Month Archive for September 2008
REUTERS AND NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLES ABOUT GOTHIC LOLITA, VICTORIAN COSPLAY.
You know you’ve hit the big-time when there are two articles about you in two of the world’s most influential newspapers… within the span of three days. We’re talking about Miss Lolita, naturally; she’s drilled herself far deeper into the public consciousness than gyaru, decora, manba, or other Harajuku fashion tribes. Reuters and the New York Times published short articles that provide a basic overview of Lolita fashion. Here are some quotes by young women about their lifestyle; the photos are from Reuters.
Nancy Ramos: “I saw a girl dressed as a Lolita and thought it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. She was wearing a pair of rocking-horse ballerina shoes, and I had never seen anything like them before. I was fascinated that you could walk with your heel missing.”
“Our Lolita is an elegant young girl inspired by Victorian or Rococo times. They aspire to create a sense of nobility.”
From A New Generation of Lolitas Makes a Fashion Statement by Dabrali Jimenez, NY Times, 08/09/26
Eriko Enokizome: “Lolita is my basic needs. Without Lolita, I cannot be myself so I’m extremely glad that I found Lolita fashion.”
Chizuru Matsuda: “Gothic-Lolita fashion is like that special magic that allows me to become a different character. It’s been eight years since I discovered this fashion, but it took me two years to actually complete my overall style.”
Misuzu Kitahara: “I would like all Gothic-Lolita girls to refine their inner beauty first. I see a lot of girls smoking and sitting down on the floor in their outfits. I don’t want them doing this.”
From Lolita goes Victorian, Goth in Japan cosplay trend by Hiro Muramoto, Reuters, 08/09/29
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MIDNIGHT MESS, GOTHIC BAR HEAVEN: TOKYO GOTH CLUB NIGHTS, COVENANT CONCERT.
I’m terribly sorry for being a tardy blogger… I was nightcrawling with the J-Goths until 6am on Friday and Saturday! My apologies also for the lower quality of these photos; I didn’t want to lug my DSLR to nightclubs. (You can tell I’ve been in Tokyo for over a week – I’m apologizing left and right.)
Above is a mash-up of Saturday’s event, Midnight Mess at Shinjuku’s Club Marz. I loved how 80% of the crowd looked like a Cyber/Gothic anime doll. Perhaps you recognize Fumi, Nana, and DJ Sisen from MySpace (their Medusa tendrils are respectively black/white, pink/blue, and blue/green). The blond darkling with the V-fingers is Eskil Simonsson of Covenant – yes, Covenant played a surprise show! Selia opened with mesmerizing arias; he wore a corseted kimono and feathered ram’s horns. The second performance was a rap-metal band where the gasmask-wearing members suspended two half-naked girls with rope and whipped/bit/prodded them. Fail.
It was the 6th anniversary of Midnight Mess, so Selia and club organizer Maya passed around champagne and cake. Andro from GOTHIKA and Kenji Konishi from 4-D Mode1 (right photo) were the support members for Covenant’s Tokyo debut. Sebastien filmed the entire performance; you can check it out on YouTube.
Friday’s Gothic Bar Heaven was equally spooks-tastic. D’s Valentine served as both the organizer and bartender! Sisen and Chihiro (top left) spun pounding EBM/electronic sets, and there was yet another gasmask/bondage show, this time involving hot candle wax. (Fail again.) In the back room, there were displays of handmade creepy dolls and nail art from Vampire of Rose (which I blogged about).
I love the flamboyant Gothic fashion at club nights such as these. There were several Lolitas at both events – Gothic ones, naturally. They tended to wear heavier makeup and towering platform boots. And then there’s the guy with a horse head and feathered fan…
In the words of Janet from Rocky Horror, “I’ve tasted blood and I want more.” (More more more more! ) Can’t wait for upcoming nights: Skinny Puppy at the next Midnight Mess, Tokyo Decadance, Halloween extravaganzas…
LA CARMINA
