UPDATED 101114 One of the biggest questions in the mori community is, "What's the difference between mori kei and natural kei?" I think this is a great topic to discuss, since there seems to be a lot of confusion and since the styles are actually very different! Additionally, there is a lot of history here and you can make your own decision about my interpretation. ❁ The History The oldest style between the two is the natural kei, but it has quite a different aesthetic than what I believe is most modern. Traditional natural kei came around the 1970s and is more shabby-chic. Moss Märchen was one of the leading natural kei blogs until she closed in late 2012, but she does a great job of explaining natural kei. Here are some images from her blog to give you an idea of traditional natural kei. I think this style is slightly closer to what might have already been worn in the time period that it came about. Natural kei is described as being similar to "Little House on the Prairie," where the wearer lives on the edge of the forest but not quite in it, so she can afford more trendy clothing. The mori term came around 2007, purposed to name a style that already existed. I really recommend checking out this video to show what Japanese mori girls thought about the style as it became recognized. This is the literal difference between mori and natural kei. However, I want to propose a more modern interpretation of the difference... ❁ Mori Kei Firstly, mori kei, literally means "forest style." So, girls that dress in mori look like they live in and are from the forest. In my own interpretation, mori girls tend to have more of a "forest spirit" vibe. White or beige, lacy, lots of layers. Mori kei, over natural kei, tends to be more popular in Japanese street snaps, because it's more over the top than natural kei. ❁ Natural Kei Natural kei is best described as the style of girls that live in a small town near the forest and will spend time in the woods. They are able to afford finer clothes, clothes with color, clothes with patterns, and a few whimsical or quirky pieces. Definitely less lace pieces, but not necessarily less layers (though natural kei can get away with fewer layers while mori kei cannot). Once mori began to become popular in the western culture, many people started tagging this type of mori also as natural kei. This was most likely confusion or in order to gain more attention to their posts, but I think that calling this natural kei is appropriate because it goes along with the concept of traditional natural kei (living on the edge of the forest), but with modern clothing (pants, for example). My favorite natural kei brand is DearLi on Taobao! Update: Lately, Dearli only has a few natural and mori pieces, but they're definitely super cute and deserve a look at. ❁ Remember That most of the time, these two sister styles are crossed over and each are inspired by the other. Don't be afraid to mix them up or wear natural one day, then mori the next! Most of the time, I will say "mori kei" and mean both, since they're nearly the same in concept, but it's good to know the distinction and where the natural kei term originally came from in case you want to get technical. I leave it up to you to decide if you want to take on the modern interpretation of natural kei or not. ^^ Also check out my MOR101: Introduction to Mori Kei post, especially if you're confused about Choco's mori list. The most important thing is to wear what makes YOU feel like a forest girl :) Until next time, Miss Kellie
A blog dedicated to Mori Girls (森ガール)! From music, to items, to outfits, to places & to the aesthetic.This blog is a collection of inspiration for any Mori Girl. Enjoy your journey through the woods.
