Harajuku

Isn't it sweet when you see a little girl dressed in a pretty little dress with her hair neatly collected in a curly ponytail. She smiles sweetly and her innocence is blatant and her parents wish she can stay young forever. 

In my opinion that is the whole purpose of Harajuku and Lolita, these two subculture embrace youth and see 'childlike innocence' as being beautiful. Many teenagers cant wait to grow up and look/ feel like an adult. Yet 'Harajuku Barbies' embrace their youth and cling to it well into their late twenties, I have always been curious as to why dressing like a 'porcelain doll' is appealing to some people.

Harajuku is the common name for the area around Harajuku Statiom in Tokyo, Japan. Every Sunday, young people dressed in a variety of styles including:                 Gothic Lolita

Gothic Lolita is a fashion style that started among teens and girls in Japan; adherents present themselves more as Victorian youth or porcelain dolls and prefer to look "cute" or "beautiful" rather than "sexy". People who wear Lolita in public are usually looked-down. The look typically includes bell shaped, A-line, empire- or high-waisted, pleated, flared, scalloped or bustled black dress or skirt with tulle and lace that may be short or long. Lolita style contains aspects of Alice in Wonderland: platform, heeled mary-janes,  sandals or ballet slippers are worn for this look. 

The fashion styles of these youths rarely conform to one particular style and are usually a mesh of many. Harajuku is also a fashion capital of the world, renowned for its unique street fashion. Many prominent designers and fashion ideas have sprung from Harajuku and incorporated themselves into other fashions throughout the world.

Back in 2007, Gwen Stefani came on scene with her Harajuku girls and even wrote a song in honour of their fashion.

Designers have taken this trend to the mainstream, through fragrances and crazy new designs.