Skirt – The Virgin Mary – JPY 4,000

Hair – (self) – JPY 0

Hair Pin – Okadaya – JPY 1,500

Earrings – NADIA – JPY 1,500

Necklace (self-made) – N/A

Gloves – N/A – JPY N/A

Sandals – Trick with ricco – JPY 8,000

T-Shirt – The Virgin Mary – JPY 4,000
About the PhotographerEmi Kusano spends most of her free time in Tokyo's trendy Harajuku. Both to hang out with friends and to shoot the latest trends. She also enjoys discovering small independent boutiques, vintage clothing shops and nicknack stores. Emi has just started as a photographer, but her work has already been published in Cosmopolitan.
Recent photos by Emi Kusano:
SOOOOO great! She’s the epitome of a Tokyo street fashion girl right now, I think! Would you call this style Spank? I think it is, but I feel like these girls with the light hair, lots of lace, and really modest dressing need a name of their own! You know, the girls that always shop at Cult Party and The Virgin Mary, and usually have rope/basket/antique bags? However, they’re still different than the Antique-y Grimoire girls too! And they’re not exactly mori-girl either? What should we call them?? I think the girl you guys photographed with the long blue dress and the horse bag kind of fits into this category too.
Lactose Intoler-Art
Jun 1, 2010 (4934 days ago)
Annabelle
Jun 1, 2010 (4934 days ago)
The blazer really makes it though. A hint of black gives off more personality with all that lace behind it. Plus the fact that the apron is off to the edge is pretty fun, too. Great earrings.
petitesam
Jun 1, 2010 (4934 days ago)
@Annabelle: Spank! is actually a second hand clothing store in Tokyo started by Sayuri Tabuchi (she spells it Tavuchi) in 2004. She created a look that was named after her store. It consisted of shiny tops, juliet-like skirts, leggings and lots of cute. The photo in this article (features a short interview, too) gives a good example. I have noticed though that recently the term seems to be used much wider by some people.
Kjeld Duits
Jun 1, 2010 (4934 days ago)
@Lactose Intoler-Art: I always feel uncomfortable putting people in categories. I find that when I ask people what genre clothes they think they’re wearing they prefer not to be categorized.
Kjeld Duits
Jun 1, 2010 (4934 days ago)
Yea, I know what you mean for sure…I was just wondering since this was already categorized by saying “Style: SPANK.” I agree though, I think most people don’t want to be labeled, but there are definitely influences that come from style subcultures for sure.
Lactose Intoler-Art
Jun 2, 2010 (4933 days ago)
@Lactose Intoler-Art: On this one, leaving the categorization in was a tough call, actually. I completely agree with you on influences that come from style subcultures. That’s why on JS a look’s style is often noted.
There are lots of cases in the wider world where I think the categorization feels a bit forced, though. The ideology of Neotribalism has injected the word tribe into modern society, and it’s used a lot for so called Japanese fashion tribes. But, the idea of such tribes is in many cases misleading, I think.
If the term is defined as a group of persons having a common character, occupation, or interest (Merriam-Webster), there is not that big a problem. I mean, these people are all interested in fashion for example. But usually the word tribe implies far more social interaction between the members than there actually exists between most of these people.
My main reasons therefore for feeling uncomfortable putting people in categories is that an alarmingly large number of people interpret such style categories as tribes, with all the expanded cultural implications attached.
Kjeld Duits
Jun 2, 2010 (4932 days ago)
@Kjeld, ah yes! Don’t worry, I see what you mean! And I think another thing about that is that these people DON’T necessarily even interact with one another, especially due to their fashion. (Well, they may or they may not) so categorizing can be very tricky. (like you said!) Trust me, I hate labels and stereotypes..Its sad that styles can’t hardly have a name anymore, because then people suddenly associate a fashion style with a lifestyle, which is totally wrong. An example I can think of in the states is that people say people with emo fashion are always sad/depressed, etc. It just gets out of hand. haha
Lactose Intoler-Art
Jun 3, 2010 (4932 days ago)
@Lactose Intoler-Art: Absolutely. I totally agree. Thankfully, in Japan fashion usually doesn’t have the social and political message it carries in most other countries, so this associating of a lifestyle with a fashion style is less of a problem here than it is elsewhere.
Kjeld Duits
Jun 3, 2010 (4932 days ago)
I love SOO much this outfit!!
im half japanese and im going to japan this summer , i hope that ill see some japanese with uncredibly beautiful outfit!!
Natsuko
Jun 4, 2010 (4931 days ago)
@Natsuko-san..Just a quick note for you if you’re going to Tokyo..You may already know this, but if you’re REALLY wanting to see interesting fashion, go to Harajuku for sure, but be sure to explore “Ura-Harajuku” which is like the back streets. Lots of really cool kids there and a LITTLE less touristy..If you walk down Omotesando street on a weekend or anyday from 2-4 PM you’ll probably see tons of street fashion photographers and tons of kids walking by hoping to get their photo taken! Its AWESOME! :)
Lactose Intoler-Art
Jun 4, 2010 (4931 days ago)
@Natsuko: Excellent advice by Lactose Intoler-Art. Ura-Hara is where we usually shoot in Tokyo.
Kjeld Duits
Jun 5, 2010 (4930 days ago)
what a cutie pie! i love her.
Anna Hoskin
Aug 15, 2010 (4858 days ago)