#retro look

Kissa menu series: ミルクセーキ (milkshake)

In Japan, there are two types of milkshake: the American one we all know about, made with ice-cream and various flavours, and the retro showa one served in kissa and other older places, weirdly called “French style” even though it’s not French. The latter is made with milk, eggs, sugar and vanilla extract, and is nowhere as thick as standard milkshake.

My friends and I make the distinction between the two by calling them “milkshake” (pronounced in English) and “mirukuseki” (pronounced in Japan). If you go to a junkissa and see ミルクセーキ on the menu, it is definitely the milk+egg version. It also exists in cans (that look really retro) you can buy in drink machines and shops.

I feared the colour scheme for mirukuseki and lemon squash would be too similar, so I opted for a creamier yellow and a retro train/flight attendant look to make them completely different.

Dress: Pink Muchacha
Cardigan: Axes Femme (with an added fabric belt)
Shoes: John Fluevog
Headbow: second-hand Baby, the Stars Shine Bright
Bag: thrifted
Gloves: vintage
Retro milk bottle earring: Chitose Ame
Ueno badge: official JR merch
Phone cat + swan brooches: various artists

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

Kissa menu series: ピザトースト (pizza toast)

This is exactly what it sounds like: tomato sauce, veggies (often green peppers and onions, sometimes corn), sometimes meat, and cheese on a toast. It is said that kissa Benisica in Ginza (see reblog) is the first one to have done it, but it’s a pretty simple concept most of us have already done at home, so I would take that with a grain of salt (or a few drops of Tabasco in true yoshoku style).
A kissaten’s specialty is the very thick slice of shokupan – the very soft milk bread used for toast in Japan – more than the toppings, which varies from a kissa to another.

Outfit rundown
Dress: vintage
Bag: thrifted Lancôme makeup bag emptied and used as a handbag
Shoes: Queen Bee
Corn socks: Cando
Bracelet: a present
Toast pin: Design Festa
Earrings, spice rack brooch and headwear: handmade by me

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

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

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

Just a crossover between a 20s clown and a 90s villainess

Outfit rundown
Skirt: second-hand Milk
Blouse: second-hand Drug Honey
Belt and bag: thrifted
Hat: offbrand from a local boutique
Little red riding hood brooch: can’t remember the artist
All the other brooches + earring: vintage
Shoes: Yosuke
Otk: Tabio

Back in March, I met with Mia and Iona to have a picnic with the plum blossoms. As I am still avoiding trains and other crowded/closed spaces, I had to walk 3+ hours to get to the park and back, so that’s why I am wearing a style that would fit sneakers.

We stopped by Fru-Full Umegaoka to get fruit treats and pancakes for our picnic. Sadly, it was really windy that day, so we spent most of the picnic trying to protect the food from the dust. You can see how Iona had to help me detangle my hair from the branches because of the wind.

Outfit rundown:
Skirt: thrifted Pink House (ribbon in my hair is originally the waist sash)
Denim jacket: thrifted
Music crop knit: thrifted and modified Jane Marple
Belt: offbrand
Pink top under: Heattech by Uniqlo
Retro phone pin: Mayokichiya
Wood harp brooch: Zackzack Seiffen
Earrings: modified vintage
Other brooches by various artists who don’t have SM

The Immortal One

I’m back.

The Immortal One

I’m back.