July Theme 1: Visual Kei

For the summer releases of the Vari-A magazine, the company wants to showcase popular and unusual fashion styles throughout the world. As much of the clothing produced by Vari-A has Japanese influence, the first stop will be Visual Kei.

Please create a piece of art or writing that shows your character being involved in production of this magazine's theme. Models are encouraged to do photo shoots and designers to create new clothing, but there are no official requirements for what you can and can't do. As always, artists are free to either design their character a new outfit from scratch, or to find inspiration from wherever you like. Our characters are part of the fashion world, but we may not be so it's fine to look up resources. 

As always, mature content needs to have a warning on it and don't harass or control other people's characters without the owner's permission. We look forward to seeing what everyone has to offer for this issue. Have fun and use your imagination!

The Challenge

For their work in this month, all designers and models are being asked to create a look that contains elements of Visual Kei fashion. The main focuses are elaborate hairstyles, eye-catching makeup, and an overall androgynous aesthetic. The movement is considered to be a symbol of freedom and self expression, and so each model's individual style is encouraged to be incorporated into their shoots, and the designers need to keep their signature aesthetics while catering to the challenge, whether they're working on clothing or hair and makeup. 

For photographers and general staff, your work for this month will be in helping the models to achieve their desired look and keeping the busy studio moving smoothly. 

Tips and Guidelines

Visual Kei is inspired by parts of glam rock, punk, and the unique music style that is often considered synonymous with the fashion. There are many varieties of it, so you can do quite a lot with the concept while staying within the challenge.

Models and Designers. Some things that you an include in your look:

• Rips and tears
• Spikes and chains
• Ruffles and lace
• Checkerboard patterns are very popular
• Jackets and vests
• Unusual accessories
• Spiked or dyed hair
• Face paint
• Lots of bling

It's alright to go outside the box, so long as a clear connection to the Visual Kei style can be seen in your final product.

All writing and art is accepted for this month's prompt. Please reply below with your entries before the deadline.