Have you ever bought a piece of clothing to fit in? You probably have, but I’m sure soon enough that was too “outdated”, so you had to fit in by buying another piece of clothing. Those are fashion trends, and this article will explain why they happen.
Let’s start with defining a fashion trend. A fashion trend is when a piece of clothing with a certain silhouette, material, color or style becomes more popular in a short amount of time.
The earliest evidence of fashion trends is when in the 14th century, richer individuals like royals would show off many different clothing styles since they were the only people at the time who could afford to.
A more recent example would be baggy jeans. Baggy jeans became popular because of nostalgia for the Y2K era of fashion and people wanting to replicate the looks from then. Fashion trends often cause more and more fashion trends and an example is; baggy jeans made more types of denim popular such as Raw and Selvedge denim.
Things like pop culture, social media, nostalgia and even war can cause fashion trends. The most common cause of fashion trends is nostalgia; people love replicating the popular looks from their childhoods or even times before they were born. We see in modern day that Y2K fashion is very popular, that’s because the people with the most influence online are people who grew up in the 2000s. In the 2010s we saw The Grunge aesthetic from the 1990s become popular because the people who grew up in the 90s had the most influence then. You can keep going back in the years and see the same pattern of people recreating the aesthetics from their childhoods.
Usually when a fashion trend starts big “Fast Fashion” companies hop on that trend and mass produce products. This causes the trend to die because everyone has easy cheap access to the clothing making people think it’s less and less cool.
If you don’t want to fall into a cycle of following trends or buying “Fast Fashion” I recommend buying durable clothing that will last you a lifetime. Usually these articles of clothing can cost upwards of $200, but if you find something that properly makes you feel good when you wear it, and won’t fall apart in under 2 years, you may have found a worthwhile investment.
An advertisement image of the band Kuroyume, a 1990s Japanese Visual kei band featuring band members Hitoki (bass), Kiyoharu (vocals), and Shin (guitar), pictured from left to right.
There is a fascinating corner of the Japanese music scene that rarely gets talked about — that being Visual kei — in this article, I will explore its history and later on delve into one of its subgenres, Nagoya kei.
First of all, what exactly is Visual kei? Visual kei, also known as V-kei, is a Japanese musical movement that emerged in the 1980s — where the looks of a band are equally as important as the music.
The movement is characterized by its use of elaborate androgynous and flamboyant fashion, dramatic makeup, and extravagant hair styles — unique characteristics that made it easily recognizable among other Japanese musical movements from that time period.
At first, Visual kei was heavily rooted in glam rock, goth rock, punk, and metal. It started off as an underground movement with pioneers like X Japan, Buck-Tick, D’erlanger, Dead End, and Color.
It wasn’t until the 2000s, though, that the scene began to experience worldwide status through anime conventions and internet culture. This international exposure inspired other artists and formed non-Japanese Visual kei bands.
And yet, despite this expansion, Visual kei remained as a niche subculture — even to Japanese people— rather than a mainstream global phenomenon.
Coming up with a universal definition for the term Visual kei has proven to be quite difficult. It’s hard to define what Visual kei is, as it is a term only applied to the artists, not the fanbase. It’s debatable whether or not one can consider themselves “Visual kei”.
Identifying whether or not a band is Visual kei, is if the band themselves claim to be a part of the movement.
Something that is also discussed is whether or not a Visual kei band whose origins are not from Japan, can actually be considered to be Visual kei, as the term Visual kei is firmly tied to Japan.
Though classifications are nuanced, these bands are mostly defined as “Visual kei-influenced”.
The same goes for wanting to dress in Visual kei. One cannot label their fashion simply as Visual kei, as Visual kei refers to the entire movement, the music, the performers, etc.
One way you could call it is by its subculture such as “Kote kei” as it makes it easier to identify what kind of fashion exactly, or you could simply label it as “Visual kei-inspired”.
What makes Visual kei compelling is that it is not defined by a singular genre. Instead, there is a wide variety of subgenres that make up the movement. Such subgenres are: Kote kei, Tanbi kei, Nagoya kei, Oshare kei, and many more.
