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Japan holiday snaps and what I bought

Bijou

Veteran

I have just returned from a holiday to Japan. For my family, Japan is just the most perfect holiday destination, so much fun and LOTS of walking.

April in Japan is cherry blossom season, and we were so lucky to see the blossoms.

I decided to purchase only items that I could get in Japan and wanted to add to my casual clothing capsule - so no work wear, just casual items. My purchases were (all in finds)
Hello Kitty bomber jacket
Nike sneakers - lilac and silver glitter (photographed from hotel window)
Lilac handbag - Samantha Thavasa - a Japanese brand

I also bought 2 hoodies, some t-shirts (one of which is in finds), socks and cherry blossom incense.

Holiday wardrobe worked well. Most valuable players - Doc Marten boots, denim jacket and leather blazer, skinny jeans in dark denim, black and light blue. Bao Bao bag is also the ultimate travel companion, light, waterproof, holds lots, packs flat and looks stylish - can be worn with everything, this one is 3 years old and gets thrashed, but is still as good as new.

Photo 1 - rugged up for dinner in Kyoto, wearing a dress
Photo 2 - son is good at chopsticks! New hoodie (with white peacock motif - so a fun match for my denim jacket)
Photo 3 - Inari shrine Kyoto - we climbed to the top - 233m high and 12,000 steps!
Photo 4 - At a movie studio - me and dolls
Photo 5 - With bonsai
Photo 6 - Temple gardens at night
Photo 7 - Nara deer park - double denim, was practical but not the best look
Photo 8 - Shopping for sneakers in Harajuku (Tokyo)
Photo 9 - the cutest coffee! Wearing new Hello Kitty Bomber in Tokyo
Photo 10 - the streets of Shinjuku (Tokyo)
Photo 11 - the streets of Gion (Kyoto)
Photo 12 - cherry blossoms in Kyoto
Photo 13 - lunch at Donny Taco in West Perth (Australia) - being team wear with new bag and sneakers (not shown). Went here after picking up Westies from the kennel. The flight home was gruelling - left hotel at 6.45am to catch the Narita Express and were flying or in transit for 20 hours. So looking a little worst for wear, good job I have some nice sunglasses to hide behind!

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37 replies

Latest reply was from Gigi

Brooklyn

Veteran

Wow! I want to look like you when I go on holidays. So glam!!! And now I want a peacock hoodie. Or a peacock jacket. Or anything peacock. Thanks for sharing such lovely happy photos. Welcome back!

Bennett

Veteran

OK, how is it possible that your legs look AMAZING while wearing a pair of Doc's? YLF!

rachylou

Veteran

Looks like y’all had a blast. Never in a million years would I have thought to wear DMs traveling. This is food for thought(!)

Liesbeth

Veteran

You look amazing! The individual items look quite loud (for my taste) but your outfits are super classy. I want to borrow your weekend style...

Jane

Veteran

Gorgeous photos! We all love Japan very much too, our perfect holiday destination. Tech, fashion, culture, desire for perfection! Snap on the photo! 5 years ago now.

The Doc Marten boots are super and shopping for sneaks in Tokyo sounds fun. And what Bennett says, the DM's absolutely suit your legs!

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Staysfit

Veteran

Bijou, your style is one I admire, whether you are traveling or not. My favorite pictures are those with both you and your son. You look so happy, and I’m glad you showed us some pretty blossoms! Your floral doc martens look amazing with everything! The teal Bao Bao bag is a great color and those geometric patterns are so fun. The leather blazer is elegant and edgy at the same time, I look forward to seeing how you plan to mix it into your wardrobe. The bomber and embroidered jean jacket are also edgy and fun.

Anonymous

I love that forest pic and all the cherry blossoms! Echoing Staysfit about the Docs-how fun, but the peacock jacket is my favorite
A 20 hour flight sounds awful to me though Hope it was smooth!

Bijou

Veteran

Brooklyn - peacocks are so pretty and the perfect colours for you - I am sure the right peacock item will find its way to you.

Bennett - so funny - I wore docs with skirts and dresses in my teens, so maybe that is why I am comfortable wearing them this way now. I do think a shorter skirt length is the key to wearing docs with skirts, unless you go for the Morticia Addams look and have a long slender silhouette (not so great for walking in alas)!

Rachy - I wore my DMs even more than the sneakers - they are just so good for walking - great comfort and ankle support.

Liesbeth - I do tend to be attracted to loud clothing - I think it may be inherited, my Mother loved to wear statement items and colour too. I say if you want to add a statement piece to your wardrobe start with shoes or bag - it is easiest to add a bit of interest without feeling over-the-top.

Jane - so fun that you have the same photo and loved Japan too. Shopping Tokyo for sneaks was fun. We travelled with friends and DS was very influenced by our friend's 14 year old who convinced him that Nike was the label to buy and also to wear clothing oversized. He now wears his t-shirts in a men's size S. I have been teasing him that I will borrow his clothing now!

Staysfit - what a lovely compliment. I always love seeing your WIW pictures and love your colour palette. The black leather blazer is a good piece because it is work appropriate and adds some edge to my prettier dress and heels outfits. I always feel like I have a touch of the Emmanuelle Alte vibe happening when wearing that blazer.

Suntiger - I had been looking for a denim jacket for ages when I finally found the peacock one and it is a great item for travel, being so versatile and robust.

ChrisM

Veteran

love your DM’s!! I didn’t know they were so comfortable... good for you!

Love Japan - such an interesting culture.

ChristelJ

Veteran

Such happy photos! And you wear the most delightful casual items. The Docs make me smile, and your peacock jacket too. All your buys are so snazzy and suit you so well. I love seeing fab style in action around the world!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

It's BLISSFUL to be in Japan in cherry blossom season, and your pics reflect just that, sweet Bijou.

