Although lolita is my favourite fashion I do like other styles like Mori girl and more recently I have come across Cult Party kei which I have fallen in love with.
So what is Cult Party kei?
Like Dolly kei the style is associated with a particular shop, in this case its the The Virgin Mary store in Tokyo. You can find their blog here
I believe Cult Party was a shop that existed before the Virgin Mary and is what gives Cult Party kei its name.
I'll try and describe key features of the style so you can look for suitable items that will create the look associated with the style.
For me I think the floaty and light colours appeal because there is a certain aesthetic shared with Mori Girl but with elements of both Fairy kei and Dolly Kei too.
Fabrics are sheer and textures feature too such as fur and knits, as well as another key feature which is the shoes.
In most outfits that I've seen Rocking Horse shoes or platform shoes seem to feature in almost all of them.
The clothes have sheer fabrics layered together with lots of accessories. I've mentioned already that I always think of it as Mori Girl with a hint of Fairy kei because pastel colours are popular with this style.
Another feature is toys, often they are bags or sometimes dolls heads used to make quirky accessories and jewelry. Crosses are also a popular Cult Party symbol.
Interesting tights and socks creat a unique part of the look such as these cupid tights
Cult Party Style Icons
Like most street fashions there is usually someone who is most associated with the style when it comes to street snaps or blogs.
Manapyon is the style icon for Cult Party, she is often seen in street snaps and has her own blog which is a great source of inspiration.
What to buy to create the look.
A lot of the style is based around vintage clothes and layering with accessories. Neutral shades and pastels are the most common colours associated with Cult Party although brighter colours can sometimes be mixed in too.
I would say that a chiffon dressing gown or Peignoir as they are sometimes called is a staple item in any Cult Party Kei wardrobe, this will create the light and floaty look when worn over a chiffon skirt or dress. They are fairly easy to find on ebay but be warned as some of them can be very expensive.
Platform shoes such as RHS are reasonably easy to find too and you can get nice and inexpensive ones from bodyline.
I have also found this store called Gura on Taobao which has lots of suitable items, you will need a shopping service though.
Don't forget to look in local second hand shops where you never know what you will find.
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