Well, yet again the Design Festa was on...but I missed it...yup still studying for that Japanese test which is this weekend. Lucky though there is always next year!

Here is the link if you are interested!

I thought I would re-blog this previous post to link in with Black Friday.


Monday, August 08, 2005

Who is the Harajuku Girl?

Who is the Harajuku girl? Are they the girls that dress up and hang out near Yoyogi park on Sundays waiting to be photographed? Or Are they the girls that wear multilayer, mutli- accessory and brash threads that parade around Takeshita and Harajuku Street - also known as in the monthly magaizine as "fruits".Gwen Stefani describes Harajuku girls as wearing Vivien Westwood, a Bathing Ape, having wicked style and claims to be their biggest fan. But perhaps this is just her definition of the Harajuku girl.I define this underground culture of style now called by the west Harajuku Girl, as a girl or more recently, a guy who mixes brands, vintage and self produced pieces together to form an extension of their personality and taste and perhaps even a statement.

In his book Fresh Fruits, Shoichi Aoki describes the culture of "Fruits" as a result of teenagers "desire to be different from their peers" which causes a ripple effect. Pretty soon the emerging style becomes the current trend. So do these "Fruits" come under the Harajuku girl banner? If they do, they are fashion inovators, masters of style that are so ahead of their time and looked upon in awe that even pop stars from the west such as Gwen Stefani are even making songs praising their style.

Just who is exactly the Harajuku girl remains a secret much like the clothes these girls and guys will be wearing in the near future. But for now lets enjoy this culture that is emerging from the depths of Tokyo's streets for too soon it may become commerical.

After reading Final Fashion and Almost Girl (see below) today I have also decided to contribute to Black Friday.

Style or Fashion? What do you choose?

I feel that fashion is taken too seriously. I often read out how much the average Joe or Joanne has forked out to purchase a pair designer jeans such as EVISU or a Channel handbag thus making them the envy of their friends and peers. Somtimes it's like fashion is a competion. Who has the most expensive outfit or who has the latest design. I mean sure, I am guilty of doing the occasional spend up on shoes or the latest design too, but it is occasional and that is the key.

As I have said in the past you don't need designer brands to look the part. Besides CUCCI and EVISU are just too expensive!

dictionary.com defines fashion as


1. The prevailing style or custom, as in dress or behavior: out of fashion.
2. Something, such as a garment, that is in the current mode: a swimsuit that is the latest fashion.

While style is defined as


1. The way in which something is said, done, expressed, or performed: a style of speech and writing.
2. The combination of distinctive features of literary or artistic expression, execution, or performance characterizing a particular person, group, school, or era.
3 A quality of imagination and individuality expressed in one's actions and tastes: does things with style.
4 A comfortable and elegant mode of existence: living in style.
5 The fashion of the moment, especially of dress; vogue.


So fashion is the current mode while style is individuality expressed in one's actions and tastes, and in additon the fashion of the moment. Style can be both! So lets express and not repress!

Lets look at Fashion HQ. Yes you guessed it TOKYO! I often walk down the streets of Harajuku and Shibuya filled with the most expensive shops to the cheapest. Would you believe that 'Thank You Mart' sells all its retro and imported clothes for 350 Yen? ($4.50 AUD). I always see people in that store exploring the aisles and experiementing with their clothes. They are having fun with fashion, not taking it seriously and looking dam stylish at the same time.

As I flip though the pages of fruits and street many of the 'models' actually redesign their clothes. The reality of it though, is that not everyone has time to do this and so turn towards independant designers instead.

Part of the philosophy at TOTE and its future direction is to take pre-loved clothes and to redesign them. Currently I redesigning a pair of jeans bought from 'Thank You Mart' (for myself though, but more to be made and sold via ebay) So as you can see it's easy to have fun with clothes. Just break the chains and do it!

TOTE





Black Friday Blogging
November 25 is in seven days, a day that is not only the "biggest shopping day in America", but also the day the anti-consumerists have adopted as Buy Nothing Day.My fashion blogging friend Almost Girl had a terrific idea to jog our thoughts about fashion, consumerism, and start a real discussion about the way we experience fashion, perhaps with an angle towards exploring the qualities of fashion that anyone can enjoy, regardless of income or status. Thereby observing Buy Nothing day, and hopefully sparking some lively conversation. Feel free to join.I'm calling my series, free fashion.

A is for apple

J is for Japanese

T is for test (on December 4)

S is for study

B is for busy

G is for gomen nasai (Sorry) because I won't be making bags till after that date....I need to pass this test!

TOTE

Found in Mashiko, now in my home. Get in before it becomes a trend.

TOTE

I have had an inquiry or two from customers from other countries about my bags on ebay so I thought I would add Babel fish so they can translate my website too.