Posts with tag japanese

Japanese line Ambush doesn't take itself too seriously, as evidenced by their highly amusing Bheeeeetoven collection (yes, spelled like that) currently available at Frution in Las Vegas and online. Sure, it features the bust of the famed composer, but it's not exactly made for the classical radio set.

One way to find products gentle enough for sensitive skin is to shop for baby products. Japanese pharmacist Yoshikiyo Nowatari, way back in 1957, decided to turn that idea on it's side, and make a gentle, chemical free body care product that the whole family could use. The Yu-Be line is the result.

Yu-Be's glycerin-based formula is free of artificial colors, fragrances, oils and petroleum, and enriched with vitamins E and B2. It also contains camphor, which is sort of a wonder ingredient that soothes irritations, is a mild local anesthetic and is anti-microbial.

Today Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream is the top selling medicated, vitamin-enriched skincare cream in Japan, probably because you can use it for everything. And now you don't have to go to Japan to find it. Sephora offers it online, for the relatively affordable price of $24 for the 2.75 ounce jar.

Sure, the Victoria Secret fashion show has all of those supermodels, but it's sort of sanitized sexiness. Plus you know that everything in the show will eventually turn up a mall near you, piled on a table next to a pyramid of "Pink-scented" lotion.

If you want creativity and adventure in your underwear, you have to check out the new Triumph Inspiration Awards. An international design competition for students, this year the theme was Female Fascination. Designers from 31 countries participated and the judges included supermodel Helena Christensen, Dutch designers Viktor & Rolf, and noted sexy photographer Ellen von Unwerth.

We love all of the amazing independent designers out there. In order to find out more about just what makes all of these creative types tick, we present to you an ongoing segment called Indie Designer Interviews.

If you love cute, girly, Japanese street fashion inspired trends, you're going to love today's featured designer, Stephanie McCann of Sugarpop Clothing. This UK-based label is stocked full of adorable duds sure to thrill your inner child.

In a fashion first, H&M is going to manufacture and sell a dress designed by gamer Beau Fornillos, who made it while playing Sims 2. Literally while playing, as in Fornillos made it as part of the game!

Sims players have been able to "shop" at H&M for over a year. Fornillos uploaded his design from the game to to an online runway, where it was judged the winner. His prize is having it brought to life by H&M.

This LA Times story describes the shift in gaming that is bringing fashion to the xBox and Nintendo DS, not to mention the monster that is Wii. From Karl Largerfeld's cameo in Grand Theft Auto to the Japanese street style game "That's QT" (which we can't wait to try, it's all goth lolitas and harajuku girls!) fashion is a viable subject for video games because at last girls are a viable target market for video games.

We love all of the amazing independent designers out there. In order to find out more about just what makes all of these creative types tick, we present to you an ongoing segment called Indie Designer Interviews.

Today's interview is with Anna Sofia Poirier, creator of chic, handcrafted glazed paper jewelry. If you like Asian inspired prints and bold, funky jewelry that really makes a statement, her one of a kind creations will be right up your alley.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is fun and action-packed. Total summertime fun. Plus, it brings back Karen Allen as the feisty Marion Ravenwood, our favorite heroine from the films. Are you aware that she has the best action figure of all time from the original film? Also, she's an innovative knitwear designer.

Karen went to FIT when she was 17, and returned in 2002 to study machine kitting technology. In 2003 she opened her own studio in Great Barrington, Massachusetts where she produces beautiful sweaters, scarves, hats, gloves and more, all made of Italian and Scottish cashmere.

Anyone who knows anything about Aussie songstress Kylie Minogue knows that she is always sure to choose some flamboyant stage wear, most memorably the Moulin Rouge-style costumes she showcased on her last tour, which was appropriately titled Showgirl.

We've talked before about her Spiderman-themed outfit (or pretty sexy designer threads, depending on your opinion) but now she's unveiled pictures of the rest of her tour outfits for the world's press to admire/gape at in astonishment.

A new trend is taking over the streets of Japan, literally. People are running in huge numbers, particularly young women who live in the cities.

The fad is especially strong in trendy Tokyo, where women's corporate marathon clubs are meeting before and after work to do a few laps around the Imperial Palace. The main goal is to "stay healthy, pretty and sane" with the extra benefit of getting to show off special marathon gear from Danskin and New Balance.

I suppose they are also off it (the hook that is), as the kids are saying nowadays. Sabit is a Japanese term meaning "the hook" or "best part of a song." It is also a Japanese clothing company that prescribes to the philosophy of Tanoshinde, meaning "enjoy," which basically means it's probably a pretty cool place to work. I learned all of that from their website (comes with an unstoppable dance groove- seriously, I can't turn it off). Before today the only Japanese I knew was what I learned on Heroes.

The designer behind the enjoyment is Shoichi Amemiya, previously of Marc Ecko, who classifies the line as "Japanese-influenced street couture."

What does that mean? Um, I'm not sure. I've never been on the streets of Japan. However, I know what I like and I like these workmanesque gingham button-down shirts from their At SUO Collection/Spring 2008. Between the contrasted pocket, patches and embroidery, the vibe is equal parts garage and pool hall. That adds up to a sweet shirt.

[via Format]

You might love the masterful artistry and gorgeous look of Japanese kimonos, but it's probably not very practical to wear a kimono. I can't imagine that they're all the comfortable, and I do know that they are quite expensive. However, you can still have the look of the hand-dyed fabrics with Kimono Rings.

The Kimono Ring is a piece of Kimono fabric encased in acrylic. The rings reaches just over a half-inch high in the center and is open in the back (to allow for flexible sizing). The rings are $16USD, available from The Carrot Box, which also has some beautiful carves plastic and lucite rings.