Cute, kitschy inaugural Hello Kitty Con leaves fans purring in delight

Hello Kitty cuteness is taking over Little Tokyo in downtown Los Angeles as the city hosts the first Hello Kitty fan convention. Hello Kitty Con is expected to draw some 25,000 fans over four days. Long lines snaked through the sold-out event Thursday at the Geffen Contemporary at the Museum of Contemporary Art, where conventioneers could pose for photos with Hello Kitty, get permanently inked with her image, hear lectures about her popularity and shop for exclusive products created for the mouthless cat character’s 40th birthday, which falls on November 1.

We’re getting sentimental looking at all the old bags and things we used to have.

Janet Tongtip

Scores of fans came in costume, wearing Hello Kitty dresses, cat ears and the character’s trademark red bow. Among them was 23-year-old Ana Sanchez, who was decked out head-to-toe in Kitty attire, from the whiskers painted on her face down to her printed Hello Kitty sneakers. Photo possibilities abound: There are couture fashion creations inspired by Hello Kitty, an entire home outfitted in licensed products, and many vintage items, including the Hello Kitty coin purse issued in Japan in 1975 that launched her popularity. For its first U.S. appearance, the tiny, vinyl purse is displayed with all the pomp of the Hope diamond. It sits atop a pile of blue velvet inside a glass case rimmed with red ropes, all alone in a room manned by security guards.

I grew up collecting Hello Kitty and being in love with her.

30-year-old Grisel Esquivel, while having a Hello Kitty face etched onto her wrist

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