- What with the massive earthquake, massive aftershocks and subsequent tsunami, Japan Fashion Week had to take a bit of a backseat. But the Japanese fashion industry won’t let Mother Nature torrentially rain on their parade. Designers have joined forces to form Voltron a website featuring all of their collections for the Fall 2011 season. [The Cut]

- Beloved royal ginger (seriously, who’s his dad?) Prince Harry is not slacking off on his best man duties. As the self-appointed “wedmin,” Harry has had three state rooms in Buckingham Palace converted into a nightclub with a DJ playing well into the morning hours. For those still standing, there will be a 6 a.m. “survivor’s breakfast.” Oh, and this is also happening:

A chest full of booze, namely rum and champagne. Meanwhile, Kate Middleton might have found her soulmate in Prince William, but I just fell head over tranny heels for Harry. [Daily Mail]

- Well this makes for an awkward way to come out of the gate; Emmanuelle Alt’s first cover uses the same Dolce & Gabbana dress as a February Vogue España cover featuring Constance Jablonski and an April Vogue Germany cover with Britt Maren. Do you hear that? That’s the sound of Carine Roitfeld cackling over a 25-year old bottle of Chardonnay from her chateau in the French countryside.[Fashionista]

- Las Vegas is placing all of its bets on quirky Canadian songbird, Celine Dion, amidst massive debt, abandoned casino projects and 13% unemployment. Finally, other people are starting to see Celine as I’ve seen her for a decade of song: a savior. [Associated Press]

- Rick Genest, aka Zombie Boy aka Rico stars in Mugler Mens Fall 2011 campaign shot by Mariano Vivanco. And like Genest himself, the ads strike the right balance between creepy hot and just plain old creepy. [Nicola Formichetti's Blog!!]

- The continued downfall of American civilization as manifested in a human being, Nicole ‘Snooki’ Polizzi, took it to the square circle to introduce to some unlucky female…(?) wrestlers her own patented brand of smackdown. Admittedly, it was thrilling seeing the 36-inch guidette go to town in a leopard-print jacket and wedged boot and hopefully her wardrobe at Wrestlemania XXVII will be as inappropriate/awesome. [Refinery29]

- Well, I think we can all agree that despite the thousands of dead, missing and misplaced people, the threat of nuclear Armageddon and the collapse of Japan’s economy, the biggest tragedy to come out of the Land of the Rising Sun is the cancellation of Japan Fashion Week. Crises like this really put things into perspective. [The Cut]

- ESPN Magazine is stepping up its style game with the hire of their first fashion editor, Samantha Rubin. The reason behind the move: apparently readers want to know what their favorite athletes are wearing and how to wear it. Now we can all learn where to get and how to wear size 15 Air Jordans and XXXXL pinstripe suits. [WWD]

- Lady Gaga has not only raised the bar for shutting shit down, she’s also raised a ton of money for Japan…to the tune of $250 K through sales of her “We Pray for Japan” wristband. Put your paws up…now wrap them in this wristband. [Oh No They Didn't!]

Yesterday night we attended the Japan fashion Week preview which will take place from the 22nd to the 28th of March in Tokyo.  Eight designers (Aptform, Chaolu Lab, Mikio Sakabe, Naoshi Sawayanagi, Shida Tatsuya, The dress & Co by Hideaki Sakaguchi, Tiny Dinosaur, and YU) presented pieces from their upcoming collections. This preview really made us want to go to Tokyo for the Japan Fashion Week.

For more info, check out the official website.

Following our coverage of Y’s Red Label’s unofficial Japan Fashion Week show, Mintdesigns kicked off the official schedule with sleek and muted runway looks. Designers Hokuto Katsui and Nao Yagi’s “Death Pop” theme was a funky take on the ultimate demise of extinction—Steggy and T-Rex bones danced on loose A-line dresses in tones of black and white or blue and pink. These morbid patterns created a whimsical juxtaposition with ultra-feminine details such as ruffles and ribbons.

Meanwhile, Mikio Sakabe and his wife Shueh Jen-Fang stuck to the futuristic and sleek silhouette that brought them into the spotlight at their debut show last season. The tan models marched in blonde bobs wearing tailored pencil skirts and matching long jackets with skinny lapels. “It’s technically a cruise theme, but I was inspired by a ringing sound. You know, when you’ve been out in the sun too long and hear a high metallic pitch in your ear,” explained Sakabe. This “metallic” reach makes sense in the android-esque styling on his catwalk of silver shoes, shiny cellophane woven into the “Chanel” jackets and holographic tubing on neon leggings.

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source wwd

Japan Fashion Week launched yesterday and the designers who hit the runway showcased some amazing collections which will most likely help usher in a new wave of Japanese fashions on our shores. A city known for it’s quirky tastes, Tokyo played host to Mintdesigns, a strong array of Popsicle stick looking head pieces and patterned ensembles. Parasols lined the runway as models walked down in Hokuto Katsui and Nao Yagi’s designs.

Animal skulls mixed with classic men’s cuts, gingham played nice with short dresses. Overall, a fresh collection of desirables from a new Japanese designer to watch.

Thanks to WWD for having the dough to snap these photos.