Japanese Fashion: Himegyaru

Hime in Japanese means princess and is one of the many fashion trends in Japan.

Himegyaru is inspired by the old Victorian style royalty and idols like Marie Antoinette and Paris Hilton. The style is typically pink and/or white with adornments like bows, flowers and ribbons. You’ll mainly the style in only knee high dresses with heels, jewelry and a head piece. Also big curly hair (usually blonde) is typical.

The Wall Street Journal just did an article about the princess boom. The followed a Japanese woman, Mayumi Yamamoto, around as she shopped and explain her passion for himegyaru. She loves the pink and the feminism in the style but was always shy about her plumpness. So like a woman with determination, she lost 33lbs in recent years and decided to treat herself to a shopping spree that accentuated her new figure.

Like everything in Japan, the price for fashion isn’t cheap. A typical dress for the himegyaru fashion is in the hundreds. Ms. Yamamoto spends about $2,000 - $3,00 a month funded by her husband. She’s also supported by her parents who send them food so that she can have more money for shopping.

This is probably my favorite fashion style in Japan. It’s cute and filled with girliness and diamonds.

Source: Wall Street Journal & JapanProbe