日本の雑誌: nihon no zasshi: Japanese Magazines

     There are a plethora of things that I am looking forward to in Japan. From the people I will be meeting to the food I’ll be eating, the study abroad experience will be something completely new to me. One of the things that I am fascinated with is Japanese fashion. If you’ve ever seen me, I’m no fashionista. I own plenty of earrings, belts, headbands, bracelets, and other things that add a flare to one’s outfit but I hardly wear them. Perhaps it’s because I don’t know how to assemble it all together or maybe it’s because I’m lazy (I definitely choose comfort over style!)

     I tried my best with this outfit. Here I am with my boyfriend at a banquet. That day I went to multiple stores trying to find a nice dress but they were soooo expensive. So I took a trip to walmart and bought this baby for 12 bucks!! 

     I remember I went through multiple fashion phases throughout my adolescence. Oh goodness, I get red just thinking about it. I went ghetto fabulous for my entire 8^th grade for reasons so absurd that I can hardly comprehend. Once high school started, I tried to go for a cute, jock style but gave up when I didn’t know how to assemble my outfit and when I couldn’t afford Abercrombie and Fitch. I went décora for my sophomore/junior year of highschool (for those who don’t know, think of lots of color, accessories and cuteness). Did I pull it off? HECK NO. The clothes were not flattering to my round face and those hot pink fishnets I wore once did not make me look good at all (LOL). I gave up once I heard from my little cousin that my aunt hated my style and told them never to dress like me (ouch!). So for my senior year, I started off very safe, casual, and more comfort geared and made my way from there. 

(decora fashion)

     So anyways, I had a bunch of Japanese fashion magazines as an early teen including Scawaii, Nicola, and my favorite, ViVi. I was always envious at how these girls looked and dressed. In addition, I was amazed at how no matter when I pulled out ViVi, everything was still in fashion. What I enjoy most about Japanese fashion is the diversity of it. You have different styles including, Lolita, ganguro, yankii, kogal, gothic, punk, and a bunch more that I cannot recall.

Here are some characteristics about Japanese fashion, beauty, hair and health that I find interesting:

Fashion: 

Ranging from cute to classy, the pieces are arranged very nicely and compliment their figures. 

Here, Kumicky (model best known in Popteen Magazine) looks super kawaii and fresh.

These outfits are the, ‘I want to reach this level but I don’t think that’s possible!’  I don’t know if I could handle those heels and wedges XD. 

I really like these simple, natural looks. It’s more for an older audience but it’s so cute.  

Oh yes, we can’t forget about this! Don’t you get envious and wish that your school had uniforms as cute as these?! Schoolgirl outfits have inspired many things (leg warmers, blazers, and mini-skirts).

Beauty: 

Japan is well known for their eye makeup and they have certainly started a trend for the rest of the world (I read in the NYT that lady gaga inspired the circle lenses craze…ha!)

Here’s a makeup tutorial of Kumicky. As cute as she looks, I get saddened when I see these girls with huge eyes, pale skin, an oval face and bleached hair because many young Asian girls may feel like their natural features aren’t good enough.

Whew! So many false eyelashes to choose from! Oh yes, some are wearing circle lenses

Here, the Japanese Seventeen Magazine featured a more natural looking girl

   

+o+! She looks like a manga character!!

Hair:

What I noticed throughout the years of reading Japanese fashion magazines are how similar all the hairstyles and haircuts look. I remember I tried bangs countless times thinking it would look just as good as Lena Fujii's (another famous model) but…it never worked out lol.

Doesn’t this look adorable?! This style has been around for quite some time and is still popular. (Anyone reminded of Parfait Tic?)

Erika Sawajiri’s hair and everything else looks amazing as always

Health: 

I’m always intrigued when I browse the back of Japanese magazines and find pictures and diagrams on weight loss programs. Girl, you look fine as you did before! She actually looks healthier in her before picture.

Love it or hate it, Japanese fashion is unique and inspirational. Hmmm…actually, it is sometimes inspired by other countries (In this case the US) but nevertheless, they turn it into something fun and different.   

*Most of these scans were from whole magazines. I just clipped them and put in a watermark to the original owner if there wasn't one already.*