森ガール Lesson 5

This was originally posted to the livejournal mori girls community [here], but I was so proud of my effort I wanted to post it on my blog as well.

I'm not sure about you folks, but I've felt recently that it had been a while since the last mook and it was due time for a new one. So, imagine my pleasure when I walked into the local convenience store on the corner today, and found the newest Mori Girl Lesson mook on the shelf! Since I know it usually takes a little time before the scans come out, I thought I'd give you a sneak peek into Lesson 5, which highlights trends and styles for Autumn & Winter 2011.


Styles for the autumn and winter seem to be a continuation on recent magazine and street trends. Flower, whimsical, and polka-dot printed one pieces, skirts and blouses, brooches, collars, neutral colored boots and patterned, loose knitted sweaters are named as classic waredrobe pieces.

Overalls and jumperskirts, peterpan collared blouses, airy skirts, "girly" down jackets, flower printed shoes, and unique/whimsical pocketbooks are suggested items to add to your waredrobe this season. There is a lot of name dropping in this edition in the "must have" section too, and I'm not sure if that's new or if it's always been there and I haven't noticed it before, but they also recommend pieces from several brands directly.

There is also a section in this Lesson highlighting 10 rules for making cordinates "slightly natural." Since my Japanese is shoddy at best I can't say exactly what that details (where's the boyfriend when you need him?! haha), but the points they cover are as follows:
1) beige gradation 2) long cardigans 3) loose silhouettes 4) wavy hair 5) a-line one-pieces 6)flats or heeled shoes 7) round collars 8) big stoles 9) rounded (blush on the) cheeks and 10) leg warmers.
In my opinion there definitely seems to be a movement away from early mori girl fashion (which was very layered and "street fashion" feeling) to a more mainstream friendly style. Don't let this scare you away though! I think that the fashions in this particular mook still capture that je ne sais quoi that makes mori so whimsical, but with coordinates that have fewer layers and more color.

Other sections of the mook include one week coordinate picture sets for real (as opposed to model) "fashionable mori girls", a section on earth music & ecology's new Natural Label, several pages on brands, a section on hair and makeup styling, suggested outer wear accessories (i.e. hats, ear muffs, stoles, bags, shoes and socks), books, home decoration, other new items of interest and recent fashion collection books that have been released (also showing the complimentary bag that comes with it).






Speaking of complimentary bags, the one with this edition is from the new earth music & ecology Natural label. It's very small, but wicked cute!!




Hope that you've enjoyed reading about what's to come! Please make sure to support the makers of the mori girl Lesson emooks and purchase a copy if it's an option for you, so that they continue to put out these lovelies!
xoxo,
Bee

Recent reads

About a year ago, I found myself rather ashamed at how little I had read of "classic" English literature. This prompted me to pick up a Jane Austen book (now one of my favorite authors) and since then I've been reading whatever I could get my hands on, in particular off of the BBC's list of 100 books you should read.

I've only read 23 out of the top 100 which at first I found really embarrassing, until I realized that it's almost 1/4 of the list- huzzah! ( ﾟ▽ﾟ)/

Since moving to Japan however, I haven't had English books so easily at my fingertips. I did bring some of my English books with me, and had my parents send me some in the mail too, but I commute for 2 hours a day, and read for most of that so my rate of finishing books is much higher than normal.

Luckily, there is an AMAZING used book store here called BOOK-OFF, and if you happen to stumble upon one in the more populous areas, they tend to have English books, and every so often they'll have some that interest you. And I found just such a one~ ♪

What is especially great about BOOK-OFF is that everything being used, you can get them for very cheaply. All of these books were only ¥2500! Ｏ(≧∇≦)Ｏ

I was REALLY excited to find these- ESPECIALLY the Moomin book. I've been so into Moomin recently. ♡ There is a moomin mook out recently that I've been chewing on buying.

I think from now on I'll canonicalize what I'm reading here! It'll be a good motivation, I think.

xoxo,
Bee 

森ガール Inspiration Monday

Trying to start up my Inspiration Monday posts again~~ (ﾟωﾟ;)

Recently I've been really into the (what I've personally dubbed) "fever blush" style I've been seeing in street fashion magazines like Zipper and Spoon. It's unique and interesting and I think if done with the right colors can look natural.

