Yama Girls - cousins of the mori girls?

In the last two years, an emerging Japanese subculture has gained increasing popularity.

Meet the yama girls.

While mori girls identify with quiet lives in the forest, yama girls (or mountain girls) embrace the undulating majesty of mountain landscapes. Yama girls enjoy hiking and the great outdoors, and this is reflected in their clothing and accessory choices.

While mori girls are represented by the magazine Papier, the quintessential yama girl magazine is Randonnée.

Yama girl fashion places an emphasis on bright colours and functionality. Sturdy and comfortable hiking boots, tights, leggings and socks in a variety of colours and patterns, flannel and backpacks are key.

Yama girls have also popularised hiking in skirts, and several Japanese clothing labels have started selling hiking skirts to cater to the demand.

Of course, this also means that a variety of beautiful camping and hiking equipment including tents, mats and foldable chairs has now become available in Japan (click on the pictures for a closer look).

While this is a site about mori girls, I thought it would be appropriate to welcome our yama girl cousins.

Read more about the yama girls here and here.

Image source: Randonnée

Tweet

Yu Aoi collaborates with Journal Standard

Months ago, Yu Aoi collaborated with Japanese fashion label Journal Standard and launched a special collection. As regular readers will know, Yu Aoi is the favourite actress of many mori girls. The collection showcases her personal style--gentle, quirky, but never cloying or overly sweet.

Tshirt, lace collar and rolled-up chinos. An unexpected pairing, but somehow the effect is very nice.

This is my favourite item in the collection. What a glorious dress!

This translucent lace top worn with checked pants gives us a boyish take on a usually ultra-feminine material.

 

This orange jumpsuit with beaded belt is very spunky.

Cuffed boyfriend jeans in a variety of candy colours. Love this look!

While this collection may not be for everyone, I love how Yu Aoi is taking risks and lending a unique touch to the clothes and styling. Can't wait to see what she comes up with next!

Image source: Baycrew's

Related posts:
Yu Aoi in Jille
Yu Aoi in Anan
Yu Aoi in Pretty Style May 2010
Featured Mori Girl: Yu Aoi
Top 20 mori girls
Yu Aoi is Hagumi Hanamoto in Honey and Clover
Yu Aoi in Spoon

Tweet

Featured Brand: Ciaopanic

The theme of Japanese fashion brand Ciaopanic's ladies' collection is "sweet vintage," something that should interest most mori girls. The pictures below were shot in the United States. I love them!

I have a thing for vintage motorcycles, lazy shirts with collars and well-worn cardigans. The first picture contains all three!

The floral bomber jacket in the first picture below is great, and the very American tshirts in both pictures are great fun.

Great examples of layering. The scarves wound all the way around the neck are distinctly mori girlish, and the roomy white dress in the bottom picture has a great silhouette.

These pictures smell of freedom.

Image source: Ciaopanic

Related post:
Lepsim Lowrys Farm

Tweet

Syrup Winter 2010 catalogue

Continuing the trend of spending Christmas in a European wonderland, Syrup's winter catalogue (as well as a special in Japanese magazine Spoon) was shot in the Czech Republic. How do you think these pictures compare to those in last year's catalogue, which was shot in Estonia?

 

The Syrup models have been sporting these long, relaxed silhouettes that can easily be recreated with long coats or tops and below-the-knee skirts.

Syrup clothes never seem to have any waist, something I actually prefer maybe because I don't have much of a shape to begin with. If you prefer slightly more fitted silhouettes, cinch your top or dress at the waist with a simple belt.

I am enamoured with these darling animal cardigans! Animal motifs are a favourite of mori girls, and it doesn't get any cuter than this.

Image source: Felissimo

Related posts:

Syrup Spring 2010 catalogue

Syrup Winter 2009/2010 catalogue

Featured Brand: Syrup

Tweet

SM2 Winter 2010

I hope all of you are having a good winter and/or Christmas season. In anticipation of winter, many of the mori girls' favourite clothing labels have produced fashion spreads shot in Europe. Scandinavia is often cited as the textbook definition of the mori girl's dream destination.

So it's no surprise that SM2, a Japanese label that is by now a firm favourite of many mori girls, has travelled to Sweden for the winter.

Cycling to the bakery with backpack in tow followed by an hour or two at the library is many mori girls' idea of a perfect day.

Just like last winter, practical and cute duffle coats are the outerwear of choice. Other cold weather options include padded jackets, shawls and knits, to be paired with all manner of socks, stockings and tights. Layering is a mori girl's best friend.

SM2 sticks with its customary earthy, neutral palette, playing around with texture to keep things interesting.

Have a lovely winter.

Image source: SM2

Related posts:
SM2 Summer 2010
SM2 Spring 2010
SM2 Winter 2009
Featured Brand: SM2

Tweet

Syrup Summer 2010 catalogue

A quick post--found these pictures in a random folder on my computer and wanted to share them before winter really and truly hits. Seems like it's been a strangely warm winter for many anyway.

I regret not spending much time outdoors this summer. It's been pretty cold and wet lately.

Sigh, I'm really missing beachy weather. I'm loving the bag in the second picture. It's perfect for bike riding!

As has been the case for quite a while, I've been finding the indoor pictures very charming indeed.

What are your plans this Christmas?

Image source: Felissimo

Related posts:
Syrup Winter 2010 catalogue
Syrup Spring 2010 catalogue
Syrup Winter 2009/2010 catalogue
Syrup Autumn/Winter 2010 catalogue
Featured Brand: Syrup

Tweet