HIME-KEI PRINCESS FASHION IN TOKYO: JESUS DIAMANTE, LIZ LISA.
What do we think of Tokyo’s Little Princesses? In my upcoming book, I mention the style in reference to Ginza’s Princess Heart theme restaurant: “Hime-kei, or princess fashion, is less Grace Kelly and more Disney monstrosity: fluttery eyelashes, bouffant hairdos, diamond-studded nail art, and satin gowns – pink, of course, with rows of bows down the front.” (You can view close-ups of the style on Tokyo New Tribe.)
Perhaps you’ve seen Time Magazine’s article on hime gyarus, Princesses Preen in a Pauper Economy. The piece discusses the influence of Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinettte, Ayumi Hamasaki, and the magazine Koakuma Ageha. Above are photos of shopgirls from Jesus Diamante, the seminal princess brand that glitzes the basement of Marui Young. Liz Lisa and the less pricey La Parfait are also associated with the style.
Some of the quotes from the article are rather unnerving. According to an interior design service that transforms bedrooms into Rococo palaces, “It’s every girl’s dream to wake up on a splendid canopy bed with a kiss from a handsome prince.” Academic Takatoshi Imada “believes the phenomenon is rooted in a rejection of the goals of advancement through hard work in an ailing market economy. ‘They longed for a different form of self-expression and sought a more meaningful way of life.'”
Last November, the Wall Street Journal also reported on the style: Japan’s Latest Fashion Has Women Playing Princess for a Day. My jaw dropped when I read about a Diamantee who spends $3,000 a month on clothing: “Her parents, who live nearby, send the couple food so they have more money for Ms. Yamamoto’s shopping sprees. ‘I figure it’s OK as long as what I’m buying is pretty,’ she says.”
My two cents: Lolita and Hime-kei have some superficial similarities (which I’ll explore in more depth tomorrow), but I think there is a cavernous divide in the motivations behind donning these garments. Many of the Gothlolis of the Week say they are drawn to Lolita fashion because it harkens back to a more romantic and elegant time; it is a style that is ladylike and beautiful, yet provocative. Contrast this to the Hime-kei desire (as expressed by the women in the articles) to be pretty in pink as she waits for Prince Charming to rescue her on a white horse.
I’m not sure if the Imada quote adds much insight. I’m wary of linking Japanese street fashion to lofty-sounding socio-economic forces; I think more often than not, this approach misses the mark. Still, I’m interested in your thoughts on why hime-kei fashion is gaining popularity. When I was in Tokyo, I saw Diamantees in the oddest of places – such as the Versailles Visual Kei concert.
What distinguishes Hime from Lolita? Do you think princess fashion will gain visibility outside Japan, as Gothic Lolita has?
Song of the Day #46: Moon Kana – Tenku (the video is a Valentine’s present for you from my friend Yukiro!)
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LA CARMINA
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Hime appears more frou frou than Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette.
@.@my eyes hurt from so much pink! lol
Hime appears more frou frou than Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette.
@.@my eyes hurt from so much pink! lol
Hahah I’ve never been able to wear pink myself…
I think that Hime is really really cute, but lolita has more depth. The reasons the woman gave in the article kind of put me off though for some reason. It seems more superficial that anything else. There's nothing wrong with wanting to be pretty in pink though <3
I think that it's possible for princess fashion to move out of Japan, but I don't think it will ever have the influence that G-Lollie has.
I think what distinguishes Hime and Lolita is what distinguishes faux-show-homey rococo inspired furniture and the real deal you would find at the palace of Versaille.
I think that perhaps it could become better known in our culture but because it does look so similar to Gothic and lolita (to the untrained eye at least) it probably won't become known as something unique from it.
Anyway- I love tokyo street style! and tokyo new tribe I discovered street style like 2 years ago and I've had it as a bookmark ever since!<3 That picture of the Hime-garyu from new tribe is pretty much my favourite. I adore the way her eyes are rimmed with black and the way it's juxtaposed against her skin and her dress & accesories. Her nails are also lovely.
btw. I love your blog carmina! I don't even know how long I've been reading your blog- I think there was only 13 or so pages when I found it! It's way more interesting than just looking at the same ol' pages on avant gauche all the time. Thanks for the gorgeous pics, cute cat and godly writing!
