JAPANESE GIRLS WITH BIG EYES: PURIKURA STICKER PHOTO MACHINES. FAKE EYELASHES & CIRCLE CONTACTS, JAPAN MAKEUP TECHNIQUES FOR LARGER EYES.
What’s big in Japan? Big female eyes.
Purikura (sticker photo) machines have special features to magnify your eyes, making them as large and anime-like as possible.
The enlarged eyes can be more frightening than cute!
Makeup, thick layers of false eyelashes, and circle contacts (which make the irises larger and darker) also create the giant-eyed effect.
Pale skin and humongous eyes are the beauty ideal for most Japanese women. To get the look, some will even resort to eyelid surgery.
Why do you think this is? Signs of purity and youthfulness? The influence of anime/manga depictions of girls?
The cosmetics industry is thriving on skin-whitening and eye-enlarging products. Gyaru false eyelashes are found in many stores.
Big, double-eyelids with heavy lashes peer out from advertisements all over Tokyo.
Color and circle contacts are very popular at Don Quijote.
Even Hello Kitty is batting her eyes!
What are your thoughts on beauty ideals in Japan? Where does the giant-eyed trend come from? Do some women take it too far?
PS: Tonight, tonight! Come see La Carmina and Sebastiano Serafini hosting an LA anime striptease in skimpy cosplay outfits. Full info here.
Japanese Word of the Day: Shirami = Louse, bug, parasite
Song of the Day: AKB48 – I Want You (suggested by Sebastiano)
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OSAKA LOLITA SHOPPING: GOTHIC SWEET LOLITA DRESSES & JAPAN MENS PUNK ROCK CLOTHING. JAPANESE STREETWEAR STORES.
Flowing, blasting news! Thanks to our very impressive hosting performance at Bar Sinister, Sebastiano Serafini and La Carmina have been invited to host yet another event in Los Angeles. Can you believe it?
What: Anime Babes burlesque and cabaret event. Sailor Moon, Evangelion, Tokyo Mew Mew, Fullmetal Alchemist, Speed Racer and more characters will be taking off their clothes!
When: January 8th, starts 10pm
Where: Bordello Bar (21+), 901 E 1st St, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: $13
Bring your friends and enemies. Can’t wait to see you there!
Believe it or not, I’m still sorting through my Osaka Gothloli Punk shop photos from last March. As Veronica Lodge’s millionaire father would say, “Egads!” (La Carmina blog never suffers from lack of content. I still have to post reports from the French and Norway TV shoots, and LA…)
Here are snaps from inside the Shinsaibashi Big Step building (which also holds a J-rock and Visual Kei record store; photos are in this post).
Kera Shop Osaka carries the same Japanese rock punk Goth brands as in Tokyo, but the selection is smaller. There’s a rack for Heart E (remember my Heart E panda purse?)
Victorian Maiden had some lovely velvets and frills.
I hadn’t seen Maple wigs before. The bright colors are excellent for cosplay.
Bunnies and playing cards are recurring motifs.
Cute prints and Victorian pinafores.
The opposite side is for punk/casual Japanese street clothing.
Neon prints on tees and pullovers.
A casual coordinate.
Black, white and red. My friend Ako’s brand, Blablahospital, has a station here.
Bondage never goes out of style.
Miho Matsuda has an elegant boutique. I like her low-key dresses; the designs are simpler than brands such as Metamorphose or Baby the Stars Shine Bright.
Who wants to be a rock princess? Which alt boutique or style would you run to first?
Japanese Word of the Day: Kourin = Advent
Song of the Day: Sisters of Mercy – Alice (Yukiro’s pick.)
LA CARMINA
