lynch. – Ambivalent IdealLondon Expo
Current Mood:
full & 
satisfied
Sunday was (the second day of) London Expo! Which is mainly an Anime convention (with sci-fi undertones), very packed, lots of costumes and ‘Free Hugs’ signs. I was one of the eurojapancomic / maruione models for the Japanese fashion show. I wanted to become one for the experience and the idea of wearing and showing off in real authentic J-fashion brands…
Note: I do not have any photos as yet but will post them as soon as I get them.
Us models got in early and free to check outfits and rehearse walking, running order, etc. All the staff organising the show were so lovely. Nobody spoke really good English and I got my ‘foreign language memory loss when faced with actual people from the country‘ disease, so speaking and explaining things was interesting :cheerful:
I ended up modelling School Uniform; Short sleeved shirt, large check bow tie, tartan check skirt and 1.20m loose socks(!) and SEXY DYNAMITE LONDON; Leopard skin print skinny trousers, Glamour raglan sleeve top, black trench jacket which I was so excited about!
Other girls got to wear brands like Moi-Meme-Moitie, Heart E and blablahostpital. All the clothes looked great, real authentic Lolita clothes are just beautiful, the workmanship is amazing - I understand why they cost so much now!
After getting organised we went off around the convention. For my own project fashion show I advertised on LJ for models and planned on meeting two at the expo but a twist of additional fate lead to meeting another by accident who happened to be modelling too! We stuck together and looked at the different stalls and what not. There were game areas including a Para Para Paradise game and DDR. I attempted and failed on ‘Night of Fire’ on PPP :sweat: NEXT TIME! NEXT TIME!
In every group of people we went past there was someone holding a “Free Hugs” sign. OMG THEY LOOKED SO HOT, YEAH.
After a few hours it was time for the show and we frantically changed and waited backstage. Around the stage area was packed and the presenter (who I’ve hated and thought was a rubbish presenter since Japan Expo last year!) seemed to mention the fashion show like it was just to fill the gap before the cosplay masquerade :wtf:
We were all nervous/excited, even more so when we realised our faces where going to be broadcasted on big screen!
We didn’t know what music we’d be walking to (if any), but I assumed it’d be you know, ‘related to Japan NE~‘,
They started playing Kasabian (a British Indie band who’s music is so vastly unrelated to Japan that it was OK to play) but then they suddenly switched to Evanescence which totally put me off the whole thing (like someone thought, “Gothic Lolita?” “Gothic?” “OH Let’s play Evanescence!!”)
Then when it was our second run (we did school uniform then street fashion) the presenter got the order mixed up and announced the outfits in the wrong order! I was supposed to be first because Sexy Dynamite was the only ‘Punk’ style showing and wouldn’t work after Lolita, but ended up going last and I know I must’ve looked a bit pissed off…
After the show we had to go back to the Maruione fashion stand and pose for photos, chat to various people, change back to our own clothes.
Me and the LOVELY girl I was sticking with went back to the DDR area, intending to have a go. Then we had to watch this amazing guy literally SWING around the barrier/handle bit, got discouraged and began to back away only to be coaxed in again. We had originally planned to take our shoes off as they weren’t best for DDR (Me: too big Engineer Boots / Her: Rocking shoes) but decided not to as it would make as look, “Like we are actually good at this”. And we weren’t, BUT ONE DAY WE WILL BE!!!
HAHA OK, Then we went home.
On my way home I finally understood what Mariuone was trying to do.
I LEARNT to support Maruione.
“Maruione is an online shopping site which sells “Harajuku/street” Japanese fashion. When I first discovered the site I disliked it because of the way they promoted the site along with the ‘just-as-high prices” I didn’t see anything special about it.
Now I realise that whilst there are shopping sites in Japan which ship internationally Maruione has broken it down and made it easier for foreign customers to shop for J-fashion online. They don’t have everything, not all brands, not all items and it’s not hot off the rail but they show what true Japanese street fashion is along with it’s influences.
At Anime conventions there’ll be people wearing badly made Lolita dresses, wearing them as a costume whilst not understanding the real fashion. Others who’ve cobbled together hideous arrangements and call them a ‘FRUiTS’ or ‘Harajewkoo’ style outfit. Maruione is there to teach & show those who don’t understand this area of Japanese fashion and updated and attainable version of the image they’re trying to create.
It’s not cheap but quality costs money.”
SINCE THEN / TODAY.
I went to Japan Centre, which since the last time I went in person has undergone a massive revamp and is now a Japan Superstore (they have bento boxes AND a bakery!). The book shop has piles upon piles of magazines. OH! (I didn’t expect to see) Popteen, Cawaii, S-Cawaii, egg, Men’s egg, Men’s egg Youth, Ranzuki, Ageha, WOOFIN’ Girl, GLAMOUROUS, Men’s non-no, Shoxx….
I settled with a KERA :angel:
There were so many magazines I haven’t heard of or have just seen requested on jmagazinescans with attractive covers.
Still can’t find Oricon Style though (long running personal desire…).
I also bought almost £10 worth of Sushi, nigiri and noodles.
I want to become one of those people who can really kill on DDR and Para Para Paradise. (Are there girls who can? I only see guys! *raises eyebrows*) I want to go after college every week but need to find someone to go with because that arcade is scary…
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Posted: May 27th 2008 6 months ago at 4:15 pm |
9 Comments
Sorry about the code. I don’t know why I did it. I know whatever I’m saying doesn’t really justify my actions so…I’m really really truly sorry.
By the way, congratulations in being picked to be a model.
Forgot to mention but, I have taken the codes you have mentioned down. If there’s anything left please tell me and I will take it down asap. Sorry again ><
yay for the fashion show!! :yay: that sounds like so much fun, despite the music incident :no: awaiting pics~ (will there be head shots? :crush: )
and i agree with you about maruione~ i think it’s cool how the site is also a j-culture outlet with posts about music and kera street snap translations lol :cheerful:
hey look there’s another steph 
can’t wait to see pix
I am SO envious- it sounds like so much fun! (nothing as interesting happens up in the north 
)
I’n gonna check out Maruione on your reccomendation- sounds cool 
I’m glad you had lots of fun trying on all those outfits! Although I think the presenter should be SHOT for what he/she did! I’ve been invited to Anime Expo before but haven’t been able to actually go due to exams and stuff. Can’t wait to see your pics!
Maruione has quite a lot of nice tops, I want one but it’s like nearly 80 dollars… 40 quid?! Omg @_@ have to save up if I want to buy from there.
Ooh, where’s this Japan Centre you’re talking about? I’ve never heard of it in London. £10 worth of sushi… ahh making me hungry!
Sorry for double commenting/posting XD
About OC, I think china town will replace it. CCK (the karaoke upstairs that all parties are held at) will probs move to central london’s karaoke bars :grr: OC’s so near my house as well, like 15mins away!
Evanescence!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SOMEONE SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN STABBED!! 
I wish there were more sites like Maruione that had focus on other styles of Japan clothing/brands. I think it’s great and makes me wish I was still more into that style.
OHH! An Anime convention! How fun!Ihaven’t been to one in the longest time. Wow you modeled??! That’s awesome~ Can’t wait to see the photos~
OMG….I have all these guy friends…video games always came so naturally to them…but I just kept on playing and playing, and now…I kill! However…I suck at DDR.