Japanese clothing style. What Harajuku Style Fans Wear

If you are going to Tokyo in the near future, be sure to check out the Harajuku quarter, because you will not see such a riot of colors, textures and incredible style anywhere else.

Tokyo's Harajuku district is the epicenter of street fashion. The explosion of colors, textures and eccentricity culminates in this small neighborhood, home to the largest concentration of boutiques and shopping centers to suit every taste. Gwen Stefani introduced Harajuku culture to the world public in 2004, but the fashion was alive and well here long before that.

1. Tens of thousands of fans visit this neighborhood every day to see what's hot and spend a fortune on the latest styles and trends.

2. This is one of the most “hipster” areas of Tokyo, where you can see much more colorful and incredibly daring people than in the most fashionable nightclubs.

3. Harajuku has long been a true hub for style and street fashion. A kind of fashion, of course, but still.

4. During the Tokyo Olympics in 1964, people flocked here to see the athletes staying in the Olympic Village.

6. In the late 70s, the Laforet shopping center opened, which became the real “crown” of Harajuku.

7. Even then, Harajuku strengthened its status as the main fashion district in all of Japan.

8. While Harajuku is a perennial destination for all things avant-garde, local styles and trends change at the speed of light.

9. And local youth are trying to keep up with fashion or even influence upcoming trends and tendencies.

10. From cyberpunk to gothic and gothic lolita, from steampunk to decorative art, Harajuku manages to bring together pop culture and high fashion and creates a completely unique atmosphere.

11. Many foreigners who visit Harajuku cannot help but be inspired by its eccentric and cheerful spirit.

Harajuku- a style that originated among teenagers on the streets near Harajuku Station in Shibuya, Japan. Perhaps this is the result of the influence of the American singer Gwen Stefani on many people, but the evolution of style, of course, did not begin with her. Like many "street fashions", this style is difficult to characterize because it is constantly changing and has many variations. There is no clear definition that fits this style, but if you want to dress in Harajuku style, here are some basic guidelines to get you started.

Steps

Origins of the Harajuku style

Mix and match different styles. What is known about the origins of Harajuku (like Halloween in Japan every Sunday) is that it dates back to the time when teenagers in one of the districts began to wear traditional Japanese clothing, especially kimonos and geta sandals. Before that, they wore primarily clothes influenced by Western fashion, and then, mixing traditional and modern approaches, they created new style. Other examples of mixing and matching included punk fashion with school uniforms or gothic clothing with designer clothing. Mixing is encouraged in Harajuku various styles and mismatched colors and patterns, you can do whatever you want, as long as your outfit conveys the personality you have in mind (see Tips).

What do Harajuku style fans wear?

Explore the diversity of fashion in the Harajuku area. It is impossible to pinpoint one “Harajuku style.” Many styles have emerged or evolved on the streets of Harajuku, and many Harajuku girls (and boys) use one or more of these styles for their outfits.

• A “Gothic Lolita” is expected to wear gothic, feminine and elegant clothing to look as much like a living Victorian doll as possible.
• "Sweet Lolita" succumbed to the influence of the Rococo style more than any other type of "Lolita". She focuses more on a child's image, such as features and light colors, as well as themes from children's fantasies. Alice in Wonderland, fruits, sweets and classic fairy tales such as Little Red Riding Hood are the main modern themes of "sweet lolita".
• Japanese punks were inspired by the punk movement that began in London in the 70s, which exalted rebellion in outerwear, accessories, makeup, piercings.
• Cosplay means dressing up as your favorite cartoon/anime character or computer game character.
• Decorative style means bright colors, glitter and accessories from head to toe. You adorn yourself with plastic toys and jewelry, and it's not uncommon to wear so many of them that you can hear them clinking as you move.
• Kawaii (literally translated from Japanese as “cute”) focuses on children’s playfulness - anime characters, ruffles, pastel colors, toys, and so on.
• Wamono means mixing traditional Japanese clothing with Western fashion.

Layered clothing. One of distinctive features Harajuku - layering. Sweaters, vests, jackets, jackets over a blouse over a T-shirt, dresses with leggings and so on. Layering your clothes (or creating a layered effect, like wearing a ruffled dress) will allow you to mix and match a wide range of different styles, adding extra features to your outfit.

