Just Fudge it

One of my biggest weaknesses is Japanese fashion magazines. I find that quite a few of them have the kind of vintage/girly aesthetic that I go weak in the knees for, and that is hard to find in English-language fashion magazines (aside from Lula and Frankie). I know that I am not alone in my love for Fudge magazine. Clever Nettle recently posted some scans from the August 2009 Fudge, but had trouble finding the current issue. I totally feel the hard-to-find international magazine pain. There are a ton of publications I can't find in Taipei -- Bust, Frankie, The New Yorker style issues -- but for some reason the distribution companies manage to import every gossip mag ever published in Britain and the United States. Seriously!?! Does anyone in Taiwan care about the Gosselins or hold their breath every week for the latest Life & Style... a Life & Style that costs the equivalent of US$7?

Anyway, here are some of my favorite looks from the latest Fudge.

I really love the second from last photo. The more I look at the outfit, the more interesting it seems. I'm taken with the juxtaposition of the furry, bulky, slightly rough-looking sweater and the summery dress. The second image is from a spread on how to style all-black outfits and the first is almost the same as the cover image. I love how Fudge throws disparate influences together: the 1940s, the circus, Japanese pop art, Commes des Garcons, etc.

Another great Japanese publication is So-En, one of the country's oldest style magazines. So-En's aesthetic is a bit more contemporary than Fudge's, but a lot of spreads still derive their inspiration from vintage clothing and styling. I'll be sure to share some of my favorite looks from So-En!