Tokyo Fashion

If you happen to be walking the streets of Japan, you would definitely notice all those adult females who seem to be wearing children’s costumes/outfits from the Victorian era.

This fashion statement is popular in Japan and is known as the Lolita style. Though there are numerous fashion categories that belong to the Lolita style, the Sweet Lolita seems to be the most widespread.

The Sweet Lolita fashion style usually consists of over-the-top outfits that are most child-like. You will see many bows and ruffles in a Sweet Lolita outfit. While there are no particular color restrictions, pink, white and baby blue are the most common colors of their outfits.

Inspired by toys, hearts, candies, flowers, cakes and fairy tales, the Sweet Lolita style is indeed toothache-inducing with its sweetness.

Most Japanese women who are into the Sweet Lolita style compliment their outfit with light makeup with overly bouncy curls or pigtails.

Last March 11, 2011, Japan was hit with a very powerful 8.9 magnitude earthquake that shook the entire country and triggered a  massive tsunami. Thousands of people lost their families and homes in a flash.

This tragedy has got Japan on its knees as they are running low in food, water and fuel. Thankfully, millions of people worldwide are showing their support and pledging to help the stricken country. Celebrities and other influential people are doing their best to amass funds in order to help the Japanese people rebuild their beloved country by selling fashion accessories and apparel.

Lady Gaga

With the help of all here fans and supporters nationwide, singer/performer Lady Gaga was able to raise $1.2 million for earthquake relief by selling her $5 Prayer Bracelets.

Tory Burch

Designer Tory Burch is working together with the American Red Cross to gather proceeds that will benefit the Japan earthquake and Pacific tsunami relief efforts. Tory designed a shirt that features the American Red Cross name and emblem and will be sold until September 15, 2011.

OUi JAPAN Limited Edition Scarf

Among the many fashion accessories sold online, the OUi JAPAN Limited Edition Scarf is one of the best sellers. Made from 100% cotton voile and printed with environmentally friendly water based ink, the OUi JAPAN Limited Edition Scarf’s proceeds were donated to the Red Cross to support recovery efforts in Japan.

If you want to do your part, please purchase legitimate items that donate their proceeds to help and continue praying for the full recovery of Japan and the safety of its people.

In Japan, giving and receiving Kokeshi dolls have been very popular especially during the Edo period (1603-1867). These Kokeshi dolls are lovingly handcrafted by Kijiya or woodworking artisans and are given away to express love and friendship. Giving a Kokeshi doll to a newborn child is considered as a lucky charm so that the child will grow up to be healthy.

This philosophy of bestowing good luck and good fortune on your friends and family has never been lost even in this time and age. You might rarely see an authentic Kokeshi doll nowadays but thankfully, there is Kimmidoll.

Extremely adorable and cute, the Kimmidoll brand particularly focuses on their doll collection. But of course, they have truly fashionable accessories aside from stationery, houseware and key chains. Because they say to bring the owner good luck and good fortune, you’ll have a valid reason to hoard them just by saying you don’t want bad luck in your life. Ha!

Here are the uber cute Kimmidoll. They come in different sizes too!

The Kimmidoll Enamel and Jewel 3D Necklaces are so pretty!

The packaging alone is enough to make any girl happy!

If you have daughter or niece who you’d want to share your Kimmidoll obsession with, she’ll surely enjoy these wonderful bracelets and necklaces from their other equally cute line, Kimmi Junior.

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Let’s go back  years ago where everything is traditional and safe. If you had a wedding in Japan then, you’d probably worn something like this:

“Shiro-muku is the name of the traditional white Japanese wedding kimono worn during the past years– “Shiro” means white and “muku” means pure. Usually reserved for young, unmarried women, the “shiro-muku” is the last time that the woman will be able to wear it.

Nowadays where everything is modern and flashy, wedding fashion has truly evolved into something entirely different but still beautiful. Modern Japanese brides now have the option to not wear traditional kimonos and just choose a wedding gown with a Japanese motif or feel to it.

The following wedding gowns are just like your typical white gowns except for their contrasting red accents:

This Cherry Blossom Kimono Wedding is elegant and absolutely exudes that Japanese feel.

I love this Obi Wedding Gown simply because of the mixture of white, red and other colors. The tiny kimono pillow at the back is just what’s lacking, no?

But this large ribbon will do!

Japanese people are well-known for their flamboyant and outrageous fashion statements. If you are a bride who want people to stare (or even point fingers), these wedding gowns are for you:

Oh! These origami necklace and earrings would make the perfect wedding accessories!