Customize your clothing to suit you. Thrift store clothing and DIY style are popular components of Harajuku dressing. Do you love this colorful skirt, but think it would look cuter with a ribbon around it or a more jagged, angular hem? Get out the scissors and glue and make your store-bought items unique. Or take it a step further and make your own skirt. Trimming the fabric to create bolder angles and lines can make even a simple black dress stand out and have fun.

Accessories. Add any eye-catching accessories, such as belts, earrings, hairpins, jewelry and bags. Remember, accessories should be bright and loud, and they should not match your outfit. It's a big word, but in the decorative, partly Harajuku style, accessories adorn the clothing from head to toe, and sometimes even little things like bells are added to give the wardrobe some flair.

Experiment with your hair and makeup. Harajuku style doesn't have to be just about clothing. Braids and other “cute” hairstyles, such as hair coloring, are especially popular.

Reading time: 4 minutes

Japanese youth stands out for its special musical preferences, philosophy, and, of course, clothing, which in turn is closely related to the definition of “street fashion.” Often, Japanese clothing style is associated with kimonos and ethnic elements in clothing, however, this is not at all the case. Since the mid-19th century, Japan has been imitating Western fashion, but despite this, Japanese clothing style still contains notes of something unusual and individual. Modern youth in Japan give their preference to street style, which is distinguished by its shockingness and brightness.

It is worth noting an important thing: each is not just a style of clothing or a way of self-expression, but entire subcultures.

The main features of the Harajuku style are brightness and layers of clothing. This style of clothing, like no other, emphasizes individuality and originality. Things that are made or altered with your own hands are welcomed, and therefore it is almost impossible to notice repeating elements in clothing on young girls and boys.

The more colorful and contrasting clothes layered one on top of the other, the better. An abundance of accessories will not spoil the Harajuku style. The more rings, chains, bracelets and everything else, the better! And of course, you can’t do without bright makeup and an unusual hairstyle with colorful strands.

Ganguro (Ganguro)

A glamorous and unusual style that focuses not on clothes, but on appearance as a whole. A characteristic feature of the style is a tanned face. And this is quite obvious, because “ganguro” means “ black face”.

Hair color should emphasize the tan of the face, so the hair is quite light, and often pink or green. Clothing is no less bright, preferably mini. Shoes must definitely be on a platform; these can be either boots or shoes. The makeup is unusually expressive due to light pearlescent lipstick on the lips, dark eyeliner and white eye shadow. Accessories should be no less bright and glamorous; preference is given to flowers and rhinestones.

Lolita (Lolita)

Something childish, something fabulous and tender. Being like a porcelain doll is the main feature of the Lolita street style. White stockings, low-heeled shoes and a Japanese-style dress, preferably made of material in calm shades. An important attribute of style is powder or foundation, with the help of which Japanese women carefully try to make their face lighter.

The makeup is expressive and at the same time restrained; neat curls of hair are usually pinned up with bows. The choice of accessories is also more restrained - there is very little jewelry, preference is given to handbags, hats, gloves and bows.

Lolita is a calm and at the same time mysterious image, behind which can hide both a very accomplished woman and a harmless one small child.

Cosplay

A style that receives no less attention than all of the above. From the English “costume play” means “costume game”.

It's based on imitation of your favorite anime characters, computer games and manga, by selecting the most suitable costume elements and accessories. Among the representatives of the cosplay style are not only young boys and girls, but also the older generation.

Kawaii (kawaii)

Kawaii style is somewhat similar to cosplay. The basis of the style is to imitate not only anime characters, but also all other cartoon characters, animals and even soft toys. Kawaii has something particularly childish and naive about it. Preference is given to materials in light pastel shades, touching children's accessories and handbags reminiscent soft toys, and the toys themselves are important attribute.

To create a modern Japanese look, you just need imagination and a little courage. Combine incompatible things, for example, a lace dress and an old leather jacket, combine old vintage things with new ones.

Leg warmers and platform boots or bright sneakers will also be very relevant for the Japanese look. Don't forget soft hoodies with animal prints and whimsical toy-shaped bags, as well as bright and colorful accessories. Bright makeup, angular haircuts, and also better hair completely hide it under knitted hat. The image can be based on a Japanese cartoon character.

