How to Dress Harajuku Style?

1. Mix and match different fashion.
In harajuku, mixing different styles and mismatching colors and patterns is encouraged. You can do anything what you want, as long as your outfit is a thoughtful expression of your
individuality.
2. Become familiar with variations of style in the Harajuku district.
- Gothic Lolita, involves wearing gothic, feminine and elegant clothes, to the extent that you look like a living Victorian doll

- Japanese Punk, inspired by the punk movement that began in London in the 70's, magnify rebelliousness with over the top clothes, accessories, make up and piercings

- Cosplay, entails dressing up like your favorite cartoon/anime or computer game character

- Kawaii (literally translating from Japanese to"cute"), place an emphasis on childlike playfulness-anime characters, ruffles, pastel, colors, toys, and so on

- Decora, style favors bright colors, flamboyance and accessories from head to toe. It's almost like Japanese version of "scene". You decorate yourself with plastic toys and jewelery, and it's not uncommon to have so many that you can hear them click together when the person moves
3. Dress in layers.
One of the hallmarks of Harajuku is layering. Sweaters, vests, or jackets over blouses over t-shirts, dresses worn with leggings, and so on.
4. Customize your clothes.
Secondhand clothing and do it yourself style are popular ingrendients in a Harajuku Outfit.
5. Accessorieze.
Add any wild accessories you have, such as belts, earrings, hair clips, jewelery, and handbags.
6. Go wild with your hair and make up.
The Harajuku style doesn't have to stop with your clothes. Creative, even theatrical make up can be a fun addition.
7. Wear whatever looks good to you.
8. Smile and say chiizu!! People in Harajuku are proud of their style, so you should be too.

Harajuku is freedom of spirit

• Japan is still very good at consuming trends from the West, so if you walk down the boutiques of Takeshita street in Harajuku you'll probably see a lot of teenagers wearing mod clothes. Harajuku is a mecca for artists, independent spirits, and burgeoning fashion trends that provides a space of free expression in what is ordinarily a rather conservative Japanese culture. But Japanese fashion isn't afraid to take it one step further... dressing-up in costume is seen as a major element of fashions, so no-one will bat an eyelid at a pretty girl wearing a plastic fried egg round her neck as a fashion statement.

The Harajuku district: Origin of Harajuku Style

• Harajuku fashion gets its name from the Harajuku district of Tokyo. All the switched-on harajuku kids go there to explore the many clothes shops and gather Yoyogi park, the cafes in Omotesando street or on the way to the Meiji shrine to display their latest harajuku creations for tourists as well as for their friends.