Tales of Blood and Witchcraft at h.NAOTO 2012 GOTH Night
Blood, witches, audacious designs, and a parade of shifting fabrics marked 2012’s first gothic h.NAOTO collection. The event was hosted by Naoto Hirooka himself at the posh h.NAOTO Gallery in trendy Nishi Azabu. More than a store, the space was designed to exhibit some of the designer’s most influential pieces and facilitate the contact between him and the fans, as he later explained.
The sound of the rain was muffled by the sound of a dramatic piano. White walls contrasted with the black heavy drapes that covered the windows kept daylight at bay. In the middle of the room, translucent black curtains dangled from the ceiling. The piano and a mantra of gothic chants accompanied the first model who stepped onto the improvised runway. Supernatural imagery materialized in an innovative, daring, and wearable collection with pieces for all tastes as Naoto successfully gave life to “tales of blood and witchcraft.”
Fur, leather, and a variety of patterns and textures were the collection’s highlights. The models appeared as hooded figures floating lifelessly across the room, their pale faces and disheveled hair contributing to the presentation. Veils, flowing fabrics, and lace were combined with raw cuts and prints to create awe-inspiring pieces.
One very interesting item was a leather backpack with small butcher-hooks and metal chains that dropped over the back-to-basics cowhide.
Unusual cuts were another must for this collection. A mini-skirt with pointy ends dangling from the sides almost to the floor was combined with a plain shirt over which fell a brazier-shaped chain necklace with crucifixes dramatically adorning it.
Adding a primal tinge to some of the pieces, voodoo-inspired accessories like fang necklaces and raw hide hung over pointy, patched dresses. White gossamer spider-webs stood out over all the cascading black.
Skulls cut out in black scarves, skirts, and capes were another novelty, but those looking for a punk-goth look would find the shirt with bared shoulders and ripped dangling threads a real treat. Corsair pants and pirate-style jackets made an appearance as well as a gothic “Little Red Riding Hood” coordinate. Meanwhile, for those who feel elegant, gothic, rose-patterned dresses are a bit too much, the brand offered a cute mini-skirt version for the flirtatious femme fatale.
A daring new dark collection presented to the fatalistic notes of ivory keys, this goth night in Nishi Azabu made an eerie impact on the senses!
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Diana Tome saw her life change when she came across X-Japan's Blue Blood. A big supporter of old school visual rock, she believes visual kei is a lifestyle and philosophy that goes beyond the clothing and the music. With a background in headhunting and psychotherapy, Diana completed her M.A. in Psychology from I.S.P.A. in Lisbon, Portugal. She now lives and works in Japan committed to keeping the VK/V-rock flame alive.
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