Atao!

A friend recently told me about Atao purses and I thought I would share a few of their great pieces with you. They are stylish and chic and made in Kobe, Japan. I haven't been able to learn a great deal about the company as the website is in Japanese. They have stores in Shinjuku and Kobe. The bags are beautifully crafted and are functional and affordable! Here are a few images.

This model can be used as a clutch.
You can slip your hand through the strip
you see below the logo!

A Fuji Thrifting Adventure!

What a great adventure I had on Monday! I visited Fuji and Leah Bell for some some thrifting fun! It was great to dig around in the "recycle shops" as they call them here in Japan. She took me to three stores near her apartment. I found a Hermes wallet, Yves Saint Laurent cup and saucer set and Lanvin perfume in the first store. Leah actually noticed the Yves Saint Laurent cups and saucers on a previous visit and knew I would love them! There were a lot of odds and ends in the first store and a small collection of clothing and shoes. I saw a great variety of high end labels in all three stores we visited. I bought a long blue and white striped blouse, red belt, floral dress and bracelet at the second store. We could have spent hours there! The third store had a mix of new and second hand pieces but we were kind of shopped out by the time we got there. The best thrift stores are the ones that are semi chaotic. It's fun digging for treasure and finding amazing things that other people have overlooked. It was such a fun day and I can't wait to visit the "recycle shop" in Numazu! Until then...

First Store!

Crazy furniture!
Seems to always be a given, ne?

A Pierre Cardin purse.

A shrine along the way.

Shop Number Two!

This store was a lot more organized
and had a ton of clothes!

See that yellow purse?
Yep, it's Emanuel Ungaro!

A cool suitcase.

Purses anyone?

A great cabinet.

Can you see me? Look behind the racks!

Shop Number Three!

Cool Finds

Yves Saint Laurent cups and saucers.
1,200 yen

Hermes clutch.
500 yen

Lady Dior Film is Out!

A few days ago I posted the trailer to the new Lady Dior Short Film with Marion Cotillard. It has officially been released. Marion Cotillard looks flawless and take a look at the amazing shoes she is wearing. I thought it was really well done. Thoughts?

Harajuku Dolls Exhibtion-Laforet Museum

During Golden Week I went to visit the Harajuku Dolls exhibition at the Laforet Museum in Harajuku, Tokyo. We definitely weren't sure what to expect but we saw an interesting collection of Harajuku dolls. They were beautifully displayed in a several different rooms. There was a wide variety of themes and styles explored throughout the exhibition. I haven't been able to find very much information on Harajuku Dolls, so if any of you have any information, I would greatly appreciate it! You can view some previous posts I did on Harajuku during New Years vacation here and here.

Harajuku is quickly becoming the place to visit to see amazing and out of this world fashion. On Sundays locals and visitors flock to the area outside of Meiji shrine (Jingu Bridge) to see the amazing costumes, dancing Elvi and eat great food! Some of the styles include: Kawaii, cos play and Lolita. There are also a multitude of cafes and shops. Just up the street you can find H & M, Forever 21 and Zara. Just past this, there is the amazing Omotesando area that includes Prada, Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Gucci stores to name a few! While Sundays are the busiest, you can always find large numbers of people visiting the Harajuku kids area, eating and shopping!

An Interview with Yoshikazu Yamagata and Kentaro Tamai of Writtenafterwards

A few weeks ago I had the privilege of viewing Yoshikazu Yamagata and Kentaro Tamai's exhibition for Japan Fashion Week. The two presented their runway collection during Fashion Week and had an exhibition shortly after to display their work. The theme of the collection was Mr. Zero point. A return to the fundamental elements of society. The designers are calling for a rebirth of the fashion world in difficult times. Below you will see pink roses inserted into their exhibit which are representative of the zero point. The exhibition also included works created by his students. He asked them to create garments entirely out of paper! No fabric allowed! The exhibition was full of photos and inspirations for his collection and he even had a runway show video playing in the background.

Yoshikazu Yamagata graduated from Central Saint Martins College of Art and design with a major in women's wear in 2005 where won several awards in the International competition. After graduating, he worked as an assistant designer for John Galliano.

Kentaro Tamai graduated from Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design with a major in men's wear in 2004. He worked with Margaret Howell UK and Japan.

In April 2007 Yoshikazu and Kentaro developed the Writtenafterwards inc. label. For more information you can visit their website here. Runway photos courtesy of the Japan Fashion Week website.

Here is a short interview with Yoshikazu.

A: Could you talk a little bit about your position as an illustrator, designer and instructor? How do you find the time?!

Y: I just work hard!

A: Where did you attend school and how did you get interested in the fashion world?

Y: I graduated Central Saint Martins. I was interested in fashion since when I was a junior high school student. I was very naturally interested in fashion.

A: Could you explain the concept for this collection, more specifically the Mr. Zero point.

Y: Mr Zero points is from my imagination. I imagined him naturally because from my experience. Fashion show is inspired by Mr zero point

We need to get back to “0”
We need to Think different
We need pure strong creation
We need story

So message is “it is time to graduate from old system”.

A: Did your students find it difficult to create a collection without fabric?

Y: I Think so. But finally they enjoyed making it!

A: How do you think the fashion world needs to change?

Y: The Fashion system doesn’t fit for these days.

A: Where are your pieces currently being sold in Tokyo?

Y: Yes, Isetan Shinjuku

A: What are your plans for the next year (roughly)! Will you be showing at Japan Fashion Week in October?

Y: I am planning to show something in autumn.

(Runway photos via Japan Fashion Week)

Photos from the Exhibition

Thank you Yoshi and Kentaro!

Through the Eyes of Richard Avedon-New York Times Feature

I came across a really interesting audio slide show featured by the New York Times the other day on the work of Richard Avedon. Click here to view the show. A collection of Avedon's work is now on display at the International Center of Photography. You can also read an article (New York Times) about his work and career here. The exhibit titled "Avedon Fashion 1944-2000," is on display from May 15-September 6.

Richard Avedon started his career shortly after WW2 and revolutionized the way the world saw women. Rather than show models static and stationary, Avedon had them moving, laughing and expressing emotion for the camera. Throughout his career he worked for Harper's Bazaar, Vogue, Life, and the New Yorker. One of his passions was self portraiture and he explored a variety of subjects. The movie Funny Face starring Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire is loosely based on the life of Avedon.

Veruschka

Hakone Open-Air Museum, Owakudani and Lake Ashi

My parents are officially on their way home after three months in Japan. We had many great adventures together and the last trip we took was to Hakone. Below are pictures from the Hakone Open-Air Museum. It is located in the Fuji Hakone Izu National Park and consists of 70,000 square meters of greenery. They have a large collection of outdoor sculptures created by Moore, Rodin, Bourdelle and Miro. There is even an entire museum dedicated to Picasso with over three hundred pieces of his work!

Man and Pegasus-By Carl Milles

A huge stained glass look out tower!
Symphonic Sculpture by Gabriel Loire

A view from above!

After visiting the museum, we took the rope way up and over the mountain to Owakudani (Great Boiling Valley) which has a great view of Mount Fuji. The mountain is full of active sulphur vents and hot springs. After having a look around we took the bus down (the other rope way was broken) to Lake Ashi for a rivery cruise! We then headed back up to the mountain to have Kuro-Tamago which are eggs that are cooked right in the hot springs! When you buy them they are black from the sulphur. I was told that the eating the eggs will add ten years to your life! Sounds good to me!

View from the ropeway.

HOT!

Where they cook the eggs!
Oishi!