Took this photo today on my way back home from the supermarket. Sakura is here, spring is here! I better work hard today, in order to meet my deadlines earlier than expected. I want to take a stroll to Ueno park tomorrow, as more pink beauties and the hanami craziness await!
GOOSEPUMPS. That, and pleasant shivers down my spine, is what I got when I attended the Jotaro Saito runway show today. The audience was full of elegant Kimono-clad ladies, I felt I was definitely in good company.
Jotaro Saito is a modern Kimono designer, just like his father Sansai Saito was (he held his farewell show together with his son last autumn). The art of Kimono dyeing runs in their family. Jotaro Saito aims to present Kimono as “fashion matched with modern space.” In addition to being a Kimono designer, he is also a costume, interior and product designer.
The contrast of the traditional and the modern was evident in the show, in a well-executed way. The combination of lights, music, models – everything, was perfect, at least for me. I loved the music choices they had, like Hybrid and London Grammar. The bass was heavy and pounding, as the models looking like gods and goddesses glided on the runway. The lights created a beautiful, graphic, asymmetric pattern, in shades of gold and petrol. Sadly the photos I took with my camera phone are way too fuzzy and pixelated to share (I need a proper camera!)..
As for the Kimono, I certainly agreed with the colors and patterns. Fresh, delicious jewel colors, with monochrome tones. My eternal favorites. Graphic patterns mixed with beautiful floral patterns and shapes – I love contrasts. My only dislike are the fur shawls and scarfs. I don’t know are they real or not, but in any case, fur is not on my menu. I prefer to stay away even from fake fur, as I feel it is still sending a wrong message.
At the end of the show, the smiling designer came down the runway with his models. So many ladies rushed from the audience to present him with flowers and gifts. You could feel the admiration and respect towards the brand and the designer from everyone in the audience. You could feel the love.
I truly am touched and grateful to be able to see this show. I think it’s wonderful that the genius style, that is Kimono, is going on strong. Think of how many traditional garments do you know, that are still being used in daily life, at least for some? That are still cherished and manufactured, sold even in department stores? Respecting and remembering tradition does not mean it should stay static, unchanged. It can still evolve and stay with the time, without loosing it’s true nature.
Images below except for the last one via tokyo-mbfashionweek.com
Hi, long time no see!
It has been a bit quiet here, but since today is the start of Tokyo Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week AW15, and I am attending a few shows, I figured this is a good moment to re-activate the blog and, myself. I’ve been very busy, and I also paid a month long visit to Finland back in December, but am now back in Tokyo, ready for spring and ready for new discoveries!
So, today and the TMBFW started with the Stretsis AW15 show at the wonderful Hikarie building in Shibuya. Stretsis (‘sisters’ spelled backwards), is a romantic and feminine ready-to-wear line for women, designed by Pim Sukhauta. She started the brand officially in 2002, after graduating from the Parsons School of Design. The core of the brand is sisterhood, and the strong bond between Pim, her older sister Kly and younger sister Matina. They are all involved with the brand, with Kly taking care of marketing, and Matina designing accessories.
The 70’s vibe is all over the catwalks currently (and I’m loving it!), and so it was also in the Stretsis show. The theme was fairytale like, magical forest, where these ethereal fairies would glide amongst the flowers and mingle with cute animals of the forest. The Stretsis take on the 70’s was the romantic one: flowers, frills, pastels, embroideries, chiffons, billowy dresses. For me personally, the brand is maybe bit too ‘young’, as the color scheme and materials are very girly and ‘kawaii’, but I did love the silhouettes and the details. I’ve had my mind on the 70’s flare pants for a moment now, and Stretsis had some pretty nice proportions for these. There was also another nice blast from the past – the head scarf. A very simple idea, but after a 20 year absence (it remember this being a trend in the 90’s as well), it feels very fresh. I for one will definitely cover my locks with some nice scarfs this summer! Below are some of my favorite looks from the collection.
All images below except for the last one via
http://tokyo-mbfashionweek.com/
Bura Bura Chipi - ぶらぶらチッぴ 
