OOTD - January & February 2017 (including Japan trip Winter 2017 coordinates)

We actually had some mildly chilly weather in Hawaii over the last couple months and I had fun wearing my long sleeve items a bit more! But of course there were those hot/humid days in between, so there's a bit of an odd variety of outfits here.
Also included at the bottom of this post are the 6 outfits from my Japan trip at the end of January ❤

Outfit 1 (for work) -

Liz Lisa classical dot OP, Liz Lisa ribbon chain camisole, Liz Lisa 3D flower pumps and Samantha Thavasa purse

Outfit 2 (for work) -

Liz Lisa x Yui Kanno fairy story OP, Ank Rouge key embroidery cardigan, Liz Lisa 3D flower pumps and Samantha Thavasa purse

Outfit 3 (for lunch with a friend) -

Liz Lisa flower bandana maxi dress, Liz Lisa momonga cardigan, Liz Lisa metallic combination sandals and Kate Spade New York purse

Outfit 4 (for work) -

Ank Rouge blouse, Liz Lisa cut cardigan, Liz Lisa cat cup skirt, Liz Lisa 3D flower pumps and Samantha Thavasa purse

Outfit 5 (for training at work) -

Liz Lisa chandelier print jumperskirt, Liz Lisa flocked cardigan, Liz Lisa pearl bow back pumps and Samantha Thavasa purse

Outfit 6 (for work) -

Liz Lisa chiffon A-line no sleeve top, Liz Lisa flocked cardigan, Liz Lisa waffle x lace skirt, Liz Lisa t-strap wedge sandals, Liz Lisa x Yui Kanno collab rose barrette and Samantha Thavasa purse

Outfit 7 (for work and nail appointment) -

Liz Lisa sailor blouse, Liz Lisa bouquet stripe jumperskirt, Liz Lisa heart organza pumps and Kate Spade New York purse

Outfit 8 (for church) -

Liz Lisa tulip sleeve blouse, Liz Lisa floral panel skirt, Liz Lisa flocked cardigan, Liz Lisa knot wedge sandals Liz Lisa thin ribbon boston bag

Outfit 9 (for work) -

Liz Lisa pleats OP, Liz Lisa faux denim jacket, Liz Lisa knot wedge sandals and Liz Lisa tulip round purse

Outfit 10 (for work) -

Liz Lisa lace sleeveless top, Liz Lisa scalloped U neck cardigan, Liz Lisa handkerchief skirt, Liz Lisa many flower earrings, Liz Lisa 3D flower pumps and Liz Lisa thin ribbon boston bag

Outfit 11 (for work) -

Liz Lisa chiffon pleats lace up OP, Liz Lisa x Yui Kanno collab rose barrette, Flag J sandals and Ank Rouge purse

Outfit 12 (for work) -

 Liz Lisa My Melody 2017 fukubukuro strawberry floral OP, Liz Lisa My Melody 2017 fukubukuro cardigan, Liz Lisa (pom pom) pumps and Samantha Thavasa purse

Outfit 13 (for work feat. horrible non-sunny lighting) -

 Liz Lisa x My Melody 3rd collab OP, Liz Lisa batwing knit cardigan, Liz Lisa (pom pom) pumps and Samantha Thavasa purse

Outfit 14 (for an extended family lunch) -

 Liz Lisa ribbon OP, Liz Lisa scalloped U-neck cardigan, Liz Lisa many ribbon pumps, Kate Spade New York quilted purse

Outfit 15 (for shopping & getting a Slurpee apparently) -

 Liz Lisa floral OP, Liz Lisa paper can can hat, Liz Lisa knot wedge sandals and Samantha Thavasa purse

Outfit 16 (for shopping) -

Ank Rouge heart button blouse, Ank Rouge skirt, Liz Lisa flower lace-up back wedge sandals and Kate Spade New York purse

Outfit 17 (lmao embarrassing, I wore this twice in this time period but this was for a 1st birthday party) -

Liz Lisa chandelier print jumperskirt, Liz Lisa knot wedge sandals and Samantha Thavasa purse

Outfit 18 (for church) -

Tralala check OP, Liz Lisa My Melody 2017 fukubukuro cardigan, Liz Lisa 2-strap ribbon pumps and Samantha Thavasa bag

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Japan trip Winter 2017 OOTDs:
Day 1 - Tokyo errands, Ebony/Liz Lisa & Shiodome Caretta Illumination

Liz Lisa My Melody 2016 fukubukuro coat, Liz Lisa x My Melody 10th collab vol 2 cache coeur OP, Liz Lisa pom pom boots

