Kyoto Kick
Inspired by the mod kimonos of Rudi Gernreich
Formerly Pilot Barbie®, Kyoto Kick has received a total makeover. Her short bob has been trimmed, and her
original face screening completely removed and repainted with artist quality acrylics and sealed. Her makeup includes
the same hot pink and chartreuse colors as her mod kimono style minidress. She has beautiful eyes with heavy pale
lids, thick liner and generous lashes as well as pale pink pouty lips.
Her dress is made of a fun pink Hawaiian print cotton, completely lined in silk. It is not removable. Over
her dress she wears a pale lavender and black obi, tied with a neon chartreuse ribbon. Her pink polka-dotted hose
and matching yellow-green platform shoes make her really mod! She carries a cute pink parasol, with yellow daisies
similar to the floral pattern of her dress.
The idea behind Kyoto Kicks mini-kimono was inspired by the awesome designs of Rudi Gernreich, an Austrian born
designer in the high mod era of the 1960s, who really defined the American mod style. Partos of his 1963 and 1969
collections included Japanese style dresses, but made in mini, with hot colors, bold geometric shapes, and fun
touches like combining vinyl and brocade.
Photos taken from "The Rudi Gernreich Book" by Peggy Moffitt and William Claxton, Taschen, 1999
Click to see Kyoto Kick's mod sister, Tokyo Twist
