Part VIII of Travels: Stores

Of course there are hundreds of stores in Japan but these two caught my eye and they're pretty opposite ends of the spectrum. Hirofu and Uniqlo.

The first is called Hirofu which basically looks like an Hermes copycat. They even stamp a big H (in the same font as Hermes) on the bottom of their bags. I really like the layout of the store with all the colors arranged together (notice the orange, Hermes' signature color). The items are actually pretty plain but the leather quality is fantastic. I think the purses run from $500 and above, mostly $1000 and up.





Now on to my FAVORITE store I found in Japan, Uniqlo. It was hard for me to shop in Japan because the women there are TINY and I am, um, not. When I say tiny I mean Nicole Richie size. For example, stores carry a lot of size 20-22 jeans because that's what people wear there. I've never even seen a size 20 -22 in the US. But anyways, Uniqlo had lots of different sizes so it was easier to shop. They're like a way cooler version of Gap. Their clothes are stylish, really good quality and very reasonably priced. Their cashmere sweaters are under $100 and fantastic quality. They also have high fashion designers design lines for them. When I was there it was Lutz and Patmos but Phillip Lim had a line there in April and Alice Roi has a line there right now. I'm so jealous I can't check out the Phillip Lim line.


Here's a picture of the Lutz and Patmos line.


Uniqlo just opened a store in New York City on Broadway, hopefully they'll come to LA soon!

Whoa Gap!

Darn I wish i was in the US right now to check out these collections by Gap. Gap has decided to jump on the designer train (like Stella McCartney, Karl Lagerfeld for Gap, Paul and Joe, Proenza Schouler, Luella Bartley etc . . for Target) and they have chosen this year's winners of the 2006 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Doo.Ri, Rodarte and Thakoon to design a few pieces ranging only from $66-$88. I was upset that when Gap had Roland Mouret design a collection it was only available in London but I think we Americans are getting a good deal with 3 awesome designers here. You can buy the collection in stores or online here. Looking at the items more closely I like them, but I'm not in love with them. I don't have that OH MY GOD I MUST OWN THIS feeling for any of them. Maybe because they're a little plain and while very cool takes on the plain white shirt Gap is so well known for, they're not as unique as I thought they would be. However, that could just be the pictures, maybe when you try them on they look really cool and different. Sizes are going quick online so hurry and buy them if you want some! Here's are all the pieces that are available online (and I'm assuming the entire collection in general).



Doo Ri

On the left we have the Belted Shirtdress for $88 which I like but I think it's wee bit plain, looks like something the regular Gap designers would have done. On the right is the Scarf Shirt for $68.00. Again, it's cute but looks likes something I've seen before.



I like this Pleated Shirt for $68.00 much more. I think the back is really cool. There's only Large in this left online as well.
Surprisingly her stuff was my least favorite of the group even though I love her other clothes I've seen. I just think they don't look all the special.


Thakoon

Here is the Tie Shirt for $88. I think one is actually really cool, If you look more closetly there's a lot of detailing on the front. I also love the bell sleeves and the pleating in the back.


On the left is the Tied Shirt Dress for $78.00. I like how it's loose fitting and looks like you threw on your significant other's dress shirt, makes it a little sexy. I bet it would look good over a pair of jeans too (yes i still love the dresses/long shirts over jeans look). On the right is the Petal Shirt Dress for $88.00. Definitely much riskier and more what I expected from the collections. Would look like crap on me but I can imagine it look great on others.


Rodarte

On the left is the Trapeze Top for $68.00. I like it, but I have a feeling it might not look great on. On the right is the Bow Blouse for $78. I really like this shirt and the detailing. I would probably look pregnant though if I wore it. There's only Larges and XL's left online for these two.

What do you think of the collection? Are you gonna go out and buy some? If any of you go and try these on please comment, I'd love to know what they look like on.

All photos from gap.com

Part II of Travels: London Shopping

Shopping in London is amazing (minus the whole pound to the dollar exchange rate that makes everything double for me, but if you make money in pounds it's a great deal). Of course, my favorite store there is Top Shop. If you haven't heard of Top Shop then you're missing out on the best store ever. The quality is better than H and M and so is the style. I asked about a jacket I saw someone wearing and they told me it was two weeks old so I should check in the "Last Chance" section where all the "old" stuff is. That means they change most of their inventory every 2 weeks as opposed to every month like American stores. So if you see something you like at Top Shop, buy it before it's gone! Plus if you're a student you get 10% off your purchases, a lot of stores there have that deal. The Top Shop at Oxford Circus is HUGE (3 floors) and is also connected to another cute store called Miss Selfridges. Selfridges is kind of like the younger hipper version of Harrods, and is a fantastic department store. Miss Selfridges is basically an extension of Top Shop. In London, I also like this store called Oasis
which is kind of like a cheaper not as cute version of Top Shop but they still have pretty good stuff.

Whistles is also a store with really beautiful stuff. It's more classy, sophisticated while still being trendy. Like a nicer version of Anthropologie. It's more expensive than Top Shop though since it's customer base is different.


I went to King's Road, a really cute shopping area that is less busy than Oxford Circus and very cute with a lot of preppy families and nice shops. I saw this fancy perfume shop called Penhaligons. My sister told me that they can make custom scents for you based on your own odor and what scents would compliment it. Pretty cool.

Part 1 of Travels: I Heart Paris

After a month of living out of suitcases and travelling I'm settled in Taipei for the next few months. Travelling was phenomenal and I have SO SO much to blog about, especially the fashion in Japan, it was pretty, um, interesting. However, I'm going to do things chronologically and begin with Europe. Where else would I start with my favorite city and fashion capital: Paris!!

I've done the whole Champs Elysee Paris shopping before and I'm sure most of you know about it so I'm not going to post about it. Instead, I want to tell you about the cutest shopping area called Marais. I only knew about it because I asked one of my best friends where to go and she told me about how great it is, thanks Martha! Marais is not as touristy as the Champs which was nice. The best part about it was the many many boutiques lining the streets. I wanted to stop by almost every store but alas, I didn't have that much time. It's also a very old part of Paris so the buildings are beautiful and many of the streets are still cobblestone. Marais also has the Picasso Museum and another museum called Museé Carnivalet about the history of Paris with whole rooms made up like they would have been in the old times.
I guess if i were to compare it to something I'd say it's like Robertson Blvd. in Los Angeles and the Champs is like Rodeo (well, like Robertson Blvd. before Kitson and Paris Hilton made it trashy). The street you must walk on is rue des Francs Bourgeois.


There are also many cute cafe's lining the street as well.


There's also an amazing gelato shop called Amorino (they have Nutella gelato, yumm) where they make your gelato looks like a flower. It's very busy with long lines but totally worth it. It's worth it just to see them making the gelato all pretty on the cone.


I love going to bookstores and browsing and Paris has the most interesting bookstore I've ever been to called Shakespeare and Company. Even if you don't want need to buy books it's worth checking out, and it's just a couple blocks away from Notre Dame. It sells mostly English books actually. Apparently some famous writers wrote and visited there but the inside of the store just piled with books one on top of the other. it's very old and very quaint.


I could do a 100 posts on the stores in Paris and that still wouldn't be enough. The ones I really liked were called Comptoir des cottonoiers and Zadig and Voltaire. They actually have a Zadig and Volatire in Los Angeles but it is much more expensive than it is in Europe. Comptoir is also in London and sells simple but stylish clothing, that's where i got my beret from. Zadig and Voltaire is more funky and has beautiful leather and cashmere sweaters. Check out their websites for more info.

Part 2 of my travels will be coming soon!