Punk: Inspired by the punk movement that began in London in the 70s, this style magnifies rebelliousness with over-the-top clothes, accessories, makeup, and piercings.

Gothic Lolita: Involves wearing gothic, feminine, and elegant clothes, to the extent of resembling a Victorian porcelain doll.

Cosplay: Entails dressing up like your favorite cartoon/anime or computer game character.

Decora: Involves wearing bright colors, flamboyance and accessories from head to toe.

Kawaii: A literal translation of the word cute, this style places an emphasis on childlike playfulness, anime characters, ruffles, pastel colors, toys, and so on.

by Jinny Liu
Jinny is always curious and would like to do it all! Her design blog is Jinny, like Gin – a place for her collected daily escapades, interesting finds, and a showcase of her work as a designer and creative enthusiast. Jinny is from Brooklyn, NY. (www.jinnyliu.com)

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After completing her JD at Yale Law, the universe decided to pull her lace-draped arm in another direction.  Taking her passion for Harajuku culture and creation, La Carmina is developing a playful world complete with innovative fashion design, uber-yummy food, art, and a playfully descriptive blog about the life and times of her adorable Scottish Fold kitty, Basil Yuen Farrow.  She is a daily blogger on her website, www.lacarmina.com and has, miraculously, never experienced writer’s block.  She also will be contributing to CNNGo, a new website where her part will be spouting off about Asian lifestyle and pop culture.  She is the author of three books:  The Cosmos in a Carrot, Crazy Wacky Theme Restaurants: Tokyo and (soon to be released) Cute Yummy Time.

The most recent of books, Cute Yummy Time: 70 Recipes for the Cutest Food You Will Ever Eat, is photographed, written and illustrated by La Carmina herself.  Think koala pancakes, bread rolls shaped like little piggies and grilled cheese in hippopotamus form.  Her concept of “thinking outside the bento box” is not only adorable, but also deeee-licious.

Her ideas are born from her environment as well as the, surely well-decorated, corners of her mind.  Fearless and controversial, her ability to integrate creativity with an intellect and know-how has constructed the world that is “La Carmina.”  There are endless creative layers beyond her Gothic Loli exterior.  Is there anything this woman can’t do?  She doesn’t think so.  Quite frankly, neither do we.

1. Name – La Carmina
2. Nationality – Harajuku Alien is about right.
3. Age – 24
4. Profession – I’m the author of 3 books on Japanese pop culture and cute food (Cute Yummy Time, Crazy Wacky Theme Restaurants Tokyo). I blog about Harajuku fashion and J-pop oddities on www.lacarmina.com/blog I also contribute articles to an Asia travel/lifestyle website (CNNGo) and design Marie Antoinette fashion.
5. Dream – I am loving my rollercoaster journey with Japan’s glam spooks. May the adventures continue!
6. Where are you from/live currently/are right this moment? – I travel back and forth between Tokyo and other cities (Vancouver, NYC, LA). You’re most likely to find me on the net: http://www.lacarmina.com
7. In 5 words explain your career timeline up to this moment – Blogging led to Harajuku insanity.
8. Hero - My Scottish Fold cat, Basil Farrow. Come see his blog, www.basilfarrow.com
9. Favorite thing - Nightcrawling in Tokyo. The all-night cyber Goth parties are the best in the world.
10. What does the “Gothic Lolita Movement” signify to you and to cultural expression? - I think the fashion is hauntingly beautiful and harkens back to a more elegant era.
11. Tell me about your personal heaven. Cute Visual Kei boys hand-feeding me cute food in a room full of cute earless cats.
12. One word that Basil Yuen Farrow would use to describe you. Mommy!
13. Your preferred method of transportation? Piggyback.
14. Theme song for your life when you are the happiest? Something obscenely Italo Disco, like Hazell Dean.
15. The most pensive? Same thing… Italo Disco cheers me up!favorite tim burton film? I heart Jack Skellington.
16. Most fascinating texture? Too bad liquid mercury will poison you… I loved rolling it around in my hands as a child.
17. Most inspirational author/designer/food-maker? Martha Stewart is hardcore.
18. Favorite city in the world? I’m predictable: Rococo Tokyo.
19. One thing the world has too little of. Pale skin, dark lips and fangs.
20. What shape best represents you?  Your art? I drew hundreds of dumpling-shaped heads for the cute Japanese-style characters in my cookbook, Cute Yummy Time — so probably that
21. Your guilty pleasure? Absinthe and tiger tail ice cream.
22. Your favorite word. Wahh! (It’s the sound my Scottish Fold cat makes.)

