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Nude n’ Rude Koenji, 2012

December 3, 2012 by

Back in 2010 I first wrote about Nude n’ Rude – a goth/punk/fetish/alternative fashion store in Koenji, Tokyo.

I always try to visit Nude n’ Rude as I just love so many of the labels they carry, known to us in the west – like Iron Fist, Kreepsville 666, Lip Service, Demonia etc…as well as other Japanese labels and now their own Nude n’ Rude Couture 2012 line.

Since I was in Koenji recently for Secret Dog, ilil etc, I decided to combine them in the one afternoon shopping trip (along with a few other stores, still to come in future posts).

I wondered what had changed since my last visit a year ago. Peering in the shop windows, I was heartened to see the same kinky, kooky, retina-searing flavour throughout:

Nude n Rude store window [Read more…]

Filed Under: Alternative Fashion, Fashion, gothic fashion, Japanese Fashion Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

TFT’s Fave Post for Nuffnang Blogger Challenge – Steampunk Adventures

November 30, 2010 by

Being terribly “me”, I’ve waited til almost the last minute possible to do my Nuffnang Blogger Challenge entry – but actually, I’ve got a whole hour left til 5pm, so it’s not THAT late!  Now, what’s so exciting about this challenge? The person who wins the challenge…wins an iPad for Christmas!! Woohoo!!

My favourite post for the year is one of my Steampunk posts. Any time I do a Steampunk fashion post there’s a HUGE amount of interest, as there is such a diverse community who enjoys this style. Cosplayers and gamers, goths and punks, mothers and children alike all seem to dig the bygone-era aesthetic of Steampunk.

I decided on the post where I showcased a fashion spread I did in Fiend magazine (a dark alternative magazine now based mainly in Melbourne). Some people may not know I was Fashion Editor of the mag for several years, and as well as writing/compiling the Fashion News, Get-the-Look and DIY segments each issue, I organised and styled the fashion shoots. I stepped aside after a few years to concentrate on my blog and travel to Japan more….but this post was one way I could show people what I used to do.

Adventures in Steam is what the shoot and post were called, and I wrote a little story, a bit like a cartoon adventure, to accompany the shots and bring the characters to life. And oh, what the heck, I may as well just post the pics below for those who missed it before. Enjoy as I present to you….Adventures in Steam!!!
 

Adventures in Steam

 
.
Penelope Danvers                                  Horatio P. Danvers
.
Captain X                                                               Lexy
.
The story….
.
 

 Following a kidnap threat, the industrialist Horatio P. Danvers engages the services of famed explorer Captain X to safely escort his wife to the far side of the realm, by any means. The couple await the Captain’s arrival, by the Steamfleet.

.
Where the Dickens is he? I’ve appointments to attend to, and a factory to run…
.
.
“Captain X, at your service!”
.
.
The couple bid a fond goodbye, and the train departs.
“Farewell, my love..”
.
.
Penelope gazes until her beloved is but a tiny dot on the horizon.
“Now to change into my travelling clothes, and keep watch.”
.
.
Before long, they have company.
“Look, yonder! We’re under attack!”
.
.
But the Captain has come prepared…
.
 
.
“My steam powered launcher will make short work of these cursed blackguards!”
.
.
“Haha!! We trounced them and made our escape!”
Penelope swoons, but smelling salts will bring her ‘round.
.
.
Meanwhile, the Captain has some unfinished business to attend to…
The lovely aviatrix Lexy awaits his return.
.
 

 

 “YOU certainly took your time!”

“Now, where were we, before I was interrupted? Ah yes, I was going to show you my new gadget…”

😉

THE END

I think this shows a lot of creativity on my part (and a cheeky sense of humour?), and only hope it’s enough to win the iPad!!

Like many bloggers, any day I have off from work (and sometimes after work) I’m glued to the pc at home, either reading others’ blogs, writing my own posts, researching for upcoming posts, checking twitter, updating facebook, etc etc. An iPad would be sooo awesome for blogging and social media stuff while I’m on breaks at work, or while shopping, travelling or otherwise on the run. (And believe me, I DO like to shop and travel!!)

Fingers crossed….

Filed Under: Alternative Fashion, Blog entry, Fashion, gothic fashion Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Sydney Steampunk Symposium

September 12, 2010 by

Yesterday was a big day for the Sydney Fringe Festival – and for Steampunk!!

I attended the Steampunk Symposium at the Enmore Theatre (conveniently located 10 minutes walk from my house) and had a most splendid time!! I was quite astonished at the amount of effort patrons went to, both in their attire and their inventions and displays.  Firstly, my own attire – I went more as a steamship tinkerer or traveller, rather than as an elegant steam lady.

