March | 2011 | Marguerite writes Blog

Archive for March 2011

Yo Katy, Minaj et Gaga, Harajuku lovers were doing it before you.

*In light of the recent tragic events occurring in Japan this week, it might be nice to make a tribute to the famed arts and cultures of the trend setting Japanese youth*

It seems what we know as pavement fashion was birthed in the Harajuku (原宿) neighbourhood in the Shibuya Ward of Tokyo, Japan. Its beginnings lie in the early nineties, when the fashion forward youth of Tokyo roamed Harajuku’s main strip religiously every Sunday to socialize and air their hand made ensembles. Today, the Harajuku style has reached out globally, and become a source of inspiration for designers, artists and music production, not to mention gathering hundreds of thousands of tourists annually.

Although what once was an urban subculture has branched out into the mainstream and commercialized somewhat; the Harajuku style still maintains its anti establishment quality: embracing clashing colours, textures and pulling non traditional looks which refuse to be dictated by traditional Japanese society. Harajuku style is exaggerated, extremist and controversial; which lends itself to speculation that it found itself as an outlet for the Tokyo youth, who needed to break away from Japan’s conservative ideologies.
Harajuku style is a melting pot of culture which blends looks from both the East and the West, be it Baywatch California babes to Germanic vamp/goth trends. The famed Tokyo strip features style savvy girls and boys in Neo- Lolita styles with punk, cyber punk (that’s punk avec neon and metallic colours) Ganguro, Kawaii (that’s ‘cute’ in Japanese) Cosplay and Decora. I’ve outlined just a few of the trends and how you might emulate them below:

Firstly, Ganguro. Perhaps the most peculiar of the trends to first hit the Harajuku scene in the early 90’s and coinciding with the impact of American television series, Baywatch, Saved by the Bell, Clueless and 90210 etc etc. So Japanese girls in their twenties tended to combine a deep, orangey tan with bleached blonde, or even orange hair combined with white lipstick and that nineties silver eye shadow. Throw in some eyeliner and facial gems with pastel mini skirts and tie-dye t shirts, and natch, you’re ganguro.

(This trend has travelled as far as Donnybrook and Ballsbridge )

Next up, is the intricately detailed Gothic Lolita, or Gothloli:

(Sorry to break it to you Gaga, but there was Lolita-esque lace, ruffles and chiffon years before you ever gyrated on stage.) Inspired by Japanese Lolita dolls, the style insists upon matte porcelain skin and jet black hair for maximum effect.

There are two ways to go with the Gothloli trend, and stylistically they split amongst the Harajuku youth between a darker vamp tone, or, as pictured, a kawaii take on the little girl trend (where your teddies become your must have accessory.) ‘Kawaii’ is a major influence on Harajuku street style and the unconventional way of wearing clothes that appear to be for a younger person has translated onto the contemporary western high street, where polka dots, oversized bows and hair bands are a fashion must. As Harajuku style has developed, the Gothloli look has refined into a neo-Britannia Punk/Rockabilly style which bares resemblance to Vivienne Westwood’s runway creations.

Finally, Cosplay. An abbreviation of costume play, this trend does what it says on the tin. These outfits as made to shock, and the Tokyo youth parade their best looks pulled from video games, Manga, animated films and even Disney to give the effect of the hyper real. To try at home: costume shops are essential (as are colourful wigs in colours that contrast to your skin tone) to add to the surreal effect. Some cultural favourites include Pokemon and Sailor Moon characters, but the artistic ‘cosplayers’ often incorporate surrealist art through nightmarish makeup combined with ominous robed garments