Trendology: kielo; S/S 2013 Collection

Few months ago, I showed you Japanese brand kielo; F/W 2012 collection and I am sure many of you are fascinated by the craftsmanship of Yuta Yajima and Erika Mizuno. Today, I have the honoured to show you their latest S/S 2013 collection.

The title of this collection is called "Ligeia", which is the title of a short story written by Edgar Allan Poe in 1838. Yuta and Erika take inspirations from children's clothing from the early 1900's and add a dark twist to the pieces. Because the collection is based on the children's clothing, the silhouette is oversized and it looks very comfortable to wear.

What I like in this collection is the materials they use. The printed fabrics are specially designed for this collection and I love the use of lace on some of the pieces (which they ordered from a Japanese lace manufacture). Also, it's a bold move for the designers to use velvet and fake fur because they are usually winter materials. However, in this collection, they work very well with the pieces.

The clothes may not be something I will be wearing but I really love the aesthetic of the brand. The collection continues to be very dreamy and beautiful, yet this time the designers have added a hint of darkness to spice everything up.

I am ready to see what the duo has in store for us in the coming season.

Womenswear

Walk the Walk: Johan Ku F/W 2012 Collection

This is such an interesting collection and I rarely see a designer so into one single colour (other than black).

Johan Ku shows the F/W collection on the last day of Japan Fashion Week and it is the most memorable show of the day. Ku uses different shades of blue and the pieces range from knitwear to "stain glass" print bodysuit. The entire collection is very futuristic, but totally wearable. I suggest you to click the link below and check out the entire collection.

Pros:
- It is a very unify collection. I love how the blue exists throughout the collection.
- I love the big chunk knitwear!
- The "stain glass" print is very futuristic and amazing.

Cons: 
- If there could be a long coat, this collection would be more complete.

Eye Candies:
- Stain glass print bodysuit
- All the knitwear

Please click here for the complete collection.

Walk the Walk: Yoshio Kubo F/W 2012 Collection

What are you going to wear if you want to be outdoor in the winter? Well, take a look at this Yoshio Kubo collection and you will probably have an answer.

The F/W Yoshio Kubo collection is very practical because it has a lot of cool jacket pieces. I am also in love with the prints the designer chooses for this collection. Even though the pieces are slightly oversized, but if you are tall enough or have enough layers, you should be able to pull off those looks on the runway. What do you think?

Pros:
- Some very great prints in this collection, I especially love the birds migration one.
- I like the pants, they have the perfect width that I would want to wear.
- I am usually not a fan of puffy jacket, but here, I want them all!

Cons:
- I am not too convinced by the shorts/pants look, this just does not work for me in the F/W season.

Eye Candies:
- Birds migration print jacket
- Grey with white stripes pants
- Abstract black and white pattern long coat

Please click here to see the complete collection.

Walk the Walk: SOMARTA F/W 2012 Collection

I love when a runway show can tell a story, because now you know what's behind the designer's mind.

SOMARTA F/W 2012 is a very interesting collection. I believe the inspiration is from nature as you can see a lot of insect prints or shapes throughout the show. I am very impressed with the "insect" gowns as a lot of designers do fail to wow the audience when it comes to this inspiration. Furthermore, Hirokawa has a well balance of wearable and non wearable pieces that can truly show her craftsmanship and image of the brand!

Overall, this is one memorable collection in Japan Fashion Week!

Pros:
- The presentation is so well done. From black to nude, then to red, this rundown just tells the story of this collection.
- I love the colour palette, especially the red colour.
- The last few "insect" gowns are unique and beautiful. Definitely new to my eyes.
- Tamae Hirokawa has both wearable and non-wearable pieces on the runway, which really helps to show her skills and brand image. Very well balanced!

Cons:
- The print tights, they don't look too good on a few looks.

Eye Candies:
- Red puff cropped jacket
- Red "insect" gown
- Nude puff sleeveless coat

Walk the Walk: KEITA MARUYAMA TOKYO PARIS S/S 2012 Collection

Keita Maruyama presented quite an amazing show during the Japan Fashion Week. The collection consisted of womenswear and menswear. The main element of this collection was the various kinds of patterns. In general, the pieces for the womenswear were very chic and airy while the men's pieces were more structured. What do you think?

