GOTHIC LOLITA RUNWAY PHOTOS AND REVIEW OF MARUI INDIVIDUAL FASHION EXPO IV.
Patrick Macias did a fantastic recap of the Marui Individual Fashion Expo IV, so I’ll just add a few notes about the live experience and my favorite looks for each brand. These runway photos are courtesy of Mainichi Online.
Minutes after the doors opened, the rows nearest the stage were filled with Lolitas. Ambient noise “music” echoed through the arena; above the stage, three screens looped an animation of water dripping as the camera moveed through doorways (giving me uncomfortable flashbacks of Brooklyn circa 2003). The lights dimmed and Marui blasted a short brand promo video set to dance music.
The girls leaned forward, gasping and whispering: Baby! The lights revealed Sweet Lolitas rocking back and forth on wooden swings… with creaking noises broadcast over a solo piano track. (It was a tad Rosemary’s Baby.) The collection was standard BTSSB – pink, frills, up-dos, cute poses – but nobody tops this brand for quality and daintiness. Top looks: a bridal ensemble (above), and high-heeled boots with white furry segments and dangling fuzzy balls.
The soundtrack switches to female-fronted pop rock. Alice and the Pirates stands in a row, looking ready to plunder. I loved the clutch that resembles a crossbow, and I was overwhelmed by the final look: a long, black velvet cape with the gold logo on the back, paired with a black top hat with red feathers.
The Angelic Pretty fairy pranced out with sky-high pink hair, sweeping her magic wand and throwing a flower bouquet to the crowd. The collection is pure candy floss, and more kitschy-fun than Baby: the models waved and bobbed their heads to the music. Favorite look: a big red royal crown worn with a red winter coat. I also loved AP’s knee-high lace-up red glossy boots.
Blues rock was the music of choice for Metamorphose temps de fille. Despite the animal backpacks, Metamorphose went for mature and subdued; a brown dress, a grey coat and matching hat. I thought their plaids and red boots worked best.
I was least impressed by the Kera Angel models, who entered the catwalk through a picture frame. Princess Doll’s skirts were limp, and a yellow and black checkered dress fell flat. Nile Perch’s casual tops and bright pink gauzy skirts reminded me of Western “scene queen” wear such as Jessica Louise and New York Couture.
The girls next to me leaned forward once again when Victorian Maiden’s logo flashed on the screen. Like Patrick, I was first drawn to the dead roses clutched by the first model… but then my attention shifted to her glorious short white jacket with three horizontal military stripes down the front. Purple and magenta combinations were heavily featured. A dark romantic couple in top hats, riding uniforms and jabots strutted the stage together; the girl tripped on her way back and the next model (who wore the same high platforms) walked at a tortoise-like pace. (Note to self – avoid these boots.) Parasol lovers would have died at the beautiful black creation topped with black gauze and feathers with a trail down the side.
Models wearing Atelier Boz showed off Artherapie bags; I don’t find anything special about these purses and wallets. Kanon Wakeshima graced the stage in a decadent white dress and crown. She sang in a breathy voice, enchanted me with her cello playing… and it was over much to quickly.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star… segued into punk rock music. Hangry and Angry’s models stood in a line and rocked out; I liked how each label had a unique stage presence. Favorite look: a nun’s headdress meets rabbit ears hat.
A French chanteuse crooned “zoom, zoom,” and the catwalk turned candy-kitsch. Emily Temple Cute (above) surprised me with 1950s soda-pop wear and pointy gold heels. 
The next performance was a crowd-pleasing riot: as Patrick puts it, “Visual band jealkb hit the stage with mock yaoi kisses and homocore theatrics.” At rock concerts, you might sometimes pump your fist in the air, wave it around, or headbang… right? Well, jealkb had a Head + Hand Motion Leader to show us how it’s done. So, there were 2400 Lolitas doing the wave and headbanging in time to the Leader… insanity! Later, Plastic Tree brought down the house. I haven’t seen a solid rock performance like that in years.
Kera Arena unleashed models with red and blue strips of color in their hair. Hiderock, Hypercore, OzzCcroce and Qutie Fresh didn’t impress me much, but I loved Super Lovers’ tights with a giant Union Jack on one leg. 
My notes start to run together at this point… Sixh emerged from strobe lights; the collection entrenches h.NAOTO as master of Goth menswear. Feathers and red petals rained from above for Peace Now and Black Peace Now; out of all the designers, BPN showed the most skin. Top look: a stunning asymmetrical black jacket. 
