A Swedish Girl in a Chery Blossom World
Originally born and raised in Stockholm, Sweden, I moved to Tokyo almost 12 years ago, and I have never looked back. Having lived here for more than a decade, Tokyo is much more than a second home to me, it is a part of me.
My interest in the vintage and rockabilly music scene started right before moving to Tokyo, and I tried my very hardest to find events and like-minded people in a pre-Instagram world, with only occasionally found event flyers as my guide.
In Japan, it took some time for me to become part of the crew, mostly because people did not think that I spoke Japanese and they were too shy to talk to me. I am not very good at striking up conversations with people I do not know, but for me to establish a connection I had to get over my own shyness and be social. Since most did not speak English very well, it was a pleasant surprise when I struck up conversations in Japanese – and I took every opportunity I had to do so. My European looks made me stand out, which meant that they could not ignore me even if they wanted to.
Style-wise, it has been a long journey from my bandana headscarves to the style I have today, and I want to thank the Tokyo vintage and music crew for always being an inspiration to me. In this article, I pay homage and introduce you a little bit to the Tokyo Scene.
The people in Tokyo are known for their impeccable taste in music and clothes. Here, being authentic and staying true to whichever era you are into is of utter importance, even if most people mix garments of different eras to some degree. Many of my style heroes are from Japan, and within that group, there are masters of authenticity, as well as individuals who mix and match with modern fashion…nevertheless always keeping that vintage aesthetic.
Tokyo is known for its music scene, with bands like The Rizlaz, The Pringles, The Rumblers, Souta and the Blitz Attack Boys, and Stomping Riffraffs to name a few. More bands are getting signed with foreign music labels, and I think the winning ingredients are a love for music, authenticity, and style. Most bands that I know not only use period instruments, but they also record with microphones and speakers from the era to make sure they get that gritty sound. Their song choices are also obviously a part of the equation making sure that everyone is having fun while listening. A lot of Tokyo bands are playing in Europe and America this summer, so make sure to check them out!
Tokyo is filled with small vintage shops so it can be a jungle trying to navigate from the ‘90s based thrifts stores to the true vintage gems. The best areas to shop vintage in is Daikanyama, Harajuku, and Kouenji. One of my favorite shops is Boop-Poop-A-Do in Daikanyama, a vintage store that specializes in women’s clothing from the 1920s to 1960s, mainly with clothes from the States. I would recommend you go there if only to see their Bakelite collection, among other jewelry. It is breathtaking and expensive, to say the least. The two owners are as cute as can be and always serve you with a smile on their faces.
In the heart of Harajuku, you will find Jumpin’ Jack’s, a vintage store that I would recommend you visit, if not for the clothes, but to talk to the eccentric owner Sato-san. Here you can find both men and women’s clothing with a specialty in 1950s vintage and reproduction brands. Sato-san also produces his own reproduction collections and is regularly featured in magazines for his Star of Hollywood shirt reproduction designs.
If you are looking for menswear, you should visit Fake Alfa, a store across the street from Jumpin’ Jacks, which specializes in denim and leather garments, with only the best selection from the 1930s to the 1950s.
Another Harajuku store that I would like to recommend is Attractions, a menswear brand that is more than just a reproduction brand. They offer the best quality shirts, denim, leather jackets, and leather engineer boots. Their boots are made in small sizes as well to fit the ladies. Everything is produced in Japan so you can be sure that whatever you buy is going to be of the highest quality.
If you are looking for workwear reproduction, Dapper’s is the brand for you. Using the most exquisite Japanese textiles and producing everything in Japan, they specialize in twill suits, denim wear, cotton sweaters, and leather goods. Lately, they sometimes take on orders for womenswear. Owning a couple of their jersey items myself, this is a brand that I would recommend both for women and men.
Tokyo is such an inspiring city from the way it’s constructed to its street fashion, to the people at its core. I hope that I gave you some ideas of where to visit and gave you a glimpse into what you can expect from your future Tokyo experience. As the Tokyoites would say, mata ne!
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