Tokyo Fashion Festa New York
March 3, 2010 ~ New York, NY
The crowd was filled with girls dressed to the teeth in Lolita gear. A vision of petticoats, frills, and bonnets lined the sidewalk of a New York City street and passerbys couldn't help but look on in curiosity. It was an occasion and it was definitely a sight to be seen. Inside, the theatre was dark and a hushed murmur drifted in the air as people hurried to their seats. A single bright spot stood at the stage where a large screen spelled out in block letters: TOKYO FASHION FESTA NEW YORK.
When the show finally began, Valerie Steele, director and curator of the FIT museum, stepped onto the stage. With a brief introduction, she turned to her side and welcomed a very special guest: Ms. Misako Aoki. Internationally known as a Lolita icon and "Japan's Official Ambassador of Cute," Ms. Aoki walked onto stage.
With her English translator beside her, Ms. Aoki explained her joy and excitement of Japanese fashion spreading as far as the USA. At her words, the audience cheered and soon the real show began.
The single spotlight disappeared and in the darkness a slow, thudding beat began. A swirling violet backdrop with the words "VY feat h.NAOTO Gramm & Sixh" appeared on the projector screen. As the screen finally rolled up, the singer MOA walked out in a h.NAOTO Gramm dress, a long, flowing white piece that fell down her body layer by layer, until it reached the ground with a final black frill on the hem. Her hair was curled and drifted around her shoulders in a delicate mass, with a white bow pinned above her bangs. She looked impossibly tall and impossibly beautiful. Beside her on her right, her band mate DJ/VJ Rio stood behind his DJ booth dressed in h.NAOTO sixh. His silver hair gleamed in the light as he DJed behind her, throwing himself into the music.
As the first song ended, MOA walked toward the grand piano to her left, placing her mic on the stand as she began again, this time falling into the backdrop. A silhouette of "BABY THE STARS SHINE BRIGHT" appeared as the models cued and began their strut across the stage.
BABY THE STARS SHINE BRIGHT:
ALICE and the PIRATES:
Madame Killer (debut in the US):
A short break and the screen came down once more. The designer, h.NAOTO appeared on screen, explaining his concept for the brand, to be "the most scandalous in the world." As his interview ended, videos of singers wearing his clothing appeared. Clips from Hangry & Angry's "Kill me Kiss me" and "Top Secret" MV played along with a Morning Musume performance. And then the show resumed.
BLACK PEACE NOW:
Angelic Pretty:
At the end, Misako Aoki came onto stage once again, this time hand in hand with children models. They made their way awkwardly across the stage, Misako trying to walk them along the runway path and the children walking every which way, hiding behind her skirts and confused at the situation. As they shuffled along, a happy murmur swept through the audience that couldn't contain their enchantment with the picture before them.
An intermission of a decidedly more visual-kei theme began. Clips from hide's "Rocket Dive" and "Pink Spider" PVs appeared, much to the surprise and happiness of the crowd.
For the final runway walk, models clad in brightly colored yukatas strutted out, dark kohl eyes and gravity-defying hair, re-enforcing the VK atmosphere.
The event put together by FIT students ended abruptly. In the aftermath, audience members in Lolita fashion took their own spotlight before the stage. Cameras flashed off in all directions as the audience members gave the show their own, impromptu finale.
NOTE: The brands that appeared were ALICE and the PIRATES, Amy's Love, Angelic Pretty, BABY, THE STARS SHINE BRIGHT, BLACK PEACE NOW, Madame Killer, and Mielette Tautou, h.NAOTO: GRAMM & sixh. Any mislabeling of photo to designer is the fault of this author.
photos and article by Sophia
thank you to the Museum at FIT for hosting
links
The Museum at FIT Website
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