Marie appears in the Tokyo Girls Collection.

'Kawaii' cool girls fever grips Tokyo fashion shows

Sunday 22nd March, 07:09 AM JST

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SiouxGirl at 10:33 AM JST - 22nd March

I think I could actually wear that ensemble to work and the grocery store. In my neighborhood, no one would even look twice at the gun.
Smythe at 10:56 AM JST - 22nd March

My compliments space_monkey in your post. Also a good post by SiouxGirl for the clothing is off the line at some stores. So YES buy original products if they so suite you & others. Yes forget the idea of a faked h/gun. For you would have to be in the USA or Canada to actually grasp a real h/gun.
herefornow at 11:09 AM JST - 22nd March

bamboohat -- truer words were never spoken. I have come to believe that the word kawaii must be screached in a pitch that brings dogs. Was hoping that maybe the "new" generation of younger J-gals was going to get past that trend -- but obviously not. Daily assaults on the ear drums will apparently continue for many years.
doombird at 11:12 AM JST - 22nd March

If the model in the photo is an example of what the crowd was screaming "kawaiii!" at, then the Japanese really need to get some new words. I could think of several ways to describe that, from "sexy" to "trashy," but it doesn't strike me as being particularly "cute."
yomuri at 11:22 AM JST - 22nd March

marie is far from sexy or kawaii.

She looks like a man

imo
IvanCoughalot at 11:28 AM JST - 22nd March

then the Japanese really need to get some new words.

A truer word was never spoken. This word "Kawaii" applies to anything. Pencils, sausages, children (of course a four-year-old girl is cute - do you think I need it pointing out?), sluttish clothing, the name Akiko - absolutely everything needs to be validated by this catch-all squeak.

Dear Lord, it winds me right up.

Marie, however, does not look like a man. She does, in fact, give me the right horn.
meanmutha at 11:59 AM JST - 22nd March

not news. try this show in the Mid East and maybe...
bebert at 01:03 PM JST - 22nd March

I could think of several ways to describe that, from "sexy" to "trashy," but it doesn't strike me as being particularly "cute."

I agree, neither cute or cool. They could have picked a better example of cool kawaii, because now I'm still at a lost for a definition. How does something go beyond kawaii to become cool kawaii?
TokyoHustla at 01:30 PM JST - 22nd March

boooooooring...zzzzzzzzzz
isthistheend at 10:08 PM JST - 22nd March

New words for the natives? Haven't you noticed that silence (and screaching sweet nothings) is the best policy here. Its all hara-gei baby. Hara-gei.
Wolfpack at 10:35 PM JST - 22nd March

Wow "kawaii" is getting popular in Tokyo now? Never saw that coming...
bdiego at 03:20 AM JST - 23rd March

doombird, bebert: Send your complaints to the journalists who attached said photos.
DoctorLady at 01:46 PM JST - 23rd March

I think the whole point of the article was that this fashion show demonstrates models/talento/celebrities wearing real clothes that regular women can afford instead of obsessing over the luxury brands (with up to the minute trends). It is positive sign that some women can get beyond the photoshoots in "Vogue," especially given the popular stereotypes of Japanese women. This show is a reality check to people who make sweeping generalizations about the style and shopping of Japanese women.

The fake handgun was an odd prop, but it did get everyone's attention.
ca1ic0cat at 03:30 AM JST - 24th March

Does kawaii fever ever stop? I thought there was no cure! Even a college education seems to be unable to stop the power of kawaii. Every salaryman I know just rolls his eyes and wishes for a little Suntory malt whisky at the very sound of the word...unless he's trying to impress his date. Then he feigns interest and buys the object of desire.
doombird at 12:06 PM JST - 24th March

[...] this fashion show demonstrates models/talento/celebrities wearing real clothes that regular women can afford instead of obsessing over the luxury brands

When you put it that way, I do approve of what they're doing. I never "got" those high-fashion shows with models parading million-dollar monstrosities.

Still, pairing the words "cool" and "kawaii" is pairing the two most meaningless, trampled-on words in our languages. They should launch an Adjective Awareness Campaign.