#makeup look
✨ @shrinkle is wearing our newly restocked Heiress lashes with Droplet, 2am, Hotsy Totsy and Poison Plum eyeshadows! #sugarpill
Post link
Kissa menu series: クリームソーダ (cream soda)
After coffee and tea, my most ordered kissa menu item is the cream soda, short for ice-cream soda, a popular showa drink that’s having a comeback right now, even outside of the kissa world. It is normally made of melon soda and vanilla ice-cream (sometimes topped by a cherry), but there are some variations (like blue Hawaii float, orange soda float, coke float, etc.). However, if the menu says クリームソーダ without any specification, it will be a melon soda float. Most kissa make their own soda from sparkling water and syrup.
It is said that Shiseido Parlor in Ginza is the first one who has served cream soda in Japan. Cream soda comes from the U.S., and was patented in 1865. However, that version included egg whites, not ice-cream. The ice-cream float (which is closer to Japan’s cream soda) was also invented in the U.S., but in 1874.
I sadly do not own any bright lime - or melon - green piece, so I made do with a bright mint dress.
Dress: second-hand Milk
Bib: second-hand Victorian Maiden
Hat: thrifted
Bag: second-hand Emily Temple Cute
Shoes: Yosuke
Cream soda socks: Cando
Cream soda earrings: Lisa Retro Meron
Brooches: vintage/thrifted
Post link
Kissa series menu: 珈琲 (coffee)
Now that we are in the drink section of the menu, let’s start with the most important element of any kissaten: the coffee. Some kissa only have one or two variations of coffee, while some have pages of different grains, blends and brewing methods. The latter tend to call themselves 珈琲店 (coffee shop) more, while still fitting in the kissa category. They also offer much better coffee than standard kissa.
Kissaten coffee is almost never espresso based. Before moving to Japan and going on my kissa hunt, I barely drank any coffee that wasn’t espresso-based, and would normally go for latte or cappuccino. Espresso is a relatively new concept in Japan, so if you go to a 純喫茶 (traditional kissa), coffee will normally be brewed by the hand-drip method or the syphon method. It can be served hot or iced, but ice coffee usually has less choice.
In kissa, but also in any coffee grain shop (I make my own coffee at home every morning), they categorise grain by mildness, roasting level and acidity/bitterness balance. Most people like balanced coffee leaning on bitter, while I am a sour coffee fan (for drip coffee). At home, I normally drink coffee first thing in the morning, so I put cream in it for my poor stomach, but if my stomach is not empty, I prefer drinking my coffee black, like you’ll see on my coffee pictures collection (reblog). Also, beware of the “milk” or “cream” they give you in cafés here, as it is almost always liquid creamer (not cream!). That’s why my outfit is all brown with touches of cream, because I usually do not put it in.
Outfit:
Jacket, skirt and blouse: second-hand Innocent World
Gloves: second-hand Victorian Maiden
Bag: second-hand Angelic Pretty
Hat: thrifted
Boots: Sperry topsider
Brooch: vintage
Book earrings: Design Festa
Post link
Kissa menu series: プリン (pudding)
A popular dessert in Japan, プリン or custard pudding is actually a flan or a crème caramel. I tried to know who imported it in Asia first, but it seems most Asian countries have their own version that came from Spain, France or Portugal. Since it’s a dessert that has been around for a long time, it is often associated with kissaten and nostalgia.
The classic kissaten way to serve it is whipped “cream” and a cherry. Another kissa speciality is the プリンアラモード (pudding à la mode), a flan served with whipped “cream” and varied fruits (and sometimes ice cream). It is said Hotel New Grand in Yokohama is its creator (like most kissa menu items).
Outfit rundown
Dress: second-hand Mary Magdalene
Apron: thrifted Pink House
Bag: second-hand Angelic Pretty
Shoes: second-hand Queen Bee
Socks: Innocent World
Bonnet: thrifted (no brand, most likely handmade by its previous owner)
Bolero: thrifted (no brand)
Blouse: Boutique 1861 (old)
Cherry earrings: Wego
Spoon brooch: thrifted
Pudding badge: a gift
Post link
Kissa menu series: オムライス (omurice)
Even though I order tamago sando the most, omurice remains my favourite kissaten food – and quite possibly my favourite yoshoku in general. Omurice (omelet rice) is normally ketchup chicken rice covered by an omelet and served with more ketchup on top or demi-glace sauce. There are other variants, but that’s the classic showa style. The omelet part can be thin (with more rice) or thick and gooey (my favourite, as an egg enthusiast).
It is said Rengatei, a yoshoku restaurant in Ginza, is the first one to have made omurice how we know it now, but I have yet to go there, because every time I go to Ginza for omurice, I always end up at kissa You.