I'm about as far as you can get from a fashionista; I hate trying on clothes, so my closet is a museum of ancient Ross and thrift store finds, and most of the time I'm just wearing jeans, a geek tee, and matching chucks. BUT. A big chunk of my heart belongs to ruffly skirts, flowy shirts, lots of layers, and, well, this kind of stuff: I would wear that post-apocalyptic Lolita thing on the right (made by Stilecht) EVERY DANG DAY. In fact, I've had that outfit Pinned to my woefully bare "Fashion" board for years, so a few months ago I went back to it and checked out Pinterest's "Related Pins." That's how the obsession began, you guys. I quickly discovered something called "Mori Girl" - which I now know is Japanese for "Forest Girl" - and fell in love. It's a fashion sub-culture that's checkin' all my boxes: loose frilly skirts, an A-line silhouette, lots of layers, boots, and NO HEELS. (Can I get an "hallelujah?") One of my favorite examples of Mori style is Mai Magi up there of Shortcut To The Stars (a Tumblr site that's gone now, sadly): Mai's rockin' a "Dark Mori" variation here, which has a more goth vibe with lots of blacks and gray. Loooove this silhouette. Classic Mori Girls wear lots of white linens and lighter colors, though still with an emphasis on natural fibers and muted colors: via Of course heavy layering is tantamount to heatstroke here in Florida - or most places during Summer - so next I went on a mission for lighter Mori looks. Tank via Skirts via It's a lot harder to find, but there are a few examples out there. The skirts are still layered, but they're shorter and lighter, which I can tell you from experience is great for swishing air around and keeping you cooler. Just skip the leggings and/or knee socks. If you go looking for Mori inspiration like I did, odds are you'll find most of it is being modeled by tiny Japanese beauties who would literally look gorgeous in a potato sack. In fact, I tried searching for "plus size Mori girl" - just to get a better idea of how a chunky geek girl like myself would look in this style - and I swear I heard Google laughing at me. Let's face it: layers are not always a friend to the fluffy. I was determined, though, so I did a little experimenting with stuff I already have. Now I *think* I've found some ways to pull off a little Mori style, even for me, even during a Florida summer. So if you like this look, too, here are a few things I've learned to get you started: - Try layering a dress over a skirt. BOOM. Instant Mori. - Go for long lines Even with a short skirt, go with longer loose tops, scarves, and necklaces, which all help draw the eye down towards your flouncy hemline (and away from possible tummy bulges). - Busty Babes Need Not Despair: If you're blessed with larger tracts of land, then this look can still work for you! Just look for tops/dresses that are tight/fitted until just below the bra line, then flow out to form an A line, like this: Larger land owners should probably avoid tops like this next one, which have pleats above the bra line: A bigger bust with these cuts can = a bigger looking belly, since the dress will fall straight down from your, er, mountain tops. Not good. That said, there are always exceptions, so wear what you love! (Or try adding a belt.) Another option: stick with all-over tighter tops: via And of course a darker color will make everything up there look smaller. (My shoulders are actually broader than my hips, so this visual trick has been a huge self-esteem saver for me. It may seem counter-intuitive to minimize your top assets and pad out your hips, but it's all about proportion!) - Stock up on tissue-light cardigans, scarves, and/or long vests. I'm talking see-through wispy stuff, so they have minimal bulk/ maximum air flow. via - Think steampunk You guessed it; this is another reason I love this style. Look for steampunky leather boots, natural and/or vintage jewelry pieces, woven or leather hip bags, and vintage hats/fascinators or hair clips to add a bit of fantasy to your forest fairy look. Ok, MY TURN. Even if I don't really manage a true "Mori Girl", I'm having fun incorporating parts of the look into my everyday wear. And yes, I have picture. Bad, blurry cellphone pictures. Still, just to prove a it can be done when you're more like a size 12 than a size 2: I bought this fake-suede, uber soft trapeze dress at Ross, but then never could figure out how to wear it. (But c'mon. It has POCKETS.) Layering it over my shredded orange skirt from my steampunk outfit gave it some much-needed body at the bottom. Then I topped it off - literally - with a long necklace and my slouchy brown "Grandpa sweater." It's still too warm for park runs right now, but perfect indoors in the A/C - and soooo comfy. The same skirt under a different dress, and two different cardigans: This one looks good with boots or flip-flops. Of course they have less body when I don't hold the skirt out, but it's still a decent amount of poof: Here's one of my favorites: This is another Ross dress, and I'm only five feet tall, guys, so look how short it is. I'm finding a lot of the casual knit dresses I love are inching shorter, so adding a skirt underneath makes them look better *and* be more wearable. (This skirt is a stiff canvas material, so it holds its shape without a petticoat. LOVE.) Here's a closeup of the accessories: And finally, a lighter look that's better for the Florida heat: Not really enough frills to be Mori, but I'm loving this layered skirt thing! I'm also seriously tempted to start sewing extra layers of ruffles onto the bottom of some thrift store skirts - and I am TERRIBLE at sewing, so I guess this must be love. Hope you guys enjoyed falling down another rabbit hole with me! And be sure to share outfit selfies over on Facebook if you decide to try your own version of Mori, so I can get more ideas! Photo Credits: Pinterest has not been my friend with sourcing these (grrr), but I've tagged what I could, and then most of the rest are catalog photos I believe from this Japanese store site, which has lots more eye candy. Happy browsing!
