Harajuku is not a trend, not a style, not a fad. It is EXTREME fashion where Japanese teenagers, boys and girls alike, take fashion to the extreme. Some of them may seem like they're merely just wearing a halloween costume and trying to make a statement, now these are the ones that are still learning or just not really harajuku. Even Gwen Stefani has not revealed the realities of her back up dancers who she claims are harajuku.
Harajuku is almost cult-like, in fact, there are harajuku cults in Japan where they live, eat, breathe fashion, literally!Lets not get into that. Harajuku girls and boys make over the top runway designs look wearable because they amplify every aspect of what they wear. For example, a bow headband would mean wearing an enormous bow on your head for a harajuku girl.
I find their passion inspiring because they put their heart, soul and time into being a harajuku every single day. I love being a fashionista but seeing myself as an extremist like the typical harajuku girl seems a bit daunting.
There is no individual type of harajuku girl because they're all unique in their own way as they literally wear their personality in a highly obvious manner. However, I do have a general non-exhaustive list of certain types of harajuku girls.
1) Gothic Lolita
The real deal for goth chicks. They don't necessarily listen to goth music but they make fundamental goths look mediocre. Gothic Lolita take inspiration from vintage victorian fashion.
2) Sweet Lolita
This is sort of common and those who attempt to be like a harajuku girl gets inspiration from this type of harajuku because the style is very much inspired by fairytales and disney films like Cinderella, Rapunzel, Minnie Mouse, Little Red Riding Hood and many more. This style tends to be very child like and pig tails are commonly used to follow this style.
3)Decora
This puts Lady Gaga to shame. Harajuku girls who belong to this category will wear anything and I mean anything from top to bottom. They usually wear plastic toys and more industrial items are coming in season now.
4)Wamano
This is what you can call normal out of all that I have mentioned because this is style is basically a fusion of western fashion with traditional japanese wear, sort of like kimonos with leggings.
5)Punk
Another music influenced style, more or less like the gothic lolita but less feminine. This is accompanied by endless piercings and tattoos to reflect the teen's rebellious attitude. This fashion is inspired by London's punk movement. Fashion globalisation is the way forward!
6)Kawaii
This means "Cute" in Japanese and I must admit that I tend to use this term a lot whenever I find something adorable. This cuteness is taken literally in this form of style because people who belong to this category will dress like their favourite cartoon characters alongside with pastel coloured accessories and carrying around toys with them. Yes they actually carry around teddy bears in full display. This is probably where Lady Gaga got her inspiration from when she decided to carry a teapot around with her wherever she went.
7)Cosplay
These are usually fans of anime cartoons or computer games where they dress up like their favourite character which they develop a strong devotion to.
Well I must say I am intrigued by the fundamental passion for fashion displayed by the youth of Japan but instead of being a follower of the Harajuku clan, I think I may start wearing Harajuku-inspired looks because I have actually fallen in love with these extremists!
I will be updating a post soon on Harajuku inspired looks so instead of going full on Harajuku on yourself, you can opt to wear a tamer and wearable version of it. In fact, this is called "Gyaru" which means "gal" in Japanese but it actually refers to a type of Japanese fashion which I find to be a mellow yet fashionably quirky version of the Kawaii Harajuku girl!
Meet the Gyaru girls!
Yet there are still different types of Gyaru girls which will make this post off-topic so we shall keep that for a different post!
Till then!
xoxo
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