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Dolled up fashion coming back in Japan
by Brad Rice, 02/09/2010
Dolled up fashion coming back in Japan photo

...and not in that "haunt your nightmares" sort of dolled up. Recently, some of the fashion trends in Japan have been pulling away from the more assertive and active girls, to ones who "don't want to live so much as to exist, preferably on a metaphysical level,” at least that's the quote the New York Times got.

While still a small minority, some girls are starting to rebel against the cultural message of the last ten years by dolling themselves up and avoiding the idea of a strong and powerful woman, taking one of two forms: Forest girls (mori) and swallowtail girls (ageha).

The forest girls have a natural feel about them, as they're strikingly similar to the eco girls, except that they don't really want to stand for anything important, just look pretty. Meanwhile the swallowtail girls are so dolled up that they're almost impossible to approach, and according to the NYT, the girls rarely go on dates because of their look.

I guess the plan backfired for them, then?


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#otakumanup and wear your Love Plus love on your chest
by Brad Rice, 02/01/2010
#otakumanup and wear your Love Plus love on your chest photo

Love Plus has grabbed our staff's attention recently. The addictive romance sim has sucked people in and proved to be a huge hit to the folks at Konami, who really wanted to see this title succeed.

Well, the merchandising is in full force, especially with these Love Plus t-shirts. You can #otakumanup and wear these barely-clad girls on your chest. There's one for each of the girls, you'll be able to show everyone which playthrough you're on without them even having to ask.

If you're already professing your love for your 2-D waifu, why not just take the next step and wear her on your shirt with some pride. For those of you who haven't taken the plunge yet, why not go ahead an pick up a copy of the game and enjoy your digital love the fullest extent?


  4 comments Latest by Brad Rice
"@Strey Yeah, that would be better. Then you could have that love in your heart and on your back."...read more

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Confirmed: Resonance of Fate PS3 t-shirts beat Xbox 360's
by Josh Tolentino, 01/23/2010
Confirmed: Resonance of Fate PS3 t-shirts beat Xbox 360's photo

Rejoice, PS3 owners, for now you know which version of Resonance of Fate to buy, namely the PS3 version.

Why, you ask? Tri-Ace has seen fit to provide players with some console-specific content in the form of exclusive shirts that can be worn by Reanbell (aka Leanne). That's an important point, since the game is so awesome that the game's cutscenes reflect the cast's current outfits! It's such an awesome feature that they managed to rope in some real-life fashion luminaries to design clothing for the game. The pretty young gunslinger can display her choice of platform all throughout the game.

And which choice of platform fashion is the best? The PS3 one, of course. Why? The PS3 t-shirt packs a spiffy design featuring Toro and Kuro, Sony's adorable cat mascots. This will surely set alight the heart of Topher Cantler, who is the errant felines' most ardent follower.

As for the 360 version, the design is merely based on the outfit worn by Microsoft's booth babes at the 2009 Tokyo Game Show. Pssshaaaww!


  6 comments Latest by Kougeru
"lol 360 fail"...read more

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All samurai fashionistas must wear Chanel-designed armor
by Josh Tolentino, 01/07/2010
All samurai fashionistas must wear Chanel-designed armor photo

While Glorious Nippon's revived interest in its samurai history may have been triggered by pop culture schlock that is everything but realistic, but one cannot deny that the so-called 'samurai boom' has produced some positive results, among the most interesting of which are these suits of traditional armor, created by artist Tetsuya Noguchi at the behest of luxury brand Chanel. That's right. CHA-f*cking-NEL.

But what's best about the armor isn't its branding, which seems to be restricted to the presence of the iconic Chanel logo where a samurai's mon heraldry would be, but by how accurate it really looks. Just taking impressions from my copy of Stephen Turnbull's excellent Samurai Sourcebook, this suit would not look out of place on a Sengoku battlefield or in an Edo-period military review.