Outfit rundown
Skirt: Ingni (the neck bow is actually the skirts waist tie)
Cardigan: second-hand Milk
Blouse: Boutique 1861
Hat: thrifted
Omurice badge: Milk Misachu
Bag: thrifted
Shoes: Queen Bee
Socks: Cando (I think?)
Belt: vintage
Spoon brooch: thrifted
Post link
Kissa menu series: 玉子サンド (egg sandwich)
There are two main types: the tamagoyaki type (my favourite, but it can be a miss if it’s too wet and turns the bread to mush) and the egg salad type. I also prefer when it includes cucumbers for freshness. It’s definitely the food menu item I order the most because it’s simple and fits well with everything. Plus, it’s generally smaller and easier to digest than other meals.
Another classic menu item is the mixed sandwich (this outfit could represent it as well), which normally includes an egg sandwich, a ham sandwich and a veggie sandwich (served in separate sandwiches or mixed together).
Outfit rundown
Dress: a present by Hakanairo
Bag: thrifted Fint
Blouse: Boutique 1861
Neck scarf: actually the waist tie of another skirt
Beret: thrifted
Shoes: thrifted (no brand?)
Socks: Cando
Tamagoyaki earrings: a present from a friend
Swan brooch, bread brooch and kuri cat charm on bag: from local artists whose social media I don’t know
Spice rack: handmade by me
Post link
I had plans to go see wisterias, but I missed them again this year, so I went to see the May roses at Jindai botanical gardens. Since it was “on the way” (on my crazy walking standards), I also visited Coffee House Tom, a kissa that used to be in Yoyogi, but moved to Chofu, as well as all the very traditional Japanese area surrounding Jindaiji. See my Instagram for those pictures.
Outfit rundown
Dress: second-hand Mary Magdalene
Turtleneck: thrifted
Cardigan: old from Boutique 1861
Bag: second-hand Manifestange Métamorphose temps de fille (yes, it has the full name on it)
Shoes: second-hand Queen Bee
Socks: Old Grimoire
Cameo and umbrella+purse brooch: vintage
Lily of the valley corsage: Pauline Rose
Lavender roses corsages: Design Festa
Ring: thrifted Michal Negrin
Violet hair decoration: handmade by my cousin
Blue roses: Daiso assortment I pinned in
Blue+yellow hairpin: Axes Femme
Post link
Another ridiculously long 20 km walk from east Suginami to Mitaka, visiting Namisuke’s new module, 喫茶Lisbon (est. 1958) and 珈琲松井商店 (an old café dedicated to Dazai), all the way back home by Tamagawa Aqueduct, where Dazai died in 1948. Pictures for all of that on my Instragram.
Outfit rundown
Dress, bag: thrifted Fint
Belt: thrifted
Hat, gloves and cameo: vintage
Shoes: second-hand Queen Bee
Spice rack brooch: handmade from miniatures
Earrings: can’t remember the artist
Post link
Two weeks ago, I had a photoshoot in Shinjuku and wore something casual and easy to change out of and travel with. I liked the hairdo the hairdresser did for my second look and kept it (makeup was made by me, as you can see). I then visited Seibu Coffee while in Shinjuku and rode back home by bike (with a helmet). It’s a miracle the hairdo and makeup lasted(ish) all the way back home, so I took some outfit pictures.
Photoshoot behind the scene and kissa pictures on my Instagrampost.
Outfit rundown
Dress: Anna Sui (a present from many years ago)
Collar: second-hand Victorian Maiden
Hat: vintage
Tote bag: Valerie Bastille
Shoes: Yosuke
Brooch and ring: local artist markets
Cardigan: second-hand Milk
Post link
Something completely different from last post
Comfy knit and wools from cooler days
Outfit rundown:
Skirt: thrifted Lois Crayon
Cardigan: thrifted Liz Lisa
Blouse: thrifted
Shoes: Queen Bee
Pink flower comb: Innocent World
Bag, belt and blue flower ribbon pin: Axes Femme (old/bought at different moments)
Cameo: thrifted Wedgwood
Earrings: Phantom Jewelry
Blue flower corsage: vintage
Felt cat brooch: Design Festa
Ring: Enchantlic Enchantilly
Mucha metal bookmark transformed as a brooch by me
Post link
Here we have a very vibrant Faewoods Doll Orchidaceae in mint resin. She was such a fun challenge to work on before of her coloring. I didn’t want to mute it too much, and she just needed blue and purple freckles.
Both I and the owner are happy with how she turned out!
Want to see more of my work or commission me? Then please check out my website at www[dot]IzasFaceUps[dot]com!
Dolly dear, Sandman’s near. You will soon be sleeping.
Christmas look from last week!! Follow my instagram: beautybykmw
