Tokyo Outfit Diary In A Month


I always dreamed about the convenience of having a ‘capsule’ wardrobe. But then I also thought ‘capsule’ wardrobe only belongs to some group of people with certain aesthetic and style: the minimalists. I didn’t think it could work on me, a person with the necessity to wear at least 3 colors and pattern clash on every outfit. What I wear affects me directly; my colorful hair is a pick-me-up every morning I wake up, my polka dot shoes lighten my mood each time I look down when I walk. It makes me gloomy just imagining if I have to live my daily life wearing the same essential outfit everyday. Is having a capsule wardrobe impossible for people like me? Is there a way which I can hack the system and be a maximalist with a minimum amount of clothes? 




So during my trip to Tokyo in spring for a whole month, I challenged myself to bring the lightest baggage possible and survive with it. I am pretty confident with my packing skill & self-control ability. These items I packed into my suitcase are not necessarily the most basic and the easiest to mix and match, but these are the last things that could bore me out if I wear it multiple times in a month, and that's what's important. ONLY PACK THE FUN STUFF.




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Arriving pretty late in early spring night, it was still cold in Tokyo. I took a stroll for some snacks wearing my multi-colored stripes top from Cottonink, basic pencil jeans, and faux fur jacket I got in Sydney 4 years ago for $10.









I got this blue satin top from S.CLARS, and it became my favorite instantly. If I could wear it every single day for a month, I would, because of the gorgeous color that fits my blonde and pink hair, which by the way is done by my friend Heidi at Serenity Studio.






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Today my duty was doing some report on Ginza Hair Fashion Show for Shiseido, wearing a turtleneck sweater, checkered skirt, and a black opaque stocking. I took this pic with self-timer and this will be the most toned down version of me here, I guess.







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My favorite pants! This BRIGHT GREEN, BELL-BOTTOM pants that is so rare to find anywhere. H&M studio sent me this and I've been wearing this for any occasions when I'm allowed to. Paired it with a basic turtleneck and latex boots.






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I passed by this pink house every morning for a whole month. One day I just set up my tripod and did a self-timer shot as a memento. The first time I tried on this distressed white dress, I swear it made me feel pretty that I was thinking that I should wear this if I'm going to have a chill and laid back wedding party. I am pretty easily pleased person, that's true. But as an average asian woman, finding a dress that fits me perfectly, the length and the cutting, is a rather accidental thing. I'm going to wear this dress repeatedly throughout the month, just like how normal clothes are supposed to be worn.




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By the way, in Tokyo I shared a place with 2 shiba inus. Here is me cuddling with one of them on my slow days. I will talk about them on the next posts. Here I am wearing Cottonink oversized jacket to layer my H&M Studio white dress on windy days.







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This is the good boy.







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Today was snowing hard on labour day. It's a holiday and I got extra bonus time with my friends Deby and Agnes who are usually working on weekdays. We did a photoshoot with my beloved green pants, a scarf as top designed by Agnes, and Kenzo hat.






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This is my room in Tokyo, and my favorite dress in detail.








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After staying alone and traveling solo for a few days, Alika arrived and I moved from Shibuya to Koenji, the Ghibli Museum area. I'm wearing Kasmaran Indonesia's Batik dress which I designed myself, paired with denim pants and denim jacket. If you are thinking I found this hardcore Harajuku style sneakers while I was here, you guessed it right. And it was the last pair.






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Today I attended Tokyo Fashion Week 2018 at Shibuya Hikarie, wearing Patrick Owen's checkered batwing asymmetric dress, and a puffy sleeve, buttoned-up shirt inside.








Early spring weather can be pretty fickle, last weekend was heavy snowing, and then it was sunny, and today was raining. I needed to check the weather forecast before I go out (it's really helpful and accurate). Every day I commuted to 3-5 different places by foot & public transportation and I won't bother bringing umbrella into the train, so I fold my light Lee parka and it will be ready in my pocket anytime. Back to my stripes top and checkered skirt that seemed to go well with my blue parka.





