AOX

IG: @OpalAlina; Photographer; Fashion Designer;

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反射 - R E F L E C T I O N 【Editorial trailer】

This editorial was presented on September 26th of 2017, on SENAC’s College of Pernambuco/BR. It was really excited to make all of this project because I was dealing with things that I love, such as makeup,  白塗り (shironuri), @minori0000 (that I’m a huge fan), japanese songs and others... I’ll post the full editorial photos soon, so I hope you guys enjoy it 💖

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V a p o r w a v e － a web vanguard inspired by harajuku?

https://youtu.be/NLy4cvRx7Vc It's really weird to think that two really diferent kind of moviments can be mixed or even had been borned from another one. Borned in 2010, the vanguardist moviment Vaporwave was popularized with the album Macintosh Plus and with the artist Yung Lean. (Font by: Slate.fr)

Example of a psychedelic vaporwave aesthetic

The most important thing I want to show with this article, instead of talk and talk about Vaporwave and Harajuku's History, is show what make these two so close. I'm already sorry for talking about her again, but Kyary Pamyu Pamyu is the first one I'll talk about. Her music videos for me are the perfect example of this perfect mix. Surrealist elements, too much information, vibrant colors and lyrics that talk about consumerism or even about nonsense things are the has the same concepts of some vaporwave aestheric and arts.

Music video of the song "Tsukema Tsukeru" that talk about pretty fake eyelashes.

Vaporwave grafic artists have some kind of obssession with diferent languages, principally Japanese (and some times Arabic and Korean too, but it's rare to see some). A lot of songs and art pieces have so many Kanjis (漢字) and Katakanas (カタカナ) that are fundamental for the Japanese language and blends really well with this aesthetic.

All this too much information are the main characteristc of these two and brands like 6%DOKIDOKI and the old Party Baby loves using it, and even the brand Michiko Koshino had a lot of holographic materials, on its fashion show in 2016, that are really usable from vaporwave lovers.

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Genderless-kei － A "not non-binary" moviment who embraces everyone

  As a conservative country, Japan don't have a strong queer movement to fight for their causes. But... Even with a lot of conservatism, Japan is the most receptive country for different styles, principally fashion styles. A lot of Japaneses said in interviews that they few really safe to go on streets wearing whatever they want... Even young models like Soso (@_soso_american_boy_) with his 15 years old can use genderless clothes that no other 15 years old boy in other countries can use, like feminine modeling clothes, skirts and etc. 

What is really sad about it, it's that a lot of personalities, like the amazing singer Piko (@piko_niconico on Twitter) and Ryuchell (@ryuzi33world929) just identify theirselves as cisgender people probably because they don't know about the gender spectrum. On interviews in 2013, Piko says openly that he loves using androgenous clothes, even if his normal looks are more masculine or gothic.

Since 2010, Piko has been a reference for the Genderless-kei, that doesn't even existed at this time, but his androgenous voice makes us fall in love with him every single second of his music videos.

Ryuchell is the most popular reference of Genderless-kei these days, and for everyone is completly unsderstandable of why is he a Straight man with a marked marrige with the model Peco (@pecotecoo). Why does his "non-masculinity" bothers everyone so much overseas? 

Genderless-kei is a really new term, it started to be used around 2015. But it's not the first genderless trending in Japan! The "Visual-kei" it's fashion and artistc moviment that makes a lot of followers around the world since the 80's.

The band “Versailles" it's a good example of the androgenous moviment Visual-kei, because there are only mans in this band that some of then "drag them" for their music videos and concerts.

My only hope is: As trans people in Japan are getting more visibility on Television, on Social Media, and this "Subject" has been talking with more constancy there, I hope that new movements arise and some people start to not be afraid of seeing theirselves as a non-binary person, and this way, Japan can turn into a even more receptive country to the differences.

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Harajuku`s concerts around the world－きゃりぱみゅぱみゅ

I know it’s a completely cliché associating Kyary Pamyu Pamyu to Harajuku’s Fashion, but we must admit her importance to this Harajuku’s Life Style.

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu is a little bit of everything! She’s a singer, blogger, model, and ect. She’s 24 years old now (2017) and she started becoming famous around the world in 2010 with the music video of one of her songs, that nowadays is like a classic for everyone who likes Japanese Culture, “PON PON PON”.

With a kind of surrealist concept, her colorful videos become viral by showing a lot of visual information and cute clothes. Since her first album (Moshi Moshi Harajuku - 2011), she obviously shows her connection with Harajuku, since from her style who inspires al her fans, until her connection with other Harajuku’s brands (like 6%DOKIDOKI), her own brand (KYARY BRAND) and her crowning as “Kawaii Harajuku’s Ambassador”.

Now let’s talk about what’s really important here! Kyary’s concerts! With a lot of electronic tools, her cute pop songs, I think her concerts around the world are a important way to show what is Harajuku all about. In Japan, people just wear whatever they want, and events like these is more like one more opportunity to use whatever they want. But in other countries like England, France, USA and Belgium, where she already have been, it’s more like a opportunity of wearing and being what you can’t on regular days in your country.

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Street shots - Harajuku

A few shots from people using Harajuku's aesthetic references on streets

For being so "exotic" overseas, references from Harajuku's Fashion are really subtle... Colors, textures, colorful prints are some of what we see as "rereadings". As a fashion student, I started reseaching what people on my city were using, that maybe was inspired by a Harajuku aesthetic.

   Young People in Brazil, mostly from geek or kpop comunity, likes wearing some Harajuku inspired accessories, that sometimes are from kids or especific online shops.                                                                     Font by: @hanny_elle

   Some beauty brands are coming these days with some fluffy accessories. "Arezzo" for example, made a whole collection of purses and shoes with these acessories. It's commun too seeing people using big earings like this one. Harajuku realness, isn't it?

  I was starting to get crazy with this Street shoots because I couldn’t find anything else, but then one of my students, from “Fashion Drawing” subject at college, came with that pants. Oriental prints have always been used from internacional brands like "Farm", "Forever 21", "Zara" and so many others. Don't you think that this "Sakura's" Print would be used on Harajuku's Street?

   Who doesn't love a cute stuff? I found this corset that my friend made by herself with a lot of this cute vintage food print. I totally see a lot of others Harajuku's Clothes with these prints <3                               Font by: @cheeer.ry