Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Young Australian models trying to dress in unique Japanese Kawaii clothing
According to the news, the Japanese word, Kawaii/かわいい, has appeared in the latest edition of Oxford Dictionary of English, although I think that the English explanation of the word in the dictionary doesn't cover all of the meanings and nuances that are used in Japan. However, it does show that the Japanese word, Kawaii, has become very popular throughout the world.
A few days ago, I was watching TV, and the NHK TV program called Tokyo Kawaii TV/東京カワイイTV happened to come on. Four fresh, young Australian models who were selected in the popular Australian TV program, Australia's Next Top Model, appeared on the Japanese TV program as a part of the Australian TV program. They came to Japan to see how they could dress in unique and popular clothes that girls in Tokyo love yet can't be obtained in Australia. A producer of the Australian TV program said that she wanted to see how well they could do as fashion models for the unique Japanese fashion styles.
The Japanese TV program picked up four types of original Japanese Kawaii fashion styles: the high school uniform fashion style /制服ファッション, the Lolita fashion style / ロリータファッション, a fashion that girls in Shibuya love /渋谷ギャル系ファッション, and a new fashion style in Harajyuku/フェアリーファッション. Then, each of the four Australian models tried one of the four styles, although they all are far from being the kawaii type defined by many Japanese people, as they are beautiful and sexy. Four Japanese models from each of the four styles advised the Australasia models.
Contrary to my expectation, all of them looked good. The video of the TV program is in the link (click here). I hope you can access it from outside Japan. The program is 30 minutes. If you don't have time, I think that just watching it from 3:00 to 25:30 is fine.
Other reference sites:
