brad-t
Nightmare of Pizza underwear by LATESHOW
I’ll leave you to explore your feelings on this one, guys.
retromantiqueAnna Sui Spring 2012 Collection e-MOOK preview and mini-review!
(As much as someone who can’t read Japanese can review a Japanese publications, haha)This year, Anna Sui’s e-Mook is loaded will cool stuff. Look for yourself in the table of contents!
While I can’t read them yet I think all Anna Sui e-Mooks are worth getting. They are filled with amazing photoshoots and feature Anna’s alternate lines (Dolly Girl, Anna Sui Mini and her Japanese licensed goods) which are otherwise quite hard to reach and Spring 2012’s is no exception. What I particularly love about it is the “Anna Sui Collection Archive” with two pictures of every single collection Anna has done and an English keyword to sum them up (and Japanese text under.) On top of that, it comes with an iPad case (which I’ll use to carry my books) and a makeup pouch! Here’s a few pictures for you:
Typical Anna Sui style!
Just behind the black makeup pouch is the screen protector for the iPad. It’s useful because you can put cards, pens and whatnot in the fishnet pocket!
Yes, Anna Sui is fashion is “loud”, but it also meticulous about detail. Gotta love it!
So yes, if you get a chance to grab the Spring 2012 e-Mook, by all means jump on it! Especially considering how hard it is now to find a copy. It went out of print extremely fast and after printing 100, 000 extra copies, it’s already on its way to be out of print again. But there are a few left over at Amazon.co.jp!
P.S.: You see that makeup look on the fourth picture? That’s what I’m going to post a tutorial from with the Beach 2012 Collection Eye & Lip Color Palette!! Stay tuned ;)
A must for Japanese magazines and mooks collectors.
galismShibuya 109 Festival 2012
The Shibuya 109 Girls Festival 2012 held earlier on May 12th was a total fashion extravaganza! Besides a runway show, attendees were treated to appearances by popular gal models, fashion personalities as well as music performances by Kana Nishino and Korean girl group After School. The runway stage was split into two parts: the first half, “free stage”, included young and up and coming brands like Neon Soda, AGAINST, FIG&VIPER, and mercy; the second, “premium stage,” showcased verteran brands including rienda, SPIRAL GIRL, CECIL McBEE, EGOIST, and LIZ LISA. Those interested can conveniently purchase items from the show here.
And the timing couldn’t really be more perfect for gal fashion enthusiasts. While the Tokyo Girls Collection has long played host to the likes of LIZ LISA and CECIL McBEE, the majority of its runway lineup for the past few seasons has consisted more of contemporary women’s labels rather than recognized gal brands. Despite this, events like the Shibuya 109 Festival make it clear that there’s still enthusiasm for gal brands—both old and new—as well as the Shibuya fashion culture they continue to shape.
Check out event photos below:
So much variety! Additional photos can be found here. Now check out these snaps of models Yunkoro, Natsumi Saito, and Nemoyayo, showing off their 109 Festival style (Source).
In the market for a new wig? Take a look at these stylish PRISILA Loves CECIL McBEE collaboration wigs! Modeled by EDGE♥S magazine model Ryo, the collection includes full wigs as well as clip-in extensions and hair pieces. All wigs come with a special branded CECIL McBEE pouch and can be purchased here.
Cool new casual rock-themed arrivals at the Shibuya 109 e-Shop from (left) VENCE, moussy, and FIG&VIPER. Which are your favorites?
Cute new arrivals to the Shibuya 109 eShop from brands (from left) JSG, one spo, and ROSE FAN FAN.
Would you like to see weekly posts of new gal items become a regular feature here on our Tumblr? Share your thoughts!
vampirefictionMarxy has just released part 2 of his excellent “History of the Gyaru” series. As usual, he does a fantastic job of going beyond the clothes and capturing the backdrop of Tokyo in the 90s, from changing social trends to economic indicators and even the rise of the pager. Mandatory reading for anyone into Japanese fashion.
So how would a new kogyaru recruit figure out how to properly dress in the style? When the kogyaru reached mass consciousness in the mid-1990s, there were still no dedicated “gyaru” magazines that worked with “gyaru” brands to show a step-by-step guide on becoming a “gyaru.”
There was, however, a shopping complex with increasing centrality to the subculture. In the early 1990s, both kogyaru and their older paragyaru-type tanned party-girl big sisters had patronized a store called Me Jane in a generally-ignored fashion building called Shibuya 109. Known later in gyaru circles as just “maru-kyu,” Shibuya 109 opened in 1979 but never achieved any level of popularity in its first decade. Fashion business analyst Kawashima Yoko described its early days as “Like Marui, but worse.” With Me Jane, however, the building finally started to attract a dedicated clientele. Soon kogyaru moved beyond Me Jane and started hanging out next door in a clothing store Love Boat and in the shoe brand ESPERANZA (Kawashima 178). The brands all focused on a sexy, summery style, with shirts, for example, that showed off the belly button.
Shibuya 109’s owner Tokyu noticed this sudden interest in their flailing complex and decided to do a “renewal” of the building in the mid-1990s, asking more stores of the kogyaru fashion variety to become tenants. This turned 109 into the gyaru shopping mecca we know today. As kogyaru wannabees poured into Shibuya, they made a beeline to 109 and essentially understood any store in the building as selling “gyaru” clothing. In this period, Me Jane saw double digit growth every year, ultimately making ¥700 million a year in Shibuya alone (Namba 2006).
