[Article] Translation of Ayumi article in 'SWEET' magazine August

[isaac hiew]

Ayu's Favorite style : Ayumi's most attention Autumn style "Best 3"

Nobody else can welcome Autumn's arrival like Ayu does, therefore we managed to get the much awaited Ayumi Hamasaki.

This time, Ayu will introduce her choice of picking the right dresses for this season, based upon her best 3 international brands.


The many clothing pleasure brought to her by Tom Ford...

Tom Ford's brand, Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche (YSL) is featuring the last season this time! One this season's fashion, Ayu has chosen this gracious black-in-color evening gown. The material as well as the finish emits a mature yet seductive sense.....

"but as you can see here, the side of the dress is transparent while there's this big, low opening at the middle layout. even such bold design gives a noble, generous and graceful feeling. It's casual yet daring design are some of the main factors of why am I select this brand. Until now Tom Ford has given me a lot of fun by merely wearing his designs! Although it's kind of pity (for it is the last season) actually I prefer to look forward for more variations and his ideas/theme in the upcoming season."

The details of this dress throughly shows elements of symbolism and sensuality, and strong sense of gracefulness that floats around in the air.... beside such compendium masterpiece of YSL, are there anything more that Ayu likes with this brand?

"Some recreational items, maybe!" She answers, "Swarovski accesorries, or golden logo T-shirts, canvas products that were simple enough to make it look cute.... 'Casual' is the keyword that I can best describe with this brand."

Note: Joint evening gown 825300 yen (YSL/Gucci Group Japan), others were Ayu's personal belongings.

Recently, I'm very, very interested with items that are with green colors

She once said that, "I always liked Dior's 'constantly shiny' characteristics". Now Ayu really selected a style that shifted more of its weight towards adorable school-girlish style, totally way out of the blue.

"During my high-school years, of course I'm wearing those ordinary physical education sports blouse + scottish skirts-type of uniform. However that aren't cute at all in my eyes (laughs). Japanese girls perhaps wanted to try cute combination! and out of my expectations, it's very comfortable!"

Ayu's choice for Christian Dior's this time is the punk-style black leather jacket, white blouse and vivid green tie + skirt!

"Recently, I'm really crazy with the green color and that's why with this combination using Dior. I also wished to try the jackets that were made with flexible materials. Beside this set of costumes, I also wear their recent jewellery series where most of them are round and cute. It shouldn't be a bad idea to add on those to this one."

Note: Black leather jacket NT$ 149900, Scottish skirt NT$70650, White blouse NT$28600, Diagonal stripes tie NT$4550, ear rings NT$7100 (All by Christian Dior) . Others were Ayu's personal belongings.


No matter what kind of design, each of them captures my heart.

"Not only in this season, D&G has always been my favorite choice in every season so far. Why? erm... maybe it is the design style, tailorship, coloring or material, they were all flawless! therefore the single products that were my choice were uncountable! acessories, footwear, handbags... I like them all! But the most addictive thing among them should be the dresses I think!"

Ayumi's emotionalities has merged perfectly with D&G's world, while the brand let her enjoyed recreational + lively fashion's excitement. Although there were too many choices for this brand in this season, Ayumi only chose 3 products in considering for the other 2 brands One of them--- this lovely large red coat.

"Actually in personal I will not choose something that's retro or cute single items. But because this coat got some really cute zebra-stripes, it's too lovely so that's why I chose this one."

Note: Red coat 157500 yen, lace dress 130200 yen, boots 63000 yen (all by D&G/D&G Japan). Others were Ayu's personal belongings.


Ayumi's nail painting by Kanako Miura (nail painting specialist)

1. (YSL) the color that easily gives one a horrifying impression, the dark red plus the snakes and the crystals produces a wild yet graceful atmosphere. The combination with the lace dress were very suitable and it is the classic choice for parties.

2. (Christian Dior) the perfect nails for the Dior costumes, the ratio of the black and green color in between the lines were great as if they have the rhythm. The technique of making such texture possible is simply amazing for a nail painting specialist!

3. The unpredictable, extremely hard-to-paint black/white french-style nail painting. But this time it's zebra-stripes which therefore completing the unexaggerating yet mature in-style nails! The idea, of course, comes from the inner side of the red coat which makes them a perfect pair!

End of Translation.

