Vice Style

Vivienne Westwood t-shirt and necklace, American Apparel pants, Giza ring

People who do fashion-type things when they go to Japan, will know who Mademoiselle Yulia is already. She has blue hair and is one of those DJ, designer, stylist, singer people, know everyone, be everywhere people. This sounds lame, but essentially her presence signifies party time. Probably more unusually, she recently launched her jewelry line, the stuff in these pictures, it's called Giza. The music she DJs matches the blue barnet and hallucinogenic wardrobe. It's a weird mix of Gypsy, Indian and Turkish music alongside the usual J-pop and European dance. When we met up with her in Stockholm the other week to photograph Yulia in the contents of her suitcase, she greeted us dressed as a post-modern Fred Flintstone manga from outer space, it was a totally hot look - obviously.

Jeremy Scott t-shirt and skirt, Giza jewelry

Vice: Is that your real hair?
Yulia: Yeah, but people always think it’s a wig. I colour it myself every two weeks, it’s like my manicure. High school in Japan is super strict, you can’t look or wear anything too crazy, so when I finished, I started coloring my hair in all kinds of different colors—red, purple and orange. But now people recognize me for my blue hair, so I’ve kept it blue.

Cassette Playa dress, Giza jewelry

You're in a band too right?
Do you know the Plastics? They were quite big in the 70s and used to hang out with Devo. Well, they asked me to join the band for their reunion tour, so I’ve played a couple of shows with them in Japan. Tokyo, Osaka and some other cities and festivals.

Did you DJ or what did you do?
I was singing, actually.
 
So, does this mean there'll be a new Plastics album soon?
No, it was only a reunion tour. But I’m going to sing on my next album, instead of releasing another mix CD. I’m working on it now, it’s a long process but I hope I can release it early next year.

Marjan Pejoski for Dress Camp top, skirt and jewelry

Marjan Pejoski for Dress Camp top, skirt and jewelry

Gerlan Jeans dress, Giza jewelry

KTZ dress, Mademoiselle Yulia for WeSC headphones, Giza jewelry

I want that dog bone necklace of yours!
Haha, thank you! I made it myself and will start producing it for my jewelry label, Giza. It’s inspired by rockabilly, I’m very into rockabilly at the moment.

Rockabilly is a good look, especially with a Japanese twist. Have you seen Wild Zero?
Yeah! With Guitar Wolf.

I need to watch it again, nothing beats Guitar Wolf saving the world from an alien zombie invasion with their guitars, while screaming, "Let's go! Lock 'n' Looolllllll!!" Anyhoo, tell me more about Giza.
About a year ago I was walking around shops looking for jewelry, and decided I needed to do my own. So far I’ve done two collections inspired by the mysticism of ancient Egypt, and my third will be out this fall. Some is handmade and the rest is produced in a Japanese factory. I want to start selling it outside Japan soon.


PHOTOS: JONNIE CRAIG
STYLING AND GROOMING: MADAME YULIA