We all know there are countless different styles under the Japanese street fashion umbrella- fairy kei, pop kei, visual kei, mori kei- but I've found that none of them really pinpoint what I like to wear and surround myself with.
I started feeling really strangely insecure- which isn't like me. I love fashion so much, that wearing anything unique will be fun and exciting to me. But I couldn't quite find my perfect aesthetic- my "fashion identity" if you will. I have this unfortunate perfectionist mentality when it comes to my image I portray, especially online. What do I label myself as? How do I become the pure, perfect representation of that label? How do I make sure people know what I'm about as a first glance???!!!!?33@#4$??????
Of course, this thinking is ridiculous, and it kind of ate at me for a while. I tried to go full out sweet lolita, which left me feeling very restricted and unable to actually enjoy the ART part of fashion, which is the most important part to me. I then played around with hime kaji and gyaru, but I swear to god if I see one more dusty pink floral or chiffon blouse I will chew off my own fingers. My problem was that I couldn't allow myself to enjoy wearing multiple styles, or just dabbling in a few- I was the definition of do or die.
Recently I've been trying to work to allow myself to simply like what I like, whether or not it goes together in a cohesive image. However, a few of these things I found did look pretty cute together, and so I decided to dub it it's own "kei". Party kei.
I've found myself obsessed with kitschy, birthday party themes. Frosting, confetti, ribbons, tacky plastic gems and party favour rings- I love that shit. I think it's super fun, freeing, and it just makes me feel like a lil celebration everywhere I go. I wanted to combine these loves into a style, and I hope you'll like it too!
This is not something I'm trying to get to ~catch on~ or ~be trendy~, in all honesty I've been nervous to write this blog post in fear of it being perceived that way. But, I gotta stick to my gut, fill it with birthday cake, and share my thoughts with you guys ♡
PARTY KEI INTRODUCTION
[Note; please feel free to try this style regardless of your gender identity, I just used female pronouns for convenience!]
Party kei is the style for a girl who loves to celebrate every day life. Adorning herself with pastel ribbons, confetti motifs, and yummy frosting perfume makes her smile everywhere she goes. Party kei has a kitschy, youthful vibe with lots of decorative jewels and accessories! She is a girl who looks like she could have just walked out of a 90's slumber party. It is a street style that is happy, unique, and colourful.
Let's go over the basic guidelines!
Pastel coloured hair is very popular, but other colours work as well. Incorporating ribbons in your hairstyle is super cute, whether it be in a bow, woven into a braid, or spiraling down from your locks~ Small kitschy plastic clips can also be used to give a sort of "confetti" motif effect, and also reflects the youthfulness of the birthday party theme.
Curly, light, fluffy styles are best to go with the lightness of the style!
Pastel fluffy hair, plastic clippies, & heart-shaped iridescent cheek sparkles |
MAKE UP
Colourful make up is a must! Pink lippie, lavender eyeshadow, pink blush- anything pastel and pretty. A staple of party kei is in the confetti like motifs, and under eye spangles are the best way to show that in your make up ♡ Try to include many different colours of spangles, and sprinkle them over your cheeks (not literally)!
Weird make up is 1000% encouraged. Lilac lips, pink cheekies and gems under the eyes. |
Pastels, pops of bright colour, and lots and lots of varied materials. The main point of the clothing in party kei is that is includes different textured fabrics in pretty layers. Fluffy furs, organzas and chiffons, chunky knits, neoprene, shiny or sparkly fabrics- these are all perfect for layering and coordinating into a sort of... happy fashion salad?
For shoes, anything avante garde and fun is good. Shoes with fur or fluffy accents are really good for giving off the 90's slumber party slipper vibe! My shoes are almost always at least 4 inches off the ground and holographic to some degree, but that's definitely optional.
Shiny shiny sparkle sparkle fluff fluff. |
ACCESSORIES
Sparkly sparkly sparkly. Anything kitschy and party-favour-esque is your best friend! I'm a big fan of the gaudy plastic gems myself. I recently bought a bag of small plastic cats and have been spray painting them pastel colours. I need to be stopped. You could easily stock up on some party-keiable accessories at your local thrift shop, party store, or claire's accessories.
Big n' weird! I personally love little animal shapes and fruits. |
I hope this is at least interesting~! I've had this brain child floating around in my consciousness for months so I decided to spew it onto the internet, here you go :~)
I'm planning on making a video all about Party kei as well, but I figured this was a better way to try to organize my brain thoughts.
Thanks cuties! I'm gonna go back to being eternally inactive on this blog now byeeee
I love this, I think it would transition really well into a more punk look for those of us who prefer that - think Melanie Martinez, after the tantrum, its-my-party-I-can-cry-if-I-want-to kind of a thing. Will definitely be trying it out when I get the chance, keep up the good work as always! <3
ReplyDeletehttp://goodnighttheskye.com
this was really lovely to read, im very intrested in your fashion journey/metamorphis(?) & the drawings were so cute and kitchy, hope you make more blog posts i enjoy reading them! much love to u pixie x
ReplyDeleteVery nice article. I appreciate that you've defined your own style rather than tried to squeeze yourself to fit into a particular style that you feel doesn't quite represents you. I've been trying to do that for a while so kudos to you. Have you looked at the fashion of Tetsuko Okuhira AKA Peco? She is a fashion icon who I think has a similar vibe to Party Kei. She has her own brand called Peco Club. xx
ReplyDeleteVery nice article with a super cute style, I am happy you included the little disclaimer about gender identity as it made it easier to read for me personally. Id love to try this kind of style out.