Here are a few examples of some of the subgenres:
Kote kei: Dir En Grey
Kote kei emerged in the mid-1990s. It is characterized by a dark, gothic, and often theatrical aesthetic. The sound is typically emotional and aggressive, drawing from goth rock and heavy metal.
Tanbi Kei: Versailles
Tanbi kei emerged in the mid-1990s as a subgenre heavily inspired by historical European aesthetics, particularly Baroque, Rococo, and Victorian eras. Their music frequently incorporates elements of classical, symphonic, and neoclassical music.
Nagoya kei: Merry Go Round
Nagoya kei emerged in the early 1990s as a darker, gloomier, and more music-focused subgenre of Visual kei. The music is heavily influenced by Western punk, gothic rock, and British punk rock.
Oshare kei: An Cafe
Oshare kei emerged in the early 2000s as a brighter, more colorful, pop-influenced subgenre. They typically play an upbeat style of pop-punk or pop-rock.
While there are obvious variations in styles, I want to focus solely on Nagoya Kei and why it matters so much to me.
Nagoya kei is a regional subgenre and aesthetic that developed in the early 1990s. It is a term that was originally associated with bands that emerged from the city of Nagoya or that were from other places in the Aichi prefecture.
However, the term soon became less about the geographical location of Nagoya and more about a shared aesthetic. It began to define any band that embraced the same dark, subdued style of Kuroyume.
The subgenre peaked into two waves: the first one being from 1993 to 1996, and the second being from 1998 to 2004. Silver~Rose and Kuroyume were widely recognized as the pioneer bands that created the Nagoya kei subgenre of Visual kei.
Yet, unlike other subgenres, Nagoya kei never truly made it mainstream, mainly because its elements directly opposed the requirements needed for mainstream appeal.
During the 1990s and early 2000s, Japan’s music industry was highly centralized in Tokyo. Because of this, Nagoya kei became deeply isolated from industry executives who commercialized the genre.
Nonetheless, the foundational bands of the genre chose to remain in the Aichi prefecture, which allowed them to build their own distinct and independent subculture.
Nagoya kei is known to have a reputation built off of its interconnectivity and emotional instrumentation. They have the unique and defining trait of “recycling” disbanded band members to form newer projects.
Bands in this scene tend to favor musical depth over the extravagance of fashion found in other scenes, which is another reason for why it never reached mainstream popularity. In most cases, the overall appearance of a band directly impacts their success.
Unlike the bright, extravagant, and theatrical costumes of mainstream Visual kei, Nagoya kei fashion tends to lean towards a more understated, subtractive, and casual aesthetic. Members often wear simple dark clothing that is influenced by modern punk and gothic aesthetics.
Ultimately, Nagoya kei significantly shaped the visual kei movement by introducing a darker, more music-centric alternative to the visually extravagant scene — a shift that is particularly true for the second wave. The sound of this specific era leaned more towards a literary, poetic, and melancholic atmosphere described as “only appreciated by real music lovers”.
By the late 1990s, most mainstream Visual kei bands reached a breaking point: iconic pioneer groups experienced massive disbandments due to tragic losses of their members.
As of 2004, Nagoya kei bands had either broken up, relocated to Tokyo, or transitioned towards modern heavy music, causing the original scene to fade.
However, it did not vanish entirely; in the decades that followed, a new wave of Nagoya kei and Visual kei bands began to emerge, keeping the movement alive.
For my final thoughts on the scene, I wanted to share a list of my favorite Visual kei bands, along with some personal reflections on the music itself.
emmurée
gibkiy gibkiy gibkiy
GPKism
Madmans Esprit (an example of a non-Japanese Visual kei band)
deadman
Nagoya kei is a subgenre of Visual kei that I have recently discovered and I am still looking for newer recommendations. The first Nagoya kei band I ever listened to was deadman, and one of my most recent is gibkiy gibkiy gibkiy.
