Hello bats!
I recently spent a week in Hawaii to visit Kawaii Kon, a 3-day anime convention held at the Hawaii Convention Centre in Honolulu. Me and 4 of my closest friends rented an AirBnB and bought plane tickets the moment we heard that Mana was going to be the guest of honour. It was wonderful - we got to see Mana, enjoy the beach and sunshine, hang out with the lovely Hawaiian lolita community, and most importantly we got to meet many new American friends! We're already planning our trip for next year.
Unfortunately I was stuck using my phone camera most of the time, so the photo quality isn't up to the usual standard. Apologies!
† Moi-même-Moitié Fashion Show †
I was selected to model in the fashion show, along with many of my friends! It was such a fun bonding experience and everything went very smoothly when the show ran around, even though the rehearsals and preparation got a little bit hectic. This show was a lot smaller than the one at Eternal Twilight, with around 14 models instead of 22.
A total of 3 brand-new items were announced at the fashion show. We were allowed to take photos of the secret new items, but we weren't allowed to reveal any details or photos until they were officially announced. However, we were allowed to reveal the re-release of the Gardenia OP and Gardenia Apron! It was definitely unexpected.
The OP will be available in black and in navy, long cut only. The navy isn't a true deep navy in person - it's almost like a darker cobalt colour. The fabric of the OP is thick and heavy, so it would be perfect for autumn or winter. The matching apron is available in white or black - again, long cut only.
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| Gardenia OP in Navy. On a side note, I'm really loving the blurry, overexposed photos they've been using in some of their photoshoots. It feels nostalgic, like old GLB adverts. |
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| Gardenia OP and matching apron. |
Now that the official photos have been released, I can share photos of the other two items revealed during the fashion show:
Moitié's first yukata, and new bat collar blouses!
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| This is the only colourway available. The print features blue roses and a MmM logo print on a grey striped background. The obi will be available in blue and possibly black. |
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| The bat collar blouse will be available in both men's and women's sizing. |
I was selected to wear...a lot of black layers, so I was really grateful that the staff allowed me to wear my natural hair in an updo instead of a wig...I probably would have died. Thankfully the air conditioning was running on full blast where we were - there were sections of the convention centre that were open air and it was blazing hot that day.
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| Funnily enough, this is almost the exact same outfit that my friend wore at the Eternal Twilight fashion show. |
Dress: Juliet OP (short cut)
Blouse: Rose Flare Sleeve Cutsew
Bustier: Side Lace-Up Corset
Socks: Ritual OTKs
Headdress: ??? I've never seen this piece before - it was a bow with polka-dot tulle pieces.
Jewellery: Rose Cabochon Ring, Rose Pearl Cabochon Choker, Jewel Cross Pendant
Shoes: Yosuke USA
This coordinate is so elegant and it really sold me on both the Juliet OP and the new
Rose Flare Sleeve Cutsew. I honestly thought the cutsew looked cheap and scratchy in the stock photos, but in reality it's quite soft and comfortable. The flared sleeves also have beautiful soft lace. I tried to buy it after the fashion show, but unfortunately they were all gone. I did end up buying the Juliet OP, though. I love how short it is. I'm all about showing my legs peeking above the OTKs.
The backing music was a variety of Moi Dix Mois instrumentals set to match each coordinate. Each model had around one minute to walk down the runway and pose individually except for the models wearing Gardenia, Silent Moon, and Sleeping Garden, who had group routines. I got to have Sanctum Regnum as my backing track (yesssss). After the last model walked, Mana himself walked down the runway and posed - naturally, there was lots of cape flourishing and dramatic hand motions. Afterwards, all the models lined up again to the tune of Pageant, and Mana came out to pose with us. We were encouraged to be a little bit showy and sassy with our poses, so I definitely played up the dramatic vampire hand motions.
I was kinda goofing off and dancing in the backstage area with my friends. We weren't aware that Mana was standing behind us so that makes it two times that I've danced like an idiot in front of him! Haha~
As usual, photography was banned, but the fashion show was videotaped and will be posted on the Moitie website when it's complete. I will leave a link and repost some of the photos when they're made available.
