PUNK LOLITA CUTSEW TOP AND VISUAL KEI PANTS: MAR JOUR HARAJUKU.
I did a massive spring cleaning and fought the urge to bury my head in the sand when I came across some of my old clothes. Three words: Club Monaco sweatshirt. Or how about six: pastel blue Old Navy tank top. These 90s fiascos are on the way to the Salvation Army – but before yelling sayonara, I had to heed the call of two irresistable words: “Fashion Challenge.” With only a pair of scissors, could I turn my lame clothes into something worthy of Kera Magazine?
I immediately recalled a ripped-up Mar Jour t-shirt (above) that I saw on Refuse to Be Usual (the eBay store that sells Gothic Lolita/Punk/Visual Kei wear). The cutsew looks like it’s falling to pieces – and it’s listed at a whopping $100. The Punk Lolita response? DIY!
I started with a white, longsleeve Nordic turtleneck that I wore to ski lessons years ago. I chopped off the neck and the sleeves at the elbow, and giant horizontal chunks out of the sleeves and front. I slipped the Swiss cheese remnents over a black/red/white Sex Pistols t-shirt, securing it with safety pins over Johnny Rotten’s eyes.
To accessorize, I added Vertigo and Batman buttons, a Warrior Princess-style leather corset bracelet, black mask, and mis-matched red striped/skull-printed knee highs. A Gloomy Bear plushie is safety-pinned to my Lolita petticoat-poof from Spider. Not a bad replica – and it didn’t cost me a cent.
My next look was inspired by the I-got-stuck-in-a-car-door-and-dragged-fifty-feet jeans often worn by Harajuku punk boys. Think Sex Pot Revenge, Sexy Dynamite London, or HellCatPunks.
I gleefully tore strips out of old Club Monaco dress pants, leaving the pieces to hang from the sides. I picked up the disembodied sleeves from my white Nordic turtleneck and gave them the same treatment. Voila – punk armbands!
I wrapped one leg of leopard-print leggings around my left leg, and one leg of cherry-red tights around the right. My dad’s white tie is twisted into skinny scarf/noose. The “ninja top” is from Kunpado, a stall in London’s Camden Market. What do you think?
Coming up next: I turn rejected sweaters into deconstructed masterpieces inspired by h.NAOTO’s latest collection!
This entry was posted on Sunday, June 29th, 2008 at 12:53 and is filed under Fashion, How-Tos. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.
June 29th, 2008 at 13:52
Samina says:You've given me a bunch of ideas to start making things! I can't wait to get more space for my clothes after this! Thank you so much Carmen. <3
June 29th, 2008 at 13:53
lacarmina says:My pleasure! In the next week, I'll post about three ways to rip apart/put together three old sweaters… :D
June 29th, 2008 at 16:23
kagitsune says:I think the deconstructed sweater + t-shirt project turned out the best of all of these. The pants look they're missing something, though… safety pins and rough stitching with brightly colored threads, or even plastic Rexlace, perhaps? Try switching out the leopard print for something red/black striped, like the socks you wore with the sweater/petticoat ensemble. Maybe even add some splashes of red paint to the mix! :D And of course, you can't forget the chaaaaiiiinnnnssss…. >:3
I'll have to try this whenever I'm having an “off-loli” day… xD
June 29th, 2008 at 16:33
Samina says:Yay! I literally ran up to the thrift store before it closed to grab some black pants to tear apart, and a few children's bottoms so I can tear them into little patches and sew onto a grey plaid skirt as well. You're gonna bankrupt me but I don't think I care!
June 29th, 2008 at 16:33
wendy says:Wow! You have great ideas! I would love those clothes! Thanks!
June 29th, 2008 at 16:33
sarah says:You look fabulous…. I adore what you have done with the top….. Next time you are at Camden you must call.
June 29th, 2008 at 16:33
akari says:With the jeans, why don't you try sandpapering the edges for a more rough look?
I like what you've done so far and looking forward to more!
<3 AKARi:BiERNOT
June 29th, 2008 at 16:34
lacarmina says:Thanks! The pants were unfortunately not jeans, but a light dressy material… great suggestion though!
June 29th, 2008 at 16:35
lacarmina says:Ahhh yes I've been kicking myself for not adding the chain I previously used in an armband/bracelet…
http://www.carmenyuen.com/blog/post/index/194/K...
June 29th, 2008 at 22:12
laura says:Great blog! :)
I personally like the band shirt look (in the example photos) with the street punk-style outfit, but I looove what you did on the loli-punk look! I saw that shirt on RTBU too, but I didn't think how easy it would be to just make one, haha. Nice!
June 30th, 2008 at 12:49
Ari says:Arigato gozaimasu^^Wow!!!ur so artistic!!!
June 30th, 2008 at 12:50
Christiane says:Wow *__* You are so creative and I like the punk rori outfit very much
June 30th, 2008 at 12:51
Miho says:i love japanese fashion =)
June 30th, 2008 at 14:30
Queen D says:LOVE the idea with the t-shirt
Im deffy goinna try it
The pants are cool that would look soo sick with dark blue jeans tho
:D
<333
July 7th, 2008 at 12:36
Kami says:Pretty tops and pants.=)
July 8th, 2008 at 00:12
Damien says:Your shirt turned out really well. I want to make one now.
July 22nd, 2008 at 22:46
愛の暗黒面 says:^^”" your shirt idea( the one where you cut holes in it) gave me great inspiration on how to salvage a ripped skirt of mine ^^
October 14th, 2008 at 07:35
Danielle says:Hi,
I love the slashed arm warmers. Your blog is very cool and I can't believe you have a book coming out on Penguin!! that is so awesome.
September 7th, 2009 at 03:01
airsly says:Really great :D Especially this one: http://www.carmenyuen.com/blog/blogpics/080629_...
Could tell me, by mail if possible, how could I get clothes like that on the Internet? :)
Thanks!
September 21st, 2009 at 15:40
AnnaKSimon says:I would also suggest visiting the lakes in the Upper Engadine. They are four in total and are located 1 771 meters above the sea level, but the switzerland clothing hiking path is not steep at all.