In the spirit of community...

I take a moment to shout out to our friends, and our friends we haven't yet met, in Japan. It's one of the most exciting destinations for fashion-minded people in the entire world, and as you surely know by now, they've been hit by the seventh-worst earthquake in recorded history, an 8.9, which produced a tsunami that has virtually wiped out some towns in Eastern Japan, such as Sendai.

image from tokyofashion.com

Fortunately, the country has strict building codes which have almost certainly saved at least a thousand lives. But many are missing, hundreds have been killed, and the people hit need the prayers and support which are coming from all over the world right now. #prayforjapan is a top-trending topic right now on Twitter. Last I heard, traffic in Tokyo was still gridlocked. Airports are closed indefinitely. Photos are still coming in from Japan of huge, unbelievable scenes. Whole blocks of buildings going up in flames. Cars and airplanes piled up, looking like Tonka toys in a pile of matchsticks. Homes floating down streets to who knows where. Entire towns swallowed up.

image from tokyofashion.com

I got a very brief email from Kjeld of Japanese Streets earlier, saying he is fine and he will be in the disaster area starting tomorrow. Not since Katrina have I felt so moved and helpless all at once.

image from japanesestreets.com

Mobilization to help has already begun.

The Red Cross is taking donations via text message. Text the letters REDCROSS to 90999 to make the a $10 donation, or visit the organization's website, http://www.redcross.org.

You can also give to the International Medical Corps, which is sending response teams.

Save The Children are working to care for children effected by the quake. Donations can be made at their website.

image from japanesestreets.com

The Huffington Post has a much more comprehensive list of relief efforts and ways we can help.

神は仙台の人々の世話をしてください。

Top-hatted

Ketzer: Wax on, wax off. Wax on, wax off.

Ariel: Dude, knock it off *facepalm*

Ketzer: Hrmph. Fine then, no more old jokes. Let's go stand outside and look much more menacing than we actually are.

Ariel: Deal!

Notes In Purple

Brianna is in a few classes with me at VU, including costume construction and history of costume. She seemed genuinely SHOCKED when I asked to get some pictures of her outfit. Probably just because the ways the two of us dress are drastically different. But, just because I don't wear it doesn't mean I don't appreciate it. I loved her mixing of the tough, military feel of the jacket with the softer textures of her hat and scarf. The layering of socks is an inventive way to combat the cold of a Midwestern January day. Creative layering? Mixing of harmonious patterns, color tones, and varying textures? Yes, please!

A few quick notes: Sorry for slacking for a couple of days. I'm doing better at this whole consistency thing (See my past blogs if you need a reference point), but I'm not perfect yet. I presume that will come with time.

Also, CCS has leaned to the goth side a bit much lately. I find myself homesick for my goth friends in Indianapolis. (And I get to see them tonight, whee!) But variety is the spice of life, and I remain committed to reflecting that here, through celebrations of a wide spectrum of individual styles in Indianapolis and the surrounding areas.

Raven is a force of nature.

I took these pictures of Raven on registration day at Vincennes University. She's fast becoming my favorite person on campus. I could probably just start a whole new blog along the lines of "What Awesome Kid Wore Today."

And yes, she's a kid to me. I consider anyone born post-1990 to be a kid.

Anyway, she's freakin' awesome. It was the purple pants that really did it for me. Well, and the blue hair. Animal ears on humans tend to irritate me if they're not worn for Halloween, a LARP-ing session, or during a convention. But they work on her. And she knows it. It's all about owning your originality and what works on your body around here.

And the jacket... well, I'll just let it speak for itself.

Now for the difficulty level: Finding places to hang out with her and her friends, that they are actually old enough to get into! Ah, being an old geezer among a herd of under-21 folks...