MFW Spring/Summer 2009 - Not Attending
Fall is just coming around the corner everyone, and you know what that means: fashion week madness for a month and a half. Of course as a small time blogger, one can only count to be so lucky to attend a local fashion week at all. Those who are full time fashion journalist get to do the merry-go-round the globe in four (sometimes five) different countries: New York, Milan, London, Paris and Tokyo.
On our Canadian end, we have Montreal, L’Oreal (Toronto), and Vancouver Fashion Weeks - no surprise here. The obvious difference between say NY Fashion Week and one of ours is the scale and size of the shows. NY has approximately over 70 designers last I counted, while as MFW had like - 12 designers to showcase. Also, I’ve noticed that the Canadian designers seem to showcase more so on functionality than full on glamour like the rest of the world. On one hand, this is good for buyers who own small boutiques and want to get past the flashing in fashion and get down to saleability. We’re also in an economically advantageous status as the US economy keeps going down the drain, American buyers are less likely to pick the more expensive European brands and might even give a break to local Canadian talent because - well, they’re cheaper, I’m afraid to say.
Tickets to Attend Fashion Week
This seems to be relatively new to the scene of L’Oreal and MFW for a couple of years. Both websites have posted possibilities to buy tickets to see fashion shows, unprecedented a few years ago as fashion week is usually a very restricted “media and professionals only” circle. My guess is that there are two reasons for it:
- Because Canadian Fashion Weeks aren’t as popular, media and buyers don’t fill up the entire seating chart of many shows. This I can attest, when there are smaller, unknown brands showcasing, it’s sad to see these seats half filled. Selling tickets will fill those seats and will generate extra income in the process.
- Fashion is a hot commodity thanks to magazines, reality shows, websites and blogs. The instantaneous 24/7 fashion wire can’t even compare to the “real deal” experience of a real fashion show. Going to one of these things is like going to see a concert of your favorite band, nothing compares to the real thing. Organizers know this, and they will play that card this year.
The big guns over at NY, London, Milan and Paris don’t need to sell tickets because people are just fighting to even have rights to get in in the first place. Everyone is just dying to see these shows, and bless the lucky souls who know others in the business to attend these prestigious fashion shows, they are something else all together.
This blogger is staying home this year
While the chances of bloggers attending fashion shows and events have risen over the last couple of years, fashion week is still a little out of our reach. But this may now slowly change with the likes of Inside The Tents making an initiative in helping bloggers get to these events. I’ve already attended 2 MFWs and quite frankly don’t think I’ll miss it much since I won’t be attending this year. It’s long hours, crowded, expensive (the food), and all too much brouhaha for a 20 minute show. I’ve only enjoyed 2-3 collections but there really isn’t much to say about them except describing their looks. That’s all what fashion week is about - describing a collection. 95% of the time it’s “fabulous” and a season’s “must-have”. We’re not really told why certain designers didn’t showcase this year or last year, most of the time it’s due to money constraints as they can’t afford to show at fashion week. Plus it’s a hassle to drag the numerous (useless) swag they give you, what am I to do with a plastic martini shaker and made-by-crocs shoes that don’t fit?
I suppose it’s another story if I were to go to the bigger venues since the usual suspects usually turn out more interesting pieces for show. I’d be happy to just attend one of each of the big shows just once in my life and I’d be happy enough.
I’ll be watching MFW from the comfort of my own home, in pajamas, lying on my couch with my laptop with pepsi and chips. Now that’s luxe.
Japan: Luxury all around
As I stepped outside of the Ginza station, I felt like I was Dorothy stepping into a strange land that didn’t quite look or feel normal. For one thing, the streets, though still relatively “crowded,” were voided of young teenagers and 20-something women. I passed by many a men and women clad in expensive business suits and skirt suits. Something told me I wasn’t quite in Kansas anymore.
After some maneuvering in crossing a few streets, I ended up in front of the Mikimoto Boutique, to my knowledge at the time, the 7 story building was THE Mikimoto store, home of the pearled wonders. It was beautiful, impressive, glistening white and silver, so luxurious, I was in another world. I was greeted by 2 young and refined saleswomen.
