Pop-up store: Laforet HARAJUKU in Paris

Last Saturday was the opening of the Laforet HARAJUKU pop-up shop in Paris! From September 23rd to October 3rd, several brands are featured at L'Exception, a French select shop: Angelic Pretty, Baby the Stars Shine Bright, Jane Marple, E Hypen, Nile Perch, Ciara and more. A large selection of brands that would please any Harajuku and Japanese fashion lover~

Many girls, including myself, have been waiting for this day with excitement. Early birds gathered around 9AM, one hour before the official opening time of the store in order to be the first ones in line and make sure to grab the best items! By 10AM, around thirty girls were queuing and before anyone else I was lucky enough to take some pictures of the store to share with you. 

The selection of items was quite recent and large : there was a total of four racks, four mannequins and some shelves holding the accessories that were all from 2017 autumn-winter collection! Since the staff of L'Exception knew about the Harajuku fashion fans coming on the very first day, they did put the most iconic brands on display for the occasion: Angelic Pretty, Baby the Stars Shine Bright, Jane Marple, ... And this was definitely a good move! First half of the pop-up store was popular brands among Harajuku lovers and the other half was more designer/higher end brands such as FURFUR or Honey Salon. 

L'Exception is quite big and Laforet HARAJUKU pop-up store took about one quarter of the room. Which was already amazing: I think the pop-up store itself had a nice size, one of the only things I would regret is that not all of the featured brands were displayed at the opening: some brands as E Hypen weren't for seen until the beginning of the afternoon, which mean several girls, myself included, left before being able to see all of the stock. I could easily go back to L'Exception since I'm living in Paris but some other girls can't or won't and therefore maybe missed one or several amazing items they would have wished for. But at least, the Harajuku fashion fans that couldn't be there on the very first day will also be able to find some really great items!

The second thing I would find regrettable is selection of items itself: I'm not exactly sure what were the conditions under each brands were presented. Was it a matter of number of items? Total worth of the stock? I really don't know, but the thing I do know is that the pop-up store was definitely lacking of accessories. Not counting the brands that only do accessories or smaller items such as Ciara (phone cases and covers) or feast (underwears), only Baby, the Stars Shine Bright and Alice and the Pirates brought accessories to match their stock : few legwears and headwears as long as an endless count of Usakumya and Kumakumya bags. 

This lead to many girls leaving the store empty handed: since the brands featured in the pop-up are on the more expensive side, it was incredibly hard to find something under 50€ or even 100€. However, regarding the prices, on a happier note, all the items are priced quite closed to current the euro-yen exchange. There was no taxes or hidden fees which means it was basically like shopping directly in Japan! What a great surprise! 

In my opinion, the overall experience was really nice: Laforet and L'Exception staff were lovely and professional, many amazing brands were featured, the prices were really nice compared to the original ones in yen. Apart from the lack of accessories and the fact that not all brands were presented at the same time, I would say this definitely was a really good first time pop-up store for Laforet! I hope it will encounters the success it deserves and that they will soon come back with even more brands (and more accessories) ♡ 

Thank you for reading! See you soon for more endless writings about Japanese fashion~ 

I'll leave you here with some street snaps (I wish I could have taken more!!)
and pictures of my own purchase ♡

Pop-up store Laforet HARAJUKU

L'EXCEPTION

Forum des Halles,

24 rue Berger, 75001, Paris

Du 23 septembre au 3 octobre 2017

Ouvert du lundi au  samedi de 10h à 20h

et le dimanche de 11h à 19h

Summer events 2015 — Day 1: Angelic Pretty pop-up shop opening

Hi deers~ My laziness was strong this year and I really didn't take a lot of pictures during events, I'm sorry about that but I will do my best to still give you nice and lovely reports. Better begin with the first day: the opening of Angelic Pretty pop-up shop! As usual, it's one of my most awaited day so I couldn't contain my excitement.

We couldn't take pictures of the shop itself (especially inside), but I still have some glimpses of what it looked like! We had a lot of new releases and popular dresses, as well as some useful basic accessories. I didn't have a lot of budget this year so I was glad that none of the lucky packs or dresses really appealed to me (Except that Milky Cross OP (；▽；)).

Though I'm not a big fan of the dress, I love the Fantasic Carnival's print.

