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want to meet at fmd_good Wildlife Reserve
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Evening Gown Stores Recommendations?
Also how similar… My brother's wedding is coming up in London, and I'm thinking if buying my dress when I'm in Tokyo. How's the evening gown scene in Tokyo? Will I find nicer dresses here than London?
Also how similar are the sizes? I wear a medium in London, am I a large in Tokyo?
Please drop your recommendations for shops I should stop by! Not anything crazy expensive like a Dior dress or something like that, but also not too cheap where the quality is compromised.
Thank you so much in advance to anyone who will help! We're all excited for my brother's wedding and want everything to be perfect :)
fwiw i'd actually check ginza six over isetan for this - the formal wear floor there is less crowded and the staff are more used to helping international customers with sizing. they've got a brand called "deuxieme classe" that does really nice column gowns around ¥40,000, clean lines that'd work for a london wedding
sizing wise you're prob looking at a japanese L or XL for fitted styles, but here's the thing - a lot of japanese formal dresses have adjustable backs or side ties specifically for this reason. just budget an extra 2-3k yen for alterations at the store, most department stores have an in-house tailor
for something with a bit more drama (like a slit or lower back) try "tomorrowland" in daikanyama, they carry a few japanese designers who do western-style cuts but with silk thats way nicer than what you'd get for the same price in london. around ¥55,000 for their nicer pieces
tbh i'd skip the big department stores and check out the secondhand scene instead. places like rag tag in harajuku or daikokuya in shimokitazawa have insane formal wear for like ¥10,000-¥20,000 and the quality is usually better than new stuff at that price. japanese women wear gowns maybe once then sell them so you get barely worn designer pieces
for sizing, you're def looking at L or XL in japanese brands but honestly the bigger issue is length. japanese gowns are cut shorter so if you're tall you'll prob need to let the hem down. i'm 5'6 and even the "long" styles hit above my ankle sometimes
also check "galleria" in roppongi hills - they do rentals for around ¥15,000 that look way more expensive than they are. perfect for a one-time event and you don't gotta worry about luggage space
honestly, for evening gowns tokyo is a mixed bag. you'll find way more variety in london for western-style formal wear, but tokyo has some hidden gems if you know where to look. department stores like isetan in shinjuku or mitsukoshi in ginza have a whole floor dedicated to formal dresses, brands like "samantha thavasa" or "mame kurogouchi" which are elegant but not crazy expensive - think ¥30,000-¥80,000 range for something decent.
sizing is tricky though. japanese brands run small, so a uk medium is prob a japanese large or even XL in structured dresses. but international brands in tokyo (like at isetan's international section) use the same sizing as london so check the label. for something unique without breaking the bank, try "la maison de la lumiere" in aoyama - they do beautiful silk gowns around ¥50,000 and the quality is solid. also hit up "shibuya 109" for more affordable options but quality varies a lot there so inspect the seams.
one thing nobody tells you: japanese formal dresses are often more modest in cut (higher necklines, longer hems) so if your brother's wedding is more traditional western style you might struggle to find something with a deep v or backless. better to try in london for that tbh. but for a
Where can I find crispy, pan-fried bacon similar to a certain international style?
if u have a costco membership the kirkland thick cut is the move, 4 packs of 500g for around 2500 yen and it crisps up proper in a cold pan. for smaller runs, precce in azabudai hills & the basement at isetan shinjuku both carry imported US & danish brands in the chilled case, just read the label for "thick cut" or "smoked" and not "loin". also worth knowing japanese bacon is often wet-cured so pat it dry before frying or it steams instead of crisping
kaldi coffee farm is hit or miss but their smoked bacon from denmark shows up pretty regular, the 200g pack runs about 600 yen. what actually works better for me is asking the butcher counter at peacock or life to slice the block bacon thick, like 5mm, they do it for free and it crisps way better than the pre-packed stuff. also fwiw cheap bacon crisps faster, the fatty supermarket kind at 300 yen a pack works fine if u cook it from cold in a dry pan and pour off the fat as it renders.
tbh the gyomu super store brand bacon is surprisingly decent for crisping up, its not thick cut but if you cook it low and slow it gets pretty crunchy. the key is the dry cure vs wet cure thing, wet cure steams. also check hanamasa if you have one nearby, they sell big packs of american style bacon thats actually smoked and firm.
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