If you like extravagant looks, colours and accessories, you're in the right place! Here you'll find some Harajuku fashion's examples, even about subcultures, and I'll also give you some info on each style in order to recognize them. Japanese culture fascinates me a lot and so does this kind of style, which I tried to understand as much as possible so as to share my knowledge to you, too. In this post you'll also find some pics in order to better identify the Harajuku styles visually. Let's go!

 

Japanese street fashion has always fascinated me, especially concerning Harajuku alternative style. This style is varied and constantly evolving and it's very difficult to define because it often changes its characteristics, even if the basics remain the same. Let's start from the beginning: where does Harajuku Japanese fashion style come from and what is it?

WHAT IS HARAJUKU STYLE?

The Harajuku style is a mix of traditional Japanese and Western cultures: the result is a variety of colours, overlays, very bold makeups and unique hairstyles. Actually, this style has existed since the early 1980s, but in the Western world it was known about 20 years later, in the 2000s.

WHERE TO SEE HARAJUKU STYLE?

The Harajuku fashion name comes from its geographical origin: Harajuku is an area in Tokyo, near Shibuya, and it's defined as the district of fashion and teen trends. There are two main roads there: Takeshita Dori, where you can find a lot of gadget shops and curiosities, and Omotesando, full of high fashion boutiques like Tod's and Prada. Walking around this district is a wonderful experience, and it's definitely on my bucket list!

HOW TO DRESS HARAJUKU STYLE?

SUBCULTURES OF THE HARAJUKU STYLE

The Harajuku style list is huge and can't be defined in a single category because it presents a long series of subcultures, and the most loved is surely the Lolita one (which also have various categories in it). This kind of fashion is based on the Victorian and Rococo styles' characteristics.

Note: Images source: Pinterest

Classic Lolita

This style is the most mature among the Lolita's categories: it's sophisticated and sober, both in colours and patterns, as well as for accessories and makeup.

Sweet Lolita

The word itself says it, it's the sweet and cute side of Lolita's fashion. Colours, patterns and accessories are rather childish: bonnets, bows, ribbons and frills are very appreciated for this style.

The Gothic influence can be seen starting from dark colours. A special mention goes to accessories with religious symbolism, or even in a bat, coffin, spider shape and so on. The makeup is also dark, but not too strong. Parasols, top hats, bows and ribbons in the hair are widely used.

Punk Lolita

This is a mix of punk and lolita styles: they match studs, ties and torn clothes to the sweetness of Lolita fashion; skirts are usually shorter then the ones used in the Lolita style and they're often asymmetrical.

Cosplay

It's so common to find cosplayers around the streets in Japan that cosplay can be defined as a street style in all respects. Who doesn't have a fave character which is part of the comics / manga, anime or video games world? Being a cosplayer means interpreting that character from the way of dressing, to the way of acting.

Credits: Twitter @mam_11_11

Ganguro

The ganguro style has rather kitsch characteristics: tanned skin (almost an orange complexion), hair coloured in bright and bold shades, such as yellow, silver and pink, often voluminously styled. The makeup is very strong and the outfit is made up of very high wedges, skimpy dresses and flashy accessories - let's say that they're quite noticeable. Ganguro are often considered in a negative way, as they are the opposite of the beauty's prototype in Japanese culture.

Credits: Yes Ganguro Girls

Decora

This style was born in the 90s and is characterized by an unrestrained use of accessories: they wear so many of them to make noise when they walk. How to choose the right accessories? Well, if they're for children, they're perfect. The main colour is pink 'cause it's the "kawaii" shade, which means "cute".

 

Bosozoku

It's the aggressive style associated with motorcycle gangs, the classic unsavory boys; the outfit is made up of a sort of uniform with prints and slogans on it, jacket and baggy pants.

Credits: Gsjoux93

It's not uncommon, however, to find different combinations of these styles around the Tokyo's streets, the clothes are unique and original, so there's never an outfit identical to another one, the code word is personality!

IS HARAJUKU STYLE DEAD?

 I really don't think so. Harajuku style is so varied and so ingrained that although all the fashion trends come and go, this kind os style remains. At best, it can change a little, change some points, but I don't think it will ever die. If it died, as I see it, it would also be the death of individuality, creativity and personality.

 

 

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