I was planning on putting this article off for a while, but I was doing maintenance work on the Fairy Kei Amino earlier tonight and stumbled across an atrocious article I wrote almost two years ago attempting to explain what *is* and *is not* fairy kei. Needless to say, I gave out some really bad information. My apologies there. Hopefully this crash course will atone for my past sins. I will also be linking lots of items throughout the article, so make sure to go support those small artists! Most of the others are western shops, but there are a few Japanese shops tossed in there too.
What is Fairy Kei?
Fairy kei is a
Japanese street style that originated from the Harajuku district in the early
2000's. It first appeared two months after the emergence of the Spank! store,
but spank kei and fairy kei are two separate styles and Spank! designer Tavuchi
has openly stated that she does not wish for the two to be conflated. If you want to know more about the different styles within fairy kei, make sure to check out my article here.
Fairy kei fashion is
characterized by its dreamy feel, triangular silhouette, and colorful aesthetic. Pastel or bright
colors should be used throughout the outfit and the coordinate should also be
lightly accessorized. Fairy kei is a modest and ethereal fashion, meant to provide the illusion that the wearer might simply drift away at any moment.
Anatomy of a Fairy Kei Outfit
Hair and Makeup
Fairy kei hair is
typically kept fairly natural, with loose curls and waves being some of the
most commonly seen styles. Pigtails, braids, buns, half updos… there are so
many options! Some people opt to wear wigs or dye their hair bright colors, but
neither are mandatory for the style. I personally prefer how natural hair
colors cause the pastels in one’s outfit to really pop! Common accessories include bows, fluffy hair clips, hats, headbands, ribbons, scrunchies, decorative hair ties, and colorful clips.
Makeup is typically kept quite natural and soft. Eyeshadow ranges from nude tones to shimmery pastels and other bright colors. Glitter and rhinestones are quite popular facial accessories, and bright pink blush is a staple of the look.
The key to achieving
the perfect fairy kei look is layering. Lots of fairy kei outfits feature
cardigans, peignoirs, or cutesy faux collars to add bulk to the outfits and
create a more ‘floaty’ feel. Graphic t-shirts and sweaters are a must in this
style, with the most popular coming from brands like Milklim or Listen Flavor. Pastel
80’s sweaters are also commonly seen, although these are often scalped online.
The goal of fairy kei is to create a look with details spread throughout the outfit, which
is why graphic or patterned tops are so integral to the style. I recommend staying away from solid colored shirts or sweaters unless pairing them with floaty camisoles or similar on top. These tend to be too plain for fairy kei.
When looking for shirts for fairy kei, look for low contrast pastel details with cute art or motifs. You can also DIY your own shirts by sewing cute fabric onto the center with some lace around the edges. Vintage pastel shirts are also great, so I highly recommend checking your local thrift shops! I personally purchase most of my cardigans secondhand as they pop up quite frequently.
Colorful and fluffy
skirts, particularly tutu and tiered skirts are a key staple to this style.
Pants should only be used when they are oversized. Harem pants, joggers, pastel
trousers, and bloomer shorts are all acceptable bottoms as well. When using items
like circle skirts, try to layer a tutu or small petticoat underneath! Fairy kei
is known for its triangular silhouette, so avoid tightly fitting bottoms at like
jeans or tight shorts. Leggings should never be worn as pants for the style, so layer shorts or skirts over them! Bottoms should typically flare at the hem or
throughout the leg. Avoid pleated tennis skirts or other skirts with harsh angles at the bottom. These tend to be too 'sharp' for the style and tricky to work with.
Sporty shoes and chunky platforms are very popular for fairy kei. Canvas shoes can be painted to achieve any look, and white laces can easily be swapped for colorful ones or chunky ribbon! I personally also love the look of tea parties in fairy kei, and I'm hoping this trend somehow winds up coming back.
Legwear is arguably one of the most
important and commonly overlooked parts of fairy kei. Tights, over the knee socks,
crew or ankle socks, and legwarmers are all staples of the style and help to
provide the iconic layered feel. Solid white tights with colorful legwarmers
are a great staple for those just starting out! Recently I have been wearing sheer white polka dot tights that I purchase in bulk from Aliexpress.
Accessories should be add to used small details all over the body. Simple beaded bracelets,
resin necklaces, vintage jewelry, and repurposed items like cassette tapes are
all very common! I tend to make most of my own accessories, since they're fairly easy to make! A package of heart or star beads, fake pearls, and elastic beading string can make some really cute bracelets!
I mainly focused on purchasing new items for fairy kei in this article, but I recommend checking your local thrift shops or sites like Mercari, Depop, Poshmark, Lacemarket, Keimarket, and other online secondhand shops. I personally buy most of my items through websites like Mercari JP and Rakuten through my shopping service. I find that items from brands like Milklim and Nile Perch are much more affordable on the Japanese side of the market because sellers in the West tend to overcharge for items.
If finding bargains in real time is something that interests you, make sure to join the Fairy Kei Discord Server! We regularly share shop updates, bargain finds, and can help teach you how to use a shopping service or purchase from overseas shops!
If you'd like a more comprehensive list of shops, I recommend checking out these two links!
Hopefully everyone has a little better of an idea of what fairy kei *is* after reading this article! I'm a bit busy with classwork right now, but I just got the urge to type this up. After finals hopefully I'll be able to do a series where I go back and fix my own outfits and show you how to take your outfits from general pastel to fairy!
Your blog is really great!!! I love that I can read it and not watch a video and that you put it great snaps. Thanks! Please continue to ve a fsiryjei blog.
Your blog is really great!!! I love that I can read it and not watch a video and that you put it great snaps. Thanks! Please continue to ve a fsiryjei blog.
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