LOOKING GOOD
In store

Compiled by Anna Lopriore

Cristopher Nemeth
Everyone knows by now, the twisted, bent-at-the-knees jeans that Levi' relaunched its image with a few years ago. The Engineered and Red labels have given Levi's back the street-cred they'd lost when the only thing stacked on the shelves were 501s. Walking into Christopher Nemeth's shop you can't help but be reminded of Levi's try at engineered denim, but ultimately the famous jeans are a mere imitation of this designers' sculpturally crafted trousers. Nemeths' clothes are a whole different story: The heavy velvet fabrics, the prints, embroideries and overstitched decorations have little in common with mass-market denim. Reminiscent of weighty medieval garments, when fashion survived longer than one season, the clothes are crafted to last a lifetime, and they'll no doubt age better than many of the customers. And just to show how deep his artistic talents go, Nemeth's artwork adorns the walls and fills the sketchbooks left casually around the store.

Cristopher Nemeth, 4-13-5 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku (Tel/Fax: 03-3401-2123)


Hanjiro
There is plenty of fun to be found in this supermarket for previously-loved clothes. Here you'll find 30 Burberry trench coats lined up rather than the paltry two in most second-hand stores. The infinite range of T-shirts is glaringly color-coordinated in long rainbow-racks. Even better, prices are reasonable and lower than in many other trendy thrift stores. Hanjiro also has some original customized fashion - funky tops and sweaters patchworked together from eclectic sources. Psychedelic plastic pillboxes, mini nail polish bottles arranged in long lines of Barbie bathtubs (two for JY90), irresistible patches that exclaim, "Wave if you love Jesus" or "I'm a sex nut" (JY250). For all of you looking for some fashionable '80s accessories, pick up a JY150 Stones, The Clash, or Sex Pistols button. If you're not in a buying mood, at least make sure you try something on: The dressing rooms are an experience you'll remember for a long time. All in a different style, they are huge and you'll end up feeling just like Barbarella transposed to a Hollywood film set.

Hanjiro, 4F Palais Royale, Jingumae, Shibuya-ku (Tel: 03-3796-7303).


Silas + Maria
Question: What do you do when you are part of the coolest skate-scene in London; designers at Holmes (the all-time best skate brand); involved with Slam City Skates, London's own skate-place-to-be and suddenly you start to feel your age? Maybe you should do something new, something more serious. Perhaps you'd start a cleaner, more adult, but still skatey new brand like Silas + Maria. That's exactly what designer Sofia Pantera and illustrator Russell Waterman decided to do when they opened their debut store in Daikanyama. The beautiful spacious interior - two timber-floored rooms, connected by a lower section with psychedelic photo-montage wallpaper - houses clothes that are urban and functional. Sofia and Russel's sixth sense for color charts and their sharp sense of humor make it all worthy of a postcard home to their Cockney skater-kid fans. This season they celebrate with lines in bright yellow, burgundy, black, white and grey and slogans such as "support your local tandoori" and "j'adore le tour."

Silas + Maria, 3-13 Daikanyama-cho, Shibuya-ku, (Tel: 03-5459-0608)