Fresh Fruits

This book along with Fruits both published by Phaidon Press Limited, are probably my favourite and most source of inspiration. All photos and content are by Shoichi Aoki.

In the book at the bottom of each page is the person's name and age and a list of what the clothes are and where they are from, along with the wearer's Current Obsession and Point of Fashion.

For example one girl dressed in pink and white holding a blue boomerang is called Yu-Yu and is 15. Her dress and Jacket are handmade, the Point of her Fashion is to be like Snow White, and her Current Obsession is dancing.

I just think it's such a good idea & a really good way to document young trends, and it's fascinating to flick through and look at all the patterns, textures, and personalities on show.

I can't afford to go to Japan to see Harajuku for myself so this is the best alternative.
The people are so creative and "Their do-it-yourself fashion sensibility reveals the way in which the clothes we wear have the power to change not only our personal conception of ourselves but also the way we interact with the world around us."

Shoichi Aoki writes this foreward in 'Fruits'
"My interest in fashion stems from the way people express themselves through the clothes they wear. It doesn't matter what kind of clothes individual designers make. What is important are one's thoughts and the ability to express them, one's life and its relationship to the environment. When such elements are combined they create a sculpture. This sculpture I call street fashion."

I agree very much with these words and would recommend anyone who is interested in fashion to get either of these books as you will be amused, surprised and maybe even enamoured by the images they contain.

As a child I loved nothing more than dressing up on a sunday, I would spend a whole day trying on different things, and combinations, and often I would end up looking a lot like the girls in Fruits, covered in layers of skirts, dresses, jewellery, and hats! This is why I love this style so much, it reminds me of my childhood and when you wear these kind of outfits you do feel quite giddy and childish.

So I've started Sheffield Street Style, in the hope that people will go and look at the photos I've taken of them, and have a browse at the other people up there too and maybe click on the links i've posted underneath the pictures to a site called www.TokyoFashion.com - i've tried to link pictures that have similar clothes in or something I think the people in my photo will find interesting or would like to wear themselves.

I am trying to turn the tables back, as Japan has borrowed our dress, now I think it is time England started dressing in a more individual, funky way, instead of being dictated what to wear by the media and the high street.

Sheffield Street Style

This is a new project which I am very excited about, It's been really fun to do - I just walk around town taking photos of interesting, colourful, stylish looking people for my collection.

The idea came about from my love of Japanese Harajuku style, and the books which document this: Lolita Bible, Fruits, Fresh Fruits etc.

I am fascinated by what they go about wearing and although I realised that our style is different from theirs, and not quite so flamboyant and innovative I thought they might still be curious and like to have a look at what's going on over here, so I started Sheffield Street Style.

One day when i've collected enough quality photos and info I hope to re-create a similar kind of book to 'Fruits' but an English version.

Molly's Scrapbook

"Either be a work of art, or wear one" ~ Oscar Wilde.

Here's a collection of my doodles, pictures taken in my studio and general things that I like.
I will add to this section quite regularly so if you like it please do come back and leave a comment! ^_^

Recycling things - Waste not Want not

Ever since I was a child and probably before that, my Mum had always recycled whatever she could, and this has rubbed off onto me. I love going to vintage shops, charity shops and looking on e-bay for things that I could use the fabric from or transform into something new.

It feels good to know that you've made something cute or pretty out of something that no-one wanted.
It's also a great challenge to take something out of it's original context and subvert it into something completely separate, giving it a whole new definition. My Tie Skirt and Dress are good examples of this.

The Sailor Dress (pictured) is also made from recycled materials. I was struggling for money at the time but was feeling creative, and I found two striped T-shirts my Mum was throwing out and decided they would make a good dress, as they had interesting shapes and the contrast between the different stripes seemed to work well together.

I love being given old clothes, there is nothing that inspires and excites me more than the chance to look at how someone else has made something, or see how I can transform it and make it fresh again.

Next Photo

I haven't quite got the hang of the technical side to how this blog works yet so I'm just going to carry on adding little snippets...

First Official Molly Rouge Photoshoot with Ben Thapa

I've been desperate to get some professional looking pictures up on my website www.mollyrouge.com since I started the site, and now it's nearly there. Just giving you a sneaky preview on here while I wait. molly rouge photoshoot