Forests and Tea

It’s been a long time since I’ve written a style introduction post, but I thought now would be the perfect time to write one as I’m really getting into a new style this season. This time I’ll be taking you out of the high fashion world and deep down into the woods.

If you are interested in mori fashion, please DO NOT use this post a reference on mori or its origins. I'll address the issues here point by point.

Mori DOES NOT come from Lolita. Such a claim is incredibly incorrect. Mori was created independently by a group of people who wore a similar style and wanted to put a name to it. They had a mixi group (like facebook in Japan) and one person in the group, Choco, named the style. (One could say that mori was influenced by Lolita, in the same way many modern j-fashions are somewhat influenced by Lolita, but it was absolutely not created from it.)

Mori Lolita does exist, but was created internationally and was not a term used in Japan at all. Instead, a term called Natural Lolita was used. So again, this is blatantly wrong.

Mori gyaru does also exist, but was a spinoff FROM mori fashion directly. The term is complex, and the style had many, many names. And it never actually took off in Japan, although it was mentioned in a few magazines. It was a short-lived microstyle based on mori's popularity, and gyaru's popularity, at the time. Mori DID NOT come from mori gyaru.

Additionally, gyaru is it's own style with separate roots from Lolita. To say the two are connected in the way this article implies is also wrong.

The subtypes mentioned here are not accurate at all. Although people have independently categorized their outfits as "white," "dark," "classic," and so on, these are not official terms. And they have never been used in Japan. I believe this author may be super-imposing Lolita terms onto mori? Or some other j-fashion's terms? I've been in the mori community for over 10 years now, and I have never heard those terms either in international or Japanese communities. Either way, mori is mori. You can wear whatever version you like and call it whatever you want for fun, but there are no "official" substyles.

If someone were to categorize mori "substyles" however, the most common related terms internationally are Yama Kei, Hama Kei, and Dark Mori. (Each of these has its own unique history I won't get into here.) None of these are mentioned.

Additionally, Mori Kei is a term that is mainly internationally. Mori in Japan is almost always referred to as 森ガール. By the time it took off internationally and more inclusive terms were being used, mori was basically dead in Japan. This is why if you search for 森ケイ・森系 in Japanese you will basically only find articles and information from recent years, as this was not a term originally widespread in the actual community.

The one thing this article does do correctly is it's description of mori, alongside the images. Those are accurate to the fashion. However, that description is incredibly brief.

If you are looking for some more accurate information on the history of Mori, here are a few places you can look.

For a straight from the source account in Japanese, check out Choco's Book! She describes where mori came from and about the mixi group as well.

I made a detailed post a while back on my blog that also goes over mori's history.

You can also check out the Mori Wiki for more information on mori's history in Japan and abroad.

One of my first mori kei inspired outfits 🥺

Hat and scarf: Vinted

Under dress: Vinted

Under skirt: Vinted

Dress: Oxfam UK

Sweater: Shein

Boots: Vinted

Five layers! The floral dress is MSBasic. The knit cardigan is Xhiliration. The rest is thrifted.