This translation can only be used in AHSF only, if you wished to use the pictures and the article in another online community/webpage/printed materials, kindly PM me for the permission together with the places/books that you wish to publish it.

Translated by Isaac Hiew
1/9/2004
Translated from 'SWEET' fashion magazine (International Chinese language) August edition (Published on 5th August 2004)

Original articles by 'Sweet'

[isaac hiew]

pics 1 and 2

[isaac hiew]

3 and 4

[isaac hiew]

5!

[isaac hiew]

fINALLY IT'S DONE~!

Woot! It's been too long since my last translation.... I hope my "powers" hasn't disappear yet

Well I bought this magazine in Kinokuniya... cost me 21 bucks.... wow that's pretty steep for a guy studying in KL alone without income really.

Then it took me 2 nights to figure out what kind of words should I use to translate this piece of article.... fashion articles tend to have lotsa terms and jargons..... terminologies..... urgh, and that's the last thing that a translator wanna see in his life.

Anyway it's done, I know girl's are gonna crazy with this! Let this be your guide of what to wear in this season! I see this as a gift to you girls!

Enjoy the article! But I would appreciate those "thank yous" send as PMs instead of using replies..... try to reply as questions or comments or discussions, thank you!

to nmskalmn: kindly please help me to document the translation and one more thing, mark the articles so it's been scan by me.... I forgot to told the shop staff to do that when I scan the image. Thanks in advance!

[AyuRlz]

pretty cheap for u. i bought it in kinokuniya for S$16.90 and yet i am not working yet.. but i guess i did not lose out as i like fashihon magazines

[Shiso]

Thanks so much!!!!

COOL SCANS AND FANTASTIC TRANSLATION!

U're the best!

Finally Ayu in some nice clothes! She's been dissapointing me lately with her fashion taste

But I think she's back to good clothes (I so hated the pink outfits she appeared in lately.... )

[007_kenshin]

Wow, thats awesome translating Isaac!
Thanks so much!
Arigatou Gozaimashita!

[Ibitsu Kokoro]

Very Good Job!!!

[Unimatrix Prime™]

Thanks for the massive translation, Isaac

[HanabiChick]

Thanks for the translation

[mnuguyen]

Wow, thank you so much.
Really appreciate it.

[iloveayu04]

Ayu looks great! Thank you for the translation Isaac!

I was curious so I went to www.xe.com and did currency conversion for the prices listed and they are as follows:

Joint Evening Gown: 7,536.47 USD

Black Leather Jacket: 4,432.29 USD
Scottish Skirt: 2,089.00 USD
White Blouse: 845.653 USD
Diagonal Striped Tie: 134.536 USD
Earrings: 209.935 USD

Red Coat: 1,437.76 USD
Lace Dress: 1,188.55 USD
Boots: 575.19 USD

Total: 18,449.384 USD

Can we say ouchie on the pocket book for the rest of us?

[mimika]

haha.....if i make as much $$$ as ayu does.....i won't mind spendin that much..definitely not

OMG!!! look at those heels on the far left the last attachment!!!!!!!! i can't wear those!

[isaac hiew]

wow.... that will be a big pain in the wallet..... not for the faint hearted!

[iloveayu04]

Originally Posted by isaac hiew

wow.... that will be a big pain in the wallet..... not for the faint hearted!

No kidding.. and here I was this whole time complaining about $50 shirts and pants. I guess I don't have room to complain anymore lol

[akatsuki]

NT$ what is it? from where "NT" ?
Thank you very much for the translation! it was interresting ^^

[iloveayu04]

Originally Posted by akatsuki

NT$ what is it? from where "NT" ?
Thank you very much for the translation! it was interresting ^^

NT$ is New Taiwan Dollar.

According to http://www.fact-index.com/n/ne/new_taiwan_dollar.html:

The New Taiwan dollar is the official currency of the Republic of China (on Taiwan). It is issued by the Central Bank of China. The currency was first issued in the early 1950s after the evacation of the ROC government to Taiwan. The first goal of the New Taiwan dollar was to end the hyperinflation which had plague the ROC in its final years on Mainland China. The exchange rate generally hovers around NT$25 = US$1.
In Chinese, the NT dollar is known as the yuan. Subdivisions of the NT dollar are rarely used.

[Kazuko]

*___* waaahh!!! those are really pretti-ful pictures!!!! sank you~~

[isaac hiew]

The magazine was published in Taiwan. Hence some of the currencies were in NT$.