Tokyo Girls Collection Spring/Summer 2012・東京ガールズコレクション

Tokyo Girls Collection is the biggest and most famous fashion event in Japan that showcases the season’s fashionable street wears with domestic brands, combined and jam packed with concerts from popular music groups. It is the first and original fashion and music event that started and is held twice a year, said to be one of the most influential events in Asian countries. The most recent TCG event, 2012 Spring/Summer edition drew over 250, 000 excited fashionistas to Yokohama Area in early March. Attending this event is one of the best ways to keep in line with the latest seasonal street fashion trends in Japan.

Unfortunately, if you do not have the liberty to hitch a plane and fly to Japan this moment, the second best thing to do is look at second-hand photos on the internet. (i.e. the sad and lonely me) Perhaps one day I will join the mass of 250k excited teenage girls (and a few guys) in Tokyo but for now I am satisfied with gazing at this dream from afar…

If you do decide to attend Tokyo Girls Collection, make sure you order tickets on the dot because the event is so popular that tickets usually sell out within hours.What I like about the event is that, for once, it showcases fashion styles that you CAN wear on the street. Normally, other fashion shows will just leave me speechless…

Without further ado, I will share with you my top ten styles that were showcased this year:

Tokyo Girls Collection #1 Special Collection (doesn’t count as a brand but nevermind)

Japanese Mobile Phones ケータイ電話 (and their CMs)

I remember back in the pre-iPhone days when I had a brick phone, I would notice that Japan had all these awesome phones. These days (even when my brick phone is now only used for one purpose: throwing at people – it is a brick after all) Japan is still popping out these amazing phones that we, in the West, have probably not even dreamt of yet.

Exhibit A: Sharp’s Solar Waterproof Phone

And that was back in 2009!

Big brands including AU, Softbank, Docomo NTT dominate the ケータイmarket today. And like with any other marketable product in Japan, many of the CMs they broadcast are complemented by the presence of idols, actors/actresses, singers, celebrities, sports stars. Here are some of my personal favourites:

Daiso・ザ・ダイソー

Daiso, or ‘The Daiso’ if you would like to be eloquent is the largest branch out of all 100 yen shops in Japan. I must say, for a country where pretty much everything is expensive, 100 yen shops are a mini heaven in heaven. Like the name suggests, EVERYTHING (yes, I mean EVERYTHING with the caps) inside the shop, except for trolleys, shop attendants, etc are 100yen, which is equivalent to about US$1.00.

However, it seems since 2004, Daiso started selling items at multiples of 1ooyen, such as 200yen (US$2.00), 300yen (US$3.00), etc, etc

But that’s not the point. My point is, Daiso opened in Australia. Last year. *mini celebration by myself :)*

All items are imported from Japan and due to conversion rates + shipping + all other processes in between, all items in the store cost $2.80, which is just slightly more than $1.00. Not bad I say. I think Daiso deserves a stamp of approval from Rui. I don’t think I can find any other place in Australia that sells good quality items for $2.80. Except for Maruyu who sells it for $2.50. (another 100yen shop that doesn’t sell 100yen goods)

Zipper・ジッパー May 2012

Zipper is a Harajuku fashion magazine that offers a wide range of styles for hitting the Japanese streets, or any other street if you would like. Their clothing includes bright retro to colourful prints to a natural look with sweeping pastel-coloured skirts. Sometimes, styles are mixed and to produce this colourful magazine with a modern edge.

Title says: Dress Well for Spring, Layer Up