As always, if anyone has any other terms they would like to contribute, or if you make a post of your own ideas, please let me know and I will make a master post to link them all together. This weeks post are more officially recognized terms. But, they are still not official terms by any means. 17. Mori Boy Mori Boy is the male variation of the Mori Girl style. The style can contain any variation of Mori Girl influences, and ranges from ethereal, to cool, to just plain mountain man. The layers are still important, and the natural look is still strived for. Some people prefer not to categorize Mori Boy, and instead call all Mori fashion Mori Kei to make it more gender neutral. 18. Dolly Mori Dolly Mori is a mix of Mori Girl with another popular Japanese fashion, Dolly Kei. Dolly Kei tends to contain lots tapestry like fabrics, deeper and richer colors, and looks more like a girl stepping out of a fairy tale rather than a forest. Therefore, Dolly Mori contains a more Mori silhouette and coloring, with Dolly kei elements thrown in. 19. Cult Party Mori Cult Party Mori, like Dolly Mori, is a hybrid of Mori Girl with another popular Japanese fashion, Cult Party Kei. Cult Party often contains use of unnatural colors, printed tights, and synthetic material. So Cult Party Mori uses some of those elements while still retaining a Mori silhouette, and look. 20. Lolita Mori Lolita Mori is, just like Cult Party Mori and Dolly Mori, a hybrid of Mori Girl and another popular Japanese fashion, Lolita. Lolita is inspired by fashions from the Rococo and Victorian periods. The silhouette is very distinct, and is the most well known Japanese fashion by far. Lolita Mori may use a few more layers than usual for Lolita, but usually it maintains the Lolita silhouette, while incorporating a more Mori Girl like color scheme, a use of more lace, and sometimes forest related dress prints. Angie Dream Phrodies Deerstalker Pictures What do you think of these terms? Do you agree? Disagree? Let me know below, or in my cbox. (Constructive criticism is always welcome!) (If your picture is featured in this post and you would like it removed or credited, please let me know.)
When I first started to create my mori wardrobe, I was a bit lost as to where to start. I pretty much just bought anything I considered to be mori, and ended up with a large mess of clothing, and not a clue how to coordinate all of it. But after a few years of creating a mori wardrobe, I finally know what the basis for a mori wardrobe is. I want to share this with all of you, so that if you're just starting to create your mori wardrobe you can have some idea of where to start. Please remember that these are all my personal opinions, and that this is not by any means a complete guide. Just a bit of a guideline based on the things I've found while building my own mori wardrobe. To compare and contrast, you can check out Miss Kellie's wardrobe guide, and Berry Drop Shop's wardrobe guide for mori girls in tropical climates. So without further ado, let's begin! When beginning to make a mori wardrobe, the most important thing to do is to pick a general color scheme in addition to your regular whites and creams. For example, you can focus your wardrobe's colors on browns, pinks, greens, or any other kind of natural colors. Just stick with a few colors, and don't go grabbing all colors of the rainbow. I didn't do this when first starting out, and it made it very hard to create coords when I had one piece in every color, and none of them matched. The more similar colors you purchase, the more outfits you can make, and the easier it will be to make them. If you do really want multiple colors when first starting out, try to buy a few pieces of each color you choose at least. Another thing I've found to be important is picking your length. What I mean by that is figuring out what length of dress or skirt looks best on you, and then trying to buy clothing that keeps with that length. For instance, I look and feel most comfortable when my layers are mid-calf, or just above the knee. I don't feel good in skirts that are ankle length and so I often pass up mori finds that are that length, because I know it would be hard for me to coord them. Also, don't buy anything that isn't flattering on you just because it looks good on the hanger. I can't stress this one enough. I've wasted a lot of money buying pieces that were very cute, but didn't