>> April 14, 2008, 4:22 pm
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Today, there’s a shout-out to La Carmina from Susie Bubble, one of my favorite dress-up artists. The Guardian recently named her blog (Style Bubble) one of the world's 50 most powerful - and deservedly so. Susie’s frequent entries about indie and vintage fashion put her that awesome zone between fervor and OCD. Her playful personality especially comes through in her style diary (where she uses a timer to capture her current outfit).
In the post, Susie admits she wouldn’t know Mana from Kana: “It is rather unfortunate though that I’m not a personal fan of Lolita fashion in most of its strands and variations (I’d refer people to La Carmina for more information on gothic Lolita, a site I’ve stumbled upon that seems expert in its field... seeing as I’m ill equipped to educate people...). Mainly because a) the aesthetic somehow looks a little wrong on my 5”7-8 body and b) I’m not really into playing into stereotypes – a girl from Hong Kong dressed in full-on Lolita costume traipsing around London giggling innocently and batting my eyelashes would just spell disaster in all aspects of daily life for me, probably more so than if my daily uniform consisted of a 1 foot high feather hat with a vintage Thierry Mugler suit and Alexander McQueen heels.”
Susie went on to discuss the new Swedish womenswear label Lamilla, which reminds her of Lolita: "Braids, needlework, folds and lace and a heap of romance (dare I say DARK romance....? )" I wouldn’t splurge on any of the items, but I agree that they’re of excellent craftsmanship. I could picture a Lamilla silk blouse pairing well with a black bell-skirt… perhaps with white crucifixes along the edge?
>> March 15, 2008, 8:40 pm
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What a thrill - I'm on the front page of Morbid Outlook, the go-to web zine for Goth fashion and lifestyle! The spotlight article is, of course, about the North American Gothic Lolita scene. Above, you can see some of my quotes and mentions.
Here's the background: a few months ago, writer Kyshah Hell contacted me because she was updating her 2002 Morbid Outlook article about Gothic Lolita fashion, which had created something of a stir. Kyshah recognized that much has changed in the last five years, and she wanted to gather as much info as possible to ensure an accurate and current portrait of Goth Lolis in America.
She and I arranged a phone interview, and it lasted for over an hour! How enormously satisfying it is to "talk shop" - to throw out acronyms (BTSSB, MMM), ponder gosurori's cultural implications, dish on the esoterica of the Bible - all without the other person thinking you've escaped from the sanitarium.
Kyshah was a thoughtful and well-informed interviewer, and she's written one of the best English-language articles on Gothic Lolita to date. Her Morbid Outlook piece covers the origins of Gothic Lolita, the style and its sub-sets, watershed moments (Kamikaze Girls, Phaidon's Gothic & Lolita ), and its emergence in America. I loved the paragraphs about the attraction of Lolita fashion, a question that I ask every Goth Loli of the Week. Kyshah kindly included some of my quotes, a link to my blog, and two photos of me modelling the fashion. Please take a moment to read the article here.
The piece (including my pictures) will also be published in late March in Romanian Art Magazine Otaku. Stay tuned for upcoming magazine interviews and photoshoots featuring La Carmina...
PS: add me on MySpace if you haven't already!
>> February 13, 2008, 9:39 pm
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In this previous post, I wrote (in good humor) about how Asiance Magazine's style interview with yours truly contained a few fictional elements. The magazine very kindly contacted me and insisted on correcting the article. How sweet - and rare for the media! Click to enlarge the redacted profile of La Carmina at New York Fashion Week.
>> February 7, 2008, 7:36 am
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Wednesday was unofficially "Asian Day" at New York Fashion Week, with runway shows by 3.1 Philip Lim, Anna Sui, Richard Chai, and Peter Som. Here are more photos from Bryant Park.
I was interviewed for the TV program Full Frontal Fashion. I chatted with the host, James Aguiar, about Gothic Lolita style and the labels that I like to wear. He asked, "If you could have one spectacular Fashion Week wish, what would it be?" I answered, "Ten closets full of Gothic Lolita clothing!" (I'm sure many of you would have answered similarly.)
Twirl around, strike a pose...
I filmed a Fashion Week spot for Mercedes-Benz, which you can find online shortly. Also look out for me in Stylesight, Refinery29, and other photo sites. Phew - time to sit at home with my cat and sort through the swag bags!
>> February 7, 2008, 7:13 am
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Interviews are inevitably riddled with errors. I wrote down my name in the reporter's notepad - and still, it came out wrong! Click to enlarge Asiance Magazine's profile of La Carmina from inside the New York Fashion Week tents. Can you spot the three boo-boos?
1. Carmen Yves? Je ne suis pas Français! (Try Yuen...)
2. Japan? I'm always told I look Japanese, and I wear Gothic Lolita fashion... but I'm pretty sure I told the interviewer "Canadian."
3. Deacon's Closet? It's Beacon's, a vintage store that often carries Lolita-friendly pieces.
And yes, I did say that I like to wear weird things. :P
EDIT: Asiance Magazine contacted me after reading my blog - and immediately fixed the profile! How kind of them! Read the updated version here.
