Fashion Brand Spotlight: UNIQLO, casual wear with cho elegance

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UNIQLO, a household name in Japan, is a fashion designer and global clothing brand. The company was started back in November 2004.

Orlando Bloom for UNIQLO @ http://www.JapanHEARTSFashion.com

UNIQLO focuses on casual wear, with an elegant flair, and is one of the top 10 largest brand of its kind in the world!

The company has stores in Japan (over 700 of them!), the US, France, Britain, South Korea, China and Hong Kong.

Fall in love with their Fall 2010 looks right here!

UNIQLO Fall 2010 from JapanHEARTSFashion.com

UNIQLO Fall 2010 from JapanHEARTSFashion.com

Charlize Theron for UNIQLO - JapanHEARTSFashion.com

Yes, that’s Charlize Theron in UNIQLO wear.

And don’t you just love, love, love this last look:

xoxo,

JapanHEARTSFashion.com

Wacky Japanese Street Wear

Japan brings to mind sushi, Hello Kitty, Anime movies…and of course just about the most wacky and original fashion in the world.

Japanese street fashion ranges from the European-inspired marked by haute couture looks from the runways of Paris to Milan to the school girl set…and many more.

Photographer Shoichi Aoki has been chronicling the different fashion trends Tokyo has seen since the late 90s in the magazine Fruits . Street fashion in Japan has so many different and unique looks that they have been categorized and named accordingly:

 

Lolita

 

 

This is a European-inspired fashion look very popular in the streets of Japan. Inside this Asian fashion subculture are more subcultures. There is the Gothic Lolita, Sweet Lolita, Classic Lolita, and Punk Lolita.

All these types of Lolita fashion are marked with a Victorian-era look. Some followers of the Lolita fashion even adopt conservative Victorian manners to go with their look!

Ganguro

 

One of the most eye-catching looks in Japanese street wear. Ganguro girls typically have bleached blond or orange hair, dark tans, fake eyelashes, white eyeliner and extremely colorful clothes which are usually in the form of miniskirts or sarongs. The face could be adorned with stickers and platform shoes cover the feet to complete this look.

Ganguro literally means “Black Face”.

 

Kogal

 

 

The Kogal look is your typical Asian schoolgirl look as a fashion statement. The skirt is shorter than most schools would allow and loose socks are worn. This look was very hot in the 90s but has been cooling off since.

Every Halloween, girls around the world continue to pick up this look however.

 

Visual Kei

 

To get the Visual Kei look wear eye-catching makeup, an unusual hairstyle and preferable an androgynous outfit.

Visual Kei is considered by some as a musical genre as the look was influenced by certain musical subcultures in Japan.

 

Cosplay

 

Cosplay is a trimmed down term for “costume roleplay”. Followers of this Asian fashion trend dress up as characters typically from anime, manga or video games.

 

Virtual Craze In Japan: Virtual Pets, Fashion And Lovers

Japan hearts virtual everything… Virtual what? Signs that say “No Pets allowed!” are signs no pet lover wants to see… Most of us are so attached to our adorable poochies and kitties.There are also those allergic to pet dander.

Not to worry because Japan being one of the vanguards in all the techie-stuff from decades ago invented an egg-shaped toy best known as the TAMAGOTCHI!

The original Tamagotchi toy used a dot matrix interface with three buttons A (scroll/ select), B (choose/ set), and C (cancel). Taking care of your virtual pet was easy with the basic needs of your pet namely Health, Games, Toilet, Food, Discipline, Friends, Light and Attention.

You can also interact with other Tamagotchis using the toy’s infrared capabilities. Whenever your Tammy beeps for attention, look at it and check what it needs. With enough love, care and attention, you are sure to grow and nurture a healthy and happy Tamagotchi.

That is only the beginning! When it came to fashion,Japanese street fashion, (read previous blog posts about Wacky street wear) is very influential among fashion girls the world over. Koei created the POP CUTIE Street Fashion Game that is available for the Nintendo DS.

The game is so interesting! One can hire models, run a boutique, sells clothes, ( what every girl dreams of!) and get a chance to be a fashion designer by capturing and combining “images” from real kids on the street.

What is even more fun is the fashion battles where you get to be up against another pop cutie to design an outfit based on a certain amount of items and your outfit will be judged based on several criteria.

This Nintendo DS game would make a great gift to that girl in fashion school or to that girl who’s always longed to be in fashion but is working as doctor or an accountant and needs to past time, take long trips on the train, or gets stuck in a really boring conference!

Virtual pet is the answer for those with pet allergies and those who can’t live with pets in their buildings…or to simply outwit the NO PETs allowed sign Pop Cutie is the answer to a fashionable girl’s dreams! You are never too young or too old to train to be a fashion designer!

Of course Japan being OTT (over the top!) has gone beyond just creating virtual pets and virtual design stores, – the Japanese have gone gaga for virtual boyfriends and girlfriends!

