Storytime: お盆 Obon and Childhood Memories in Japan

TALKFASHION TV

In this episode of Fashion Storytime, I discuss my childhood memories in Japan. Obon is a time for remembrance of loved ones, and it is particularly special for me because it reminds me of my beloved grandfather. All my memories spent in Japan flood back to me through smells, food, and fashion. With a quick blink of an eye, it's as if the present and past blend into an alternate reality.

xo,
Maya

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TALKFASHION TV: OBON LANTERN FESTIVAL お盆

TALKFASHION TV: OBON STYLE VIDEO

Obon is a beautiful custom celebrated in Japan, and by far my favorite moment of the Summer season. It is a time of remembrance, soul, togetherness, and love. The moment is reflective, personal, and a time to observe one's own life meaning.
There are so many things in life that give you instant satisfaction, and enjoyment. However, it is in the moments that touch your heart, that make you realize how precious life really is. We are infinitely connected to our past, and all the decisions of today, are processing our tomorrow.

I hope you like my short film based on how I style from the soul.

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xo,
Maya

FASHION LOOK: 浴衣 OBON FESTIVAL (JAPAN)

OBON is a Japanese Budhist custom, honoring the spirits of loved one's who have past. It is celebrated in Japan during the summer months of July or August (depending on which prefecture) and usually lasts 3 days. 

It is believed at this time, the spirits of ancestor's will return to homes lit with a welcoming light, and will leave again on the third day. Families gather, homes are cleaned, and alters are adorned with delicious snacks, fruit, and flowers. 

 Obon takes place in the hottest months of Summer, and the traditional kimono is created in a light cotton textile, called a yukata. 

The waist is wrapped in a stiff, sash type belt called a obi, and the back is tide into a beautiful bow. 

Shoes are a sandal type clog, called geta, and the bag is a traditional basket based, drawstring, called kinchaku. 

The hair is adorned with beautiful handmade hair accessories called, kanzashi. 

Kanzashi are usually floral in design, and often worn corresponding to the appropriate season. 

When I wear a yukata, it is a reminder in the power of clothing on one's composure, thoughts, and demeanor. The clothes demand certain character traits to emerge. For example, walking in a yukata requires you to shorten your steps, and angle your feet inwards. If you do not walk this way, the yukata will open, and unravel. The obi belt is restricting on the abdomen and puts a pressure around the waist that finds me less open in my movement. In general, I find myself behaving much more demure, and introverted. However, in the restriction creates a great deal of mystery mixed with beauty that finds me intrigued by the power of the things we wear. 

xo,

Maya

5 Day Fashion Design Challenge?

Birds are chirping, flowers are blooming, it can only mean one thing. Winter is ending and Spring is finally here.

The "5 Day Fashion Design Challenge", is an ambition attempt to design, create, and finish a Spring 'inspired' evening dress, all by Friday March 20, 2015 (The first day of Spring). The Challenge will begin tomorrow, Monday, March 16, 2015, and the progress of the dress will be published everyday until the completion this Friday.

The dress will be inspired by the gorgeous cherry blossoms of Japan, and as you can imagine, there will be a lot of pink flying around the studio. Check in everyday, and hopefully by the first day of spring, an evening dress will be born!

❤

Maya

The Fashion of a Japanese Empress

In the beginning of March, Japan celebrates a special day for girls, called "Hinamatsuri" (Girl's Day). On this day beautiful dolls representing the royal court of the Heian period are displayed. 

This particular doll is the empress and was a gift from my grandfather when I was born, and when I took them out on March 3rd it inspired me to write about the amazing fashion of a Heian empress.  

During the Heian period, beauty, was of extreme importance. It was in fashion for aristocratic women to powder their faces and blacken their teeth. Lips were painted small and bright red, and their eyebrows were plucked or shaved and redrawn higher on their forehead.

The empress would wear her hair long, natural, shiny, and long.

 The empress's formal dress included a complex "twelve-layered robe" called junihitoe.  As seasons changed the costumes would also follow the seasonal changes. Robes always followed a system of color combinations representing flowers, plants, and animals specific to a season or month. Like poetry, every step and choice had a greater meaning and process. 

The various layers are made of silk, and the innermost garment is made of white silk, followed by other layers which have various names. The final layer is the most intricate and luxurious. Weighing nearly 20 kilograms, it made it very difficulty for the empress to move.

All color choices set for the layers are very important. The colours have poetic names, such as "crimson plum of the spring".  The arrangements of layers and colors represented their rank and taste. 

Such a dream like era, the Heian period is one of great mystery and inspiration. The amazing details in their fashion, and their dedication to achieving the highest level of artistic beauty, has created pure fashion poetry. An achievement of breathe taking form and ultimate craftsmanship, it is ready to be walked down any Couture Runway of today. 

Tokyo Fashion Week Street Style 2014

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week 2014 Tokyo

Tokyo Fashion Week is a fashion festival held twice a year,hosted by JFW Organization. In March and October, collections from famous Japanese designers are born, and trends for next season are set.

The "slogan" for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week TOKYO, was to become a gateway for designers to be showcased to the world. It is also a time when fashion lovers take to the street to showcase  their interpretation of fashion trends, and interpretation on what fashion means to them. Always innovative and creative, there is never a dull moment.

Elegant and stylish, the pop of color is done beautifully. I am loving the sleekness and simplicity of their looks, while still remaining elegant and modern.

Quirky and whimsical. These two looks showcase their individual uniqueness in a way that their personal style is celebrated.

These guys are killing it with their mixture of futuristic lines, blended with the classic black white traditions. The pop of color seen in the socks are a fun touch that gives playful and serious a new look.

I appreciate the following looks, for the artsiness, and commitment to the art form. However, this is borderline costume, and I can't help but see "Charlie and the Chochlate Factory" and "Lord of the Rings". 

Surprisingly, these two looks I like. It is completely, aesthetically not my cup of tea. However, it is interesting, and well down. 

Honestly, what happened here? Let me make one thing clear, I have a strong dislike for people who appreciate or create fashion simply for "shock value". Yes, mixing textures, colorblocking, and the layered look is "trendy", but it doesn't mean you should ever do them all at once. 

x

Maya