To order books: http://astore.amazon.com/wasfaskul-20?_encoding=UTF8&node=4

La Carmina’s contact info:

URL – http://www.lacarmina.com

MySpace   http://www.myspace.com/la_carmina
Facebook   http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=10225211197
Twitter       http://twitter.com/lacarmina
YouTube    http://www.youtube.com/lacarmina

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Harajuku culture was born from Japanese teens that dressed in unique fashion styles; they socialized and gathered around the Harajuku train station in Tokyo, hence the name. Harajuku styles are distinctive forms of expression, unique enough that some may consider them forms of art. Categories of dress styles range from Punk, Gothic Lolita, and Cosplay, to Decora, and Kawaii. Harajuku dressers pick a style, stick to it, make it distinctively theirs, and often form a bond with others who dress in their genre of style. This form of networking is the ultimate way to show off your style and be as creative as you can be with fashion.

Often a case of life-imitates-fashion, hardcore Harajuku girls and guys will allow their way of dress to exemplify their daily lifestyle, living and breathing their fashion style of choice. And why not bring this unique and personal element into some of the most important events in life: marriage! Whether you are a Harajuku dresser or admirer, there are many ways to have a Harajuku themed wedding.

With etiquette and traditions thrown out the door, here are some insights to throwing the biggest party of your life . . . Harajuku style!

THEMES & COLOR
Choosing the Harajuku path already gives your wedding day a unique theme. Be inspired by the characteristics and moods of the fashion style that you choose. Pick pastel colors like baby pink, pastel blues and greens for your Kawaii-themed wedding, or base it around your cute character of choice. Bold red, blue, and black colors would play well for a Cosplay wedding; just make sure to use lots and lots of leather! The feminine and romantic style of Gothic Lolita fashion would translate well into a glamorous and elegant wedding. One can also explore patterns—plaids, polka dots and stripes of all colors.

CEREMONY AND RECEPTION SITES
Your Harajuku wedding does not have to mimic a Halloween party (unless you want it to). Nowadays, people are finding more and more ways to stand out from the crowd and will go near and far for unthinkable venues to host their special day. For the Harajuku loving couple, an anime museum, art gallery, a favorite mall, or a century-old mansion are all unique places suited for a unique wedding. How about journeying to where it all started, to the Harajuku District, or Yoyogi Park, in Tokyo? A trip to Disney would be the ultimate choice for the Kawaii-lover, you can even make it a destination wedding or your honeymoon spot.

ATTIRE
All eyes on the bride; it’s all about the wedding dress! The Harajuku bride can mix and match a traditional white gown with details like frilly lace and corsets, bows, jewels, clips and metallic accessories. How about a traditional Japanese kimono? Bridesmaids and groomsmen can also have fun too. The attire of the wedding party is the best way to reflect your personal style and color palette.

JEWELRY, HAIR & MAKEUP

The sky is the limit with makeup, as it is essential to dressing and embodying the Harajuku style. Bold eyes, clean lips and an overdone or simple hairdo can really add the finishing touches to your wedding attire.

While not so underground anymore, Harajuku has since merged with mainstream fashion and music, becoming well embraced and widespread beyond its beginnings in Toyko. Your wedding can be all about your Harajuku style of choice, or toned down to a few key elements. The possibilities are limitless; you can add Harajuku flair to anything from invitations and favors to centerpieces and even a Harajuku cake.

What better way to give your guests an unforgettable experience than by inviting them to your Harajuku themed wedding? Yuni-ku!

By Jinny Liu
Jinny is always curious and would like to do it all! Her design blog is Jinny, like Gin – a place for her collected daily escapades, interesting finds, and a showcase of her work as a designer and creative enthusiast. Jinny is from Brooklyn, NY. (www.jinnyliu.com)

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