Update 20/03/20: Looks like the photographer is MIA, so that's not happening. Sorry all!
† Mana Q&A †
The Q&A was scheduled shortly after the fashion show, so everyone quickly got changed and rushed downstairs to line up. My friends greeted us with iced tea and spam & egg musubi to perk us up a bit as we were all pretty tired. We were first in line, so we got the best seats in front row, directly in front of Mana. He was wearing the newly released bat cape, white blouse, black trousers, black Demonia platform boots, with his trademark blue makeup and backcombed hairstyle. Mana covered his face with a fan and a bouquet of blue roses as he whispered to his translator. It was really cute!
So...usually these Q&A sessions are a little repetitive because people ask lame questions that have been answered dozens of times ("Will you open a physical store in the US?" "Why do you like blue?" "What's your favourite dress?"). I think they were aware of that, so we were encouraged us to ask questions about upcoming releases. They revealed some interesting tidbits about what to expect in the near future, so I'll give you the highlights.
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| Where are you? |
Firstly, the thing everyone is wondering about...Silent Moon. The Silent Moon re-release will drop "very soon" but they gave no indication as to what cuts or colourways will be available, and no comment was made on if the handbag would be re-released as well. This is purely conjecture, but I'm assuming that they will at least re-release the short OP in white x black, black x blue, and black x white at the very least as these are the pieces we've seen crop up in the fashion show over and over. I know that the Moitié staff use old samples and their own pieces to supplement the fashion show if some things are unavailable, so it's really hard to say what exactly will be released.
We saw the long OP in white x blue displayed at the Eternal Twilight fashion show, but I don't think this cut or colourway is really in demand...for all I know, they might make an entirely new cut like they did for Neo Gothic Arch, and it seems weird that they wouldn't release a JSK version at all. My only hope is that the cut isn't anything like the new Sleeping Garden which doesn't seem to fit
anyone well regardless of size.
Another re-release potentially coming down the pipeline is the coffin handbag from 2000. When asked, Mana expressed interest in it as it's one of his favourite pieces and that it was on the list of potential re-releases but I don't remember if they said there were any concrete plans as of yet. I hope they will keep the real leather and the stamped details from the original release (and not the 52k yen price tag).
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| The legend. |
Someone else asked if the old jewellery was slated for re-release as we saw some pieces like Metal Emblem pop up in the fashion show. Unfortunately, they have no plans to re-release these pieces because of the difficulty and expense of finding a good manufacturer. This broke my heart a little, since it's really hard to find and the prices are usually pretty wild and I really don't want to wear used earrings, you know? That said, maybe it's for the best. Some of the newer jewellery I've bought from them, namely the candelabra necklace and earrings, are really fragile and my friend's set has already broken. My Jewel Cross pendants and bag charm are still fine, though.
Likewise, they stated that they do not plan on introducing or re-releasing any shoe designs due to manufacturing difficulties. I would love to see them collaborate with an existing shoe brand that fit with their aesthetics, like Yosuke USA. And since they've already collaborated with a Chinese brand (Krad Lanrete) it doesn't seem unreasonable to assume that they might collaborate with a Chinese shoe manufacturer someday. One can dream, anyway.
I asked Mana if he planned on reintroducing the red and green colourways at some point. Fans may know that one of his favourite pieces is the Cross Arch Lace-Up JSK from 2011 in the green colourway. The response was that there's a good chance that we will see some more green pieces in the future! I adore black and green together (brings me back to my baby cybergoth days) so I'm praying that we see some black pieces trimmed with green lace...or even black dresses with sparkly emerald green screen prints? Pipe dream? Probably.
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| "The vibrant green shantung is very beautiful. I think most people will think of blue when they hear the words Moi-même-Moitié, but actually, I like green as well. I’m really pleased with how the shimmer of this JSK makes you feel like you’re wearing emeralds." - via JRockNews |
I'm also kicking myself because I planned to ask if Divine Cross would be re-released and I totally forgot and instead asked if they planned on releasing a new butterfly print (nope). D'oh.
