Without a doubt, Hello Kitty is without a mouth. But did you know that this feline’s favorite food is her mother’s apple pie? I know I would like a slice of that $400 million dollar fortune (from Hello Kitty alone).

As much as Hello Kitty loves a homemade treat, Sanrio fans can now also treat themselves to a spectacular celebration. Sanrio is celebrating its 50th anniversary, Small Gift: Celebrating 50 Years of Sanrio, with a traveling pop-up truck at a city near you.

In addition to their mobile pop-up shop tour, from Seattle to NYC, Sanrio will be holding a special Small Gift L.A. event in Los Angeles from November 12 to 21.

Limited edition items will be on sale, including special product collaborations with Lomography, Mimoco and tokidoki, characters will be available for photo ops, artists will showcase their pieces, and interactive activities and opportunities like video games are in store.

Oh, and did I forget to mention a bona fide carnival? Whee!

Founded in 1960 by Mr. Shintaro Tsuji, Sanrio follows the gift-giving philosophy of “small gift, big smile.” Sanrio has been a type of gateway for Japan and the world; Hello Kitty has been a UNICEF child ambassador for the U.S since 1983 and Japan since 1994. In addition, the stories behind her missing mouth is a symbol for her universal language, in which she speaks from her heart.

Hello Kitty may steal most of the thunder, but she should take a bow. This star has made way for others like Keroppi, Pochacco, Spottie Dottie and Cinamoroll, who just so happen to be my alternative favorites.

DETAILS

Small Gift Mobile Pop Up Shop Tour

October – December 2010

From Seattle to NYC, find out when the tour is coming to a city near you here.

Small Gift L.A.

November 12 – 21, 2010

Barker Hangar, 3021 Airport Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90405

For more info, click here.

Sometimes all it takes is a look. And when that look is the wide-eyed, opaque stare of Hello Kitty, words often become useless.

Especially when the inside is this cute.

I don’t think Hello Kitty can ever go out of style. I think Ray Bans eventually will, capris have already been there, done that, and purple is apparently the new pink which was apparently the new black. But Hello Kitty, that’s a classic that will stay with girls age 5 to 50.    That’s why I would totally rock this Floral Heather Grey Tank by Hello Kitty by Public Library.  You got the Kitty looking all distressed- in a totally cool way, of course.  The tank is comfortable to wear and would look good anywhere.  I’m thinking I would layer it with comfy cardigans just in time for Fall. Kitty’s coming out to play!

I like bags that can serve multiple purposes. Like this Hello Kitty Small Red Patent Embossed Bag!

It’s made of patent PVC with embossed HK detail and has dual carrying handles. The bag is accented with silver toned hardware, zippered closure, and the signature HK dustbag and a Bow ID tag. The interior has two open pockets, and one zippered pocket. It is approximately 15 by11.5 by 7 inches.

Perfect for carrying all your girlie accessories.  And other essentials, such as a laptop, a laptop charger, an extra-large water bottle, and maybe even a pair of foldable ballet flat.

This badgirl purse is worth your $$.

I like bags that can serve multiple purposes. Like this Hello Kitty Small Black Patent Embossed Bag by Loungefly in black!

It’s made of patent PVC with embossed HK detail and has dual carrying handles. The bag is accented with silver toned hardware, zippered closure, and the signature HK dustbag and a Bow ID tag. The interior is lined with hot pink fabric (it’s like going to your happy place every time you open this bag!), two open pockets, and one zippered pocket. It is approximately 15″ x 11.5″ x 7″.

Perfect for carrying all your girlie accessories.  And other essentials, such as a laptop, a laptop charger, an extra-large nalgene bottle, and maybe even a pair of collapsable ballet flats?

This badgirl purse is worth your $$.

This wallet is too cute.

It reminds me of the small fake wallets I used to carry around when I was a child. I used to stuff those silly with $1 bills and random cards (as I had seen in my mom’s wallet) and pretended that I was a rich lady.

