I've been asked same questions several times, so I thought it would be easier if I make a FAQ page. If you have any other questions, feel free to mail to : leblogdepetiteayako at gmail dot com
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ABOUT MY LIFE
- Where are you from?
I'm from Tokyo, Japan.
- What's your occupation?
I'm a master student in cinema at Sorbonne University.
- How come you speak/write in three languages?
I was born and raised in Japan. My family -three generations back- used to live in Paris and has contributed to cultural exchanges between two countries, so it was natural for me to start learning French when I was a junior high school student. I spent a year in France when I was a high school student, then I came back to Paris after graduating from university in Japan.
When it comes to English, I've never lived in English-speaking countries, but I enjoy watching American/English TV shows (who hasn't watched GoT?), listening to the radio, reading English books, etc.. I have friends from all over the world, so every time I chat with them, I practice my English. I love learning foreign languages because it teaches me different values and opens up a new world to me.
I'm also interested in learning Italian. I think it's a very beautiful language (Can anyone please teach me?).
- How SMALL are you?
5'0" or 153cm small. I wish I were tall enough to become a supermodel! haha But seriously my height used to be a complex for me, especially when I was a teenager. I was born smaller than standard baby size and I remained always the shortest one in the class. As I grew older, I started to embrace it. I'm short but I'm proportional, so it's not an issue. After all, it's a part of my characteristics (from which my nickname Petite Ayako was given).
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ABOUT FASHION
- How do you define your style?
I define my style as a mixture of "Japanese Kawaii" and "French Chic". I love girly details such as bows, tulle, velvet ribbons, puffed sleeves and pastel color, but I don't want too many cute elements in an outfit either (nobody wants to look kitsch, do you?). I like to look a little bit naughty while staying elegant (balance is key!). In general I prefer skirts than pants, heels than flats, classy style than street style..., but I'm trying to mix them a little to add some modern touch.
- Where does your fashion inspiration come from?
My fashion inspirations come from everywhere; from my grandma's and mom's closets, school uniforms that I used to wear everyday, Hollywood movie stars -Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, Marilyn Monroe etc-, French film heroines -Catherine Deneuve, Anna Karina, Brigitte Bardot, Jane Birkin etc-, but also literature and paintings...my style has been build and has evolved over the course of time. So it's like an artwork that has been made for all my life. It's close knit to my own life experiences as well as my cultural, familial and educational background. I can't explain my personal style without mentioning any of these elements. I believe that it won't fit you if you just copy the entire outfit from fashion magazines. The outfit has to match the wearer's character. My style is inspired from my own experiences and I like its originality.
- What are your favourite clothing brands?
Dior is definitely my dream maison. Feminin and elegant, oneiric and classy…it has its own aesthetics. I think Mr. Dior really knew well how to pull femininity out of women. In everyday life I wear reasonable clothes like Zara. I also buy tons of clothes on ASOS, which bothers me a lot...my closet is overflowing! I've got to invite over Marie Kondo!
- What are your favourite accessory brands?
I love wearing vintage Hermès scarves. My grandma and my mom really love them and they have a beautiful scarf collection, so it's a family thing.
- What are your favourite shoe brands?
Ferragamo is classy, Sergio Rossi is beautiful, but in fact I buy affordable shoes (Minelli, Sanmarina, Aldo etc). Also I'm a HUGE fan of black sheer stockings. I buy lots of them from Calzedonia. I love the combination of black stockings and black high heels, I find it very sensual.
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ABOUT BEAUTY
- What product do you use for skin?
I wash my face with Filorga Foam Cleanser and tepid water, and apply a bit of Givenchy's Hydra Sparkling Lotion with its matching cream. I don't wear foundation because I believe it's better to stay as natural as possible. At night I add a few drops of Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate oil.
- Which eyeliner do you use ?
Givenchy's Liner Couture. I feel confident and sexy when I put on eyeliner :)
- What manicure do you wear often?
Dior, Givenchy, Kure Bazaar and O.P.I.. Also Kiko has an amazing color variation of nail polishes which are very reasonable and which work as effectively as high end products.
- What perfumes do you wear often?
Miss Dior (Dior), Petite Robe Noire (Guerlain), Mon Paris (Saint Laurent), and Fatale (Agent Provocateur) are my favourite ones, but I prefer keep secret THE perfume I love the most in the world. Sometimes I put a few drops of perfumes in a bath, which makes my bath time enjoyable. I feel flattered when they say I smell good. Some said my smell was as dangerous as drugs. I think the smell is one of the most important essences of seduction. I feel genuinely attracted to someone only if I love his/her smell (that's what's called chemistry, right?).
- How do you do your hair?
I use Schwarzkopf coloring, shampoo and conditioner. My hair is naturally thick and straight. I usually use a curling iron in a large barrel size to give it a polished effect. I like keep my hair down.
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OTHERS
- What camera do you use?
I use iPhone and Canon X7 Kiss White with a 40mm fixed lens. It's a camera for dummies, but it's the smallest & lightest DSLR camera in the world.
- Which software do you use to edit pictures?
Photoshop, Line camera and Snapseed.
- Who takes your photos?
My family, friends and I take pictures. I and the owners of the images I share and cite here reserve all rights to the photographs.
- Do you have any favourite places in Tokyo/Paris?
Of course, there are many places I'd love to show you! I'm thinking of writing articles about it soon.
- What are your favourite movies?
As a film genre I like human drama. Not a big fan of action movies. I often find beauty in sad stories. Especially discovering The Decalogue (Kieslowski) was a life-changing experience to me. I think it's one of the most underrated beautiful movies in the world...I also like Sofia Coppola's girly aesthetics. I think she's good at describing girls' complicated feelings and delicate emotions. There are so many other films I like, I could keep talking about this topic for hours and hours...
- What music do you listen to?
I'm totally eclectic; I love Lana Del Rey (not only for her music but also for her mysterious allure inspired by 50's Hollywood glamour and David Lynch movies). I also listen to Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, The Beatles, The Beach Boys, etc.
- What are your favourite vacation destinations?
South of France (Nice and its surroundings, especially Antibes and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat), Ibiza, Tulum... I'm eager to discover other paradise-like places, for instance small islands on the Caribbean sea. I prefer going to the beaches than cities for vacations because it's more relaxing.
- Do you use SNS?
I used to have Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, but at the moment (as of May 2020) I don't use any of them. I've been social (network) distancing...
Any other questions? Ask me :)
E-mail : leblogdepetiteayako (at) gmail (dot) com
