Japan - Land of the Rising Sun - travel tips more than welcome!

I am so so so excited that in 3 weeks time I leave for Japan - Land of the Rising Sun.

pic borrowed from nytimes.com

As this is my first time there, I welcome any tips, recommendations and anecdotes of experiences you may have had in Japan...

Briefly, and roughly I plan to stay:

• 7 nights in Tokyo (I will have to explore it slowly, as I will get tired easily - possible day trips if I feel I need to see something other than concrete jungle)
• 1-2 nights in Hakone - onsens (natural hot spring baths) with views of Mt Fuji & Lake Ashi
  
• 7-8 nights in Kyoto (with possible day trips to nearby cities)

In Tokyo, I will be staying in Shinjuku, and plan to explore:

Aoyama

In particular, the Prada store (for its incredible architecture), Dries Van Noten (so different from the Paris store!), and of course, Japanese designers/labels such as Comme des Garcons, Yohji Yamamoto & Issey Miyake

Shibuya, Roppongi Hills, Shinjuku & Harajuku

• To explore the famous Shibuya crossing, the incredible neon lights, shops of all these areas...

• Check out the youngsters at Harajuku (as well as the markets on Sunday).
• Visit the Meiji shrine & Mori Tower
  
• See if I can find any consignment stores with Chanel reissues (any recommendations?)
  

Ginza & Tsukiji Markets

I plan to explore the famous Ginza strip with its limitless stores, and will pop into Laduree & Pierre Herme as well. I also plan to go to the Tsukiji (Fish) markets, for the freshest fish sashimi/sushi ever...Ginza should be especially beautiful at night with all the christmas lights & ornaments...



Asakusa & the Imperial Palace



Hakone

Time to relax after one week's sightseeing in Tokyo, enjoy the beautiful views, onsens (sadly I will not be able to partake of this activity, but hubby, lil' sister & mom will), a boat trip along the lake...and hopefully...a beautiful kaiseki-style meal...





Then on to Kyoto - where my parents have been staying for the last few months...

Kyoto
Exploring this traditional city of Japan, the many temples, castle, shrines and gardens...Hopefully see a geisha or maiko (geisha in training). Possible day trips to Nara, Kobe (yum...kobe beef), Osaka...



Food:
Looking forward to sampling all sorts of Japanese food (bento boxes, ramen noodles, okonomiyaki, sushi, sashimi, MOS burger...

Hope to buy:

• Vintage kimonos (any recommendations on where to find these?) - perhaps even a furisode, if I am lucky (Japanese wedding kimono)
• Beautiful Japanese crockery/china
• Carved and painted Japanese kokeshi wooden dolls
• Maybe a tatami mat
• Any gorgeous or cute Japanese thing I come across that I must have...
  

So, any tips/recommendations/stories/experiences?

Thanks in advance!

Recent Buys: Lanvin & Chloe - Long sought after staples

For several years now I have been on the search for my 'perfect' pair of knee high flat boots, every Winter lamenting I lacked this 'staple' item in my wardrobe...and finally, I have found them! I had spotted these Chloe buckle boots a while back on net-a-porter, and as always, it was sold out in my size, I was so happy to find them again...


I see that I will be wearing mostly flat shoes in the coming months, and especially for my trip to Japan, I needed some good flat shoes, including the Chloe boots, and also a nice pair of Lanvin flats, which I have also had on my 'wishlist' for quite some time...after a little rigmarole (bought 3 pairs, one order cancelled - silly shopzoeonline, one order returned to NAP), I finally found my Lanvin flats...

(pic from Barneys, although I purchased mine from mytheresa.com - excellent service!)

I am so happy with my recent purchases as they have been something I have been after for so long...what about you, any staple items on your wishlist?

Sweets for my feet -Part 2: Sandals (high heels)

Following on from my previous post, 'Sweets for my feet - Part 1: Pumps", I was glad I got to continue my 'sweets' and 'shoes' theme...especially because I was giddy when I found out that French luxury pastries brand Ladurée has partnered with designers (Marni & Christian Louboutin) to make fabulous gift boxes for its macarons. Italian luxury brand Marni created a gold colored macroon box with polka dots and a golden flower for Ladurée. My sister has already been lucky enough to be gifted a box of Christian Louboutin macarons for her birthday...I hear the Marni box will be released early December, and as I have booked my tickets to go to Japan mid-December (Woo hoo! Am so excited, as I have never been to Japan), I am determined to make my way to Ladurée (as well as Pierre Hermé) to get me some of my very own in Tokyo...



Marni patent sandals




My bridesmaid shoes by Top End (they matched my sisters' blush silk satin wedding shoes perfectly), and Chloe gold bow sandals.


