Loliko
Fashion- beyond the globe
Before the blog- word bank
Suffix "kei" - if you are new to Japanese Fashion, you must be very confused by the word "Kei". Kei in Japanese means styles or groups. You can replace the word kei with fashion, eg: Decora fashion ( Decora Kei )
Harajuku - Harajuku is an area in Japan, known for different types of fashion styles and lots of colours! The name Harajuku has persisted due to the earlier naming of the nearby JR East Harajuku Station.
Soooo decora?
The word Decora, Decora kei, comes from the word decoration- or any other variation of the word decorating.
Decora is known for its excessive amount of accessories and colours. Although colours doesn't always depend in Decora kei fashion, meaning that you don't have to be wearing rainbow colours from head to toe, but more subtle colours if you prefer and you could still be dressed in the decora fashion.
Because of medias, decora fashion has expanded and is no longer only worn in Harajuku but is also worn in countries outside of japan.
-@/twinkle.pink_ on Instagram says "
私は小さな頃からカラフルが好きでした。
だんだんとカラフルなものを身につけて、気づいたら沢山アクセサリーを付けるようになりました。そんな時デコラを知り、私のファッションジャンルはデコラだと知りました"
Translation- I have loved colorful since I was little. I gradually wore colorful things, and when I noticed, I started to wear a lot of accessories. At that time, I learned about decora and my fashion genre was decora "
The clothing of decora is less important than its colors and themes, however, there are some popular clothing items within the style.
Decora is inspired by cartoon characters from the ’80s, and the aesthetic of 80s shows and/ or themes. Characters like Strawberry Shortcake, Hello Kitty, Care Bears, Pokemon, and The Smurfs are all popular themes in Decora outfits. T-shirts with these themes, or hoodies, are commonly used because of the cute and colourfull designs that the clothing depicts.
Tutu skirts are also popular in the style, along with legwarmers, arm warmers, and knee-high socks. Most people will layer things like socks on top of tights leggings etc to show volume in the outfits, but also to incorporate more colours. Accessories will also be layered for the same reason, rings, bows and hairpins. You name it!
Popular brands like 6%dokidoki are well known for making accessories as well as clothing to fit this cute style. Although alot of people that wear this style also D.I.Y ( do it yourself ) most accessories, ranging to making toys into necklaces, making kandi ( a bead craft popular in trade in raves ) that often are traded among people and adding beads and small or cute charms to hairpins, but these are just examples. Over the years people have really expanded this style and became more creative with the accessories and such.
@/princess__aiai and @/kawaiiconic.ali ion instagram
Orgins and such
Orgins
It is said that decora fashion became popular during the 90's and remained popular during the 2000's.
Decora kei was exemplified by singer Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, who rose to popularity in the Harajuku fashion scene before her musical debut.
In recent years, there has been a lot of talk about “the death of Harajuku”, due to the appearance of many tourists and chains like Uniqlo. However, these rumors don’t seem to be true.
Subcultural fashion changes, just like mainstream fashion, so it’s natural that some styles have come to an end. Fashion is naturally evolving.
Harajuku is not a specific style, but a zone of creativity. Harajuku is a place where people go to express themselves without being judged. Harajuku fashion WILL change!
So as long as it continues to attract creative people or just simply people that enjoy this fashion and colourful things - Harajuku is still alive and will be alive for years.
The truth is, that the classic subcultural fashion such as decora and gothic lolita is not what the current trendsetters are wearing, but that doesn’t mean that these styles have disappeared. However, if you asked an average high school student what these styles are, they probably wouldn’t know. Although most people wouldn't know of these styles and forms of self expression, it doesn't mean that people no longer dress or are interested in such things.
Having introduced with the style, you should know that there are actually "toned down" versions or substyles of this look. Let's go and find out what these substyles are below.
The names are;
Pink Decora
Dark Decora
Decololi
These different versions of decora fashion still follow the same "rules" accessories tutus and leg warmers, all though all that is different is that the colours are different, or there might be a specific item the look revolves around on
@/Chi_ooo19 on instagram
Pink Decora
This one is very self-explanatory. Hot pink, followed by lighter shades of still pink, is the dominant color for this style. This one is also known as a "casual decora" since an overwhelming amount of accessories (still a variety, but toned down) is not really used. The concept of layering is still applied, like jackets, skirts of different shapes, knee high or thigh high sock and cute bags or purses, but it sticks to just one range of color all the time. Although this style is not popular anymore you can see it throughout decora "history".
Dark Decora
The same idea remains, but with a much darker palette. Black, white, amd grey as opposed to pinkor rainbow colours, are the primary hues. And rather than the typical cute one, this looks more like "punk," using decorations with skulls, and punk designs instead of cartoon characters, maybe cute bat wings instead of bows. But the layering pattern of the garments and silhouette is pretty much the same.
Decololi (Decora Lolita)
Not to be confused with the word "loli"
The style of Decora lolita combines cuter, more "kawaii" versions of lolita
with the many accessories of decora. This stems from the sweet Lolita look where everything is pastel, but with a little upgrade with the amount of accessories and the hairstyle is much more poofier and curlier. Big, decorative bows are often used for this look as well.
I believe you will never see another look as bright as this. Decora fashion will be one of the subcultures that changed the street fashion scene in Japan forever. This might be one of the world's most talked about phenomenon in the fashion scene.
Work in progress- edited ver
