If we are to dream…
we may as well reach for the stars
“Visual Kei (lit. "Visual Style" or "Visual System") is a movement among Japanese musicians that is characterized by the use of varying levels of make-up, elaborate hair styles and flamboyant costumes, often, but not always, coupled with androgynous aesthetics.”
Stars of Visual Kei
Mana/Serina
Musician, songwriter, and producer: Malice Mizer, Moi dix Mois
Fashion designer and model: Moi-même-Moitié Elegant Gothic Lolita
we may as well reach for the stars
“Visual Kei (lit. "Visual Style" or "Visual System") is a movement among Japanese musicians that is characterized by the use of varying levels of make-up, elaborate hair styles and flamboyant costumes, often, but not always, coupled with androgynous aesthetics.”
Grunge is out; glam is in, and has been for a long time. Boy bands are hard pressed to compete with the girls. If you can’t beat ’em…
…you may as well co-opt them!
Stars of Visual Kei
Mana/Serina
Musician, songwriter, and producer: Malice Mizer, Moi dix Mois
Fashion designer and model: Moi-même-Moitié Elegant Gothic Lolita
Hizaki
Musician, songwriter, producer: Versailles, Hizaki Grace Project
Model: Elegant Lolita, Sweet Lolita
Actor
Hizaki Grace Project
Tekesuta Kousen/Bou
Musician: An(tic) Cafe
Hayato
Drummer: Moi dix Mois
Jun
Musician, singer-songwriter: GOTCHAROCKA, Phantasmagoria
Kisaki
Musician, producer, composer: Phantasmagoria
Kaya
Musician: Schwarz Stein, Femme Fatale
Kaya and Hizaki
URAKEN/Pitty
Musician: MORRIGAN, XIBALBA
Comments
Cool!!!
I can never have enough shots of these lovely ladies! I wish I could spend a week. . . . month playing dress-up! I have some friends from dA that have some fame in the anime/visual kei circles. They get invited to various anime & cosplay cons (all expenses paid including travel to and from the con location) all over the world presenting fashion shows and chairing panel discussions. These big name visual kei artists have all their clothes custom-made but even buying "off the rack", a single outfit with all the required accessories can run over a thousand bucks! I could wish.
I went outside once. The graphics weren' that great.
My dream
Since I was not fortunate enough to be born female, perhaps I could’ve been born with features delicate enough to achieve something even remotely resembling what the bishōnen of visual kei are doing (albeit on a much more restricted budget)? That possibility is about as far away from me as the stars in the sky. Still, I can gaze at the stars…and dream…
You can thank...
Kiss for getting the ball rolling on this. After that, X-Japan and others for setting it off in Japan. Sure they didn't dress like women but in general Visual Kei is all about the spectacle.
It's why Lady Gaga, Pink and others did the antics they have done on stage.
I always thought that...
…David Bowie and Alice Cooper (and maybe Lou Reed?) were the ones who started the the whole glam and androgynous rock thing? (Or, at least in my generation—maybe they got the idea from somewhere else…)
I saw X-Japan mentioned in the visual kei articles I looked up, and I seem to recall reading that Mana/Serina is responsible for popularizing Lolita fashions worldwide, and possibly for developing the Elegant Gothic Lolita sub-genre. I don’t follow Lady Gaga, Pink, Beyonce, or the others like them, but I am always interested in the history of these things. Thank you for your comment.
No prob.
I have to admit Madonna had a big part in popularizing this as well I believe. You'd have to give me the time date on David Bowie to make sure.
Also, I forgot to give Ozzy Osbourne credit, what with biting the head off a chicken et al(extreme spectacle).