From The Straits Times    |

TOKYO – Seoul-based fashion label Fleamadonna showed a series of happy, shiny looks for its Autumn Winter 2014-15 collection at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Tokyo. The cult favourite of hot K-Pop groups and stars like F(x), Girls Generation, miss A, Inyoung Seo, Wonder Girls, 2NE1 and Miryo, Fleamadonna has always had a streetstyle feel mixed with kawai’i culture and sportswear.

fleamadonna aw14 at tokyo fashion week DECOR MAINA look from Fleamadonna Autumn Winter 2014-15 at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Tokyo.
Image: Niki Bruce using Samsung NX30 camera

For Autumn Winter 2014-15 designer Jei Kim sent a series of shiny, 80s prom-like looks down the runway in a collection entitled “Rainbow”; naturally enough it was full of colour, but the overall feel was one of “bling”. From the mirror-finish silver and gold chrome platform loafers with pearl encrusted knee-high socks, to the velour suits and red satin prom dresses, there was a lot of shiny stuff on the runway.

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Shiny opening looks from Fleamadonna AW14 in Tokyo (above top), Images: Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Tokyo. Shiny shoes at Fleamadonna AW14 runway show in Tokyo (above), Image: Niki Bruce using Samsung NX30 camera

Interspersed amongst the bling were more “street” inspired pieces a Baseball t-shirt (albeit in what looked like gold neoprene), a Baseball jacket, faux fur jackets and a series of “character” printed tees with more black pieces paired with shots of sky blue and soft pink to take away from all the shine.

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Looks from Fleamadonna AW14. Images: Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Tokyo

Kim also revisited her penchant for embellishment via the now signature attachment of badges to garments ‒ most noticeably on sweatsuits and sports shorts ‒ the large letter F giving the collection a collegiate feel. She also managed to sneak in some very good tailoring as well; the blazers and coats were beautifully cut.

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Looks from Fleamadonna AW14. Images: Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Tokyo

While there was nothing wrong with the collection per se, there were also fewer stand-out pieces and a more retail feel to the show. Kim has found a formula that works; the mix of streetwear and sportswear, American pop culture and K-Pop, has won her many, many fans from around the globe, but it would be nice to see some progression and something new.

For more information about Fleamadonna, go to fleamadonna.com. You can shop the brand on SheShops online store at shop.sheshops.com/fleamadonna. You can follow the brand on Facebook at www.facebook.com/fleamadonna2007 and on Twitter at @fleamadonna. For more information about Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Tokyo, go to tokyo-mbfashionweek.com. You can follow the event on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MercedesBenzFashionWeekTOKYO and on Twitter at @MBFWT_official