Gwen Stefani has brought the concept of Harajuku girls into popular western culture and introduced a new generation to this fashion style from Japan. In fact this style of fashion was popular long before Gwen discovered it and Harajuku has been a fashion hub for many years. But just what exactly is a Harajuku girl and where do you start to look for clothes if you want to dress like one?
Harajuku is a trendy area of Tokyo where young people go to hang out with their friends, show off their latest fashions and hopefully get spotted by one of the street fashion photographers or model head hunters looking for the coolest new looks. It is also a popular hangout for cosplayers where teenagers will gather at the weekends dressed up as their favorite anime character.
There are various sub cultures within Japanese Fashion including Goth, Lolita and Gothic Lolita, Visual Kei, and Ganguro. The Harajuku girls from the Gwen Stefani world wear bright colors, mix and match with lots of accessories - the crazier and more individual the look the better.
If you’d like to dress like a Harajuku girl then there are lots of websites selling outfits from Japan which can provide good base pieces for your collection. EBay is another great place to look for outfits and accessories. The easiest way to get this look however is just to be creative - Harajuku fashion is all about being individual and experimenting.
Get brave with your clothes - wear lots of layers that mix and match, the brighter the better. Experiment with your hair and makeup too, trying crazy new styles that you wouldn’t normally consider. Accessories should be large and bold and you should wear lots of them! Wear your whole look with confidence and try out new ideas every time you put together a new outfit.
It’s easy to get the look of a Japanese girl with a little experimentation. Try looking in Japanese magazines and fashion websites for ideas and inspiration. Or do as the Japanese do and look to your favorite Japanese model and try to emulate their style. Idols and fashion models are true trend setters in Japan.
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