Mana's Beautiful World is Forever

Mana's Beautiful World is Forever
Showing posts with label fashion show. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fashion show. Show all posts

Friday, April 26, 2019

2019 Moi-même-Moitié Kawaii Kon Fashion Show in Hawaii

Even though I am in the middle of posting photos from my last trip to Tokyo, I have decided to go ahead and write up a few things that happened in...Hawaii. Because I did go for a few days to Kawaii-Kon in Honolulu. Since I had wanted to go back and because Moi-même-Moitié and Mana were special guests of the convention, it didn't take long for me to decide I wanted to go. So here is the Moi-même-Moitié Fashion Show held on Saturday, April 6th.

This was a little exciting because there were hints that that new fashion items would be worn during the fashion show. The fashion show was held in a Ballroom of the Honolulu Convention Center. I'm borrowing a photo from Kawaii-Kon's Twitter because we couldn't take photos in the room. This was not the fashion show but you can see how the state was set up with screens on the side. There was a runway that came out from the stage.


There was a decent line to get in but even so, I ended up next to some of the photographers in the front. This was nice because I was able to chat with them a little. It also was nice because I was able to have a decent view of the new Moi-même-Moitié fashions.

The show started with the same video that was used at Sakura-Con along with music from Moi dix Mois. Right off we were treated to new fashion with two models showing the Gardenia dress and apron. Here is a photo of the outfit from Moi-même-Moitié.


Following this was the Lace Cross jumperskirt in black and white. We then got a treat as a model came out wearing the brand new Bat blouse in white paired with older Moi-même-Moitié pants for a great elegant gothic aristocrat look. The guy next to me said it was a beautiful outfit. 

The next dress may have been the Cross One-piece in black with a white Rose Flare Sleeve Cutsew underneat. It was followed by the newer Catherine one piece and then by the new version of Sleeping Garden lace-up jumperskirt paired with the La Belle Rose bolero. With each model walking to the end of the runway, we were given a good look at each outfit and the crowd really loved seeing each one.

The new Nocturnal Romance dress and stockings were shown and then a real treat happened. Moi-même-Moitié premiered their new yukata! It is white with stripes and blue roses. They are working to get this produced so hopefully we will see photos of it in the near future. It was a definite crowd pleaser and the guy next to me loved it.

There were a few more surprises left. Following what I thought was the Juliet dress in black, worn with a corset, we got another surprise. There will be a new version of the popular Silent Moon print! These were one piece dresses in white with black, black with white, and black with blue, if I remember correctly. They were very nice.

At this point they had reached the last model of the show. Wearing the new Bat Cape in black with blue lining, Mana strode out in his tall boots to the cheers of the audience. His outfit was the same as in the new promotional photos for the cape except his hair was in the visual kei style he favors for shows. For the fashion show he wore an over-skirt and pants.


All of the models came out for the finale and that was it for the show.

And I am now updating with a photo Mana shared on Twitter of everyone who modeled at the fashion show



Next I have something from another event on Saturday. The Mana Question and Answer session.


Tuesday, April 3, 2018

Sakura-Con 2018

 Where to start with this? Perhaps with the fact that my reason for going to Sakura-Con in Seattle was to make-up for the three other times I could have seen Mana in the US and didn't? Twice in Los Angeles (one of those times was with Moi dix Mois) and once in Seattle with Moi dix Mois (which was a couple weeks before I was moving to Oregon). Again timing was something since the convention started two days after I returned from Tokyo. But there were those three misses staring at me. So on March 30th I did the three hour drive up to Seattle and found myself in a mixture of cosplay and street clothed crowd at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle.

 After getting my badge I went to the sales floor. Mana was attending to support the clothing line he created, Moi-même-Moitié. Both items from that line and also from the website shop Wunderwelt were available to purchase at their booth.
 A small display was set up with a schedule of events and an autographed chip board, complete with a drawing by Mana of one of his eyes.

Just a few of the lovely dresses they had for sale.

 I had a few questions and Kandice was really helpful in answering them. She also was very nice to pose for a photo. She was wearing the Moi-même-Moitié Lace Cross jumper skirt from 2011.