In other news...Moi-même-Moitié Salon members are already aware of this, but if you haven't forked over $17 to read it, Mana recently had an
interview with Naoto Hirooka of h.Naoto. When asked if they were planning on collaborating, he responded that there were no concrete plans but they were open to the idea and had discussed creating wa lolita pieces.
In addition to dress releases, new housewares are on the way! I'm really hoping to see some new bed linens or a duvet cover. In the same vein, Mana is interested in releasing comfy roomwear items like nightgowns and slippers, as they have in the past. They seem keen on turning Moitié into a more lifestyle-oriented brand so that you can live and breathe Moitié, and I honestly couldn't be happier. I'm personally hoping the bathrobe makes a comeback - one recently sold online for like $20 and I'm still mad about it.
Lastly, no new EGA or men's pieces are currently in the pipeline. Sigh.
In addition, we got some cute tidbits of information about Mana.
- Mana likes walking outdoors and hiking, and asked for recommendations on good places to visit in Hawaii. I never really pegged him for an outdoorsman so this answer surprised me.
- Mana would like to visit New York City and Canada in particular someday.
- Mana recommends visiting Cimetière du Montparnasse (Montparnasse Cemetery) in Paris for the beautiful scenery.
- Mana loves cooking, and there will be an upcoming live event in Japan where attendees will get to sample Mana's recipes! I would love to have a gothic-themed cookbook written by Mana.
- If Mana were to release a perfume, it would smell "sweet, fruity, and dangerous." When asked to define "dangerous" he told us that it was up to our own imagination. Spicy!
† Kingdom by the Sea Tea Party †
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| The tickets were so pretty! They had the Silent Moon print in the background and holographic candelabras. |
We lined up for the tea party early so that we could get the best seats. We took the time to socialize with the locals and take photos. I loved the style of the local girls! A lot of them seemed to go for a more mature, aristocrat-influenced style with longer dresses, jackets, and hats. Honestly, simple and elegant coordinates are the purest form of Moitié that can exist. It was lovely to be in a roomful of people all wearing Moitié from head to toe. That said, I have no idea how they manage to wear this stuff on a tropical island without dying of heatstroke. Props.
The tea party was fantastic - probably the best convention tea party I've ever been to. You could really see how much love was put into the decorations. Blue rose petals were scattered in front of the doorway. When the double doors were opened, it revealed a pathway of rose petals leading towards the front of the room where Mana would be sitting. Each table had a cute little black and blue lighthouse, black and white tablecloths, and black and silver candelabra confetti. Every place was set with a blue facecloth featuring a blue rose background and the Holy Queen print in white.
Now, most tea parties held in convention centres hotels have frankly god-awful food in tiny quantities, so I was really pleasantly surprised by the quality and quantity of the food we got. They had the standard tea party fare of scones with clotted cream, fresh fruits (including pineapple!), and cake loaf. The jams were made from local fruits like guava, papaya, and lilikoi, and they were
amazingly delicious. The best part is that we could eat as much as we wanted!
After we were finished eating, Mana entered through the double doors and walked down the rose petal path to his seat. I was sitting right next to the path and was in the table nearest to him, so he brushed right past me. Mana's outfit was a little more toned down for the tea party, but he was also wearing one of his trademark floppy black top hat-bucket hat hybrid things adorned with lots of black flowers and trims to make it more "Hawaiian-inspired" (his words). Precious.
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| Mana is wearing the bat collar blouse here! |
There was a brief interview/Q & A period. Even though he covered up his face with his blue rose bouquet when whispering his replies, we definitely caught him smiling a few times. We also got some interesting news - Mana has finished composing the next Moi Dix Mois album and plans to record everything within a year or so, if everything goes according to plan. The album will have a lot of nature- and season-themed songs. I know that one or two tracks have been leaked already, and that they were being test run at lives, but I haven't heard anything yet myself.
There was also a photo area set up in one corner with a Silent Moon backdrop and rose petals scattered on the floor. Mana was taking really cute selfies in front of it with his selfie stick at one point. The lighting wasn't great, but I still got a decent outfit shot. I made a last minute outfit change - I was going to wear a black blouse with blue lace trim, but I'm glad I decided to swap for the blue blouse instead. It's obnoxiously bright. I also clipped my new barette onto my bustier since I didn't have a brooch.
