Catwalk Queen: Kylie Minogue goes geisha for world tour - What do you think of her new look?

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Kylie Minogue goes geisha for world tour - What do you think of her new look?

You could argue that Kylie Minogue is quickly rivalling Madonna in the pop star reinvention stakes. The Aussie singer has just unveiled a completely new look - that of a Japanese geisha - to promote her forthcoming world tour - KylieX2008. But what exactly do you think of her new transformation?

Since the release of the movie adaptation of Memoirs of a Geisha in 2005, we have seen a sudden interest in this traditional Japanese costume. The look was also recently reinvented by the likes of Kelly Osbourne for a bizarre documentary that she did for ITV2, which I am still trying to figure out.

A few years later and Minogue has decided to don a kimono in preparation of her next global tour, which will mark the first since her battle with breast cancer. After yet another failed crack at the US, she is said to have abandoned her plans to conquer the States all together.

"I gave it my best shot. I won't try again," she reportedly told a friend.

What do you think of this new image? Does it suit Kylie or is it too much? Tell us by leaving your comments below.

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Posted by Kimberley Foster on April 30, 2008 10:00 AM in Celebrity Fashion| Hot Trends
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Comments

This is not a new look for kylie. She did the geisha thing for the song GBI (german bold italic) with Towa Tei, back in 1998. She wears full geisha costume in the video whilst trawling through NY. She looks stunning in both though!

Posted by: rob | April 30, 2008 10:46 AM

I dunno cos she's so fresh-faced i tend to prefer her more natural looks, and I think the 'Geisha' look isn't very empowering. But she can carry off most things.

Posted by: Helen | April 30, 2008 11:34 AM

I don't think that this is a good look. If you have not gone through the training and such you should not call your self a geisha. Prosecution to Geisha for being whores started after WWII when anyone could wear white face paint and call themselves Geisha. Geisha are not whores and Strict rules are set in place for them. I don't care what she wears but she should not call herself a Geisha.

Posted by: Emily | April 30, 2008 1:07 PM

Just one of many looks to suppport the visual projections for the tour, and yes one that Kylie has done before....way back! Emily...don't go getting yer knickers in a twist luv, I don't think Kylie's got any intention to go Geisha 24/7....some perspective sweetie, yeh??

Posted by: Wayne - T | April 30, 2008 3:25 PM

Afraid I have to agree with Emily. While Geisha were entertainers, they weren't disco queens. Geisha is an institution to be appreciated.

Posted by: Betsy | April 30, 2008 3:27 PM

Madge stole the whole geisha thing from Kylie she collaborated for sometime samurai and GBI in 97/98 with Towai Tei former D'j from Deelite.

Posted by: tim | April 30, 2008 3:59 PM

Betsy and Emily, do you really intending to argue, as it appears you do, that because geishas were historically highly skilled, that means that fashion/costumes shouldn't be inspired by them? Does this imply we should specifically look for loathesome and unworthy things to dress up as, or did you simply mean to suggest that *Kylie* herself is somehow unworthy to invoke geishas? She may not know the same things a geisha did, but I guarantee she's highly skilled and very hard-working.

If you were actually trying to argue against the fetishisation and othering of the geisha figure through its dissemination in Western pop culture, you've phrased yourselves extremely poorly.

On another note, my personal objection would be that Kylie looks more like a drag queen than like a geisha in that get-up. I'm sure she's aware of that, though, and drag queens are a big fan base of hers, so I guess it's just a difference of opinion.

Posted by: cim | April 30, 2008 5:21 PM

She looks like a scary witch lady, her eyes are creepy.
Also, the whole point of their kimono is leaving what's underneath to the imagination, not showing off your entire chest.

But if she likes it then it's cool. I'd love to be able to dress up like that.

Posted by: Margo | April 30, 2008 7:03 PM

I doubt she's trying to appropriate anyone's culture. She and her stylists probably just think it looks cool. I only said 'not empowering' because they served other people and it's a lot of effort.

Posted by: Helen | May 1, 2008 9:48 AM

Guys Guys. Kylie is an entertainer. And after all it is entertainment. So who better to don the costume than Kylie, and so what if she is flashing a little flesh... kylie does it best...

Posted by: Alfi | May 1, 2008 11:38 AM

Cim: I disagree. There's nothing wrong with what you said about geishas "inspiring" fashion etc, and also Kylie "invoking" geishas. In fact, I am entirely for Kylie dressing like a geisha, except what she is passing for as "geisha", I find rather whore-ish. Kimonos showing the entire chest? Say it looks good on Kylie, or suits her, matches her, whichever - no argument here. But insisting that that's how a real geisha dresses - exposing so much flesh obscenely - seems to be an insult to them.

Helen: I don't think what they did might be considered as "serving", at least not in the way you would say an artist or performer "serves" their audience, because that's what geishas are - artists and performers in their own right.

Posted by: danielle | May 4, 2008 5:35 PM

She looks horrible.. Plain and simple.

Posted by: Wolf | February 3, 2009 4:46 PM