#kei fashion

[girlytips]

The kanji “kei” (系) and its usage

As I still keep seeing it being used in instances where it doesn’t make sense, I thought it would be a good idea to talk a little about the kanji’s actual use within the japanese language.

系 is commonly used as a suffix to categorize and describe various things by their “type”, therefore can also be translated as such. For example, your nationality would be “country+kei+person”, stating the color of something “color+kei+object”, describing a song “genre+kei+music”, and specifying the style of your outfit “style+kei+coord”. However, in the overseas jfashion community there still persists the misunderstanding that it means “style” or “fashion”.

So where does this misunderstanding come from?

The very first instance of “kei” being used in a fashion context overseas was “visual kei” (ヴィジュアル系). During the late 90s, western media outlets discovered the genre and introduced it as unique fashion style from Japan heavily tied to music while also translating its name as “visual style”. This was the beginning of the whole misunderstanding as visual kei is only used to label a band as “visual-type”, meaning there is a heavy focus on a visual aspect. This is also why you will have a hard time shopping for the so-called visual kei fashion because it doesn’t really exist, and what is considered that overseas usually falls under the japanese goth punk (ゴスパンク) style that bangya wear.

After this, many years passed and “fairy kei” (フェアリー系) appeared within the jfashion online sphere, strenghtening the overseas conclusion that “kei” must mean “style” and therefore refers to fashions. While fairy kei is indeed used as a name for this specific 80s-inspired pastel fashion, it’s a lot more common to see it being refered to as just “fairy fashion” in japanese because “fairy-type” is also used to describe plenty of unrelated things. Meanwhile calling it fairy fashion would have been useless overseas for a similar reason and it made a lot more sense to use “fairy kei” instead.

From that point on, the international jfashion community would coin one “kei fashion” after another regardless of the styles actually being known by those names within Japan. Searching the majority of them in their japanese spelling would result in a dead end with many not even making any sense in relation to fashion, such as “mori kei” literally referring to forest types and “pop kei” to anything that’s popular at the moment.

Basically, the lesson of this post is that there is no need to include “kei” in the names of japanese fashion styles unless they are unrecognisable without it, because you are not writting in japanese using the kanji to categorize something by its style. In context of the fashion featured on this blog, it is used to differentiate the overall style genre from the english adjective that is “girly”, but not for its substyles as their names are distinct on their own.

I hope this little language lesson was useful to my readers, and if you have any requests for other jfashion-related terms to introduce or explain - just hit me up in my inbox!

#系 #kei #semi-related #japanese #jfashion #term #japanese language #japanese lesson #kei fashion #information

[precurea3]

Muku from IZU ⭐⭐⭐⭐ I'm not taking req anymore only commisions but the tag MANKAI fashion collection holds the other ~9 I've done

#artists on tumblr #art #artwork #digital art #my art #commissions open #a3! #muku sakisaka a3! #muku sakisaka #sakisaka muku #a3 muku #muku a3! #a3! muku #jirai kei #kei fashion #jfashion #jiraik #sprite redraws

[trendsettertessa]

Lively + Babydoll, a challenge from the style savvy reddit

#style savvy challenge #style savvy #style savvy fashion forward #fashion #jfashion #decora kei #decora #Harajuku Fashion #lolita dress #crepe #pansexual colors #rainbow #bright #lively fashion #pop fashion #fashion kei #kei fashion #nintendo3ds #outfit challenge #colorful outfit #nintendo #girl gamer #3ds #ootd #girlsmode

[star-plush]

#fairy kei #kei fashion #aesthetic #kawaii #pink #alt fashion #japan fashion #cute aesthetic #cutecore #kawaiicute #kawaii culture #kawaii aesthetic #kawaiicommunity #kawaiicore #y2k aesthetic #egg magazine #fairycore

[sugarmasonmearii]

[Gaia Commission] Crimson Carmen

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It's been a long time since I last did any form of Commission paid by Gaia Online currency or items. Gave a Wishlist Shop a try in thought that I would probably have free time, but it didn't last long as I suddenly had a queue line of things to do. I am doing two commissions from the Gaians whose offers I approved and listed in my shop before the panic happened.

I'm only gonna consider doing Art Auctions in Gaia from now on...

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This is an avatar art and the avi is made via Gaia Online.

