In addition to being a music genre, visual kei is also a subgenre of street fashion. The aesthetics of the style are inspired by the attire of visual kei band members. Pioneers of the style include bands like Dead End, X Japan, Buck-Tick, D’erlanger, and Color. In visual kei, hair is styled voluminously, makeup can be very strong, clothing is often androgynous, and the color palette is dark. However, dressing style can vary widely, and visual kei encompasses many substyles.
“Visual kei bands dress in highly imaginative outfits when performing, which fans of the genre are enamored with. What particularly appeals to me in the style is its androgyny, as well as its aptly named showiness – the ‘visual’ style. When dressing in visual kei style, you can be the invincible protagonist of your own adventure – whether you want to embody your inner angel or demon.”
