[J-Fashion] LIZ LISA Autumn 2016: A Charming European Sisterhood

In the upcoming autumn collection, LIZ LISA will be introducing two design concepts referred to as their “European Sisters”. While the younger sister draws from gorgeous French florals and tones, the older sister finds inspiration in the traditional charm of English patterns and colors.

For many who were in attendance, the initial reaction to the new collection was one of surprise, as the displays carried much more maturity and calmness than we had originally expected. This shift towards sophisticated European-based styling certainly seems to be trending with the brands that we have been visiting recently.

Sure, we have seen many of these motifs and designs before. What makes this collection special is the intricate detailing that can be found in many of the pieces. For example, the English rose embroidery featured on denim items was something we absolutely could not turn away from. The quality was fantastic, and the contrast offered by clean denim really brought out the best of the creams, beiges, and pinks in the collection. Even on its own, the denim jackets were well worth our admiration.

In mere moments, many of us went from hesitantly pushing around hangers to rapidly tapping on our phones as we noted down what we already wanted to purchase. For those who are curious, the new collection is ready on the TOM Premium Shop!

On a bit of a side note, one upcoming trend that I have particularly been looking forward to this year is the concentration on elements of heritage. Despite the physical distance between the designers in Japan and the “European Sisters” that inspired their work, I thought they did a fantastic job with the trend in taking on versatile checks, French motifs, as well as classic English designs that are easy to wear. Overall, we believe that the majority of the upcoming releases should fit smoothly into a good variety of wardrobes - especially if you already have LIZ LISA in your daily outfits.

If I had to choose one single piece to bring home with me from this exhibition, it would have to be this gorgeous Glen Plaid & Solid Color One Piece that brought back memories of Baker Street. The classic colors, cute buttons, and wonderful movement really had me look forward to wearing it already! It’s so-called rival at the exhibition - the Cat in Cup One Piece (image below) - offered great competition and had many of us thinking about whether or not we secretly preferred one “European Sister” over the other.

What also drew mixed opinions is the temporary withdrawal of bunnies from the new collection. As an avid collector of the Picnic Rabbit Series, I was caught off-guard by the playful cat ears and tails I found on some of the accessories. The kitten trend continued in apparel, backpacks, and other smaller items as well. Personally, I do appreciate this move, as it offers fans more variety in accessorizing. And honestly, the kittens look amazing with the rest of the collection!

At the end of the day, it really wasn’t about siding with either one of the “European Sisters”. Both sources offered wonderful results, and can be put together to produce a variety of fantastic outfits for next season. The LIZ LISA Autumn 2016 is now available on our shop! Please do watch out for the one-piece dresses. They might go rather quickly!

P.S. - We will also be working with LIZ LISA to bring back some of our best selling items! For those who missed out the first time, be sure to take advantage of this second chance coming around! More details will be provided soon!

This is a Tokyo Otaku Mode original article by Yuka