confession #9: i am a "part-time" lolita

Dear fairies,

Yes, I am a sort of "part time" lolita of sorts I suppose, but I guess I don't like to say "I am a lolita," since fairy kei is what I wear most often. I have always been an admirer of the fashion on and off, but after seriously delving into historical fashions and costume design, I have come to love the classic lolita style specifically since lolita is based on historical styles.

Interestingly enough, I think as a fairy, that I am probably the minority when it comes to the style of lolita I dress in. Most girls who are sweet lolitas come to fairy kei and most fairies who come to lolita go towards sweet lolita. Of course, the reason behind this is obvious as the two styles share a dominant pastel palette and a young girly flair. 

Personally, I love classic lolita with a bit of a twist, and the current dominant color scheme in my wardrobe is composed  of browns, ivorys, reds, and golds.

I have been building up a small wardrobe for a few years now, and I usually wear lolita for specific occasions. I have loved going out for afternoon tea even before I began my wardrobe, so naturally I now wear lolita when I am having tea with my boyfriend or mother. I also have many opportunities to go to nice dinners and events where I would don a lolita coord. Of course, if a local lolita group is having a meetup that strikes my fancy, I will dress up. 

 

While fairy kei is my main fashion that I aim to wear regularly, lolita is there for those occasions that call for nicer dress. Therefore, as someone who doesn't wear lolita often, I try to keep my lolita wardrobe to a minimum without all the extra "frills," if you will. I do love all the pretty things that lolita has to offer, especially those things which I find a personal affinity with, such as the Swan Lake print here which shows my extreme love for the composer Tchaikovsky. No, I will not hide my Twilight Sparkle-inspired hair under a wig with my lolita coords!

So, with that, I will be posting a few lolita or other JFashion things not related directly to fairy kei in the future ^_^

~Sparkling Ga Eul

Faith, Trust and Fairy Kei Dust!

confession #8: i don’t own wigs!

TokyoFashion.com-Yuria

Dear fairies,

So, today I will talk about wigs. My confession is that I don’t own any fashion wigs and it’s possible I might not ever. 

I really do like wigs, especially if they’re the right color and are  gorgeously styled.Though I notice many other western fairies favor wigs. Why is this? The only things I can think of would be that some sweet lolis carry their wigs over to fairy kei or that some fairies are not up for committing to dyeing their hair, which is understandable.

Personally, I think wearing a wig never quite has the same effect as when you dye your own hair. It's almost like the color becomes a part of you as opposed to something like makeup where you can take it off easily.

I kind of like it when you can see the natural hair color coming through in brightly colored dyed hair.

TokyoFashion.com- Kumamiki

I do think in Japan they are more compelled to alter their appearances in fashion because of their strict society and can get out of their boundaries a little. Therefore, I do think dying one’s hair is one of the “safest” sorts of self-expression since I’ve tinted it different colors several times myself.

TokyoFashion.com- Tavuchi

In conclusion, while I really do like wigs, I would rather dye my hair an unnatural color than wear wigs. I love my own hair and it’s inexpensive compared to buying many wigs in all colors considering I don’t dye it very often (and I can change colors easily!).

~Sparkling Ga Eul

Faith, Trust and Fairy Kei Dust!

confession #7: you’re not too old for fairy kei!

Japanese Streets- Tavuchi & Choco

Dear fairies,

Today I’d like to discuss how I’ve come across a few things, concerning fairy kei, in which girls talk about how they feel fairy kei is too “juvenile,” think they’re too old for fairy kei, or think it’s only for teenagers in which you grow out of the fashion into, say, something like cult party kei.

While I think peoples’, and my own, styles are always evolving in which one could go from fairy kei to another fashion like cult party kei, I think that there shouldn’t be a line drawn as far as what age you say you stop wearing a certain fashion! (though, there are exceptions to people who just don’t have good fashion sense to begin with)

I think people in the Japanese fashion community should be the least concerned with “age-appropriateness” considering how many of the best styles in Japan are many times misconstrued as “childish” or “costume-y” to some critical westerners with narrow views of what fashion really is.

Why even be part of Japanese fashion if you are going to restrict yourself??

