Vintage Kimonos

Bright colours always cheer me up when I'm a little, evidently I painted my nails bright red to chase away the blues when I didn't get my first preference for university but I don't mind the offer I have- there are lots of cool clubs I can join, although the campus is very ugly and was built in the 1960s. I don't have anything against vintage things, but lets just say that the Summer of Love and hippy movement wasn't all that great for inspiring architecture. To brighten up my day some more I've been scribbling notes in my wonderful Rebound Book Diary of Bambi with notes for the units of study I want to take, flicking through Vogue and later I'll trash a nice thick copy of British Vogue for pictures. 

I love the big bold panel at the back of this otherwise plain kimono- the combination of coral red and the bright aqua blue makes the design of the koi fish seem even brighter. I love the long drapery and length of the Kimono, while it may not offer a lot of comfort in terms of warmth I've always been attracted to fashion pieces that allow me to hide under them. A bit of a safety blanket, psychological thing really.

One of the first garments I ever made (poorly constructed) was a kimono from a commercial fabric patternso there's a little nostalgia to see all these lovely patterns and that long draping structure. I didn't have the long sleeves or the length shown here but I did do my best and got one of the higher grades in the class, probably mainly due to who I chose to associate with in that class. I enjoyed the little embroidered detail, dying my own fabric and spending time hunched over a sewing machine- one of my happier memories of high school really. Except for that big-boobed bitch who thought it was funny to throw beads at me from across the room to try and get a reaction out of me. Dumb bitch.

There are sorts of colours as well as sizes and lengths to kimonos and if I were ever bold enough to buy one I would wear it in lieu of a dressing gown just around the house. You have to get the biggest and brighter colour though- my Literature rabbited on one lesson about how colour is used to accentuate mood and that when you become sick you wear more red to feel healthier. I could sure go for a bright red or burnt orange coloured kimono for when I next get sick and maybe some chicken soup and orange juice. I'm generally very lucky though and don't get sick very often, fingers crossed that stays the same in this coming year.

I feel like a kid in candy shop just being able to see such colour and variation in design- the bright red bow at the centre of this kimono doesn't interfere with the structure too much and the Western influence is quite subtle. The dark green and bright red as well as motifs of orange maple leaves leaves me mooning over Christmas all over again- thought it's still only mid-January and the holiday season is quite a while away. Maybe it has something to do with the book I just finished reading the hero and heroine decorating a Christmas tree together like a couple. Still, the hem of this kimono isn't too long and although the sleeves are deep and long, they're not to the full length of the arm so I would say you could get away with wearing this airy kimono in Summer. This is just one of the reasons I'm tempted to learn Japanese- the culture and the fashion are so intriguing and I want to become a part of it.

It seems that there is no limit to the designs and motifs on a Kimono and they look even sassier when worn with killer black boots and black underneath to contrast against the bright colours. I'm a creature that's a little more devious on the inside than I look on the outside and while I do love to wear black, it can put people off at a first glance. So if I were to wear a comfortable and loos black knitted jumper, black tights and comfortable slipper shoes underneath a brightly coloured kimono the black is offset by the colour and I look a little more fun than I really am.

One of my favourite motifs in Kimono patterns is the use of traditional buildings, the pagoda as well as clouds- in the Asian style they both look very alluring and dreamlike. Unfortunately the site I sourced all these images from sells their kimonos for some hundreds of dollars and despite some being original pieces from the 1930s and in excellent condition, I am not happy to pay such a mark-up. I have my eye on a nice blue and colourful one that could be nicely dressed up with some black oxidised necklaces but I'll keep that one to myself. If only I had a part-time job at the moment and could earn a little money with all my free time, spending so much time online and by yourself is sure to be bad for your social skills.

While the eclectic pattern and contrast of colours for this bold floral kimono is impressive, I think someone with a naturally lighter complexion and soft blond hair could pull it off better than I can. When wearing a kimono you can either wear it as a trendy

Origami

I find it a little unfair and cosmically cruel that while I admire Japanese culture for their geisha and silk kimonos, their neat little tea houses, their martial arts and iconic Harajuku style two of their greatest traditions seem to begrudge me. I absolutely cannot fold things properly, so origami while being pretty and a nice little skill to pick-up is seemingly impossible for me and I cannot stomach sushi. It has been said that unrequited love is the only perfect love there is- but honestly it's taunting more than anything to admire a culture for its aesthetics but when put into practice it seems to cruelly mock me or make my dry wretch in my mouth.

