Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Sew What?! Barkcloth Betty


Even though it looks nothing like the iconic, blue halter dress that she wore every single day of her entire adult life, I was inspired by the essence of Betty Rubble when I found two-and-a-half yards of vintage, So-Fro Originals barkcloth at the thrift store.  So-Fro Originals was a mid-century fabric manufacturer that often employed well-known designers/artists, including Peter Max, to create over-the-top prints. 

My fabric featured a chocolate-brown field with
myriad geometric shapes in brilliant neon colors.

This primitive, So-Fro print had me envisioning something that Betty would have packed when she and Wilma finally ditched the boys for a well-deserved, girls-only, seaside vacation.

(Source)

With Betty in mind, I created a gathered tube top with detached puff sleeves and a matching skirt.  Because yardage was in short supply, I ditched the idea of intricate patterns and made everything out of a series of rectangles - easy!  Mary decided to pack the ensemble for our trip to Japan and busted it out for our exploration of Yoyogi Park and the Harajuku district of Tokyo.

Because these areas of Tokyo are well-known for the extreme fashions displayed by participants in Tokyo's many subcultures, Mary elected to turn things up a notch when styling the outfit.  She teased her hair within an inch of its life, adding an aqua scarf and two armfuls of colorful bangles; more than Betty Rubble, I think she was channeling Jill Scott from The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (definitely recommended if you've never seen it).

Our friend, Kazumi, helped us check off a major item
on our Harajuku to-do list - "Purikura" or Print Club!

Print Club takes old-timey photo booths to a "whole 'nother level!"
A series of digital photos are taken, giving the subjects the
appearance of a flawless complexion and giant, anime eyes.
I'm pretty positive it shaves a couple pounds/kilos off too. 

We were so taken by the fun of Purikura that we went back the next day to take even more photos.  The fun doesn't end with a vaseline lens, magic-mirror airbrushing, and bugged-out eyes; users are offered a stylus and screen to add captions, stamps, make-up/eyelashes, frames, backgrounds, hats, glasses, and any number of things to distract from the hateful realities of one's actual appearance.

I call this one "Angry Angel Babies."

And this one, "Only Mother Could Be Loving" - translated directly from Japanese.

Sadly, neither of our trips to Harajuku resulted in hoards of fabulously-dressed, Japanese-wannabe-Gwen-Stefani-wannabes.  Believe it or not, we were the most oddly-dressed folks swimming decidedly against the current in a sea of modestly-dressed tourists looking for photo-ops of Harajuku Girls, Lolitas, and members of the Japanese Rockabilly Club.  I think all of the cool kids realized what a tourist trap this area was becoming and moved on to pastures greener.  Left stranded wearing neon barkcloth, teased hair, and hand-painted monster sweatshirts, we coined a new term for our wacky tacky Japanese looks - "Hara-cuckoo!!!"


Cheers!

Mr. Tiny

12 comments:

  1. These photos!!!!!!! The angry angel babies set is TOO GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. These photos booths are so fun. In one little shop, they had about 8 different options. No matter what, they all make your eyes big and make you look like an angry angel baby! Hahahaha!

      Delete
  2. "Hara-cuckoo" is my new favorite term. I love that you guys dressed extra-wild, expecting to be around the extra-wildest dressers in Japan, and were stood up by your fellow fashion forwards. Ah, well. Wouldn't it have been funny to have turned up in just some boring restaurant or store and realize THAT was the new Harajuku hot spot ("So THAT'S where you all were..."). Also, I now want to find one of those photobooths in America. Surely, we've imported one or two? That is too fun to be missing out on!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I kept hoping we would stumble upon their group, or gang, or coven, or whatever a flock of them is called. Honestly, my only must-see items were the photo booths and weirdos. I guess I should've just looked in the mirror!

      Delete
  3. Kawaïïïïï!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Arigato Gozaimasu! Don't tell me that on top of you perfect French and English that you speak Japanese too???!!!

      Delete
  4. I'm with Lisa. I think I NEED ONE OF THESE PHOTOBOOTHS! I feel just seeing these gives me reason enough to go to Japan. I would love to see what I look like as an airbrushed doll. Also, I just about choked on my sweet tea when you referenced Jill Scott in the Number 1 Women's Detective Agency. Too much!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You Southerners and your sweet tea! That'll teach to drink and read at the same time. hahahaha!!! I don't know why we are so slow to import Japanese genius; I think these booths would be a hit in the US!

      Delete
  5. those photobooth pictures are killing me! I LOVED the ones you posted on instagram so much, i was bugging everyone making them look! so good! i wish there were some of these in the us! Or maybe they are! I need a photoshoot in one!!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If there aren't any of these booths in America, there should be! They are so fun!

      Delete
  6. Awww, you both look so cute with your "anime eyes"! If I ever see one of these photobooths around, I will be sure to try it out!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hahaha! Thanks! If you see one, please let me know; I will travel great distances for a good photo booth!

      Delete