Mori Kei 30 Day Challenge: Day 22

Day 22: Are you inspired by your own culture or other countries/cultures than Japan? If so, how do you incorporate them into your mori style?

I'm a history teacher by trade, and I have a soft spot for historical American fashion. As awful as American history can be, there are some wonderful fashion styles from the past. Here are a few of my favorite styles.

Mid 1700s Fashion: I love the aprons, the neck scarves the layers. So charming.

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Victorian Era Children's Pinafores: There's something so charming about the look of a pinafore. I love the silhouette. 

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Historical Praire Dresses: I love the simple silhouette. And the often small floral prints people use, especially in recreation/reimagined styles, is also charming.

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How about you? Are you influenced by any historical fashion?

Mori Kei 30 Day Challenge: Day 21

Day 21: Are you interested in Japanese culture? If so, how has it impacted mori kei for you?

I'm pretty sure everyone knows I am interested in Japanese culture, seeing as I live in Japan! But I don't think it has particularly impacted how I view or wear mori. I do tend to enjoy styles that are somewhat more Japanese, but that has more to do with personal fashion tastes than anything.

If I had to say something it has impacted, it might be the type of mori I prefer, which tends to be classic styles from magazines and street snaps? But overall, I don't think it has had much of an impact on my fashion choices.

How about you? Are you interested in Japan and Japanese culture?

Mori Kei 30 Day Challenge: Day 20

Day 20: Make a mood board or photo collage of images that inspire your mori style and life! You can include fashion, lifestyle, or anything else you like.

Photo Sources

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Mori Kei 30 Day Challenge: Day 19

Day 19: Post a photo of your favorite personal Mori coordinate. What do you like about it?

I don't post many photos of myself recently, but I have a few favorite photos of all time I'd like to share!

This one is actually my high school senior photo, so it's rather old. But I love the nature scenery, and that scarf is a favorite of mine. It was given to my by my grandma.

This one is also old, from when I was at University. The dress is one of the few brand pieces I ever owned. I really miss that shawl too! I left it behind in the states. 

This one is a more recent one, from after I moved to Japan. I was super cozy in this one, and I wore it out to see Christmas lights!

How about you? What is your personal favorite coordinate? I'd love to see all of your outfits!

Mori Kei 30 Day Challenge: Day 18

Day 18: Where do you get most of your Mori clothes? Have you ever purchased a mori brand piece?

My answer to this is always short and uninteresting. I've been thrifting or buying my pieces from mainstream stores since I began wearing mori kei. I had a few brand pieces from AliExpress when I first started, but that is few and far between. As a curvy girl, and someone who is on the smaller end of being plus-sized, Asian brands don't really work for me.

That being said, I have always wanted a piece from a mori brand. Wonder Rocket pieces were always my favorite, but I have a soft spot for Dear Li as well. 

Dear Li

 

Wonder Rocket

How about you? Where do you find your mori clothes?

Mori Kei 30 Day Challenge: Day 17

Day 17: Do you play any video games, board games, etc.? If so, recommend us your favorite mori-like game!

I play a lot of games, but here are my top 5 mori game recommendations!

1) Stardew

Content Warnings: None really, although a few of the characters have heavy themes in their life stories. Nothing graphic though! The tone of this game is very light-hearted.

Category: Adventure, Farming, and Simulation RPG

Good for: People who enjoy cozy games, people who like connecting with characters, people who enjoy farming sims

BONUS! Recommended mod: After your first playthrough on vanilla (of course) I recommend checking out Stardew Valley Expanded! It's a ton of fun and there is a reason it is so popular. (I use a ton of mods, both content and appearance wise, but this one adds the most amount of things to do.)

In this game you play as the new farmer in town, cleaning up your Grandpa's farm, planting crops, bettering the town, making friends, and discovering the valley's secrets. What more could you ask for! The game is super chill, and very cozy, and great for playing in both long binges and shorter periods.

BONUS+! My Favorite Characters: Elliot is my babe and I managed to marry him in my first year (yeah, I'm kind of a big deal *sarcastic hair flip*). I also really love Krobus. What a precious baby. Also I made this Stardew art recently! Can you guess the characters it represents? :)

2) Eastshade

Content Warnings: None! 

Category: Adventure, Quest-based, Photography

Good for: People who enjoy slow-moving or relaxing/cozy games, people who enjoy walking simulators, people who like side quests, people who like beautiful games, people who like open-world type games

In this game you play as a painter, visiting the island of Eastshade from across the sea, seeking beautiful things to paint. You can explore freely the entire island, accept quests and art commissions, and generally just relax and explore. It honestly is super immersive and I felt like I was the one taking this vacation while I was playing. 