Pros:
- There are lots of amazing prints in this season, with lots of styles (imagine you are in a carnival).
- I really like the men's blazers, they look very well fitted.
- The creme series is actually the series I enjoy the most in this collection. Very chic and wearable.

Cons:
- Not a big fan of the men's shorts.

Eye Candies: 
- Patterned Chinese style dress
- White blazer for men
- Tropical print skirt

Please click here for the complete collection.

Walk the Walk: PHENOMENON S/S 2012 Collection

PHENOMENON is always the brand I am looking forward to see when it comes to Japan Fashion Week and this season Takeshi Osumi has once again created an amazing collection. There are many elements in this collection such as stripes, big pockets and denim but many of them are well constructed and easy to wear. Out of all the pieces, the navy blazer with the blue/white sleeves is probably my top favourite.

Pros:
- A colourful collection with lots of different styles and every man should be able to pick at least 1 piece from it as his favourite.
- There are some great denim pieces.
- Some of the blazers are very well constructed.
- I like to see how Takeshi Osumi uses different fabrics to construct some of the pieces.

Cons:
- The collection is not very cohesive as you can hardly find a connection to link everything together.

Eye Candies:
- Yellow big white pocket jacket
- Navy blue blazer with blue/white sleeves
- Blue/white stripes pants

Please click here to see the complete collection.

Walk the Walk: SOMARTA S/S 2012 Collection

SOMARTA had a very strong S/S 2012 collection and it had everything you needed to make yourself glam and chic.

Tamae Hirokawa sent out the models to the runway with great print and well cut pieces. The red colour had injected a burst of energy to the entire collection and it excited my eyes. From well fitted pieces to airy frocks, this collection had covered everything for your S/S wardrobe! Bravo!

Pros:
- I like the variety of this collection. There are well fitted pieces, and there are airy pieces.
- The collection itself is very cohesive.
- The print in this collection is very pretty.
- The styling is perfect here!

Cons:
- Nothing I can think of at the moment.

Eye Candies:
- Black and white one piece dress
- Brown ruffle skirt
- Red pattern dress

Please click here to see the complete collection.

Walk the Walk: Né-net S/S 2012 Collection

This show was simply fun!

Kazuaki Takashima presented Né-net S/S 2012 collection on Thursday during Japan Fashion Week and it was a very urban collection. Stripes, patchworks and patterns were some of the major elements in this collection and the relax cut made every piece to look very comfortable to wear. Somehow, this collection reminded me of Harry Potter (or some geek movies), but in a very fashionable way. What do you think?

Pros:
- Everything is so wearable, but at the same time, the whole collection has its unique flare.
- I like the stripes pieces.
- I like the patch works and the prints in this collection.

Cons:
- If there could be more men pieces, that would be great as I could see some women pieces turned into menswear.

Eye Candies: 
- Grey sweater with dog patch work
- Navy blazer with white ribbons

Please click here for complete collection.

Walk the Walk: A DEGREE FAHRENHEIT

Yu Amatsu, the brain behind A DEGREE FAHRENHEIT, presented an interesting collection during Japan Fashion Week. This collection was all about the different usage of materials and Amatsu knew best how to dress a woman with the perfect outfit. Some of the highlight pieces of this show included the sheer sleeves trench coat, the grey crochet dress and the black gown. What do you think?

Pros:
- This collection is all about the use of different materials.
- The grey and black colours create a dark mood for the collection.
- All the pieces are very simple but the fitting is what makes the collection great!

Cons:
- Not a big fan of look 4, it does not blend well with the collection.

Eye Candies: 
- The last black gown
- Grey crochet dress
- Black sheer trench coat

Please click here to see the complete collection.

Walk the Walk: HEADL_INER S/S 2012 Collection

If you live in Toronto, you know Toronto Fashion Week is happening at the moment but at the same time, on the other side of the globe, Tokyo is also having its Japan Fashion Week. As a fashion lover, I am going to pick some great shows to talk about from this event. (Well, if you are hungry for my Toronto Fashion Week coverage, you can head over to Global News and check out my reviews.)

HEADL_INER is one of the menswear brands I totally fall in love with during the Japan Fashion Week. The main collection is inspired by the rock and roll period and I love the use of leopard print on some of the pieces. The silhouette is leaning towards slim and sleek which totally suits my taste. What do you think of this collection?