While I am a little sore about origami being seemingly impossible for me, I still admire it and the art of folding and create something simply by arrangement and pulling out neat folded tucks. It always looks so perfect when executed by someone else but when I attempt it there's always tears and paper cuts. Maybe I would be more suited to admiring the art of folded paper that is origami from afar and make painterly impressions in watercolour of iconic cranes- a symbol of good luck.

In a role-playing exercise I was a part of a third world country family and had to try to work in a 'factory' and make origami elephants. Despite being demonstrated the technique, without instructions on paper I go nowhere near the target goal and was probably one of the contributing fact towards several of my family members 'dying'. This little fact is just another reason why origami doesn't ever work out for me when I try. The only things I have made successfully were a box and small matching lid with the help of someone sitting next to me in the fifth grade and I only ended up throwing them out yesterday since they were covered in dust. I hate the feel of dusty paper, dusty books is even worse.

It would be great if I could make a variety of things, I would settle for making paper cranes in all sorts of colours and sizes just like this cute little photograph- but the paper arts will not be easily tamed by these clumsy hands. Above my bed there is a paper crane I found in a classroom before maths was meant to start and beside that are several small plastic dinosaurs from my childhood. It was the best I could do.

I'd love to be able to thread cranes like this in a beaded curtain arrangement- I can only imagine all the work and meticulous folding and detail gone into each of these colourful cranes. The worst thing would be if the paper got moldy or in my case if they got covered in dust. If only there were some way to preserve paper origami properly and prevent the material from perishing... I wonder...

Jouetie 2012 Spring Collection

For the first time I am left completely in the dark as to the origins, back story and glorious history of a brand that I have chosen to write about on The Secret Hipster, but with a runway show this big, bad and bold I have chosen to rise to the challenge and take the bull by the horns. After all, how bad can it be? You see, Jouetie are a Japanese based brand that have taken inspiration in their Spring 2012 collection from European countries such as England and France. You of course, dear and vigilant reader would have without a doubt figured that one out for yourself by the clever observation and detective work of viewing the big ole banner at the back of the catwalk which features the flag of Great Britain and at the centre of that, two French looking cherubs. There's also the tell-tale sign of iconic bunting attached to flimsy looking plastic parasols. There are many references to some of the most notable and greatest musician pieces to come from England such as The Beatles, Sex Pistols and skate board brand Thrasher. For those wishing to pay tribute to 'Old Glory' there's also a flag of Great Britain torn and punctured using safety pins dressing up an all denim ensemble.

Harajuku style and flair is combined with European influence as well as intuitive wild coloured wigs cut into bobs and distinct pop Japanese style; that entails the use of layering, bright colours as well as mock-up leather. Spiked epaulets and frills are great eclectic touches to what would otherwise be boring cardigans and shirts and channels the popular culture movement of Japanese youths, particularly it's girls. Jouetie's 2012 Spring collection doesn't overdo this wild side though, I find that there is a great balance between quirk as well as references to popular culture and familiar territory. A wide range of prints such as grey English tartan in maxi skirts, shocking lightning bolt printed cardigans and the best of stereotypical French style has been thrown into the mix to make the show such a popular hit on the micro-blogging site Tumblr.

Occasionally a model will prance down the catwalk with a precious French beret sitting atop their pretty little head- I love the use of cliche French style such as horizontal stripes and the iconic hat to move away to new frontiers. Other feminine and frilly touches include tulle skirts that would make any Ballerina blush, lace gloves as well as beaded collar necklaces and collared blouses. In the background of the photograph above you will see the previous model sporting a wig in a shocking shade of cotton candy pink which contrast well with the touch biker black leather. For the outfit above, the use of binary shades black and white creates in the viewers mind the idea of opposites. I like the use of tough looking boots in the style of Doc Martens with silver studs at the bottom and the French beret and lace sash at the top. It really emphasise the influence of the two nation's styles on this collection.

