New momoko doll - Lazy Seventeen

My TW seller just sent me an email this morning about the new momoko doll released in mid nov 08 - Lazy Seventeen.

Her eyes have a nice shade of blue which I simply love. She is wearing skinny jean too. Wow, our dear momoko is keeping up with the fashion industry. Isn't that what she always does? Below are photos gotten for my tw dealer for sharing. According to him, the retail price is 12,800 yen. Let start saving...

Junie Moon Online Shopping is up

Finally Junie Moon Website is available for ordering and they started accepting pre-orders for Neo Veronica Lace, Petite Sally Rice, and Petite Mademoiselle Chocolat de Q-pot at 7.30pm (Japan time) today.

I placed my order for my Petite Mademoiselle Chocolat de Q-pot as soon as the ordering started. Now still waiting for the confirmation email from them. Just pray hard that I can get it.

Neo Blythe "Princess Milk BisQuit de Q-pot"

Just read from the offical blythe website that they are releasing a new neo blythe with Q-pot - Princess Milk BisQuit. Even the name sounds tasty. Hahaha...

This photo was taken from Blythe official website. It shows Madam Choco holding on to Princess Milk BisQuit's accessories. The milk crown is simply CUTE and YUMMY...
Offical website: http://www.blythedoll.com/eng/news/2008/10/sneak_peak_of_neo_blythe_princ_1.html

An illustration of Princess Milk BisQuit. I am so looking forward to see the actual doll when it is out.

Petite Blythe "Mademoiselle Chocolat de Q-pot

Pre-order for Mademoiselle chocolate de Q-Pot pettie blythe started on 14 Oct 2006. And I managed to order for her online, but it turned out that there was a problem with the Junie Moon online and all orders processed during the period of 14 Oct to 20 Oct 08 were cancelled.

I emailed Junie Moon and was notified that the reason was due to the shipping issue. It seems that the orders were processed without shipping fee for those who ordered successfully on the 14th Oct 08. I guess we just need to wait for their system to be up again.

My Nov Japan Trip is postponed

Yes, my nov trip was cancelled. The recent increase in the Yen currency make the intended expenses for my Japan Trip much more expensive than what me and my friends originally planned for. This coupled with the likelihood of a cut in the year end bonus with coming of the recession made us re-think our nov trip to Japan. After much consideration, we decided to postpone the trip to next year and hopefully by then everything is back to normal again...

Q-pot look-a-like found in Strapya World

Strapya world has q-pot look alike cell phone accessories and of course at a much more affordable price, but not as "Glam" as q-pot.




Link - http://www.strapya-world.com/categories/12_1504_4430_4467.html

Q-pot is "hot" in Japan

You may wonder what is Q-Pot. Q-pot is a Japanese based shop selling jewelry and accessories that look like foods, and dessert. Not only the jewelry and accessories look yummy, they are also very beautiful.
Photos of the jewelry and accessories from their official website - http://www.q-pot.jp/




The main shop is located in Harajuku and it is quite diffcult to find without help from those who went there previously. However, you can also purchase online from their website: http://shop.q-pot.jp/

They have collaboration with other companies to come up with special products, for example, they come up with a cholocate bar design I-pod skin. Recently, they are also having a joint collaboration with blythe to come up with a pettie blythe (photo below). It is going to be a limited edition one release in Oct 08. I am so looking forward to that and hopefully I can get one to add to my collection.

My visit to Meiji Shrine

Meiji Shrine is located in Shibuya, Tokyo. Since we are going to visit Harajuku in the afternoon for more shopping in Tokyo, we decided to drop by the shrine in the morning to make full use of our time. Going there is easy, we just need to take a train from Shinjuku where our hotel is located to Meiji-jingumae Sation.

The shrine is located in a forest and it was a long walk into the forest before we actually reach the shrine. I was expecting myself to be sweaty after the walk in the forest, but it turns out to be a totally "unsweaty" one. Hahaha, forests in Japan are not humid like those we have in Singapore and it was rather an enjoyable walk through the forest

Instruction on how to clease ourselves before entering the shrine to pray (Below)

Barrels of sale (nihonshu) donated to the Meiji Shrine that we saw on the way to the shrine (Below)

That's all for now. I would post more photos in my next entry.

Premium outlet in Japan

Most of us are aware of this term "Premium outlets". For those who are not aware of the term - premium outlets, please google this term and you would be able to get results showing the different premium outlets in USA and other countries.

