Clothes Line Finds 2.0

Hi all,

Anthey's blog is undergoing some cosmetic changes. All your favorite posts and comments are still here, I'm just adjusting the appearance a bit, hopefully for the better!

Please bear with me while I make the changes over the next few days, including:

• widened the posts a bit
• changed the banner
• altered the colour scheme
• included social bookmarking icons ('digg' anthey's posts!)

If you have any comments/suggestions/pet peeves, please feel free to leave them in the comments of this post! I for one would love to hear them and it will help me improve the site more!

Kate

Off to Okinawa!

I am off to Okinawa tomorrow for Golden Week Vacation! I will be back in five days time!

Bathing Suit AA
Flip Flops and Hat-100 Yen store!

"Luxury in Fashion Reconsidered" - A Fabulous Exhibition at the Kyoto Museum of Modern Art

As a visitor to Japan for the past three months, I have been to many museums and art galleries and am greatly impressed by the buildings and gardens,and the variety and size of their permanent collections and the special exhibitions. Yesterday I went to the Kyoto Museum of Modern Art to see its current exhibition: Luxury in Fashion Reconsidered - April 11th to May 24, 2009. This is a fantastic display of 17th century to modern day fashions from the collection of the Kyoto Costume Institute. Fifteen of these were complemented even more by Sony Playstations which enabled viewers to see every detail in the designs and materials. Additionally, the displays were expertly organized so that each piece was individual but not lost within the totality of the collection.

Our concept of luxury is always changing and has evolved immensely since the 17th century. The luxurious collection was divided into four sections: Ostentation, Less is More, Clothing Are Free and Uniqueness. From the first, the ornate 'costume clothing' of the French and English dresses, one can see how women were objectified as items of luxury, to be displayed and collected. The heavy jewelry, bead work, accessories and 'structuring' of the clothes would hardly be easy to wear, especially for every day. No photos were allowed for this exhibit but I bought postcards and will share my favorites. #1 English Dress, c. 1760. Photo by Taishi Hirokawa.

Click here to visit the website for this exhibit.

In Less is More, the concept of luxury changes from a display of the obvious riches as symbols of wealth and power to the richness within a simple structure. The coats and dresses were simply but expensively cut and shaped to enhance the body rather than restrict it. Chiffon and more delicate materials were used. I liked a collection of shoe heels - not high, not thin, wearable but exquisitely designed and patterned. #2 French Heels 1925. Photo by Taishi Hirokawa.

A 1986 black, silk satin smoking jacket with a creme coloured collar and lining was the ultimate understated label of luxury by Yves Saint Laurent. Chanel is to be found here, too.

In Section 3 - Clothes are Free Spirited, the collection is that of Designer, Rei Kawakubo and shows dresses that are made of comfortable, stretchy material that elegantly hugs the body and can be worn on any occasion. This concept, that of the free spirit, is very much expanded by the photography of Naoya Hatakeyama, which makes the dresses seem alive and to move and dance.

Uniqueness, the final section, really typifies every item yet this included modern fashions made from recycled and 'found' materials. There were jackets and dresses made from bottle caps and phonograph records and handpainted canvases. This was by Designer Maison Martin Margiela, and how he can create a fabulous outfit in as little time as 33 hours? is beyond me. I am sure that the thinking and planning alone, would take me 33 years. To me, this kind of luxury involves both the time to locate unusual materials and to use them creatively, as well as the luxury of having the choice to buy and wear something very different, very individual and as an opportunity to express how fashion fits me. The last two photos I have are more favourites: #3 Schiaparelli, Evening Cape, 1938 and Roy Lichtenstein (Textile Design) and Lee Rudd Simpson (Dress Design) Dress, 1965 - both photos by Takashi Hatakeyama.

The National Museum of Modern Art and The Costume Institute of Kyoto collaborated on this exhibition and have produced an excellent text resource: Luxury in Fashion Reconsidered, 2008. Other resources are Colours, 2004, Japonism in Fashion, 1994 and Visions of the Body: Fashion or Invisible Corset, 1999.

Matthew Williamson for H & M! Opening Today!

I took this picture the other day when I visited Tokyo. I took it for the fabulous Miranda of Stylebyfire who interned for Matthew Williamson in New York a few years ago! Today is the magical day of the opening in Tokyo. I wish I could be there to see the excitement and mayhem! Last year Miranda and I had a fabulous time attending the Comme Des Garcons opening at H & M in Vancouver! Apparently, Vancouver will not be receiving any of the Matthew Williamson Collection! I have also included a photo of the Forever 21 that is opening right next to H & M in Harajuku Tokyo! I can't believe it. It will be intersting to see how the two compete. It will be nice to have some access to some clothes that don't break the bank! Are you attending the H & M opening for Matthew Williamson?

An Outfit Post and a Few Photos!