Surprisingly, it is in Japan, whose residents are famous for their special restraint and reverence for traditions, that perhaps the most informal youth in the world lives. Only here, in broad daylight, you can meet girls and young men with terrifying makeup and completely crazy clothes. True, these fans of bright individuality live only in one district of Tokyo - Harajuku. It is here that crowds of tourists flock, eager to see with their own eyes all the diversity and riot of colors characteristic of the style of the local inhabitants.

Harajuku is a unique fashion center Japanese capital. Large shopping centers and boutiques of world brands are located here. And this is where all the progressive and rebellious youth of the country strive rising sun. Local fashionistas have managed to create their own, very special world, which has its own rules and trends. Gathering every day in the vicinity of Harajuku, young men and women organize a kind of fashion show here, designed to show the diversity of styles and trends popular among Japanese youth.

Today, Harajuku style is one of many different looks. If you think that these young people are just mindlessly putting on whatever they can get their hands on, then you are mistaken. It has its own trends and its own unconditional authorities. Here are just some of the styles that can often be found in Harajuku (by the way, some of them are popular not only in Japan):

— “Lolita” - this trend originated in the 70s. “Lolita” is an entire subculture that is incredibly popular in Japan. The fashion movement really flourished in the 90s, when youth began to use it. musical groups, playing in the visual kei style. The subculture has several directions: “Gothic Lolita”, “Sweet Lolita”, “Punk Lolita”. Young people who popularize this style prefer doll-style clothes, shoes high heels, intricate headdresses and bright makeup.

— “Cosplay” is a style of manga and anime fans. Fans of cosplay real life dress just like their favorite comic book characters. “Cosplay” is a complete copying of the anime style: the closer to the original source the image, the greater the chances of being noticed in the crowd.

— “Wamono” — fans of this trend combine in one set elements of traditional Japanese attire with things typical of Western fashion.

— “Kawaii” is a style created on the basis of a children’s wardrobe. In other words, kawaii fans try to create a cute and playful image.

Of course, these divisions are very arbitrary, because the youth of Harajuku prefer not to stand still, but to constantly create completely new directions. It is no coincidence that this area is called the center of Japanese street fashion. Local creatives know how to surprise: crazy combinations, bright colors and completely unexpected images are par for the course in Harajuku.

Fans have a peculiar Japanese fashion there is even its own version of the famous “Vogue” - the “Fruits” magazine. It was this publication that played a big role in popularizing Harajuku fashion trends not only in Japan, but also in many countries around the world. All the diversity of Japanese street fashion is often combined into one term - the “Fruits” style.

In general, in Japan, the Harajuku phenomenon is studied not only by fashion critics, but also by sociologists. The latter are trying to find out what is the reason for this desire of Japanese youth for self-expression. According to experts, the Harajuku style is a kind of response of rebellious teenagers to the structured and traditional Japanese society. We can say that Harajuku is not just an attempt to surprise and stand out from the crowd of similarly dressed townspeople, but also a desire to declare oneself as a bright individuality with a special inner world.

The average Japanese teenager doesn't care about long reports from boring college clerks. In pursuit of bright new products and unusual accessories, they hardly think about what is behind the craze of the inhabitants of Harajuku.

Looking at this motley crowd, many people think of a comparison with the theater of the absurd. However, Harajuku is still not just youth outrage, it is, first of all, an amazing combination of creativity, the spirit of freedom and an ironic attitude towards oneself and others.

Once on the streets of Tokyo, you can plunge into a colorful palette of all kinds of fashion trends and art trends, in which you can easily get lost. It is quite difficult to talk about any single style, just like counting how many fashion trends there are in Japan. But still, some of the styles are the most noticeable and popular. Let's talk about ten of them.

1. Harajuku (Harajuku). In essence, this is a refusal a certain style. Each of the adherents of this trend strives to distinguish themselves from others as much as possible and express their I in clothes. Thus, they protest against the conservatism and strict morals of Japanese society. Harajuki is the choice of fashion lovers and shopaholics.

Considering that the described style is opposed to any specific trends, it still has certain features. For example, this is the mixing of colors, the contrast of cute and delicate things with sometimes shocking extravagant details, the constant presence of irony and humor in outfits.

