Backstage at Sacai x Undercover SS18 show in Tokyo

I was lucky enough to take part as a model to the Sacai x Undercover SS18 show in Tokyo, walking for Undercover. As to be expected from these two pillars of modern Japanese fashion, the location was meaningful. When most of the Tokyo fashion week shows traditionally take place in the Hikarie building (43 floors in Shibuya, built in 2012 to give a better stage for the fashion week that was then held in Roppongi), the biggest show of this season was held in the Meiji Memorial Picture Gallery.
This monument – unknown from the regular tourist was built a century ago to shed light on the accomplishments of the Emperor Meiji and his efforts to modernize Japan.

The collection was the same than the one presented in Paris so the designs were no surprise for me, but I was still very impressed seeing and feeling the genius put in the patterns of this season.

As Jun Takahashi, the designer said for his interview with Business of Fashion :

“It was natural for me to interpret music or movies that I grew up with — that shaped me. I was always interested in rebellion. So, I decided to make clothes that are not merely beautiful; I wanted to interpret culture into fashion.”

The base reference for this collection was the Grady twins from the movie Shining: as always, the collection was sinister and playful – the genius twist being that every outfit is reversible. We walked the runway in pair, each model presenting one side of the outfit. The difference with the Paris show was in the finale: the dresses seen on the Paris show were recreated kid’s size and an army of little girls closed the show hand in hand, reviving the Shining reference.