STYLE DNA: Harajuku Girls

Japanese Street Style

A few posts back I was debating between New York and Tokyo street style. Both are very different, but one thing I like about Japanese street style is commitment to a look. These boys and girls don’t mess. Even Gwen Stefani dedicated an entire song to their style. Convention be gone, these street savvy stylers give character a new name. Even drag queen look-a-like, Wendy Williams, doesn’t have game on these wiggy looks.

Japan has cranked out street style before it was even cool, knocking off their favorite Anime characters to create off-the-wall looks. Today, these fashion street walkers blend high fashion with cartoonish style. A look that is being emulated by designers, performers, and stylist all over the world.

I found this great new site dedicated to their often imitated, but never duplicated Harajuku street style: Tokyo Fashion (and there is an app for that). The site is dedicated to Japanese street style and culture, that surround these eclectic looks. After Japan’s 2011 natural disaster, I am happy to see that Japan has not lost its creative edge.

Cover Me: Riddle Me This…

Stepping Up

During NYFW Fall 2012, J.Mendel gave us a big show.  Front row seats were full of celebrity guests. Fashionable noted, two sunglass clad twins. Also spotted front row was fashion commentator and stylist, Mary Alice Stephenson. I got a chance to speak with fashion’s globe-trotting Queen backstage at J.Mendel.

rby-mary-alice-stephenson-prabal-gurung-fall-2012-s2
rby-mary-alice-stephenson-prabal-gurung-fall-2012-s2
kristen-wiig-2012-oscars-j-mendel-dress
kristen-wiig-2012-oscars-j-mendel-dress
J.Mendel: Pre-Fall 2012
J.Mendel: Pre-Fall 2012

For this year’s Academy Awards red carpet breakdown, Wendy Williams called on Stephenson. She has also  dressed major celebrities such as Sarah Jessica Parker,  and she  is a major contributor to Harper’s Bazzaar, so I knew I was in good hands talking about the inspiration for the J.Mendel show. Minus her credentials, I may have been a little taken by all her compliments to my outfit.

J.Mendel Fall 2012
J.Mendel Fall 2012
J.Mendel Fall 2012
J.Mendel Fall 2012
J.Mendel Fall 2012
J.Mendel Fall 2012

 Kristen Wigg won Oscar gold in  J.Mendel this year. J.Mendel is known for amazing furs and modern evening wear, which did not disappoint. I picked a few pieces to highlight Fall 2012.

J.Mendel Fall 2012
J.Mendel Fall 2012
J.Mendel Fall 2012
J.Mendel Fall 2012
J.Mendel Fall 2012
J.Mendel Fall 2012