If you don’t believe us check out this uber famous Zettai Kareshi (Absolute Boyfriend)

, a robot designed to be the perfect boyfriend.

A major proof the Japanese can be really serious with this virtual craze, a Japanese man married his virtual girlfriend!!!  Watch it here.

Our take on this craze?

We live life on the fast lane. Some of us work 12-hour shifts, and some of us do not have the opportunity to own a pet, go to fashion school, buy the most coveted gadgets…while some of us are simply unlucky in love.

Hey if one click of a button can make you:

• Play with an egg-shaped toy with a pet on a bad day, no matter where you live
• Enjoy several hours a week in this life
• Laugh and de-stress
• Battle loneliness we all go through…

Let’s not spoil the fun 🙂

All is fair in love,war and the virtual world!

Tokyo, The Center Of Asian Fashion

Who wouldn’t want to visit this trend-setting, ultra modern, seemingly both odd and uber cool city?

There is no place like Tokyo. It may not be for the cheapskates or the nature-loving traveler, but nobody can argue that Tokyo is fascinating!

What makes Tokyo remarkable is not just the fashion sense of its citizens but also the dazzling arrays of world-class hotels, restaurants, and of course the fashion choices available in Tokyo.

Tokyo has been called one of the three command centers in the whole planet along with London and New York!

Shibuya

Shibuya, a ward of Tokyo among a few other districts, has one of the busiest railroad station in the metropolis.  Shibuya is also one of the major fashion centers in Japan. This area is well-loved and populated by the trendy youth of Japan and has a vibrant nightlife.

Dogen-zaka is one of the major streets in Shibuya that boasts a wide selection of night clubs…and love hotels.

Omotesando is another famous street in Shibuya that hosts dozens of designer and branded stores. This strip leads up to the Meiji Shrine.

And of course we can’t talk about Shibuya and not mention…

Harajuku

Harajuku is the name of a train stop in the Shibuya district. This is also where all the fun happens when it comes to wacky Japanese fashion.

Every Sunday young Japanese flock here in their Gothic Lolita, Cosplay and other Japanese fashion styles (see previous post).

Harajuku has also been made more popular in the International community by Gwen Stefani’s “Harajuku Girls”, the pop star’s team of wildly-dressed Japanese girls who dance around with her on tours and videos for her successful album, Love.Angel.Music.Baby.

Check out more pics of Japanese, and even European, teens displaying their delightful and uber unique fashion trends in the streets of Harajuku, Shibuya:

Dating Like a Vampire, Japanese-style

“What’s your blood type” replaces the one-liner “What’s your zodiac sign?”  for singles on the prowl in the Japanese dating scene.

Apparently discussing one’s blood type is an everyday topic for the Japanese while most people in the world probably don’t know what theirs is. Women’s magazines have in-depth articles about the different blood types and the accompanying personality description.

For example, individuals with the blood type A are the Virgos of the zodiac: dependable and self-sacrificing but constant worriers.

Blood type AB people are considered logical, with their feet firmly on the ground while being balanced. However if you have your romantic sights set on an AB-er get rather for a high-maintenance partner who can be difficult to get closed.

Artistic blood type B-ers can be selfish yet free in spirit as well.

One of the scientific backings of this phenomenon in Japan was from a study that compared the blood type of the Taiwanese people. The predominant blood type of the Taiwanese who rebelled against Japanese rule was compared to the blood type of a group of peaceful (read, subservient) people.

As with many type-casting this of course has led to prejudice. It can get so bad that some bosses refuse to deal with people of a particular blood type and a few politicians have waved their blood types in public at an attempt to get some additional votes. One in particular lost. Our guess is his blood type wasn’t the cup of tea for most Japanese.

Japanese Tea And Ultra Sweet Delicious Daifuku

Japanese Vocabulary

• Chado : Way of tea, Japanese tea ceremony involving ceremonial preparation of powdered green tea (Matcha)
• Wagashi : Traditional Japanese sweets served with tea
• Daifuku: Japanese mochi sweets; literally means “Great Luck”
• Matcha: Powdered green tea

Japan hearts tea! Yes definitely do!  Although tea started its roots in China when the second emperor of China, Shen Nung, discovered tea as the leaves blew into his cup of hot water… or so the story goes.  Rumour has it that  a monk brought it to Japan and by 12th century it spread to the samurai.

During the 16th century, Sen Rikyu established the foundation of Chado 茶道 (The Way of Tea) or the Japanese tea ceremony. It has been part of Japan culture since then and it can take as long as four hours!

Nowadays, there are tons of school for Japanese Tea Ceremony and, yes it is quite pricey, but the experience is both refreshing and unforgettable. Japanese people aren’t the only one who hearts their tea, because when tea reached the West around 1600s the British caught the tea bug and the first tea is sold as a health beverage in London, England at Garway’s Coffee House.