<3~Violet Rimbaud
I think that Hime is really really cute, but lolita has more depth. The reasons the woman gave in the article kind of put me off though for some reason. It seems more superficial that anything else. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be pretty in pink though <3
I think that it's possible for princess fashion to move out of Japan, but I don't think it will ever have the influence that G-Lollie has.
I had the same reaction… it’s fine to spend your hard-earned cash however you like, but to make your poor parents send you food so that you can buy more handbags? Hmm…
Seriously. o.o
I think what distinguishes Hime and Lolita is what distinguishes faux-show-homey rococo inspired furniture and the real deal you would find at the palace of Versaille.
I think that perhaps it could become better known in our culture but because it does look so similar to Gothic and lolita (to the untrained eye at least) it probably won’t become known as something unique from it.
Anyway- I love tokyo street style! and tokyo new tribe. I discovered street style like 2 years ago and I’ve had it as a bookmark ever since!<3 That picture of the Hime-garyu from new tribe is pretty much my favourite. I adore the way her eyes are rimmed with black and the way it's juxtaposed against her skin and her dress & accesories. Her nails are also lovely.
btw. I love your blog carmina! I don't even know how long I've been reading it- I think there was only 13 or so pages when I found it! It's way more interesting than just looking at the same ol' pages on avant gauche all the time. Thanks for the gorgeous pics, cute cat and godly writing!
<3~Violet Rimbaud
Awww thank you so much! I appreciate how you’ve been here from the start! <3
Well, I think the main difference between Loli and Hime is in their origin, isn't it? Loli has evolved out of the visual-kei fan scene (well, not counting the fashion that was before Malice Mizer), and hime comes out of, ahem, hosetess bars. Hime looks sort of less cute and tasteful, although both styles have their share of ridiculous looking stuff. Well, if you ask me, I like Baby more than Jesus Diamante. Anyway, both styles are a million light years away from Rococo ;)
I like many elements of hime, but all together is too much. The thing i like about lolita style is the contrast of sweet and dark, hime is just piled high sugar!
Very very beautiful. Since lolita is carrying on so well in America, there's no reason this shouldn't catch on. It's beautiful and sophisticated. I love it <3
Romantic＆Lovely♪（*^_^*）
I love the hime hairdos, but quite often i find them flashy. I think Lolita is ( or tries to be) more elegant, and more inspired by period fashion, not to mention that Lolita has some kind of “girl power” these girls will never have while building a ribbon kingdom all for the charming prince.
I'm sure it could gain visibility: Disney, Barbie, all look-no brain..there are many spoilt daddy's girls in Europe and America.
Hime-Kei is such a beautiful fashion~
Wow. I never knew Liz Lisa was a Hime-Kei Brand O:
But I still love lolita more.
Hm, Lolita is more girlish and childlike, for those who want to be a kid forever, to me. But Hime-Gyaru is more elegant.
It might. On PoupeeGirl (The Japanese Blog/Website), Hime-Gyaru is already growing. :D
Thanks for sharing the article lacarmina :)
I LOVE LOVE LOVE Hime! but its way expensive. I wish i had enough hair to be princessy.
Very nice, I wish people dressed like that here x[ xD I love the arm sleeves and nails aswell as the hair :] 10/10
i likey! some of them could almost be bridal…obsessed? moi?!
Hahah I've never been able to wear pink myself…
I had the same reaction… it's fine to spend your hard-earned cash however you like, but to make your poor parents send you food so that you can buy more handbags? Hmm…
Awww thank you so much! I appreciate how you've been here from the start! <3
Hahah no kidding. Marie Antoinette would faint at both… but I think she'd like Lolita more ;)
Dark chocolate versus Twinkies? hahah
Seriously. o.o
I think the “girl power” aspect is what drew me to Lolita. There is a sentiment of standing alone, against the grain, which I don't see in Hime.
