White + Rose

For those of my readers who read manga and want to venture off into the world of comics, I've come across a series that I think is a wonderful transition: Wayward. Issue #1 Standard Cover (the one I have) Issue #1 Variant (love this cover) Issue #2 Standard Cover I loved the first issue and I loved the second just as much. This comic had a gathering of fans before the release but it was after the first issue release that I came across it. I love how it features certain aspects of manga I'm familiar with - school and Japanese mythology. Definitely not straying too far from manga but still distinct enough to call it a comic. I would not recommend this to younger readers - it is rated M for Mature and this rating is actually on the back cover. Initially I had no clue why it was rated mature except for the amount of violence featured in the first issue but the second issue raises self-harm and mutilation. Because of the sensitive nature of this theme, I now understa...

I finally got my hands on some sheer socks from Tutuanna through Mint Kismet Commodities! They're super cute and it'd be great for summer. I'm anticipating quite a hot summer this year because last year was relatively cool (from what I heard because I spent most of my time in the US... and it was winter there). This was the contents of the bubble envelope. The packaging is so cute and they had attached their card onto it. Shipping wasn't anything special: just the usual international shipping but I loved the packaging. They had even stuck a Rilakkuma sticker on the envelope (picture not taken). The service itself was great. They were quick to communicate and had emailed when they had shipped my order. Overall: 5/5. I'd purchase from them again. They don't only sell socks but also Swimmer products, cute stationery and the like. These were the socks I had purchased. I did have a chance to buy some Tutuanna socks when I went to SMASH! because Electric Al...

While I was attending the Harajuku fashion panel at SMASH!, they were discussing a style that I wasn't aware of: Cult Party Kei (as well as something called Magical Girl, but that's not what I'm talking about at the moment). I came in a little late so I didn't hear the whole talk. Some describe Cult Party Kei as a style very similar to Dolly Kei but less of the Eastern European patterns and more solid and sheer fabrics. In both Dolly Kei and Cult Party Kei, there's lots of vintage clothing and layering. Personally, I think the difference is that Dolly Kei looks more like a matryoshka doll and Cult Party Kei looks like a rag doll. Dolly Kei Cult Party Kei The style originally came from a store called 'Cult Party' but now 'The Virgin Mary' has taken over. 'Grimoire' also sells garments that could be incorporated into Cult Party kei. With Japanese fashion, it's a lot of mix and match and you can experiment. Excluding Lolit...

I've written a short blog post on Kyary before. She's the representative for this recent Harajuku trend called "Aomoji-Kei" (青文字系）which literally means blue ink type. One definition circling around the internet is:  “Basically, ‘aomoji-kei’ is about wearing whatever you want to wear without caring whether or not you look attractive, cute, or sexy. Many times, people who wear aomoji-kei fashion tend to switch between different styles a lot just depending on whatever they like and what they think is fun, so that’s why it may seem like there’s no definitive look for it :)” There's a shorter definition that could be made: "freestyle fashion". Even though this trend is supposed to be something you do without caring, it's mainly youthful and cute. When I first read about this, all that was going through my head was "I've been doing it for years then... ". I honestly think Japan is a bit strange (well, it always was) for making this a tre...

Gyaru (Gal) fashion is probably one of the older styles in Japanese street fashion. There are many branches: kogal, ganguro and himegyaru to name a few. It reached the peak of its popularity in the 1990s and has declined since the 2000s. Some Gyaru brands include: Liz Lisa and Cecil Mcbee but it isn't not limited to those brands as luxury brands are also coordinated in gyaru (Gucci, Chanel, etc). Gyaru is simply the Japanese take on western fashion with the bleached hair, dramatic makeup and the artificial tans, appearance-wise. Wigs, false eyelashes and artificial nails are also used in excess. Circle lenses are also used to create the illusion of larger eyes. However, Gyaru fashion has taken a turn lately and become more natural, opting for darker hair.  Gyaru, unlike most styles, doesn't have to be all glam or just cutesy. You can be cute or sexy or even both at the same time. You have a lot more choice when wearing this style of street fashion compared to many of the ...

