Kotobatofuku コトバトフク

At the weekend I went to a small boutique in Kyoto which supports young designers who have recently graduated. It`s in the same place as this Versace exhibition which I went to a couple of years ago.

The concept of the store is 'seasonless' as they sell previous collections from young designers and the selection of clothing changes every 1-2 months. It was set up in August 2013 by Hiroshi Ashida and Masato Inoue. Hiroshi is a lecturer at Seika University and the editor of Vanitas, a fashion review magazine. Masato is a lecturer at Mukogawa Women's College.

Although only a small shop they have a great selection of clothing and accesories. Also if you go up to the top floor of the building there is a good view of Kyoto! 

Some of the designers they have stocked include: 

aokiyuri

idetatsuhiro

TOMOUMI ONO

onegaigoto

kanie

kikkou

COMMUNE

coci la elle

qr

zazi

SINA SUIEN

Shun Okubo

shunsuke hatakeyama

TANUKI

TENUSIS

nukeme

hatsutoki

Hirabayashi Ryoko

futatsukukuri

proef

YUKIFUJISAWA

malamute

januka

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Exciting News!

I'm back in Japan! If you follow me on Instagram then you will know that I arrived last week. However the first few days I didn't feel too good, probably due to jet lag and the heat. But I'm better now and excited about all the things I'm going to do for the three months I'm here.

These are some things I want to do while I'm here:

• Visit Byodoin Temple in Uji which i didn't get to go to last time I was in Japan as they were renovating it.
• Eat at this Hello Kitty cafe- seriously take a look at their website, how cute does it look?!
• Walk through the thousand toris at Fushimi Inari, one of the most photogenic places in Japan but I never got round to going last time.
• Go to as many festivals as possible as they are my favourite thing about Japan! 
• Travel around Japan to places I've never been to before
• Improve my Japanese because, after all, that is the main reason I've come here!

The photo at the top is from a day out with Sophie and Abbie, you can see more pics from our fun photoshoot on Sophie's blog here: The Beauty Bouquet

Instamonth: May

South Shields Beach - Quay Ingredient - Lola Jeans Bar

May was a great month for me; it was my birthday, my best friends came to visit, I went to Edinburgh and I finished my first year of uni! I started off the month by going to the beach at South Shields with my two flatmates. Then Abbie and Sophie came up to Newcastle and we went to lots of cafes, restaurants and bars including Quay Ingredient and Lola Jeans. 

 Some birthday presents - The Great British Cupcakery - Red velvet birthday cake

Then on the 12th of May it was birthday and I got some really great presents. All my friends know me so well and the presents they got for me were so perfect! Some things I got where: a boots voucher, Audrey Hepburn perfume and toiletries, a Mary Berry recipe book, paper decorations, green tea, a Japanese teacup and a hula hoop which provided lots of entertainment! On my birthday I went with my flatmates to the Great British Cupcakery which was lovely, they also bought me a delicious red velvet cake.

Nancy's Bordello - The Star Inn The City - Another birthday Cake!

On my last night in Newcastle we went to Nancy's Bordello for tea and then went back to our flat for a few drinks. Then I came back home to York and my mum took me to The Star Inn The City for a belated birthday brunch. I got some pancakes with maple syrup and bacon which were delicious! I then got another birthday when we went round to my Grandma and Grandad's for tea.

Carrot cake at Scottish National Museum - Hard Rock Cafe - Bagpipe player in Edinburgh

Me and my mum then went up to Edinburgh for a couple of days which I really enjoyed as it was my first time to go there. We went to an exhibition of clothes by Pringle of Scotland at the Scottish National Museum where I had some yummy carrot cake. In the evening we went for some cocktails and food at the Hard Rock Cafe. We walked along the Royal Mile to the castle and saw various people playing bagpipes!

1950's fashion exhibition at Lotherton Hall - Lucia's wine bar and grill

I also went to the newly opened fashion galleries at Lotherton Hall to see the1950's Age of Glamour exhibition. Then I met up with Abbie and Sophie again and we went to Lucia's which is one of my favourite restaurants in York. I got a really nice seafood salad.

Doing this post has made me realise that most of my instagram posts are food and drink, especially hot chocolate and cake! Anyway I had a great month, hope you did too.