I thought about transcribing my Larme youtube video for people who don't watch videos or have auditory processing issues, but half of it is a powerpoint slide in which I read off the words, so I will just paraphrase the rest here instead.
I feel that larme (or just "girlish" fashion as it is supposedly referred to in Japan) could be here to stay for longer than other substyles that have since disappeared after a few years (example: mori girl, dolly kei), and that's why I wanted to make a current video to showcase larme. Since the last post on petite-dollies from 2017, a blog I highly recommend as it was moderated by a group that was/is living in Japan, Larme established a new website that sells a few items, as well as a youtube channel and tiktok channel along with its already present instagram and twitter.
I purchase the Larme magazines from Amazon.co.jp (I otherwise avoid buying from Amazon lol), CD Japan and Kinokuniya. I think they are worth getting if you are into the girly and feminine sides of Japanese fashion, as the photoshoots are very artistic and the rest of the magazine is full of tips and makeup/hair tutorials. Not every magazine comes with "freebies," but many do, and I got a hairtie and some lip/eye tints from two of the issues.
Since Larme is partly dependent on what's currently trending in the fashion world, and doesn't have a set silhouette like lolita or makeup/hair like gyaru, one might wonder if it's really a style. I argue that it's distinct from street wear or casual wear that you might find at Uniqlo, it's just more Shibuya than Harajuku. Petite-dollies outlines subcategories of the fashion that Larme models prefer, and that's a great starting point to what sets larme or girlish fashion apart. Like with casual cute styles (example: himekaji, otome kei lolita), one ought to either (try to, lol) get the clothes of your preferred style on point or emphasize the hair/makeup which can be somewhat unique to Larme.
The reason I like Larme is that it's a bit more normcore than other Japanese street fashion styles that sometimes I'm too old and tired to wear, but still edgy and cute and interesting, especially when combined with the somber, serious, just-finished-a-crying-session vibe. I too am always on the verge of tears after 2020 happened.
In the last part of the video, I showed my favorite Larme face (big circle lenses, natural lashes, emphasized tear bags, lots of blush), and some simple Larme outfits that I created with stuff I bought over the years from the Liz Lisa website, Closet Child/Wunderwelt, Lace Market and western stores.
My favorite brand, Liz Lisa, used to be "the" gyaru and himekaji brand along with Jesus Diamante, but seems to have evolved into a purely cute brand with hints of its glorious hime gyaru past. Other Larme favored brands include Ank Rouge, Swankiss, EatMe, Secret Honey, Rosemarie Seoir, titty&co and many more. I also like clothes from Axes Femme and Milk, and you can get outfits from western stores like Forever 21 and H&M. Lastly, if you like the vintage and retro French and Americana looks, thrifting and sewing/altering your own stuff is also possible and very sustainable.
Like I said, just visit petite dollies for more info, I'm not here to replace them lol, I'm just here to add on new stuff or stuff catering to lolitas and gyarus and sewists. I hope this helps you on your fashion journey, thanks for reading all that!
