Long Time ... But Let's LOLITA On!

My apologies that I haven't posted in forever! However, I've been extremely active on our Tumblr, OtakuTime, with otaku related and Lolita reposts and shares. So I guess I should update you guys since this is our first time getting together since 2013 happened. I do believe I shared my あけおめ(Happy New Year's) vlogs via Facebook, but in case I didn't ...I'd like to personally wish you a Happy New Year. I truly hope January has been kind to you!



English (above)
日本語(下)



So! Though I've been away a bit, I still have time to make things better I hope. My 2013 intentions, here, on Otakus and Geeks are to not bore you too much with my Lolita rants BUT to share more art and fashion. Of course, Lolita will come up often, but let's get into some other J-fashions and trends. Also, some Lolita art has my life! Not that it's anything new that art is my obsession, but I'm definitely excited to doing my Lolita inspired art. With all of that said, I have no real excuse to not be with you at least once a month. Let's choose the 15th ... because the 1st & the 15th are dear to my life!

My two lifestyle obsessions (tattoo/ art & Lolita) are recently taking to liking each other. I've been fortunate to meet so many kind Lolita's. Some from every walk of Lolita life (Classic, Sweet, Country, Alternative) and made a few friends. Since I've been introducing myself in communities, I've taken care to share that I am an artistic Lolita with my trade being tattooing. It's my hope that I reach Lolita's of alternative career lifestyle and business oriented. I've found that these lovely ladies (& gentlemen) inspire me to grow in Lolita.

As such, my first IRL (in real life) ambitious effort was to organize my first meet-up. I did it at Pinz-N-Needlez Tattoo, my place of INKPLAY in Washington, DC. Our friends from The Sovereign Space stopped by for a bit to take some video and flicks, but being the beauties we are, there were plenty cameras on deck.

*MY CO-ORD*
...was SUPER party girl busy! I received my Bodyline shipment and was excited to have a dress that I'm utterly in love with. Reminiscent of Emily Temple Cute, a brand that I've been considering obsessing over, I have been awestruck by this dress. I assume it's because it's far away from my usual dresses that are easy to lend themselves to a bittersweet type of styling. At any rate, this dress and I have a love/ hate relationship, but the minute I've styled it to my liking I'll be sure to share!
For now, here are a few flicks of my coordinates, all Bodyline and topped of with a Minty Mix split wig, of which I also have to learn to style better as I move into learning how to abuse the use of wigs during the winter.

*The MEET-UP*

... was a make-up and tattoo play date, scheduled for late January, where we could all take over Pinz in our cutest ruffles and bows and talk tattoo while others got quick make-overs, compliments of Kelly Crown, special effects make-up artist and piercer apprentice. I planned/ created the event, as the brainchild of myself and Kelly, back in November and only a few people responded. So I was more than thrilled and excited at the turn out. non-Loli's and dudes came, too! With everyone comfortable, thoroughly down for the cause, and enjoying themselves, I'd rate this event SUPER DOPE!

             

There would be too many introductions to give, but it wouldn't be fair to share that each of these guests are amazing in their own rite. From bakers, to military, seamstresses, photographers, etc. Told yah I'm pretty fortunate to be acquainted with beautiful folks! ^^

*I Scream ... You Scream ... WE ALL SCREAM*
... for RAMEN! at DC's newest ramen spot which isn't too far from the shop, by the way. So what better way to conclude Lolita life for the day than breaking bread with friends at Adam's Morgan's own, Sakura Ramen. I think this part of our meet was a bit more personal, so I'll end here and simply say ... if you want to know, you should plan to come to our next meet-up. ^^ OH! And that Sakura's pan fried gyoza is oisssssshhhiiiiiiiiiii (delicious ;-D)

Hopefully I'll be back sooner than later, but if nothing else ... the 15th of March is all you, BOO! 'Til then, though, I'll miss you bunches, but will be ready to share some more MISS-Adventures!

Remember to paint your days bright!
~je t'adore!

Lolita Crisis!

So I've been away, and even Tumblr hasn't been tumbling but so much. However, I'm a loli with a cause as of late, so my absence hasn't been in vain. In fact, I've been on a mission to connect with more lolita's.

