March 2009 archives
We've got an interview with Lydia Kellam (founder + editor-in-chief of The Swede Beat) on thinking Swede Beat 24/7, handing out Swedish mix tapes, the Stockholm/New York fixation and of course her brand spanking new logo. Subscribe here + read on for more...
You can't go to Japan without eating sushi...that would obviously be a crime. So I was positively thrilled when the awesome Miho and Satoshi took me for some of the best sushi I've ever had in my entire life. So fresh!
I stood at the entrance in awe and vowed to come back...which I did with Jenna about 4 hours later. To say we had fun is an absolute understatement, not being able to understand anything that the booth said, we just hysterically giggled along and pressed any button that flashed.
The process isn't a simple one. After taking several pictures, you move to an adjacent booth to "decorate" the photos, each user is given a "side" and you proceed to go through many many many options - color, font, brush size, phrase...it was a full on arcade version of Photoshop. Unbeknownst to us we'd also automatically been manga'd. I know I've said it before but look at our eyes...and skin! I'd definitely have to drink the blood of a thousand virgins who'd been raised on Beluga and swathed in Chinchilla to achieve that kind of complexion.
Eri Utsugi debuted her mercibeaucoup brand at Japan Fashion Week, March 2006 with a catwalk show involving animal-shaped afro wigs and a shower of confetti swept along the runway by models. 3 years later and backed by A-net, the fashion firm founded by Issey Miyake to handle his proteges' solo efforts, Merci Beaucoup's remarkable F/W due lots of attention at Paris Fashion week, where she chose to show.
I leave today and I'm gutted. New York I love you, Manchester you'll always have a special place in my heart but Tokyo is officially my favorite metropolis.
Wow, so much to say...I started writing a blog post to accompany this but it turned into a massive essay. I will eventually post it but for now, some pictures from Day 2's mammoth walk around Shibuya (again!) this place is like a maze! Also the manga'd image of me and Jenna - all the photoshop work was done instantly and automatically. Look at my eyes!
Wow. I've landed, I've explored, I've got lost a few times, I've finally learned how to read a map, my brain feels like its about to explode and I'm loving every minute of it. Weirdest thing seen yet?
The Kingly Masks above — they were on special offer...
I'm currently loving the BNTL blog. Based in the UK and with 4 (or 5) contributers they give an amazing insight into the youth/street culture of England (more so London but still...). Covering everything from music (download the mix-tapes yeah?), to fashion, to art/graffiti, to random parties, nights out, chilling with friends or just pop culture commentary it's always my first go to blog of the day.