As part of one of the most recent generations of Nagoya kei, gibkiy gibkiy gibkiy has definitely brought hope for future generations of the genre. Fun fact: they are actually a band forged completely out of “recycled” band members from previous prominent groups.
I would consider them to be my favorite Nagoya kei band ever, though that is only because emmurée — who is my actual top favorite — isn’t technically from Nagoya. It’s a common misconception, but emmurée is one of the few bands who are frequently given the “honorary” Nagoya kei classification simply because of their dark aesthetic and sound.
The reason I am drawn to the subgenre is because their sounds are so intense, unfiltered, and raw that I become emotional just from listening to them. They have the incredible ability to combine gritty instrumentals with raw emotional vocalization, creating an atmosphere that is both ugly and beautiful at the same time.
And perhaps that’s why I enjoy being a part of the Visual kei community in the first place. They are able to vocalize and instrumentalize feelings so well to the point it becomes comforting. At least, that much is true for most of the fandom.
I also think that Visual kei is exceptionally good at bridging linguistic barriers; even though the music and lyrics are in a foreign language for most listeners, the meaning and interpretations of it remain universal.
A Jack o’ Lantern made for the Holywell Manor Halloween celebrations in 2003 by: Toby Ord via Wikimedia Commons
With Spooky Season in full swing and October 31 right around the corner, high schoolers in hallways across the country are facing the ultimate annual dilemma: What am I supposed to wear?
Between loads of homework, or sports practice, or other things most students don’t have the time to put a lot of thought into their costumes. Whether you don’t have any ideas for a costume or you’re looking for a D.I.Y. costume to fit your budget this list is designed to give you ideas for your costume.
To kick off our list let’s start out with some pop culture related outfits. Most of the items necessary for these costumes you can find in a thrift store or in your house.
First we have The Athlete/Olympic Gold Medalist: to make this work wear a track jacket or athletic gear, add a fake gold medal, and carry a water bottle. It’s comfortable, warm, and zero-effort.
Then we have the Classic “Clueless” Throwback: a plaid skirt, sweater vest, and knee-high socks give an immediate nostalgic nod while keeping things fully school-appropriate.
And finally, the Y2K Pop Star: pair oversized denim, dark sunglasses, and a colorful boa or chunky sneakers for a complete music-video vibe.
Now let’s move onto group costumes so you and your friends can look amazing together.
A group costume we have is the Peanuts gang: you and your friends could dress up as characters from Peanuts. You’d need a Yellow shirt with a black zig-zag or a red shirt and blue blanket. You could also have someone wear a blue dress if there’s three of you.
But before you decide to wear any costume in school here are some things to keep in mind.
– Keep your vision clear: make sure you avoid wearing full face-masks or having any props that would block your vision in crowded corridors.
-Leave all prop weapons at home; swap out any plastic or foam weapons for harmless props like stuffed animals or books.
-And finally, prioritize desk comfort: make sure your costume allows you to sit, walk up stairs, and participate in class.
Have you ever wondered why there is a small piece of fabric at the top of your shirts? What’s the purpose of them? Why do we associate them with wealth or status?
Collars first began to pop up in the mid 15th century; they were worn by clergy in the Church in order to keep their tunics from rubbing against their skin causing irritation. Since shirts were undergarments for most of history the collar was the only part of the shirt showing when the clergy wore them. Eventually collars became a symbol of purity and humility.
This caught the attention of nobles, or royals, who adopted collars making them much more elegant and caused them to be a symbol of status. Royals wore ruff collars with pleats and lots of small details. The bigger and more ruffs a collar had the higher the status of the wearer was.
Ruffs soon became less and less popular for their impracticality and people adopted collars much more similar to what you might see today. People kept wearing collars in order to protect their necks, but this did mean the collar often got very dirty. All the way back in the 18th century washing clothes was a much harder job than now; people needed to use washboards and very expensive labor. In 1827, Hannah Montague invented the detachable collar – it was a collar that you simply buttoned around your neck. Since the collar wasn’t attached to a shirt you wouldn’t have to do nearly as much work to wash them.