Caroline Charonplop Kyary Pamyu Pamyu is her full stage name but it's usually shortened to Kyary Pamyu Pamyu and then shortened even more to just 'Kyary' (きゃり）. Her real name is 竹村 キリコ (Kiriko Takemura). She was originally a fashion blogger but moved onto modelling and singing, even as far as launching her line of false eyelashes.  I love her fashion sense, regardless of whether she is modelling clothes picked out by a stylist or clothes that looks like she'd wear everyday. She's so cute and so quirky, it's difficult not to like her. Most Japanese models for street fashion are picked out from the streets, or anywhere. They'd never make it on the runways in the west because there are different standards.  I do warn that if you really want to watch her music videos, they're very weird and kind of mess up your mind with creepy cuteness.  She also has a tendency to make strange faces to emphasise her cuteness. Obviously most of the things she wears for s...

It's been a while since I've written one of these posts... Fairy Kei is a pastel and neon 80s Revival street fashion with influences from Decora and Sweet Lolita. It is perhaps one of the more recent styles to pop up in Japanese street fashion and often features children's cartoons such as My Little Pony and Carebears. So bring out the legwarmers, the tulle petticoats or polka dot skirts, converses (or your docs... any 80s shoe) and go OTT with accessories such as fuzzy star clips with dangling charms, little bows, etc. From kawaiigoods.com Fairy Kei allows you more freedom to dress as you could lean towards Sweet Lolita or Decora or even have some punk in their outfit. There is no large set of rules one must abide by. As long as it's mainly pastel and 80s inspired, it's Fairy Kei. This style was one of the styles featured on Australia's Next Top Model, cycle 6. Some Fairy Kei featured on Japanese magazines... Have you fallen in love with Fairy...

My mid-year exams are finally over! I'm not sure what I feel about how I did but that's not what I'm here for. I originally planned to add another entry into formal dresses but that will have to wait as I'm still thinking about how I'm going to make my dress. Instead, I'll be adding another entry into alternate fashion. Lolita has to be one of the most well-known styles. When I say "Harajuku", this style will be one of many styles that pop into people's minds. It's probably one of the older styles too as it goes back to the 70s/80s. Of course, there are many different styles of Lolita - just like how there is in Goth.  If you are unfamiliar about Lolita, please don't relate it to the book by Vladimir Nabokov . It has nothing to do with it. Lolita fashion is about modesty (usually...) and not about dressing up like girls to attract pedophiles. Lolita fashion is based on Rococo and Victorian fashion, so it isn't really unique but ...

Hello there!  I thought I would do a short post on Dolly Kei since it is so similar to Mori Girl - those styles pretty much revolve around vintage clothing. So basically Dolly Kei is mainly focused on an ethnic look. So it's more like an Gypsy/ Eastern European/ Russian doll look. To be honest, I'm pretty fond of this look - I think it's pretty cute.  Don't you think it's rather cute? The colours are more vivid than Mori girl, so you have your forest greens, reds and purples, maroon but they're not over-the-top bright. You also have some earthen tones like brown and gold. So, if you want to dress in Dolly Kei, think of Matryoshka dolls. Photo credits: here & here

I've been meaning to do a series of posts which focus on alternative fashion and so this will be the first post. I'm also aware that most alternative fashion are also lifestyles but I won't be going into that. This is my interpretation of the styles, so I'm deeply sorry if I get something wrong (some of them have strict rules). Partly why alternative fashion interests me is because fashion is used for making a statement. Just like mainstream fashion, they also have trends too but mainstream fashion relies on the runways to create trends. Mori girl, 森ガール, (lit. forest girl) is a Japanese subculture (so it's more like a lifestyle). It focuses on being "natural" and I'd describe it as whimsical, woodland fairy-like and perhaps grandma-chic. It's basically  vintage clothing, knits and crocheted lace, loose-fitting dresses that reach below the knee (at least nothing way above the knee). Mori girl tends to be quite neutral in colour, so earthen to...