ReplyDeleteI really love the esthetism with all the toys and 90's shits & your article and style is really inspirational. <3 I even think vintage lingerie like garter belt and nightgowns could have their place in it (specially if we think of slumber party) and such as fluffy fabric and feather and satin & daaaamn it gives so much ideas I love it !!!
ReplyDeleteI really like this style but I find darker colours (on me) more appealing. Would there be a dark ver of this?
ReplyDeleteYes if you watch her coord videos there are some blacks and personally i think its a nice contasr but not too much so i wont look like pastel goth
Deleteperhaps , since this style includes lots of colour, you could try to wear mix black and other darker colours with some bright ones
DeleteI love it! It's really inspiring to me. I'm an artist and I'm having a weird time trying to think of how to be me and how to draw what I love. I'm in to all kinds of art, but this is my first time trying to make a gallery designed set of work. I'm so caught up in the question "is this me?", that i'm not having fun like I really like to. Just seeing you go with that you like and making it your own makes me really excited. I think your work is inspiring. Thank you :)
ReplyDeleteI love thiiiiissss!!!
ReplyDeleteI think tinsel hair would fit into this style perfectly <3 Gosh I need more chiffon and organza in my wardrobe~ ♥♥♥
I love this style!! One day i will definitely try it out <3
ReplyDeleteI'm not big on make up, so I would probably just go for some glitter around the eyes for a little step forward. :) Can't wait for the video too!
I completely love this! Keep doing you, i love how you want to stay true to yourself and what you like and i love it completely! good luck <3
ReplyDeleteConfetti? Glitter? Ribbons? Pastel pretties?!! Yaaas, to it all! Love! Love! Love! Did you draw those illustrations yourself because I'm so jealous right now. I would love to be able to draw like that. ♡ ♡ ♡
ReplyDeleteRegina
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Wowie so cute! i really love your style and now i have permission to kinda try it out. my only problem is i have a mohawk
ReplyDeleteThere are so many different ways to express yourself through fashion and style and sometimes your vision diesnt exactly squeeze into the styles and aesthetics that have been labeled already. Its so extremely cool to see you've come up with a way to describe your style and aesthetic, give it name, call it your own and share it with others! This is a big deal ahah And the style is so cute ~ Its similar to others if you want to compare it (which i really dont tbh ahah ♡) But it's its own unique thing and very special, as well as very specific! I absolutely love it and I cant wait to start adding this type of aesthetic to my closet ahah ♡
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ReplyDeletethis is amazing! I love this style, and I also call it party kei!! :D
ReplyDeleteI've seen it a bit in popteen, and Larme mags :)
Wowie, I've always really loved this style but I never had a name for it but now I do! I've been a fan of your YouTube channel for a while now and I'm glad I found your blogspot to discover this! I really love the whole aesthetic of this it reminds me a bit of if a Jelly Fish were human (that probably doesn't make any sense).
ReplyDeleteWow, I've been looking for a style like this for a while and just found this from your Youtube channel. I love it so much! It reminds me a lot of Melanie Martinez (Pity Party especially) and I am going to try and wear it :)
ReplyDeleteisnt this just fairy kei but with ribbons
ReplyDeleteNo, unlike Fairy Kei, Party Kei is birthday themed, with more kitschy stuff and stuff under the eyes.
DeleteThere are other differences as well, like a wider variety of textile textures. More bright colors and a different over all silhouette.
DeleteI've always loved birthday party themed things since I heard the song Pity Party, which made me remember all these things I'd forgotten for some reason. Whenever I listened to it I had this strange image of this pastel pink hallway with a picture on the wall of a cartoon girl with pink hair. I suddenly began liking this sort of thing, and I didn't realize it was for that reason until now. I can't wait to start wearing this style!
ReplyDeleteParty kei - now on wikipedia! :)
ReplyDeletehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_street_fashion#Party_kei
love your blog and youtube channel can't wait for more, you bring some pink into my life everyone needs some pink in their lives =0)
ReplyDeleteIts funny I found this on through pinterest after being a confetti club member for a long time and I'm so glad I did. I absolutely loved this. Its nice to hear a complete (ish) explanation in Pixie's own words.
ReplyDeleteWow. I really liked these styles you have shared. My friend is having a birthday bash at one of the Venues in NYC in a few days. I think I’m going to try this look for the party. You did a great job by explaining the entire get up in detail, from shoes to accessories.
ReplyDeleteLooking for stylish and affordable hair barrettes clips, then Mermaid Capsule one of the best option you have.
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