My little Loli sis and I are embarking on an adventure to make the DC Lolita scene a bit more visual. This came into play during the Hello Kitty for President campaign and pop-up shop that was hosted here in DC. At some point, a few nights before Halloween, I started receiving texts and tweets asking where my Lolita friends were and such. I had to respond that there are about 4 Lolita's in the area that I knew of (and we're all friends LOL) ad that most others only dressed for conventions and such.

SO! Needless to say, we're not too pleased with having to share news like that. But instead of pouting about it ... we're trying to make things happen! As such, we've decided to do more meet-ups (at least once a moth) and lined up some road trips and Lolita good times (in the making!)

Here are some pics from our last two bouts around the city. Two weekends back to back and somehow, I found time to start my Live Journal to share my looks. I've also started creating the MISS-Adventures of Indian Pussy short manga (of couuuuurse it's Lolita inspired!). So stay tuned! But ... read what's after the pics and let's see if we can make this happen. K!


 




All of this post was to say LET's KEEP in TOUCH! If you're a Lolita ... or even into Japanese sub-culture fashion (ALL are welcome), please send your info my way! Regardless of location, the more the merrier, right?!

_________________________________________________________________________________
Just a FEW quickies ... 
Be sure to join us on our new Otaku Time Tumblr, for quick geeky & fashion posts. You can submit & share ANYTHING you'd like with the Otakus & Geeks crew!

If there's EVER anything you'd like to see covered, fashion or art related ... or if you just want to send a kind note, be sure to shoot me an email at imani@otakusandgeeks.com >^.*<
_________________________________________________________________________________
'Til next time, you know what it is ...

~je t'adore!
<3 IKB

TATTOO TUESDAY!!!! :: Kyary Pamyu Pamyu is a Fashion Monster

So, playing around on You Tube the other day, I found that I was slipping in knowing wassup in the world of Kyary Pamyu Pamyu ... and the world of fashion, for that matter! LOL

Of course, when I found it I was gearing up for a INKPLAY tattoo portfolio photoshoot and asked that this be the song be the feature. OF COURSE!!! It dropped on Tattoo Tuesday so I'm happy to take a pause for the cause to share a bit of inkplay and Kyary J-Pop goodness with you all!


Kyary Pamyu Pamyu for GU Japan
Be sure to visit their Look Book! It's amazing!







Necomimi ... The HOT Item at NYCC


 At least a year ago, I got a Facebook message from my bestie saying he wished he could buy me moving cat ears. Then, about 2 to 3 months ago, I previewed a J-Pop video that featured them.

Little did I know, silly silly Lolita, that things got REAL! and Necomimi was only seconds from making a splash in the States.

Of course, I get to NYCC and some of the first photos I snap are of the Maid Cafe with their ears all moving. I think "... Sweet! They're showing off the goods". But then evvvveryone has them on. I quickly realize that THIS is the hot item for this year's NYCC.

We got to visit one of the retailers and demo them. Check out the video of Dana as we're joshing around in Necomimis.




****************************************************************

Got questions about my NYCC coverage or want to see more of something? Feel free to email me at imani@otakusandgeeks.com

More images and NYCC coverage is also available on our Tumblr, Otaku Time.
My recap, in both English and Japanese will be available Wednesday at www.jetadoreipbrand.com

~je t'adore!

Everyday Lolita ... in the Workplace

There's a ton of places where we an start with Lolita and this posting is kinda backwards. Or at least, it seems that for any readers who are just getting into Lolita. Don't worry though! Backwards and all, it'll all make sense. Take what you can and use it as you actively enter the world of a Lolita or as you transition into an Everyday Lolita. I think there's a bit of something here for everyone. And if not ... just holla and I'l be happy to make it happen! That being said, let's get busy!

So the all time question of "How can I wear Lolita to work" is a plausible one when you're not in a creative or expressive industry. In fact, most times, if you try and go all in initially, regardless of how super cute and well put together your coordinate is, it may still be frowned upon.


That being said, some tried and true tips to wearing Lolita in the workplace are these:

-Ease people into your fashion choice: Lolita, for unassuming people, can be a lot to take in .. you know, with all the ruffles and bows, oversized skirts and such. So be sure to gradually change your wardrobe a bit.