fit me at all. They'll just end up sitting in your closet, and eventually being donated to a thrift shop. So unless it fits as is, or you know for a fact that you can alter it to fit yourself, don't buy it. So let's start with a list of some basics for your wardrobe. They're not listed in any order of importance, so you can choose which ones you think are most important to start with. Base Dress This, in my opinion, will be the main foundation for your Mori wardrobe. Your base dress should be simple, and in a neutral color or one of your primary colors. It doesn't necessarily have to be completely plain and boring, although the plainer it is the easier to work into multiple coords. If you prefer something not as plain, then look for something with small details such as a crocheted hem, cute pockets, or embroidered patterns on the dress front. Plain Under Skirt This is another main piece for your wardrobe. This piece will be used to give you the extra layers you're looking for in a mori outfit. However, just like your base dress this skirt doesn't necessarily need to be completely plain. Look for extra ruffles on the bottom of skirt, and little details like lacey bits and patches. Try to look for a length that will layer well with your base dress length. For colors, I would suggest sticking with creams, as this skirt will be used often. Lace Underskirt/Dress This piece will also be a staple in your mori wardrobe. It usually is used as the bottom layer, or the top, overlayer (if it's a dress). Any kind of lace, in any size is fine. Just make sure it doesn't look synthetic or fake. Also, watch for length on this piece as well. You'll want to make sure that it layers well with your base dress, and also possibly your plain underskirt. Tunic Style Top This piece is very versatile. It can be used by itself with a skirt, as another layer on top of a dress, or even pair it with a pair of mori-able pants. For your first piece, I'd recommend keeping it a neutral color and looking for lace and ruffle details as opposed to patterns. However, if you are looking to expand an already existing mori wardrobe, then either patterned or plain is fine. Tights Tights are an absolute necessity for a mori girl in cold climates. When deciding what kinds of tights to purchase, make sure you take into account the weather near you. If you live in a tropical climate, you may not want to purchase any tights. If you live somewhere colder, you may want to consider buying extra tights to double up on when it's especially cold. As for what kinds of tights, I would again suggest something neutral to start out, and maybe a few patterned or different colored tights for special occasions. Sweater A sweater is a common piece in mori coords, but again this piece should be decided by where you live, and what your climate is like. If you live in a place where it is often warmer, and still would like to wear a sweater, look for one that is very thin, or perhaps wear a lace jacket instead. If you do get a sweater, try to look for something neutral and baggy. Don't let it swallow you, but make sure it is loose enough to flow with your clothing. Patterned or More Detailed Base Dress This will be your 'fun' piece! For this dress, look for special designs and patterns. Florals, patches, extravagant lace details, extra ruffles, or anything like that. This piece will be the one that will take more effort to coordinate, but will be your bit of color and life in your wardrobe. Vest A lace vest is a good way to add the illusion of extra layers and a lacey feel, with minimal effort. Depending on where you live, and the weather there, will again influence what this piece looks like. If you live somewhere warmer, look for loose crochet vests, or light lace vests. Shawl or Capelet Shawls and capelets, like lace vests, give out an illusion. This time it's of more layers than you actually have. When picking your shawl or capelet, again keep your climate in mind. For colder climates, you can actually use a knitted shawl or capelet to keep warm instead of just having it for a fashion statement. But in warmer climates you may want to look for something more on the lines of a large, lightweight scarf that can double as a shawl, or a capelet made of light materials. Neutral colors, as always, will be easiest to coordinate, but you can also go for a shawl or capelet in your chosen colors. Blouse A blouse will most