Mikimoto Boutique International
As I soon found out, this wasn’t Mikimoto’s headquarters as I had thought. The jewelry was cheaper in price (affordable stuff at $400 to $1500 a pop) and I was too shy to ask where the rest of the collection was since what they had here was only a minute amount of what I’ve seen on their official website. Instead, the other floors contained pens, plates, purses, fans, all of the utmost quality and care in presentation. Saleswomen on the other floors wore gloves to clean and adjust objects to make them look just right. Nonetheless, I was impressed by the quality of service and care of such a fine jewelry store.
It’s my mother’s dream to own Mikimoto pearls. And she has yet to fail on taste that’s for sure.
Mikimoto Headquarters
While walking on the main Ginza avenue, I saw Mikimoto’s Headquarters and sure enough, it’s breathtaking window display of cherry sized pearls with a $20,000 price tag made it too intimidating for me to step inside. I could see behind the tinted glass windows that sales women and men were peering out like lionesses guarding their pray. Way too scary.
I think the next time I visit Mikimoto, it’ll be with my mother, and several credit cards.
Cartier, Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Chanel
I think I got Ginza and neighboring district Omotesando confused as I was expecting glittering crystal-like buildings in unique architectural designs…instead in Ginza I was met with run of the mill glass fronts with some mildly (but not entirely exciting) interesting exteriors. Mind you, the Chanel store still made for a pretty visual treat with it’s graphic black stripes, or LV’s checkered effect making it look like a 3D puzzle, but the stores were square, they were all glass…not the architectural wonders I had imagined from reading Deluxe. Cartier’s building stood out the most with it’s golden cage and trademark vibrant red framing the doorway, even if I did found the structure to be tacky in the end.
Hermès 10-story building of square glass blocks almost made for an imposing (but not quite as chic) structure. I was too wowed by its display cases outside and peering through the door only for a few seconds to see wealthy women inside fawning over Birkin bags and silk scarves.
Chanel - Premiere service
I was brave enough to step into Chanel, a 6 story building of which the general public had access to 4 very large floors. Not even 2 minutes inside, I see a Japanese worker (in uniform of course) passing swiftly to buff and clean the marble floor with a swiffer - erasing all foot print marks we’ve left behind. Of the dozen or so staffers, we were all greeted with “Irasshaimase!” with a slight bow. The store felt like a museum, with Chanel’s Summer 2008 Americana collection sprawled on several mannequins. Floor after floor was filled with all things Chanel. Upon walking up the 2nd floor were followed by 2 staff people, upon arriving 2 more staffers stopped and bowed deeply pausing for more than 5 seconds before they went on their way. I felt like a non-deserving Queen as I was only a college student with a meager salary. I felt their eyes on me, sizing me up despite their politeness, I was as uncomfortable as I was fascinated.
I figured in such a high end store we weren’t allowed to take pictures, so I took a picture of the only place I was allowed to take a picture of: the elevator.
With interlocking double C’s.
Seibu - High end grocery shopping
Now this may seem a little fanatic going into a high end grocery store in a high end department store like Seibu in Ikebukuro. But Japanese people take the high quality very seriously. Previously in Nagano, my host told me that high end grocery stores do not allow you to approach fruits and vegetables at a certain distance as they’re trying to keep the food at a certain room temperature. If you stand too close, your body heat will affect the surrounding temperatures thus accelerating the process of spoiling the food. No pictures with flashes are allowed as the flash from the camera will also affect the food temperature. Think of it as being in a museum of “look but don’t touch” policy.
Well, entering Seibu was pretty much like that. There were temperature charts updated every hour recording what temperature the food was kept “5C…4C…4C…5C..” In Japan, there is no such thing as rummaging through the mounds of oranges and strawberries, trying to pick the best of the bunch. No. Here, it is pre-picked so that all foods are exactly the same shape, same size, same color. It’s like picking among plastic food, where everything is identical except everything is real. It’s a real time saver, but at the same time, you sort of wonder where all the “imperfect” foods go.
That melon better be good!
And a high end grocery store wouldn’t be high end if you didn’t put a hefty price tag on it. Perfectly round, big green/red apples were worth $7-$10 a pop. A small watermelon, $52.50. A box of 12 big round cherries, $200. Honey melon, $150. Sorry, I didn’t see any square watermelons. The prices were staggering if not perplexing. Of course they’re all perfectly wrapped in their plastic containers or foam nets. There are even chefs at individual food stalls all quietly preparing and wrapping the delicacies. There was maybe 2-3 shoppers in the entire store.
