New York's got Fifth Avenue, Paris has the Champs Élysées, Sydney's probably the Pitt St Mall and San Francisco's would be Union Square. Yes, I've been shopping. However, while I was shopping in San Francisco, I was off tourist mode so I don't have any pictures I have personally taken out on the streets.
You should know that I have a fascination with Lolita fashion or Japanese street fashion in general. While I was heading to Union Square, I wandered into Angelic Pretty (I really didn't know where I was going until I walked up to it). It's a small boutique, split in half with Harajuku Hearts, so one half is mainly black and the other half is pink! Anyway, I actually took a look and walked around the block, only to come back to purchase a jumperskirt from them.
Warning: these photos are not very good quality since I took them in a hurry, and at night. The room I'm staying in is so dark, even in daylight.
I adore the little tarts on the print but the gingham does make it difficult to spot out the tarts and is a little bit too much for the print. However, I adore Angelic Pretty's prints and I'm glad I now own one of their dresses. It's pretty much a work of art hidden within the gingham.
Of course, there's Baby the Stars Shine Bright and h.NAOTO in the "New People" building, located in Japantown. It felt like I was walking into an art gallery the first time I visited. It's a shame there's nothing like this in Sydney. I also bought a jumperskirt from Baby the Stars Shine Bright. I love their Alice and the Pirates (AatP) line but I have yet to find something I think is worthy of purchasing from the store from that line. While I was visiting this store with my sister, she pointed out an AatP nightgown (I believe it was a nightgown because it was like a long cutsew) and said "Buy this!". She'd prefer it if I don't wear Lolita in public, unless I was lurking around in Japan or in the city. Despite that fact, she adored the designs of AatP but she could never justify spending that much money on a garment for herself (I'm talking about a girl who's happy in jeans and a t-shirt and doesn't care what brand her clothing is). The good thing having her around is that she gives me a reality check and keeps me in line when I go "kid in a candy store" mode in a Lolita boutique.
I still have an obsession with plaid/tartan and it's been like this since childhood. I'm always drawn to this pattern so the first thing I'll ever walk up to or notice first thing I enter a store is a garment with plaid/tartan. If only I can shake this habit off...
What I love about these little "boutiques" is the service I get. The shop assistants are often friendly and while I was shopping at Baby, the shop assistant offered to put the clothes I select in the change room. They also wrap up your purchase nicely in pink tissue paper, so you'd stand there for a little while waiting for them to finish.
Whether it is a good thing or not, most Lolita brands only offer one size. This is why dresses tend to be shirred (either fully or at the back). In my case, I believe it's a good thing because it can fit onto your body because I tend to find that dresses that don't have shirring either have too small of a waist or too big of a bust on me.
As for my other purchases, I just bought a Calvin Klein dress, a pair jeans from Tommy Hilfiger and a lace and cable sweater in emerald green. They're not really that special.
I plan to go shopping again once more in San Francisco before I return to Sydney because I haven't actually entered the h.NAOTO store. Also, I'm hunting down more Lolita items before I leave... but I'm worried it might not fit into my luggage.
Perhaps the next time I post, I'll be back in Sydney safe and sound.
You should know that I have a fascination with Lolita fashion or Japanese street fashion in general. While I was heading to Union Square, I wandered into Angelic Pretty (I really didn't know where I was going until I walked up to it). It's a small boutique, split in half with Harajuku Hearts, so one half is mainly black and the other half is pink! Anyway, I actually took a look and walked around the block, only to come back to purchase a jumperskirt from them.
Warning: these photos are not very good quality since I took them in a hurry, and at night. The room I'm staying in is so dark, even in daylight.
I adore the little tarts on the print but the gingham does make it difficult to spot out the tarts and is a little bit too much for the print. However, I adore Angelic Pretty's prints and I'm glad I now own one of their dresses. It's pretty much a work of art hidden within the gingham.
Of course, there's Baby the Stars Shine Bright and h.NAOTO in the "New People" building, located in Japantown. It felt like I was walking into an art gallery the first time I visited. It's a shame there's nothing like this in Sydney. I also bought a jumperskirt from Baby the Stars Shine Bright. I love their Alice and the Pirates (AatP) line but I have yet to find something I think is worthy of purchasing from the store from that line. While I was visiting this store with my sister, she pointed out an AatP nightgown (I believe it was a nightgown because it was like a long cutsew) and said "Buy this!". She'd prefer it if I don't wear Lolita in public, unless I was lurking around in Japan or in the city. Despite that fact, she adored the designs of AatP but she could never justify spending that much money on a garment for herself (I'm talking about a girl who's happy in jeans and a t-shirt and doesn't care what brand her clothing is). The good thing having her around is that she gives me a reality check and keeps me in line when I go "kid in a candy store" mode in a Lolita boutique.
I still have an obsession with plaid/tartan and it's been like this since childhood. I'm always drawn to this pattern so the first thing I'll ever walk up to or notice first thing I enter a store is a garment with plaid/tartan. If only I can shake this habit off...
What I love about these little "boutiques" is the service I get. The shop assistants are often friendly and while I was shopping at Baby, the shop assistant offered to put the clothes I select in the change room. They also wrap up your purchase nicely in pink tissue paper, so you'd stand there for a little while waiting for them to finish.
Whether it is a good thing or not, most Lolita brands only offer one size. This is why dresses tend to be shirred (either fully or at the back). In my case, I believe it's a good thing because it can fit onto your body because I tend to find that dresses that don't have shirring either have too small of a waist or too big of a bust on me.
As for my other purchases, I just bought a Calvin Klein dress, a pair jeans from Tommy Hilfiger and a lace and cable sweater in emerald green. They're not really that special.
I plan to go shopping again once more in San Francisco before I return to Sydney because I haven't actually entered the h.NAOTO store. Also, I'm hunting down more Lolita items before I leave... but I'm worried it might not fit into my luggage.
Perhaps the next time I post, I'll be back in Sydney safe and sound.
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