Luau!

Asos Shirt / Kate Sylvester Shorts (similar here) / Topshop Sandals (similar here) / Karen Walker Sunglasses / Celine Bag (similar here)

My first and last barbecue in Japan - aloha style! I wasn't exactly dressed in Hawaiian costume although I was seen to be swinging my hips in a cool blue hula skirt at one stage (I chose it because it secretly complimented my shirt kind of well). I have never worn this outfit before; who would have thought blue and brown go together? Turns out the pop of colour brightened the outfit up and is now my 'go to' for other relaxed summery occasions.

This barbecue was our final get together outside of kindy hours before I leave Japan next week, organised by our hula teacher Mari. Hostess with the mostess - she was up until 2am preparing dishes such as octopus salad and sashimi. Kanpai! Here's to the most amazing people who have made my stay here much more enjoyable. X

Retro Denim & Pearls

Zara Dungarees and Shirt /  Jill Stuart Skirt (similar here) / Beams Pearl Hairclip (similar here) / Pearl Bow Earrings (similar here) / Pearl Collar (similar here) / iPhone Case from Harajuku 

My latest purchases of May, retro inspired and all denim and pearls. Retro denim is having a moment and pearls have always been my biggest love in terms of jewellery. I'm such a retro girl and wish I was born in the '50s! I can't wait to team these Zara dungarees with the Zara shirt underneath and a cool head scarf for a chic '50s look (looking at ya Paris - two more weeks!). The same shirt I'm going to have serious fun in, tying  at my waist paired with my latest purchase, this denim skirt from one of my favourite designers Jill Stuart as well as my little pearl hair clip from Japanese department store, Beams. Two '50s outfits right there! My pearl collar I've only been dying to buy for the last three months to team with one of my vintage midi dresses mentioned here. While I was at it, I thought why not a little crystal saucer to house all my pearls and other jewellery pieces? I found five of these all for only 500 yen at a little antique store down the road from home and will make great little souvenirs as a reminder of my time here (and as gifts for my mum and sister). Almost feeling complete: just need the designer dress for our high tea at The Ritz, and my Louis Vuitton bag and A.P.C sandals for skipping in down the cobbled lanes of Paris and Florence. 11 more sleeps and I'm on my way out of here!

Floral Frenzy

Zara Top / H & M Pants (similar here)/ Oriental Parade Slippers (similar here) / Oroton Sunglasses (similar here)
Asos Bag (similar here)

Sixteen days left in Japan and I am in a frenzy, struggling to tick off my list of places to go and check out and especially to use as content for my blog. It has become my online scrapbook of my time here while giving my friends and family a glimpse in to my life as well as my new wardrobe! 

Looking back I am kicking myself for not using my blog to diary my adventures sooner as our trip to Kyoto last September would have made for some amazing posts - sacred shrines, traditional Japanese gardens, Kinkaku-ji Temple (aka Golden Pavilion), mysterious geisha and the masses of bamboo groves. I guess at the time I was really wallowing in self pity and it wasn't until November that I experienced a spectacular brainwave. I am a fashion fanatic and love to explore so putting two and two together, I began documenting my travels and outfits together. Now I've found myself trying to squeeze in the last lot of sights right up until the night before we leave which means returning to places I visited in the beginning. A post of the majestic Mount Fuji cosied up in my fur coat during January's big snow storm evidently never happened due to visibility so I am praying for glorious weather this weekend to go back and do a little shoot using the mountain as a backdrop. Two weekends ago, we finally journeyed out to the Tsukiji Fish Markets but with men zooming about on funny little motor carts ramming up our butts and slapping us on the backs every time we tried to take a photo didn't really allow for many posey-posey opportunities. That and the place looked like death. Onsens. Well, no clothing is allowed which defects the purpose of an outfit post - its all free-balling and letting everything out. Plus I'm a little self-conscious at being the only person in an onsen without black pubic hairs, obviously. Just saying! 

The biggest issue here is time. I don't think I can give up a day to visit more places when there is so much  to do: packing for Europe; packing up boxes of belongings to ship home; gift shopping for family; last minute shopping for Europe essentials; leaving do's; Andrew's final rugby game; sprucing of the apartment. This post is a great example of what I mean. It was taken just in our neighbourhood of Nakano during a speedy trip in for lunch last Sunday, in between meeting a guy who was buying our bikes and Andrew flying out to Australia that evening for work. The pants were described to me as a 'floral frenzy' and a state of frenzy is how I would describe myself right now. Sheesh, even writing this is getting me all overwhelmed with my list of things to do! Job hunting, sorting out outfits to take to Europe, updating the blog, clearing our camera's memory card, making a playlist for each country, we will really need an extra fourth box to ship everything home....