3) What Remains of Edith Finch

Content Warnings: Various stories about death and suicide (although dealt with in a mature and touching way, death is a major part of this game, so approach this with caution if that will bother you)

Category: Walking simulator, story based

Good for: People who enjoy meaningful storytelling, people who enjoy walking simulators, people who enjoy beautiful visuals and music

This game is a story-based walking simulator, where you explore the lives of the "cursed", or simply unlucky, Finch family. Each family member's stories are touching, ranging from heartwarming to heartbreaking tales about life and society. Death plays a major role in this game, so it isn't for everyone. But if you don't mind a slightly melancholy story for the payoff of amazing storytelling and visuals, I highly recommend it. It's stuck with me even years now after I first played it.

4) A Short Hike

Content Warnings: None!

Category: Adventure, Platforming, Quest-based

Good for: People who enjoy a cozy game, people who like side quests

In this game you play as a little bird trying to hike (and fly and climb) to the top of a mountain! There is a little bit of a story, and lots of side quests along the way, but it is as the name implies: a short and cozy hike!

5) Heaven's Vault

Content Warnings: None, but some discussions of dead civilizations in a historical context and the bad things that happened to people in those societies (nothing graphic however)

Category: Adventure, Choices Matter, Archeology/Philology Simulation, Story-Driven

Good for: People interested in history and archeology, people interested in a story where choices matter, people who enjoy games with replayability, people who enjoy deep lore within a game

This one is not specifically mori, but a lot of the areas you can explore have a mori feel, and the game itself rewards slow-moving exploration, which makes it very relaxing to play. The game follows an archeolgist exploring the past of a mysterious nebula, accompanied by her robot companion Six. It features an expansive in game language translation system, and hours or replayablity based on varying choices that impact your experience, and the fate of the nebula. It's one of my favorite games ever, and I've been obsessed with it since the first time I played. I continue to learn new things each time I play!

(I also highly recommend the two tie-in novels if you play and enjoy the game. They are absolutely wonderful.)

Bonus honorable mentions!

• Alba - A wildlife adventure: a cute game where you save the local natural beauty of a small town
• Fe: a beautiful platformer with amazing graphics and creative fantasy creatures
• Flower: float through life as a lovely flower petal, super relaxing
• Omno: A cute puzzle and platformer game with interesting abilities and beautiful scenery
• Paperbark: Play as a cute wombat in the Australian wilderness
• Roki: A puzzle and adventure game following a young girl learning the magical secrets of the Scandinavian wilderness in order to save her brother
• Sable: An open world game based in a desert world where you can plan your own future, meet many interesting kinds of people, and unravel secrets
• Virildi: plant and tend to some cute succulents! 

How about you? What mori games do you enjoy! I'd love to hear your recommendations.

Mori Kei 30 Day Challenge: Day 16

Day 16: Name 5 of your favorite mori-style songs or musicians! (They can be explicitly mori, or just feel mori-inspired.)

1) Popoyans: A classic mori musician duo. Their music is becoming harder to find on the internet these days sadly, but they both wore mori and made mori-themed music. If you can find their songs on youtube, I highly recommend a listen. Their sound is relaxing, soft, and magical. 

One of my favorite songs is Hoshininaritai. Such a lovely tune!

2) Ichiko Aoba: Another classic mori musician. Her personal style is adorable and mysterious, and her music is soft, airy, and just as mysterious. I really enjoy her unique style and her guitar playing is beautiful.

My all-time favorite performance by her is this live recording of the song Hikari no Furusato. So hauntingly beautiful! 

3) The Oh Hellos: This group has become fairly well known due to a few of their songs that became popular on tik-tok. But I've loved their music for a long time. Their unique use of instruments, creative lyrics, and charming feel make for a great listen.

My favorite albums from them are "Dear Wormwood" and "Zephyrus." Their sound is whimsical and light, with interesting and deep lyrics. Their well known song "Soldier, Poet, King" is definitely worth the hype, but a lesser known gem I recommend is "Wishing Well."

4) Sailing (album) by AKMU: AKMU has quite a few mori-like songs, but I really enjoy their album Sailing for its relaxing and deep tone. It's a beautiful album that really transports you to another world.

I love all of the songs from the album, but one of my favorites is Whale. It's a unique feel and melody that I love.

5) Mountain Man: An absolute gem of a group, and highly underrated. This trio sings together like an angelic choir. They can make even the oddest lyrics a work of art ("Underwear" being a prime example). I'm a huge fan of their acapella work, but all of their songs are amazing.

