S T A R C H Y U
Hello!
↳ Otome Kei • A maiden-like fashion and lifestyle with a focus on more traditionally feminine hobbies that originated in the 1970s. This style is often referred too as a predecessor of modern lolita fashion. You’ll typically see similar but simple dresses and skirts without the same cupcake or defined a-shape style like you do with lolita.
Honestly, I think Otome has really stuck to me because it's one of those styles that has a more- "lifestyle" element to it than a lot of other fashions not even just in Japan but in western styles as well. I think I rEALLY stick to this one and admire it so much because it seems to be an almost more casual mori kei with lolita fashion elements and that is just the perfect sweet spot for me. A focus on layering, not too many rules BUT a focus on femme aesthetics and traditions and values, really is my cup of tea so Otome has landed itself on my radar.
↳ Gyaru/Gal • A rebellious style popping up in the 1970′s that focuses on “girly glam” elements with inspiration from Western styles. Gals typically adore “man-made” beauty things such as long eyelashes, long decorated and colorful nails, big hairstyles, and earlier gals loved bleaching their hair though modern gyaru has seen an abundance of support for natural colors. Typically a more sexy than cute style with an abundance of substyles and sister styles.
As someone who spends a good chunk of the year with the lovely crew over at Papillon magazine doing art for a dedicated Gal piece, I would hope it would be fairly obvious that I ABSOLUTELY LOVE GYARU! I love everything about it- The community, the people, the lifestyle, in the West, and in Japan- Gyaru has a very special place in my heart and I really feel like it's because of who I am as a person. I'm mixed, and a fashion where darker skin tones are preferable and welcome was honestly what drew me in immediately, plus, the inclusivity and the communities' willingness to LISTEN and hear and change as times change. There are SO MANY options when it comes to substyles, how you want to do things, and elitism is almost non-existent! I've NEVER had an issue with it and a lot of the gals I've spoken too while being in this fashion, while they do have their fair share of horror stories, nobody's really complained to me about a run-in with a Gal elitist. If you like fun with friends, dancing, and sexy over the top looks with a touch of sass and glamour, Gyaru IS THE WAY to go.
↳ Lolita • Lolita fashion is a subculture from Japan that is highly influenced by Victorian clothing and styles from the Rococo period. The fashion focuses on modesty with cute and elegant aesthetics. The three big styles are Gothic, Classic, and Sweet.
So, I'm still getting reacquainted with Lolita Fashion. I bowed out and it fell out of interest to me while I was going through my emo phase in middle school. It was incredibly out of my price and size range and I just fell out of touch. As this questionable at best year comes to a close though, I'm very thrilled to say I'm adoring refamiliarizing myself with this fashion. Especially the classic variety. I'm a little disappointed that I was so quick to ignore it. 2020 has shown me that the lolita community has done nothing but grow and keep up with time as it's passed. The community itself is full of some of the most talented, funny, inspirational, and amazing people I've had the pleasure of meeting and the fashion itself is so versatile and ever-changing and evolving that I would think it possible to have a place for everyone. Plus, this is a more rule-heavy fashion, and I really adore fashions that have almost strict or "common" rules/expectations when it comes to assembling coords. Rules are made to be challenged, I've always believed that, but something about the way lolita remains timeless is definitely something that truly speaks to me.
↳ Mori Kei • Mori kei is a Japanese fashion started by blogger Coco/Choco in 2007. Mori means “forest” and the focus of mori is to look like you live in the woods with a focus on natural and earth. Mori has rules and “guidelines” that call to combine interesting fabric textures with a multitude of layers. The color palette for mori is generally earthy and very soft.
Aaaa my darling Mori Kei-
↳ Fairy Kei • Fairy Kei is a sweet cute childish style based on 1980s fashion. It is a celebration of pastels and soft sweet colors with looser rules. This style pulls its inspirations from shows like My Little Pony, Care Bears, etc.
↳ Larme Kei • Larme Kei is a more loose style focused on a more “academic” girly aesthetic. Most coords will be seen with berets or jackets paired with longer more formal skirts and dresses and the color palettes are numerous. The style itself is fairly vague and loose. Popularized by (and very influenced by) the magazine LARME.
↳ PEEPS • A fairly new sporty goth style popping up in the past few years inspired by 90s sports fashion combined with pastel goth elements and trad goth elements. Popularized by the magazine PEEPS.
↳ Natural Kei • A soft feminine fashion believed to have also emerged in the 1970s with a focus on accentuation and celebrating femininity. If mori is the forest dweller, natural kei wearers are from the village. Less layers, while holding onto similar color palettes. Natural kei is often confused with mori but Natural kei is its own thing. Natural kei is simplistic and romantic with the goals to APPEAR simple but actual coords can be quite detailed.
"To love is to see the face of god"
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