Everything old is new again...or something like that

Bwahhhhh-ha-ha! Like a ghost from the past I have arisen from my blogging limbo-land! Yep, I have been a bit AWOL from posting due to busyness in general, and being rather distracted by lotsa other things. But hey, here I am trying to get back in the saddle ;)

I have been waxing poetic about a particular fashion era of my younger days, from back when I was a middle schooler living in Tokyo and going to the American School in Japan (uh, that was from 1985-1988...wow, that's making me feel a tad old!). You know how they say you shouldn't wear things that were "in" when you were young? I think I may be falling prey to that again, what with all the leggings coming back into fashion (yep, bought me a pair) and the general 80s palette of colors coming back. Not to mention the batwing sweaters and loose chunky tops with leggings. Ouch!



In light of the retro mood, I would like to resurrect all that was Issey Miyake of the 80s. Believe you me, this man is a GENIUS. GENIUS, I tell you. Oh, he's still superfabulous now, but I have a certain soft spot for him from his early days. I have distinct memories of my mom taking me to see a travelling museum exhibition of his fashions at the DeYoung Museum in San Francisco when I was around 9 or 10 (or even earlier?). It was so avant-garde, with floating mannequins, molded bustier tops, and that Japanese je ne se quois of minimalism and extravegance all rolled into one.

Just a few years later after having relocated to Tokyo, I would wander by the Issey Miyake store downtown and peer through the windows with my fawning 12-year old eyes. No way in hell could I buy any of his lovelies, but I could certainly drool for them. A girl in eighth grade at the time (one year above me) who I later found out became a Japanese pop-star idoru (does Hikaru Nishida ring anyone's bell?) would come to school with the most amazing Miyake sweater dress. Dude, this girl was like, 13-years old and for some reason was showing up in killer designer clothes...what gives???? Oh, and the guy I had the hugest crush on had a crush on her, so of course whatever she was wearing added to her mystique. It was cream and had big bold abstract dots and circles on it and it burned a hole in my head and has permanently seared itself into my adolescent memory of wanton fashion lust.

Oh Issey, you still float my boat. You were the epitome of the avant-garde East Village NY scene, as well as the Tokyo of my memories. A toast to you and I hope that, just as Diane von Furstenberg rode the retro wave of wrapdresses and made a recent comeback, that you will be so hailed again...


on the cover of ArtForum, no less! 1982








PS--I have a TON of new Anti-Factory stuff to put into the store. Perhaps its Issey's influence, but they're starting to take new and interesting shapes, and yes, there are some batwing styles (wooo-hoo!). Away with girlie goodness! Here's to the new (again) avant-garde :)