Day 2 - Yokohama NOAH Inner City Zoo, Knot, Chinatown & Machida 109

Liz Lisa My Melody 2016 fukubukuro coat, Liz Lisa rose OP, Liz Lisa many ribbon pumps

Day 3 - Nagano Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park & Omiya

Uniqlo down coat, Liz Lisa transfer floral OP, Bebe knit turtleneck, Liz Lisa pom pom boots/rented snow boots

Day 4 - Tokyo shopping, Imperial Palace & dinner with Yuni

Liz Lisa My Melody 2016 fukubukuro coat, Liz Lisa x My Melody x Sweet Piano 8th collab vol 1 cosmetics OP, Grandege circle scarf, Liz Lisa many ribbon pumps

Day 5 - Shizuoka Izu Cactus Park (Capybara onsen!) & Mount Omuro

Liz Lisa My Melody 2016 fukubukuro coat, Liz Lisa English rose OP, Liz Lisa pom pom boots, Liz Lisa rose clips

Day 6 - Last minute shopping, Ameyoko & Harajuku

Liz Lisa heart applique blouson, Liz Lisa argyle marshmallow knit, Liz Lisa pleats sukapan, Egoist beret, Liz Lisa many ribbon pumps

I get so concentrated on getting a good "walking" picture on the trips that I don't always get a good picture of the front of the outfit as well. Sorry that these aren't as uniform as they should be. Please check out each of the daily trip posts to see more photos! I'm really glad the Liz Lisa My Melody 2016 coat worked so well throughout the trip, not just for fashion but for function as well.

Japan trip Winter 2017 Part 9: What's in my bag - Japan trip edition

I've done a "What's in my bag" post before, but I thought it would be interesting to share what I keep in my purse/bags especially in regards to travel! I also wanted to breakdown what I usually pack in each piece of luggage when I'm on my way back to Hawaii as well because I've had some people question my packing techniques lol. I'll admit it's not aesthetically pleasing and doesn't make a nice IG post, but I'd rather have function over a pretty picture any day, especially if it means bringing back the items I want.

Bag: Liz Lisa 2015 web-limited rose embossed fukubukuro trunk

I'm lucky to have a few Liz Lisa suitcase options, but I've found myself using this one the most. Even though the 2013 version is very similar. I like the upgrade they made to the inside straps for this one and the cute outside design as well. Plus with the rectangular 2-wheel design, it can hold a good amount of content and is easy to use.
On the way over to Japan, I usually pack this bag with all of the clothes and items I need during the trip and then pack it into my large black check-in suitcase. This way, it helps control how much I'm bringing with me, but also allows me to bring this Liz Lisa suitcase without actually having to hassle with rolling it separately.
On the way back to Hawaii, it's typically just filled with odds and ends and last minute purchases, fragile items that can't be checked in, plus minimal essentials. In this specific case, I had my white Liz Lisa coat, a set of roomwear, the satin blouson I wore on the last day but didn't need on the plane, socks, undergarments and accessories. I also had a 20 pack of Black Thunder, 5 Hi-Chew packs, the two Knot watches I purchased and the fishing lures I bought on the last day for S + a few other random things. The outer pieces and the fluffy roomwear took up quite a bit of space, but I wanted it handy in case I needed it for some reason.

Bag: Liz Lisa 2013 royal rose fukubukuro tote

I love the size of this tote. It's way too oversized for regular, everyday use for me but perfect for traveling. The bag I originally had as part of the 2013 fukubukuro I bought fell apart a bit (fake leather and Hawaii's humidity don't pair well), but I found a replacement on Yahoo Auctions and I'm thrilled to have this bag back in my life. I used the Liz Lisa My Melody 2016 fukubukuro tote for my US East Coast trip and that one definitely does not hold as much.
On the way over to Japan, this is my main carry on item which usually includes my footwear, a change of clothes and a few other essentials.
On the way back to Hawaii, this functions as my "personal item" and I have to shove a lot more things in there - most importantly my purse. I also had my knee high boots, slip on shoes (for the plane), Berri's sukapan which was a last minute purchase that didn't fit anywhere else, facial wipes, the airplane amenities kit and apparently napkins lol. Not pictured is the quart size bag with my cosmetics and other things I need to keep on me like my glasses and contact solution.

Bag: Liz Lisa rose quilted purse

This is my favorite purse to travel with for my daily essentials. I originally purchased it during my study abroad in Kobe in 2012. I used that bag into the ground and was lucky enough to find a replacement on Yahoo Auctions in reasonable condition (which is this one). That being said, this "new" one doesn't have the best straps and isn't holding up as well as I anticipated, so this might have been its last trip! Unlike the other two Liz Lisa bags, what's pictured above is what I usually carry with me day-to-day while in Japan - not necessarily what's in there when I'm on the plane/going to and from the airport.

