+++P_A_R_T_F_O_U_R_--*FINAL GUIDE*+++

objectives: reviews on shop/music/video/stylist/an icon/photographer/magazine/fashion story/interview/fazine that are link to the HARAJUKU SUBCULTURE....

AN ICON:

GWEN STEFANI

Gwen stefani is a pop star from America, apart from her passion for music,she also interested in fashion.In 2004, she launched her collection,L.A.M.B.
Gwen Stefani started to have interest on the subculture when she visited Japan in the 90's during touring.There is no doubt when you think of Harajuku girls, you will think of Gwen Stefani, not because she has a group of dancers called, harajuku girls, is because she dressed up like one too. 

A STYLIST:

ANDREA LIEBERMAN

Andrea Lieberman is a famous stylist that works with style histories of Gwen Stefani, Jennifer Lopez, Shirley Manson and Mary J. Blige.
Most famously, she has turned punk rock princess, Gwen Stefani, into an edgier and more high-fashion presence on the red carpet. Since she is a long term friend of Gwen Stefani, Andrea Lieberman helped her Styling the fragrance campaigns and the “What You Waiting For?” music video look.

MUSIC VIDEO:

http://youtu.be/UdcObAQ5OOM

"You Harajuku girls ,Damn, you've got some wicked style.."

 WHAT YOU WAITING FOR,GWEN STEFANI

GIGS:

http://www.lapnet.jp/event/event_l101222/#mainVisual

Every year in, Laforet Museum Harajuku, there is a gigs performances for all the harajuku lovers to go for. Its like how we have 'download festival' in UK every year when everyone just enjoy the different type of music.

PHOTOGRAPHER:

Rei Shito

...She is a street fashion photographer that works with 'Fruit' magazine. She takes photo over the world, but mainly she takes photo of everyday Tokyo Street Fashion Scenes, especially around Harajuku.

http://stylefromtokyo.blogspot.com/

FASHION EVENT:

HARAJUKU STYLE COLLECTION

An event happens every year to show the best harajuku style of the year.

LONDON COMIC/COSPLAY EXPO

The London MCM Expo is by far the UK’s largest event for cosplayers and every year more is available for cosplayers to do and get involved with. 

http://www.londonexpo.com/

MAGAZINE:

FRUIT MAGAZINE
Fashion magazine that covers the fashion of Harajuku district in Japan. The photographers document the individualistic styles young people wear around the Harajuku district of Tokyo. If there are identifiable themes, they can broadly be described as fun, original, authentic, and the recording of emerging social trends and technology. The message seems to shout through the repetitive format of these photos; a modern person head to toe in the foreground against an urban backdrop: "You are the best stylist to express yourself".

FAZINE:

LA CARMINA

La Carmina is a  Canadian blogger, author, journalist, and TV host. She specializes in Goth and Harajuku fashion and Japanese pop culture.In September 2007, she began her La Carmina blog about Japanese and Gothic subcultures, Harajuku fashion andVisual Kei music. Her blog “has earned her a worldwide following of alternative-minded music lovers and fashionistas.”As a popular blogger on the subject of Jpop culture, she has been quoted in publications such as Boing Boing and Women’s Wear Daily.
I love reading her blog,firstly i was quite surprised how a girl that is from Hong Kong but lives in US that has so much passion on japanese subculture. She wrote a book that guides people to go around all these funky places in Harajuku which is amazing.

INTERVIEW WITH LA CARMINA:

Gothic Lolita - LaCarmina Interview

1. You talk and write a lot about Tokyo subcultures. How and when did you first become interested in these areas?

La Carmina: Tokyo street style has been part of my consciousness from a very young age. By the time I reached puberty, I'd made a dozen trips to Hong Kong and Japan to visit relatives.

American mall clothes were a yawn compared to the Gothic Lolita, punk, gyaru, and cyber fashions I saw in Asia. I started my blog as an outlet for my J-fashion obsession, and it turned into something bigger than I ever imagined.

2. You seem particularly interested in the Gothic Lolita style. Is this perception correct and, if so, why?

La Carmina: For years, my email sender name was "Creature of the Night"! Since my teen years, I've been drawn to Goth culture and aesthetics, so most of my Lolita coverage is of a Gothic bent.