likely be used underneath other layers, so keep it simple and a fairly neutral color. The sleeves length will be determined by where you live, and how often you want to wear it. Look for a cute, or unique collar to give your blouse a bit of character. Patterned Blouse Another 'fun' piece! This blouse can be used underneath other layers, but can also be used by itself. Look for lots of details, and patterns. Details on the bottom of the blouse are especially cute, and add to the layering feel. Also keep collars in mind for this blouse as well. Mori-able Pants This piece isn't necessarily a staple for everyone, but some mori girls still want to wear, or need to wear, pants from time to time. When looking for mori-able pants look for something slightly baggier than usual. As a rule, try to stay away from skinny jeans as they give off more of a sexy, or mainstream, feel. If you want to stay tighter with your pants, look for a fabric other than your usual jean fabric, such as cotton or khakis. Natural colors, such as browns and greens, are also good for giving off a mori feel. Patterned Skirt This skirt is another 'fun' piece. You can wear this as a layering piece under your base dress, or you can wear it by itself with a blouse. Again, keep your length in mind, and look for a skirt with patterns, fun colors, and lacey details. If you can find a skirt with the illusion of more than one layer you can wear it by itself in hot weather and look like you are layering when you're really not. Socks/Leg Warmers Socks and legwarmers give a bit more detail to your outfits. Leg warmers can be in your chosen colors or neutral, depending on what you feel you would wear more. And socks can be as plain or as detailed as you prefer. For detailed socks, look for socks with lace on the top or perhaps floral, or patterned. Shoes The possibilities for shoes are almost endless, but I would suggest keeping them comfortable and practical. Boots, from ankle length to calf-length, are a good option. As well as oxfords, flats, or even lacey tennis shoes. Go for neutral colors, such as browns and whites, and natural looking materials. If your shoes have laces, you can always swap the laces out for lace to create a bit more detailed look. Try to go for round-toed shoes, as they look more natural. Bloomers Bloomers are a bit more hard to find than other mori pieces. Where it's quite possible to find something like a skirt or blouse at a thrift shop, it's most likely that you will have to buy bloomers from a mori clothing brand. Bloomers create a bit more layers, and give a whimsical feel to your outfit. Keep them white or cream, so that they can go with anything. Look for lace or ruffles at the bottom for details. Brooch Brooches aren't for everyone, but can be a fun accessory. When buying a brooch look for ones with a thin pin on the back. As brooches can often leave holes in fabrics, you want to make sure that your pin will leave the smallest holes possible. And if your pin is thin enough, and your fabric loose enough, you can avoid holes entirely. If you have any experience crafting, you might try making a brooch for yourself! Scarf Scarves are a great way to add detail, and can also be used to keep warm in colder climates. Try to find large scarves that can loop all the way around your neck. Infinity scarves can be good for this. Lace details are often a nice touch. You can also look for scarves with colors and patterns. Necklace When purchasing a necklace look for naturally themed jewelry, such as things with woodland creatures, and mushrooms or trees. Gold coloring for metals is usually preferred, but tarnished silver is fine as well. You can also look for jewelry with leather straps, lace, or twine, to make it seem even more natural. Bag A bag is important to have. Most people carry a bag with them everywhere, so you need to make sure your bag matches the theme of your outfit. You can go as simple as a leather or cloth bag, or you can go for a bag covered in lace, or a basket. Again, this depends on your personal preference. A few other small things you might consider adding to your mori wardrobe are hair accessories, such as flower clips or lace hair bands, and a mori hat, preferably straw with lace details. Hopefully this is helpful for you, and inspires you to start building your own mori wardrobe! If you have any other ideas, make sure to let me know. And have fun coordinating!