Photography by Andrew McConchie

On Repeat

A few old and new tracks I can't stop singing and dancing to in front of the mirror.

Ice Cream

Dress from The Yellow Brick Road Boutique (similar here) / Topshop Sandals (similar here) /  Prada Cat Eye Sunglasses (similar here)

Mmmmmm. I have a weakness for the ice creams here. Every weekend I like to pretend I'm throwing a bake off for my taste buds. On Sunday, I indulged in this scrumptious strawberry cheesecake flavour in my favourite '40s-inspired tea dress from a cute boutique in Ponsonby, The Yellow Brick Road Boutique. I just love the retro resonance of a girl in a pretty dress and cat eye sunnies enjoying a good ice cream. A vintage car parked in a rolling meadow would make the most perfect backdrop (but of course we're very hard-pressed to find much greenery in Tokyo). Last week I actually wore this outfit every. Single. Day. And every single day, I went and got ice cream.

Photography by Andrew McConchie and Amanda Ingle

On My Mind

Clockwise from top left: Ksubi Distressed Denim Skirt / Louis Vuitton Saumur GM Bag / Pearl Collar (similar here) / See by Chloe Ruffled Dress /
Topshop Pearl Swing Dress / The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald /
A.P.C Demi Wedge Sandals 

Pay day is next week! There is so much I want to buy but with our Europe trip only a few weeks away, I'm really running out of time to get spending money saved. I would love to treat myself to all of the above but in reality I just can't afford it. The hardest decision is what to buy?

Denim skirt - It's a versatile piece that can transform from 90's chic with a tee tucked in, to something more timeless with a white short sleeved shirt tied at the waist paired with cute sandals and retro sunnies, as seen here on Kirsten Dunst last year. I have been hunting down this outfit ever since. I recently tracked down the shirt so I might as well complete the rest of the outfit!

Bag - Before leaving for Tokyo last August, I promised to treat myself to some duty free shopping in the form of this Louis Vuitton bag. It didn't happen due to lack of funds so I told myself I would definitely get one before I leave Tokyo. I see it as a treat for hanging in there throughout all the homesickness and culture shock, when there were times I was so close to packing everything up and catching the next flight home. Plus, I will feel amazing sight seeing in Paris with this baby.

Designer dress - I have a few dresses from Kiwi designers but nothing from big international brands. The shopping in Tokyo is amazing and every designer you can think of is here. Eight months to save for our trip of a lifetime hasn't allowed me to take advantage of this like I had hoped but seeing since we have booked high tea at The Ritz in London, surely I'm going to need something elegant?

Pearl collar - I love pearls and collars. It's great that collections are still releasing retro collared dresses but this is definitely a cheaper alternative. I have a vintage midi dress that would look perfect with this around the neck line.

Pearl Swing Dress - Did I mention I love pearls? The detailing on this dress is stunning and the silhouette is very 60's inspired. If you know me well, you know I love anything from the 20s right through to the 60s. I have plenty of day dresses but I need more glamorous dresses that I can save for formal occasions.

The Great Gatsby - Must read before the film comes out. Would kill a lot of time during our heinous 21-hour flight to London too.

Sandals - I don't know why it's taken me this long to become obsessed with shoes. I guess it's because I don't earn a lot so the few pairs I have bought are because they are versatile enough to go with everything in my wardrobe - a couple of pairs of black heels, nude heels, a few pairs of flats, boots and one pair of sandals. Same goes with bags but that's another story. I can't wait to really have a shoe collection going and my next shoe purchase will be some investment sandals. I can see myself wearing these on warm balmy nights out in Rome and Paris. Which I will need.

The problem here is I have justified buying everything and now think I need them all. But really...I do.

Zamami

Lara Parker Shirt (similar here) / Zara Jeans (similar here) / Converse Sneakers / Karen Walker Sunglasses

Forgive the messy 'beach hair' look for I completely forgot to pack not only a comb and brush but also shampoo, conditioner and product. I keep asking how I could forget something that is so habitual for me as my hair is the hardest thing ever to maintain. Especially once the salt water gets to it and sexy beach hair is not something I can rock at all. Luckily I didn't forget to pack a warm set of clothes (consisting of this Lara Parker shirt I've had since my uni days, still in great condition) for this unusual nippy-for-a-tropical-island day. In all fairness I think I was a bit chilled to the bone from being completely rained on the night before. 

Photography by Andrew McConchie