Sitting beneath a tree, eating toast with strawberries and drinking rose petal tea, a sweet girl takes a quiet moment to revel in the small wonders of the world before they pass her by. ~Welcome to the world of the Mori girls~ A community devoted to Mori-kei was founded in August 2006 on Mixi, a Japanese social networking site, by a girl known only by her alias ‘choco’ to describe a style she and her friends were already wearing. These girls went on to drafted up a checklist of a Mori girl’s preferences – everything from hair and beauty to general lifestyle traits that describe followers of the style.
Mori-kei started to become visible in Japanese fashion magazines around 2007. Both “Mori-Girl” magazine and “Mori Girl Papier”, an offshoot of Papier magazine, began publishing in September 2009. Valon began publishing the month after. By February 2009, Spoon magazine published a supplement called “Mori-Girl A to Z”. Although Mori fashion had entered mainstream fashion by 2009, it was not until 2011 that Mori-kei was featured by name in Kimono Hime Volume 10. Since then, it has spread far beyond the online community and into the real world.
It is gradually becoming a household word as the style is featured in fashion magazines and is increasingly seen in the streets of Harajuku and across the world. Mori-kei is a fashion subculture originating in Japan. The aesthetic aim of the style is to look like a person who lives in a forest. Derived from the Japanese word for “woods” or “forest”, Mori-kei enthusiasts tend to have the look of forest maidens, or perhaps even hermits, with their many layers and earthy tones. Pleasure and practicality are valued over style.
Inspiration for the look comes from fairy tales, especially those of European origin. Comfort is key with Mori-kei, hence the loose layers and focus on practicality of the style. Mori-kei is a style that can be worn by anyone but for the sake of this guide, the focus will be on the feminine incarnation of the style. The fashion features many layers, natural colours and vintage inspired motifs. The basic style is a layered outfit of soft, loosely fitting garments with an airy feel – such as A-line dresses, long/tiered skirts, soft cardigans and flowing blouses.
An emphasis is placed on wearing loose-fitting clothes made of natural fabrics – such as cotton, linen, and wool. White and cream are favoured as base colours for a light and naturalistic look. Deep hues such as wine red, forest green, navy blue, and brown are also seen. As are pastel shades such as peach, mint, rose and lavender. Patterns such as gingham and floral can also be used. Added to these basic items are tights or leggings, flat shoes, a cotton tote bags or tanned-leather shoulder bags, and a few hand-made or vintage accessories. Boots and closed toe shoes are perfect; pair them with cute socks and stockings.
Floral headpieces go well with the forest girl aesthetic. Ribbons, vintage hats and deer antler headbands are worn for a similar look. Layering is important; it gives depth and texture to a coordinate. In terms of hairstyles, bangs (often curled) and braids are very popular. The overall effect is soft and relaxed. Many of the specific Mori-kei fashion lines are sold in Japan, but there are ways to wear the style without brand name clothes. The right amount of layers and fabric will help to achieve that ethereal Mori girl look. Mori-kei is more than just a fashion trend.
It’s a way of life, with the mentality pervading everything from hobby and home decor preferences, to values and lifestyle. In her own quiet way, the Mori girl is an individualist. She does not care that the world may live differently from her. She lives consciously and chooses her own lifestyle. There is no strict set of rules required to becoming a Mori girl. It is as much a life lived as clothing worn. Mori girls are identified mainly by their closets. However, there is something more, and perhaps greater, than being just a Mori girl on the outside alone.
Being a Mori girl means having a mind-set that may be different from the conventional world view. They take in their notions on the meaning of living life at a slower pace, pausing intermittently for reflection and simple relaxation. If you are young, let those most important to you know that you are growing out of your old style and becoming something new, choosing her clothing on how it makes her feel rather than how it looks. She appreciates the smaller things in life, stopping to smell the roses as one might say. Mori girls enjoy eading, photography, and creating things with their hands. They appreciate nature and the world around, living their lives on their own terms. To start living as a Mori girl it is beneficial to have: an artistic mind, a bit of spending money, a whole lot of creativity, a love for quirky things, a creative imagination, and a love of nature, beauty and simplicity. Mori girls are clever, read widely and often, enjoy journaling and are in love with nature. They adore for all kinds of animals, care for the environment and like to eat organic food and fresh fruits.
Their love for history often makes them pick vintage things to wear. Mori girls aren’t overly focused on being cute, but instead practical. Clothing is comfortable and natural, made of fabrics such as cotton and wool. Flat shoes that are easy to walk in are perfect. The style often involves heavy layering with no defining points of the silhouette. Though there are influences about what Mori entails or what to wear, and some general ideas about living. Ultimately though, there is no list of rules to follow. It is this curious notion about the lifestyle that makes each Mori girl unique.