 Which was important because Moi-même-Moitié is releasing a new version of that dress. Here it is in black with blue lace.
 And the black with white lace version. There are a couple differences with the new version. Instead of a bow in the back it has corset lacing. And it will come in both a medium and a large size. You can check the Wunderwelt Fleur site if you are looking for more information.

 The other Japanese fashion designer that was a guest at Sakura-Con was Mint Neko of h.NAOTO. This was fun for me to see because I met Mint a few years back when he was just beginning his cat designs for the Sixh line. It's neat to see he's done well enough to have not only his own line but also Mint Neko stores in Japan.

 Just a few shots of his booth. You can see his characteristic cat head image on the sleeve of  one top. 

 This is Ba who was also super helpful and was wearing a really cute Mint Neko outfit.

 More Mint Neko items including his creative bags.





 Along with Mint's clothing they also had a number of Gouk items. Gouk incorporates traditional Japanese patterns into really nice and comfortable clothing.

 Another creative Mint Neko bag and outfit.

 Just a photo of their booth the next day after the fashion shows. It definitely was busier. It's good that both booths did well with their sales.

 I said fashion shows? The second day, Saturday, of Sakura-Con featured a fashion show with clothing from Mint Neko. This was followed by a Moi-même-Moitié fashion show. It was held on the main stage. This is before, with Mana mood lighting.

 Accented by Mint Neko green screens. I wish I had more photos but it was very difficult and for the Moi-même-Moitié part, no photos were allowed. For Mint Neko, the lighting was white and the music was instrumental funky rock. I'm guessing it was performed by Mint and other h.NAOTO members since he has performed with IBI for a number of years. Audience members liked it. As for the models, they reflected an edgy look, wearing Mint's unstructured pieces with flair. It was a fun show and well received.

It was a nice pairing of the unconstructed look with Moi-même-Moitié's structured apparel. Showing two sides of the best of recent Japanese fashion. Moi-même-Moitié's show consisted of lolita models wearing various pieces from recent years. The lighting turned to blue with some moments of different colors. A bit of fog added a dramatic feeling and video of the models was alternated with Moi-même-Moitié graphics on the big screens. Of course the music was Moi dix Mois and the set was similar to what they play in concert with one of the last songs being Pageant. Very mood setting. The final model of the night was the person everyone was waiting to see. Mana came out wearing a white Metal Emblem shirt and black pants. He was wearing the Long Overskirt.  He made quite an impression with the crowd cheering and clapping. I would say his return to Sakura-Con and America was a success.


Mana did post on Twitter a selfie from the day so you can see part of his look. I hope he does not mind that I share it here. Also Moi-même-Moitié has shared on Facebook a post with photos from the key make-up artist for the show. You can see them in their fashion show outfits here.

And let me add a photo Mana just posted on Twitter of his fashion show outfit.

And since Mana has shared a photo of the models and himself on Twitter, I hope it is okay that I add it to this post about the Moi-même-Moitié fashion show. Because it is always better to see what was worn than to just read about it. (And I can say when I see these dresses, I'm reminded how I would like to own the ones on the ends.)

 Speaking of looks, one of the best parts of Sakura-Con was getting to meet and chat with various people. Here is Donis in a cool street clothes look, who is into goth and was just checking everything out. I wish my photos were better but both I and my camera were probably suffering from jet lag. Also very sorry if I mispelled anyone's name.

 I met the very pretty Michi who was with her lovely friend Karrie when I was out looking for some place to eat. Karrie was wearing cosplay at the time but was going to be wearing Moi-même-Moitié the next day as a model in the fashion show. Michi's great aqua colored outfit featured a Metamorphose dress.

 I did not take many cosplay photos because there were so many cosplayers there it was a little overwhelming. I did like how this photo turned out with the shadow.

One more cosplayer. This is Teppy, wearing his really great Moi dix Mois Mana outfit. The details were really nice! I met him while we were standing in line waiting to get into the question and answer panel. Which will be the next thing I post about.