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Bringing the District of Harajuku to the Streets of OC

If all the Disney princesses co-hosted a party with Hello Kitty and the Harajuku Girls, Jilliana TOKYO would be where they go to buy their outfits. And once they met Jillian Abe, the co-founder of the clothing boutique, they would definitely invite her to come along.

Tucked away in the Village Faire Shoppes off Pacific Coast Highway in Laguna Beach, Jilliana TOKYO is a tiny store - actually modeled to look and feel like a dollhouse - but is full of dresses, tops and coats not found anywhere else in the United States. The shop only sells brands imported from the trendsetting streets of Japan, perfect for the fashionista in every woman who secretly loves to have rare or hard-to-find items The brands found at Jilliana TOKYO cater to women who want to bring their fairytale fantasies into their everyday lives, with baby doll dresses being a common item, and enough ruffles, bows and ribbons to make Cinderella jealous.

Abe - a cute, petite blonde with a voice in tune with her tiny frame - fits right in with the Japanese-inspired world she has created in this boutique. Abe describes her clients as "anyone who is very feminine and girly, [who] just loves the baby doll style. The age range is anywhere from 14 or 15, all the way up to women in their 30s or 40s."

Originally from Florida, Abe's love affair with Japanese fashion and culture began at 18 years old, when she visited the country for the first time. Getting a job with an airline allowed her to continue her rendezvous, and she finally accomplished her dream with the opening of Jilliana TOKYO last August. The store also has its own successful online counterpart, where shoppers from around the United States can order Japanese styles without paying ridiculously high shipping fees or for a $1,000 plane ticket to Tokyo.

Although some may be a bit apprehensive about being able to understand a Web site that sells Japanese products, the only Japanese word that shoppers need to know is kawaii, or "cute" in English. Liz Lisa, Cecil McBee and Tralala are only a few of the brands sold at Jilliana TOKYO. While Abe loves designers like Chanel and Erin Featherton because they embrace the feminine, girly look, she finds it hard to compare the American style with the unique Japanese aesthetic.

Abe may describe herself as "a baby in the world of fashion," she says she is also "your average girl with a very, very, very big dream." She is currently in the process of creating a Jilliana TOKYO clothing line, inspired by the looks found in Shibuya and Harajuku - two districts in Tokyo known as fashion hotspots. Also in the works is a fashion show for charity in Laguna Beach planned for late April.

While it's often difficult to keep up with couture, Jilliana TOKYO reminds shoppers that cute is always in style, and Abe could convince anyone that pink is the new black. "It's adorable ... it's sweet, it's very unique. It's just really fun!" Abe says of her store. "It's for the princess in allof us."

Embrace all things kawaii at www.jillianatokyo.com

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