  1. Swap out your slacks for skirts with a low volume petticoat. 
  2. Rock a smart blazer or blouse with some super feminine aspects like puff sleeves, big bow collars, or lace. 
  3. Express yourself with socks, tights, and accessories (bow headbands, hairclips, small charms, etc.) since those things aren't so "in your face. Slowly people will start to notice your Loli swag though.
  4. Some kick around mary janes, flat or otherwise, are always a plus. And while you're at it, cute flats with bows or updating your exisiting footwear with bows can work too.
*Working within a specific dress code could get tricky so keep some common Loli elements around like charms, a deco phone case ... you get the point. But things that tickle your kawaii Lolita senses will come in handy in such cases.
  

-Know what styles are suitable for the workplace: Usually, the easiest styles to work with are classic, aristocrat, and toned down goth. With these coordinate style types, somber colors, low volume petticoats, discreet hairbows, reserved embellishments, and limited accessories are definitely encouraged. Everything Lolita doesn't always have to be so OTT!


**Some people include old school sweet or sweet Lolita in these, but that can get tricky. That particular Lolita style is usually associated with lots of pinks and blues or pastel-type colors which could go either way in the work place, given your personal Lolita style. However, you could make a huge statement on days you may want to feel a bit "fancier" than others.


-Pay attention to color: As a Lolita you'll already stick out, so you don't have to work very hard at that. Know your surroundings and seek to gracefully enhance them, not just draw all the attention to yourself. In fact, the goal here, is NOT to stick out like a sore thumb. Most corrdinates can be muted, but you and only you know your work place and what others tend to wear, so color coordinate accordingly. 


-Know your limits: While every Lolita wants to be able to coordinate to suit our little kawaii Lolita hearts, the fact of the matter is, there's a place and a time for everything. Find those moments where you can let your Lolita star shine to it's fullest potential. And until then, use the tips above to create your small slice of Lolita heaven at the workplace.


Want to read more? Check this out, The Definitive Guide to Wearing Lolita at Work


_________________________________________________________________________________
Just a FEW quickies ... 
Lolita posts and follow-ups to the Everyday Lolita series will NOT be posted during our NYCC coverage. (but there WILL be some Lolita posts related to NYCC)

Be sure to join us on our new Otaku Time Tumblr, for quick geeky & fashion posts. You can submit & share ANYTHING you'd like with the Otakus & Geeks crew!

If there's EVER anything you'd like to see covered, fashion or art related ... or if you just want to send a kind note, be sure to shoot me an email at imani@otakusandgeeks.com >^.*<
_________________________________________________________________________________
'Til next time, you know what it is ...

~je t'adore!
<3 IKB

Everyday Lolita ... This is JUST the Intro!

As we all know, I am a Lolita to the core! Well, minus the cursing, grills, tattoos ... look! You get the point. My favorite style of fashion is Lolita, hands down. As such, I travel and tattoo Lolita and get asked about the style & fashion a lot.

Recently, I've met a hand full of loli's explaining that they'd love to dress everyday or at least most days. However, the top cocerns are
A). dressing Lolita for the workplace
B). dressing on a budget

Here is my responses to that ...
there's NO EXCUSE! If you want to dress Lolita, there's moooore than enough ways!

Sometimes this gets concerning to me because what girl would limit themselves from playing dress up in an otherwise semi-drab society, right?!

What's your take on dressing Lolita ... or ANY subculture style, for that matter? How often do you dress and would you wear it to work? Is it budget saavy or a "I gotta plan my life" sort-a-thing?

This post is JUST the beginning. I've been doing hella research and trying different looks and snapping many many pictures to give sufficient example of what can happen when it comes to being an everyday Lolita.

 For now, enjoy some of my FAVORITE Lolita warnings ... & next week, let's get to work! We'll be sure to take a thorough look at Exhibit A: dressing Lolita for the workplace.

  

    
and of course, Oscar Wilde has some FAMOUS words to live by!

Just a FEW quickies ... 
Lolita posts and follow-ups to the Everyday Lolita series will NOT be posted during our NYCC coverage. (but there WILL be some Lolita posts related to NYCC)

Be sure to join us on our new Otaku Time Tumblr, for quick geeky & fashion posts. You can submit & share ANYTHING you'd like with the Otakus & Geeks crew!