A Mori girl will often look whimsical or quirky, choosing her clothing on how it makes her feel rather than how it looks. She appreciates the smaller things in life, stopping to smell the roses as one might say. Mori girls enjoy reading, photography, and creating things with their hands. They appreciate nature and the world around, living their lives on their own terms. To start living as a Mori girl it is beneficial to have: an artistic mind, a bit of spending money, a whole lot of creativity, a love for quirky things, a creative imagination, and a love of nature, beauty and simplicity.
Mori girls are clever, read widely and often, enjoy journaling and are in love with nature. They adore for all kinds of animals, care for the environment and like to eat organic food and fresh fruits. Their love for history often makes them pick vintage things to wear. Mori girls aren’t overly focused on being cute, but instead practical. Clothing is comfortable and natural, made of fabrics such as cotton and wool. Flat shoes that are easy to walk in are perfect. The style often involves heavy layering with no defining points of the silhouette.
Though there are influences about what Mori entails or what to wear, and some general ideas about living. Ultimately though, there is no list of rules to follow. It is this curious notion about the lifestyle that makes each Mori girl unique. Most Mori girls wear loose-fitting and comfortable clothing. They love to wear a variety of fabrics to emphasise a natural look, with practical yet rustic grace akin to stepping out of the fairy tale woods. Clothing of the Mori girl is not body conscious, nothing that hugs the body or is too fitted.
Instead of a S-M, pick an L-XL. Don’t forget to layer clothing. Antiqued discolouring, tea-dying and sometimes even tears are fashionable. Outfits have an element of layering to them. Layering can often be difficult to pull off because many people often complicate it. Keep it simple. Start by layering a dress with a skirt or layering two shirts. Layering also creates natural volume in an outfit. A Mori girl’s choice of colour and clothing, reflect her natural tranquillity. Colours chosen are soft and earthy.
She prefers subdued hues with the occasional accent of bright colour, like a cluster of forest berries amongst the bushes. Summer often involves keeping as cool as possible. As the weather warms up less layers and lighter materials are seen. Often dresses are worn without a skirt underneath or a top over it. Instead, a long vest or a thin crochet top is worn for that quintessential layered look. Open-toed shoes make an appearance and cotton plimsolls become a good choice for warm weather. The summer Mori girl never forgets her hat.
Practical and cute duffel coats are the outerwear of choice in the cooler months. Mori girls keep warm with knits and furs in winter, and ponchos and leather boleros in autumn. Other cold weather options include padded jackets, shawls and knits; paired with all manner of socks, stockings and tights. Layering is a Mori girl’s best friend during the colder months. Not every girl is solely a Mori girl alone. Before encountering this lifestyle each girl has probably been a part of other styles of clothing and hobbies.
These little influences often stay a part of their life, many know before discovering this lifestyle what it means to dress a certain way or to live a different lifestyle with a different personal philosophy means. A Mori girl may never forget what it meant to her a year ago when she was something, someone, else. Perhaps when she was reading Anne of the Green Gables and dreaming about a life lived in that period in time. Somehow, these preserved memories find their way into her being. Who she is and where she has come from shape her perception of Mori-kei. She is her own Mori girl.
Mori girls are often observed with a fairly neutral facial expression: a touch of dreaminess with a slight smile, or a spaced-out look as though she is lost in thought. Mori girls are peaceful individuals and quiet when they have to be. They settle like autumn leaves and dust in cafes, trains or quiet nooks, or a favourite spot to sit down and drink in the world. The calming nature of walking puts the Mori girl at ease. She is never too flustered as there is always a secret place, a world of her own inside her mind or in her surroundings that she finds gladness and beauty in.
Inside herself she houses a deep joy for the simple things. From hiking boots to Oxfords, brogues and brown boots, the shoes of a Mori girl are made for walking miles and handling rough terrain, as the forest floors tend to be, while ensuring her feet stay comfortable. There are no rigid rules about footwear – simply what is best for oneself, though tall thin heels tend to be discouraged. Try plain canvas shoes or open toed sandals in the warmer months and rain boots when it’s particularly wet out. A Mori girl pays close attention to the world around her.
Whether it be wading through a particularly fast stream or embarking on a lone expedition. She notices the little, elusive details; the hidden shops, the dandelions growing by the roadside, or the mushroom ring at the bottom of her garden. She breathes in their meaning and their quiet beauty. Some things may be beyond comprehension – her ready admission that one cannot truly know everything shows her maturing outlook towards her world. A Mori girl’s wardrobe changes with the seasons or the climate in which she lives and yet still enables her to be recognised as a forest dweller.
This also contributes to the practicality as discussed above. Layering is a favourite of Mori girls, to keep them warm during their wanderings in cooler climates. However, what happens when summer arrives, or when a Mori girl finds herself in hot and humid surroundings? Mori girls have a knack for improvising while still staying true to their lifestyle. Warm hats, woollen scarves, coats and boots are worn to keep warm in cooler weather. And when the days grow hotter, lighter material with less layering and accessories such as a straw hat or a delicate parasol are favoured.