One of my favourite runway photographs included this sassy lass and that gorgeous lightning bolt cardigan. The eclectic buttons and badges on top of her beret really emphasises the vintage-style movement in fashion and the way a person collects things during their life and combines them with the new. You'll often see famous fashion bloggers raiding vintage and second hand shops in the hopes of finding unique, one-of-a-kind pieces and then wearing them with the new. The bold print of 'CIAO!' at the top of this dress and the tulle trail over the skirt of the dress makes the clashing black and white really pop. The subtle addition of a mint coloured green wig as well as the red lipstick reminds us that not everything in our outfits has to match and sometimes when wearing one print with another a greater and more eye-catching effect can be created. 

One of the things that puzzled me most about the presentation of Jouetie's runway collection for Spring 2012 was the choice of models. After having seen the launch of Prada's S/S11 collection in Asia and using exotic looking models from that region, I felt caught off guard when I read this brand came from Japan and not from a European country. With the strong Western flavour and influence, how could something this eclectic and awe-inspiring come from a country whose language I can't decipher? It was mainly heartbreaking that I couldn't navigate the Jouetie home website and find out more about them. Viewing the catwalk photographs from Jouetie's runway show, you would have to be bordering on psychic-gypsy powers to guess its Japanese origins. While I can't yet find an online to stock their glorious clothes and being rendered useless, I guess I'll be enrolling in the nearest Japanese for dummies crash course.

I'm very jealous of the legs on this lovely model, as well as the cute socks in Union Jack print; then there's the curious frills on the shoulders of her blouse topped off with a black collar. I really love shirts with mismatching coloured collars- it's always interesting to wear a jumper over the top and have a shirt/ dress underneath with a completely different pattern to it. Predominately floral dressed with cream coloured collars are my usual favourite. It has been said that Jouetie have taken a cue from the 'fau-vintage' movement without the use of shades of brown and mustard, instead they've been replaced with black, white, leopard and tartan print. In my books, the collection any aspiring punk lover's dream.

The matching of red lipstick and red beret complements the taupe colour of the trench coat covered in black graffiti scrawling and is at the centre of attention for this fabulous photograph. Finally, the look is capped off with one of my favourite unlikely combinations: tough studded black shoes and prissy frilly socks. When I can finally get about and this heat wave ends, I will have to make a journey to get myself some lovely American Apparel socks I've been hanging out for.

Love the little beehive clumping of blond hair and The Beatles printed on to a black shirt- the two styles combined together are very reminiscent of the 1960s. I'm also very glad to see the use of leggings underneath the delicate tulle folds of this sheer maxi dress. It befits the use of instruments such as the drum kit on the right of the model and large Marshall amplifier on the left. Everything about this photograph and the atmosphere evoked is just so right- I can't wait to see what else Jouetie will produce and their other archived collections.

The ruching on the black skirt as well as the seemingly scabby knees of the model is a fresh new take on so much of the vintage inspired clothing coming through, in particular the long and flowing pleated skirts. There's a lot of contrasting texture involved with this single outfit, a crochet collar added to a slogan shirt hiding underneath an updated denim jacket as well as the identifiable silhouette of the structured skirt and little studded leather boots. It's odd the way that from a set of pastel coloured wigs some of them have been styled differently, for example the added curls added to this ginger red colour. I really like the use of colour to each outfit which mainly feature black, white and grey; it's a breathe of fresh air frankly. I love little quirky touches like this added to runway shows.

Love the punk rocker pose and hand on the hip- it's like Japanese school girls have met with 80's rockers in the most fantastic melding.

This is the photograph that drew me in to search for the identity of the brand- the sassy holding of the skirt and swishing it around down the run way as well as the short and succinct phrase on the back of the cardigan in matching font made me go into lust overdrive. Typical that I always want what the heart can't have but I have been inspired to search around for lots of beaded collars to add to singlets and regular shirts to dress them up. As you can plainly tell, the cardigan is my favourite piece from the whole collection. A shame it would be difficult to wear out about town, maybe a best kept secret piece of fashion clothing confined to photographs of outfits or parties with friends at night.

While I have never attempted to stud things myself and starting off with delicate tulle would most certainly be a bad and dangerous idea, I would love to be able to wear something as gorgeous as this baby punk tulle tutu skirt. I know American Apparel made a petticoat skirt with frills and a strong silhouette structure, but I often find that these types of skirts are either a hit or a miss. I love the teaming up with the bold bomber jacket, it draws attention to the studs over the top of the dress and makes it look tough and eclectic rather than girly and feminine.