With that said, I think people tend to think fairy kei is “childish” due to the dominant color scheme and use of 80s childrens’ characters like Popples and Care Bears. If fairy kei was meant to be for children, then wouldn’t it be a style only worn by girls under ten years old, considering the characters and bright colors?

Of course, on the contrary, fairy kei is usually worn by girls 17 and over! Not to mention, our representative girls at  6% Tokidoki and Spank! are over the age of 20!! Miss Tavuchi was about 23 years old when she began Spank! and will be over 30 years old soon!

Japanese Streets-Yuka

Tavuchi, in an interview, said that her customers range from 12 years old to 40 years old! To her, Spank! is more about the 80s culture than anything else, it seems.

It makes sense that young women (not young girls) would be into fairy kei. After all, those of us who were children in the 80s and 90s, who enjoyed fairy kei inspirations, are now over the age of 18! Fairy kei is nostalgic and speaks to our childhood in many ways, which makes it all the more appealing.

Really and truly, this fashion is for the young at heart.

"Style is style, fashion is fashion." If you have style, then you don’t need fashion, nor do you need to adhere to any "rules" like age limits. Tavuchi created her own style, likely not caring what the "rules" were. 

BOTTOM LINE: If you want to dress fairy kei, then you are not too old for fairy kei! Dress how you want and do it with style and you will be alright.

Do YOU think you are or will ever be too old for fairy kei?

24-year-old Kumamiki is a designer who created her own fairy kei style indie brand, Party Baby! She and her creations are adorable ^_^

Japanese Streets- Kumamiki

~Sparkling Ga Eul

Faith, Trust and Fairy Kei Dust!

confession #6: i think fairy kei is more than just pastels!

Dear fairies,

For my sixth confession, I am going to say that pastels are not always necessary in order to have a successful fairy kei outfit!

When I first began to research and start my fairy kei wardrobe, I was overwhelmed with this constant idea that fairy kei MUST be pastel in order to complete the look! I was scrambling to find any pastel accessories and clothing in my own wardrobe and found very little to pass the pastel “rule.”

After much deliberation in creating pastel accessories, I continued my research to find, with much joy, that pastels were not really a must have in every fairy kei outfit!

With that said, I do get and keep pastel items in my wardrobe to give off that 80s innocent feel that seems to define fairy kei. Yet, I do not think that the colors alone define fairy kei!

Just wearing certain colors of certain fashions doesn’t necessarily make it the fashion For example, wearing a sepia color scheme does not make an outfit Steampunk or wearing all black doesn’t make it goth.

So, wearing all pastels does not make an outfit fairy kei.

To give you a very obvious visual: this woman would hopefully not be considered fairy kei. 

But she’s wearing pastels and is cute. Yet we know that fairy kei is defined by something more than the pastel colors and cuteness. If that were the case, then the past summer trend of pastels would make the all the women who wore pastels fairy kei, which we know is not true.

There are different ways to approach the fairy kei color palette. You can wear any other bold brights, neons, or even black! It just depends on what you feel like and what looks right.

So, don’t let the all-pastel “rule” get you down! It doesn’t exist! Don’t be afraid to go into the brighter or bolder colors and patterns.

6%DokiDoki opts for vibrancy in colors and theme, Spank goes for second-hand pop and rock inspired 80s kitsch, and Nile Perch is a proponent of softer, kinder colors such as pinks and pastels.

~TokyoFashion.com

~Sparkling Ga Eul

Faith, Trust and Fairy Kei Dust!

confession #4: i love fairy kei for its 80s/90s aspect!

Dear fairies,

I <3 the 80s part of fairy kei, and if there wasn’t any 80s inspiration, I’d probably never do fairy kei XD Honestly, what is fairy kei without the 80s aspect??

Ever feel like you were born in the wrong decade? Well I should’ve been born in the 70s so I could live in the 80s! I love the fashion, music, movies, TV shows, cute toy franchises, and pretty much everything 80s pop culture. When it was pick a decade day at school, of course the teachers were telling me I looked like Tony Basil or Cyndi Lauper!

