popPRETTY: Wacky Fashion From Japan

Japan brings to mind sushi, Hello Kitty, Anime movies...and of course just about the most wacky and original fashion style in the whole world!

Japanese street fashion ranges from the European-inspired marked by haute couture looks from the runways of Paris to Milan to the school girl set...and many more.

Photographer Shoichi Aoki has been chronicling the different fashion trends Tokyo has seen since the late 90s in the magazine Fruits.

Types of Japanese Fashion

#1 Lolita

"Lolita" ashion Trend

This is a European-inspired fashion look very popular in the streets of Japan. Inside this Asian fashion subculture are more subcultures. There is the Gothic Lolita, Sweet Lolita, Classic Lolita, and Punk Lolita.

All these types of Lolita fashion are marked with a Victorian-era look. Some followers of the Lolita fashion even adopt conservative Victorian manners to go with their look!

#2 Ganguro

One of the most eye-catching looks in Japanese street wear. Ganguro girls typically have bleached blond or orange hair, dark tans, fake eyelashes, white eyeliner and extremely colorful clothes which are usually in the form of miniskirts or sarongs. The face could be adorned with stickers and platform shoes cover the feet to complete this look.

#3 Kogal


Kogal look. Isn't this adorable?

The Kogal look is your typical Asian schoolgirl look as a fashion statement. The skirt is shorter than most schools would allow and loose socks are worn. This look was very hot in the 90s but has been cooling off since.

Every Halloween, girls around the world continue to pick up this look however.

#4 Visual Kei


Visual Kei is gives quite a visual impatc, no doubt!

To get the Visual Kei look wear eye-catching makeup, an unusual hairstyle and preferable an androgynous outfit.
Visual Kei is considered by some as a musical genre as the look was influenced by certain musical subcultures in Japan.

#5 Cosplay

Cosplay is a trimmed down term for "costume roleplay". Followers of this Asian fashion trend dress up as characters typically from anime, manga or video games.

popPRETTY's take on all these styles? The Japanese youth are definitely not afraid to break the norms when it comes to fashion! We would love to spend a week in Japan and ardon these looks. Where else in the world can we dress like Victorial dolls or Manga heroes and not be teased by complete strangers with a "Is it Halloween?" question?! :-)

A lesson we can all learn from Japan for its fashion forward style: Don't take life too seriously...especially when it comes to fashion! Dressing up is supposed to be FUN!