Featured Brand: Colkinikha

I discovered Colkinikha while looking through one of the mori girl mooks. It appears to be yet another Japanese brand with a vaguely European-sounding name. Although it's winter now, it was Colkinikha's Spring/Summer collection that caught my eye.

The collection features light fabrics and floaty, dreamy silhouettes. Will this create a less heavy mori girl aesthetic next year when the temperature rises?

By now, it is clear that booties, often anchoring light and unstructured dresses, are the mori girl's footwear of choice. I love the idea of using a cord as a belt as well. It treads the thin line between shapelessness and structure.

The model's hairstyle and earrings help to soften these outfits.

Image source: Colkinikha

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Featured Mori Girl: Shizuru Shitonaka in Heavenly Forest

I just watched Heavenly Forest (ただ、君を愛してる ), a film that has received attention from the mori girl community for its protagonist, Shizuru Shitonaka. Aoi Miyazaki (宮崎あおい), who portrays Shizuru in the film, was also voted second on a poll identifying celebrity mori girls.

Heavenly Forest is very much a character-driven film. Its plot, like many films falling under the "pure love" sub-genre, is fairly formulaic. However, it has been well-received by critics and viewers alike thanks to its quirky and well-played lead characters. Aoi Miyazaki carries the movie, makes the eccentric character Shizuru her own and turns Heavenly Forest into a memorable, moving and quite special little film. The film also contains many gorgeous forest scenes that will surely inspire many a mori girl.

Shizuru is an eccentric university student from the French department whose life remains a mystery for much of the film. She is usually seen wearing long-sleeved, patterned tops under loose dresses and tops, matched with pants and booties. Her fringed bob is also a typical mori girl hairstyle.

A large part of the film's charm comes from Shizuru's quirks and the surprising things she says.

 

Shizuru is aware that others may consider her weird, and this resonates with the individualistic values of many mori girls.

Photography is a central motif in the film as it is what strengthens the bond between Shizuru and Makoto Segawa, played by a sweetly awkward Hiroshi Tamaki (玉木宏). The Canon analogue SLRs used by both characters will strike a chord with many mori girls.

One reason this film is so enjoyable is that Aoi Miyazaki is so darn cute.

I didn't have high expectations of the film but ended up finding it quite enchanting in its own way. A great way to spend a quiet night in. If you want to watch Heavenly Forest too, you may want to get it from my affiliate link.

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SM2 Winter 2009

I posted about SM2 in autumn, and now they've come up with a brand new collection for winter.

This collection retains the brand's signature relaxed silhouettes and neutral tones while piling on heavier layers for the winter.

The earmuffs look so cosy, while the draping in the second picture is lovely and relaxed.

I especially love toggle coats like that in the first picture (in fact one of the coats that I wear most in winter is a long cream toggle coat). Because they're rather unisex and very functional, they're great for afternoon rambles and exploring.

Patterned tights like these are making a huge appearance this winter.

 

Once again, SM2 presents its designs in a rustic setting that is close to the hearts of all mori girls.

This label is so dreamy!

Image source: SM2

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Featured Brand: Sloe

While surfing through the Japanese mail order site Felissimo, I discovered Sloe, a label that's streetsmart yet sweetly geeky. I think most mori girls have an awkward, slightly nerdy and introspective side that could be channeled in a similar way.

Loose, amorphous silhouettes and autumm shades are given a contemporary twist. I love the parka in the first picture, the scarf in the second and those furry leg warmers in the third.

Love the way they layered the striped leggings under socks and boots in the first picture.

Those shoes are just perfect!

Image source: Felissimo

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Featured Brand: Wonder Rocket

Wonder Rocket stocks clothing and accessories that probably come closest to the typical mori girl look on Daikanyama streets. The aesthetic is generally quite frilly, feminine and predisposed to lighter shades and neutral tones.

It may be inspiring for some of you to check out the most popular conception of mori girl, though you shouldn't let it curb your own imagination as this is by no means the only interpretation of  mori girl.

Wonder Rocket has even dedicated a section specifically to mori girls! Here are some picks from the mori girl selection.

Typical mori girl street snapshots tend to feature lots of lace-like fabrics.

Loose dresses which have long been a staple of mori girls.

The navy dress with the lace collar is adorable, and the bolero is another mori girl favourite.

Winding scarves around the neck without letting the ends dangle has been cited as the mori girl's scarf-wearing method of choice, while the Russian-style furry hat very cosily captures the spirit of the chillier seasons.

Wonder Rocket can be a great choice if you're after the extremely textured, light coloured look that's appearing a lot on Japanese streets these days.

Image source: Wonder Rocket

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Syrup Winter 2009/2010 catalogue

Syrup, Felissimo's Scandinavian-inspired label, has come up with a new catalogue for Winter 2009/2010, and it just reinforces everything I love about this brand! They consistently produce the most beautiful catalogues and give us glimpses into these idyllic little worlds.

Syrup's last catalogue also featured a rustic setting reflecting the spirit of the mori girls. What adorable socks and tights!

I especially love these shots of a girl hanging out at home in a beautifully cosy-looking house. The first two looks are playful and casual, while the third look is wonderfully autumnal.

I just adore the outfits in the first picture. The colours, the prints, the silhouette--everything is perfect! The sweet pastels in the second and third pictures avoid looking sickeningly sweet with their loose, casual silhouettes.

Image source: Felissimo

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Featured Brand: Iedit

Syrup Autumn/Winter 2009 catalogue

Featured Brand: Syrup

Featured Brand: Iedit

Firstly, I'd like to apologise for posting so infrequently the past few days. I can't use my MacBook at the moment, so please bear with me until it's back in a few days!

Iedit is from the same parent company as the wonderful Syrup. It offers down-to-earth solutions for girls who want to incorporate the layers and loose silhouettes of the mori girls into their everyday wardrobes.

Turtlenecks, a mori girl staple, layered under dresses and tops are a great look for winter.

I find skirts peeking out from under shorter hemlines particularly cute. This is a look that's become especially popular recently.

Easy and casual looks for lazy fall days. Plaid, lace, beanies, boots, tights--all mori girl favourites.

These individual pieces can be combined to create more ordinary looks, but can also be worked into outfits more characteristic of mori girls.

Image source: Felissimo

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Syrup Winter 2009/2010 catalogue

Syrup Autumn/Winter 2009 catalogue

Featured Brand: Syrup