La Carmina started as a personal blog and remains just that; it chronicles my OCD fixations and misadventures in the world of Japanese subcultures.

3. You studied law at Yale as a student. At that time did you have any idea what you'd be doing now? Was being a Gothic Lolita fashionista all part of your plan?

La Carmina: If you'd told me in 2005 that I'd be splattered with blood and crawling through the Tokyo underground with a gang of spooks, I would have laughed out loud!

Soon after starting at Yale, I realized a law firm job was not for me. I wanted a seat at the Mad Hatter's tea party - but couldn't settle on just one career field.

During my last year of school, I started my La Carmina blog - http://www.lacarmina.com/blog - as a much-needed creative outlet. Zero expectations.

4. At TokyoTopia we're really excited to see you're launching a new book in July - Crazy Wacky Theme Restaurants. How did this project get started and what would you like to achieve through writing this book?

I booked a table at Christon the next day and experienced something close to a spiritual revelation. From that day forth, I was a theme restaurant convert. I made pilgrimages all over Japan and played the prophet, blogging fervently about my favorites... which eventually led to the genesis of this book."

 Here is a sneak peek at my book's intro: "When I visited Tokyo a few years ago, a friend told me about a Jesus-themed cafe where you could simulate the experience of "getting trashed in St. Peter's."

This isn't your typical "cool restaurants" book. The full-color photos and stories are about La Carmina and friends, causing scandal and drama at maid cafes and theme eateries all over Japan. We dressed up to match each theme: Vampire, Alice in Wonderland, Ninja, Wizard of the Opera, Monkeys... If you want to preview the book or preorder it, visit La Carmina's Crazy Wacky Theme Restaurants page and choose your Gothic Lolita dining experience.

I wanted Crazy Wacky Theme Restaurants to feel as personal as my blog and I'm thrilled that the pages convey this energy.

5. What plans do you have for the future? Will you continue to build La Carmina or are there other projects you would also like to try?

La Carmina: La Carmina has grown into something of a brand, sprouting from my love of J-pop/Gothic subcultures. Each new project I tackle falls under Mistress Carmina's lace parasol.

This October, my cookbook Cute Yummy Time will be published by Perigee/Penguin; inspired by kawaii bento decoration, it contains 72 recipes for the cutest food you'll ever eat.

And I've recently become obsessed with making YouTube videos; I started a Goth Cooking Show and frequently upload Gothic Lolita fashion/nightlife "how-tos".

I've received encouraging feedback about my presenting style, so it would be splendid to keep exploring this medium.

6. We're also cat lovers at TokyoTopia - we love Basil Farrow! We know he used to live with Mia Farrow... hence the surname : ) Could you tell us a little more about him and his role in your life?

La Carmina: Basil Farrow is a round, Garfieldian fluffball with tiny folded ears and giant sideways-paws. In other words, he's a ridiculously cute Scottish Fold kitty!

Basil grew up in Bridgewater, Connecticut but lived in my apartment because Mia's house was often empty. When I finished school, he hid in my suitcase and we ran away together. Ronan is his daddy, I'm his mommy, and he has loving grandparents that dote on his every whim.

Everyone thinks her pet awesome, but Basil Farrow is decidedly not a regular cat. He demands to be carried and cuddled, he stands up on his hind legs when he meets new people, his meow sounds like "wahhh," and he's never scratched or bitten a soul =^.^=

Without Basil Farrow, my life wouldn't be nearly as kawaii. My cat and I are the main characters in my upcoming cookbook Cute Yummy Time, and I drew illustrations of him on almost every page.

Basil even has his own blog and Facebook profile with over 500 friends!

7. We believe you travel between Tokyo and the US on a fairly regular basis. It's a long flight! Are there any tips you would give to travelers who are taking their first long haul flight?

La Carmina: After 24 years of 24-hour flights, long plane rides are a breeze. I first flew to Hong Kong at the age of one, and while I was in school, I went from Vancouver to New York and back several times a year.

Everyone knows the basics for making it through a long haul - stretch your legs, stay hydrated - but here are some tips you might not find elsewhere. When you book your ticket, ask for an Indian or Asian vegetarian meal; there's no extra charge, and you're served palatable food before everyone else. The stewardesses don't advertise the best drinks: spicy tomato juice, soda water with lime.