The price of tea was so expensive that only the rich and the royalty had easy access to it. Later on Thomas Twinning, served it in his coffee house in London. Today tea is a very strong aspect of the British culture.

Minamoto Kitchoan, a teahouse with branches in Singapore, New York and London (where else!) serves amazing green teas and often times have crash courses on Japanese tea ceremony. Their wagashi and daifuku (traditional Japanese sweets often served with tea) are to die for.

When it comes to tea, the Britons prefer to drink theirs with milk and honey while the simplicity of the green tea is more appreciated in Japan where tea is best served with amazing cakes (daifuku) …

Wherever in the world you enjoy a nice cup of tea, it’s always best enjoyed with the company of dear friends.

Recipe for Japanese Daifuku sweet treats to go with a Japanese tea party:

Ingredients:

* 1 c. sweet or glutinous rice flour (available from Asian markets)

* 2/3 c. water

* 1/4 c. sugar

* corn starch (approx. 1/2 c.)

* anko filling (Red bean paste available in Asian markets)

Step-by-step:

Prepare anko filling, form 12 small balls (marble sized) and set aside.

Prepare a smooth surface, such as a cutting board, by coating with corn starch; be generous, as the dough that will be spread out will be very sticky.

In a microwave bowl or measuring cup, heat water and sugar together in a microwave until sugar is dissolved. Add rice flour and stir completely. Microwave for 2 minutes, remove and stir. Microwave for 2 more minutes or until dough begins to expand. Remove from microwave, stir again, and remove the dough to the corn starch coated surface. The dough, called mochi, will be very hot!

Spread mochi out until thin. Using a knife, cut into 12 even sized pieces. Coat the palms and fingers of your hands in corn starch. Spread each piece out as thin as possible, keeping in mind the mochi is hot. Place an anko ball in the middle, then wrap the mochi around the ball, forming a bigger ball. Roll in corn starch and set on a plate coated with corn starch or a piece of wax paper.

Serve warm or cool. Store in an airtight container. Very perishable.

How To Get Japanese Anime-Inspired Hairstyles

Now how do Japanese men, and some women, get those really spiky hairstyles that stay up all day?

These kinds of spiky ‘do don’t t stay up by themselves without styling products for sure. But what kind do the Japanese use the most?

You can keep reshaping the hair with your hands all day. Lightweight formula containing newly engineered polystretch fiber called the moving rubber. Gives a pliable hold. Non greasy or oily. Fresh green apple scent. No preservatives.

Use the hair rubber on towel-dried hair. The consistency is thick enough for you to be able to style using your fingers or a comb in the direction you want your Japanese hairstyle to point to. Have fun with it!

Why Every Girl Needs This Toy

Nintendo DSi XL. A Nintendo DS that is all grown up. This Nintendo toy, very popular among Japanese girls and female gamers around the planet, is almost 100% bigger than the previous model of this cute Nintendo series.

• It can take photos. You can also upload your photos to Facebook instantly with the Nintendo DSi XL with just a press of a button that instantly connects your Nintendo DSi XL to your Facebook account.
• A majority of the games made for the Nintendo DS are for women.
  
• The Nintendo DS Lite can fit in your purse.
• Waiting for friends for dinner or waiting at the doctor’s office is a drag and this is one fun way to pass time.
• There are hundreds of games to choose from and the Nintendo DSi XL comes with 3 pre-loaded games.
• It’s cheaper than most portable gaming toys (Like the Playstation PSP) out there.
• The best part: You can go online through Wi-Fi on it and surf the web.

Japan HEARTS Fashion

Yes, Japan hearts fashion and the world is fascinated by Japanese fashion.

Welcome to our first post.

The fashion world knows how unique the look of Japanese fashion is. From the streets of Shibuya to Harajuku, Japanese fashion is bold and hard to miss.

Stay tuned for the latest and greatest in Japanese street wear, trends, accessories and beauty products.

We know you love them!

xoxo,

JapanHEARTSFashion Team

R.I.P To The Sony Floppy Disc

Remember floppy discs? They were at their most popular in the mid-90s. Before CDs and the presently popular USB flash drives and online storage, this storage medium was all the rage.

Back in the 90s for the techie-fashionistas it was all about picking the right colors (they didn’t just come in dreary black or gray) and colorful stickers. And what fun labelling them! Uh, ok maybe that’s going too far.

But the floppy discs were definitely a necessity in school or work computing use back then.

Guess what? Say goodbye to them now (like you haven’t for the past dozen years!) because Sony has just recently stopped manufacturing the discs.

Who knew Sony was still making these?!?

We can’t imagine looking back to today in the future and laughing at the graphics of the Sony Playstation 3 or at Facebook. But hey, we didn’t think we would chuckle at floppy discs or Windows 98 back then either!

Party like it’s 1999, dear Sony floppies!