Tokyo Timewarp: Modern Geishas in Shibuya

While staying in Tokyo's popular district of Shibuya at the Cerulean Hotel, I caught up with my friend Sasha Okamoto and Photographer Gregory Brown to capture the view and some street style.

Shibuya crossing is always buzzing, vibrant with about a million people per day. Together we melted into the crowds, followed the sights and sounds, with the click clacking of our wooden Geta shoes.

Fashion stylist Naomi Kubo unearthed a regal, antique, red kimono and an edgy, colorful, splatter yukata to create this stylish Tokyo timewarp for the modern Geisha.

We followed the paper lanterns lining the streets and the smells of grilled Yakitori chicken wafting thru billowing Noren fabric doorways.

Even in the heart of the city you can discover quiet, little, crevices, rich with texture and contrast.

It seems everywhere you turn there is a distinct Tokyo style and culture, that sets it apart from other areas of Japan.

Tokyo is a spirited muse that will always tug at my imagination. It is easy to get lost in the palpable energy of the city.

Makeup artist Yuri Kondo's editorial hair and makeup highlighted the East meets West heritage of both Sascha and I. When we shot at the Cerulean we transitioned the traditional musubi and obi belts into the modern leather belts for an avant-garde spin on kimono style.

Whisper Fire Tokyo Breeze

Fuel My Imagination 

Dream Spirited Muse

-  Haiku, Celeste Thorson

Blowing from the west 

fallen leaves

gather in the east.

- Haiku, Yosa Buson

Photo:  Gregory Brown Photography / Models: Celeste Thorson, Sascha Okamoto / Wardrobe: Naomi Kubo / Hair and Makeup: Yuri Kondo

Treasure Island: Bay Bridge to Nowhere

...That time Low Tek Studios and I got down and dirty for a spontaneous photo shoot on Treasure Island in San Francisco.  The location had kind of a Breaking Bad vibe, so we kicked it by the chain link fences and old turn knob TV sets for a lazy afternoon by the bay bridge.

I wore some edgy variations of the little black dress, with hi-low skirts, studs, metallic accents, and cut outs.  We found wildflowers, water towers, and graffiti  treasures around every corner. Then we stumbled upon a vacant pool filled with epic memorials a midst the abandon buildings. San Francisco has so many unique environments to get inspired by life and fashion.

Human Rights and #LoveWins for LGBT Pride Month

I am so ecstatic about the marriage equality ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States. This is a wonderful advancement for equal rights, especially during LGBT Pride Month.  In celebration, I wanted to share some thoughts on liberty and equality in America.

Freedom of expression and equal rights are two of the most important protections I enjoy as an American. I believe only you can determine who to love and what makes you happy.  I hope we can create a standard of equality that will allow people to express themselves without a climate of prejudice. Being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender should not disqualify you from equal human rights. By speaking out for these human rights we can create a community and government that truly supports freedom and not discrimination. - Celeste Thorson

I was reminded of my #LGBT #activism 10 years ago with my #grassroots #family at Human Rights Campaign. We were the boots on the ground that met hate face to face, as we strove to build support for equal #humanrights #legislation. Some people politely declined to support #justice, others were kicking and screaming. Some people greeted us with open arms, some with gentle whispers. Today we can #celebrate this #equality, because #LoveWins when #activists #FightTheGoodFight for #justice. No matter how ugly the #hate, #standup #speakout and remember we are all born #free and #equal!

Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add 'within the limits of the law' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual.

-Thomas Jefferson

Here are the values that I stand for: honesty, equality, kindness, compassion, treating people the way you want to be treated and helping those in need. To me, those are traditional values.

-Ellen DeGeneres

While in San Francisco, Cory Goldberg Images captured this series with my dear friend and fashion librarian, Shaye McKenney.  We admired some intricate Japanese Kimono's from a private collection, rich with artistic details. More images from this series coming this summer. 

The artist is a receptacle for emotions that come from all over the place: from the sky, from the earth, from a scrap of paper, from a passing shape, from a spider's web.

-Pablo Picasso

Art is the most intense mode of individualism that the world has known.

-Oscar Wilde

Some people may be offended by this artwork and respond with hatred. Which is more offensive, a photograph that represents love or the hatred it may trigger?

Do you believe love is boundless?

Do you believe love should be confined?

Tribal Earth Warrior Series

It feels like the wind, that warm spark between our souls, we found each other. 

- Celeste Thorson  

Wild Haiku Warrior

A spontaneous creative session with Taren Maroun's artsy soul led to this whimsical earth warrior series.  

I looked up and I saw hope. 

 

All roads lead home. Never forget where you came from.

 

 

 I felt the dawn dance on my skin.

 I felt the peace of night descend. 

Tell me your story. Teach me your song.


Meet me by the ivy and I will show you what I've seen.

 Wild child.

 

There is a fire in the sky and she is a flame.

We played amidst the cacti, canyons, and ivy vines. The rich tones and textures from the natural surroundings complimented the warpaint style makeup. I love the rawness of this collection, it reminds me of my native ancestry. The handmade necklaces were collected during my travels through Bali and Mexico, mostly from street vendors.