I love literally every song this trio has produced. But if I had to pick a favorite AGT is a beautiful piece that showcases their amazing vocal skills.

How about you? What are your favorite mori musicians and songs? I'd love to hear your recommendations!

Mori Kei 30 Day Challenge: Day 15

Day 15: What are your favorite books, movies, or TV shows? Do they have any mori themes?

Although I enjoy a lot of mori-esque media, my all-time favorite media is not so mori-themed. But, I'll share them with you anyways!

Favorite books: 

1) Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier: This book is slow to start, but there is a reason it's a classic. I really enjoy its twists and turns, and it keeps you held captive the entire way.

2) Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J. R. R. Tolkien: What can I say, it's a classic. I love the details, the world-building, the memorable characters, all of it really! It's a magical experience.

3) The Loop and The Vault by Jon Ingold: These ones are odd to recommend, they are tie-in novels for one of my favorite games "Heaven's Vault". But they stand well enough on their own. They are thrilling and moving adventures with memorable characters and settings. If you liked the game, I absolutely recommend it. And if you've never played them but enjoy a fantasy/sci-fi setting with a bit of mystery, I also recommend it.

Favorite TV shows: 

1) Doctor Who: I thought I would grow out of this phase but nope. I'm still an active watcher of Doctor Who. It's just a great show. It's funny, emotional, complex, and so creative. My favorite doctors are Two, Ten, Eleven, and Thirteen. (And even though they did Thirteen and her companions dirty with a lot of the recent series writing, I still adore Jodie Whittaker's performance.)

I'm basic, so my favorite and most recommended episodes would be "Blink" and any of the episodes featuring the Ponds. 

2) The Goes Wrong Show: I am a massive fan of anything by the Goes Wrong crew. The actors are brilliant, the jokes are perfection, and I always laugh so hard I literally cry every time I watch an episode. It's hard to find them online these days, but if you can find them, the episodes won't disappoint. I highly recommend their Christmas BBC specials as well, my favorite is their rendition of "The Christmas Carol".

Favorite Cartoons: 

1) Over the Garden Wall: This show is definitely mori-eqsue, with its forest setting and cozy vibes. But my real reason for adoring this show, aside from the characters, is the music! As a musician, and a historian, I love how the show cycles through eras of American history and musical styles as the show progresses. The story is also charming, short, and sweet, and I really enjoyed the entire series. I always rewatch it again when the chilly autumn air returns each year. 

2) Gravity Falls: Another classic. I have rewatched this series so many times and it never gets old. It's hilarious, has great character interactions, and has storylines that are so well planned out. If you like puzzles and mysteries, spooky themes, cryptids and conspiracy theories, and heartwarming stories, it's a must-watch. 

How about you? What are your favorite media recommendations?

Bibliotheca October Prompt: Magic

For October, the chosen prompt for the Bibliotheca Blog Circle is magic! I'm not a huge fan of Halloween or similar themes, so I'm choosing to take the prompt to explain what I find "magical" about mori kei fashion. I could talk about this topic for ages if you gave me a chance, but I'll try to summarize it here.

1) Whimiscal touches: From lace details and trim, to patchwork fabrics, to even unique embroidery touches and fairytale elements, mori is a simply magical style. So many small, whimsical elements come together in each outfit to make something that honestly feels like you stepped out of a fantasy story. There's nothing like the feeling of wearing your favorite coordinate out in public and feeling like a fairytale character.

2) Focus on natural themes: The stereotype of Choco's "Forest Fairy" is absolutely true! Mori looks at home in the forest, and I love it! Either as a whimsical fairy, or a mysterious wood elf, mori's magical themes fit in perfectly with a forest background. 

                                                                                                         Source: Mori Jayde

3) Community: The mori community is its own kind of magical. Many J-fashion communities, especially abroad, can feel magical. Connecting with people over a shared love of fashion is of course magical in and of itself. But the mori community has been particularly small and close-knit. Due to its small size, everyone knows everyone to an extent, and the most popular people can feel like your friend instead of an idol or celebrity. That connection leads to such a cozy and friendly environment. Additionally, the community has been overall undramatic and kind, which also makes for a magical experience.

4) Focus on slow living: From its creation, mori has had a focus on slowing down and enjoying the moment. Mori people tend to care about environmental awareness, have a focus on family and friends, and love making small everyday activities and hobbies magical. 

How about you? What makes mori feel magical to you? I'd love to hear your answers. Until next time, my deers!