired by origami makes for some interesting and creative designs. Just click the slideshow to see the selection.

Tags : vintage , trend , style , spring , japan

And The Winners Of The Harajuku Lovers Fragrances Are...

Lisanne Silverman on Oct 17, 2008 3:23 PM PDT

Last week's contest was too good- and too cute- to pass up! We have five bottles of Gwen Stefani's new "Harajuku Lovers" fragrance sitting in our office just waiting to be spritzed all over five equally adorable winners. We asked you guys to tell us which of the five fragrances matched your personality best, and the responses were BANANAS. Did you choose "Love," a sensuous floral scent? Maybe you identified with "Lil' Angel," or "Baby," a girly scent with a hint of musk. Or perhaps you went straight for "G," the leader of the pack! Whichever you chose, five lucky winners will soon be spreading the Harajuku love. Read on to find out if you won!

Tags : tokyo , perfume , music , love , japan

Get The Scoop On Comme Des Garcons For H&M!

Lisanne Silverman on Oct 10, 2008 10:18 AM PDT

By now you've probably heard about the Comme Des Garcons for H&M collection that's slated to hit stores mid-November. You may have even heard about the $350 dress- a bargain if you realize that amount might get you the right sleeve of an actual CdG dress. In any event, we're excited to see how Rei Kawakubo's playful but high fashion design philosophy translates into the H&M mass market. Seasoned shoppers will recall the frenzy caused by previous designer capsule collections- Karl Lagerfeld, Viktor & Rolf, and Roberto Cavalli, to name a few- but questionable pricing aside, a quick glimpse at the lookbook has me convinced this line will top them all. Check out my slideshow for the looks that are worth braving the hoards of shoppers who will fight tooth and manicured nail for a piece of the collection, along with the four hour drive you might endure just to get there in the first place. Lines not your thing? Don't worry, I'm sure there will be plenty of polka dot wristlets left over..

Tags : women's , wallet , skirts , rei kawakubo , japan