Finally an outfit post! I am finally starting to get into the swing of things here in Japan! Attending a few fashion events and starting to buy a few pieces here and there. I realize now that I could have brought a lot more pieces with me but I am slowly rebuilding. I am focusing mostly on basics and am working on my summer looks! I have been traveling a lot to Tokyo lately and have really been inspired by the magnificent fashions! This is what I wore to the Lithium Homme/Femme Show last weekend. Most of my outfit was purchased in Japan! Notice I am not wearing any shoes in any of the picture as we don't wear shoes in our apartments here! There are also some photos from my adventure to the National Art Center in Tokyo where I saw an exhibit that is on loan from the Louvre. There are Egyptian, Greek, Roman and Near Eastern Antiquities included in the exhibit. There is even a Mummy!

The rest of this post is a from a variety of places I visited over the past two weeks. There are photos from Harajuku back streets and the Numazu Imperial Villa and beach. The past few weeks have been a whirlwind. I have one week left to go before I travel to Okinawa for a five day excursion for Golden Week. I am definitely ready for a vacation! We are staying in a hotel for the first night and then a hostel for the rest of our time. We are hoping to spend a lot of time on the beach! I can hardly wait!

In other news, my parents are still here in Tokyo..yes..still here..three months! My Mom attended an amazing fashion exhibit in Kyoto and she will be posting about it on my blog so be sure to keep an eye out for it!

National Art Center in Tokyo

Amazing architecture!

Backstreets of Harajuku

Numazu Beach

Another adventure packed day with Leah!

Lithium Homme Femme Show: "Versus"

Last week I received an invitation to go to a fashion show in Ebisu called the Lithium Homme Femme Show. I did not plan on going to Tokyo but decided to see what the show and designer were all about! I was not disappointed. We arrived to the show ten minutes before opening to find the line backed up all the way around the building. I was lucky enough to wait with the press and got in quickly for a front row seat. Unfortunately the models walked down the long runway extremely fast and I was not able to capture any images of them. I did manage to get a video of the finale though (see below). The female models paraded out from one end of the runway dressed in long white blazers and the men entered from the other end in black blazers.

The show was late to start as there were a lot of people to seat! The room was dimly lit with blue lights and we felt the excitement slowly build as people took their seats and waited for the show to begin. The room was quite large and the runway was long, black and incredibly shiny! All of a sudden, the bright lights came on and the show began. The music was powerful and fitted the hard vibe the clothes gave off. Many of the pieces were simple, but well executed and featured clean cut lines. The details were in the accessories and the trims, buttons and colors. There was a lot of black leather, a large assortment of outerwear and vests. The female models often wore booties that matched the coats or dresses they wore and it helped bring the looks together. The shoes were a mix of colors from blacks to pinks and all in patents! Key trends for this collection? Rolled up jeans (men and women), ruffled skirts and blouses, bright pink scarves, strong shoulders and boyfriend blazers! It was a great show to watch and the designer (Hiramatsu Takashi) showed a large collection of pieces. Visit the website here for more information. What's your take on this collection?

(The line!)

(Keeps going..)

(Two stylish men waiting out front.)

(Before the show)

FashionSnap Images

(Images copyright FashionSnap.com)

An Interview with Donna Sgro!

Donna Sgro is yet another talented designer who presented her collection at Japan Fashion Week's Shinmai Creator's Project. I had a chance to talk to her at the Luxe by Plugin Show and see her clothes first hand. One of the highlights of her collection were the cool hooded scarves that were mixed and matched with a variety of pieces. I got to take a closer look at the amazing scarves and we took a picture with them (see below)! Donna has a degree in Textile and Design as well as a degree in Philosophy and Art Theory! Her collection was playful and full of exciting colors, unique cuts and layers! You can read my runway review and summary of her collection from The Shinmai Creator's Project here. Please visit her website here for more information.

A: What was your inspiration for this collection?

D: The name of the collection is Octopus’s Garden. The theme has evolved from a recent fascination I have had with the deep sea world and creatures that inhabit this environment, such as the many species of octopuses and jellyfish. I am amazed at how these creatures have adapted to what seems to us to be such a strange environment. Their world is so black but the creatures have developed sublime mechanisms of illumination and invisibility in order to exist.

The range I have designed is based on the idea of liquid blackness that is the deep sea and the sparks or flashes of illumination that exist from the creatures that inhabit the environment. A lot of layering features in the range, with a strong jersey story adaptable to many options to combine with other garments. I have designed a print for the range based off the undersea textures and use the print in layered options with semi-sheer reflective fabrics combined with opaque print options. The garments draw together methods of tailoring and sportswear applications to produce a fusion of both that can be either dressed-up or more casual and relaxed.

A: Can you talk about how your education has influenced your design aesthetic?