If you're interested in a commission from me, [do check here] for details. Or you can check my [Carrd art commissions.] Or you can DM me too.

You can support me via [Ko-fi] and/or [Patreon] too!

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Avatar: Crimson Carmen (c) Gaia Online Interactive Do not use or copy.

#gaia online avatar art #gaia online art commission #avatar art #avi art #furin #dimensional window #night sky #kei fashion #starry #moonlight #cute girl

[plasticsweets]

Dripping turtleneck, Madmoiselle Opossum

I’m getting tons of new notes on this, so go support the business that made it

#madmoiselle opossum #tops #yumekawaii #fairy kei #pop kei #decora #decora kei #cyber pop #rainbowcore #handmade #kawaii #harajuku fashion #jfashion

[restingcorpse]

#mana sama #malice mizer #vkei #visual kei #goth lolita #gothic #goth #goth rock #post punk #emo style #emocore #emo #dark aesthetic #tripp nyc #hot topic #vampire freaks #alternative clothing #alternative style #alternative #lolita fashion #gore lover #<3

[satinrosas]

currently

#gothic #goth #gothic lolita #goth fashion #gothcore #gosurori #alternative goth #alt goth #egl lolita #egl #visual kei #oldschool lolita

[zegalba]

Vivienne Westwood: Orb Key Lighter (2009)

#vivienne westwood #bas relief #orb #key #lighter #silver #fashion #accessories #2009

[leelahsophia]

Source: pinkgyaru on twitter

#jfashion #kawaii #pink #kawaii fashion #sanrio girl #sanrio #kawaii kei #pink aesthetic #my melody #harajuku #charmmy kitty #photo card #hime gyaru #princesscore #bimbo doll #living doll

[tanuki-kimono]

Once again GREAT inclusive fashion by designer Kei Hirabayashi.

Those boots were created with wheelchair users in mind, especially people with foot paralysis. Their zippers mean they are easy to slip on/fasten/take off. And they look absolutely amazing, I’d love to own such a pair!

#japan #fashion #Kei Hirabayashi #disability #inclusivity #inclusive #inclusive fashion #wheelchair friendly #boots #shoes

[my-selfish-love]

hair by weiwesleywei

#hair #hair style #weiwesleywei #japanese fashion #visual kei #hairstyle #alternative #alternative fashion

[uweiy]

🌈Them gay shows 🌈

Finally did it guys! BL Drama recommendations flowchart catered to me. Me only. ME people who might have the same taste as me. Enjoy

#and i mean #if i'm on ur dash #there's a chance #anon this is for u as well #tho i'll answer u personally #recs #the untamed #cql #word of honor #shl #not me #my roommate is a detective #killer and healer #cherry Magic #old fashion cupcake #kinou nani tabeta #zettai bl ni naru sekai vs zettai bl ni naritakunai otoko #zettai bl #kei x yaku #3 will be free #kinnporsche #notme #beyond evil #the devil judge #mr unlucky has no choice but to kiss #kieta hatsukoi #mr heart #history 2: crossing the line #utsukushii kare #where your eyes linger

[nyc-looks]

Harley, 18 Audra, 18

Audra: “My outfit is primarily thrifted and/or DIY'ed. Today my style is heavily inspired by cult party kei, decora and various j-fashion styles.”

Harley: “I’m wearing a pink blouse from the brand Anna House, and everything else was bought from various thrift stores. I find inspiration In everything, vintage toys, porcelain dolls, the rococo era, but my main inspiration is Japanese street fashion magazines like Fruits, Kera, and Gothic Lolita Bible.”

Sep 21, 2023 ∙ Chelsea

#nyc looks #street style #street fashion #new york #j fashion #decora #cult party kei #japanese style

[melankoliskt]

cred ♡

#kawaii #kawaii aesthetic #jirai kei #jirai fashion #dark girly #j fashion #harajuku #landmine girl #landmine fashion #yamikawaii #kawaii fashion #girly blog #girly aesthetic #girly kei #anime art #animecore #anime aesthetic

[plasticsweets]

Keyhole 2 way belt, Exentrique

#exentrique #jewelry #classic lolita #dolly kei #egl fashion #mori kei #mori girl #cult party kei #natural kei #kawaii #harajuku fashion #jfashion