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:
"You Harajuku girls ,Damn, you've got some wicked style.."WHAT YOU WAITING FOR,GWEN STEFANI
GIGS:
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:
...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.
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".
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."
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:
X-factor star, Cher Lloyd, became a fans of Harajuku.
the nail artwork is mad crazy- creative though!
ReplyDeletehttp://purpletweed.blogspot.com
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yes the nail art work is quite dramatic!!!!!!!!! personally i dont think i will have such a long nails but i really wanted to know what is it like to have such long nails!!!!! how is she going to pick up the knife and fork ! haha
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