Vintage Japan!

Wow. So I made the discovery while on my trip to Japan last month that their vintage stores are absolutely incredibly amazing beyond-belief. This is why:

1. Everything is an amazing quality. Japan must have some seriously trendy grannies because the quality of clothing is fantastic. You don’t have to turn the place upside down to find just 1 or 2 okay vintage pieces – basically every piece on the racks is good. The only hard part is choosing what to buy!
2. Everything is my size! No more searching through endless size 18s and 20s. Japanese people are small and so are their clothes, so everything fit me!
3. Everything is well priced. Well, half the stores were “boutique” and very expensive, but the other half were very well priced, such as the 390 yen and 780 yen stores (that’s about $5 and $9). There were also loads of sales.
4. They are open late at night, which is fantastic if like me you don’t get out of bed until way past midday.

If you are seriously into vintage, you seriously need to consider going to Japan. The best suburbs for vintage are Shimokitazawa, Harujuku and Koenji in Tokyo, and Namba in Osaka. This particular photo was taken in Fukushima in Osaka (not THAT Fukushima by the way). My suitcase literally split at the seams trying to lug all these clothes back but it was completely worth it! There will be more photos up from Japan asap! I'm so excited to post all about it!

Wearing:

Cream Polka-dot textured Cardigan

Vintage from Japan

Lace Frill Socks

Tutuanna (Tokyo)

Maroon Bowler Hat

Markets in Osaka

Vintage Bubblegum Patterned Bow Tie Dress

Vintage Shop in Osaka

Orange Satchel Bag

www.wholesale-dress.net

Black Boots

Vintage

Did you miss me?

xx Annika

Vintage tokyo

So before I left for Tokyo I had NO idea just how amazing the clothes shopping would be. It has just exceeded my expectations and beyond. These are just some terrible quality photos taken last night in the shimokitazawa district, which I felt needed to be shared because in this little town I found the most amazing, incredible well priced vintage arcades I have ever seen in my life. In just one arcade there were literally 30 different little vintage boutiques. I also bought some gorgeous skirts and shirts for 630 yen (about $7.50) each, and a ring, and took pictures of those too. (I do have much better photos of everything in Tokyo but they will have to wait. Sorry about the photos being sideways too, I can't figure out how to rotate them, haha.) Enjoy :)

Farewell! I'm off overseas for a bit!

I wish I could tell you that this is how I will be getting on the plane (when I go to Japan in just a FEW DAYS, just by the way!). Unfortunately, practicality demands that I don’t wear massive sequinned platform boots. Customs would probably have an issue with them too. *Sigh* ah well. I’m going to Japan now. See you all in a month!

H is for Happiness & Harmony (& Hercules!)

The vintage shops here in Sydney have been the absolute BEST at the moment! This amazing warm green cardi with the most gorgeous gold buttons was $3, and these boots $5. I really like this "H" vintage belt as well, just bought yesterday for $2. Unfortunately it's just starting to break, as you can see in the picture :( I shall super glue it back together very soon! Still, can't complain for $2.

Wearing:

Orange Satchel Bag

$9, wholesale-dress.net/lovely-belts-embellished-bag-orange-g1312734.html?union=2365

Bird Pendant Pocketwatch

wholesale-dress.net/fashion-design-birds-embellished-pocket-watch-g1382894.html?union=2365

Vintage Oversized Green Cardigan

$3

Vintage "H" Buckle Leather Belt

$2

Blue and Red Floral Print Dress

$25, Temt

Polka Dot Tights

wholesale-dress.net/fashion-sexy-thin-round-points-socks-black-g1282504.html?union=2365

Vintage Leather Boots

Vinnies, $5

From my backyard to London...

So, it's pretty lame really, but kind of funny, this dodgy photo I took in my backyard on a breaking tripod and self-timer is now on the header of Asos's Fashion Finder website. I guess that's kind of cool in a way.

Life inside a music box

Dress: Vintage handpainted 50s dress from Markets, $25.

Shoes: Wholesale-dress

Music Box by Regina Spektor

The golden days of cashflow... employment... etc etc

 

What do you think of this outfit? 

