From The Straits Times    |

TOKYO – Opening Day 2 of Japan Fashion Week in Tokyo, fashion label for men and women Christian Dada showed menswear and bondage-inspired looks in black with touches of white, three bright pops of colour and “winged” shoes feature real feathers in collaboration with Masaya Kushino.

Entitled “FengHuang” – in reference to birds and flying – guests were also given a performance by Osaka band Vampillia, with all eight members on stage accompanied by a small choir. Self-described as a “brutal orchestra”, the group combines classical instrumentation with heavy guitars and drums and almost-operatic voices.

The drama of the music suited the Christian Dada collection’s dark feel, heavy use of leather and relief embroideries. The more “streetwear” components of the design were punked-up with addition of the insane feathered shoes worn by both guys and girls.

Japan Fashion Week AW13-14 Christian Dada DECOR BLACK
Japan Fashion Week AW13-14 Christian Dada DECOR COLOUR

Stand-out pieces from designer Masanori Morikawa included a stunning cut-out and transparent corset dress; a short wool coat-dress with a 19th century feel and a pair of shorts with a half-kilt on the back – worn by a guy but would look equally good on women.

This unisex appeal of the brand featured lots of looks that could easily be worn by both sexes; particularly the coloured closing pieces in gold, red and sky-blue – and in fact similar looks were worn by both male and female models.

Overall, the collection stayed true to the Christian Dada street-wise, leather-focused aesthetic and although the shoes looked stunning on the runway, one suspects they’d be terribly difficult to wear. Buy them as modern art, though, and you’d have a major talking piece for your loungeroom.

Christian Dada AW13-14 showed at Japan Fashion Week in Tokyo on Monday, March 18, 2013. For more information about the brand, go to www.christiandada.jp; follow the brand on Facebook at www.facebook.com/christian.dada.japan and Twitter at @CHRISTIANDADA. For more information about Japan Fashion Week, go to tokyo-mbfashionweek.com; follow it on Facebook at www.facebook.com/japanfashionweek and on Twitter at @jfw_official. All images from Japan Fashion Week.