The suit itself seems to be of the standard dou maru style, which was more convenient to move around in than the box-like yoroi. The style became popular as the samurai's role in combat evolved from mounted archery to shock calvary and on-foot combat. This is also shown in the presence of shoulder and arm protection on both sides, rather than leaving one arm uncovered (so as to draw the bow).The suit is laced in the sugake odoshi, a more loose pattern that came into favor later in the sengoku period, as the closely-laced kebiki odoshi grew very heavy when made wet. 

As for the Chanel-branded rabbit-ear crest, it looks positively reserved when compared to the ostentatious helmet crests of actual samurai, including Date Masamune's famous crescent moon and Sanada Yukimura's antlers.

This is all wonderful, don't you agree?


  6 comments Latest by Mahina
"That's pretty cool. I love seeing stuff like this."...read more

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Kimi ni Todoke x Nice Claup let you dress like Sawako
by Tim Sheehy, 01/04/2010
Kimi ni Todoke x Nice Claup let you dress like Sawako photo

The first season just finished airing in Japan and the manga is slowly trickling into our stores here in the states, but Kimi ni Todoke has already managed to suck me in. I really love this series and, as you could probably tell by our top 50 anime of the decade, a lot of our other staff felt the same way.

While I can't really put my finger on any one reason, I'm sure a lot of it has to do with the art itself. From the gorgeous backdrops, to the incredibly cute mannerisms of each character, calling it aesthetically pleasing would be putting it mildly. Of course, the fashion is definitely part of that.

When I heard that Nice Claup--seriously, it's pronounced a lot like "Nice Crap"--was going to be producing some clothing from the series, I was kind of excited but a little scared about how much it would probably cost. I knew my wife, who absolutely adores the series, would want everything. Thankfully, or not, ordering it from outside of Japan might pose a bit of a challenge, so I know I'm safe for the time being. That said, if any of you know anyone in Japan or plan on visiting yourself, you might want to considering picking some of these up. Until then, you can browse the small selection of products at the official Flag Shop website. 

  4 comments Latest by Aiya
"I'd buy/wear it :3 Hell I'm going to be cosplaying Sawako, this will work. "...read more

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Become Final Fantasy XIII's Serah on the cheap
by Josh Tolentino, 12/08/2009
Become Final Fantasy XIII's Serah on the cheap photo

It's usually pretty tough to cosplay, even as one of the reasonably "realistic-looking" characters of the modern Final Fantasy title. Besides of course trying to look as ethereally pretty as the characters in the cast, more often than not their costumes are hideously outlandish despite sometimes having been designed by real-life fashionistas.

But then again, there are always exceptions. In Final Fantasy XIII's case, the exception is Serah, the little sister of musky-smelling protagonist Lightning. Not only a graceful wielder of the Absolute Territory and an uncanny lookalike to Bible Black star Imari Kurumi (seriously, just drop the tie and black vest, and switch the side-tail over), she also wears an outfit that looks marginally wearable.

Noticing this, 2ch has provided would-be cosplayers with a perfect shopping guide, finding budget-chic analogs to Serah's setup straight out of the catalog for Japanese retailer Shimamura. And it really seems to work! From the pic below, it would only take a few minor alterations to get the look down pat, and all for just a shade above a hundred bucks!

Thanks, Japanese internet! It's a perfect beginner's cosplay guide! Now all we have to do is see this on some emaciated waif at the next Comiket, and the mission is complete. Alternatively, I will also accept that the guide be followed to conduct Bible Black cosplay, with the accompanying hot ritual orgy. 

[LiveDoor via Kotaku]


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Required Reading: The success of Uniqlo
by Brad Rice, 12/04/2009
Required Reading: The success of Uniqlo photo

If you want any more proof that Uniqlo is doing fantastic, there's an interesting little piece that W. David Marx, normally of Neojaponisme, wrote for the Business of Fashion blog. It highlights how successful the business has been in recent years and some of the tricks that have gotten them there.

As Marxy points out, it's a number of things: working with great designers, affordable pricing, and most importantly, neutrality.

Wearing Uniqlo carries no meaning of its own. It’s as close as apparel has ever come to interchangeable LEGO blocks.