No problem! I was wondering – what do you think of sites such as Poupee Girl? Do you and your friends use them? I was approached by a similar site to do a collaboration, but wasn't sure if it interested me that much..
Hee, I doubt it's entirely their real hair ;)
Luv the Hime-Kei fashion. Thanks for posting!
Gothic Loli appears to be more dark in style than Hime. It reminds me of Wuthering Heights. Hime look like dolls.
Well, I think the main difference between Loli and Hime is in their origin, isn’t it? Loli has evolved out of the visual-kei fan scene (well, not counting the fashion that was before Malice Mizer), and hime comes out of, ahem, hosetess bars. Hime looks sort of less cute and tasteful, although both styles have their share of ridiculous looking stuff. Well, if you ask me, I like Baby more than Jesus Diamante. Anyway, both styles are a million light years away from Rococo ;)
Hahah no kidding. Marie Antoinette would faint at both… but I think she’d like Lolita more ;)
Marie Antoinette’s style took required more dedication! Folks who really want to look the part should don a huge powedered wig with a ship, a birdcage AND a bowl of fruits on top along with a complex architectural construction underneath that big skirt. Talk about fashion victims! Even lolita is a pale shadow, isn’t it? ;)
Oops. Sorry for the typo :)
http://lacarmina.com/2008/08/frivolous-rococo-court-fashion-costume-history-book-marie-antoinette-wig/
Hooray for sailboats on heads!!
Hahaha, back in those days even men…. looked like Mana!
Wooww that's soo cute! I gotta make me some dresses DX
Exactly, haha.
Do you know is there much out their(internet/magazines) about fairy-kei? I googled it after seeing the 'new tribe' web link but could not find much.
I like many elements of hime, but all together is too much. The thing i like about lolita style is the contrast of sweet and dark, hime is just piled high sugar!
Dark chocolate versus Twinkies? hahah
Exactly, haha.
Do you know is there much out their(internet/magazines) about fairy-kei? I googled it after seeing the ‘new tribe’ web link but could not find much.
Check out Spank! http://www.spankworld.jp/ and 6% Doki Doki http://www.dokidoki6.com/
They’re the main brands associated with Fairy-Kei. And I went to a theme restaurant called Valley of the Fairies!
Very very beautiful. Since lolita is carrying on so well in America, there’s no reason this shouldn’t catch on. It’s beautiful and sophisticated. I love it <3
Check out Spank! http://www.spankworld.jp/ and 6% Doki Doki http://www.dokidoki6.com/
They're the main brands associated with Fairy-Kei. And I went to a theme restaurant called Valley of the Fairies!
Romantic＆Lovely♪（*^_^*）
I love the hime hairdos, but quite often i find them flashy. I think Lolita is ( or tries to be) more elegant, and more inspired by period fashion, not to mention that Lolita has some kind of “girl power” these girls will never have while building a ribbon kingdom all for the charming prince.
I’m sure it could gain visibility: Disney, Barbie, all look-no brain..there are many spoilt daddy’s girls in Europe and America.
I think the “girl power” aspect is what drew me to Lolita. There is a sentiment of standing alone, against the grain, which I don’t see in Hime.
Hime-Kei is such a beautiful fashion~
Wow. I never knew Liz Lisa was a Hime-Kei Brand O:
But I still love lolita more.
Hm, Lolita is more girlish and childlike, for those who want to be a kid forever, to me. But Hime-Gyaru is more elegant.
It might. On PoupeeGirl (The Japanese Blog/Website), Hime-Gyaru is already growing. :D
Thanks for sharing the article lacarmina :)
No problem! I was wondering – what do you think of sites such as Poupee Girl? Do you and your friends use them? I was approached by a similar site to do a collaboration, but wasn’t sure if it interested me that much..
I LOVE LOVE LOVE Hime! but its way expensive. I wish i had enough hair to be princessy.
Hee, I doubt it’s entirely their real hair ;)
Very nice, I wish people dressed like that here x[ xD I love the arm sleeves and nails aswell as the hair :] 10/10
i likey! some of them could almost be bridal…obsessed? moi?!