KILLER pics. You are a stylish, fun and happy traveler. Beautiful clothes and person.

#9 is ADORABLE

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

You look fantastic, and so fresh even after days full of walking. I’m glad you had such a fantastic trip, and your purchases seem like perfect souvenirs.

Laura J

So fun! Looks like you had a great time. I'm leaving for my first trip to Tokyo (and Kyoto) tomorrow. Your picks seem like the perfect souvenirs!

JAileen

Veteran

You look fab in your outfits. I love seeing your vacation pictures. Thank you for sharing. I hope to go to Japan someday.

Bijou

Veteran

ChrisM - the DMs are very comfortable, but they do need to be worn in a bit before they are super comfortable like mine are.

ChristelJ - so glad that you like the more fun statement pieces. The DMs were the item that the Japanese girls admired the most, they called them kawaii (cute in Japanese) at a number of boutiques in Tokyo.

Angie - Blissful is the perfect word to describe the cherry blossoms and also the cherry blossom snow that falls when the wind blows. Glad you liked the pretty coffee.

Jenn - whilst we did lots of walking, there were coffee and yummy food breaks to keep us going. DS loved popping into Starbucks for iced chocolate drinks.

Laura - you will have a brilliant time in both Tokyo and Kyoto - a perfect balance of the futuristic Japan and the beauty of historical Japan. We bought Japanese sim cards for our mobile phones at the airport and that meant that we could use Google maps when out and about and search the internet for train timetables and restaurant reviews - it made getting around so easy.

JAileen - I hope you go to Japan too - such a beautiful country and the people are so friendly and hospitable.

Joy

Veteran

Japan has been our best travel destination ever. Kyoto is magical as are the cherry blossoms. After living there about 12 years now, DS1 seems to be tiring of them because of the crowds. JAileen, you must go. I would love to hear your take on where to go birding.
Bijou, did your son love the trip? We saw some great places to take children, especially in the mountains and near the Sea of Japan.
You look fabulous. I have been threatening to wear Hello Kitty for years and want that bomber jacket. It has Hello Kitty with cherry blossoms. What could be more perfect! What is trending in Japan now? We saw every man, woman, and child wearing blush, usually with black. This was before it reached retail in the US, and was perfect for cherry blossom time and early spring.

Karie

(website)

Veteran

I love your outfits! Those Doc Martins are fabulous with dresses.

Mainelady

Veteran

FAB-U-LOUS! Everything! Your pictures of special times, your travel wear and your shopping choices are all so wonderful! Gotta day that your Hello Kitty bomber and your new purse are the pieces I covet the most.

taylor

Veteran

What a wonderful trip for your family, and such beautiful photos!
Welcome back

Runcarla

Veteran

OH! How fab is that Bomber! So glad you and the family had a great vacation.

Lesley

Veteran

So much fun! Great looks and it looks like a great trip.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Wow! You look so great. I love the Hello Kitty bomber especially the cherry blossoms on the front. That pic with the coffee is so cute.
You look fab back in Perth after the long trip as well!- can’t tell. Travel can be so gruelling when you have to fly a long way.
And the pics of you and son are gorgeous. I find it so fun that you and Jane have such similar pics, both with your sons.
I think Vietnam will not be as refined as Japan, somehow. Maybe we will get to Japan one day x

Cardiff girl

Veteran

My daughter would be so jealous of your DM ‘s!what lovely pics,thank you for sharing them with us.

Anonymous

Thanks for sharing these great shots, you look so sweet in number 1

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Gorgeous - you, DS and the scenery. Everything and everybody looks wonderful. The picture of Temple Gardens is amazing. My favorite outfit is #3 but it is a close call.

Sally B

Beautiful

fifthandfinest

(website)

Love your travel wardrobe - the DMs are particularly fabulous. And I'm very jealous of Japan and all the street style you must have soaked up (not to mention everything else!)

Bijou

Veteran

Joy - DS loves Japan too. He particular loves anything ninja, so we went to the movie studios where they make ninja movies in Kyoto and they have activities for aspiring ninjas. I noticed lots of neutrals and an abundance of trench coats in the classic beige colour and black footwear that beautifully bookends Japanese hair. Tonal neutrals, loose fit clothing, long pleated black skirts were the things that I noticed most and mainly worn with sneakers. Now you MUST get a Hello Kitty bomber before DS leaves Japan.

Karie - glad you like the DMs!

Mainlady - the Hello Kitty bomber is lots of fun. Of course I do wonder at times if I need to get a bit more adult in my style... but DH and DS are fine with it, so I will enjoy my bomber.

Taylor - thanks, it is nice to be back home with our dogs.

Runcarla - so glad you like the bomber too!

Lesley - it was a beautiful trip - I feel quite refreshed.

Jenni, Japan is the ultimate place for cute things - even the coffee is cute! I am sure you will have a wonderful time in Vietnam, especially with the wedding. You are right, Japan is definitely a very refined and precise country, it makes the culture in Australia seem casual and lacking in manners.

Cardiff Girl - DMs are classics for any age (or at least that is what I tell myself)!

Isabel - my son is a lovely child, inside and out.

Shevia - the gardens and temples are simply amazing. We have sooo many photos. The outfit you like the most is also one of my favourites, the top is from Uniqlo and I am so glad I duplicated, because the colour is one of my favourites and unfortunately quite hard to find.

SallyB - thank you, it was a beautiful holiday.

Fifthandfinest - yes Japanese street style is inspiring. Luckily there are lots of blogs, so you don't need to visit Japan to get a dose of the style.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

I love all of this, but my favorite (as a lilac lover) is the one of you and your son at the Imari Shrine.

So jelly of the new handbag!

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