It is not a common term in Singapore, but in countries like Japan and USA, there are a number of such outlets located around the countries. Normally, they are located in quite inaccessible locations away from the central of the cities. Tourists like ourselves like to travel to these outlets to shop for cheaper items.

During my last trip to Japan, my friend and I visited the Gotemba Premium outlet located in Gotemba. We had a great time visiting the stores, which consists of famous brands like, coach, prada, Gucci, YSL, Bottega Veneta, D&G, Jimmy Choo, Samantha Thavasa, etc. The prices of the items are cheaper as some of the products there are mostly "Off season" items, which the stores are selling at a discount. One of my friends bought two coach bags for his mother and friend, as for me, I bought a nike sport bra at 1,000 yen (S$13) and a Samantha Thavasa evening bag at 19,000 yen after a 30% discount.

So if you are going to Tokyo and have an afternoon to spend, you may want to consider going to the premium outlet to do some bargain shopping. For those non-shopaholic, I would not advise visiting the premium outlet as there is practically nothing to do there other than SHOPPING.

One more thing, do not take the bus there, it is going to be a very very long journy due to the traffic condition in Tokyo. Yes. do not be surprise, the traffic jam there is really terrible. Taking the rail is a much better choice.

Information:

Offical website -

http://www.premiumoutlets.co.jp/gotemba/index.php (Japan)

http://www.premiumoutlets.co.jp/en/gotemba/index.php (english)

Please help me... tell me which one to choose?

I am comtemplating buying the pink winter coat for my nov 08 Japan trip from Uniqlo Japan online website. I love the fur and the colour of the winter coat. You may have guess it by now that my favourite colour is baby pink. Yah, I know I am a bimbo. The baby blue one also looks nice with the dark grey fur.
Another design I like is this:

It is a full length coat, and would definitely look great with boots and legging.
The price tag for the pink coat is 7,990 yen, i.e. S$112. If with shipping added, it may come up to S$150 using vpost Japan. While the full length coat is 9,990 yen, i.e. S$140, and close to S$180 with shipping. I went to Winter Wear located at Jurong East Entertainment centre recently to look for similar design winter coat, and was not at all impressed by the collection there.
HOW!!!!!!!! Should I buy the pink winter, the black full length one or buy locally? 好烦

Fancl in Japan

Have been browsing fancl.co.jp website this morning and was quite surprised at the price difference between the fancl products in Singapore and the price in Japan.

I done up a breakdown for easy reference (Price quote from the website as at 20 Sep 2008)

Product Description	Qty	Price in S’pore	Price in Japan		Difference
		(in S$)	(in Yen)	(in S$)1	(in S$)
Mild Cleansing Oil	60 ml	18.00	1,029	14.50	3.50
	120 ml	31.50	1,785	25.00	6.50
		29.75*	1,680*	23.60	6.15
Facial Washing Powder	25 g	15.00	NA	NA	NA
	50 g	26.00	1,260	17.70	8.30
		24.25*	1,205* 1,153**	16.90* 16.20**	7.35 8.05
Facial Washing Powder Light	50 g	26.00	1,260	17.64	8.36
		24.25*	1,205* 1,153**	16.90* 16.20**	7.35 8.05
Facial Washing Liquid	60 ml	20.00	1,050	14.70	5.30
		19.25*	995*	14.00	5.25

*if you buy two items

** if you buy three items

1 Sgd to Yen exchange rate of 0.0140/ 71.4286

Though the price gap is quite a lot, but cost saving is not a lot if we order online from Fancl Japan online and ship to Singapore. As they only ship within Japan and we need to use vpost japan service which is costly and plus the additional 7% tax that may be incurred, it is the same as purchasing the items locally.

But if you have friends going to Japan for tour, you can always ask them to purchase for you to realise the full benefits of the price differences.

My loots from my recent Japan Trip

My recent visit to Japan in Aug really burnt a hole in my pocket. I bought the following items from Burberry Blue Label summer 2008 collection:
A black BBL wallet - it has 6 cards slots and a compartment, size 11x10x3.5CM

A matching black BBL bag - I really like the metal burberry blue label logo in the centre of the bag.

My love for Japan

Japan is my favourite country and I also love Japanese products, like fancl, burberry blue label bags, burberry black label, etc. There are also a number of Japan-exclusive items, products and brands only be available in Japan and no other country in the world.
Whenever me or any of my friends is going to visit Japan, we often received a lot of requests from relatvies, friends and colleagues to help to buy things from Japan. Most than often, it would be things like Burberry Blue Label items and fancl products. It is not difficult to understand why Singapore women like Burberry Blue Label items, as I am also one of them. Hahaha.