Aha!

I've worked out why winter and I don't mix. Having never grown up with winter, I now know that I'm not very good at coordinating winter fashion because I'm so worried about being warm. Any tips are welcome?

There are also just too many accessories (to lose that is) and extra wearable items. It's all so bulky and heavy.

Last week I lost my most ever favourite cashmere shawl that I take with me on every plane trip. It was a casualty of its own existence. It exists because of the cold and was lost because of the cold. Go outside with said shawl and my neck is oh so toasty, decide to go inside cute store, store heating too hot, take off said scarf, stuff it in too small bag, try on something, leave shop flustered because can't choose what to buy, still hot from store, get on train, get off train, start to walk home and realize it's a little chilly, reach for said scarf, scarf is no longer. feel sad.

This scenario has also happened with other winter accessories namely hats and gloves and ear muffs (which I forgot this morning because I didn't put them back in my bag after getting home last night). There is just too much room to forget stuff in the winter time.

Things I do like about winter are:

• colourful tights and leggings - shop of choice Tutuanna (yes, enjoy the socks style. Lovely day. Lovely socks.)
• cuddling for two reasons - fun and necessity
• rotenburo
• cockroaches go into hiding
• cuddling with our pigs

Other things I'm loving right now:

• Tsutaya Discas - Japan's version of Netflix. A few months ago when our tv died, we got rid of our satellite tv and just watched stuff on my computer. Now that we have a new tv (thanks suzy), we decided to try out Tsutaya Discas - we can rent 8 movies a month for 1974 yen. It's been fun so far. There are other options though. I might try out Posren, which is a similar service, but you can rent as many titles as you want each month for 2079 yen - they are also said to have the largest range of dvds in the business. You can try out Tsutaya Discas for a month for free and Posren for two weeks (but you can't rent new releases during either of the trials).
• Mag-Mart - this is an online magazine store in Japan that carries lots of foreign magazines at more reasonable prices than most bookstores (except maybe Tower Records). Their general range is OK (only two Australian mags and not the New Weekly which is what I would most want), but the BEST thing is that they carry some knitting mags not available at any bookstores in Japan: Interweave Knits (1365 yen), Rebecca (1900 yen) and Phildar in addition to Vogue Knitting (1281 yen) and Knit 1 (1120 yen). SWEEET! Shipping is 210 yen regardless of how many magazines you order. They just sent out my copy of the new Vogue Knitting. I am SO going to try my hand at modular knitting and knit the sweater on the front (shown below). Am thinking I'll have to add some length as I'm not sure how it'll work with a larger chest area than the model on the front. Oh and Daz, they don't have Thrasher or Slap, I already checked.
• The revamped menu at Village Vanguard Diner in Kichijoji.
• The organic food buffet at Warabe in Kichijoji.
• Jindaiji (as always) - a little piece of Kyoto right here in Tokyo.
• Hong Kong Yatai Shijo restaurant in Jindaiji - cheap, great atmosphere, open 24 hours, great food

Szechuan green bean dish - 500 yen

the interior

Sweet and sour pork

Nora Gaughan sweater I'm going to try my hand at.

Comments

[freecia]

Perhaps you could pin your neck warmers to your coat at the nape of your neck? Then just fling it off and let it trail behind you in a fashion statement. You could add an i-cord chain to your mittens to keep them together and perhaps tie it around a button on your coat or pin it inside your pocket.

Or carry a bigger bag in the winter. One of those thin bags sold at yen stores might do the trick and fold up into your purse. Plus you could use it for shopping.

[Rae]

I hear you about not mixing w/ cold! Mags and movies are a great way to get through a cold day, so thanks for those great finds!

See you tonight at the PinkCow!

[gleek]

ugh, i'm such a fashion disaster in the winter! i usually just stick to dark shades of everything plus lots of black. it goes over well here in NYC anyway.

i wish i had stocked up on some cute stocking when i was in tokyo! they really are great for the winter :)

p.s. jindaiji.. sigh.. what i wouldn't give for some rotenburo action.

[Mariko]

Kat! Sorry to hear about the shawl. Winter is definitely a difficult time. I always have to have lots of layers. I thought I could do the tights-with-skirt-and-boots thing to try to look somewhat okay, but it just didn't work for me, so it's back to frump city! They do have the cutest socks and such in Japan. Anyway, way to focus on the positive aspects!

[dana]

wow! I can't wait to see that sweater!
p.s. I'm very sorry about your shawl.

[Sar]

I tend to lose a hat a year - last year was a lovely turquoise crocheted number, this year a blue 'beret' style woolley. Usually sat on the top of an overflowing bag or on my lap when I hurry off a train. Gutting and I never make it to the lost property office. I have also got no idea where a beautiful turquoise toned scarf is. I had it. Then I didn't.

[rachel]

hi, loved hearing all your favourite things. was excited to read about village vanguard, the first time i came to japan there was one in osaka which we loved, next time i went couple of years later, it was gone and another trip later i still ahvnt found a village vanguard anywhere. do you have direcions fpr the one in kichijoji? or are there others in tokyo too? thanks a lot keep warm xxxx

[Joyce]

hi :-)

i am french and live in paris. i am going to knit that sweater too, any recommandations are welcome. thank you!

[Agnès]

i enjoy this sweater - where do i find it please.

[Helen]

Oh yes - can totally relate to not being able to dress for winter. One of my many points of confusion are boots - which boots for what occaision, what style, height, type of leather..aghhh. Love them yet have no clue. And I gave up on buying hats and gloves after a couple of seasons - just got too expensive leaving them in pubs all the time.

Anyway if you would like to share 6 wierd things about yourself please consider yourself tagged.

[david]

the "food" looks pretty average..even a suburban diner in Melbourne would outshine...the range of ingredients are fresher, much cheaper...Victoria St Richmond or Chinatown...Flower Drum is recognised as the best Chinese restaurant outside China...

[dipika]

this is just amazing dress...where do i have this sweater? please let me know.....?