And it's true. It's almost effortless to slip a bunch of Uniqlo items into an outfit, letting only one or two items from bigger names like Brooks Brothers, Banana Republic or J. Crew stand out a bit more. Really, it's a great base for your fashion. So, take a look at the piece and join with me in hoping that they buy out the Gap sooner rather than later.


  3 comments Latest by Jon Snyder
"My "fashion" consists of jeans and a T-shirt. Sometimes they're even clean, too!"...read more



 Celebrate your love of the Undefeated of the East
by Brad Rice, 12/03/2009
Celebrate your love of the Undefeated of the East photo

The ever-amazing Aiya sent me a message this morning mentioning that the greatest shirt in the history of humanity was available for pre-order before a restocking in January. So naturally, I ordered one.

What shirt, you ask, could dare hold the title of "Best Shirt in the Universe?" Why, none other than one that features Master Asia, the Undefeated of the East and the man formerly known as the King of Hearts. This is one unabashedly otaku item that I will find myself slipping into outfit after outfit, just to show my pride.

So go and order yours today. for our readers need to unite under the banner of the almighty Master Asia!


  8 comments Latest by CaptainBright
"Might,get,this,SOON."...read more



 Japanese school uniforms become hot fashion item
by Jon Snyder, 11/25/2009
Japanese school uniforms become hot fashion item photo

Like so many other students around the world, Japanese schoolkids used to view their uniforms with disdain. For decades, the sailor suit represented a symbol of conformity, forced upon the student population by evil adults intent on brainwashing Japan's youth into becoming obedient, conservative salarymen and housewives. Then, anime and manga became popular, and suddenly school uniforms (especially female ones) were all the rage.

According to a recent article in the Asahi Shinbun, anime's fetishization of sailor uniforms has transformed their image in Japanese youth culture. As a result, fashion-conscious schoolgirls are now turning their previously despised outfits into trendy threads. Self-modification is common, as is purchasing expensive name-brand uniforms from specialty clothing ships like CONOMi. Furthermore, many girls are wearing their uniforms even when their school does not require them, simply to be fashionable.

However, these schoolgirls are not sexualizing themselves. According to Toyoko Yokoyama, the vice president of CONOMi, most girls prefer a modest uniform with a mid-length skirt. Although they want to be stylish, she says, they also want to seem like young women "with a proper upbringing." The miniskirted teenage vixens of anime are, at least for the time being, still fiction.

Purely for the purposes of study, I have put together a gallery of anime schoolgirl pictures for your benefit. Feel free to examine them, then offer your opinion on this latest fashion trend.

  16 comments Latest by rockchick
"what anime is this from?"...read more

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Ladies, go sleeveless to be swarmed by eager men
by Josh Tolentino, 11/15/2009
Ladies, go sleeveless to be swarmed by eager men photo

Oh, goo Ranking, you conduct the best surveys ever. Another gem plucked out of the swirling statistical sea was a survey asking men what sorts of clothes would make ladies seem most approachable at a party.

That sounds incredibly creepy, though the results themselves were relatively tame. But enough about how open to criminal reinterpretation the survey feels, which items of clothing won out?!

Well, if the title didn't clue you in, apparently Japan's men find women in sleeveless tops to be most approachable at a party. Uh...OK. I don't really see the connection, but I don't go to many parties, so it might just be out of my ken.

Following in an even less comprehensible second were denim miniskirts. Rrrriiigght. And specifically denim miniskirts! Third came hot pants. Seriously? The clavicle-revealing wide-necked top sitting at fourth place I can understand, since that sort of thing was mentioned in an earlier survey on men's favorite fetishes, but what about see-through white blouses, fishnet stockings ? Do women really wear those?

After reading the point-based full list (which you can check out below), I feel almost relieved that the Absolute Territory didn't make an appearance on the list, since a lot of the respondents seemed to be on the hunt for tramps. On another note, I'm glad that turtlenecks and puffy sleeves are low on the ranking, as my girls Rider and Saber are now in less danger.


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  6 comments Latest by AndroidCandy
"what if you wore the sleeveless top, the denim mini-skirt, and the fish net tights would that be like the trifecta of approachability. "...read more

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