If there's EVER anything you'd like to see covered, fashion or art related ... or if you just want to send a kind note, be sure to shoot me an email at imani@otakusandgeeks.com >^.*<

Til next time ...
~je t'adore!
<3 IKB



J-Pop Summit Festival In S.F. To Host Japanese Fashion Events


The 2012 J-POP Summit Festival, which takes place across the city’s Japantown district on Saturday and Sunday, August 25th and 26th. Catch the latest inspired designs from cutting edge Japanese brands such as Liz Lisa, h. NAOTO and Baby, The Stars Shine Bright as they stage several fun and free fashion shows and contests throughout the weekend. For event schedule, please visit www.j-pop.com.

The J-POP Summit Festival is honored to welcome Japanese fashion brand, Liz Lisa, for a first-ever appearance in the United States. Founded in the popular Tokyo shopping district of Shibuya, the Liz Lisa brand is built upon a fashion fusion of retro-meets-trendy, infused with a touch of feminine luxury and sensuality to accentuate the wearer’s charm and allure. During the 2012 J-POP Summit, Liz Lisa will host a pop-up boutique inside the NEW PEOPLE retail store offering an array of fashions and unique accessories for sale. Shoppers that spend at least $50 at the boutique will also enjoy free Liz Lisa eyelash makeup on-site by the brand’s official girls team that flying all the way from Tokyo to join in the festival.

Liz Lisa will also host a rose flower-inspired “Shibuya Girls Fashion Contest,” scheduled to take place on Saturday, August 25th at 1:00pm on the Main Pagoda Stage at Peace Plaza. Attendees that feel they that are the best example of a Shibya Fashionista are invited to participate in the contest and show their style at the J-POP Summit Festival! For entry information, check http://www.j-pop.com/2012/liz-lisa-fashion-contest. Prizes will include gorgeous Liz Lisa items. More information on Liz Lisa is available at: http://www.lizlisa.com/en.

Harajuku fashion will also bloom at the festival. Edgy Harajuku fashion brand, h. NAOTO has issued a call to potential female models to participate in their special live J-POP Summit fashion show showcasing the latest Autumn and Winter collections from the new FRILL and GRAMM clothing lines. The show will take place on Saturday, August 25th at 3:00pm on the Main Pagoda Stage in Japantown’s Peace Plaza. FRILL is the brand’s new Lolita-inspired line, while GRAMM is h. NAOTO’s romantic and more organic, “mori” (meaning forest) girl-inspired brand. More information on h. NAOTO is available at: http://www.hnaoto.us.

World renowned Lolita fashion brand Baby, The Stars Shine Bright has been a favorite with festival attendees since the very first J-POP Summit in 2009. The popular brand, which hails from the trendy Harajuku district of Tokyo, opened its first boutique in the U.S. in 2009 at NEW PEOPLE. For the 2012 J-POP Summit, Baby, The Stars Shine Bright invites fans to attend and participate in an Alice In Wonderland-themed fashion contest and show scheduled for Sunday, August 26th at 2:30pm on the Main Pagoda Stage at Peace Plaza. For entry information, please visit: http://www.j-pop.com/2012/baby-fashion-contest/.


Olympics 2012 Fashions

My my my Otakus & Geeks! I have truly missed my fam during this break. But what better way to come back than to talk the hits & misses of this year's Olympics fashions.

From Team Japan to the ever controversial Team USA, I'll be spending the next few Sundays during the 2012 Olympics to see what we can gather about these hits & misses and how to do some everyday wear with any of these looks to make them complete HITS! ... who knows?! Some of these looks could definitely show up in Lolita.

So far, here are my basic hits & misses ... join in & let me know yours since we'll be digging into this yumminess and all of the geeky fashion ways it may have brought with it!

                                                           Undecided         HIT 
                                                                       HIT        HIT
                                                                       HIT        Undecided

                                                                             Miss         Miss


                                                            Undecided         HIT
                                                     Undecided         Undecided

                                                 Undecided         Undecided
Of course HITS are what they are ... and nothing's gonna change my mind. Misses can be changed, some are growing on me the more I look at them, but it could just be because I have to keep looking at them. These undecided picks can definitely go either way, so I'll probably watch those a bit closer in action to make any final decisions.

What's your fashionable thoughts? Email me at imani@otakusandgeeks.com
Until next week
~je t'adore!