Luv the Hime-Kei fashion. Thanks for posting!
Gothic Loli appears to be more dark in style than Hime. It reminds me of Wuthering Heights. Hime look like dolls.
Wooww that’s soo cute! I gotta make me some dresses DX
Japanese fashion blogger Dale from Elastic had a post a while ago trying to divide “hime” style into three categories:
http://taf5686.269g.net/article/12895868.html
Basically, there are “hime gyaru” of the Koakuma Ageha stripe, “princess-y” Oneekei girls from Ray and CanCam, and hime-esque gothloli. A lot of Western media confuses the three, since they are all coming from totally different places.
Thanks for the link!
Our friend Patrick also sums it up nicely:
“The Lolita look evolved out of the Japanese underground scene. The Hime Gals (bless them) seem to have scant in their pretty little heads but the desire to play dress-up and look like a million bucks. If both the Hime Gals and the Lolitas seem to belong together in the same rococo painting, it's purely a weird accident of parallel evolution.”
– Japanese Schoolgirl Inferno, p.101
hime is just super girly while lolita has a lot of separate subgenres…..
and hime doesnt have the trademark bell skirt. lol.
Japanese fashion blogger Dale from Elastic had a post a while ago trying to divide “hime” style into three categories:
http://taf5686.269g.net/article/12895868.html
Basically, there are “hime gyaru” of the Koakuma Ageha stripe, “princess-y” Oneekei girls from Ray and CanCam, and hime-esque gothloli. A lot of Western media confuses the three, since they are all coming from totally different places.
Thanks for the link!
Our friend Patrick also sums it up nicely:
“The Lolita look evolved out of the Japanese underground scene. The Hime Gals (bless them) seem to have scant in their pretty little heads but the desire to play dress-up and look like a million bucks. If both the Hime Gals and the Lolitas seem to belong together in the same rococo painting, it’s purely a weird accident of parallel evolution.”
– Japanese Schoolgirl Inferno, p.101
Ah! I have that book too! (sorry to interrupt your conversation) I liked that chapter about the early Loli girls, the Showa ones that look like the girls from Rune Naito’s illustrations. I think that style is what I like the most! And what do you guys think? Carmen?
LOL at the “parallel evolution”. How do you think, what else may evolve from the Rococo? ;)
I think the Nagomu Girls are endearing. I like the quote about how they were usually short and chubby, and not so cute… I’d add that they’re very 1980s!
I’m going to do some posts on 80s Japanese fashion, so I’ll be sure to add some Naito illustrations :)
Ah, Naito is my favorite artist! It would be so great if you posted about him! He’s very inspiring.
I think pre-lolis are even 60s and 70s. I have those two Blythe doll editions that look like those girls. Also, have you seen Ayumi Uyama’s books with collections of photos of various items and textiles from the Showa era?
Also, Emily Temple Cute and Jane Marple are close to that style, aren’t they? And the “creepy-cute” Swimmer that you have mentioned here is also inspired by Showa accessories a lot. I’ve also heard that early loli is not so much popular anymore. What do you think? Is Showa style still popular?
Ah, I read that book, too. (my Japanese teacher had a copy… I must have read it several times over). I notice that a lot of Lolitas and those who discovered lolita first seem to almost *bash* hime on a regular basis. I tend to agree with you, Carmina: it’s mostly about the mindset. Lolita seems to have this underground, “breaking from the mold”, “dark dolly” theme. There’s a lot of art and craft associated with it. I don’t know much about hime, but it does seem to have come from the more frivolous, “let’s party” part of Tokyo culture. I actually think the Hime are more like Marie Antoinette than lolitas would ever *want* to be. They’re both beautiful fashions, they just have different roots and ideals.
But I’ll have to give those articles a look! :) Thanks for the awesome articles!
I think hime-loli evolved out of loli, and it has not much of a connection with hime-kei.
There’s also another kind of hime kei, not Ageha and not Oneekei one, but younger than Oneekei: the one that is promoted in mags like Happie Nuts, etc. It’s quite elusive, but you can fine hime-esque stuff popping up here and there.
