COOL JAPAN FESTIVAL

The JapanTown Cool Japan Fashion Contest was a huge success! Thanks to all of the fabulous contestants. About 100 people participated dressed in everything from cosplay to yukata to just plain weird. We got a waiter from Ippudo who showed up in his uniform, a bird, a geisha, and a few who didn't even try. Overall, the turnout was great and was a hard decision for the judges! Additionally, the JapanTown Fashion Contestants had such great outfits that they caught the interest of the New York Times' Fashion & Style editors! Check out the slideshow here.

 

The Fashion Contest invited people to come to the Cool Japan Festival dressed in their most original, creative Japanese street fashion outfit - whatever style (ie. Lolita, Ganguro, kogal, Visual Kei, kawaii, cosplay, just plain fashionable, etc.) it may be. We were looking for whoever represents modern, cool Japan the best. Contestants should look like they just walked off the streets of fashion epicenters such as Harajuku, Ginza, and Shibuya. The contest was judged by representatives from American Airlines, IACE Travel, and Samurai Beat Radio.

 

We would like to congratulate Paloma L. for winning the contest with her amazing Decora-kei style outfit. We chose Paloma because we thought that she best showed what we are looking for in this contest: someone who best embodies "cool Japan" and Japanese cool culture. Paloma perfectly nailed down the Decora-kei style, a style which is like, as judge Megumi Sato of Samurai Beat Radio aptly put it, "her closet throwing up all over her." Read more about the judges' thoughts on our blog.