Artistic
American painter Gramma Moses said "If I didn't start painting, I would have raised chickens." Aspiring chicken farmers, shoo! At Artistic, amateur artists showcase their artwork, seek and share constructive criticism, and swap tips for improving your artistic prowess.
Art is everywhere, so scrape up some of your best stuff and show it off.
Origins
The name "Harajuku" comes from the area that this style started around. Harajuku Station is the home to many tourist activities but is definitely best known for the style that it produced. It now is home to many stores that cater to this outlandish style that has become so popular in that area.
Key Elements
The Harajuku style is all about standing out in a crowd. It's about bright colors with punk or goth undertones to it. A lot of layering goes on when dressing in the Harajuku style and a lot of mixing and matching things like prints and colors. It started out with Japanese girls mixing the more traditional things like kimonos and geta sandals into their every day street clothes, and branched into a combination of the modern western style with the older traditional styles. The Harajuku style is also very much influenced by pop culture. It's not uncommon to see a girl walking through the streets of Japan dressed up like her favorite video game character. The Harajuku style isn't just limited to clothes, these girls also show their style through brightly colored hair and accessories. Over-the-top makeup is also seen on a lot of Harajuku girls.
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How To Integrate the Harajuku Style Into Your Wardrobe
If you want to go all out, it's really simple. The Harajuku style isn't limited to any one item. The wardrobe that you have now can be put together in a completely different way that screams this style. It's such a widespread sense of style, and it's all to do with wearing what you feel like wearing. Don't be afraid to stand out, mix patterns and colors in a way you've never thought of before and you'll come up with a completely different look. Cut up a shirt you never wear and pair it with a brightly colored tank top. Harajuku is by no means a cookie-cutter, easily definable style. It's mostly about the personalities and the confidence of the girls that go with it. So, be yourself and wear what you think you look great in.
If you just want to hint at this style, the easiest way of doing it is through accessories. Find some great costume jewelry at a vintage store, or buy some Disney princess jewelry to pair with an otherwise normal outfit. It's a great way to stand out without being too overdone. You can also achieve this style simply by layering. The Harajuku style is all about wearing a lot of clothes, so wear a patterned t-shirt under a tank top to achieve the same look.
You don't have to go as extreme as this to pull off the Harajuku look.
If you just want to hint at this style, the easiest way of doing it is through accessories. Find some great costume jewelry at a vintage store, or buy some Disney princess jewelry to pair with an otherwise normal outfit. It's a great way to stand out without being too overdone. You can also achieve this style simply by layering. The Harajuku style is all about wearing a lot of clothes, so wear a patterned t-shirt under a tank top to achieve the same look.
You don't have to go as extreme as this to pull off the Harajuku look.
Next Time On Artistic
jo's comment: What's your sense of style? Send in the ways that you express yourself through fashion.
Hey everyone! I'm Stephanie, the fabulous columnist for Artistic (formerly of Poetry Cafe). I love mandarin oranges, metaphors, and anything Italian. I spend most of my time doodling on binder paper, taking pictures of everything I see, or just being a Myspace junkie (I can't help myself). I want to visit everywhere on earth someday, but go to London first, so I can develop an accent and seem even more charming than I am already. I hate abbreviations, chipped nail polish, and being broke (I always am). Oh, and if you want to get technical I'm 15 years old and live in California, USA.
jo's comment: This week, I'm taking a new spin on the idea of an artistic mind. Art is a way of expressing yourself, and we can all express ourselves through the clothes that we wear. In my opinion, some of the most unique artists out there when it comes to the way that they dress are the Japanese Harajuku girls, so we're going to take a look at the origins and styles of these interesting styles.