Sneakers & Shoes For Otakus & Geeks

Hey Otakus & Geeks. Today I wanted to share some really cool sneakers and shoes that I found just Google searching. Here is some really cool stuff that I found.

Captain America Heels for the ladies. You can see the colors of Capt look awesome. This is great for the ladies who love Captain America. http://www.saledunk.org/Nike-SB-Dunk-High-Heels-Captain-America







Men this is for you. These customize Batman Nike are a great homage to the original Tim Burton design. You can check it out here. http://www.high-top-nike.com/Nike-Dunk-High-Batman-The-Dark-Knight-Logo-Shoes







You can't buy these :(. However these are really awesome sneakers for Cell fans everywhere. Great job on these sneakers.












I know Justin will love these sneakers. Get on "The Grid" with these Adidas TRON sneakers. These are hard to find now, but you can try Ebay.





Can't find out where you can buy these because it's customize. However these Zelda high heels looks really good.











These Nike high heels have a Anime feel. Nice design and the blue looks great.





Pokemon Gengar sneakers really reflect the character. The purple and pink really good for who is a fan of the Pokemon. For more visit http://www.themed-shoes.com/pokemon-gengar-nike-dunks-purple-anime-shoes/









Don't where you can buy these, but these are really cool  Itachi sneakers. Naruto fans will certainly stop you at the cons to find out where did you get them.









Finally put a smile on your face, with these Harley Quinn shoes. Great good when cosplay Harley. Check it out here.
http://www.superherocostumes.com/ladies-harlequin-shoes.html

Fashioning Japanese Subcultures

Since I usually blog about Japanese subculture fashion, I couldn't wait to share this bit of news! One lovely day messing around on twitter, I started following author, Yuniya Kawamura. As she tweeted most subculture fashion interests leading to the release of her book, one day I was brave enough to say something inquiring about her magazine releases in New York. Eventually we started touching base and keeping in contact. In fact, recently we were able to meet and I really hope that won't be the last/ only time

So! I am so happy to share that Yumiya's fourth published book, Fashioning Japanese Subcultures. Today is a great day for this authors work since it has officially released in the UK. Don't worry! The states gets a copy too so we aren't left out. You either hold out until the release date (Aug. 7) or pre-order it at Amazon.com
If you are into ANY Japanese subculture fashion, this book is a DEFINITE must! I won't give any spoilers, but if you would like to read more about this work and the author, please visit Berg Publishers
Be sure to follow Yuniya's twitter for the latest. I'm pretty sure her future published works are just as colorful, great, ad insightful. I ca almost promise you that!

Util next time!
~je t'adore
"paint your day bright"

Dearest Otakus & Geeks

Dearest Otakus and Geeks,

It's been far tooooo long and I miss every last one of you cool ninjas & pirates! As always, I was away with good reason, since it IS any artists busiest time of year. But I'm not returning without goodies. As of late, I have been working on my brand, Indian Pussy Brand, complete with a new site, store, and tons of goodies. Though my last iPukeKAWAiI installation, was just a bit over a month ago now, there's still tons to do in the next month.

In short, I'll be back with goodies in art, fashion, and now ... MUSIC! Otakus and Geeks is also letting me grow here as an artist, so I'll also be a bit more visual in my sharing and some other future treats for the blog I love calling home. All of this will begin August 1, right in time for some of the East Coast's dopest anime & comic conventions!

Don't worry! I'll still be posting until then, but in the mean time, let's hear from you. If there's any fan art, music, news or cool what have you's that you'd like me to consider covering ... reach out! Let's build.

Sun, August 5 @ 1pm
(& every Sunday thereafter)
This Week in ... ! <3 IKB



Until then ... iPukeKAWAiI
~je t'adore!

Cosplay Galore

Hey guys. This time instead of showing you one cosplay girl and boy of the week, I'm going to show you some videos of great cosplays. Here are the links. Who is your favorite cosplay? Enjoy. Cosplay Rules!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (This video's are not mine but others).