In the First World War soldiers found traditional stiff collars inefficient and instead adopted softer collars. War imagery made the soft collars much more popular around the world, as soldiers who people looked up to were wearing them.
And so, modern day collars are still on shirts because people see them as a symbol of many different things like status and occupation.
Types of collars chart:
Image of chart depicting different types of collars from around the world
When you walk into school you’re greeted by hundreds of other students standing around, talking with friends and such, but if you look at each and every one I’m willing to bet at least half of them are wearing a pair of jeans. Have you ever wondered where jeans came from, or why they were made? Have you ever wondered why they’re blue? If so, let’s talk about that. How did a pair of French working pants become an icon of worldwide casual outfits?
It all started in the town of Nîmes, France and Genoa, Italy when fabric weavers realized workers needed a more sturdy and durable fabric than was available. The names ‘jeans’ and ‘denim’ come from the names of the towns/cities: Genoa (Jea-noah), and Serge de Nîmes (de-Neemes) ‘meaning fabric from Nîmes’.
The first jeans were created with twill woven with two separate color pieces of fabric which is what causes the fading effect you see on jeans. The weft (white inside of jeans) was left undyed while the warp (blue outside of jeans) was dyed with indigo which was, at the time, a fairly new, cheap blue dye (blue dyes being rare before indigo).
Jeans initially up to about the start of the 20th century were primarily used by European miners and farmers, as they needed durable pants. When workers in the United States of America, primarily farmers, miners and cowboys adopted them as well, the romanticization of the American West became more common. More and more people made the journey across the country, with many adopting the jeans as well.
As the Second World War started many sailors brought their favorite pairs of jeans along with them to war. Although production of jeans did slow due to having fewer resources, all the war depictions of sailors wearing jeans made the pants blow up in popularity eventually becoming a staple of American workwear.
Pair of dungarees used by American sailors in WWII
In the late 1950s jeans were often associated with people who broke the rules of society. Near the beginning of the 1960s lots more people used clothes as more of a self expression; many young people in their 20s wore jeans as a protest against what was okay to wear in society and what wasn’t. Eventually, those groups invented the bell bottom jeans. Bell bottom jeans were a type of jeans that was skinny at the waist but flared out at the bottom, and at the time lots of queer people wore them in protest.
Soon enough, the 1970s came and by that time jeans were seen as more of a regular thing for people to wear, as the popularity had grown so much in the past fifteen to twenty years. The style soon returned to Europe, becoming more and more common across the world. As time went on different groups of people wore different jeans which surged in popularity; communities like hip hop popularized a more baggy fit of jeans, punk and grunge communities made ripped jeans more popular.
This Halloween there were a lot of really good Halloween costumes that I saw. Some of my favorites included Rio birds, Justin Bieber, and Serena and Blair from ‘Gossip Girl’. Now these were my favorite costumes that I saw but Halloween costumes and what’s popular change every year, so for this article I am going to be talking about what the most popular costumes were this season.
This season the top five costumes were all from the same TV show. The TV show is ‘K-Pop Demon Hunters’. This show is really popular among kids, and is the most watched TV show for kids as of right now. Rumi, Zoey, Mira, Jinu, and Baby Saja are in the order of popularity from one to five.
After all of these characters, Chicken Jockey from ‘Minecraft’ is the next popular costume.
After that it is Labubus. Labubus have become very popular among the Gen-Z generation, and can be found at lots of different stores.
Another really popular costume idea is Elphaba and Glinda from ‘Wicked’. This was seen with people of all ages, and with the new ‘Wicked’ movie coming out that makes this a lot more popular and exciting.
Overall, this Halloween we saw a lot of different Halloween costumes, some that were new ideas and some that were old ideas. Either way Halloween is a great holiday that allows people to be creative and express themselves and who they are in many different ways. A lot of the time people make Halloween out to be a holiday just for kids, but it is not. Halloween is for everyone. People just celebrate in many different ways whether it is trick-or-treating, going to parties, or being the one to hand out candy. Halloween is a holiday for everyone, and a great time of year.
