This website is created to highlight Decora Fashion: The Vibrant Japanese Style (also termed Decore Kei). This street fashion sense originated in Harajuku, Japan in the 1990s but gained popularity in the 2000s.
What Does Decora Fashion Includes? | Key Elements
“Colors”, If we summarize this question’s answer in a single word then this will definitely be on point. 1990s, when people were bound by black and white theme fashion, Decora Kei emerged as a huge vibrant fashion sense. No matter what are you wearing, carrying these colors as a part of your personality is what this street style aims for.
Research shows that every color owns a meaning, emotion, and personality match. So, In our fashion, why not categorize colors per the mood of the gathering?
Every color impacts the eyes and this is the main reason to use colors in the Fashion Industry. Decora Fashion includes every element from clothes to jewelry to accessories to makeup. Still, down here, we have highlighted all the key elements of this evergreen fashion sense so we can help revive the culture.
Major Key Elements Of Decora | The Street Fashion Style
Note: It was never necessary to use each element when you express Decora street style. You were supposed to go per your comfort and requirements because it was said that Decora was invented for self-expression.
This seems pretty easy but creating a look with vibrant colored clothes is not a puppet show. Styling orange trousers with a yellow shirt is what people thought would look funny. But this cartoon-like theme, with bright colors has gained popularity, especially in the streets of Japan.
Mixing and matching different bright colors to prominent your looks/ style is the main focus of Decora. Not only bright colors, these clothes came with multiple tattoos, art, and statements. Wearing them per your mood, personality, or emotion was very common in the 90s.
Highlighting your personality with a helping color scheme is never possible without jewelry. In 2024, when we observe street fashion closely, we know multiple bracelets, necklaces, and rings, are still part of the culture. Telling the truth, this all started in Harajuku’s 1990s era.
This style focuses on highlighting every visible body part and hence also includes multiple ear/ nose piercings. There’s no restriction of genders so it applies to both males and females.
With the same color psychology, using multiple accessories is what this fashion sense includes. Loading your head with multiple clips, adding multiple accessories to your dresses, and using many to carry your look, such as safety pins, etc. Creating an eye-catching color scheme through these small details will surely enhance your style.
Not only style, these little accessories work as little stars of the sky. They are not as bright as the moon but the sky will never seem complete without them.
As a self-expression, Decora included women as well as men. A playful makeup technique was introduced back then to hold this entire street fashion culture. Eye makeup uses bright colors, colorful lip palettes, face stickers, and sharp blushes.
Yes, exactly, It was not bounded to girls/ females only. It was the street fashion era where not only makeup was introduced to men but they started carrying it so well that it still is part of the culture. If you don’t believe this statement, look around at makeup artists.
Decora Kei: The Vibrant World of Harajuku Fashion
Decora Kei emerged from Japan’s Harajuku district as one of the most colorful and expressive fashion subcultures. This distinctive style celebrates the concept of kawaii (cuteness) taken to playful extremes, characterized by an explosion of colors and accessories. Decora Kei enthusiasts layer their outfits with countless colorful hair clips, beads, ribbons, and plastic toys, creating a walking artistic canvas.
The foundation of a Decora Kei outfit typically includes a bright base garment, often a tutu skirt or pleated skirt paired with leg warmers and platform shoes. What truly defines this style is the abundance of accessories – wearers might sport anywhere from 50 to several hundred hair clips, multiple necklaces, bracelets, and rings. Popular motifs include Hello Kitty, stars, hearts, and rainbow patterns.
This fashion movement represents more than just clothing; it’s a form of self-expression that challenges conventional fashion norms. Decora Kei enthusiasts often coordinate their makeup with their outfits, using bright eye shadows, stickers, and even face paint to complete their eye-catching looks.
Comparison between Harajuku Fashion and Decora Fashion
| Unique Features | Harajuku Fashion | Decora Fashion |
|---|---|---|
| Accessories | Varies by substyle | Excessive layering of colorful accessories (50+ hair clips, multiple bracelets, necklaces) |
| Color Scheme | Can range from monochrome to colorful | Always extremely colorful, often featuring rainbow patterns |
| Base Clothing | Diverse, from traditional to modern | Usually simple clothing like tutus, pleated skirts, or t-shirts as a canvas for accessories |
| Inspiration | Draws from multiple cultural influences | Heavily influenced by kawaii (cute) culture |
| Makeup | Varies widely depending on substyle | Bright, playful makeup with face stickers and bold colors |
| Philosophy | Represents rebellion against fashion norms | Celebrates excessive cuteness and childlike joy |
4 Ways to Strengthen the Decora Fashion Brand
Unique Brand Identity
Distinct, bold, colorful, innovative, exclusive, memorable, cultural, trendsetting, authentic, personal.
Quality and Craftsmanship
Durable, premium, sustainable, expert, luxurious, well-made, superior, fine, lasting, detailed.
Community
Engaged, supportive, trust, feedback, ambassadors, exclusive, connected, loyal, influencers, relationships.
Innovation and Adaptability
Why Do We Call Decora An Evergreen Fashion Sense
Base Of Decora
Fashion designers/ artists always pick one traditional touch to invent an entire fashion sense. However, when we study Decora, we see that this street style is mainly based on color psychology. Bright colors usually trigger long-lasting sensors in the brain that help to initial an emotion or feeling. Incorporating a very common example: one shade of red is used to express anger and the other is for love.
No Restrict Boundaries
This is a vast Japanese style that includes no strict rules to be followed. You can style yourself for parties, dinners, hangouts, visits, or any occasion using this fashion sense. Mostly, artists go with loose clothes, bangles, bright eyes and lips, and open hair when they are styling for parties. But for formal events, they go bright and miss the accessorizing part. Decora was only created to help you express yourself.
Mind Boggling Innovations
There are so many 90s styles in the fashion industry that are outdated now. But, Decora has still the power to influence anyone. This is because it was always getting updated. At the very beginning, it only included clothing styles, later on, it trapped the entire industry in its grip. Just like that, its emotional theory works wonders among artists and entrepreneurs.
Also, It was never limited to colors, new designs and patterns have added so much to this fashion sense. It includes every pattern, including floral, geometric, lines, shapes, animal textures and prints, and so many others.
In the 20s, It has now become a feeling and therefore, not limited to Japan but it has found its way to all over the world. This street style is not just limited to the streets but has a separate fanbase. Red carpets, fashion shows, celebrities, business tycoons, and even a 10-year-old kid do style per Decora fashion scheme, at least once in his lifespan.
Maximalist & Minimalist
There’s no limitation to any minimalist or maximalist color combinations or patterns when it comes to Decora. You can style two bright colors or more at a time to express your presence. But, the preferable theme is to follow The “Multiple” concept whether it is about colors, accessories, or makeup. In the 90s, when it was introduced, Decora fashion was majorly limited to the Maximalist side. But In the 20s, when the entire industry was evolving, people saw the exact impact of this fashion sense even with minimal jewelry, colors, patterns, and accessories.
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“All You Need To Know About Decora Fashion | Japanese Street Style”
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