Here are a few highlights of the contents that are must-bring items for almost every trip in Japan (somewhat in order of importance) -

Samantha Thavasa wallet, Kate Spade New York passport case with passport, JR Rail Pass/daily passes, Liz Lisa My Melody mook vol 1 tote, Liz Lisa handkerchief print small towel

Not pictured: Pocket wifi unit and key to access accommodations (had to be returned while in Japan)
Some of these items are important for obvious reasons (wallet for money and cards, passport for international travel and identification), but the My Melody tote is really handy for carrying small items/packages from various stores or even sometimes an outer piece in one bag and the small towel is for drying your hands if there's no paper towel or hand dryer handy.

BCP, bandaids, face masks, tissue, Vaseline Lip Therapy, Tylenol

These are items mostly related to health. I find it handy to carry around bandaids in case I get a blister or a small cut. Although you can buy them almost anywhere, sometimes you need an immediate solution and they're easy to carry around. The face masks are more essential in the colder seasons, but I often just carry it around in case I feel like wearing it since the climate in Japan affects my skin a little differently than Hawaii. I hardly ever use the Tylenol myself but it's expensive in Japan and I like to bring a few just in case I need it since the American version is also stronger.

 Shinkansen reserved tickets with Liz Lisa Champouf pass case

Because I do a lot of planning ahead, we usually know when we would ideally like to catch the shinkansen for the various days of the trip and try to reserve our seats on the same day that we exchange our JR Rail Pass voucher so we only need to stand in line once. I keep the tickets in the inside zipper pocket of my purse until we're about to catch the train. At that point, I usually slip the set of tickets for that shinkansen ride into my Champouf pass case so I can easily be reminded of the car and seat numbers and have them easily accessible if I need to show them to the train staff.

File folder, important papers/information and flat souvenir items

I keep a folder in my purse (another reason I like this specific purse is that a folder fits almost perfectly inside) so I can keep important papers/information safe. This includes print outs of the proposed trip schedule, directions to the Airbnb or hotel, emergency contact information, maps/diagrams, bus schedules etc. It's also really handy for keeping flat souvenirs in good shape such as stickers or purikura! Ofc much of the information we might have printed is accessible on/via the internet, but I like to have a printed copy in case something happens to my phone or wifi access. Having paper (and a pen) is also good in case you need to write or draw something to help you communicate.

Bag: TravelPro Crew 10, Expandable Spinner 25" suitcase

I wasn't sure if it was going to be helpful to include this since it's such a mischmash of items, but this bag is actually a really valuable piece when I travel, so I do think its worth mentioning. These are all the items I was able to fit into my one check-in suitcase. Thankfully, everything arrived safely and I didn't have any trouble with airport personnel.

Here are a few close-ups from the hodge podge of items

It ended up being a lot of snacks and omiyage-type things, but I also got pretty much all of my (dirty) laundry (wrapped separately ofc and piled messily in the back) and my Liz Lisa purchases in there as well. With all of these items, I was pretty close to the 50lb limit and didn't need to use the expanding zipper. Sorry the color is a bit off for these pictures. I didn't completely unpack this suitcase until close to 20:00 and needed to start distributing the items ASAP so couldn't have it wait for better natural lighting.

This is the final post in my Japan trip Winter 2017 series! I hope it contained useful information or at least entertained a bit. It was a really good trip for me, and I'm glad we were able to have a few new experiences.
I'm always looking for ways to improve these kinds of posts, so please let me know your feedback or suggestions for what to write about in the future!

✲ Japan trip Winter 2017 ✲
    Part 1: Arrival and Day 1 - Tokyo errands, Ebony/Liz Lisa & Shiodome Caretta Illumination
    Part 2: Day 2 - Yokohama NOAH Inner City Zoo, Knot, Chinatown & Machida 109
    Part 3: Day 3 - Nagano Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park & Omiya
    Part 4: Day 4 - Tokyo shopping, Imperial Palace & dinner with Yuni
    Part 5: Day 5 - Shizuoka Izu Cactus Park (Capybara onsen!) & Mount Omuro
    Part 6: Day 6 - Last minute shopping, Ameyoko & Harajuku
    Part 7: Liz Lisa & Other shopping purchases/coordinates
    Part 8: Travel Notes - Airbnb, Pupuru pocket wifi & weather
    Part 9: What's in my bag - Japan trip edition

✦ Japan trip Spring 2016 posts
✦ Japan trip Autumn 2015 posts
✦ Japan trip Summer 2015 posts
✦ Japan trip Spring 2015 posts
✦ Japan trip Summer 2014 posts