Skirt: Moi-même-Moitié Gothic Arch
Blouse: Moi-même-Moitié Rose Ribbon Blouse
Bustier: Alice and the Pirates Isabelle Rose Bustier
Headdress: Moi-même-Moitié Rolled Rose Headdress and Arch Lace Choker, Antique Beast Sub Rosa Headdress
Socks: Moi-même-Moitié Holy Cross Lace-Up OTKs
Jewellery: Moi-même-Moitié Candelabra Pearl Necklace and Jewel Cross Pendant
Shoes: Yosuke USA
Afterwards, Mana stood near the backdrop and we were called up table by table for Mana to hand us a rose and shake our hands. We were also allowed to speak to him. I told him that I've been a big fan of him for over 15 years, and thanked him for his role in Malice Mizer and Moitié because without those things I wouldn't have met the dearest and most beloved friends I've ever had. My friends had all said similar things to him, so we were all getting a bit teary and huggy. Then it came time for Mana to leave. He exited along the rose petal path, waving, bowing, and evne blowing kisses at us as he left! Things wrapped up pretty quickly after that.
Also, one guy got kicked out of the tea party within the first...3 minutes? But that's a story for another day...
† Autograph Session †
Mana was available for 2 separate autograph sessions. We each got one free autograph with our entry ticket, but people who purchased over $150 worth of merchandise got tickets for extra autographs. I had him autograph my vintage Memoire DX CD, a postcard, my Alchemy phone case, and a photograph. Sadly, the rules were that he would only autograph flat pieces of
Moitié/Moi Dix Mois/Malice Mizer merchandise only, but by the end of the session when there were only a few people left they seemed to ease up on the rules a little bit - my friend got her leather bat bag signed! At the end of the second signing, we all cheered and waved goodbye, and he bowed and waved back very elegantly.
† Shopping: Moi-même-Moitié Booth and Vendors †
I lined up 20 minutes before the shopping booths opened in the dealer's room so that I could get first pickings at the booth. It wasn't much of a bloodbath, but most of the good stuff sold within the first hour and I didn't end up getting everything I'd wanted. They brought a good selection of items from the online shop, but the purses and umbrellas were sadly not available.
I was actually able to buy a few items that were sold out online at the time, which was great! They also carried over the sales that were available on Wunderwelt, so I ended up getting the Juliet OP for a very good price. Wearing it in the fashion show really won me over. The seersucker fabric is super lightweight and comfortable in the summer heat, and it can be worn casually without a petticoat too. I also purchased the Rose Ribbon Blouse in blue. It was very comfortable and breezy despite the summer heat.
After the fashion show, the Silent Moon OPs were on display with big "NOT FOR SALE" tags but that didn't stop us from havign a collective heart attack when we saw them on the mannequins. Don't play with my heart like that, Moitié.
Anyway, two Kawaii Kon exclusive items were also available for purchase. The first item was a round corsage hair barette that was available in black x blue, black x white, and black x black. The barette features two types of lace, 3 roses, and a candelabra charm - very similar to the M+CROIX Lace Barette released earlier this year. The second item was the candelabra pearl necklace with a bright blue bead instead of the standard black one.
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| Barettes (the item numbers are X-00204-3 and X-00204-1). |
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| Candelabra necklace with the Lapis Lazuli pearl. |
I was delighted to meet Sweet Mildred again! I first met her in Finland, where I was impressed by her beautiful craftsmanship and her great customer service. She's probably one of the friendliest and nicest people I've ever met. I ended up buying a white rectangle headdress (I have a million of them already, but this one was so soft...) and a black hat. My lovely friend bought me a butterfly brooch as well!
That just about wraps up my Kawaii Kon experience. It was a fantastic, friendly little con - it felt a lot like Anime North used to be. Even if Mana weren't a guest at the con, it was so much fun meeting the locals and just experiencing the con that I can definitely see myself going back. We're already making plans for another trip to Honolulu!
Until next time ~
[Current Music:
Trevor Something - Enjoy The Silence]
