As it relates to fashion in Japan, Harajuku girls are one of the most popular types of Japanese fashion icons, and are known throughout the world for their original costumes. They name originated from Tokyo’s Harajuku district, and then became popular in the Western world by Gwen Stefani’s 2004 album ‘Love.Angel.Music.Baby.’
The Harajuku girls are actually Japanese teenagers that meet every weekend in Takeshita Street, and then dress up as Lolita-esque caricature baby dolls. These teenage girls can be seen wearing a wide variety of fashion styles such as: Decorah, Second-Hand Fashion, Gothic Lolita, Wamono, Gothic Maid, and Cyber Fashion.
Photo by wili_hybrid on Flickr
These girls are often times seeing walking around Tokyo wearing a variety of outfits that have been matched with traditional Japanese clothing, like fans and Kimonos. There are some Harajuku girls that will wear fake blood and bandages, in addition to carrying around things that represent modern fashion in Japan, such as: photo stickers, hello kitties and cell phones. ‘FRUiTS,’ which is a well-known street fashion magazine in Japan, has been known to feature the different clothing styles of the Harajuku girls.
Because of the growing popularity of this particular style of fashion in Japan, there are quite a number of fashionistas that want to know why it is that every weekend these girls dress up in outrageous outfits. One can easily say that it is their love for fashion; however, that is not the case. Not only does dressing up in these unique outfits allow the Harajuku girls to spend their spare time shopping for new outfits, but it also allows them to escape the very strict rules of the Japanese society that is very much male-dominated. These unique dressing styles are symbolic of the female gender oppression, and the girls’ attempt to be able to express their independence and individuality.
The Harajuku girls have a tendency to compete with each other, in order to determine who can look less human and more iconic. These teenage girls in Tokyo look very much like the characters from a Manga comic book, or from a Japanese Anime series. On the other hand, these girls are also very beautiful, polite and sociable. Keep in mind that if you are ever in Tokyo and ask these girls to take a photo with you, they would be more than happy to.
In conclusion, the Harajuku district is the place to be on the weekends if you want to see the best fashion in Japan. This is the ideal place in Tokyo where you will be able to see a unique combination of the fashion of modern and traditional Japanese society.
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3 comments
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Buck Inspire
January 8, 2012 at 2:24 am (UTC -4)
Fascinating! Didn’t realize it was females breaking free from their male dominated society. L.A.M.B! Haven’t been, would love to visit. Any more free tickets to Japan?
World Traveler
January 12, 2012 at 11:20 am (UTC -4)
Not from what I am seeing
But maybe they will change their mind.
Thad P @ thadthoughts.com
February 20, 2012 at 7:45 am (UTC -4)
Very interesting. We lived in Taiwan for 15 years and saw many fashion trends from Japan very quickly, especially among girls/women.
Japan Bound - Part 1
February 9, 2012 at 7:27 pm (UTC -4)
[...] fan or big into video games, so that part of the culture didn’t excite me. My only knowledge of Japanese street fashion was Bape, so that wasn’t a determining factor either. The main thing that drew me in about Japan [...]