And now for my esteemed fellow steampunkers, whom I met on the street before I got to the theatre:

There were airship pirates and adventurers with steam-powered jetpacks

   

Sorry this one is blurred but they had GREAT costumes:

  

There were lovely ladies

     

Dashing steam dandies

    

There were lots of fascinating stands with artefacts and items for sale:

There was even a Steampunk R2D2 and radiogram!

   

There was also entertainment in the form of song, mime, burlesque, globe sorcering and more…

Or one could just wander around and take photos with the steam contraptions.

And that was merely the START of my night, as after this I went home and changed into gothy lolita gear for alternative fashion show Lunarmorph. Coming up next!

Filed Under: Alternative Fashion, Blog entry, Clubs, Designers, Fashion, gothic fashion Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Lunarmorph 2010 Alternative Sydney Fashion Show

September 10, 2010 by

Saturday night is the amazing 2010 production of Lunarmorph, in partnership with the Sydney Fringe Festival:

Lunarmorph, a fashion parade like no other, will be accompanied by a 32 vintage synthesizer orchestra in the pit.  Alternative fashion devotees & music geeks alike will appreciate hearing & seeing the machines that made the sounds of ‘Blue Monday’ and ‘Dr Who’  morphing with eye popping  alternative fashion of the highest and most avant-garde character…totally befitting for Sydney’s first Fringe Festival.

I will certainly be attending in my gothy finest! And earlier in the day I will don some steampunk wear for the Steampunk Symposium, also held at the Enmore Theatre. If you’re in Sydney you should come on down and see what the fuss is all about. It will surely be a spectacle. While many know the gentlemanly aspects of Steampunk, characterised by the debonair Kit, perhaps Airship Pirates and wenches have come to exemplify steampunk costume of late.

 

Photo of Kit: Nadia Lev                                                            Steampunk Couple: Hueyatl (Flickr)

See also my own Steampunk fashion shoot for Fiend from 09.

The Steampunk Symposium in the deco foyer of the Enmore Theatre will entertain you for the afternoon hours before Lunarmorph launches in the evening. Gentleman Adventurer, Stewart Rule & steam punk inventor, Sir Dij Dijor host this afternoon of strange contraptions from an alternative time stream –  expect time machines, Tesla coils, steam punk sellers of ray guns and special guests to entertain you with steam punk burlesque and vaudeville.  Prizes for the best steam punk costumes will be awarded!

So there are 2 exciting things to get your teeth into, so to speak, and 2 more reasons why I LOVE living in Newtown!!

Filed Under: Alternative Fashion, Blog entry, Designers, Fashion, gothic fashion Tagged With: , , , , ,

Adventures in Steam – Fiend Steampunk Shoot Sydney 09

July 20, 2010 by

This week a year ago I posted the pics from my Steampunk Fashion Shoot for Fiend magazine – the last shoot before I stepped down as Fashion Editor to travel more (and start this blog!)

I just realised I never brought the images over from my earlier blog, so here they are. There wasn’t time for it to be reproduced in full in the mag, (that is, half of the pics got in, but not the story/narrative part) but just so you can have a peek and a chuckle…for your viewing pleasure, here is…

Adventures in Steam

Penelope Danvers                      Horatio P. Danvers
 Captain X                                             Lexy     

The story….

Following a kidnap threat, the industrialist Horatio P. Danvers engages the services of famed explorer Captain X to safely escort his wife to the far side of the realm, by any means. The couple await the Captain’s arrival, by the Steamfleet.
Where the Dickens is he? I’ve appointments to attend to, and a factory to run…

“Captain X, at your service!”

The couple bid a fond goodbye, and the train departs.
“Farewell, my love..”

Penelope gazes until her beloved is but a tiny dot on the horizon.
“Now to change into my travelling clothes, and keep watch.”
Before long, they have company.
“Look, yonder! We’re under attack!”
But the Captain has come prepared…

“My steam powered launcher will make short work of these cursed blackguards!”

“Haha!! We trounced them and made our escape!”
Penelope swoons, but smelling salts will bring her ‘round.
Meanwhile, the Captain has some unfinished business to attend to…
The lovely aviatrix Lexy awaits his return.

“YOU certainly took your time!”

“Now, where were we, before I was interrupted? Ah yes, I was going to show you my new gadget…”

All pictures are property of Fiend Magazine and Katie Sheppard of Dollface Productions, please only reproduce with credit.

Models: Danica Lee (just crowned Miss Burlesque Sydney), Debzillah (personal trainer extraordinaire and Miss Amateur Pole Dancer 2009), Matt Davis and Luke Markham.

Location: Australian Technology Park, Eveleigh

Filed Under: Blog entry Tagged With: , , ,
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