Paris Manga 2011 Cosplay
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-JFNrXaso8&feature=relmfu


Cosplay Highlights 2011
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=py8ecTH8uA4&feature=related

Japan Expo Sud 2012 Cosplay Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIVFjqDlqqQ&feature=relmfu




100 Years of Kimono Exhibit


  
Great Sunday kits, kittens, and otakus & geeks! This share was A LOT for my life. A good friend of mine and I got a chance to partake in seeing the exhibit "100 Years of Kimono" for the centennial celebration of the gift of Cherry Blossoms in the US. Sounds like it should be fancy, right?!

Unfortunately, this exhibit did nothing for me! The kimono, don't get me wrong, were GORGEOUS. But being crammed into some "conference room" labeled 'gallery' that was set up for a lunch conference buffet thingy was not the move.

While I was totally interested in gib=ving you all play by play and setting the mood of how the kimono were displayed so rich, with soft lights, and some in cases ... blah blah blah ...
NOT!!
So! Let's forget about all that jazz and see kimono, shall we?!
These were some of my favorite kimono and next to them are some detail snippets of the kinomo.


 

 

Obi: Sorry, they were extremely hard to photograph, but I think you'll get it.

    
   
More kimono. The fabric and color in these were extremely rich, though not among the favorites, for my style/ taste. Maybe they'd suit you or another reader better. But they were definitely worth the share!




 More Kimono detail :
I took pictures of these for tattoo reference but I couldn't be selfish! ;-D



 

Until next time kiddies!
~je t'adore
<3 IKB






Sakura Matsuri :: A Centennial



As always, I'm in random places gathering alllll types of inspiration.. This weekend was no different as we celebrated "One hundred years of the gift if trees" at the National Cherry Blossom parade and Sakura Festival. 
Some of my favorite shops were out and about selling goods, including Stuffed Sushi & I Heart Guts. If you HAVE NOT checked these brands out, please do! You won't EVER be sorry. 
The synopsis is a very abbreviated one. It was great! The fashion was fun so, of course, street snaps happened. I also became a ninja and met a new friend. It's ALL here, I swear! Just scroll down ;-D

 
The street snaps were THE most fun since it was like an anime convention in the streets with lots of cosplay and Japanese street fashion. I got to talk to a lot of people & smile & say thank you & smile ... LOL Really, it was just good vibes and a great day to say "Can I share your look with people?!" Check 'em out!
  
  
  
  

OH! And about me becoming a ninja ... I SO did that! We've got video to prove it BUT when you see it don't laugh. All ninja have to start somewhere ... that's the Ninja Code (i think?! LOL) Really, it was a horribe mess and I am not fit for such line of work, but you can judge for yourself ;-D 
    
Last but not least, that random friend I met is right here! Unfortunately, she didn't speak much English and I don't speak Spanish, but all in all, we both understood "I love you" and we exchanged information. Sounds silly with a major communication barrier, but we both agreed to try to keep in touch. For what? ... even I don't know, but she was so kind, and randomly, that not putting forth an effort would just be silly.

Now for the big question ... How do they celebrate the gift of trees where you live?

Til next time!
~je t'adore! <3 IKB

Let's Talk KICKS!!!!! Imani's Top TEN

In real life, what would fashion be without sneakers? And for those who don't know, I am an AVID sneakerhead ... with quite the collection! So needless to say, I was perusing the interwebs and got sucked into Complex Magazine's 100 Best Sneakers. While I probably would have chosen a whole other best 100, I found some gems that I'd love to share. We'll call them MY Top 10.

But if you get a chance, be sure to check out omplex's 100 & share your top ten with us!

So REALLY! You can't say that these wouldn't be cool for some everyday Lolita looks! Just gotta be creative!


 _________________________________________________________________________________
90. ALIFE x adidas Grand Slam                                           88. adidas skate Busenitz
65. Ronie Fieg x ASICS GEL Lyte III "The Cove"             59. Kanye West for Louis Vuitton "Jasper"                           
 _________________________________________________________________________________

When these hit, the colorways were to die for!!!!!! I wish I could swag out in EVERY color combo possible. (YUP! I said it ... SWAG out,in Supra!)



 _________________________________________________________________________________
an you tell I think Jeremy Scott x Adidas collabs are EVERYTHING?!


 _________________________________________________________________________________

These kicks were a RECORD BREAKER of all types wen they dropped. Want to know why they're called "Banned" and how they actually saved the Nike enterprise? ... Peep an awesome flick "Just For Kicks". There are reasons why Jordan will always be the man! 
I even got to immortalize them on skin! See how 
 
 _________________________________________________________________________________
You can throw bows on either of these and be TOTALLY kawaii! 
                                
