If you are a lover of rustic, natural things or want to immerse yourself in fairy-tale forests, Mori Kei fashion is for you. Inspired by nature and peaceful life, Mori Kei brings soft, warm outfits, helping you look like a muse lost in the green forest. Let’s learn more about this impressive fashion style and refer to 5+ Mori Kei outfit ideas suitable for each season of the year.
What is Mori Kei Fashion?
Before discussing unique Mori Kei outfit ideas, let’s explore the origin and characteristics of this impressive fashion style with Kamicrew!
Origin and History of Mori Kei
Mori Kei is a word that combines the two words “Mori” meaning forest, and “Kei” meaning way of dressing. Therefore, Mori Kei is a casual fashion style inspired by forests. This is a style of dressing that appeared in Japan in the 2000s when the trend of living in search of peace, away from the hustle and bustle, became popular.
Mori Kei fashion shows the gentle and delicate way of dressing of girls in the countryside. Mori Kei costumes often bring a nostalgic beauty mixed with a bit of romance and peace like the feeling of walking through quiet forests with the sound of rustling leaves.
Key Elements of Mori Kei
Mori Kei is a fashion style inspired by forests, so it also has distinct characteristics such as:
Layering: Layering is the core of Mori Kei fashion. Girls following this style often combine many pieces of clothing such as dresses, long dresses, and short skirts to create a layered but still harmonious whole.
Natural fabrics: Because of their rustic characteristics, Mori Kei is very fond of natural fabrics and raw materials such as cotton, linen, or wool. These fabrics will clearly show the characteristics of the style inspired by the deep forest and bring softness when in contact with the skin.
Soft colors: You will easily notice that the colors used in Mori Kei fashion are very gentle and delicate. Tones such as green, brown, or beige are often preferred, evoking the image of rustic forests with soil and trees.
Handmade and comfortable accessories: Mori Kei style also features handmade accessories such as cloth bags or knitted hats, bringing a rustic and natural spirit. Footwear in this style also tends to be comfortable and spacious, clearly expressing the lightness of Mori Kei.
Mori Kei Sub-Styles
Fashion is about constant creativity and innovation. Therefore, Mori Kei also has other style variations that diversify the fashion world. You can refer to some of Mori Kei’s sub-styles such as:
Dark Mori: If the original Mori Kei fashion often favors light and slightly bright colors, Dark Mori prefers dark colors such as dark green, gray, or black. Dark Mori evokes the image of deep forests with undiscovered mysteries and a bit of gothic darkness.
Strega Mori: This style is a combination of Mori – forest and Strega – witch (in Italian). Strega Mori will bring a mysterious beauty with long robes and enchanting jewelry.
Yama Kei: This style echoes the mountains and forests. It often features earth tones, rough scarves, and trekking-inspired accessories, creating a rustic, dynamic, and vibrant look.
Shiro Mori: This is a variation of the original Mori Kei fashion with brighter colors. Shiro Mori uses mainly white and pastel colors and delicate accessories such as pearls and lace. This style brings the image of a forest covered in white snow, full of tranquility and charm.
Umi Mori: When Mori is combined with Umi – the sea, it will bring a unique beauty. This style features blue tones, and seashell or sand motifs to express the wild spirit of the sea.
Mori Kei Hair and Makeup
Mori Kei’s makeup and hairstyle still retain the characteristics of this fashion style: simple and natural. The makeup base is usually light colors, like a natural skin tone. Girls following the Mori Kei style prioritize light eye makeup, light pink cheeks, and pink lips to express freshness like the wind in the forest.
The hairstyle of girls following Mori Kei fashion is also often kept natural such as shoulder-length or gently curled. To increase the charm, you can combine braids some ribbon accessories, or leaf-shaped clips. These accessories both express the “forest” characteristics and maintain the simple beauty of Mori Kei.
How to Dress in Mori Kei Fashion? 5+ Inspirational Outfit Ideas
Now that you better understand Mori Kei, it’s time to start mixing and matching. Here are 5+ interesting ideas to create your own Mori Kei outfit.
Floral Long Dress and Cardigan
One of the simplest combinations of Mori Kei is a floral long dress and a thin cardigan. You can choose a vintage long dress with cotton or linen and small floral or leaf patterns. Then, put on a cardigan and add a wide-brimmed hat to create a Mori Kei style. This outfit is both gentle and sophisticated, suitable for walking around town on warm spring days.
Simple Pastel T-Shirt and Linen Baggy Pants
If you love Mori Kei fashion in a brighter direction, don’t miss this outfit suggestion. You can combine a Capybara Japanese Shirt with linen baggy pants to bring a comfortable, simple beauty. The shirt with a Capybara pattern and Japanese letters brings a lovely look. Don’t forget to combine flat shoes or a silk scarf to tie around your neck or as a headband to create a highlight. This simple outfit is suitable for all occasions, from going to school to going to work.
Linen Shirts, Trousers, and Jackets
Mori Kei fashion is characterized by layers, so don’t hesitate to combine many different items to create an impressive outfit. You can mix & match shirts, straight pants, and linen jackets to create an attractive “mori boy” look. To express the natural and jungle features of Mori Kei, you should choose earth tones such as dark brown, combined with beige or off-white to create a harmonious highlight.
Sweatshirt and Linen Culottes
Sweatshirts and linen culottes are simple unisex suggestions for days when you don’t know what to wear. You can combine a sweatshirt like the Japanese Tuna Sweater to mix in a variation of the Mori Kei style like Umi Mori. The tuna pattern is designed with humor, bringing a slightly mischievous and energetic look. Kamicrew’s shirts are free to choose colors, so you can choose beige or green to create the characteristic of Mori Kei fashion.
Straight Dress mix Long Skirt and Layered with Cardigan and Scarf
Another layered outfit typical of Mori Kei fashion is a straight dress combined with a long skirt. These two items seem impossible to use together, but Mori girls mix & match very skillfully. Don’t forget to add a cardigan and a scarf to make the outfit more layered. You can choose small floral patterns and warm tones to enhance the characteristic beauty of Mori Kei.
Wrap Up
From fresh spring, bright summer, and romantic autumn to cold winter, Mori Kei fashion always has unique ways to mix and match clothes for you to shine in your own way. Mori Kei brings a rustic, gentle beauty but is no less impressive and attractive. Mori Kei will help you spread a peaceful beauty like the deep forests with a natural style, neutral colors, delicate materials, and gentle patterns.
