The pre-NYAF press releases have been rolling in, so I’ll try to post as many as I can. This one is not manga, but obviously of interest to manga fans!
IN FASHION WE TRUST! TOKYOPOP PROUDLY DEBUTS…
THE GOTHIC & LOLITA BIBLE
Translated for the First Time Ever in English, Much-Anticipated Japanese Fashion and Culture Guide Bows on U.S. Shores February 2008
New York Anime Fest, New York (December 4, 2007)―TOKYOPOP, the leader of the global manga revolution, is thrilled to debut from the streets of Harajuku, Tokyo, the Gothic & Lolita Bible, a quarterly mook (magazine/book hybrid) that is a combination fashion magazine, culture guide, and art book. More than any other publication in Japan, the Gothic & Lolita Bible has played an instrumental role in defining the global look of Gothic and Lolita fashion. Translated for the first time ever into English by TOKYOPOP and releasing in February ’08, the Gothic & Lolita Bible features an extensive guide to Gothic and Lolita fashion, as well as behind-the-scenes interviews with top Lolita fashionistas, including Doll creator Mitsukazu Mihara and J-pop princess Nana Kitade.
Primarily devoted to the season’s fashions, the Gothic & Lolita Bible dedicates full-color spreads to new wares by Japanese designers, and the U.S. version also includes designs by burgeoning brands in the States. Styled photo shoots with Lolita celebrities such as Mana, formerly of Malice Mizer and currently of Moi Dix Mois, are a regular feature, as are articles on beauty products, hair and makeup styles, feminine or goth-looking products, recipes, music, movies, and books. Interviews with Lolita-loving illustrators, designers, novelists, musicians, and stylists are included in every issue, as is coverage of events where Lolitas commune.
According to TOKYOPOP Senior Editor, Jenna Winterberg, “Although the name ‘Lolita’ conjures up the image of a temptress in this part of the world, the Japanese Lolita fashion is decidedly demure. Lolita is empowering because these fashions make wearers feel feminine and frilly, like a grown-up princess, while at the same time allowing them to cover up their bodies and retain a sense of modesty in this age of excessive over-exposure. Although Lolita is sometimes considered a lifestyle in Japan, in the West it is primarily a fashion—but a fashion that promotes community building, creativity, and self-expression. And as the Lolita movement gains momentum, it’s having a direct influence on mainstream fashion—for example, just look at Alice Temperley’s feminine designs for Target, awash in Victorian-inspired ruffles and lace. As more elements of Lolita go mainstream, the more the general public will pay attention to the original. And we’ll be covering the trends as they happen, from both the U.S. and Japan!”