Individual Fashion Expo IV Report Part 1 - The Lolitas Are Headbanging

No time for formatting or HTML links. Doing this as fast as I can. Liveblogging basically, but a day late jetlagged and on a very empty stomach.

- Reuters has the best pics from the event right now, although we can expect Maruione.jp to release more images and video shortly.

- Get off the train at Suidobashi. Lines and columns of Goth Loli Punk Rock girls marching towards JCB Hall. Makeshift gathering outside the event. Photogs from Kera and Reuters snapping the best. Others hiding in corners preening in mirrors, getting ready for the show inside. I’m seeing pink and black in heroic quantities with the Lolis slightly outnumbering the other tribes for sheer numbers.

- Everyone gets goody bags containing dozens of fliers for stuff ranging from Hide Rock metal accessories, the Yatterman movie, a bunch of visual bands, Maruione.jp propaganga, and situation-appropriate samples of grape gummy candy. Wat?

- This is like that Tsubasa concert I went to a few years back in that I’m one of the few males who isn’t staff and a weird looking gaijin to boot. As before no one cares, which is nice.

- The hall itself is all black with a lingering haze. An ambient tone plays over the PA while a trio of video screens show dripping water. We’re somewhere between theater, an art installation, and Castle Dracula. The seats are full and anout 2/3rds of the audience are dressed to the max. I see Choconyan and her inner circle holding court near the very front. A contingent of gaijin have been placed on the 1st floor balcony. I’m sitting dead center surrounded by what seems like the plastic tree fan club. I think lots of people have come just to see them play.

- The show opens with Baby, the Stars Shine Bright and Alice and the Pirates and then Angelic Pretty. There are audible cries of “kawaii” from the audience. This stuff is absolutely unbeatable when you have professional models and stylists working it. Gold standards for everyone to defer to. Angelic Pretty’s new stuff is more sparkly than before while the Baby gets downright bridal at times.

- We have our first special guest: Kamijo from Versailles walks the runway in Alice and the Pirates and don’t the ladies love it? Note that the band is not billed as the Versailles Philharmonic Orchestra.

- Metamorphose’s new stuff is a mash-up of classic Lolita and Rock style. I like.

- Everyone’s catwalk music is playing at stadium concert levels. Marxy says this is the norm and I should not panic.

- Visual band jealkb hit the stage with mock yaoi kisses and homocore theatrics. I guess they are doing the theme for the next Hokuto no Ken movie. They play three songs and the Lolitas are head banging. I repeat: the Lolitas are head banging. Everyone else seems to be doing para-para style synchronized hand motions.

- Emily Temple cute gets Best of Show from me for going off the deep end with outrageous ’50 to early ‘60s boo- boo kitty and black poodle sweaters, girl group hair, stripey socks and shirts. Mad warbly Francopop plays in the background. The spirit of France Gall somewhere lends her approval.

- Victorian Maiden: still good, still the same but I’m fixated for some reason on the props the models are carrying; empty birdcages and wreaths of dying rose vines. I think I spot some vintage Popples among the toy store accessories favored by other brands. Must investigate further.

- Listen Flavor, one of the Kera Shop Arena brands, should get a lot more love stateside. The look is pure club-ready nurave: all neon colors and plastic accessories.

- Our next special guest is Gou from Megamasso sporting Hide Rock. The fan club loses it.

- I have to get some lunch now or I'm going to die.

Comments

[Joanna]

Oh wow, that sounds like it was fucking awesome. I am totally envious man.

"the Lolitas are all head banging." GAH! Video of that would be priceless!

"empty birdcages and wreaths of dying rose vines" So awesome... (T_T)

[Clarissa]

The mental image of rows of headbanging lolitas is amazing.

Off to check out the Reuters pics.

[Gen Kanai]

So this is what happens when cosplay meets pret-a-porter?

[Patrick Macias]

Well, no, not exactly. Cosplay is something associated with anime and manga and SF cons. This all comes from someplace else. The girls are very strict about not being lumped in with the otaku no seikai, and consequently so am I when I'm visiting their part of town.

[aNGEL]

I found your site looking for the Individual Fashion Expo, you should check Mainichi's report about this event and more interesting pictures here http://mainichi.jp/enta/mantan/graph/manga/20080923/

[Patrick Macias]

V-cool. Thanks for the link. I'll try and match up the pictures to this post when I come back to my senses.

Update: Crumbs! I can't save pics or hot link from the Mainichi site. Sometimes the Internet sux.

[La Carmina]

Excellent writeup! I posted style snaps of the Lolitas who attended the show at www.lacarmina.com

xo

[Cam]

Wonderful report. I'm looking forward to reading the next part. I especially admire your respect for the scene and the event. I love the collision of high fashion and youth culture. Honest enthusiasm seems too rare these days, so I'm always glad to see it.