Sexy Dynamite London brought out trademark plaids and leopard prints. Algonquins closed the show with a splash of bright red; I loved the Where’s Waldo tuques. 
All the performers and models gathered on stage and bowed. Red petals rained, and silver streamers shot through the air and into the audience. Final image: the Alice and the Pirates model tipped his top hat, dramatically spun around his long velvet cape… and then he was gone.
This entry was posted on Thursday, September 25th, 2008 at 01:41 and is filed under Fashion, Tokyo Gothic Lolita. 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.
September 26th, 2008 at 02:08
LiTtLe_MiSs_PsYcHo says:KAWAII!!!!!!!!!!!!!
All the clothes look so pritty!!!!!
September 26th, 2008 at 05:34
-xnightmarexfaeriex says:Hah, was Kamijo the mysterious Alice and the Pirates model? -xnightmarexfaeriex
September 26th, 2008 at 05:36
lacarmina says:I believe so! Hizaki from Versailles came out first, wearing a pink BTSSB dress.
September 26th, 2008 at 07:23
Niccolies says:totally love your blog! beautiful photography & fashion – makes me wish i didn't have to work! gotta copy yer manicure at least!
September 26th, 2008 at 07:25
garibendesu says:I LOOOOOVE YOUR BLOG!
September 26th, 2008 at 07:40
tranloli says:congrats on not jumping on the stage this time, you dumb cow ^_____^
September 26th, 2008 at 08:26
Mmy says:Black and magenta! Black and magenta!
<3
September 26th, 2008 at 14:19
lacarmina says:Mooo!
September 26th, 2008 at 14:21
Christiane says:It seems wonderful *O* The pictures are gorgeous <3 I wish I could have been there ;__;
September 26th, 2008 at 14:22
spinestealer says:oh, how I wish I could sew clothing…
September 26th, 2008 at 17:00
chelsea says:I love the 2 fur trimmed dresses, this feels like somewhat of a guilty pleasure, so wrong…yet so right ://?
*must resist being influenced and ruining own clothes with faux fur and sewing machine*
September 26th, 2008 at 18:45
lacarmina says:hahah if you decide to add fur to your outfits, stay away from my cat! :)
September 27th, 2008 at 22:50
Maria says:I adore you ^_^ Thanks for the review on the Marui Individual Fashion Expo IV. <3333
September 28th, 2008 at 11:46
blackmager says:Aww, you were unable to get a pic of Kanon Wakeshima?
; ;
September 28th, 2008 at 13:17
kagitsune says:The dashing A&P model is actually Kamijo, vocalist of the VK band Versailles. I think his bandmate, the guitarist Hizaki, acted as a model for Baby as well. ^^
Thanks for the report! Can't wait to find more pictures. ^^
September 28th, 2008 at 17:08
lacarmina says:Hi blackmager,
Photos weren't allowed while I was inside the venue and watching the runway show. Anyway, I was too far away to take decent photos – so I relied on the ones released by Mainichi. Kanon took my breath away with her sweeping white dress and glossy red cello!
September 28th, 2008 at 17:13
chaoticLady says:wow great pics too^^
September 29th, 2008 at 15:59
Raven says:I'm pretty sure the polka dotted hoop skirt is a vivienne westwood item (or a good remake!)
September 29th, 2008 at 17:33
lacarmina says:Good eye. Reuters took a closeup of the woman's face; I posted it in today's entry.
September 30th, 2008 at 02:03
blackmager says:Awww.
; ;
Well okay then.
I was so looking forward to seeing a live performance from her since I'm such a fan of hers.
October 2nd, 2008 at 21:29
dakota lane says:lucky. lucky. lucky.
sigh.
October 2nd, 2008 at 22:22
lacarmina says:Wish you were here!
October 11th, 2008 at 11:52
Alli says:OMG! All these cothes rock!!!!!!!!
March 14th, 2009 at 08:04
Rory-chan says:Versailles and Kanon Wakeshima were there?!? When was this thing? Where? Japan? I AM SO CONFUZLED BUT I WISH I KNEW ABOUT IT. <33 ; w ;
September 23rd, 2009 at 05:55
sex toys says:i don't know about you guys, but it is a little creeping isn't it?
September 23rd, 2009 at 12:55
sex toys says:i don't know about you guys, but it is a little creeping isn't it?