When you disembark in Narita, head straight to the high-tech toilets. The heated seats and cover-up music will make you squeal, "I'm in Japan!"

8. If you had to pick one recommendation for a first time visitor to Tokyo, what would you suggest they see or do?

La Carmina: Tokyo is the perfect travel spot because there's something for everyone: electronics fans, Gothic Lolita fans, nature lovers, architecture buffs, you name it. I created guides to Gothic And Lolita Punk Shopping and Cyber/Goth Club Nights for fellow admirers of Japanese youth subcultures.

Despite one's individual interests, every tourist should visit a konbini! Tokyo's 24-hour convenience stores are unlike any in the world. My favorite products: Zero low-calorie cans of alcohol, Softymo's magical makeup remover (an inside joke my blog readers will recognize - it's amazing; eyeshadow comes right off), bizarrely-flavored Kit Kat bars, and Lemon Water - 1000 mg of vitamin C per bottle!

SHOPS:

HIBARI-KEI(COSPLAY CAFE)

In Harajuku, you can find a lot of cosplay cafe around you. A cosplay cafe means that the staff who dressed up mostly like a maid; sometimes they dressed up as a character from manga. During your time at the cafe, you will automatically becomes their master and they serve you like kings and queens. Normally you see girls dressed up as maid in the cafe, but the photos above shown that not just girls can be maid;so can boys! It was a unisex cafe in Harajuku, to be honest you cant really tell they are boys until i tell you!

FASHION STORY:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1365683/X-Factor-tour-Cher-Lloyd-shows-cropped-new-hairdo-embraces-Harajuku-style.html

X-factor star,  Cher Lloyd, became a fans of Harajuku.

http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/802444-nail-art-gets-a-talon-show

http://www.metro.co.uk/lifestyle/294292-dare-to-wear-japan-fashion-week

""P A R T 3..D E S I G N E R S...****

For part three of the brief,
i have to find THREE designers
that are influenced by the harajuku sub culture.

1* R A F. S I M O N S

Raf Simons, Belgian fashion designer who is born January the 12^th, 1968. He was studying industrial designer at first, but then he did a few years of self-study, which leads him to become a menswear designer in 1995.
His menswear collections are strongly influenced by the youth culture even though it is in an indirect way; where he often combines strongly cut classic menswear with baggy street wear influenced items. From that point of view, it makes Simons’ style to be described as highly influential and also he is quoted as being one of the most important innovators in contemporary menswear by the international press.
Apart from having innovative menswear designs, he also has an innovative way to present his collections; models running down in a street or walking in a parking area, walking on a bridge or around a photography studio, etc.
Although he already has his own label, ‘RAF’, but he is also the creative director of Jil Sander, owned by the Prada Group as well as designing for Fred Perry.

I think this designer makes a strong relation with my sub culture, harajuku street fashion because he focus his designs on youth culture, all of his collections are quite wearable, you can literally imagine your brother or cousin to wear some of his design. You can see that most of the colour pallets for his designs are quite diverse, which is just like how the harajuku street fashioners’ clothes; mix ‘n’ match of colours and clothes. And the idea that he held his own show for his collection on a street or a bridge is exactly similar to the street fashioners in Japan who all hang about in Harajuku station and how the photographers from, ‘Fruit magazine’ takes photographs of people who wears unique clothes around Harajuku station.

