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Creating A Lookbook Pt. 2 – Create Fun Props

November 22, 2011 By Chie

Whenever I plan a shoot, I try to come with fun props that can be used during the shoot. Some of the props I used in the past are balloons, popcorn, big lollipops, fake flowers, fabrics, baskets, fake birds etc.. I try to bring more props than I actually need just in case they become useful. Same thing for jewelry, shoes and bags. I lay out all the props, jewelries, shoes and bags on a table or floor, and decide which ones to go with which while the model and make up artist are working on make up and hair.

For the most recent shoot, I bought a small basket at a recycle shop for 100 yen (pictured below). I also bought 400 yen worth of fake white flowers. I used some flowers to make a flower crown, and rest to put in a basket.

I also used satin fabric I had in stash to lay it on a ground, and some balloons, bought at 100 yen shop. I don’t think you need to spend a lot of money on props, be creative and have fun with it! I think small details like that make a lot of difference in finished photos.

Last photo credited to a photographer, Takura Yanagi, model Elissa Villa and make up artist Mai Shimura.

I keep my photoshoot ideas in my Pinterest board. I love Pinterest. Such an easy way to keep track on pretty images and links.

Photo via Rouge Pony

Photo via KT Jean Designs

Read the series:

Creating A Lookbook Pt. 1 – Planning for the shoot

Nippori Collection 2011

November 21, 2011 By Chie

If you are a regular reader here, I’m sure you’ve heard me mention　”Nippori” a lot. That’s where the wholesale fabric district in Tokyo. Many of the stores sell fabrics at wholesale prices, but have been made available for regular customers. I strongly recommend stopping by there if you have a chance to visit Japan.

Anyway, while shopping there, I saw a poster about the Nippori Fashion Design Contest, where armature designers submit their designs for a runway show competition. It’s like a one-time Project Runway contest. This year’s theme was “street wear”. By the time I saw the poster, the submission due date had been passed so I couldn’t enter, but there were tickets available to see the final contestants’ designs on a run way type of show. So I asked for a pass, and I got one:)

Last Wednesday was the show. I asked Zhing from Little Projects in Style to go to the show together and she agreed 🙂

Here is Zhing…

I was so impressed by the drawings! These were the contestants who were selected out of 1000+ people who applied. I really need to learn how to put my designs on paper. Can anyone recommend a good website or book(s) where I can learn this?

Lot of creative & innovative designs… Aside from the issue of whether they are actually wearable, these garments were fun to look at, and I enjoyed learning how these designers conceived their pieces and then how they translated them to the runway.

The MC said this garment was made for pregnant women as a “protective shell” from society.

This reminds me of a clothes from the book “Pattern Magic“.

This is something that I would actually wear. The color and drape are beautiful.

Reminds me of a fairy in the woods.

This was inspired by a rain drop. Cute.

The inspiration of this dress comes from Origami. Isn’t this so interesting? If this is made of some soft, drapy fabric (not a bumble bee fabric!), I think this can be wearable!

The event had two parts, one was the Nippori collection by armature designers, and the other was “Dalian collection”. Dalian is the Chinese sister city of Nippori, and the models and clothes traveled from China for the show. The models are from a model school in China, and they were pretty. However, the show itself was bad. Some of the items were poorly executed, and the presentation was bad. The plastic bra straps were showing. In one garment, the skirt slit was so high that I could see the model’s butt cheeks! Last few pieces of the Dalian show were ugly prom dresses. They were not only ugly but looked like cheap rental dresses! I wasn’t sure what that was about. I didn’t even snap any photos because they were not picture worthy..

Anyway, the event was fun, and we got to shop at fabric shops too!

Shop Update & New Fabrics

November 18, 2011 By Chie

Black & Gray Abstract Dot Dress

Small shop update today! This dress is perfect for going to work. I love the abstract dot print fabric, that looks like a water color painting. I have a lot more of this fabric left, so if anyone is interested in custom order, please email me.

This Wednesday, Zhing from Little Project in Style and I went to Nippori to see the Nippori collection fashion show. It was fun! I have a lot of pictures from the show, so I will write more in detail next week:) After the show, we stopped by fabric row. I found some cute prints there. I love living in Japan, having access to all these fabric styles. Have a great weekend!