As last year, Marie and I got up pretty early in order to make sure we would be one of first girls in front of the shop. It worked again and we were glad to be the 3rd and 4th in line (Mei and Miyu were actually in front of the shop waaay earlier than us, haha). Thanks to our early awakening I was able to buy one of my dream bag and two pairs of really lovely ankle socks.

I don't know if it was that useful for me to be 4th in line since the store's most popular content wasn't that in my taste but I was REALLY glad I could grab the Misty Sky OP in Pink for one of my friend. I know it was her dream dress for so long, I felt so happy I could get it to her~ (I'm definitely one good shopping service ☆～（ゝ。∂）). 

1st to 10th in line is the dream team. With Roxane and Marina.

Girls queuing in front of the pop-up shop.

My Angelic Pretty's loot of this day! Isn't everything so cute? ♡

This year's summer was incredibly hot so I tried to stay as cool as possible with shorts-sleeves OPs and blouse-less JSKs. I was actually supposed to receive a parcel with new lolitas items in it for the events, unfortunately I didn't get it in time and had to re-think about new outfits nearly every single day..... （；へ：）For the opening I went for a retro-inspired look with red and purple colour combo, I was glad to be able to wear that OP again, it so cute and comfortable (understand: not too hot for the season). I definitely wished I had more red accessories to coord with it, maybe some bracelet or socks, but it's not something I own (yet). 

As usual, thanks to Marie for these beautiful photographs.

As you can imagine, we waited for a very long time in front of the shop (up to 2 hours or more?). It may have been tiring but at least we had time to eat delicious cakes and drinks from Aki boulangerie (a Japanese bakery store next to the AP pop-up shop) and, of course, take coordination pictures! Beware of the incoming spam...

Marie being the perfect AP-lady

Marine was as cute as usual, I love this print so much!

Miyu wearing Misty Sky, the black x with x lavender was a really cute combo.

Mei was being super elegant for the pop-up store opening!!

Cute and comfy coordination with Crystal Dream Carnival (dark blue really highlights this print).

Roxane's hair was perfectly matching her outfit! 

We also definitely had time for derpy pictures as everyone brought their cameras!

It was definitely a great way to begin this year's summer events! Nice weather, friendly people, an amazing pop-up shop and of course being able to see again all of your friends~ (and I don't know how this happens every year but everything that Maki wears actually end up in my wishlist..... I don't even understand how she makes me like Shadow Dream Carnival print (;__;)). 

I can't wait for next year's pop-up store, it feels like Angelic Pretty knows what European lolitas are waiting for: new prints (some of the ones you could find in the store were even sold out on the website), limited editions, basics accessories and lucky packs — who doesn't love luck packs?! I think the only thing I could wish for is: more blouses (are you reading me Angelic Pretty's staff-san??).

Thank you for reading me and see you soon for more adventures~ I still have a lot to tell you about these events! Tea Parties, fansign with RinRin by French Café, filming with Kawaii International, Japan Expo, can't wait to share all these days with you ♡

Last picture of the day in front of the new AP print with Maki, Asuka and Ludwig.

Pop-up shop: Les Filles Frou Frou

       

Qu'est-ce que Les Filles Frou Frou ? Les Filles Frou Frou est le nom d'un pop-up shop ouvert à Paris du 24 février au 17 mars 2015 à la boutique Guiq' Chaq. Les Filles Frou Frou a réuni 6 designers et artistes européens afin de créer un pop-up shop lolita à l'univers "Kawaii et Glamour". 

J'aurais adoré pouvoir me rendre au vernissage ou bien aller à la boutique un des premiers jours d'ouverture mais cela n'a malheureusement pas été possible. Je vous offre donc un petit compte-rendu d'après la bataille, à quelques jours de la fermeture. Le pop-up shop devait fermer le 10 mars, mais il se trouve que la fermeture a finalement été repoussée de quelques jours.

Je connaissais Guiq' Chaq en tant que boutique fixe, avant l'ouverture du pop-up shop, mais sans jamais avoir pu réellement m'y rendre. En effet, Guiq' Chaq fait partie de ces boutiques que j'ai la malchance de voir fermer à chaque fois que je veux m'y rendre — pourtant aux heures d'ouverture (a croire que c'est un mal parisien...). Un peu sceptique sur le fait de trouver la boutique ouverte un dimanche, je me suis tout de même fiée aux horaires d'ouverture (je ne perds jamais foi) pour finalement trouver la lumière bien allumée et la porte grande ouverte: mes amis, je n'y croyais plus !

