Exchange of Idea with other designer

(Illustration by Riyoko Ikeda (C)1972-2008)
I was catching up with Japanese friend who happen to be really famous in world, as always, she passed me the brand new item from her collection just off the rack.
(I do this to my friends, too. Good practice should be passed on. )

She does not take custom orders publicly, but she always asks me if I have any request or custom modification. Most of the time, I am happy with what she has and hardly ever needs any modification.

Today, I had request in mind, and fortunately she was available to chat with me.

What I had in mind is this *military uniform inspired jacket/costume*.

In Japan, we have hugely popular shoujyo-manga called "Verssaille no bara" -The rose of Verssaile, which has been adapted to movies, TV cartoons and all female cast revue.
I think it was first appeared in weekly comic books back in late 70s.

Anyways, the story is blatantly inspired by the opera,Der Rosenkavalier by Richard Strauss, If you know those sorta things. For those of you unfamilier with opera and plays of 19the century with cross-dressing heroines, I will explain them to you.


The hero of the manga Oscar Francois de Jardjais, first appear as lieutenant of French Imperial guard, assigned to the newly married Dauphine of France, Marie Antoinette. Oscar is in fact a young woman(well, 15 years old , same age as Marie Antoinette) who raised to be military officer, because her father did not have male heir. She is in disguise, or to the point, she never been brought up to be a woman.

Anyways, the story progresses are the French history, to the most part. Oscar falls for Count Fersen who is also a clandestine lover of Marie Antoinette. Oscar advanced to colonel as a officer in charge of Imperial guard attached to the Queen of France, yet she starts to see the reality of the people in France is facing.. the poverty and all that.
ooh, I just remembered, the creator put the story of the knight of Black Rose, who is basically the revolutionary version of Robin Hood. LOL He later turns out to be the real historical revolutionary in disguise. (laughs more)

Oscar leaves Imperial guard and joined as a commander of French Army where there is no member of aristocrats are serving. yet, she experience the changes of the time and end up commanding the force, storming the Bastille on the fateful day , 7/14.


Her loyal servant who grew up with her as her valet, has been in love with her for all his life, yet never confessed to her his true feelings, till the night before of 7/14. He has been hidden his loss of his vision from her for a long time, yet despite the plea from the soldiers who knows his blindness he took on the duty to guard her. As a result, he receives gun shot and dies in the combat.

Oscar also dies as a revolutionary. (I think its better than she guillotined like other aristocrats.)

After the death of Oscar, the story is totally mundane. Basically the manga version of French revolution.

******
Anyways, historically speaking, the costume is a bit inaccurate. The uniform is more like Napoleon Era, after the French Revolution. But this is totally an artistic liberty or form of poetic justice. Oscar looks great in that uniform.

My special request was that I wanted the open front version of the coat with sheer shirt. We discussed which of her current selection can be modified to make the image possible in pixel outfit. We selected several of her existing collections so she can modified to make an outfit.

This is not just my own whims. Apparently she tried to make similar costume recently. So there are some understandings of some inspirations not to mention she is fully familiarized herself with the manga itself.

Exchange of idea is sometimes really fun and very interesting to participate in creative process of well known designer. :)

I am sure it will be on the store front pretty soon.