With a cute Hello Kitty keychain, this Hello Kitty Red Emboss Wallet by Loungefly opens up in a U-Shape and can hold up to 18 credit cards, perfect for tucking away all those business cards you might have collected to make your wallet feel fatter.

Hello Kitty is stamped into the exterior patent leather; on the inside, you’ll find an ID window, two full length bill compartments, and an inside zipper pocket for all your change.

Yee.

Hello Kitty face beach bag.

I hate getting sand in by bag when I’m at my beach, especially if it’s a nice one. And you’d be surprise how hard it is to come by a sweet looking beach bag.

Fear not! Hello Kitty to the rescue!

The Hello Kitty Face Beach Bag answers all your beach bag totin’ needs. The face is transparent with a white border, perfect for making sure you got all your beach essentials. Sand won’t stick to this bag’s smooth surface, so you can be guilt free when you carry it on to any sandy environment, be it a beach or a sand dune.

It comes with a bright pink or red bow.

Mighty Fine "SO Cute" top and tank.

I don’t care how old you are, Hello Kitty rules. It was fashionable when you were 5; it’s fashionable now. You can wear it as jewelry, on your bag, or as a shirt.

Like this “SO Cute” top and tank from Mighty Fine.

It comes as a 2-in-1 set, so you can either wear the pieces separately, together, or with something else. The racerback tank has black and colored hearts splattering the front and back with Hello Kitty’s cute face snuggled between them. You can pull over it a white crop top tee with Kitty chillin’ on your chest.

Cute, casual, fun.

Hello Kitty in the Malia Dress by Necessary Objects.

I don’t know about you, but I can’t get enough of Hello Kitty cuteness. And since it’s her 35th birthday this year, she’s celebrating with all sorts of new goodies for Kitty-philes like me.

A special commemorative book by Sanrio, in honor of Hello Kitty’s milestone birthday, is due out this year, and in it will be Kitty in a special dress created just for her by fashion brand Necessary Objects.

The dress is inspired by First Daughter Malia Obama and the gorgeous pink lace dress by Necessary Objects that she wore to the Democratic Convention on the night her father won the nomination for president. The dress is a part of the newly launched Necessary Objects Girls Collection.

Super kawai? We think so. Copy cat? In this case, it’s pretty cool. Check out Malia in the original below.

The Obamas, including Malia, second from right, wearing the dress that inspired Hello Kitty's Malia dress.

Photos courtesy of D&E Marketing.

Take one look at Sophie Snow and you wouldn’t be surprised to learn that she is the woman behind Happy Six, the chain boutique (there are now two in Southern California) exploding in Hello Kitty and other kawai goodness.

Happy Six founder Sophie Snow.

What you would be surprised to learn is that the ethnically Tieuchiu Chinese and her family fled the Khmer Rouge and their native Cambodia when she was just a little girl. “We came to America with literally nothing but the clothes on our backs,” says Snow. “We lost everything we had — family members, homes, everything.”

To support the family — who even lived in the projects at one point — Snow’s mother worked in sewing factories. “That’s how I learned to sew,” says Snow. “Out of neccessity, I learned to make my own clothes.”

Fast forward a couple decades. Snow had been working as a (self-taught) designer for various fashion companies. She happened to see a “For Lease” sign in the Sawtelle area of West Los Angeles one day. That space became Happy Six. Today, in addition to carrying Hello Kitty, tokidoki, Harajuku Lovers, Tarina Tarantino, Angry Little Girls, and Disney Couture, Happy Six also features Snow’s own line Sophie Snowflake as well as the in-house Happy Six line. Snow opened her second Happy Six boutique in Plaza El Segundo in nearby El Segundo, Calif.

Inside Happy Six boutique, Plaza El Segundo.

So what makes the 37-year-old tick and so obsessed with all things kawai after all these years? We asked her.

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