I think hime is more mainstream than loli. I see traces of this style in many fashion mags.
Marie Antoinette's style took required more dedication! Folks who really want to look the part should don a huge powedered wig with a ship, a birdcage AND a bowl of fruits on top along with a complex architectural construction underneath that big skirt. Talk about fashion victims! Even lolita is a pale shadow, isn't it? ;)
Oops. Sorry for the typo :)
http://lacarmina.com/2008/08/frivolous…
Hooray for sailboats on heads!!
ok Hime is new to me …but to me it just lacks the heart and depth that Lolita has. it feels superficial. of course I'm on the outside looking in and I make no claims to know what I'm talking about lol. and I'm all for a prince charming but I think I'd rather he ride up on a dragon than a pony :-p
holy christ!
$3000 a MONTH!?
i could buy a new wardrobe for a YEAR.
o __________ o
hime is just super girly while lolita has a lot of separate subgenres…..
and hime doesnt have the trademark bell skirt. lol.
Hmm amazing. I love lolita fashion and lifestyle but for some reason Hime Gyaru makes me cringe….odd. Perhaps its the idea behind both? Lolita to me is trying to be young (in an outward appearance or and inner light) and relating back to a romantic ideal of time long ago bridging it to the present day, while Hime Gyaru reminds me of a spoiled little girl in the present preening around the house in her overly frilled pinkness wanting the world around to love her because she's the princess in her own mind…
Perhaps i'm wrong and being biased but it's just too close to the and i say this for lack of a better phrase, the american concept of “princess” like in all those cliche teenager themed movies.
But thats just me :)
I think that mirrors my sentiment pretty closely…
i love hime and think its really cute, but i will always prefer lolita. to me it seems like lolita is more elegant/refined, modest/humble, and classy with security and inner strenght. hime seems more materialistic, gaudy, and spoiled. i see it as hime is the spoiled princess while lolita is the refined young lady.
i wouldnt be surprised if hime gained popularity outside of japan. as someone else mentioned, there are spoiled girls everywhere that want to be princesses [but then again they probably are spoiled princesses xD]
like i said, hime is cute, but lolita is beautiful
oh i forgot to mention, but that picture of Hizaki from the Versailles concert on your blog, is AMAZING!!
just thought id mention that ^.^
^__^!
ok Hime is new to me …but to me it just lacks the heart and depth that Lolita has. it feels superficial. of course I’m on the outside looking in and I make no claims to know what I’m talking about lol. and I’m all for a prince charming but I think I’d rather he ride up on a dragon than a pony :-p
…well maybe if its LeLouche
::refers to opening segment::
holy christ!
$3000 a MONTH!?
i could buy a new wardrobe for a YEAR.
o __________ o
Hmm amazing. I love lolita fashion and lifestyle but for some reason Hime Gyaru makes me cringe….odd. Perhaps its the idea behind both? Lolita to me is trying to be young (in an outward appearance or and inner light) and relating back to a romantic ideal of time long ago bridging it to the present day, while Hime Gyaru reminds me of a spoiled little girl in the present preening around the house in her overly frilled pinkness wanting the world around to love her because she’s the princess in her own mind…
Perhaps i’m wrong and being biased but it’s just too close to the and i say this for lack of a better phrase, the american concept of “princess” like in all those cliche teenager themed movies.
But thats just me :)
I think that mirrors my sentiment pretty closely…
i love hime and think its really cute, but i will always prefer lolita. to me it seems like lolita is more elegant/refined, modest/humble, and classy with security and inner strenght. hime seems more materialistic, gaudy, and spoiled. i see it as hime is the spoiled princess while lolita is the refined young lady.
i wouldnt be surprised if hime gained popularity outside of japan. as someone else mentioned, there are spoiled girls everywhere that want to be princesses [but then again they probably are spoiled princesses xD]
like i said, hime is cute, but lolita is beautiful
oh i forgot to mention, but that picture of Hizaki from the Versailles concert on your blog, is AMAZING!!
just thought id mention that ^.^
^__^!
