Tokyo Above-Underground — at Verboten

In BlogSeptember 4th, 2015

It’s been several years since I organized the exhibition, JAPAN FASHION NOW, so I was delighted to get the chance to see some of Tokyo’s latest street styles last Saturday [August 29th] at “Tokyo Above-Underground: Fashion Show by Misha Janette.” Held in Brooklyn at the first annual Waku Waku festival, it featured 10 styles, as produced by 10 different companies. The audience was filled with American girls in sweet Lolita outfits, but according to Misha, Lolita styles are now old-hat.

Certainly, fashion changes in the blink of an eye in Tokyo. The last time I was in Tokyo, for example, I visited the cute little shop, Grimoire, to find examples of the latest Mori-girl (Forest Girl) styles, one of which I borrowed for the exhibition at the Museum at FIT. Now Forest Girl style disappeared, to be replaced by something called Vintage Fairy Tale.

Admittedly, many styles at the show were similar to their predecessors — Shibuya girl, for example, is updated Gyaru. Always a fan of Gothic Lolita styles, I naturally liked the new Japanese Gothic — and especially admired the model’s ability to walk in her shoes. The Kawaii Anarchy style (obviously appeals to trendy followers of the Decora style — think hyper-decorated, but now also in acid colors.

My personal favorite was Future Asian style by M.Y.O.B., a company started by two Japanese girls who were living in New York. The clothes are mostly black and white, and feature South Asian (Indian) and Middle Eastern touches.