Friday's outfit

Just a quick post about Friday's outfit.. I wore this to go to Shinjyuku, Tokyo. I am having a hard time finding places here. I miss Philly or New York's block system. It is so easy. But over here, I always have to print out a map, and even if I follow the map, it is impossible to find a place following the land marks, because sometimes 7 eleven goes out of business and no longer exist, or there are three UFJ banks in the area, and I can't find the ride road. Very frustrating. Past two weeks since I got here, I feel like I've spent most of time being lost!

Anyway, I wore a baggy stripe top, and a handmade zipper front skirt that day, with bandolino sandals. Thank God I carried flip flops with me, because I desperately needed to change my shose after wondering around Shunjyuku for half an hour.

Style inspiration: Badgley Mischka

I used to hate one-shoulder dresses. Why? One, because most of the one-shoulder dresses looks like you are miss America with a name tag thing hanging across your shoulder. If you don't look miss America, usually one-shoulder dresses make you look like you are wearing a big plastic bag across your shoulder. Also, it is so inconvenient to have only one shoulder strap, instead of two. You must wear a strapless bra to be able to look right, and I don't like wearing strapless bra, since it always slowly falls off on me because of the flatness of my body.

For the above reasons, I never wore one-shoulder dresses, let alone made one. Until I saw a fall 2009 collection of Badgley Mischka. First of all, I am very impressed that two guys are designing these gorgeous dresses. I know a lot of designers are men, but it still amazes me how men can design something as fitting to woman's body like their collection, and something that makes women beautiful in them.

The three one-shoulder dresses below look so classy, not looking too 80's disco-ish. I especially like the one on the left, with a ribbon falling from your shoulder.
Also, I love their use of color - beautiful colors! violet, dark blue and purplish silver.. I love them all.

Images from InStyle.com

And their ad with Olsen sisters are just too cute!

Those are my inspiration for designing one-shoulder dress with this dark blue fabric I got yesterday.

Fabric shopping in Nippori

Two weeks ago in Philly, I had to give away all my fabric stash, probably about three or four big bags full of them. It was so sad because I had some plan for those fabrics, but never got to it. And there was no way I could take them all, because shipping is so expensive, it is like 130 bucks for 30 pounds.

Today I went to a fabric shopping in Nippori, which is like a fabric row of Japan. It is right off the JR Nippori station, and when you get out of east exit and walk straight ahead, you will start to see row of fabric shops and cheap clothing stores.

Two bags of goodies from Tomato (best fabric shop in Nippori in my opinion)!

Here is what I got:
1. hot pink stretch knit for fall dress
2. blue stretch knit - planning to make a dress to wear for my friend's wedding in the end of September. Considering making a one-shoulder dress, which would be my first try!
3. Sailor cotton fabric..isn't this fabric way too cute?
4. Polka dot
5. Khaki suiting fabric to make more of circle skirt

Black jersey ruffle vest

New creation! Doesn't this look like the vest I borrowed from my sister the other day? The difference is that it has an open back. I like this way better.. what do you think?

I added this to my etsy shop today.

Outfit detail: Tank indio (japanese cheap brand), skirt handmade, belt my sister's, sandals bandolino.
I'm wearing this polka dot skirt here and here also.

Do you wanna know how I made this vest?

Tada!
rectangle and a small hole in the middle :p

credit: Wonderfulhm.

small update of my etsy shop

After two weeks without sewing, I am slowly getting back on creating things again. I made this purple chiffon scarf for fall. I have four of them now in store. My shop is still pretty empty, but I'm adding more stuff in the next couple of weeks, so keep checking back! :)

Fall inspiration: Kate Spade

Kate Spade via Vanilla Tiara on Flickr.

Love the color tights + flats, and wool skirts.

some ideas for tokyo fun

Dress: Unknown
Vest: borrowed from my sister
Sandals: Bandolino

Already September now! I feel like I did not get to enjoy the summer as much this year because of the move. I did not go to beach or pool once this year:( However, I am trying to come up with something fun in Tokyo for the upcoming my husband's birthday in the end of September.

One of the ideas that I found was the boat you can ride in Tokyo, called Amisei. It offers a two hour boat trip in Tokyo, and you get to see the rainbow bridge and Odaiba lightened up at night. Comes with a full Japanese course meal and all you can drink, for about $80 each.

Or, this shooting bar in Roppongi, called Hollow Point.
You get to shoot an air gun at the bar. I thought this might be something guys would like to do.

rock

From Vivi October 2009 issue

I like the studded sandals from the 1st pic.

working from home..

I arrived in Japan last Tuesday, and I started working two days after. The only difference from Philly is that I'm working from home now. It feels very strange working from home. It is so easy to get up and start working in pajamas and glasses (I'm legally blind) without even brushing my teeth (gross). So I decided to make it a rule that I change to regular clothes and put make-up on when I work, just as I would do if I commute to office.

As a proof, here.. I'm not wearing pajamas!
This is from last Thursday. We'll see how long it will last..

Gingham halter top: H&M
Skirt: handmade by me
Belt: Gap
Pumps: Zara, borrowed from my sister

I was inspired by pattern-mixing from here and here.

Omarion dance contest

Tank: Indio (Japanese shop)

Skirt: D&G, thrifted for $30

Vest: my sister's

One of the benefits of having a sister is we can borrow each other's clothes. Well, sometimes it leads to a fight. But since my sister is in Taiwan now, I sneak into her room and borrowed this vest.

Today Andy and I went to a near by mall to hang out there. They had a dance contest, and at the end, Omarion came in and sang. It was cool.

This is not the best pic, but the one in wife-beater is him!