It's an art museum night with Agnes! We went to see Leandro Elrich's exhibition at Mori Art Museum. I found this leopard print outwear earlier at the Tippirag Shimokitazawa thrift store for $15, and the very cute vintage white Doc Mart boots (with HEELS!) for around $20 at DonDonDown On Wednesday Shibuya.






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All my tasks in Tokyo is done, so me and Alika decided to go on a ROADTRIP TO CHIBA. This was my first time doing road trip in Tokyo, accompanied by Japan Local Trip. We drove to Chiba to see blooming nanohana field in Ichihara, picking strawberries, visited a very wholesome village on the border of Tokyo and found a hidden Totoro train station. I will write more about this extended Chiba trip on the next post! Now about the outfit: 







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This bright red blazer I'm wearing is a vintage Yves Saint Laurent blazer I found on thrift store for around $50, and still in great condition. Tokyo thrift store is a bliss. This quirky, fully-smocked pants are also a secondhand deal I found from Shimokitazawa Micmo store for $10. 




And here is a moment of me using car window as mirror while I cut my bangs in front of convenient store, as caught by Alika.



Happy Sunday pals... I don’t write much on instagram (if you want to know my thoughts & shitposts you are welcome to visit my twitter or tumblr) but here I am on my unicycle wearing all thrifted stuff I found while in Tokyo: 🌟 embroidered Dior blazer 🌟 weird patterned denim pants 🌟 vintage doc mart boots with heels (best buy because it was only $20) 〰️ You might have spotted me wearing the same item all over again but where is the shame in finding new ways to spark old pieces? There should be just 🌈pride🌈 because imho thats the #essence of styling amirite 🌟 Also I was challenging myself if I could live off of this ‘capsule wardrobe’ concept whilst being a maximalist, will write the result of my attempt on the blog 🌟 will end this #inspirational #preach caption before it gets more cringy bye 💖


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Here I am on a unicycle, wearing a fuchsia embroidered blazer I found here that is happened to be a vintage Dior. Back to wearing my quirky pants, and white Doc Mart boots. My thrifting game here is blazing.







We found a very cute pink building, the guide said it's a drug store. It didn't look like a drug store, it looked like a photo set. What can you say, Japan is a very photogenic place. So we did a little photo shoot here with my checkered skirt, and my favorite satin top.










Here we are picking strawberries. I am back to wearing my checkered blazer with a red beret hat, and taa-daa, looking like a fresh new outfit right away.








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At this point I'm just switching every possible pair of anything I own now. This is another fresh pair with all the stuff you have already seen and familiar with.







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Last pair, I found this seventies corduroy blazer at Shimokitazawa thirft store for also around $10. I wore it to the retro Japanese disco night at Shibuya here.




Those are all my tips on how to trick everyone into thinking you have unlimited amount of clothes when you only have 1 suitcase. We found 15 plus different styles, maybe more, all while being experimental, effective, and staying true in your actual style.

Fashion tend to correlate with bad consumerism habit, disposable, one-time wear clothes which will get thrown away once it goes out of style. My frugal mind can’t stand that. There should be no shame in wearing the same thing twice. Secondhand pieces should be worn with pride, you are doing great for yourself and the environment. I am quite a sentimental person when it comes to those pile of treasure I found. If you ask me about each piece I purchased, I can tell you a story of where, when, and why I bought it. I need to accept it: I am a fashion hoarder, and I don't even shop that often. What about next time when you think you need new clothes, maybe you don't actually need it. Shop mindfully, maybe what you need is to limit your wardrobe and open new possibilities of dressing up, and spark the creativity out of it.

Comments

  1. This article is very nice and helpful for people like me who are new to the seo industry. Thank you for taking out time to write this article
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  2. I really love how you express yourself through this travel suitcase story. It's really inspire me for a person that sometimes have a difficulty to mix and match while traveling !! Love you Sonia!! <3

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