Well! That concludes MY TOP 10. What would yours be?

~je t'adore!
<3 IKB






Tattoo Convention KAWAII :: A Talk With Hemet

So! I had the opportunity to tattoo at the San Francisco Body Arts Convention. I'm not too sure that you may be too familiar with the Rock-A-Billy style of tattoo-life fashion, but it's awesome. Aside from that tattoo conventions get overlooked for some of THE MOST kawaii finds ever! That being said, I thought I'd have a chat with one of the con's vendors.
Being that this was my first convention, I was pretty shy about the people and the things I would attract or even gravitate towards. However, after a few quick twirls around the show's floor, I kept visiting Hemet's booth for both the good vibes and smiles ... AND for spending money! *sheesh!* That being said, I  felt it only natural to share some of their Kawaii goodness with you. 

This week in ... Fashion <3, IKB!
IKB: What's your store's name and how long have you all been around?
HEMET: Hemet and we've been around since 2005.

IKB: Tell us a little bit about your brand.
HEMET: Hemet's style is influenced by our lifestyle, rock-a-billy, vintage, and cultural wear. Apparel and jewelry are our own designs and all hand-made.

IKB: In Japanese, kawaii means cute. Can you give show us around your booth with your top 5 kawaii items?

HEMET: Sure! Let's start here ... 
1. the Monster Safari Dress                                       2. Lolita cameo wristlet
 

3. Lolita necklace
(the necklaces hung from an AWESOME tree display!)
 

4. pastoral mini dress                                                     5. skull & roses skirt
 
IKB: Where can we buy the goods after the convention?
HEMET: You can chop our online store, selected boutiques and tattoo expos or follow our FB!


IKB: Last but not least, is there anything else you'd like to share?
HEMET: Sure! We are a family run business, we love what we do, and appreciate all of our customers!
THANKS HEMET!!!!!

These little kids were awesome! And though I was able to buy 2 ... I wanted to take them all away with me! I had to take pics instead :(
This was my pull from Hemet. The sweet cupcake apron and messenger bag and two figurines, a unicorn and a monkey.
    


For future shopping at Hemet, be sure to visit their website. You can explore your own kawaii rock-a-billy style and then you can be as diverse & unique as you want to be ... 

~je t'adore!

Mystique Make-Up Tutorial By Tamang Phan

We found this really cool Mystique Make-Up tutorial on Youtube. For those who ever wanted to cosplay as the character check this tutorial from Tamang Phan. You can follow Tamang On Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/TamangPhan and subscribe to her Youtube Channel for more tutorials http://www.youtube.com/user/dope2111?feature=watch. Great tutorial! 

Pedobear Keycharms

Every time we get something Pedobear related in our inbox. I can't help but make a post about it. This time Pedobear has some really cute key charms that be use for your phone, backpack or anywhere you want to place it. You can check it out at this  link http://catchkuma.com/products/cuddlebear-key-charm and the picture below. Thanks Katie for sending us the link and pic.


Kyary Pamyu Pamyu x Fashion


I'm not too sure who see's my random post. tweets, rants, and etc. about Japanese teen model turned J-Pop star, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu ... But if not, let me be among the first to tell you that I'm a bit of a fan.









This girl, if you have not heard of her, has spunk! And while I'm sure her life has it's ups, downs, and in betweens, her bubbly Harajuku personality always seems to shine through! Aside from that, I'm extremely fascinated when you see people who have a gazillion different looks, the same personality, but somehow seemingly change into a different person with each look. A lot like an everyday Cosplay kinda lifestyle. While I'm not one for a lot of words in my posts, here's a GREAT interview, if you want to know a bit more about her. Aside from that, if you speak Japanese, be sure to check out her official blog.

Well, that's Kyary. And since her latest video just dropped, Candy Candy, I thought I'd take some time to share some of the looks that have intrigued me so. Hopefully you'll find them as amazing as I do.

Enjoy!

 
 
 
 
Be sure to check out Kyary's lastest video, Candy Candy & to flood your eyeballs with more pics, be sure to check out her Twitter and Tumblr.
Until Next Time!
~je t'adore >^.*<