Pros:
- I really like the rock and roll theme of this collection.
- The leopard print works well in this collection, not too over the top.
- I like the fitting of the pieces a lot, slim and sleek.
- The feather shoes are actually pretty funky.

Cons:
- I know it is a collaboration with a motorbike brand, but I am just not feeling the last part of the collection.

Eye Candies:
- Blue biker jacket
- Black leopard print jacket

Please click here to the complete collection.

Trendology: Theatre Products Spring Summer 2011 Collection

Akira Takeuchi and Tayuka Nakanishi, designers of Theatre Products, described their brand as one that designed for theatre plays.  It looks like they stayed true to their philosophy as their collection emerged as costumes that I would imagine for the Shakespeare's play.  Looks like inspired from the old English days as the ladies are wearings gloves and hats.  Ivory laces and chiffon are widely used in the collection; most of the chiffons are being used for the evening gowns, as a large amount of them are put together to achieve a certain shape and volume below the waist line.

Trendology: PHENOMENON S/S 2011 Colletion

Gentlemen, let's have some fashion fun, shall we?

Judging from what I see here, I believe Takeshi Osumi is getting inspiration from The Scottish and gangster culture for this collection (yes, is hard to believe these 2 things can blend together). The oversized collar shirt has captured my eyes and I am sure it will be fun to wear it. If you are a fan of abstract pattern, then you will love the black & white and the blue motif pieces. Also, if you a fan of jeggings, then you are in luck because there are a few pairs for you to select in this collection.

The pieces may not be something I would wear, but I have to give Takeshi props for taking risk and creates a fun and vibrant collection!

Click here for the complete collection.

Trendology: VANQUISH S/S 2011 Collection

This men's collection has totally caught my eyes during Japan Fashion Week.

This is the first time for the brand VANQUISH to showcase the collection at Japan Fashion Week. This collection has a very solid color tone: black and blue. Other than the distressed jeans and well fitted blazers, the element I find it to be very refreshing is the feather prints. I am loving the shirt where there is feather prints around the neck area and the shirt with this print above the pocket and around the sleeves area. This collection will definitely set you apart from the crowd.

Click here for the complete collection.

Trendology: Yukiko Hanai Spring and Summer Collection 2011

This collection is fabulously chic and whimsical! I'm loving it! I love the choice of colours, especially how Hanai treated the green here so beautifully.  I never liked green, it's never a colour that I like, but here she used different kind of greens in one outfit with floral prints, it makes the colour less boring and it looks young (which I think it's a very new sight for this particular colour).  There is one fabric that I found really interesting, the greyish metallic looking fabric that she used on one of the skirts and gowns. In my knowledge that this kind of fabric is very heavy and thick, but it's really good for making volume, yet in here this fabric looks less heavy but still created incredible volume.

Trendology: TOKUKO 1er Vol S/S 2011 Collection

The girls from TOKUKO 1er Vol must be coming out from some fairy tales and I enjoy what I see here!

The show starts with a lineup of some amazing bright red dresses. I am loving the floral decorations on each piece (floral pattern, flower pin) and this series is very playful and young. Next, there is a series of colorful abstract floral print pieces with a splash of light grey. The blending of the grey and the print is surprisingly very pleasant and I can't get over the ruffles on some of the pieces! Last but not least, the show ends with some amazing black and white pieces which the details on them are stunning.

I am truly in love with the styling and the pieces in this collection! Bravo Work Tokuko!

Click here for the complete collection.

Trendology: araisara S/S 2011 Collection

While Toronto is having the LG Fashion Week right now, on the other side of Earth, Japan is also having its Japan Fashion Week. The opening show has already caught my eyes and I am sure this week is going to be fantastic!

The week starts with Sara Arai showing her araisara S/S 2011 collection. Even though the design of this collection is simple, what really catches my eyes is the textile prints. The pastel color textile prints have put me in a fantasy dream which I feel like the models are wrapped by colorful bubbles. The opening number, a dress with oversized sleeves is where the fantasy starts. Other material you can see includes chiffon and lace (I can't stop looking at that modified trench coat), which I think Sara is definitely keeping up with the trend. The whole collection is simple and refreshing and I would love to see people wear some pieces in the future.

Great way to start off this amazing week!

Click here for the complete collection.