Also, here are some pretty clothes which I am craving. The glory days of internet shopping are over for me, for the moment anyway, because I am recently (of my own volition) unemployed and the Australian dollar has taken a dive below parity to the US dollar. Meaning things are expenso. And not internet shopping is no fun because clothes retail stores in Australia suck. So here's an impossible wish list of lovely clothes which I want, but sadly cannot have:

Modcloth

Miss Selfridge

Modcloth

Jeffrey Campbell

Dr Marten

Miss Selfridge

 Forever 21

Grungey

 

I need to take better photos of this outfit. But I thought I'd upload it to the old blog anyway for you lovely blog followers :)

90's inspired floral leggings from http://www.wholesale-dress.net/hot-sale-flower-all-match-pants-g1367151.html?union=2365

Black boots from kmart (yeah!)

Pink Peter Pan Collar top from http://www.wholesale-dress.net/fashion-lapel-collar-chiffon-sleeveless-blouse-pink-g1270161.html?union=2365

Help I'm alive my heart keeps beating like a hammer

I love the crazy colours of this new cardigan, although I kinda feel like a lollipop in this outfit.

Wearing:

Dotted White Sheer Tights
$2, wholesale-dress.net/goods.php?id=1334422

Orange Satchel Bag
$9, wholesale-dress.net/goods.php?union=2365&id=1312734

Pleated Chiffon Pale Pink Dress
$10, wholesale-dress.net/goods.php?union=2365&id=1237400

Multicoloured Striped Cardigan
$9, wholesale-dress.net/goods.php?union=2365&id=1383382

Side Buckle Red Heels
$10, wholesale-dress.net/goods.php?union=2365&id=1271875

Traveller's Outfit

Wearing:

Black Woolen Hat

$15, Cotton On

Mustard Crochet Sweater

$5, wholesale-dress.net/goods.php?union=2365&id=1374983

Stripey Sheer Tights

$1, wholesale-dress.net/goods.php?union=2365&id=1327058

World Print Bag

$8, wholesale-dress.net/goods.php?union=2365&id=1250048

Black Glitter Litas

High Waisted Denim Shorts

$9, wholesale-dress.net/goods.php?union=2365&id=1253127

I’m going on my first overseas trip ever to Japan in FIFTEEN (!!) days, and getting very very excited about it too, so I thought that this bag with it’s atlas print was very appropriate for this outfit! Also, new boots! They're so comfy and fantastic and gorgeous, I am in love. You can get them here: http://www.wholesale-dress.net/goods.php?union=2365&id=1382972

Hey, Mister Blue Sky!

Hey, Mister Blue Sky! (by Annika Victoria)

 
Click here to go to the song which the title of my blog refers to!

It's a happy little song, which I thought was appropriate for this light, happy little photo.

wearing:

Peter Pan Collar Blue Lace Dress
$10, wholesale-dress.net/goods.php?union=2365&id=1335567, in dresses

Crochet Sweater
$15, Forever 21, in sweaters

Floral Oxfords
$25, Asos

Bowler Hat
$2, wholesale-dress.net/goods.php?union=2365&id=1362385, in hats

Satchel Bag
$12, wholesale-dress.net/goods.php?union=2365&id=1303791, in bags

Pocketwatch
$10, Sydney Markets, in watches

Last light of the afternoon

LAST LIGHT (by Annika Victoria)

Maps (Blueberry Wine)

MAPS (by Annika Victoria)

So come on baby play me something, like Here Comes the Sun

So come on baby play me something like Here Comes the Sun (by Annika Victoria)

Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots - The Flaming Lips

Wearing:

High Waisted Blue Denim Jeans

$11, wholesale-dress.net/goods.php?id=1374121

Bright Blue Satchel Bag

$10, wholesale-dress.net/goods.php?id=1236171

Orange Peter Pan Collar Blouse

$9, wholesale-dress.net/goods.php?id=1273982

Robot Pocket Watch Necklace

$2, wholesale-dress.net/goods.php?id=1138880

White "Fish Scale" Shoes

$10, wholesale-dress.net/goods.php?id=1286294

Oversized White Sunhat

$2, wholesale-dress.net/goods.php?id=1125575

90s inspired - velvet leggings, oh yeah!

This was my outfit for 90s night at Q Bar last weekend – it was called Teen Spirit and was completely fantastic because all they played all night was the vega boys, nirvana, vitamin c, britney spears, backstreet boys, rage against the machine and just so many more amazing 90s pop songs. Ahhh so so many good childhood memories. I want to go back in time!