I'm about as far as you can get from a fashionista; I hate trying on clothes, so my closet is a museum of ancient Ross and thrift store finds, and most of the time I'm just wearing jeans, a geek tee, and matching chucks. BUT. A big chunk of my heart belongs to ruffly skirts, flowy shirts, lots of layers, and, well, this kind of stuff: I would wear that post-apocalyptic Lolita thing on the right (made by Stilecht) EVERY DANG DAY. In fact, I've had that outfit Pinned to my woefully bare "Fashion" board for years, so a few months ago I went back to it and checked out Pinterest's "Related Pins." That's how the obsession began, you guys. I quickly discovered something called "Mori Girl" - which I now know is Japanese for "Forest Girl" - and fell in love. It's a fashion sub-culture that's checkin' all my boxes: loose frilly skirts, an A-line silhouette, lots of layers, boots, and NO HEELS. (Can I get an "hallelujah?") One of my favorite examples of Mori style is Mai Magi up there of Shortcut To The Stars (a Tumblr site that's gone now, sadly): Mai's rockin' a "Dark Mori" variation here, which has a more goth vibe with lots of blacks and gray. Loooove this silhouette. Classic Mori Girls wear lots of white linens and lighter colors, though still with an emphasis on natural fibers and muted colors: via Of course heavy layering is tantamount to heatstroke here in Florida - or most places during Summer - so next I went on a mission for lighter Mori looks. Tank via Skirts via It's a lot harder to find, but there are a few examples out there. The skirts are still layered, but they're shorter and lighter, which I can tell you from experience is great for swishing air around and keeping you cooler. Just skip the leggings and/or knee socks. If you go looking for Mori inspiration like I did, odds are you'll find most of it is being modeled by tiny Japanese beauties who would literally look gorgeous in a potato sack. In fact, I tried searching for "plus size Mori girl" - just to get a better idea of how a chunky geek girl like myself would look in this style - and I swear I heard Google laughing at me. Let's face it: layers are not always a friend to the fluffy. I was determined, though, so I did a little experimenting with stuff I already have. Now I *think* I've found some ways to pull off a little Mori style, even for me, even during a Florida summer. So if you like this look, too, here are a few things I've learned to get you started: - Try layering a dress over a skirt. BOOM. Instant Mori. - Go for long lines Even with a short skirt, go with longer loose tops, scarves, and necklaces, which all help draw the eye down towards your flouncy hemline (and away from possible tummy bulges). - Busty Babes Need Not Despair: If you're blessed with larger tracts of land, then this look can still work for you! Just look for tops/dresses that are tight/fitted until just below the bra line, then flow out to form an A line, like this: Larger land owners should probably avoid tops like this next one, which have pleats above the bra line: A bigger bust with these cuts can = a bigger looking belly, since the dress will fall straight down from your, er, mountain tops. Not good. That said, there are always exceptions, so wear what you love! (Or try adding a belt.) Another option: stick with all-over tighter tops: via And of course a darker color will make everything up there look smaller. (My shoulders are actually broader than my hips, so this visual trick has been a huge self-esteem saver for me. It may seem counter-intuitive to minimize your top assets and pad out your hips, but it's all about proportion!) - Stock up on tissue-light cardigans, scarves, and/or long vests. I'm talking see-through wispy stuff, so they have minimal bulk/ maximum air flow. via - Think steampunk You guessed it; this is another reason I love this style. Look for steampunky leather boots, natural and/or vintage jewelry pieces, woven or leather hip bags, and vintage hats/fascinators or hair clips to add a bit of fantasy to your forest fairy look. Ok, MY TURN. Even if I don't really manage a true "Mori Girl", I'm having fun incorporating parts of the look into my everyday wear. And yes, I have picture. Bad, blurry cellphone pictures. Still, just to prove a it can be done when you're more like a size 12 than a size 2: I bought this fake-suede, uber soft trapeze dress at Ross, but then never could figure out how to wear it. (But c'mon. It has POCKETS.) Layering it over my shredded orange skirt from my steampunk outfit gave it some much-needed body at the bottom. Then I topped it off - literally - with a long necklace and my slouchy brown "Grandpa sweater." It's still too warm for park runs right now, but perfect indoors in the A/C - and soooo comfy. The same skirt under a different dress, and two different cardigans: This one looks good with boots or flip-flops. Of course they have less body when I don't hold the skirt out, but it's still a decent amount of poof: Here's one of my favorites: This is another Ross dress, and I'm only five feet tall, guys, so look how short it is. I'm finding a lot of the casual knit dresses I love are inching shorter, so adding a skirt underneath makes them look better *and* be more wearable. (This skirt is a stiff canvas material, so it holds its shape without a petticoat. LOVE.) Here's a closeup of the accessories: And finally, a lighter look that's better for the Florida heat: Not really enough frills to be Mori, but I'm loving this layered skirt thing! I'm also seriously tempted to start sewing extra layers of ruffles onto the bottom of some thrift store skirts - and I am TERRIBLE at sewing, so I guess this must be love. Hope you guys enjoyed falling down another rabbit hole with me! And be sure to share outfit selfies over on Facebook if you decide to try your own version of Mori, so I can get more ideas! Photo Credits: Pinterest has not been my friend with sourcing these (grrr), but I've tagged what I could, and then most of the rest are catalog photos I believe from this Japanese store site, which has lots more eye candy. Happy browsing!
