Fashion blog: Harajuku 101

[hunny_loo]

Harajuku 101


Harajuku style originated among teens on the streets of the Harajuku Shopping District in Tokyo.



Gwen stefani introduced Harajuku street fashion to America.


However, the Harajuku fashion did not start with gwen, and it will not end with her either. The shopping district can be found in the area by the Harajuku train station in Tokyo, Japan.
One girl asked me: "How do you dress Harajuku style?"
And that is a tough question to answer. The reason being, street styles evolve and change 24/7. That's what makes them so facinating.

But the first step to dressing Harajuku, is to understand there are FIVE different TYPES of Harajuku dress. Yes, there are sub-divisions within the Harajuku culture.

Type 1: Gothic Lolita

Gothic Lolita Harajuku style consists of wearing a mix of gothic, feminine and elegant clothes, to emulate the look of living Victorian doll.

Type 2: Punk

Punk Harajuku style consists of 70's London over the top accesories and make-up.

Type 3: Cosplay

Cosplay Harajuku style is dressing up like your favorite cartoon/anime or game character.

Type 4: Decora

Decora Harajuku is very bright and over accesorized. Sometimes even decorated with toys and jewlery.

Type 5: Kawaii ((sometimes called super kawaii))

Kawaii means "cute" in Japanese. The Kawaii Harajuku style of dress is very playful and childlike. It emphasizes toys, ruffles, and pastel colors.

Now that you understand the different divisions under Harajuku street style, its easier for me to give advice on how to emulate it.

Mix and match different fashion genres, dress in layers, get expressive and customize your clothes, over accersorize, and get crazy with your hair and make up!!
Don't think that throwing on a bunch of different items thoughtlessly is Harajuku. A lot of intense thought goes into their outfits.

-hunny_loo

[laura-aap]

nice done!
but.....

gwen stefani did never introduced 'harajuku' anywhere. her girls arn't even japanese... more like chinese.

harajuku isn't a style... it's a place where kids gather.
the styles are all individual and have nothing to do with 'harajuku' they more fall underneath extreme clothing. esp. visual kei, goth and more.

the styles you can find there are: any type of lolita (goth, sweet casual), visual and colorfull kei, decora, dark decora, punk, cosplay, cute costumes like pokemons or others.

so you see, there are more styles and ways to wear a outfit to harajuku and other japanese districts. also, I think the history of harajuku is great to use.


you made this for a website??? if so, you can use google as a great source to find more about extreme fashion in harajuku, tokyo.

I looooove the pics btw! =)

good luck!

[hunny_loo]

Originally Posted by laura-aap

nice done!
but.....

gwen stefani did never introduced 'harajuku' anywhere. her girls arn't even japanese... more like chinese.

harajuku isn't a style... it's a place where kids gather.
the styles are all individual and have nothing to do with 'harajuku' they more fall underneath extreme clothing. esp. visual kei, goth and more.

the styles you can find there are: any type of lolita (goth, sweet casual), visual and colorfull kei, decora, dark decora, punk, cosplay, cute costumes like pokemons or others.

so you see, there are more styles and ways to wear a outfit to harajuku and other japanese districts. also, I think the history of harajuku is great to use.


you made this for a website??? if so, you can use google as a great source to find more about extreme fashion in harajuku, tokyo.

I looooove the pics btw! =)

good luck!

thanks for the info
i'm no expert on harajuku so its good to be corrected

[yugidogz]

Haha, actually those Gwen girls are Japanese, but I think the thing was that some if not all were born in the states? I think only one of them actually spoke Japanese too... XD

"Harajuku style" is mostly about expressing yourself through fashion. Those are the major types, but I think that as long as you are original and creative with your sense of fashion, and comfortable in your attire, you can pull it off. =)

[zaidababy]

The pictures are great! MORE!

[hunny_loo]

alright
i'll update it
i'll inform once updated

[KonaKona]

Wow, these are really interesting styles!

If I only had the guts...

[hunny_loo]

well i wouldn't wear any of these styles in the u.s
people might give you strange looks, but in japan people would just admire what your wearing

[zaidababy]

I like to mix these sorts of styles and tone it down. Harajuku lite?

[gatitamorena07]

i feel enlightened .. i didnt even know how many styles there were.. i liked the punk one very kewl

[hunny_loo]

i like them all!
my favorite would be the cosplay.
you could be someone new everyday!!
:3

-hunny_loo