Dries Van Noten





From top: Christian Dior Extreme Python Sandals, Gucci by Tom Ford peep-toe clear slingback heels & Prada Ming colourful wedges (I think these were my first pair of 'designer shoes').



Stella McCartney sandals - I purchased the ivory silk satin & swarovski heels before I even got engaged, and saved them as wedding shoes, but as I changed my mind in the last minute regarding my dress, they did not suit my Akira wedding dress, so I only got to wear them to the 'rehearsal dinner'.


It is a shame that sandals do not photograph as well as pumps...

Day 2: Melbourne Shopping Report

Nothing like celebrating with a nice Champagne (Billecarte) breakfast...

French Toast: homemade fig, apricot, hazelnut brioche with praline cream and clover honey

Inside Madam Sou Sou: so French, so bohemian...

Baked eggs Basque style, tomato sauce with chick peas, chorizo, crème fraiche and fresh mint

La Vasette: my favourite store on Brunswick St since I first saw it in the late 90's, beautifully displayed colour-coordinated flowers, and the outside is so cute!

After our bellies were full, it was off for some shopping...

Purchases: Nil for myself. Although I did find my lovely cousin two amazing navy blue dresses (one a gorgeous Prada sleeveless dress, the other a beautiful 3.1 Phillip Lim dress...I was so sad not to be able to buy either for myself due to my expanding waistline, but happy my cousin took them home, and looked so gorgeous in both dresses...). These were purchased at Clover, thanks to i.d.'s recommendation!!!

Today's Outfit: Akira Isogawa silk/cotton embroidered maxi dress from Resort 09, Chloe silk top (worn unbuttoned and upside down, funnily I can see the tag in the photo above), Chloe bracelet lambskin bag & Havaianas slim thongs in Champagne (too hot & bothered to wear anything else).

Breathtaking moments: Finding the 3.1 Phillip Lim dress I have wanted for years, only to find that although last time I tried this size it was too big, this time it was too small, so very bittersweet...It is a shame that the store version is not as long as the runway version, I fell hard for the red flower 'bib' on the dress the first time I saw it (almost 2 years ago).

style.com

Shops covered:
Brunswick St: Clover (No. 404, I believe) - my first time to this store, and I must come back to it next time!
City: Cactus Jam International at QV - Albert Coates Ln, Christensen Copenhagen (ditto), Belinda at GPO - I did not have much time for shopping in the afternoon, nor the stamina, due to the heat.

Food: Champagne breakfast at Madam Sou Sou (231 Brunswick St, Fitzroy) - another brilliant recommendation by the gorgeous and oh SO talented i.d. of justfashionartdesign - Thank you so much Imma! LOVED it!

PS. Thank you all for your well-wishes for hubby's exam! He passed!!! We only found out a few days ago, but he was the only person in the country to pass both the written AND oral exam this year! Not only am I so proud of him, but so happy I finally get him 'back', it's been a long year of studying (and doing less fun stuff, and me having to watch TV with headphones on, haha). WOO HOO!

Day 1: Melbourne Shopping Report

Cool lightbox on Hosier Ln (outside Movida)

Purchases: Nil (does a French manicure & pedicure count?). Was not feeling my best (thought I was coming down with a cold, turned out to be hayfever), and the weather was so hot...I also had limited time today as I was playing chauffeur to hubby, who sat an all-day exam, with a break in between.

Today's Outfit: Akira blue silk/wool dress (oh so comfortable) with Chloe silk blouse worn open and upside down, Havaianas slim thongs in Champagne and Chloe lambskin bracelet bag. I had more a chic outfit planned, but decided to dress for comfort due to the hot weather, and saved it for the evening. When it cooled a little in the evening, I changed into my Rachel Roy draped dress & Christian Dior Extreme Python sandals, I plan to repeat this outfit this weekend for a Moroccan dinner, so will try to take a pic this time...

Breathtaking moments: At the Belinda store on Malvern Road - spotted the Dries Van Noten silver sequinned skirt, a few sizes too big, so did not even try it, but it was a beauty to behold. The stock was very limited, so that was pretty much it. Also quite loved a drapey bronze/gold necklace at Kirrily Johnston. At $280 (and having exceeded my budget for this month, and probably the next), I sadly had to leave it in the store...am still thinking about it though.

Shops covered:

High Street, Armadale: Falke (new store - first one in Australia! Baulked at the merino wool tights at AUS$89, must buy them online for almost half that price), Kirrily Johnston, Scanlan & Theodore. Very sad to find that one of my favourite stores, The Frock Exchange, was no longer in existence.

