Mori Style Clothing: The Calm of Nature in Fashion

Mori style, which means “forest style” in Japanese, is a fashion movement that started in Japan around 2006. This charming look celebrates a bond with nature, simplicity, and a slower way of living. Let’s take a closer look at the main elements of mori style and how you can add them to your wardrobe.

Key Elements of Mori Style

Natural Fabrics

Mori fashion puts a strong focus on using organic materials like cotton, linen, and wool. These fabrics are not only comfortable but also fit with the style’s emphasis on sustainability and living in harmony with nature.

Earthy Color Palette

Embrace the colors found in the forest with deep, earthy shades such as moss green, rusty brown, soft gray, and muted neutral tones. These colors create a peaceful and balanced feel, like being in a quiet woodland.

Layering and Textures

A key feature of mori style is wearing loose, layered clothes. Mix different textures like lace, knits, and quilted fabrics to give your outfit more depth and visual appeal.

Nature-Inspired Patterns

Add floral prints, stripes, checks, and other patterns that take inspiration from the natural world. These elements bring a playful touch to your outfit while staying true to the forest theme.

Vintage and Handmade Accessories

Finish off your look with handcrafted jewelry, vintage-style pieces, and accessories that reflect nature. Think wooden jewelry, flower crowns, woven baskets, and handmade brooches.

Creating Your Mori Style Outfit

To put together a mori-inspired outfit, start with loose, comfortable clothes made from natural fabrics as the base. Layer a flowy dress or skirt with a cardigan or vest in matching earthy tones. Add textural details like lace-trimmed socks or a knitted scarf.

Accessorize with handmade items such as a tote bag or brooch. Consider adding vintage pieces to give your outfit a sense of nostalgia and uniqueness. Don’t forget to go for natural hairstyles, maybe with a flower or two as a small decoration.

How to wear Mori Kei?

To pull off Mori Kei style, follow these important principles:

Layering: This is a must for Mori Kei. Combine multiple pieces like dresses, tunics, and skirts to create a rich, layered look that’s like a thick forest.

Natural fabrics: Choose materials such as linen, cotton, and wool for their rustic textures and softness.

Earthy color palette: Use colors that come from nature, like greens, beiges, browns, soft grays, and muted neutrals. Light pinks and blues can also be included.

Comfortable footwear: Go for cozy moccasins, strong ankle boots, or other shoes that are both practical and look good.

Nature-inspired accessories: Add handmade jewelry, canvas bags, straw hats, or accessories with natural elements like flowers, leaves, or wooden details.

Loose-fitting garments: Pick clothes that let you move freely and create a relaxed shape.

Natural patterns: Include floral prints, nature motifs (like leaves or deer), or small stripes.

Simple hairstyles: Keep your hair looking natural, with loose waves or simple braids. You can add subtle accessories like flowers or leaf-shaped hairpins.

Minimal makeup: Aim for a natural look with rosy cheeks, neutral lip colors, and not much eye makeup.

Embrace vintage and handmade items: Add vintage pieces or handcrafted elements to make your outfit unique and authentic.

Remember, Mori Kei is all about creating a forest-inspired, natural look while staying comfortable and connected to nature. The main things are layering your clothes, using natural fabrics and colors, and adding elements that show off the beauty of the forest.

What is a dark Mori Girl?

Dark Mori Girl, also called Dark Mori Kei, is a substyle of the original Mori Girl fashion that came from Japanese street fashion. Here are the main features of Dark Mori Girl:

Aesthetic: Dark Mori Girl tries to create the image of a witch or dark fairy from the woods, with a more mysterious and serious feel compared to the traditional Mori Girl style.

Color Palette: While traditional Mori Girl uses light, earthy tones, Dark Mori Girl uses darker, dusty colors and jewel tones. All-white outfits can also be used to create a ghostly appearance.

Clothing Elements: The style focuses on vintage clothes, old or worn laces and silks, and layered pieces. Knitted items are also popular.

Accessories: Dark Mori Girl uses natural elements like flowers, leaves, feathers, or antlers as headpieces. Jewelry often has natural stones, bones, and silver. Leather accessories such as belts, pouches, and corsets are common.

Inspiration: Dark Mori gets ideas from fairytales, folklore, and mythical themes, especially those with magical or witch-like elements.

Origins: The style was created by a group of people on social media platforms, with Mai Magi (formerly known as shortcuttothestars) being a well-known contributor.

It’s important to note that Dark Mori Girl is different from another style called Strega, which was created by the same people but has its own unique features and no links to Japanese street fashion.

Dark Mori Girl allows for a more gothic and mysterious take on the forest-inspired look, appealing to those who want to mix the natural elements of Mori Girl with darker, more magical themes.

Where did the Mori style come from?

The Mori style, also known as Mori Girl or Mori Kei, started in Japan around 2006-2007. Here are the key points about its origins:

Creator: The style was made by a Japanese woman known as Choco (or Coco in some sources) on the social media platform Mixi.

Initial Community: Choco started a Mori girl community on Mixi, which quickly became popular, with 36,000 members at its highest point.

Definition: Choco made a list of over 60 rules or guidelines that defined the Mori Girl style and lifestyle.

Meaning: “Mori” is the Japanese word for “forest,” so the original name of the style basically meant “forest girl”.

Early Adopters: Before the style was officially named and the community was formed, some girls in Harajuku, the Japanese fashion district, were already wearing a similar style.

Rapid Growth: After it was created on Mixi, Mori Girl quickly became a popular street style in Harajuku. Within a year, it appeared in street snap magazines, websites, and fashion magazines.

Media Presence: The style was featured in various media, including music (artists like Popoyans) and anime (such as Honey and Clover).

Evolution: The style later got a second name, Mori Kei (“kei” means “style”), to make it more inclusive. It also inspired sub-styles like Hama Kei (ocean style) and Yama Kei (mountain style).

While the trend has become less popular in Japan since around 2012, it still has followers in other parts of the world who love both its look and its philosophy.

Mori Style, also known as Mori Kei, is a fashion trend that started in Japan, known for its earthy, natural, and vintage look. Mori Style outfits mix comfort, elegance, and a deep connection to nature in a unique way. By using earthy tones, natural fabrics, and careful layering, anyone can embrace this charming fashion trend. Whether you’re new to Mori Style or want to expand your wardrobe, the gentle, forest-inspired look of Mori Kei offers a calm and timeless approach to fashion.