For the longest time throughout my life I’ve been wanting to wear 80s clothing! Finally I found fairy kei which gives me the “excuse” to wear 80s style all I want despite many people having a distaste for 80s fashion >3<

Tights, buttons, legwarmers, large bows, side ponytails, scarves, cute socks, cardigans, suspenders, high tops, fake glasses, cute skirts. 

These are all the things I love to wear which makes fairy kei the perfect style for me!

It wasn’t the girly colors or even the cuteness of fairy kei, but the 80s style which now has me hook line and sinker!

~Sparkling Ga Eul

Faith, Trust and Fairy Kei Dust!

Confession #3: it can sometimes be weird that there doesn't seem to be a straight "definition" of fairy kei

Dear fairies,

For my next confession, I have to say that I’ve come to realize that fairy kei is an almost loose term…

Did 6% DokiDoki or Spank! invent fairy kei? Tabuchi Sayuri (founder of Spank!) thought her clothing line differed from the “fairy kei” style itself, but in a way, she has defined the style. After all, I read in an interview with her that “fairy kei” came around after the opening of her store. At the same time, 6% DokiDoki, open long before Spank!, seems to be defined as a fairy kei (and decora) brand by TokyoFashion.com 

6% DokiDoki

Ok, well, there isn’t a REAL answer to the origin, but I realize that Spank! is by no means decora, while 6%DokiDoki seems to have decora as one of their main proponents, yet both brands are described as fairy kei.

But there HAS to be several defining factors that make or break a fairy kei ensemble or otherwise it would just be considered decora, lolita, deco-lolita, cult party kei, or other Japanese fashion. I would like to try and define these things in many more future posts.

Spank!

With that said, look at other fashions such as scene, punk, goth, hipster, lolita, cyberpunk, and steampunk. Each of those styles may be related in many ways (especially the first three) to each other but there are several things which make them distinct from one another.

Nile Perch

You can say that goth and scene may have stemmed from the punk style, but that does not make those two styles punk or make punk goth or scene, right? Therefore, I think this idea could be similarly applied to fairy kei or any other Japanese fashion. 

Fairy kei likely has its origins, but has come into its own kind of fashion that is not the same as its origin.

%6Dokidoki, Spank! and Nile Perch

TokyoFashion.com seems to define all three of these brands as residing under the "fairy kei" umbrella but all three have very distinct looks from each other. Dokidoki 6% has decora elements with bright colors, Spank! plays more on vintage clothing with a combination of brights and pastels, and Nile Perch is a sweeter look with mostly pastels.

~Sparkling Ga Eul

Faith, Trust and Fairy Kei Dust!

confession #2: i don’t follow western fairy kei trends

Dear fairies,

So, for my second confession, I have realized, over the years, that learning about anything is best to go to the place of origin!

Therefore, I think it’s safe to say that the Japanese are the ones with the best inspiration in fairy kei considering that it is a Japanese style. So, my research and inspirations come from all Japanese women and girls, such as Spank! girls and other fairies who are just lovers of the fashion.

One Japanese woman, in particular, is a huge pioneer when it comes to fairy kei ! Her name is Tabuchi Sayuri. If you dont know her, then you should! She is the founder of Spank!. To me, she is the mother fairy, and I look to her whenever I am in a fairy kei outfit predicament (colors, accessories, pieces, hair, etc).

This is a picture of Tabuchi Sayuri surrounded by 80s cuteness ^_^

~Sparkling Ga Eul

Faith, Trust and Fairy Kei Dust!

confession #1: yes, i'm new to fairy kei

I found fairy kei fashion a few months ago and I was taken in completely by the fashion for its cute 80s/DIY style elements. I may be new to the fairy kei fashion, but I have been a Japanese fashion enthusiast for nearly 7 years now. 

This is my blog on my own thoughts and adventures in fairy kei and Japanese fashion. I’m hoping that anyone reading this will not only enjoy and benefit from my own posts, but will share any thoughts, ideas, experiences, and pictures with me! I think it may be helpful to those who are stuck or unsure in how to go about fairy kei as well!

I am also an aspiring theatre costume designer and Japanese fashion has always been one of my guilty pleasures.

Please feel free to submit a fairy kei related questions, pictures, thoughts, ideas, DIY pages or experiences to me!

