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Dolly-kei fashion is where you dress like an antique doll. It is inspired from Eastern Europe folklore and dark fairytales. This style has many stunning details and layering of vintage clothes. Their accessories are also amazing, and many of their accessories and clothes can be re-makes or handmade. Makeup is usually distinct pink on the cheeks and long dolly false lashes. Hairstyles are beautiful (think long tresses with soft curls or cute little bobs), but can sometimes be quirky with short straight-cut bobs or above-the-eyebrows straight fringes.

I also observe that wearers of this style usually don’t show their bare legs. They cover legs with cute stockings or just plain black stockings. Whatever it is, usually you won’t be able to see the bare skin of their legs. Isn’t this so wonderful? They are really like antique dolls!

If you like dolly-kei style, you should read Kera or Cutie!

Kera was my favourite magazine when I was a teenager. At that time, I was intrigued with Classic Lolita styles, but Classic Lolita (check out Baby, The Stars Shine Bright) is a very expensive style for teenagers! So, I was looking for styles with elements of ‘doll’ in it, because that is what I was truly in love with.

During that time (more than 10 years ago!), there wasn’t so much information on Japanese sub-culture styles yet on the internet, so it was quite difficult to find images which you can get inspired on or study. The best thing you can do is to buy their magazines in Japanese bookstores like Kinokuniya.

So I bought my first Kera magazine and was awestruck by all the amazing styles in it! You should definitely check Kera out if you are a creative dresser or designer. It’s very inspiring. It does not only have Dolly-kei, it has lots of different Japanese street styles we all love in it.

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Even though I was really inspired at that time, it was hard to find clothes that were seen in the magazine! So I mixed and matched and interpreted many clothes in my own way to come up with styles that are…close enough. Haha! At this time and age though, it may be easier to dress in many different ways, so please try it if this style speaks to you. ^^

Kera magazine Street Snaps. Bottom left is Dolly-kei.

Also, although I love looking at these styles in the past, I had no idea it had a name for it. Haha! I always called it Kera style.

To me, Dolly-kei is difficult to replicate because I’m not a person who likes accessories at all, so I may not be a very good Dolly-girl. Also, it takes talent to look at different vintage pieces and come up with different ways to wear or layer it, and look amazing!

Can’t wait to see more styles and learn more about Dolly-kei? Check out this website that provides information about Dolly-kei to help you get started!

Also, I want to encourage young girls to just experiment with styles you love. I know many Western girls have circles or groups for Japanese sub-culture fashion, which sounds awesome in theory, but reality is that some girls can get really mean and critical about each other’s dressing (“Please! This is NOT gyaru!” “How can you call yourself a Gothic Lolita?!” “Dressing in this brand doesn’t make you a (enter whatever style it is)!!”), so I don’t know if it’s a good idea to join them after all…

Just dress in whatever you love! Fashion is creative and I don’t think there are really any cold, hard rules. Dress in whatever style you want to express. I don’t even think grabbing interesting elements from different styles and combining them into one style is bad! Look at Gothic Lolita for example. From there alone, many different kinds of Lolitas have been created.

So you may even be the one who creates a brand new style! Don’t worry too much about what other people say. They are just being mean and want to feel better about themselves. Have fun and good luck! ^^

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This post is written by Apple, who has also written about Mori Girls style on TKE. She has recently started an interesting page for girls who would like to make cute food for their loved ones. Check out Happy Girls Cute Food’s blog and ‘like’ her Facebook page if you do!  

Even with the recession still hanging over the Japanese, their sense of fashion is lively, up to date and fun, yet a rather unknown entity to the westerners who, seem oblivious and blissfully unaware of much of the fashion and culture of the far east.

Currently a ’70s theme seems to be doing the rounds with flared and wide leg trousers very popular and checked shirts and hats being worn with chinos and lace-up boots. Earth tones also seem to be very popular, especially over the winter with coats and jackets in either browns or beiges, while tights are being worn with woolly skirts.

There is also a huge craze at the moment for oversized ponchos, wraparounds and woolly jumpers, perfect for keeping the cold temperatures at bay. These items also overlap with the ’70s trends as they are brightly coloured and feature huge vibrant patterns or pictures

The classic tote or clutch is also big this season with again, earthy colours being the most popular. All handbags are small and fit in the palm of your hand easily, so makeup and loose change needs to be at a minimum! Both men and women are walking around wearing boots, either ankle or shoe styles and all are laced up in the style of old fashions school shoes. For people who want to be a bit more daring lace-up nude or black coloured boot but with bright coloured laces are popular and help make a mini fashion statement. If wanting to blend into the crowd then nude boots with a similar colour clutch is a popular look.

Japanese fashion is quirky to say the least and, although individuality is a number one priority, there is one style to which a great many Japanese have taken. Dyeing hair from native black to a strawberry blond has taken the country by storm, and is one of the main fashions statements of 2011. It is a very European look which has been adopted and worn boldly alongside the usual unique fashions.

Although the Japanese love their chain fashion stores they are more likely to be found in little boutiques and individual shops putting together outfits which are in line with the popular trends of the moment. The Harajuku region of Tokyo embraces boutique fashion more than anywhere else in the country and is known for its weekend fashion get-togethers. Every Sunday many young people, all dressed in different styles of clothing congregate and enjoy the day socialising and buying more clothes. This event reflects the important fashion has on the young Japanese population.

===This article was contributed by Liam===

Kirin’s opinion:
Fashion trends change so quickly, which is why I sometimes refrain from shopping some unique items in vogue. Dolman is a good example. I’ve seen many kawaii dolman knit or one-piece but on second thought, I wonder if I can wear them next year… Dolman or poncho style is really kawaii, but I’d feel so embarrassed to keep wearing them when the trends have gone and it’s so apparent. ^ ^;; Well, maybe after several years, when people forget about such trends, it’s OK. I’ll mix them up with other unique items and plain items to enjoy something unique. What do you think? What kind of fashion item do you like or dislike? As for myself, I really hated the trend colors and dots in this autumn-winter, which I saw everywhere…

Oh, one more thing. What do you think of us dyeing hair color from native black to light brown or blonde? We think it’s cool and more fashionable but I also hear western people’s saying that black hair is cool.

At the end, here’s a sample picture of poncho coat…so kawaii<3 ^ ^

*Photo credit: Hug Me Online