>> July 7, 2008, 9:14 am
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La Carmina
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Fashion >>
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Kawaii - that distinctly Japanese take on cuteness - burst into my life early on. Every time I made a family trip to Asia, I'd return with a few Kitty-chans in tow. (This photo was taken in 2003, when I had purple hair! ) I went through the Sanrio roster: Keroppi, Pochacco, Chococat... By the time I entered grade school, my motto was "kawaii or bust." I turned my nose at school-issue agendas and pencil cases from Sears (these were the days before Staples). My stationery, my toys, my clothes - everything had to have a Sanrio character on it.
Alas, decora is only kosher in Japan. By 1996, I'd moved on to Goth/alternative wear - but the vestiges remained and eventually harmonized into Gothic Lolita. It's a fashion, it's refined, and yet still carries a heavy dose of kawaii (think Hangry & Angry or Metamorphose's bunny and bear mascots).
A perfect example is this "Nya" black cat cell charm and fuzzy pouch by Ne-Net, a whimsical Japanese designer that presented at the last Tokyo Fashion Week. Look at the design and quality; nobody would mistake this for kid's stuff.
Now check out Body Line's rabbit rucksacks, which are sold by Cosmates Japan. The earrings and crucifix add Goth Loli flair, but otherwise, I don't have anything nice to say about these cheap-looking synthetic leather bags. We're entering the realm of cosplay... and h.NAOTO does animal purses so much better!
Walking the line between child's play and couture is tougher than one might think. How much kawaii do you let into your outfits?
>> July 6, 2008, 12:33 am
by
La Carmina
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Fashion >>
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All of us could use some Sex Pot Revenge... especially when it's modelled by Japanese punk boys! (Ok, some of them are girls... some of them are in between...)
SEX POT ReVeNGE... is a wild punk clothing brand based out of Harajuku. Stripes, plaid, rips, tears and the like are all recurring themes.
SEX POT ReVeNGE... frequently appears in KERA magazine and collaborates with Visual Kei/J-rock bands - including Antic Cafe, Phantasmagoria, Vidoll, and 12012.
SEX POT ReVeNGE... is available worldwide from online retailer CD Japan! You can purchase some of the cutsew tops, tanks, and bottoms pictured.
Or you can be crafty and slash up your own shirts. Try cutting holes, dripping paint, adding safety pins, and sewing on zippers and chains.
Don't you love the skeleton gloves attached to the sleeve by a chain?
† Name/URL: Laia (aka. Kanna)
† Age: 19
† Location: Barcelona, Spain.
† How were you introduced to Gothic Lolita fashion?
Looking for pic of MOON-kana- I found some Lolita pics and I fell in love with it. One year later I bought my first Lolita dress.
† What do you find appealing about GL style and culture?
I like to have my own style, not to be as everybody. And with Lolita fashion I can express my feelings better. Also, I've always loved 18th century fashion.
† What are your favorite GL clothing brands?
Baby the Stars Shine Bright, Angelic Pretty, Mary Magdalene, Metamorphose temps de fille.
† Any other comments?
Be yourself. Don't care about if other people criticize your style. They cannot understand it.
If you would like to be the next Gothloli of the Week, please read the submission instructions here.
>> July 2, 2008, 3:31 pm
by
La Carmina
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How Tos >>
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Holy moly. This men's sweater from Black Peace Now is an deconstructed Goth eye-catcher - but it costs 12390 yen ($120) and isn't available from MaruiOne.jp (the only site that ships BPN overseas).
If that is so... then how am I modelling this very item? Easy: I made one of my own from a school-marmy black turtleneck!
I cut off the turtleneck and split the shirt asymmetrically down the front (pinning the collar with a World Wildlife Fund panda pin). I pinched the fabric together and cut out semi-circles for holes of varying sizes. The grey striped shirt and skewed skirt with a silver chain have been sitting in my closet for years.
This is what my old clothes looked like before I pounced on them with scissors! The pants and white Nordica ski shirt were featured in the Punk/Visual Kei DIY project. The black sweaters (on the bottom row) became h.NAOTO-inspired "skull" and "bones" ripped tops. The awkward schoolteacher (top center) acquired black eyeliner and a mohawk for this salute to Black Peace Now.
Some of you mentioned that you're going to turn your timid old clothes into punk/Goth wildcats. How did the projects go?
I've been corresponding with Patrick Macias, who has an awesome J-pop culture blog and is co-author of Japanese Schoolgirl Inferno. (I reviewed the book last year; it's a colorful breakdown of the various Harajuku fashion tribes, including Lolita.) Patrick also oversees and contributes to MaruiOne's LiveJ site, home to Kera's street snaps of stylish Tokyo youths.
If you're lucky enough to be in Los Angeles next week, you could soon spot yourself amidst these style mavens! Patrick gave me the head's up: MaruiOne.jp and Kera Magazine are hosting a "Street Snap" event at the 2008 Anime Expo (AX). In addition to selling Gothic/Lolita/Punk clothing, photographers will be shooting stylish attendees. The best photos will appear on MaruiOne's LiveJ and in an upcoming issue of Kera.
The "Marui bunch" (as Patrick puts it) will be manning a booth throughout the entire Anime Expo, but the Kera Snap sessions will only be held on:
† July 3: 3-5 PM
† July 4: 2-3PM, 4-5PM
† July 5: 2-3PM, 4-5PM
So put on your best bonnet, and don't miss your chance to be on the same pages as Kana and Aya! For inspiration, here are some recent Kera Snaps. Goth muse Manamu (left) - who you may remember from the Absolut ads - rocks the Aristocrat look and carries an... intriguing... purse that she made herself. ( Out of roadkill, maybe? )
You may also recall my post about stylish couples who are captured repeatedly. Introducing another duo: Mitru (fashion student at Bunka Women's University) and Asaki (Visual Kei/metal vocalist). They describe their relationship as "Princess and Prince" - and like me, they flutter around in feathered masks, pirate/military coats, and gossamer bell skirts.
I won't be at the LA Expo, but I'll be sure to keep up with the "Marui bunch" and post the best of the Kera snaps. Maybe I'll find you in them!
