Can I Be A Raccoon Dog?

Let me introduce you to one of my favourite things in the world - The Tanuki. Statues of him sit outside restaurants and gardens to gather wealth. He's boss-eyed. He has a gigantic scrotum. So naturally, I have a Tanuki Print Skirt.

Tanuki make me so happy, it's hard not to laugh as soon as I think of them. I MEAN LOOK AT IT. I came across the statue when I was having a hard time in Tokyo in February. He just cheered me up to no end with his ridiculous little face!

Now, if you've been to Japan or have an interest in Japanese culture you've probably seen this guy before. However, have you seen Tanuki print fabric before? I certainly hadn't until now!

I picked this fabric up in the remnant section just outside Shinjuku's Okadaya in February. They have this great system there, where remnants are divvy-ed up into 2mt lengths and each bundle is ¥980. So thats what, roughly £7? Buying fabric per meter in Japan isn't the cheapest, so this is a great way to get some quality fabrics for a good price.

My eyes caught this cheeky little Tanuki fabric and I grabbed two bundles and ran to that till! My god, though, the quality of this fabric is to die for. It's mid-weight, and the texture is one of my favourite parts of this fabric. Japan does not do crap quality fabrics!

We've seen before that I'm a massive fan of the dirndl. Recently I've found myself more inclined towards separates to create outfits, and dirndls are an easy way to make skirts. Essentially, it's a length of fabric gathered or pleated to a waistband. That's it! Something so simple, yet makes the most striking of garments.

This skirt isn't rocket science and it won't win technical competitions. But hey, it's got everything I need in a skirt; huge patch pockets, a nice sweep, a hint of pom pom and it's red. Oh, and giant-bollocked raccoon dogs, of course.

I decided to pair this outfit with my burgundy doctor bag from Vendula London - mainly because of the frame charms. The Shabby Chic charms are pretty amazing since you can actually take the backs off to fill the frames with whatever you want. My tip? Match your bag to any outfit by using scraps of fabric in them! 

Bodysuit; Primark
Necklace; Topshop (ooold)
Bangles; Vintage 
Bag; Vendula London (Disclaimer)
Shoes; New Look (old)

Sakura Season

If you follow me on Instagram you would have seen that I was lucky enough to go to Tokyo again  last month.

One of the days I spent the morning wandering around the beautiful Shinjuku Gyoen - a gorgeous public garden which has traditional Japanese landscaping and two tea houses. I was even so lucky to see the first signs of cherry blossoms in the gardens, which made me somewhat emotional.

Naturally, I had to get some photos in front of the blossoms because I'm that sort of person. Less naturally, I had to drag a tripod to the other side of the world with me because I was on my own and had no one to take photos for me. This was not an easy task because of other people walking into the shot, and also using my phone as a remote meant a wonderful delay that often caught me off guard.

Don't I just look so happy?

But I was determined, damnit!

I won this Adalene skirt from Lindy Bop's daily Facebook competitions last year, and it really couldn't be much more perfect for this setting! With a border print of Japanese pagodas and Torii gates, cherry blossoms and cranes and even a background with Mount Fuji - it's such a beautiful skirt that I couldn't wait to wear whilst I was in Tokyo.

I'm not really into pink as I always imagined it would either wash me out or clash horrendously with my hair, and boy am I glad I was wrong! The colour is subtle and sweet but looks striking against black, and I'm a big fan of the button-down front.

Lindy Bop's sizing is notoriously disastrous, but I took a 22 in this based on the measurements of the size guide, and it was the perfect size for me, not too tight to cut me up, not too loose to fall off me - but the cotton does have a bit of give!

It also has pockets, and if you've followed me for long enough you might know I have a bit of a thing for them. Anything without pockets is a useless garment to me!

Away from the blossoms and into the shade, I'm wearing my well-loved Rachel coat from Collectif from years ago - and of course, a Vendula London Chocolatiers Grab Bag!

The bag is more of a Parisian feel than the skirt, a little shopfront of a patisserie with cakes and chocolates, which is actually incredibly popular in Japan, which clearly means it was a set meant to be, right? Right.

Coat: Collectif

Hair Flower: Lady Luck's Boutique

Earrings: Bow and Crossbones

Necklace: Handmade 

Top: Primark

Brooch: Luxulite

Belt: Primark

Skirt: Lindy Bop

Shoes: Melissa

Bag: Vendula London (Disclaimer)

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Snapshots of Tokyo

Happy New Year, loves!

I wanted to start 2017 on a good note and show off a few photos from the biggest highlight of my 2016 - I went to motherflippin' TOKYO.

Shibuya Crossing - The busiest crossing in the world!

Depending on how long you've known me, you may or may not know that in my very early teens I became obsessed with Japanese music and fashion, and it had been a dream for the longest time that I would go there.

So I was pretty excited when I got to go to Tokyo for a week with work to be on the Japan Shop Channel - Yeah. Not only did I go to Japan, I just happened to be on live Japanese TV too.

This is an actual screen grab of me being cheesy on actual TV.

My life is bloody brilliant!

I was there for a week and spent most of time around Takeshita Street/Harajuku/Shibuya, but I wanted to show you a few photos of my new favourite place in the world

This was just a cute place in Kayabacho, where I stayed.

Adorable Tokyo Station exclusive Hello Kitty - She's a train driver!

Sake barrels outside the Meiji Shrine in Harajuku 

Takeshita Street in Harajuku - where all the amazing Japanese Street Fashion brands are!

Ginormous Train Driver Pikachu in the Tokyo Station Pokémon Store!

Votives with thanks and wishes at Meiji Jingu

I'm not even sure what these were but it made a cute photo

A traditional wedding at Meiji Jingu - the kimonos were just too beautiful!!

The gigantic 1:1 scale Gundam at Odaiba. Odaiba is a man-made island off Tokyo that is mostly named after Pokémon towns. Yeah.

Ah damn, this post has made me miss it so much - I can't wait to go back again next month!

Have you ever been? Tell me your favourite places!