I'm about as far as you can get from a fashionista; I hate trying on clothes, so my closet is a museum of ancient Ross and thrift store finds, and most of the time I'm just wearing jeans, a geek tee, and matching chucks. BUT. A big chunk of my heart belongs to ruffly skirts, flowy shirts, lots of layers, and, well, this kind of stuff: I would wear that post-apocalyptic Lolita thing on the right (made by Stilecht) EVERY DANG DAY. In fact, I've had that outfit Pinned to my woefully bare "Fashion" board for years, so a few months ago I went back to it and checked out Pinterest's "Related Pins." That's how the obsession began, you guys. I quickly discovered something called "Mori Girl" - which I now know is Japanese for "Forest Girl" - and fell in love. It's a fashion sub-culture that's checkin' all my boxes: loose frilly skirts, an A-line silhouette, lots of layers, boots, and NO HEELS. (Can I get an "hallelujah?") One of my favorite examples of Mori style is Mai Magi up there of Shortcut To The Stars (a Tumblr site that's gone now, sadly): Mai's rockin' a "Dark Mori" variation here, which has a more goth vibe with lots of blacks and gray. Loooove this silhouette. Classic Mori Girls wear lots of white linens and lighter colors, though still with an emphasis on natural fibers and muted colors: via Of course heavy layering is tantamount to heatstroke here in Florida - or most places during Summer - so next I went on a mission for lighter Mori looks. Tank via Skirts via It's a lot harder to find, but there are a few examples out there. The skirts are still layered, but they're shorter and lighter, which I can tell you from experience is great for swishing air around and keeping you cooler. Just skip the leggings and/or knee socks. If you go looking for Mori inspiration like I did, odds are you'll find most of it is being modeled by tiny Japanese beauties who would literally look gorgeous in a potato sack. In fact, I tried searching for "plus size Mori girl" - just to get a better idea of how a chunky geek girl like myself would look in this style - and I swear I heard Google laughing at me. Let's face it: layers are not always a friend to the fluffy. I was determined, though, so I did a little experimenting with stuff I already have. Now I *think* I've found some ways to pull off a little Mori style, even for me, even during a Florida summer. So if you like this look, too, here are a few things I've learned to get you started: - Try layering a dress over a skirt. BOOM. Instant Mori. - Go for long lines Even with a short skirt, go with longer loose tops, scarves, and necklaces, which all help draw the eye down towards your flouncy hemline (and away from possible tummy bulges). - Busty Babes Need Not Despair: If you're blessed with larger tracts of land, then this look can still work for you! Just look for tops/dresses that are tight/fitted until just below the bra line, then flow out to form an A line, like this: Larger land owners should probably avoid tops like this next one, which have pleats above the bra line: A bigger bust with these cuts can = a bigger looking belly, since the dress will fall straight down from your, er, mountain tops. Not good. That said, there are always exceptions, so wear what you love! (Or try adding a belt.) Another option: stick with all-over tighter tops: via And of course a darker color will make everything up there look smaller. (My shoulders are actually broader than my hips, so this visual trick has been a huge self-esteem saver for me. It may seem counter-intuitive to minimize your top assets and pad out your hips, but it's all about proportion!) - Stock up on tissue-light cardigans, scarves, and/or long vests. I'm talking see-through wispy stuff, so they have minimal bulk/ maximum air flow. via - Think steampunk You guessed it; this is another reason I love this style. Look for steampunky leather boots, natural and/or vintage jewelry pieces, woven or leather hip bags, and vintage hats/fascinators or hair clips to add a bit of fantasy to your forest fairy look. Ok, MY TURN. Even if I don't really manage a true "Mori Girl", I'm having fun incorporating parts of the look into my