Syrup Spring 2010 catalogue

The Syrup catalogue is consistently and unfailingly enchanting. Their beautiful pictures always inspire me to live a slightly sweeter life. The three concepts shaping the Syrup Spring 2010 collection are not only charming but also strike a chord in the hearts of mori girls. I have no doubt that the clothes are but a fraction of Syrup's charm.

The first concept, 'Syrup Culture Club,' brings to mind a quiet lifestyle filled with piles of books eagerly waiting to be read, old movies and solo voyages.

 

 

The clothes this time around are a bit more urban than those in their previous collections. The brown loose cuffed trousers and the khaki coat (in the first picture) remind of adventurer Tintin. Skirts are paired with loose tops, and the long-sleeved worn under the one-piece dress makes yet another appearance.

The second theme is a picnic at the botanic gardens. Personally, I love picnics, and I'm certain many mori girls share these sentiments. They're a great, hassle free way to feel a little closer to nature, even when you live in the city.

I love the different picnic set-ups in each picture. A-line dresses are featured liberally in this photoshoot and offer a comfortable way to enjoy picnics in comfort.

The third concept features lots and lots of flowers, primarily indoors and in pretty vases. The models are pictured in such beautiful surroundings. Anybody coming home to a house like that everyday would be lucky indeed!

The first dress has a lovely, elongated silhouette that's made a little cuter with white sneakers and apatterned top. The models always look so contemplative that just looking at these pictures calms one down right away.

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Syrup Autumn/Winter 2009 catalogue
Featured Brand: Syrup

Image source: Felissimo

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Featured Brand: Marble Sud

Japanese fashion label Marble Sud has been a favourite of mori girls for quite some time, having been highlighted in Choco's Mori Girl Fashion & Style Book, as well as the Mori Girl eMook. Marble Sud clothing features playful prints and graphics and avoids being too delicate. There are graphic-print tshirts featuring lovely ink drawings, and everything else comes in delightful patterns.

 

The first outfit reminds me very much of Yu Aoi's Dandelion photobook in which she travels to Russia.

These pictures were taken from the latest issue of Spoon. The loose dress on the left looks cute when paired with sneakers and leggings, while the ethnic-inspired outfit on the right is perfect for woodland nomads. I also love this dreamland-themed photoshoot, particularly the picture of the model dozing off to another realm.

  

Much of Marble Sud's clothes are light, casual and down-to-earth. This is great for mori girls who are unwilling to compromise on comfort. The dresses, skirts and tops somehow always manage to retain a quaint air.

 

Adorable accessories make those daily walks even sweeter. With an umbrella that cute, afternoon showers become a pleasure rather than a hindrance.

Image source: Choco's Mori Girl Fashion & Style Book, Mori Girl eMook, Spoon

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Topshop dresses

Topshop is a high street brand I've never directly associated with mori girl style. But with the popularity of vintage-inspired fashion in the last few years, most mainstream shops have come up with vintage-inspired dresses that mori girls may like.

One thing I noticed in a lot of the dresses currently selling at Topshop is the generous use of neutral tones favoured by 'classic' mori girls in Japan.

 

The first dress could be incorporated into a layered outfit, while the second dress has a very cute silhouette.

Prints such as vintage florals and checks are used quite copiously these days in high street stores. I actually really love the dress on the left. The pockets and loose shape are just right, and it has quite a Japanese aesthetic that brings to mind brands like Muji.

I had to save my favourite dresses for last. I am head over heels in love with the first dress especially. The colour, the cut, the embroidery--everything is just right.

While most mori girls have a love of authentic vintage clothing and thrifting, I can't deny that it's sometimes nice to be able to walk into high street shops and be surrounded by things I love.

Image source: Topshop

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Cath Kidson accessories for serious items

Mori girls often feel a bit anachronistic, stuck in a time and place that doesn't quite match what's immediately around them. I sometimes feel a little strange trying to shop for things like laptop sleeves and business card holders. They seem so boring and serious. British brand Cath Kidson's charming vintage-inspired prints lend a bit of cheer to such items. I especially like those made of polka-dotted material. Polka-dots are a favourite of mori girls too. It's just a pity there's nothing in candy or animal prints! I'm sure many mori girls will go one step further and make their own.

Business card holder and spectacle case in vintage florals.

 

Business card holder and cell phone case. This is my favourite print of all those featured on the website (I've always loved white polkadots against navy). They have Blackberry cases too, for the more technologically-inclined mori girl.

 

Laptop sleeve and gadget case.  I myself use a laptop sleeve (though not from Cath Kidson) rather than a laptop bag. I just zip my laptop into its sleeve and toss it into my bag. It seems easier than carrying around a laptop bag.

Image source: Cath Kidson

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Mori girls in the New York Times

Mori girl style has unexpectedly gained the attention of the New York Times. The article (click here to read) portrays mori girls as 'living dolls' who shun any remotely aggressive or assertive behaviour and are terminally 'fragile'.

I can't say I completely agree with these sentiments. It is true that the mori girl subculture advocates a slow-paced lifestyle that is perhaps more passive than those of so-called 'carnivorous' women. It is also quite true that mori girl style tries to downplay sexuality, leaning more towards a sexless aesthetic.

However, I don't think the mori girl lifestyle advocates fragility or weakness in any way. Mori girls, while peace-loving, are ardent about expressing their individuality, albeit in discreet ways. Their penchant for unique clothing, creative hobbies and rejection of mainstream attitudes to life are a quiet protest against the status quo.

The article does make a good point about the escape from reality the mori girl lifestyle offers, though. It'd be a pity to waste all that imagination, wouldn't it? :)

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Featured Brand: Mother

Japanese brand Mother has a somewhat odd name. The word 'mother' brings to mind maternity clothing, or accessories for toddlers. Once you understand the concept behind Mother, however, you'll realise its name is really quite apt. The brand's clothing can be likened to treasures salvaged from mothers' closets, feminine and timeless pieces to be handed down to the next generation.

 

Vintage-inspired floral prints give a whiff of sweetness and elegance.

 

Softly-shaped dresses with gentle floral motifs.

 

These looks come close to the styling of more folkloric or ethnic-inspired mori girls.

 

Roomy scarves and a bohemian, nomadic vibe are well-suited to more adventurous mori girls.

 

Vintage-inspired florals transform these boots and skirt into the stuff old fairytales are made of.

Image source: Mother

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Featured Brand: Colkinikha

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