2* Mercibeaucoup by Eri Utsugi

Eri Utsugi is the founder and lead designer of a Japanese fashion label called, Mercibeaucoup. The label is under Issey Miyake’s A- Net company, it has become higly trendy since its starting, presenting a broad collection of quirky menswear and womenswear clothing options.
The style of this brand alternately described as quirky and cute, just like the harajuku street fashioners. Utsugi’s designs are made up of a wide collection of influences that combine the cuter, fun  aspects of some Japanese fashion with a lightly more mature, almost indie perspective.
Many of her designers are taken from construction workers, as she herself admits, due to the comfortable appearance of their clothing. By adding a good deal of additional design and comfort to the look of those clothes, Eri is able to create an outfit that works both in form and function. Fantasy and reality often mix in her designs, too. Just like the idea of mix ‘n’ match from harajuku, Utsugi also mixes a wide array of traditional and technological styles and materials into her designs.
The reason why I’ve chosen this design to back it up with my sub culture is because while the idea of cosplay was once transferred for those in Otaku, designers like Utsugi have reinvented the form in fashion, using the idea of anime and manga inspired designer as centrepieces in shows and new lines. Including everything from massive, cotton candy style wigs to outlandish and overly colourful patterns and massive shoes, her clothing displays the same excess and colourful flamboyance that has made cosplay such a big part of popular Japanese culture. Her purchasable clothing, while not nearly as flamboyant or outrageous maintains the same basic tenets and strives to be multi coloured and playful in many ways as possible to maintain a rich tapestry of concepts and pop culture influences.

3.N e - n e t

An innovative design brand which started during 2005 by a Japanese designer called, Kazuaki Takashima.
Takashima born in 1973, graduated from the Bunka Fashion college in 1994 and joined Issey Miyake Inc in 1996. Then he started his own brand ‘Ne-net’ from affiliated company A-Net Inc in 2005. The name of Ne-net means ‘birth’ in French. The concept behind the brand is that they wanted to design daily clothing which can be shared by couple. Ne-net’s clothing is filled with imagination and happiness has individuality that every couple are like parents and children, men and women can share its sense of value. It is also filled with the up growing potentiality to get lots of fans.
The idea of having a strong connection between menswear and womenswear are very important for harajuku street fashion, too. You can see men wears dress and skirts quite often from ‘Fruit magazine’; the harajuku street fashion magazine. In the fashion industry, menswear are often less interesting than womenswear, that’s why we’ve to choose whether we want to have menswear or womenswear nowadays. Because harajuku street fashion has no restriction, just like ne-net’s clothing, that’s why the garments from them can be so different from what we normally see.
I guess we can only see this type of design coming out from Japan because under our british society, I don’t think the public is going to agree with such a ‘weird’ (quoted from metro newspaper) style like the Ne-net’s collection.

Kooky fashion came out during Japan Fashion Week on the catwalk. These models display the new collection from designer Kazuaki Takashima from Tokyo's fashion house Ne-net

Models wear creations designed by Kazuaki Takashima of Japanese fashion house Ne-net at a boxing stadium in Tokyo 23^rd march 2009

middlesex university fashion show at studio valbonne!!!!!!!___

___________________So i've designed a garment for the detailed project. i've looked at crystals and diamonds, interested of how a lot of geometric shapes are found in one crystal/diamond, so i did a simple dress in layers with silk chiffon,polyester chiffon and georgette to represent how crystals and diamonds are see-through. and a jacket with a lot of triangle shapes represent the geometric shapes that were found from the research with cotton drill to show the hard side of a crystal or diamond.

 

^________$$**S u b C u l t u r e ___///**¬¬```

*H A R A J U K U*

Harajuku culture is the common name for the area around Harajuku Station in Tokyo, Japan.
The reason why people used the name of the station as the name of this sub-culture is because every Sunday, bunch of  young people dressed in a variety of styles including gothic Lolita, visual kei, decora, as well as cosplayers; spend the day around the area socializing. It is very hard to define the style of this sub-culture because Harajuku is more alike to unique street fashion style, so there is no restriction of what not to wear, also hard to understand why the all gather in that station and what are they doing during the day.

But the one I like the most is their street fashion; it is all about mixing up, a lot of different layers or literally whatever you wanted to put on to create your own unique style. I am in love with the thought that you can mix ‘n’ match up with your own clothes to create new look every day. The idea of creating new look every day might leads to getting up early and figures out what is the look for today, but I think it is a challenge within yourself to see whether you can break out of your comfort zone and doing some big and crazy.

As for myself, I spent over 10 years living and studying in Hong Kong made me realised how important clothing is; it can be identifying what type of person you are and your occupation and they tend to hate seeing other people who is wearing different styles of clothes. But in Japan, especially in Harajuku station, the youngster does not care what you will think of them, as long as they are pleased of what they are wearing. Is it really important of what sub culture and place that we grown up with?