everyday wear. And yes, I have picture. Bad, blurry cellphone pictures. Still, just to prove a it can be done when you're more like a size 12 than a size 2: I bought this fake-suede, uber soft trapeze dress at Ross, but then never could figure out how to wear it. (But c'mon. It has POCKETS.) Layering it over my shredded orange skirt from my steampunk outfit gave it some much-needed body at the bottom. Then I topped it off - literally - with a long necklace and my slouchy brown "Grandpa sweater." It's still too warm for park runs right now, but perfect indoors in the A/C - and soooo comfy. The same skirt under a different dress, and two different cardigans: This one looks good with boots or flip-flops. Of course they have less body when I don't hold the skirt out, but it's still a decent amount of poof: Here's one of my favorites: This is another Ross dress, and I'm only five feet tall, guys, so look how short it is. I'm finding a lot of the casual knit dresses I love are inching shorter, so adding a skirt underneath makes them look better *and* be more wearable. (This skirt is a stiff canvas material, so it holds its shape without a petticoat. LOVE.) Here's a closeup of the accessories: And finally, a lighter look that's better for the Florida heat: Not really enough frills to be Mori, but I'm loving this layered skirt thing! I'm also seriously tempted to start sewing extra layers of ruffles onto the bottom of some thrift store skirts - and I am TERRIBLE at sewing, so I guess this must be love. Hope you guys enjoyed falling down another rabbit hole with me! And be sure to share outfit selfies over on Facebook if you decide to try your own version of Mori, so I can get more ideas! Photo Credits: Pinterest has not been my friend with sourcing these (grrr), but I've tagged what I could, and then most of the rest are catalog photos I believe from this Japanese store site, which has lots more eye candy. Happy browsing!
Mori is Japanese for ‘Forest’ so straight away the thought of earth and nature is there.Tricks of how to dress Mori along with some cute mori style outfits.
#Mori #morigirl #forest #vintage #VintageInspired #fairy Created in the Polyvore iPhone app. http://www.polyvore.com/iOS
As always, if anyone has any other terms they would like to contribute, or if you make a post of your own ideas, please let me know and I will make a master post to link them all together. And please keep in mind that all these variations have come from my own head, and that they are not officially recognized terms. Here we go! 13.Simplistic Mori: This variation is rather hard for me to explain, but I'll try my best! I basically think of this variation as a smoothed out, no unnecessary frills, kind of Mori. It can border a casual kind of Mori at times, but it still maintains the traditional silhouette. Basically, it's Mori at its minimum. Shortcuttothestars 14.Romantic Mori: This variation contains lots of extra lace and romantic colors. However, the lace is never bulky or OTT, but instead has a more mature and feminine look. It can have many layers or few, but it always maintains it's soft feminine feel. Shortcuttothestars Wardrobe Shop 15.Bohemian Mori This one is pretty self-explanatory. It's when Mori and Boho styles mix. Usually, though, I'd say the Mori style is more evident, and the Boho style is more hints or small pieces of the outfit. This is a more western variation I think. Free People 16.Shabby Chic Mori: If you've ever seen a picture of Shabby Chic decor, then you know exactly what this variation is before you see any pictures. But for those who haven't, here are a few Shabby Chic interior photos to help you get an idea for this variation. So, Shabby Chic Mori contains lots of different flower patterns, lots of lace, and a kind of cute but cluttered feel. Common colors would be pinks, blues, and sometimes greens or yellows. Bertha Louise Designs True Rebel Clothing Go Halainn What do you think of these terms? Do you agree? Disagree? Let me know below, or in my cbox. (Constructive criticism is always welcome!) (If your picture is featured in this post and you would like it removed or credited, please let me know.)