Malvern Road, Hawksburn: Belinda, Empire Rose, Little Joe by Gail Elliot, Trelise Cooper, Willow.

Food: Found a trendy cafe around the corner from where we were staying (on Yarra St, off Toorak Rd), and had a quick lunch before hubby had to return to his afternoon exam session. My lunch: grilled asparagus with truffle oil, poached egg, mascarpone & smoked salmon. Dinner was at our favourite restaurant: Movida

Left: San Jacobo de Cordoniz- Hunter Valley Quail, partially boned, crumbed and filled with Jamon and Mahon cheese

Right: Viera - Roasted Scallop with Jamon and Potato Foam (this and the Wagyu steak tartare, which we did not order this time, are our favourite dishes here, absolutey delicious!)

Cecina: Air cured Wagyu beef thinly sliced with a truffle foam and poached egg (so amazing! luuuurve truffle anything...)

Carillera de Buey: Slowly braised beef cheek in Pedro Ximenez on cauliflower puree

Costilla con sobrasada: roast lamb cutlet encased in a catalan pork and paprika pate (I was tossing between having this or churros with hot chocolate for 'dessert', but was so curious to try this, so lamb it was...)

REWIND: Dries Van Noten & Rick Owens outfit with a touch of Barcelona

This is the outfit I wore to the Noir Fashion Event I posted about here, as previously mentioned, I was in quite a hurry when I got dressed, and realised I was using 3 pieces from the same Dries Van Noten collection. I just shrugged my shoulders and went: "ah, well! At least I'm dressed"...and ran out the door:




Dress: Rick Owens draped silk dress with pockets (I have one hand in my pocket...)
Jacket: Dries Van Noten sequined cropped silk jacket
Sandals: Dries Van Noten
Clutch: Dries Van Noten silk & leather jewelled sequined & beaded clutch
Necklace: purchased from Gaudi museum in Barcelona (love it!)
Ring: Swarovski Nirvana
(please excuse my super excited face)

In less than 2 days I leave for a short weekend trip to Melbourne, not quite a 'leisure' trip (poor hubby has the exam of his life, and is quite stressed about it), but I will try to squeeze some shopping in (or at least some window shopping)...hm...what should I pack?

The Return of the Prodigal Outfit Post: Batik, Beading and Tapas

click to enlarge

Yes, it has been quite some time since I last posted an outfit post, apologies to you all who have written to say you have missed them...

Last night I went out for dinner with hubby and my cousin, who was visiting from interstate, and we went to one of my favourite restaurant for 'tapas' (not entirely traditional). The weather has warmed up all of a sudden (although it will drop by 15 Celsius from Monday to Tuesday), and in warmer weather I love wearing this Batik print vintage sarong (acquired from my mother's wardrobe, it is actually older than me!). Inspired by Dries Van Noten's latest collection, I decided to dress my batik sarong up a little:


Dress: Batik vintage sarong skirt
Vest: Dries Van Noten top worn back to front and open (it is actually meant to be worn under another printed top)
Shoes: Marni patent sandals
Bag: Chloe lambskin bracelet bag
Jewellery: Necklace from Bauhaus, Swarovski Nirvana ring

The actual 'front' of the top, I absolutely adore the beautiful beading...

I had planned to wear this outfit with my Topshop sequinned jacket, but it was just too warm when I left the house...I forgot to put my Bauhaus bracelet back on when after taking the jacket on.

TAPAS


We started dinner with a Pink Sangria: Brachetto, Aperol, Rosso Antico & Fresh Pink Grapefruit juice; and on the right: Ocean trout, mandarin jelly, mache & carrot (unfortunately this looked better than it tasted, and it did look too pretty to eat, we found it too sweet...)

Hervey Bay scallop, sweet corn polenta, popcorn & basil (absolutely delicious!)

Kingfish sashimi, sago, cucumber & mint

School prawns & saffron rouille

Hubby's favourite (he ordered another two just for himself as 'dessert' after we ate these): Mini wagyu burger with pancetta & beetroot chips

Duck, beetroot, cinnamon tea cake & chocolate (yes, you read right, chocolate! Another dish that sounded/looked more interesting than it tasted...)

Beef carpaccio, pickled mushrooms, wild rice & crispy egg (the crispy 'noodle' things around the runny egg was absolutely incredible...I quite enjoyed this dish).

Dessert: Chocolate fondant & pistachio ice cream

It was my dad's 60th yesterday (he is currently in Japan) and my little sister's b'day on Thursday (she and my other sister are in Marrakesh 'for the weekend', how unfair is that?). FELIZ ANIVERSARIO!!!

Hope you're all having a fabulous weekend...I am off to the beach.