La boutique est petite mais bien agencée, les six marques se partagent un espace égal permettant ainsi d'avoir l'œil sur plusieurs types de vêtements et accessoires et plusieurs styles, le tout en même temps. Je ne dirais pas que j'ai tout aimé mais la sélection était assez large : robes, jupes, chapeaux, bonnets, accessoires et même chaussures. C'est agréable de voir des marques européennes mises à l'honneur dans une boutique (même éphémère). La qualité varie forcément d'une marque à l'autre, mais la gamme de prix aussi et finalement, il n'est pas difficile de repartir avec un petit (ou un gros) quelque chose. Du pop-up shop je retiendrai donc trois marques que je connaissais, certes, déjà, mais qui m'ont réellement séduite (une nouvelle fois). 

Cloudberry Lady proposait de nombreuses robes, bonnets et chaussures à l'achat. J'ai eu un véritable coup de coeur pour les bonnets et la robe en vitrine (que Lunie portait lors de LVER !). Feutre, soie, cuir, belles dentelles, le travail de Tuulia est vraiment à couper le souffle. Le travail de la jeune finlandaise est non seulement exposé en France mais également au Japon ! La célèbre marque et boutique Atelier Pierrot vend désormais du Cloudberry Lady à nos consoeurs japonaises, définitivement un grand pas pour Cloudberry Lady et toutes les marques indies ! 

    

Ergi by Piratessan est une marque suédoise créée en 2007. Je crois que je connais la marque depuis mon arrivée dans le lolita, pour la simple et bonne raison que j'ai toujours eu envie d'avoir un (voir même plusieurs) de leurs bonnets lapins. Ne sont-ils pas mignons ? J'ai du me faire violence pour ne pas acheter le dernier qui restait — et qui allait pourtant à ravir avec ma tenue. Malheureusement, cela n'aurait pas été raisonnable ! Leur travail autour de la (fausse) fourrure, que ce soit pour leurs bonnets animaux ou leurs cols vaut vraiment le détour. 

La dernière marque à avoir attiré mon attention est Medusa Couture. J'ai appris à mieux connaitre la marque lorsque sa créatrice a généreusement offert un bonnet chauve-souris pour chaque Tea Time French Café organisées lors des Halloween Fashion Walks en Belgique, en Suisse et en France. Medusa Couture proposer tout un ensemble chauve-souris : le bonnet, le col et le sac qui ravirait les fans du genre ! Toutes les pièces sont disponibles en bordeaux, en noir (et même en blanc à quelques occasion exceptionnelles me semble-t-il ?). D'ailleurs celles-ci allaient particulièrement avec les chaussures chauve-souris de Cloudberry Lady, n'est-ce pas ? Bien que j'adore cette collection, ce n'est pas un style que je porte couramment et si je devais choisir quelque chose à acheter chez Medusa Couture je me tournerais définitivement vers la JSK Victoire ! 50€ seulement pour une robe épaisse et parfaite pour l'hiver, disponible en crème et en marron~ 

Etant moins intéressée par les autres marques, je ne m'y suis pas trop penchée dessus, mais vous pouviez également retrouver aux Filles Frou Frou : Li-Paro (Allemagne), Shinkurose (Royaume-Uni) et l'artiste Sirkku Tuomela (Finland). 

Pour conclure, moi qui avait toujours été un peu réticente à l'idée de trouver perpétuellement Guiq'Chaq fermé, je me dis que ce pop-up shop pourra peut-être créer une nouvelle dynamique pour le magasin ! La propriétaire ne parle pas le Français (uniquement le Japonais et l'Anglais) mais cette dernière est extrêmement aimable et accueillante, ma visite m'a laissée un très bon souvenir contrairement à ce que j'aurais pu imaginer au départ. J'espère donc pouvoir trouver très bientôt à Guiq'chaq de nouvelles expositions ou pop-up shops~ Pourquoi pas cet idée lors des événements lolita de juillet ? 

Les Filles Frou Frou

du 24 février au 17 mars 2015

Guiq'chaq
3 rue Mazet 75006, Paris
Métro : Odéon et St Michel

Du mardi au samedi de 11h à 20h 

Le dimanche de 14h à 20h

(fermé le lundi)

A bientôt, pour un nouvel article autour d'un second pop-up shop japonais à Paris ! 

(Nous sommes vernis !)