Popteen・ポップティーン July 2012

Popteen is a monthly fashion magazine published by Kadokawa Haruki Corporation in Japan. It is now one of Asia’s top fashion magazines, also distributed to Taiwan, Thailand and recently, the United States as well (in English of course). It features gyaru fashion, especially trends amongst high school students.

The magazine is mainly known for its gyaru icons, such as Ayumi Hamasaki, previously Tsubasa Masuwaka (graduated 2007 after marrying model Naoki Umeda), and now Funayama Kumiko (Kumicky♪).

Other artists who have appeared on the cover include Kumi Koda, Namie Amuro, Avril Lavigne, Britney Spears, Fergie and Gwen Stefani.

The magazine is well known for ‘doku-moderu’ (読者モデル), where readers have the opportunity to become models in the magazine through Popteen’s model search each year.

See the top right corner? That’s right, Big Bang was featured in this issue of Popteen!

Japanese School Uniform・学校制服

The seifuku is an item of wonder and transformation.
…at least to me it is.

Originally, the Japanese seifuku was modelled on European-style naval uniforms in the late 19th century. Traditionally, the boys uniform was military style and the girls uniform was a sailor outfit.

Das right. The sailor outfit replaced the hakama in the Meiji Era i.e. this wonderfully stylish piece↓

I wish I was given the chance to wear this to school everyday. At least when the wind blows, the skirt won’t fly up like a parachute.

All schools have a summer version of the uniform (white dress shirt and uniform slacks for boys and traditional uniform/blouse and tartan skirt for girls)  and a sports activity uniform. The sailor uniform is like a symbol of youth. Some fashionista individuals, if you’re being stereotypical – Tokyo girls, will subvert the uniform by adding loose socks, decorations, badges, shortening their skirts, etc. And in a way, that is how the gyaru fashion was brought about. (Will blog about later)

Tokyo Girls Collection Spring/Summer 2012・東京ガールズコレクション

Tokyo Girls Collection is the biggest and most famous fashion event in Japan that showcases the season’s fashionable street wears with domestic brands, combined and jam packed with concerts from popular music groups. It is the first and original fashion and music event that started and is held twice a year, said to be one of the most influential events in Asian countries. The most recent TCG event, 2012 Spring/Summer edition drew over 250, 000 excited fashionistas to Yokohama Area in early March. Attending this event is one of the best ways to keep in line with the latest seasonal street fashion trends in Japan.

Unfortunately, if you do not have the liberty to hitch a plane and fly to Japan this moment, the second best thing to do is look at second-hand photos on the internet. (i.e. the sad and lonely me) Perhaps one day I will join the mass of 250k excited teenage girls (and a few guys) in Tokyo but for now I am satisfied with gazing at this dream from afar…

If you do decide to attend Tokyo Girls Collection, make sure you order tickets on the dot because the event is so popular that tickets usually sell out within hours.What I like about the event is that, for once, it showcases fashion styles that you CAN wear on the street. Normally, other fashion shows will just leave me speechless…

Without further ado, I will share with you my top ten styles that were showcased this year:

Tokyo Girls Collection #1 Special Collection (doesn’t count as a brand but nevermind)

Jelly・ゼリーMay 2012

The magazine ‘Jelly・ゼリー’ is a fashion magazine that describes itself targeting ‘new generation’ gyaru. Others will call this style ‘glam’- think Ayumi Hamasaki, who also appeared on the cover of this month’s magazine :O It is published by Bunkasha, which also publishes another magazine called Ranzuki.

Here’s Ayu-chan showcasing her ‘new generation’ gyaru – a combination of cute glam.

Harajuku Street Fashion・原宿ストリートファッション

Harajuku is ‘the fashion capital’ of Japan, commonly known as the area around Harajuku Station in the Shibuya ward of Japan. Today the term ‘Harajuku’ can refer to anyone dressed in any fashion style walking around Harajuku. They are normally teenagers that donne a variety and hybrids of styles such as goth lolita, visual kei, decora, gyaru and also cosplayers that come together and socialise in this giant area. Ultimately, there are no set rules for Harajuku street style because it is it is all about portraying your ‘own’ style – which can be as unique or bizarre as you want.

Alright, please hold onto your seat dearie, because I am going to transport you to another world:

I like how she looks cute but spunky at the same time.

Mori Girl・森ガール

Since we haven’t posted much on Japanese fashion yet [not really much = not at all] I would like to officially start our fashion section! Perhaps the more popular or well known Japanese fashion styles are the bright, neon Harajuku street styles complete with wacky hairstyles gelled up ten feet, the kawaii lolita/hime gyaru, schoolgirl/ganguro, dramatic visual kei – just off the top of my head.

However to start off, I would like to introduce a style that is more subculture but has gained popularity very quickly since 2006, the official launching of the mori girl community by a girl calling herself choco on Mixi, Japan’s most popular social networking site.

‘森・mori’ means forest in Japanese and the term ‘mori girl’ is a style concept that refers to those ‘that like to look they they live in a forest’, wandering in their loose dresses, vintage prints and quaint accessories. It is a rather natural and earthy look and Mori girls are often described as being down-to-earth [literally and metaphorically] as well as being joyful of life’s simple pleasures.

A mori girl! :O I like the vibe of purity and innocence that this style normally gives off.