Year Archive for 2008
TOKYO DECADANCE: HALLOWEEN CYBER RAVE GOTH PARTY AT CHRISTON CAFE SHINJUKU.
The countdown to Tokyo Decadance caused me undue anxiety – what on Earth was I to wear? After much hewing and hemming, I ran to trusty Daiso, the 100-yen store that is every club kid’s best friend (it’s where I got Xmas garland and bows for my Tokyo Dark Castle hairdo). For Decadance, I picked up several garlands of fake roses and a glittery diamond decal – which, to my great relief, did not leave a mark when I peeled it off my forehead.
While in Harajuku, I picked up a sheer puff skirt with strawberries from AC/DC ($29). The leather lace-up demi-corset is from a Goth shop in Seattle’s Capitol Hill. But I’m sure your eyes are on my shiny red boots…. which are indeed Metamorphose temps de fille! Vintage but in perfect condition, and a shopping steal ($100 from Closet Child Shinjuku).
Last Saturday, hundreds of costumed club kids stormed Christon Cafe Shinjuku (the Jesus-themed restaurant featured in my upcoming book). ‘Twas quite amusing to witness candy-ravers poking the Virgin Mary with light sabers. Organizer Adrien (with the blue hair) spent the entire night either dancing on the platform or running around like a maniac.
Tokyo Decadance attracts fetish, cyber, and decora types in addition to Goths and Lolitas. Since it was a special Halloween/3rd anniversary event, the handmade costumes were wilder than the norm.
Quite a few guests were experts at special effects monster makeup.
In the back (as at all these parties), you could receive a crystal ball reading or buy club accessories. I got long fake eyelashes with blue stars attached to them.
From 10pm to dawn, the entertainment alternated between cyber/electro/rave DJs (including Sisen) and musical performances. I arrived just in time for Kokusyoku Sumire (center, right); the girls wore pumpkins on their heads and captivated the crowd with strong voices and violin virtuosity. A forgettable rock band called The Tokyo Cramps and France’s The Dead Sexy Inc (left) also played.
Nagata Yoichi set up a portrait studio and took photos through a ring of light, resulting in a painterly effect.
I rolled out at 7am, half-blind (literally – one of my contacts fell out) and delirious from the lack of sleep and too many whiskey/sodas. In the subway, I met friends who chose Midnight Mess over Decadance. It was a hard choice – Skinny Puppy was the special performer at Midnight Mess – it’s unfortunate that every year, the parties are on the same night! Jim won the costume contest, and deservedly so; he dressed as The Joker from the infamous hospital blow-up scene…
Halloween’s only just begun, darklings! This weekend, there’s The Fashion Ramone’s “Horror Vacui” party and another Tokyo Dark Castle…
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ALAMODE MARKET: GOTHIC LOLITA SHOPPING, CUTE TOKYO EGL JEWELRY BOUTIQUES.
Caution: the photos in this post may cause your eyeballs to leap out of their sockets! Above is my best attempt at a visual approximation of Tokyo’s bi-annual Alamode Market in Kawasaki (17 minutes from Tokyo Station, followed by a short walk). Dozens of independent designers set up tables to sell Gothic & Lolita clothes, accessories, dolls, illustrations…
…and hundreds of girls aged 15-30 paid 500 yen to stare and spend. Organizer D’s Valentine met me at the entrance and very kindly permitted me to take photos. Both sellers and customers wore neo-Victoriana and fluttered around in excitement, creating a bustling market straight out of a steampunk novel.
The casual setup enabled customers to chat with the designers in person. It was a treat to see handmade and one-off designs (here’s the full list of the independent boutiques that set up a stall). The prices were reasonable too, such as a $13 cotton bell-skirt.
I have a soft spot for over-the-top Rococo hats.
How I wanted to set up a make-shift photobooth in the back! Friends came together and dressed to reflect their personal quirks.
From its humble beginnings in 2003, Alamode Market has grown to a packed rorita gathering held two Saturdays a year (in April and October). With D’s Valentine at the helm, I have a feeling Alamode Market will be around for the next generation of Tokyo Lolitas!
LA CARMINA