2. Decora (Decor). The name of the direction speaks for itself. The main thing is to decorate yourself as much as possible, that is, to decorate yourself. The style is especially common among teenage girls, who happily put on several layers of something pink, generously sprinkle their faces with blush and attach rhinestones to everything they can. Both clothes and body are decorated: from hair to shoes, including even small accessories such as golf, hairpins, ribbons, etc. Cute, soft toys with sweet inscriptions: “Hello Kitty”, “My Melody”, etc. are often complemented by the image. The makeup is seasoned with bright stickers, sparkles under the eyes, and the hairstyle is naive braids or ponytails with a lot of different trinkets on them.

3. Bosozoku (Bozozoku). This slightly aggressive style mixed a militaristic theme with a rocker one. A strange combination, isn't it? However, it does exist in Japan. The result is a slightly futuristic image of a military rocker, or a biker soldier.

4. Gyaru (Giaru). Adherents of this trend contrast the usual standards of beauty with elegant pallor. There are many branches within the style, among which the most extreme is perhaps Ganguro. Imagine girls with thick layers of spray tan, platinum hair, dressed like Californian surfers, with upside-down panda eyes and bright white lips. These weird blondes often dye their hair in unexpected, bold colors, and, echoing Decor's style, use a lot of rhinestones and face stickers.

5. Visual Kei (Visual Kei). The style was born under the playful music of J-POP and rocko-punk. Eccentric appearance, a lot of metallic accessories, punk hairstyles, rich smokey eyes, obligatory piercings, torn clothes, black nails, spiked bracelets and collars are just some of the attributes of this style, common among fans of J-POP, rock punk and electronic music.

6. Dolly Kei (Dolly Kay). This is a fairly new style that developed due to the Japanese fascination with European folklore. The Matryoshka dress in the image of the German Oktoberfest-Look is complemented by complex, traditional Slavic and floral patterns. On the Japanese, these outfits look very unusual and unique.

7. Mori Girl (Forest Girl). The image of a forest nymph or fairy is very popular among Japanese women. Everything is natural, fragile and feminine: natural makeup, long, straight and slightly wavy hair, half-opened braid and often a floral wreath, headband or bow. Several layers of very thin, translucent clothing in the colors of ivory, faded rose, peach, combined with shades of forest, give the image airiness and fragility. The Mori girl reads Spoon Magazine and loves to just wander the streets, travel the world and drink tea.

8. Lolita. The name of the style comes from the scandalous novel by Vladimir Nabokov, and it is based on the image of the nymphet Dolores - insanely sexy, daring and childishly immaculate, modest at the same time. There are several varieties of Lolita style in Japan, but the most common is Gothic Lolita with the image of a Victorian porcelain doll in a dark setting with a contrasting palette. Black dresses with white blouses, gothic accessories, and white or black (usually openwork) knee socks predominate. The image is completed by an unnaturally pale face and, as a rule, black flowing hair with cute bangs.

9. Rockabilly. This style is a tribute to the fashion of the 50s and the work of Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe: polka dot pattern, pencil skirts, nautical motifs, impeccable makeup and hairstyles. Young people have half-buttoned shirts invitingly showing off their chests, as Presley did, and powerful belts gird black jeans or leather pants. Women's clothing should emphasize the beauty of the figure, focusing on a thin waist. Rockabilly girls almost never wear trousers, wearing mostly skirts and dresses. Despite its stardom and Hollywood chic, this style is far from the most popular in Japan.

10. Yukata Style. It is more typical for the older generation, but in Kyoto you can see many young girls wearing yukata - a kind of light version of a kimono. Wearing it is cheaper and easier than changing into a real, national Japanese costume.

Throughout the week, most Japanese fashionistas wear regular work or office clothes. And only on weekends, and especially on Saturday, do they allow themselves to dress up in something unusual and bright. Many Japanese women love excessively short skirts, complete with school uniforms and knee socks, this is how heroines of erotic manga and anime often look. But such images are allowed only in free time from study and work. You can often see girls wearing bright wigs of unnatural shades, with colored lenses and corsets from the times of Marie Antoinette. In any case, the basic rule of fashion in Japan is to wear what you want. It is important to reflect your Self and protest against the gray everyday life.

Photo: saryre.blogspot.ru, tokyofaces.com, kulturologia.ru/