D: I have so far finished 2 degrees – one in Fashion & Textiles Design at the University of Technology, Sydney, and one in Arts at the University of Sydney. I am a person who is guided by a large amount of curiosity and intrigued by all things interesting, so have really sought to study to broaden my knowledge of literature and the arts and develop specific research interests. I have a background of study in art theory and philosophy, which, as a designer, gives me a depth of knowledge to keep drawing upon for inspiration and direction. It helps me to keep questioning my own work and develop a unique aesthetic.

A: What was it like participating in Japan Fashion Week?

D: Participating in Japan Fashion Week was for me an amazing experience and one I will never forget! The SHINMAI Creator’s Project show was so well produced and it was such an honour to have been chosen to take part. To be able to see my collection come together for such an event and be displayed in the way in which I would want it to has really been such a unique opportunity. It has been wonderful to be invited to another country with such a welcome invitation to show my range, an opportunity I don’t think many new brands are lucky to receive.

A: What are your plans for the next year? What stores are you clothes being sold at in Tokyo?

D: So far the range will be sold in Isetan Department Store in Tokyo from June 10. Following on from this I am hoping to secure more stockists in Japan, but I do think I am only at the beginning of the process of doing business with Japanese stores. I am currently trying to secure an agent for selling the range in Tokyo, which is a critical first step to going further.

A: Who has been your biggest inspiration?

D: It is really hard to say who has been my biggest inspiration as there probably is not just one! I am inspired by so many people throughout history who have had an individual creative voice. In fashion, people like Hussein Chalayan, Rei Kawakubo and Elsa Schiaparelli, in arts Jean Cocteau, Vaslav Nijinsky, Marcel Duchamp, Max Ernst. In everyday life, my husband!

A: What was your favorite part about attending Japan Fashion Week in Tokyo?

D: Being able to meet with the other designers from the SHINMAI Creator’s Project and really make some great friendships. Each designer has such a different approach to design and a different aesthetic, but all were great people to meet and share a wonderful time with!

At the exhibition!

(Photo credit to Stephen Reinhardt)

A Day in Tokyo! Roppongi, Kamyacho, Omotesando, and Harajuku

Last Monday I took a trip to Tokyo for the day! The main purpose of my trip was to attend the writtenafterwards graduation exhibit in Harajuku. I am in the process of completing an interview with designer Yoshikazu Yamagata which will I will be posting shortly.

It was a beautiful sunny day and I started off my day in Roppongi. I went to see the magnificent Mori Art Museum. The current exhibit is "The Kaleidoscopic Eye" which is a collection of contemporary art focusing on light, color, sound, language, concept and communication. Unfortunately photography is not allowed in the exhibit. It was a great exhibit though full of a variety of pieces created to play with your senses. The Mori Building also features a viewing area where you can see all of Tokyo from the 56th floor! You can even go to the roof! You have to lock up all of your bags, purses and camera cases to even go up! The view from the roof is fantastic. It was a little bit hazy but I was able to see the whole city for the most part. It was nice to have an unobstructed view. Most buildings that have viewing areas are only indoors. There are benches on top as well and I sat and admired the view for a while. I am realizing that you cannot comprehend how big the city is until you actually see it for yourself and from above. I found this to be the same when I visited Egypt and the pyramids at Giza and Saqqara. I had read about them throughout my University degree but pictures can not do them justice! Sometimes you just have to see things first hand. Amazing!

After this I went to Kamyacho for lunch. I arrived a little bit early and decided to explore the area a little bit. I discovered a small shrine where many people were eating their lunches and enjoying the warm weather (see picture below). It is incredible how you can be in such a large city and walk into a shrine and not hear any city noise or traffic.

I then took the train to Omotesando which was really quite busy for a Monday. I paid a visit the MoMa store above the Chanel store. Have any of you visited MoMa in othere cities? It is an interior design store featuring all sorts of cool trinkets and gadgets. It is definitely worth a visit. After that, I walked around Harajuku and visited The Body Shop and Top Shop. I am on the hunt for a great bathing suit for my Golden Week Vacation trip to Okinawa. No luck just yet! It was a great day and I can't wait for my next trip to Tokyo. It is definitely not cheap to take the train from my city but I have been going a lot more recently. In fact, I am going again this Monday to attend another show. It is the Lithium-Homme/Femme show "Versus" in Ebisu, Tokyo. Stay tuned for pictures and a recap! I hope everyone is having a relaxing holiday :)

An outfit post! Finally!

Waiting for the train at 7:15 am YAWN!

Roppongi Hills!

Huge spider outside the Mori Tower.

Entrance.
The architecture of the
plaza surrounding
this building is stunning.

There was a car exhibit on the
viewing floor. Love the old cars
and the elegantly dressed
mannequins.

A picture from behind the glass.

Up to the Mori Art Museum.

From above. Can you see Tokyo Tower?

Amazing!

A little shrine in Kamyachi.

Backstreets of Harajuku.

Tokyo is a big city but I am learning
there are many little areas within the larger
city centers just waiting to be discovered.
I didn't even know this area existed. I found
it looking for the gallery where the show was
being held!