ATELIER-PIERROT & Chantilly Fashion Show at Sakura-Con 2012

ATELIER-PIERROT:

Almost an hour after the STEREOPONY concert on Friday evening, the main auditorium at the Washington Convention Centre filled once again; many ladies in the crowd wore their best coord for this evening. Tonight’s attraction at ATELIER‐PIERROT’s and Chantilly’s fashion shows were frills, colour and most importantly: elegance.

Submerged in darkness, lights poured over the crowd, pulling each audience member’s attention to the long runway that extended from the stage. As a sample of a classical piece played, the first female model showcased the first outfit of the evening: a purple and black off-the-shoulder OP (one-piece) with a bustle skirt and patent black knee-high boots. The model’s short pixie haircut emphasized the unusual sweeping cut of her neckline, making it a strong opening to the fashion show.

Next was a black and white striped OP. The stripes varied in thickness: thick stripes on the chest and overskirt, but increasingly thinner ones on the inner layers of the dress and the over-the-shoulder sleeves.

Moments later, a petite blonde skipped (yes, skipped!) daintily down the runaway with both hands on her hips as the eerie harp intro to a Bjork song played. She sported a black blouse with a frilled tunic and three layers of ruffled sleeves, pomegranate knickerbockers and black velvet pumps with crisscross laces.

Two very different shades of red appeared very smartly in the next two pieces: the first with a red blouse that was paired with a skirt, with clocks printed over it. The second was a very frilly wine-red OP with black lace.

Lighting during the show was mediocre but despite that, the beauty of ATELIER-PIERROT’s collection could be felt from even the back of the auditorium. Midway in the show, the mood of the clothing shifted to EGL. The following piece included a white blouse and a very frilled but elegant black high-waist corseted skirt that hung down to the ankles. The model paced slowly down the runway, gently holding a few layers of the skirt cupped in her hands as she walked.

Following a song change, a thin but elegant frame skipped down the runway—the second one tonight! She sported a strapless corset bodice over a three-tiered skirt with black and purple floral print, a matching bonnet and black lace stockings with matching heels. Her skirt bounced lightly as she skipped weightlessly. This piece stood out from the collection: she wore no red or white, nor a blouse, and presented a subtle playfulness.

The final dress drew on more elegance with a white coordinate albeit minor black detailing on her shoes, one leg of her stocking, and buttons on the bodice. The back of her bustle skirt bore black butterfly motifs, mimicking butterflies fluttering in the clouds as she walked.

All the models returned for a final walk before the designer, Yuko joined them onstage to greet the audience and to send her thanks. Fumiko, the designer for CHANTILLY joined her onstage. Yuko thanked everyone profusely.

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A short break of silence marked the break between the fashion shows.
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Chantilly

The concept of Fumiko’s work aims to be subtly “cute” but none of her dresses are not over the top. Compared to sophistication and elegance (and skipping) throughout ATELIER-PIERROT’s show, Chantilly matched the elegance but with added cuteness in each thread, sans skipping.

The first model wore a mostly black coord with light touches of gold motifs on the front and around the hem of the skirt; gold bows were on the bodice. Black was also featured in the next outfit: a black bodice OP with vertical black and white stripes on the majority of the skirt. The model stood pigeon-toed with a distant smile on her face.

Soon came Chantilly’s seemingly trademark print: an eye popping checker print, first in a bright fire-engine red and white coord, followed by an equally charming piece that relied more on a bright blue on most of the details, between red and white checkers—especially on the cute socks. Next was a white OP with a charming, detailed print of a carousel with black and white striped bows on either side, as well as two black bows on the bodice and a checkered bonnet. The model reached the end of the runway, placed one hand on her hip and smiled as she posed her other hand in the air.

Upon a song change to a melody emulating a music-box, the following piece was unveiled: another striking OP, this time in black and blue. The model wore a large bonnet; black lace cuffs on her wrists. Clear, white teardrop shaped crystals hung from the bows on her bodice and shone brightly as she moved—almost blinding from some angles.

The final dress of the Chantilly fashion show was the same as the previous dress but in a different colourway, this time in a wine red and white but paired with matching checkered socks. As soon as she finished her walk, Fumiko walked on stage (wearing a blue colourway of a white-black version seen during the show) and joined the models in a final walk. The models from ATELIER‐PIERROT fashion show also joined to parade the dresses once more before everyone. Then the two fashions shows lined up on the stage in a single row, joined hands and bowed to the audience.

During the mere 1/2 hour of both fashion shows, Sakura-Con 2012 attendees were able to catch a glimpse of Lolita fashion and the designers of ATELIER‐PIERROT and Chantilly, Yuko and Fumiko respectively, and to gain inspiration.