Meeting Spank! Designer, Tabuchi

I was just thinking, Yuko Yamaguchi-san is the second cute designer I've met with Patrick in Hawaii! Last year in August, we also met Tabuchi, the owner of SPANK. I think that blog post was lost, so I'll recap!

We met up at Waiola Shave Ice in Honolulu, a tasty place to grab some refreshment. I like it because they offer local flavor options, like my favorite, azuki bean. There's an attached gift shop where you can buy the usual snack fare and tee shirts from Waiola Shave ice.

Just don't make this mistake: Patrick and I thought it would be a short walk from Ala Moana Mall, but boy were we wrong! We hiked through (hot and sunny) residential areas in full lolita, which is not the best way to stay fresh. When we finally found the street, Waiola was easy to find. Parking was scarce though!

We did so much with Tabuchi- searching for a Goodwill that didn't exist, visiting the Pirates of the Caribbean Black Pearl in Kaneohe, listening to The Blue Hearts. We wrapped up the day with Purikura at Fun Pix, just when it started to drizzle.

It just goes to show you, you never really know what can happen from day to day! Whenever Patrick and I go out together in loli, something exciting happens. ♪♪

Say Konnichiwa to Hello Kitty!

Yesterday, April 21st at Sephora Ala Moana Center, shoppers were flocking to buy Hello Kitty Merchandise. The first 150 people to spend $50 or more got a hot pink wristband (and complimentary Hello Kitty Puffy Bow), which guaranteed you a chance to meet Yuko Yamaguchi, Tokyo's legendary Hello Kitty designer.

The event was put on by Sephora, to promote Hello Kitty's new signature line of cosmetics and goods.

I met up with Patrick earlier that day, to buy my merch and snag a wrist band. So what can you get for $50 at Sephora? A decent haul, actually!

Left to right: "Roller Girl" Perfume roller ($16); the popular Sakura Print Makeup bag ($28), and Sparkly Purple Nail Polish ($10).

According to shop tenants the makeup bag, and other sakura printed goods were the first to sell out. Other good for sale were brush sets in a Hello Kitty canister, paper goods, compact mirrors, eye shadow compacts, solid perfume necklaces and more, all ranging from $10-$60.

The makeup bag is adorable! There is a lacquered cherry blossom emblem on the bag, and the zipper pull is shaped like the mascot's bow.

The roller ball perfume is very sweet with fruity notes. It reminds me of Miss Dior Cherie.

When I paid for my haul and got my wristband, the shop tenant gave me a complimentary surprise:

Vampire Forest Jsk

On another note, a package came from Japan today! It arrived while I was on campus, so I had to pick it up at the post office...

It is so nice... the cut is flattering. The lace and materials are beautiful. The blue color is rich and blends well with purple roses and hints of silvery blue.

The fabric is much thicker than Sleeping Beauty was, I am so happy about that! I wonder if that's because Vampire Forest was released in late fall, and Sleeping Beauty was released in Spring...

Q-pot Choco-letters

I get spoiled living in Hawaii... Japanese publications, imports and media are everywhere.

One of the coolest things about living here is the Ala Moana Q-pot store. It opened in about August of last year. They hold all kinds of events, like Halloween Costume Contests, visits from the designer Tadaaki Wakamatsu, and the store is usually decorated to reflect the season. (Right now the shop is still decorated for Valentine's Day, so cute!)

The jewelry is kept in pastry cases. In the front, the lamps on the ceiling are shaped like milk pitchers. In the back show room, a chandelier made of forks and spoons sheds soft light on the chocolate brown walls, making the candied treasures glitter. The friendly staff is always eager to assist... I feel like a Princess when I visit them.

There are seasonal pieces, such as last year's Snow Globe necklace in winter, and this year's Valentines Day Melty Chocolate series.

I saw the Melty Chocolate stationery set online a few weeks ago, so went to the store to get it. Unfortunately, it wasn't even for sale yet when I got there! But the staff took my name and number, and gave me a call as soon as it was available.

I picked it up a few days ago (for a reasonable price of $17, including tax). 

The set comes with 5 envelopes, lots of adorable paper, and the same gold sticker seals they use on their shopping bags.

I hope my penpals have a sweet tooth!

PS- Do you like my Q-pot Macaron Ring?

Blooming Garden Jsk

Meta Madness has claimed me once again- and another member of my closet. This week I traded a Moitie Jsk for Meta's highwaist Blooming Garden Jsk, in the ivory color way. If it were any other color I'd have said no, but the brilliant blue in this print had me at 'bonjour'.

To be honest, the stock photos for this piece were underwhelming at best... it makes it look flat, white and starchy. In person, it's delicate, rich, and gorgeous. For one thing, it's not boring-old-white at all! The base color is rich ivory with honey-cream vertical pinstripes.

A majestic manor with iron gates wraps around the border of the skirt, in the distance beyond a sage and ivy colored garden. Boughs of blue and periwinkle roses bunch and drape to frame cafe tables and fountains overflowing with honey. The top half of the skirt and bodice is printed with 'floating' blue bows, rose blooms, and "Metamorphose" written in cursive blue ribbon.

I had tried it on with all cream before, but wanted to see how it would look with black. I wonder if it is too overwhelming?