Millions of people around the world, young and old, are fascinated with Anime. They are drawn and depicted in such a way that readers and viewers are instantly captivated and forever hooked into it.

Anime characters, the same as those in Manga, often have exaggerated features such as large round eyes, elongated limbs and big, often colored, hair. Their costumes are also very outrageous and unique. These said features have and will always be the signature of Anime characters.

Want to have those gorgeous anime eyes? There’s no need for surgery! Just check out this makeup tutorial:

Once you’ve mastered the anime eyes makeup, don on your favorite Anime character costume and have lots of great fun!

Sailor Moon is a Japanese anime that revolves around a young girl named Usagi and her friends Ami, Rei, Minako and Makato. This group of girls have special powers that let them transform into Sailor soldiers who fight for love and justice. They became Sailor Moon, Sailor Mercury, Sailor Mars, Sailor Venus and Sailor Jupiter respectively. Created by Naoko Takeuchi, this anime is such a big hit worldwide that it became a tool for more and more people to love anime.

The Sailor soldiers are widely known for their cute sailor girl uniform and pretty appearance that you would often see fans dressing up like them especially during Halloween.

If you have the Sailor Moon costume down to pat, you must also look like her for accuracy. Here is a Sailor Moon makeup tutorial video to help you:

The most important and elaborate holiday in Japan is definitely the New Year or Oshogatsu. Close-family ties are quite vital among the Japanese so obviously, Oshogatsu is spent together with the family.

Oshogatsu is celebrated week long in Japan and numerous of traditions are observed during the days leading to the event. One of these traditions is the “osoji” which is the Japanese equivalent of our spring cleaning. It is believed that the end of the year is the best time to cleanse and purify one’s environment to allow for a fresh start for the coming new year. After the “osoji”, families start to cook the traditional New Year meals of soba noodles, O-sechi ryori and Ozoni. The rest of the days are spent visiting various shrines and temples.

For the start of year 2011, forget all your stress, worries and fears. Importantly, greet the new year with a stylish bang to welcome good luck!

If you have been watching Anime or old Japanese movies, you might have noticed those odd socks that they have been wearing. It is the sock that looks like a cow’s hoof because it has a separation between the big toe and the other toe.

These extraordinary socks are called Tabi. They are traditionally worn together with other Japanese thonged footwear like the geta or zori. Over the years, the Tabi has evolved and its soles have been replaces with a tougher material like rubber so working men and women can wear them outdoors without the need for wearing footwear.

Modernization has hit the Tabi again and more and more designers are inspired with this footwear. There are now Tabi sneakers, boots and even, yes, high heels. Several Hollywood celebrities have been spotted strutting their hoof-like footwear.

If you don’t have a kimono to wear with your traditional Tabi socks, you can just wear modern Tabi shoes with your jeans and tank top!

Women are fond of fashion accessories. Some are more into shoes and bags while others invest more on clothing and jewelry. But did you know that your nails can be used as a fashion accessory?

In Japan, nails aren’t just painted on with the basic colored nail polish. Thousands of women in the country invest in having their nails done in a really unique way.

Deco nail art is a very big thing in Japan right now. They even have schools wherein anyone can learn how to master doing deco nail art. With deco nail art, manicurist can pierce your nails and add glitter, crystals, beads and other textured embellishments. This results to an elaborate and fashionable nail art that’s neither for the introvert nor the “hands on” type.

If you do want to have this kind of fashion accessory, be prepared to limit the use of your hands. You certainly don’t want to wash dishes or do a bit of gardening with them on. But for special occasions, this deco nail art will certainly be a blast. You’ll certainly “nail” everyone’s attention!

The Japanese Geta Sandals are synonymous to the Kimono. Both these traditional items are inseparable and are often worn together especially during special occasions. If you are unfamiliar as to what a Geta sandal is, it is that famous wooden sandals that are mostly seen worn by the Geishas. However as time passed, the Geta sandals have evolved in terms of appearance and make.

The Geta sandal is often describe as footwear with separate heels which is usually comprised of horizontal two wooden slats. The traditional wooden Gera sandals looks different with its slightly tapered front heel that makes each person lean forward with every step. The sandals got its name “Geta” because of the clack clack sound that it makes while walking. It is believed that Geta sandals are invented raised from the ground as to prevent the kimono from getting dirty while walking.

A normal Geta sandal is usually 2 inches high but there are some who prefer wearing those which are 5 inches and above. It takes a lot of practice to walk on these sandals to avoid falling.

Now, there are different types of Geta sandals available. There are even ones available in vinyl and velvet.