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What Is Harajuku Fashion? A Brief Introduction

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Harajuku's fashion is a topic that could take years to fully deepen and appreciate. This brief guide will introduce you to the styles available in this youthful trend center.

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'Harajuku' and 'kawaii' are two words that found their way overseas in the early 2000's, and the meaning of both has kept evolving since then - notably thanks to the rise of Japanese artists such as Kyary Pamyu Pamyu and Babymetal and from the fashion worn by Western artists like Lady Gaga and Nicki Minaj, among others.

But what exactly is Harajuku fashion? Here is a brief overview of the meaning of this term and what Harajuku fashion implies.

Why is Harajuku a Trend-Setting Area?

Located between Shinjuku, the heart of the metropolis Tokyo, and Shibuya - the center of youth culture, Harajuku has been a lively gathering place of the young people and artists. There are many well-established clubs, art galleries and art studios in the area, as well as unique cafes where artists and youth with an individualistic style enjoy hanging out.

What Is Harajuku Fashion? A Brief Introduction

Takeshita Street, although hidden behind the high buildings lining the main Omotesando Avenue, is a popular area full of small original brand shops, selling truly unique items, from clothing to accessories, created by young Japanese designers. There are also convenient 100 yen shops and shops selling sweets such as colored cotton candy and crepes, in front of which you will always see long waiting lines. All these small shops which are always attracting many young customers give Takeshita-dori an exciting, youthful vibe.

The Omotesando Avenue, connecting the area around Harajuku Station and the Omotesando - Aoyama area, is known as "Tokyo's Champs Elysee" and is full of famous brand shops.

What Is Harajuku Fashion? A Brief Introduction

Laforet Harajuku is a large shopping center located on this street, home to most of the unique fashion brands that made Harajuku famous. To find out more about the innovative styles born thanks to this store, please check out the following article: Laforet Harajuku - The Place For Exclusive, Innovative Style!

What Is Harajuku Fashion? A Brief Introduction

While Laforet Harajuku may be appealing especially to customers in their twenties, the Tokyo Plaza Omotesando-Harajuku, opened right across the street from Laforet, addresses a clientele in their thirties. A few more meters away in the direction toward Aoyama, you will encounter Omotesando Hills, a complex commercial facility that appeals to a more mature clientele. Events such as VOGUE's Fashion Night Out and other fashion shows are held right here at Omotesando Hills, making it a facility always in the center of attention.

No matter their age and their interests, fashion conscious people are attracted to Harajuku, and for a good reason! It is a vibrant, trend-setting area, reflecting Japan's representative contemporary styles.

Harajuku Fashion and Popular Movements

In the past three decades youth fashion in Japan has undergone thousands of changes - there are simply too many styles to count in a single article. That being said, there are two distinct trends that have been representative for Harajuku fashion since the late 80's - early 90's: eccentric pop fashion and Lolita fashion.

The Characteristics of Eccentric Fashion - Even Sweets Are Fashionable!?

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The eccentric pop fashion which is currently popular in Harajuku consists of clothing with pastel colors or neon colors, with unusual or unexpected accessories, such as flamingo headbands or seashell shaped backpacks. Hair dyed in pastel colors or streaked with hair chalk is popular with both men and women, and there almost seem to be no rules as to what or how many patterns one can combine in a single outfit.

The defining point of this style is being unique, so finding what suits you best and putting together your dream outfit is a process that the followers of this aesthetic take seriously. Popular brands for this style of fashion include SPINNS, jouetie, galaxxxy, Candy Stripper, Jeremy Scott, and many, many more.

Just Like a Princess! The Features of Lolita Fashion

Lolita fashion refers to the style that features Victorian, Edwardian, sometimes even Georgian inspired dresses that come in a variety of light colors and patterns, and with plenty of frills and lace. These outfits are not for the lazy as they require panniers, bloomers, stockings, bonnets or headbands and sometimes corsets and more in order to pull off a polished look.

There are several subsets to the Lolita genre, among which the most common is the Gothic Lolita. Although very similar to the regular Lolita style, the Gothic style comes with an emphasis on the dark side of fashion. Black, burgundy, grays - imagine a cute take on Victorian mourning fashion and you will have a reasonably good idea of what this style entails.

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Lolita and Goth-Loli fashion are recently becoming popular also overseas. One reason these fashions became popular around the world is the rise in popularity of Visual Kei bands, such as X Japan and Vamps, as well as many other bands. Many of the members of the Visual Kei bands don Gothic-rocker style and similar costumes for their performances. The appeal of this aesthetic helped spread this style around the world.

Famous Lolita and Goth-Loli brands include h.NAOTO, Angelic Pretty, BABY, THE STARS SHINE BRIGHT, metamorphose temps de fille, and more.

If you wish to find some items of Harajuku fashion for yourself, the first place to go is Laforet Harajuku. Its six floors full of small, trendy shops offer the newest fashion items and you might want to check which of the many styles showcased here looks best on you.

The Freedom to Wear What You Want

What Harajuku fashion symbolizes is the freedom to wear and be what you want. All the styles born in this area are defined by a creative approach to fashion, so that one's style becomes an expression of one's personality. Visit Harajuku and you might find yourself positively inspired by the uniqueness of the styles worn by the young people hanging out in this area.

Written by

A Japanese girl who loves Japanese Rock music especially L'Arc-en-Ciel and VAMPS! L'Arc-en-Ciel、VAMPSをこよなく愛する20代です。全国どこでもライブを見に飛び回ってます。出身は山口県下関市です。 日本のロックミュージックと山口の知られていない魅力を中心に、様々な魅力を世界に発信していきたいと思います!

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