Tokyo Vintage
Sarah working a vintage look on the streets of Shimokitazawa.
Today’s post is a throw-back to my awe-inspiring trip to Japan last May to visit my oldest and dearest friend Sarah (pictured above). We are childhood friends and spent most of our time in school and out of school dressed up in some sort of fancy dress from both of our Mother’s glamorous wardrobes. Whether it was putting plays on in fabulous evening dresses or running around the fields in 1970s floral frocks dressing up was very much a part of our childhood and something we never lost a love for. (Check out my previous History Dress post on Sarah and her fabulous Mum). So it was no surprise that my visit with Sarah in Tokyo would include a pilgrimage to the best vintage spots the city had to offer. Sarah has a keen eye for a vintage bargain so she gave me a whistle stop tour of her top 3- which I would like to share with you now…
Chicago thift store in Harajuku, Tokyo.
HARAJUKU VINTAGE
Chicago Thrift Store, Harajuku & Shimokitazawa, Tokyo
First stop on our Tokyo vintage tour is to Chicago- a vintage store in Shimokitazawa and Harajuku. Chicago is Sarah’s favourite haunt for American street vintage from cool basketball jerseys, denim dungarees and chunky retro knits, it’s also where her husband Nick likes to pick up a Hawaiian shirt or two. For me as a tourist I loved all the amazing Kimono and Yukata they had in store in so many different colours, prints, lengths and styles- I picked up 2 for under 40 euro- one was a short purple kimono with enlarged roses and the other was a long pink silk kimono which skimmed the floor and in which you could only swan about in at home!
Find out more about Chicago here
Beanie hat in Chicago thrift store, it should read, vintage girls kick ass.
Rails of gorgeously hued Yukata (cotton kimono) lined the walls of Chicago thrift store Tokyo.
Harajuku girls working vintage to the max.
KICHIJOJI VINTAGE
New York Joe Exchange, Kichijoji, Tokyo
Sarah lives in the neighbourhood of Kichijoji and as a vistor it was a great way to experience how real suburban Tokyo-ites live. The location is full of the most amazing eating spots and shops hidden down lantern lit alleyways. Down one such road in the direction of the Inokashira park is The New York Joe Exchange, Sarah’s local thrifting haunt which is great for an eclectic mix of quality vintage items including some really unusual pieces. I got very lucky on my first visit and found a really striking crimson red cotton skirt with amazing full pockets for 20 euro.
Find out more about New York Joe Exchange here
SHIMOKITAZAWA VINTAGE
Shimokitazawa Flea Market, Shimokitazawa, Tokyo
Shimokitazawa flea market arcade has a Kanji name but Sarahs directions are to take a west exit of Shimokitazawa station and it is a 2 minute walk. This arcade is a great place for a treasure hunt, particularly for dresses, accessories and one-off emerging Japanese designer stuff. Time is needed for good root around.
For more on vintage in Tokyo, read here.
Follow Sarah’s Japanese adventures on Instagram here.
Myself and Sarah rocking a vintage look and striking a pose against a photo background in Tokyo.
All photos by Ruth Griffin on Canon EOS 600D.