Asian Fashion Series

Bonjour! I hope you’ve watched the movies that I’ve recommended. I’ve been searching a lot of movies with a theme of Fashion but it seems like every blog have the same post. Every blog’s lists includes 2000’s films like Confession of a Shopaholic, The Devil Wears Prada, The Woman and 1990’s film such as Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Pretty Woman, Pretty in Pink and the likes. Then again, it may contain documentaries about Fashion and modelling, but some recommendations are not available online. Well, it was very informative to me but I have not seen Asian films from their list yet so I tried to write one.

If you really love fashion, you don’t mind if it’s a Western or Asian or European. People in the Fashion industry have their own preferences in everything. However, today’s generation, there is a vast impact of fashion in every countries of Asia. From rising Fashion Designers, models, fashion bloggers, stylist...I’m sure you have noticed that the Fashion Industry demands more of Asian models because of their looks and skin tone. Also, in the expansion of Fashion to Music, Some countries in Asia are really invading the Music and Fashion Industry because of their unique and weird styles. There are varieties in which we can choose, it is your choice to judge anyway, but not all people in a country or nation are the same. I wish no people were racist so there will be no discrimination going on.

Here is a set of Drama Series that includes fashion in it. I really enjoyed every part of the series and I didn’t find it boring. Most of all, I find it informative and helpful in understanding people’s lifestyle, personality, character and behavior. Yeah! There are things in life that are really tough to achieve because of many obstacles but the good thing is that God gave us a “FREEWILL” to choose between good and evil.

1. Real Clothes (2009)

(photo credits)

- by the name itself, I believe you can tell what’s it all about. Right! It’s about clothing. Some say it’s a Japanese Version of The Devil Wears Prada, but not really, it's more fun to watch this drama than the latter. I promise you, it’s interesting and mind-blowing, that’s the reason why it’s my on my top list.

Real Clothes Stars, Madam Miki and Kinue

Our leads here are two amazing women. Amano Kinue is simple and hated clothes but comes to love it in the end. She works in the Bedding Department of Echizen Department Store and has impressive records. Her peaceful living disarrayed when there was a huge change in Echizen. The Women’s Clothing Department is sinking and Jinbo Miki, the most important Japanese woman in the Fashion industry, was chosen to re-establish the department. The Goal is to raise the sale of that department to $1,000,000 on the first month. Kinue was transferred to the Women’s Clothing Department after meeting Miki, who mocked her clothing telling her that boring clothes means boring life. Kinue strived every challenge until she was promoted. After achieving some several promotions, from a mere salesperson she became Chief Manager. 

Miki and Kinue's first meeting.

The prelude was a scene shot in Paris, France where both Kinue and Miki are leading two different lives. Kinue was touring with her boyfriend and Madam Miki, working as a designer. In the end, Jinbo Miki leaved Echizen after explaining the primary mission of her sudden appearance at Echizen. I also want to ask you the question asked by Madam Miki that until today, I haven’t figure it out yet. “IN FIVE YEARS, TEN YEARS. . . WHERE DO YOU WANT TO BE AND WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE?” 

Interior Design of Madam Miki's Office, see I told yah! There's interior designing too!

This series is enjoyable because you can learn a lot from it. Everything related to fashion is presented in this drama. Though the focus is about Clothes, varieties of things are added to it. There is romance, friendship, runway show, styling, blogging, fashion design, interior design and of course, business management.

Look at these amazing things. It's present at the Women's Clothing Department.

Real Clothes' characters. :) They are really good.

2. First Class 1 (2014)

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This is a drama series about fashion magazine. The story revolves around Yoshinari Chinami, 26 who was labelled as the Mistreated Cinderella of this story. She was a genuine person who always wanted to work in the fashion Industry. Her peaceful life became chaotic after meeting the Editor-in-Chief of First Class and started working as an intern in the Editorial Department. She began encountering two-faced people, bitches, aggressive and competitive people. From then, her battle started. There are clashes, arguments, fights and ranking among women who wants to get to the top. Women who want to win by crushing each other. A place where it’s hard to trust anyone or find real friends. I can say that it’s a perfect area to apply “Survival of the Fittest”, where only those who got the stamina can stay. The weakling can never survive in this kind of environment. Though she is new to that kind of surrounding, still she struggled a lot inorder to pursue her dreams. After a lot of tribulation, she finally became the Editor-in-Chief of the First Class magazine. However, she resigned because the company ceased the publishing. In the end, she manages to find another job in designing.

Meet the cast of the movie. They got different styles and personalities. :)

Chinami-san, the Mistreated Cinderella.

I feel like I needed to warn you. Not all fashion victims love this kind of drama. I’ve read some reviews and other find this drama as bitchy and trashy, but for me, I actually learned something from their conversations. It is maybe a drama but it’s also a reality displayed to us inorder to understand that what is behind all the Glitz and Glamour that we see on glossy magazines are hardships, misunderstandings and difficulties of every individual who contributed in making Magazines possible. Working in this kind of Industry is definitely not a Bed of roses, as others believe to it be. It’s a situation where no one can save you but yourself. 

These are two gorgeous models, they're competing. hmm. who do you think is the winner?

(Miina vs Erena)

I wish my future work place would be as beautiful as their work place.

You might be surrounded with sarcastic people but there are still few individuals that you can be friends with.

Be prepared because you’ll surely get pissed, annoyed, and inflamed because of extreme scenes. Beware, you might explode with anger, I nearly did. Haha! Just kidding!

At every end, there's actually a ranking based on Love, job, money and personal belongings. If you don't have any of those, you're a loser.

Basis of mount the ranking.

Mounting ranking. It's always updated at the end of every episode.

Chinami's workplace after resigning from the publishing Company. It seems like chaos never leaves her. I hope she survives on the next story, First Class 2.

3. First Class 2 (2014)

It’s the second installment of First Class 1, it’s a battle of striving fashion designers, young and old who wants to be on top. Just like the first one, there is bitterness and competition going on. But the difference is that Chinami is now an Assistant Fashion Designer and a little knowledgeable on how the Industry operates. You can witness how she transformed from the sweet girl to someone who also knows how to play her part. She became more competitive, fiercer and braver. Gone was the nice girl we knew from the beginning. This drama is still ongoing and you can watch it online without English subtitles. I really don’t understand Japanese Language so I’m still waiting for the English subtitles to be released in order to understand what is going on. 

Chinami's new working environment. They're a lot more competitive than before.

Guess what? she leveled up from being an Editor-in-Chief to an assistant Designer.

They still have a Mounting Ranking and she needs to beat this 10 women ahead of her.

Chinami, it's a long way to go so good luck.

4. Fashion King (2014)

(Photo Credits)

This is a Korean Drama. I haven’t watched it yet, but still I’m putting it on this list because I am planning to watch when I find time. In my opinion, this drama must be centered on Fashion Designing. I believe we can learn about anything concerning the Fashion Industry by watching these kinds of dramas or movies. 

I guess that's enough already. Do watch and enjoy. I would be happy to hear from you guys.! Have a great time watching any of these dramas. 

love,

Pj :)