Aspects of Eccentricity: Common Fashion Trends of Visual Kei

Visual kei sets itself aside as one of Japan’s most unique music movements. It’s well known that visual kei is not a definitive for a set music genre [many different bands play various and differing music genres, but still fall under the umbrella of visual kei]. It is more defined by the unique, androgynous aesthetic of how the costumes, the hair, the makeup, and the attitude collide together to give each band a unique concept that pairs with their music and the image they wish to convey.

From years of seeing bands come and go, there are common and reoccurring fashion elements that are seen being adorned by your everyday band members. Various statement pieces and items that you may have noticed that are not unique to any one band. Hair and makeup aside, I’ve compiled a list of fashion trends often seen decorating a visual kei band member. Many of these are the elements that give visual kei the eccentricity that we all know, love, and want to replicate.

1. Facial Covering

the GazettE's Reita

Kiryu's Takemasa

We’ve at least seen one musician or another wearing an eyepatch as a statement piece to go with their current style concept. Face covering [eyepatches, faceveils, nosebands, etc.] are often added for a member’s personal image in the band. The best example for this would be Reita, bassist of The Gazette, who is best known for always having his nose covered by a strip of cloth [the noseband]. Another example is seen with Kiryu’s guitarist Takemasa, who is always onstage with a veil that covers his whole face below his eyes. Offstage they carry on the masquerade with facemask as well. One reason this occurs is often due a member’s personal complex about their appearance, which may not appeal to their fans [as tragic as that is].

2. Silver Jewelry

It’s commonplace to see a visual kei musician covered in silver bling. Silver seems to be quite a common favorite style-wise. You will often see a vk artist wearing several pieces of jewelry, from ring covered hands, brand necklaces and bracelets, and ears covered in silver piercings. One of the most popular and most often seen items worn is Vivienne Westwood jewelry. Honestly, every visual kei musician and their mother own a piece of jewelry with the famous orb symbol of Vivienne Westwood. Other common themes seen in jewelry include crosses, roses, fleur de lis symbols, and heart motifs being showcased. Band members will often be seen worn wearing multiple bracelets, rings on each hand and a statement necklace to pull together the whole look. Other popular jewelry brands worn are Material Crown and Artemis Kings. Sometimes, bands will have jewelry collaborations with brands in which they’ll release a limited edition jewelry line.

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3. Articles of Clothing Connected/Covered by Straps and Buckles

Dadaroma

Many times, when you take a first glance at a bands look, you may often think that their stylist ransacked a Final Fantasy cosplayer’s closet. Clothing covered in chains, belts, and straps are the bread and butter of a visual kei artist’s onstage costume. One notable example would be the garter pants. Often seen as a staple in the closet of a visual kei fan, these hybrids of thigh-revealing short shorts and flowy leg covers gained notoriety when worn by Guitarist Uruha of The Gazette in their early days. Though often seen as very common place in costuming, band concepts tend to be styled in many unique and various different ways. Thank their stylist!

4. The Transition From Piercings to Tattoos

Without over-exaggerating, every band member has at least one body piercing. Whether it’s just a regular ear piercing or being covered in body piercings such a Royz’s guitarist and his 20+ piercings, it is an everyday staple of the visual kei look. But, a strange correlation is often seen with bands that come into their own and mature. As they find their niche on the market may gradually tone down the flashiness of their looks as they evolve, which includes trading piercings for ink. We can see this with bands that have been around for years that may have left visual kei style such as with Dir en Grey where the vocalist Kyo has gone through vast transformations since their days as a visual kei band, going from numerous piercings to many intricate tattoos.

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The charm of visual kei that we, the fans, love is how small pieces come to bring together a unique aesthetic that represents the band’s music. With every new single or album, we anticipate their new music and a new look that collide together into one whole. The styles and aesthetics of our favorite bands change and evolve with every new era the go into. It’s a natural occurrence for a band to grow out of the loud aesthetic they debut with as they grow as a band. But, the common aspects of visual kei stay true to these trends. We see reoccurring staples and clothing that can give an individual band member a unique look that stands out, as well as making us, the fans, want to replicate such a look for our own fashion taste.

-Paloma