'Harajuku girls', popularly known as the 'fashion aficionados' or the 'beauty stars of Japan', are best known all over the world for their unique costumes, which are made in various styles of clothing that originated in the rich culture of some of the major cities of Japan. They have been named after the very popular Harajuku district in Tokyo and were made popular in the West by the 'Love.Angel.Music.Baby' album released in 2004 by Gwen Stefani.Their Clothing Styles
These young, beautiful fashion icons are Japanese teenage girls who gather in a narrow street of 'Takeshita' every weekend and dress themselves up as the baby dolls of the Lolita-esque caricatures. A large number of fashion styles, including the cyber fashion, Gothic Maid, Wamono, Gothic Lolita, Second-Hand Fashion, and Decorah, can be noticed among these young ladies.
They can be often seen wearing dark outfits combined with traditional Japanese clothing, such as Kimonos and fans. Some of them also wear fake bandages and blood and carry things, such as cell phones, hello kitties, and photo stickers, which symbolize modern Japan. The varied clothing styles of these girls are beautifully featured by 'FRUiTS', the most popular Japanese street-fashion magazine.
Their Purpose
Why do these Harajuku girls dress in such outrageous outfits every weekend? Is it their love for fashion that drives them to do so? The answer is 'No'. There are much deeper reasons behind it. The weekly ceremony that lasts just for a few hours allows them to not only spend their spare time and money, but also momentarily escape the strict rules of the male-dominated Japanese society. Outrageous dressing styles actually symbolize the oppression of the female gender and their attempt to seek their individuality and independence to express.
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