By keeping her eye and lip makeup neutral and minimal, it really draws attention to the blush. The picture above also highlights another trend I've really liked, which is braiding part of the hair. It adds interest and can still be done by short-haired girls (like me!).

xoxo,
Bee

ps. photo from tumblr, not me. If you know the correct source I'll give credit where it's due. :)

森ガール Provisions

One of the things that I always find very interesting is when people come into the various mori girl communities that I follow and start asking about "rules".


One of the things that I love about this fashion is that there aren't really any "rules." There is a lot of flexibility and personal fashion cross over and I think this appeals to people (especially those coming from more stringent fashions like lolita!). (ﾟヮﾟ)

However, I think it's interesting that at the onset of mori girl fashion, provisions were laid out by those who had been at the forefront of the style, like the mixi community. Something I find particularly interesting about these provisions is that it's as much (if not more!) about how you live as it is what you wear. 

So, while it says things like  "Dresses in A line clothes," "Loves smock-like one piece dresses and blouses," "Loves ponchos and boleros," and "Wears flat soled shoes as default foot-wear," it also says things about how to be! Some of these are things like: "Finds old/vintage items charming," "Girlie-girlie,"  "Loves to hang loose/chill at cafes," "Feel happy when the find cute books at bookstores," and "You were told you permeate a laid-back aura at all time." How interesting it is to me that this is a fashion as much about who you are as it is about what you're wearing! 

I think that this is some of the appeal of mori girl, though. It isn't just about putting on clothes and suddenly being part of a fashion culture- it's becoming (or nurturing the already existent) person who takes time to see things and appreciate them in a world that is too busy and over-sexualized. It encourages people to take time and live slowly. Of course, some people might not like the lifestyle aspect of it, or find the whole idea too contrived (see numa girl!). But I think for those who are looking for a fashion that reflects some part of themselves, mori girl is a breath of fresh air.

For me personally, I had already felt drawn to many of the more quirky parts of mori girl. However, I was am also a girl who doesn't match the "provisions" entirely. I think I'm perhaps more like a "numa girl" hahahaha. BUT, I haven't let that stop me- I like that this style has encouraged me to go more slowly, and on my own path. ☆ It relaxes me to wear it.

I read a really interesting article on almost the same thread on the FASHION JAPAN website, called 62 Rules for Living in the Forest. I highly recommend the read.

What are you own opinions about mori girl? Did it fit into what you wanted/needed from a fashion, or did it appeal in some other way? I'm interesting in hearing what people have to say~ ☆

Present~

One of my students took a business trip to India recently. When he came back, he brought me a beautifully carved wooden elephant and a few different types of tea. Wow wow wow!
I'm so touched (& excited to drink the tea)~ (^^ -)

Outfit snap

At the job where I'm currently working, I'm required to wear a suit. (;O;)
While this isn't the first job I've worked that requires a dress code, there is something a little more stifling about a black suit and button-up shirt than anything I've had to wear in the past.

As such, the opportunities I actually have to wear my own clothes are very exciting for me! Admittedly though, some days I just sit around in my pajamas. （￣ｰ￣)


Since coming to Japan, I've been experimenting with my personal style. Recently it's been a little more main-stream with mori influences. As much as I love mori girl, I have trouble coordinating it on myself. (- - ;)

(sorry about the blurry picture on the right... that was my favorite of the three too!!)

I really would like to put together some more obviously mori outfits. The one on the left in the most mori influenced of the three, but even then it's not very... （´・ω・｀）I'll continue to do my best though! haha...

My next day off is on Sunday~ I wonder what I'll wear?

xoxo,
Bee

Hello again ☆

OK OK OK! Time to start posting in this lovely again. It's been far to long. :)

Hello again. You may not remember me, or perhaps this is our first time to meet. I'm Bee.
I run the littleforestgirls tumblr, and I'm a big fan of mori girl fashion!

Other things I enjoy?:

all types of music, travel, laughing, reading (recently I've been particulary interested in "classic" English literature), writing (esp. poems), foreign cultures and sociology, smiling, sewing & crafts, being an ENFP, street fashion, love, living life, making memories etc. etc.

In May I graduated from college, and 3 months ago I made the jump and moved to Tokyo, Japan!

It's so lovely to be in the country that has fascinated me for so long! I'm working as an English teacher in a conversation school, and living with my boyfriend of about 3 years. ♥

It's my hope to use this blog not only to chronicalize living here, but also to muse more about fashion and other interests I have. :')

Thanks for reading!

xoxo,
Bee