I’d say only shop at Seibu’s grocery store if you’re willing to fork out a pricy gift! Or else, save your cash, go to those food souvenir shops at Tokyo or Ueno stations, they’re good and they’re cheap!
Image credit: melon picture by tobze
Japan: A World of Contrast
I’ll spare you all the detailed novelties of Japan, as this isn’t really the place to talk about hi-tech toilets, high quality convenience stores and shinkansen sushi bars. However, I can attest that all of these were highly entertaining!
Instead, there will be musings on Japanese fashion. I’ve been to 3 different cities, but honestly, the fashion styles varied vary little in between. I’d probably say Tokyo would have more subvarieties, but overall the fashion statements are the same. And forgive me if I don’t have any personal photos, many stores didn’t allow us to take pictures.
Converse Nation
For hip young 18yr old girls to cool-laid back 30 yr old men, the pair to have at the moment is the Converse. 1 out of every 10 young person I came across had on one of the ubiquitous pair in all shades and colors. American fashion has spawned a following of simplicity: jeans, tshirt, dress shirt…you know, what you see every day in North America. Compared to Japanese fashion, American fashion is deceptively simple and fuss-free. And for the moment, whatever’s American is pretty cool for the younger generation. They even opened American themed stores in Harajuku.
Playboy dominates school girl sock industry
Another general staple of Japan are the gangs of school girls in plaid miniskirts and sailor tops. What’s also peculiar are their love for knee high socks bearing small embroidered logos. A popular one is none other than the Playboy bunny logo cutely embroidered in shades of light pink on navy blues. I have a Korean friend who used to own a pair, she said even in Korea Playboy logo-ed socks were the norm.
But I mean…do they even know what Playboy is??
A side note: There is a certain type of fondness for nonsense English proverbs, and that to many Japanese hold no particular meaning when sporting what North Americans would think offensive.
A prime example is the Spread Beaver tshirt below. The Engrish.com website explains it quite well.
T-shirt reads: “Spread Beaver: Showing The Vaginal Area”
50yr old business men bearing cutesy cellphone straps
A fine business suit (most likely Armani) is required for any well-respected corporate office worker. Having seen thousands of them in the daily train commutes, I hadn’t noticed anything special about them until one man whipped out his cellphone with a few dangling phone straps. Now, in North America, men here have a tendency to be pretty alpha male, and you’d never find a business man with a cellphone strap of any kind much less one with bells and whistles. But for Asians, it’s normal to own something like a Hello Kitty phone strap. Such a small detail, but makes a world of difference.
Shibuya 109 - Hipper than thou
Walking into this 9 story building is like walking into a nest of swans, while you and your significant other are the ugly (very ugly) ducklings. The latest rage in Tokyo happens here, where it feels like hoards of rainbow bombs devastated each store. It seems like each brand have uncracked the color coordination mystery and have assembled the wackiest shades together yet work fabulously with one another. I have never felt so out of style as I walked in with my pocket tube dress and skinny jeans.
There were myriads of styles ranging from urban rock, with zippers and belts dangling all over the place, to lacey knitted baby doll dresses. Sales girl look like they have popped out of teen fashion magazines with their makeup perfectly in place, their hair teased and coiffed just right, with mile high stilettos and short shorts galore.
The Men’s section was colorful but restrained from the pastel colors and opted for more blacks, reds and navy blues. Stylish 20-something guys here wore 80’s skinny ties, slim fitted leather studded jackets, short sleeved hoodies and graffiti tshirts. My old goth rock self drooled over the numerous wallet chains, and uniquely designed biker rings, while the 30-something metal head salesman with long hair stood politely nearby with hands behind his back.
My biggest and only clothing purchase was a sleeveless hoodie in military green with lots of zippers (but with faux pockets) that I got at Heaven & Earth. One peculiar thing happened. The jacket was a one size fit all in either long or short waisted style. So if you were a bigger girl and couldn’t fit…tough luck, it’s indirectly saying that you’re too fat for this outfit. If you were too tall or too small, well tough luck, there aren’t any other sizes. Bizarre, to say the least.
That’s it for today, tomorrow we’ll have a look in shopping in the high end luxury maven called the Ginza district in Tokyo. I’ll also talk about my observations upon visiting the Chanel store, Mikimoto, as well as having a first hand look at a first class grocery store (which isn’t really fashion, but it’s luxury nonetheless).
Image credits: mcwstar, engrish.com, gizmodo uk, playboy