Also, I will call all fairy kei girls “fairies” because it’s fitting, so darn cute and I absolutely adore fairies!

Now for my first confession of many to come! 

Yes, I had only been aware of fairy kei for only about four months or so when I began this blog on Tumblr. With that said, I don't claim to have an amazing wardrobe or that I am fairy kei expert. But I have definitely done much research and tried my best to understand fairy kei. So, hopefully this blog will show my own progression and be a help to those new (or even not so new) to fairy kei.

I hope to give my own and ideas on fairy kei through this blog, and while I think I have good points to make, again, I dont claim to be an expert at all! There is still much for me to learn and I want so much for other Japanese fashionistas to see what I have to say and maybe learn from me too!

~Sparkling Ga Eul

Faith, Trust and Fairy Kei Dust!

confession #5: i think fairy kei shouldn't have to be expensive

Dear Fairies,

Yes, fairy kei can be and is much more cost effective, practical, and efficient than many other alternative fashions. This is one of the main reasons I love the fashion~ The 80s/90s kitschy aspect of fairy kei makes it easy to get clothing from thrift stores, vintage stores mainstream stores, and DIY.

Although many have tried to make excuses as to why they could never afford a fairy kei wardrobe, I beg to differ. While there are brands and stores that sell fairy-esque clothing and accessories that can get a bit pricey, they are by no means necessary in creating a super kawaii fairy look. This is similar to the “lolita on a budget” argument, except likely less expensive, with a wider scope, with more possibilities, and maybe with less leg work.

Think about a veteran street fashion like punk. Vivenne Westwood may be the most awesome punk clothing, but punk thrives on being a fashion that is solely DIY. My friend, who’s a glamorous punk doesn’t know how to sew but DIYs and thrifts like a beast and she looks amazing all the time. Only when it’s on sale and a must-have item does she splurge on Westwood.

I love shopping for vintage and thrift finds that are inexpensive online and in-store. Also, when I hit up the mall or any other mainstream stores, I always head to the sale racks for any fairy kei-able pieces. I love getting crafty and creative in designing and making my own accessories with inexpensive fabrics and odds and ends. To me, finding more ways to save money actually lends itself to the very kitschy little girl look. I love the fact that fairy kei is quite easy to shop for and doesn’t have to cost over $100 for a single outfit. I have learned to trust in my abilities to create my own look creatively on a budget. Not to mention, fairy kei is also easy to sew things for. A simple skirt or tutu with an elastic waistband or a simple empire or shift style dress could do the trick in many cases with the right fabrics.

Basically, I just love that getting “cheap” makes me think outside the box by look for fairy kei pieces in places like antique shops, flea markets, dollar sections, young girls’ sections, and even my mom’s old clothing! But remember that inexpensive doesn't have to mean lower quality. I always try to find good deals on good quality items. I don't buy inexpensive items that look like they will fall apart anytime soon. It's generally better to find good quality items with a good price than something that is both "cheap" in price and quality.

Because of all the possibilities and wide scope of fairy kei, it makes it easier to find pieces on a budget. Check out this post I put up last for a little list I compiled for “cheap” fairy kei links.

This is a typical fairy kei outfit I might wear on a given day which is comprised of items I bought from several different places. Not including the price of shoes (which are usually the most pricey items I own), this outfit cost a little less than $40 altogether (Including shoes, it comes to about $100). A Japanese brand shirt alone could cost $40 or more!

What I’m Wearing:

White Ribbon Bow w/ Pink Trim: Antique Mall <$1

Ponytail Holder: <$1

Rhinestone Studded Glasses: Claire’s ~$3

80s Pink and White Sparkly Sweater: Thrift Store ~$4

Tutu: Hot Topic ~$14

Tights: Target ~$6

Cuff Socks: Target 4 pairs~ $5

Old Shoes: Asics ~$60 (on sale)

Bow Shoe Toppers: Made by me ~$2

Necklace: Made by me <$1

Scrunchie: Made by me w/ old fabric ~$1

Princess Ribbon: Dollar Store $1

~Sparkling Ga Eul

Faith, Trust and Fairy Kei Dust!