Haha I’m also pulling a really strange face in this photo – although I think it was because I was really tired, let’s just say I was trying to be way grunge.

The 90s was definitely the best decade!

Wearing:

Black Boots - $15 - KMart

Stripey Sweater - $15 - Forever 21

Pocketwatch Necklace - $10 - Sydney Markets

Floral Velvet Leggings - $4 - Wholesale-Dress

Geographic Bag - $5 - Wholesale-Dress

Strawberry Wine

Strawberry Wine (by Annika Victoria)

I wore this to a daytime birthday party, and sat in the sunshine drinking strawberry wine. Cheap, delicious strawberry wine. Unusally for me, this outfit has some pretty diverse origins (rather than being all from wholesale-dress.net); this orange jumper I just scored vintage the other day from Vinnies, and it has such a pretty colour and texture. And it was perfect for sitting in the sun drinking strawberry wine. I just love it.


Here's a song called Strawberry Wine by the John Steel Singers as well. It's very good and if anyone is out there reading this blog, you should listen to it.

Wearing:

1. HIGH WAISTED CAMEL SHORTS

   , $15, SOMEWHERE IN ATHENS...
2. 
   

3. KNEE HIGH TIGHTS

   , $2, WHOLESALE-DRESS.NET/GOODS.PHP?UNION=2365&ID=1256922
4. 
   

5. SATCHEL BAG

   , $12, WHOLESALE-DRESS.NET/GOODS.PHP?UNION=2365&ID=1303791
6. 
   

7. TIGER RING

   , $2, WHOLESALE-DRESS.NET/GOODS.PHP?UNION=2365&ID=1373249
8. 
   

9. BLACK LACE-UP WEDGES

   , $40, RUBI SHOES
10. 
    

11. ORANGE KNITTED SWEATER

    , $5, VINTAGE
12. 
    

13. CROCHET COLLAR

    , $5, ASOS

Home Is Wherever I'm With You

Home is wherever I'm with you (by Annika Victoria)

Wearing:

1. Camera Ring

   $1, wholesale-dress.net/goods.php?union=2365&id=1370677

2. Cream "Fish Scale" Shoes

   $10, wholesale-dress.net/goods.php?union=2365&id=1286294

3. Floppy Black Wool Hat

   $15 or $20 (don't remember), Rubi Shoes

4. Polka Dot Collared Shirt

   $6, wholesale-dress.net/goods.php?union=2365&id=1371380

5. High Waisted Skirt with Braces

   $9, wholesale-dress.net/goods.php?union=2365&id=1281596

6. Vintage Suitcase

   Council Collection

7. Key Shaped Pocketwatch

   wholesale-dress.net/goods.php?union=2365&id=1372241

While we were taking photos, I found this suitcase out the front of my neighbours house for council collection. They were just going to throw it out!!!!!! Needless to say I rescused it. Mine now, silly neighbour (I think I may have started to have an issue with hoarding. Nevermind. It just means that I get to have heaps of cool stuff... right?)

Here's some more pictures of this outfit anyway:

This picture here is before I found the suitcase, you can see it in the background there in my neighbours rubbish pile for council collection:

And then I'm real happy here because I stole the suitcase for myself :) haha

Hey, little apple blossom. What seems to be the problem?

Hey little apple blossom (by Annika Victoria)

I felt all stripey so the title is a White Stripes song ;)

1. Movie Reel Necklace

   $1, wholesale-dress.net/goods.php?union=2365

2. Satchel Bag

   $12, wholesale-dress.net/goods.php?union=2365&id=1303791

3. Stripey Oversized Sweater

   $10, Forever 21

4. Assymmetrical Black Skirt

   $6, wholesale-dress.net/goods.php?union=2365&id=1272486

5. Lace White Tights

   $12, Ebay ( I think the shop is called Victoria 17 )

6. Floral Oxfords

   $25, Asos

7. Bowler Hat

   $2, wholesale-dress.net/goods.php?union=2365&id=1299193

8. Lipring

   $10, Pierced Off

A Spring in my Step! (It's Spring tomorrow!!)

A SPRING IN MY STEP (& Spring tomorrow!) (by Annika Victoria)

Coin Operated Boy

I want a coin operated boy (by Annika Victoria)

Gold Lion

Gold lion's gonna tell me where the light is (by Annika Victoria)