One more thing that I like about the Harajuku sub culture is the colourful clothing. In England, we tend to just see punk lovers wear abnormal clothes walking around the street with spiky hair and leather clothing; hardly see any Harajuku lover in England, I guess it is quite hard to introduce such a crazy and open minded subculture into a country that is under so many political view and I have a strong feeling that British people might not like the whole idea of Harajuku. But wouldn’t it be interesting to see more creatures put on clothes that have a lot of colours on?

H E R E. I S. A N. I N T E R V I E W......................................

Name: Steven.C
Born on: 08thJuly1983
From:HongKong
Currently studying@London College of Fashion

OUTFIT ONE:hat: override9999
jacket: vintage
vest: american rag cie
shirt on waist: vintage
jeggings: moto
shoes: vintage

OUTFIT TWO:hat: CA4LA

jacket: vintage
tee: hanes
bowleggedness trousers: paradox_ abnormal collection
shoes: unbilical

OUTFIT THREE
jacket, tee and jeans picked by TC
hat: N/A
leather jacket: vintage
tee: mee & gee
jeans: urban outfitters
overknee boots: custom made
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Steven.
helllo!
i have to do a blog about a subculture of my own choice and ive chosen harajuku street fashion.
your style fits with the subculture perfectly and i was wondering can i take some of your photos from ur ablum and also can you fit in an interview questionaire in for me please?

Happy chinese new year :D

Many thanks,
Kumiko 
------------------------------------------------------------yes... its fine .... i would like to help
lemme know wut i can do

cheers
steven
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Home is? and why chosen to stay in london?Hong Kong. London is a country with multi-culture and there is people from many different countries


2.what's your earliest London memory?always raining


3.Which is your favourite place in London? and why?
Bricklane. many stylish people and vintage store

4.What is your opinion on Japanese street fashion?(do you like it?Will you become one of the Japanese street fashion-er?)
japanese fashion is very creative, not only the garments but also the style they are wearing. I like it, I wont be a japanese fashion-er but i would like to learn their style

5. what is your definition on being unique?
Just be yourself

6. Which are your favourite shops?and why?vintage store because every single vintage cloth has its own story behind....its so romantic

7. What and where do you usually do and go during your free time?
bricklane, exhibition, clubbing and party

8. Is there a difference on fashion between your hometown and london?In London, its very comfortable since u can wear whatever you want. However, in Hong Kong, its still quite a traditional country and it seems there is not much choice in fashion

9. what type of music do you like?(can you name a few pieces?)
sigur ros, bjork, nirvana, daft punk, the xx

10. what do you most like wearing?i like to wear the traditional clothing from different countries,and try to transform them into my own style

11. how would you define the word of fashion?fashion is an personal identity and is a media to express your own self

12. your favourite colours?
I can say I love all colours..haha


kumi x steven
-----------------------------------------

[[[[[[[[/////G E N E R I C.F A S H I O N.T R I P""""""""]]]]]]

-VINTAGE SHOPS VISIT-

TASK: VISIT 4 SHOPS FROM THE BRIEF, FIND CLOTHES FOR 4 DIFFERENT STYLE.

This is a leather jacket that i've picked from the shop. It made with leather,of cause, 

but its very interesting that it contains a lot of zip and buckle around the whole jacket.

I think this jacket is easily go with a black dress or just with tee and skinny jeans.

Another leather jacket, but this one has pocket showns on the front,

most importantly, the leather trims around the armholes.

So for those leather jackets can easily match up with the stud belt with skinny black jeans.

This is a denim sleeveless jacket with accessories for the Punk Lover,

the gold buttons and the chain are amazing.This can be wear with a tartan shirt or dress.

Another Denim Punk jacket, with sleeves and badges on the sleeves.
This is a menswear jacket as you can see those car racing badges on the side

I think the jacket above will match with this polyster trousers with buckle.
this is a very light weight trousers.

A modern version of the leather jacket with leather trim.

Rock-a-billy outfit shown at ROKIT.layered with podka dot top and a beautiful pink skirt

Those pictures above are from my groupmates-Karoline and Nadia.

These are the photos me,Nadia and Karoline took from the shops, there are TWO shops that we got told off to take photo of the garments.