Cora Maria

Throwback to my second Harajuku Fashion Walk in 2017.   Dressing alternatively in any form takes some extra effort and often lacks guidance. While people in alternative fashion communities have tackled topics like how to dress in a particular style or where to find clothes, I’d like to share the advice and warnings I wish I had known before I started dressing alternatively. Note: These are general tips that can apply to people in a diversity of fashion subcultures, but I will primarily be using examples from the kawaii community since that is where I reside. It’s okay to start slow and small Matt Burne did a great video called The Myth of ‘I Don’t Have’ where he talks about how we often tell ourselves “I don’t have this, so I can’t do that.” “I don’t have all this kawaii clothing, so I can’t  even begin to dress cute.” If you hear yourself thinking something like this, shut up. Shut the hell up and walk to your wardrobe and think about how this thing might loo...

I once had a wardrobe too large to make me happy and it looked like this. If you’re a kawaii fashionista, you’ve probably experienced the following: You feel disappointed that you can’t afford all the things you want. You’re jealous of other people’s wardrobes. You wish your style was like someone else’s. You feel pressure to always look good. You often felt like you have nothing to wear. I’ve been in those situations, and they all cause anxiety. It’s something I’ve rarely seen discussed in depth in our community. This is unfortunate because it is so important! Harajuku fashion can and does cause anxiety and self-esteem issues, and we need to discuss how we as a community can reduce or prevent it. I’ll start by explaining how I managed to overcome it, or at least reduce it. I’ll also explain why its coming back as well. Disclaimer: Please note that this is my personal   experience about how my fashion has caused me mild  yet fre...