MenuBack

PUNK LOLITA CUTSEW TOP AND VISUAL KEI PANTS: MAR JOUR HARAJUKU.

Mar Jour punk skater ripped t shirt from Refuse to be Usual, ebay Gothic Lolita and Visual Kei store.

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!

Punk Lolita outfit on Japanese girl, inspired by Kera Magazine, Mar Jour, visual kei fashion.

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.

Punk Lolita skirt and Sex Pistols cutsew top with Gloomy Bear toy charm.

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.

Japanese punk boys in ripped up jeans with silver chains, stylish armbands.

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.

Visual Kei Japan punk girl with armbands and leopard print tights.

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!

Japanese visual kei band outfit, stylish look with punk pants and white tie over black top.

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!

SHARE & COMMENT

Filed Under Fashion, How-Tos
39 Comments

39 Comments

  1. Samina
    Posted June 29, 2008 at 1:52 pm | Permalink

    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

  2. lacarmina
    Posted June 29, 2008 at 1:53 pm | Permalink

    My pleasure! In the next week, I'll post about three ways to rip apart/put together three old sweaters… :D

  3. Samina
    Posted June 29, 2008 at 8:52 pm | Permalink

    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

    • lacarmina
      Posted June 29, 2008 at 8:53 pm | Permalink

      My pleasure! In the next week, I’ll post about three ways to rip apart/put together three old sweaters… :D

      • Samina
        Posted June 29, 2008 at 11:33 pm | Permalink

        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!

  4. kagitsune
    Posted June 29, 2008 at 4:23 pm | Permalink

    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

  5. Samina
    Posted June 29, 2008 at 4:33 pm | Permalink

    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!

  6. wendy
    Posted June 29, 2008 at 4:33 pm | Permalink

    Wow! You have great ideas! I would love those clothes! Thanks!

  7. sarah
    Posted June 29, 2008 at 4:33 pm | Permalink

    You look fabulous…. I adore what you have done with the top….. Next time you are at Camden you must call.

  8. akari
    Posted June 29, 2008 at 4:33 pm | Permalink

    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

  9. lacarmina
    Posted June 29, 2008 at 4:34 pm | Permalink

    Thanks! The pants were unfortunately not jeans, but a light dressy material… great suggestion though!

  10. lacarmina
    Posted June 29, 2008 at 4:35 pm | Permalink

    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

  11. kagitsune
    Posted June 29, 2008 at 11:23 pm | Permalink

    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

  12. wendy
    Posted June 29, 2008 at 11:33 pm | Permalink

    Wow! You have great ideas! I would love those clothes! Thanks!

  13. sarah
    Posted June 29, 2008 at 11:33 pm | Permalink

    You look fabulous…. I adore what you have done with the top….. Next time you are at Camden you must call.

  14. akari
    Posted June 29, 2008 at 11:33 pm | Permalink

    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

    • lacarmina
      Posted June 29, 2008 at 11:34 pm | Permalink

      Thanks! The pants were unfortunately not jeans, but a light dressy material… great suggestion though!

  15. laura
    Posted June 29, 2008 at 10:12 pm | Permalink

    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!

  16. laura
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 5:12 am | Permalink

    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!

  17. Ari
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 12:49 pm | Permalink

    Arigato gozaimasu^^Wow!!!ur so artistic!!!

  18. Christiane
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 12:50 pm | Permalink

    Wow *__* You are so creative and I like the punk rori outfit very much

  19. Miho
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 12:51 pm | Permalink

    i love japanese fashion =)

  20. Queen D
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 2:30 pm | Permalink

    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

  21. Ari
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 7:49 pm | Permalink

    Arigato gozaimasu^^Wow!!!ur so artistic!!!

  22. Christiane
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 7:50 pm | Permalink

    Wow *__* You are so creative and I like the punk rori outfit very much

  23. Miho
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 7:51 pm | Permalink

    i love japanese fashion =)

  24. Queen D
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 9:30 pm | Permalink

    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

  25. Kami
    Posted July 7, 2008 at 12:36 pm | Permalink

    Pretty tops and pants.=)

  26. Kami
    Posted July 7, 2008 at 7:36 pm | Permalink

    Pretty tops and pants.=)

  27. Damien
    Posted July 8, 2008 at 12:12 am | Permalink

    Your shirt turned out really well. I want to make one now.

  28. Damien
    Posted July 8, 2008 at 7:12 am | Permalink

    Your shirt turned out really well. I want to make one now.

  29. 愛の暗黒面
    Posted July 22, 2008 at 10:46 pm | Permalink

    ^^”” your shirt idea( the one where you cut holes in it) gave me great inspiration on how to salvage a ripped skirt of mine ^^

  30. 愛の暗黒面
    Posted July 23, 2008 at 5:46 am | Permalink

    ^^”” your shirt idea( the one where you cut holes in it) gave me great inspiration on how to salvage a ripped skirt of mine ^^

  31. Danielle
    Posted October 14, 2008 at 7:35 am | Permalink

    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.

  32. Danielle
    Posted October 14, 2008 at 2:35 pm | Permalink

    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.

  33. airsly
    Posted September 7, 2009 at 3:01 am | Permalink

    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!

  34. Anonymous
    Posted September 7, 2009 at 10:01 am | Permalink

    Really great :D Especially this one: http://www.carmenyuen.com/blog/blogpics/080629_punkpants1.jpg

    Could tell me, by mail if possible, how could I get clothes like that on the Internet? :)

    Thanks!

  35. AnnaKSimon
    Posted September 21, 2009 at 3:40 pm | Permalink

    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.