Japan is known for its unique and innovative fashion trends. From Harajuku street-style to modern twists on traditional kimono and yukata, Japanese fashion has been inspiring people around the world for years. In this article, we’ll explore 15 different Japanese-inspired street styles and how you can incorporate them into your wardrobe. From bold and colorful street looks to sleek and sophisticated designs, these styles are sure to turn heads. So, let's get started and explore the world of Japanese street style!
Japan is known for many things- anime, electronics, and of course fashion. Japanese street styles are some of the most awe-inspiring and edgy looks around. They’re known to be trendsetters all across the globe, and of course, that means that they’re getting more and more attention each year. But if you don’t follow fashion trends on a weekly basis, seeing one of these Japanese inspired street styles may make you stop and think a little.
But what are some of the trendiest Japanese inspired street styles? Let’s take a look.
Gothic Lolita
One of the most popular Japanese inspired street styles, Gothic Lolita is a romantic fashion trend is similar to the Western Gothic subculture. This fashion subculture originated in Japan and is based on Victorian-era clothing. It has, however, expanded much farther than its place of origin, becoming very popular across the globe. They focus highly on petticoats, corsets, floor-length skirts, blouses, knee-high socks and stockings, and headdresses.
Hostess/Hosuto
The Hostess and Hosuto style is an adaption of big-label love. They’re known for wearing branded clothing with big-name statuses and large labels. This Japanese street style is all about big hair and gaudy accessories.
Mori Kei
Mori Kei, Mori girl, or Forest girl is a Japanese street style that first showed up around 2006. However, it’s become far more popular over the years. It is known for combining natural colors, layering, handmade items, and lace, which is meant to give the woman a look of living out in the woods.
Sweet Lolita
Sweet Lolita is by far one of the most over the top Lolita styles around. It is known for a child-like allure that leans heavily on bows, ruffles, and light and airy colors. The predominant colors you’ll see are pink, powder blue, and white. However, it isn’t limited to these three as any pastel or plaid color palette would work.
Wa Lolita
This is another style of Lolita fashion that features traditional Japanese elements, such as kimonos and obi belts.
Ero Lolita
Don’t let the subculture or the name fool you- while this style of Lolita clothing is a little bit edgier, it is by no means any less modest. It is known for shorter skirts, corsets, collars, and is often embellished with lace or leather. This is a good Lolita look to pull out your fishnet stockings for.
Kuro Lolita
Black, upon black, upon black, the Kuro Lolita street style is exceptionally monochromatic but easy to pull off for beginners.
Shiro Lolita
The polar opposite of Kuro Lolita, Shiro fashion is an all-white Lolita look.
Decora Kei
Also known as “Decoration Style”, this street style is the epitome of overboard. If accessories are your thing, this is definitely your street style to aim for. With Decora Kei, you wear as many accessories and layers as you can; such as wearing many bracelets, hair clips, and necklaces as possible. This is broken up into groups such as pink decora, black decor, red decor, and rainbow decora where you try to stick within your overall chosen color scheme.
Visual Kei
This is a movement started by Japanese musicians where they have been influenced by punk, cyberpunk, gothic, and glam rock subcultures. They go big with hair and makeup with bright and bold looks.
Oshare Kei
Another music based fashion style, it translates loosely to “fashion conscience”. This style is much more upbeat and bouncy than Visual Kei featuring bright colors and many layers. However, unlike decora fashions, the makeup and accessories tend to be a bit more toned down.
Cult Party Kei
This street fashion in Japan leans heavily on vintage clothing and layering. The staples of this fashion trend are predominantly pastels, red, white, patchwork, chunky knits, and sheer layering.
Natural Kei
Much like the Mori Girl, the visual kei is a fashion style that leans very close to nature. Layers, colors, and textures are all used to give a look of a woman who would reside in a village near the forest.
Pastel Goth
This is a relatively new style that has become more and more popular in Tokyo and around the world. It blends elements of Gothic culture with the use of pastel colors.
Baika/Bozosoku
Otherwise known as a biker style, is based on the use of black in tandem with brighter colors, leather, chains, and plaid. This style is very reminiscent of 80's punk fashion in the US and UK.
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