Those Wild Harajuku Girls of Japan!

Harajuku fashion is something that absolutely intrigues and delights me! I'm not saying that I would ever dress in anything Harajuku (at least not where anyone knows me!), but I love the creativity, the colors and the costumes of the wild Harajuku girls.

If you are not familiar with Harajuku fashion, here is a little run down for you. Harajuku fashion originates in the Harajuku Station district of Tokyo, Japan. The area is a fashion capital of the world renowned for unique street fashion. Dressing up used to take place every Sunday, but now girls gather in this area every day of the week to show off their unique and sometimes bizarre sense of style! There are several genres of Harajuku...the term "Kawaii" comes from a popular phrase that means something cute or pretty. The girls sporting this style dress in lots of pink, ruffles, and they use feminine accessories such as hair bands, Hello Kitty pieces and little stuffed animals. The look here is ultra cute and innocent. The term "Lolita Fashion" combines the clothing of a Victorian princess and ripped Gothic fashion. Ganguro is a style that is supposed to emulate the average American teenager. This look is what Westerners would call a "California Girl" with bleached hair, fake fingernails and eyelashes and very tanned skin.

Another really popular style of Harajuku is called "cosplay" which is short for costume role playing. Girls dress up as their favorite cartoon character or a character from a band, movie, game or anime. Punk style is one more style that is gender-neutral where boys and girls dress in plaid and sport lots of zippers, dark colors and chains.

Harajuku fashion has influenced numerous fashion designers from around the world. If you are familiar with Gwen Stefani and her music, you will recognize the silent Harajuku girls that surround her on tour. Gwen also has a line of fragrance called Harajuku Girls with adorable "girl" perfume bottles dressed in different Harajuku fashions. Whether you love it or hate it or just really don't get it, you have to admit that Harajuku style is unique, colorful and really, a whole lot of fun! One day I'd love to travel to Japan and see the girls of Harajuku myself! Here's hoping! (*_*) ~Stacy~