Sorry to butt in ^^;, but I think Hizaki himself is a Jesus Diamante fan. I heard he was wearing a full outfit by them at one of their fan parties early on. But of course, Hizaki’s got all that talent to back up his princess-like looks and style. <3
Hahaha, back in those days even men…. looked like Mana!
Ah! I have that book too! (sorry to interrupt your conversation) I liked that chapter about the early Loli girls, the Showa ones that look like the girls from Rune Naito's illustrations. I think that style is what I like the most! And what do you guys think? Carmen?
LOL at the “parallel evolution”. How do you think, what else may evolve from the Rococo? ;)
I think hime-loli evolved out of loli, and it has not much of a connection with hime-kei.
There's also another kind of hime kei, not Ageha and not Oneekei one, but younger than Oneekei: the one that is promoted in mags like Happie Nuts, etc. It's quite elusive, but you can fine hime-esque stuff popping up here and there.
I think hime is more mainstream than loli. I see traces of this style in many fashion mags.
I love himegyaru's! and I would totally wear it to a Versailles concert >w< luv luv luv it! but Jesus Diamante is hella expensive! $300 for some boots! >w< but i still luv it anyway lol
…well maybe if its LeLouche
::refers to opening segment::
I think the Nagomu Girls are endearing. I like the quote about how they were usually short and chubby, and not so cute… I'd add that they're very 1980s!
I'm going to do some posts on 80s Japanese fashion, so I'll be sure to add some Naito illustrations :)
Ah, Naito is my favorite artist! It would be so great if you posted about him! He's very inspiring.
I think pre-lolis are even 60s and 70s. I have those two Blythe doll editions that look like those girls. Also, have you seen Ayumi Uyama's books with collections of photos of various items and textiles from the Showa era?
Also, Emily Temple Cute and Jane Marple are close to that style, aren't they? And the “creepy-cute” Swimmer that you have mentioned here is also inspired by Showa accessories a lot. I've also heard that early loli is not so much popular anymore. What do you think? Is Showa style still popular?
I love himegyaru’s! and I would totally wear it to a Versailles concert >ww< but i still luv it anyway lol
Interesting :) I wouldn't wear either of these styles (Hime or classic lolita), as I'm more into the gothic/punk side of things. But I have started wearing diamond-studded nail jewellery – I hope that doesn't make me a Stepford Wife!
*shudder*
And at least I pay for my own mortgage, meals AND fashion, heh.
Interesting :) I wouldn’t wear either of these styles (Hime or classic lolita), as I’m more into the gothic/punk side of things. But I have started wearing diamond-studded nail jewellery – I hope that doesn’t make me a Stepford Wife!
*shudder*
And at least I pay for my own mortgage, meals AND fashion, heh.
Ah, I read that book, too. (my Japanese teacher had a copy… I must have read it several times over). I notice that a lot of Lolitas and those who discovered lolita first seem to almost *bash* hime on a regular basis. I tend to agree with you, Carmina: it's mostly about the mindset. Lolita seems to have this underground, “breaking from the mold”, “dark dolly” theme. There's a lot of art and craft associated with it. I don't know much about hime, but it does seem to have come from the more frivolous, “let's party” part of Tokyo culture. I actually think the Hime are more like Marie Antoinette than lolitas would ever *want* to be. They're both beautiful fashions, they just have different roots and ideals.
But I'll have to give those articles a look! :) Thanks for the awesome articles!
Sorry to butt in ^^;, but I think Hizaki himself is a Jesus Diamante fan. I heard he was wearing a full outfit by them at one of their fan parties early on. But of course, Hizaki's got all that talent to back up his princess-like looks and style. <3
Most of the images in this are actually hime-gyaru, meaning princess gal, not actual hime0kei. Still godd though.
Most of the images in this are actually hime-gyaru, meaning princess gal, not actual hime0kei. Still godd though.
Most of the images in this are actually hime-gyaru, meaning princess gal, not actual hime0kei. Still godd though.