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eBay Picks of the Day: Kansai Yamamoto

February 4, 2009 by WendyB

Kansai Yamamoto is a Japanese designer who did costumes for David Bowie in his Ziggy Stardust days. The Ziggy Stardust Companion has a great page on the costumes here.

Embed from Getty Images

I’m pretty sure Bowie is wearing his Yamamoto short kimono without the cape — but presumably with the matching hot pants — in this 1973 performance clip. [UPDATED IN JULY 2013 TO NOTE THAT THE VIDEO THAT USED TO BE HERE HAS DISAPPEARED FROM YOUTUBE. SIGH.]

Not everything Yamamoto did was so wild. The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute has this cheerful Yamamoto sweater.

From the Metropolitan Museum of Art

If you happen to be in the City of Brotherly Love, the Philadelphia Museum of Art has a Yamamoto exhibit until spring. The museum’s website notes that Yamamoto’s heyday was the ’70s and ’80s and says:

“Since his last collection for fall/winter 1992, Kansai has lent his name to licensed products ranging from eyeglasses to tableware. His fashion show spectaculars have become the framework for the grand Kansai Super Shows, the first of which was held in Moscow’s Red Square in 1993. Others held since in Japan, Vietnam, India, and Berlin have drawn audiences in the hundreds of thousands.

Kansai recently returned to fashion as a designer of traditional Japanese garments in a contemporary idiom including kimono (2004) and Hanten festival–inspired coats (2007). He continues to produce Super Shows as part of a larger initiative to invigorate the arts in Japan and serves as a government advisor on tourism and cultural affairs.”

There are a few eye-catching Yamamoto pieces on eBay now. Click the photos to go to the auctions.

Buy it now for $318 

Buy it now for $295
Buy it now for $190

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What Wendy Wore: Head-to-Toe Zang Toi
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Filed Under: designers, ebay, music, suits, sweaters, vintage

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Fashion_Loving_Stylist says

    February 4, 2009 at 10:33 pm

    Those are great.

  2. janettaylor says

    February 4, 2009 at 10:45 pm

    Hi Wendy,

    I adore Yamamoto and other japanese designer, especially Tsumori Chisato!

    Great post!

    xoxo & hugs: Janet

  3. Maya says

    February 4, 2009 at 11:31 pm

    how fun is that suit!

  4. Sharon Rose says

    February 5, 2009 at 12:53 am

    Hi there-very bold vibrant pieces, I love them!

  5. Ladies Who Lunch says

    February 5, 2009 at 2:28 am

    I think the middle one would suit you Wendy! You could wear that in front of one of those paintings!

  6. coco says

    February 5, 2009 at 3:26 am

    I love Yamamoto. I wouldn’t wear most of his clothes but I think they are fantastic.

  7. KATLIN says

    February 5, 2009 at 3:38 am

    That last jacket reminds me of the type of print that boys would wear on their shorts or t-shirts in the early 90s… like Maui and Sons-esque.

  8. THE HOUSE OF STYLE says

    February 5, 2009 at 6:00 am

    Kansai Yamamoto and most other Japanese designers have my heart endy! why are they so creative and talented?
    love most of their work.hope its stopped snowing over there,keep warm dear.
    muah
    x
    marian

  9. Gamutrice says

    February 5, 2009 at 7:39 am

    Bowie knows he looks like a giant vagina in that Yamamoto costume.

  10. enc says

    February 5, 2009 at 8:10 am

    Those looks really are evocative of an era. I really love the prints. That j-suit is extraordinary. I was hoping the “Companion page” would tell me what kind of fabric that is, but it didn’t, unless I missed something. Do you think it’s all done in sequins?

    I never knew who the designer was. Thanks for doing all the background research for me!

  11. Paul Pincus says

    February 5, 2009 at 9:14 am

    SO amazing!

  12. Dr Zibbs says

    February 5, 2009 at 9:16 am

    Ziggy Stardust was great!

  13. La Belette Rouge says

    February 5, 2009 at 9:18 am

    The jumpsuit would be better on ENC than it was on Bowie.

  14. LML says

    February 5, 2009 at 9:19 am

    oh i love Mr.Huxtable crazy sweaters!

  15. Alicia/InstantVintage says

    February 5, 2009 at 11:13 am

    NICE! I kinda miss that Bowie.

    *puts Ziggy into compy CD deck*
    Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

  16. catherinette says

    February 5, 2009 at 11:41 am

    I’d love to saunter into my next meeting with the same outfit that David Bowie had on. That is so hot for the financial industry…

  17. lisa says

    February 5, 2009 at 1:05 pm

    You always find the coolest things on eBay. 🙂

  18. Tavi says

    February 5, 2009 at 3:07 pm

    Excellent post! I love that Bowie wore Yamamoto.

  19. Annie says

    February 5, 2009 at 3:34 pm

    I would love to see that exhibit. I’m a huge Bowie fan, too, by the way 🙂

  20. Skye says

    February 5, 2009 at 3:36 pm

    Ah, I like those. Especially those crazy prints. Make me happy.

  21. Swell Vintage - Frankie says

    February 5, 2009 at 4:04 pm

    That top one is dreamy x

  22. KD says

    February 5, 2009 at 4:09 pm

    I love the rainbow sweater!

  23. Savvy Mode SG says

    February 5, 2009 at 4:13 pm

    i adore japanese designers, simple yet dramatic.

  24. Isabel says

    February 5, 2009 at 4:24 pm

    Can David Bowie come with the clothes??? Please??

  25. KT says

    February 5, 2009 at 4:35 pm

    Where are the Huxtables???

  26. jaime says

    February 5, 2009 at 6:46 pm

    wow wow i really like the first one, it’s so unique!

  27. Nina (femme rationale) says

    February 5, 2009 at 6:48 pm

    LOVE bowie. so sexy. and the sweater w/the panther is like that dress kate moss designed…er…knocked off…for top shop.

  28. Dooder City says

    February 5, 2009 at 7:26 pm

    Wow, these Yamamato pieces have so much energy in them, they are so alive.

  29. Lynette says

    February 5, 2009 at 10:06 pm

    Wow! I am amazed! The colors, the designs, the lively clothing that results.

  30. Siljesfashion says

    February 6, 2009 at 12:04 pm

    Nice!

  31. SnapandPrint says

    February 6, 2009 at 12:55 pm

    Bowie wore Yamamotot well!

    On a Bowie note..I have had his songs in my head the last few days…the songs from his “Ziggy Stardust” days.

    Great post!

  32. Theresa says

    February 6, 2009 at 4:22 pm

    those jumpers are so vibrant, i like

  33. LJ says

    February 6, 2009 at 6:03 pm

    Dang! the last coat is pretty damn crazy! love it..
    xx-LJ from SOS!

  34. market publique says

    February 8, 2009 at 1:59 pm

    amazing! I want the first two!

  35. atelier says

    March 13, 2009 at 4:51 am

    very interesting article 😉

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MEET WENDY BRANDES

Award-winning designer of fine jewelry inspired by women's history and pop culture. A former journalist who writes about jewelry, fashion, medieval history, news, feminism, dogs, cats and whatever else is on her mind. Blogging since 2007.
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