fairy kei
See also: fairy-kei
English
Alternative forms
Etymology
From Japanese フェアリー系 (fearī-kei, literally “fairy style”), from フェアリー (fearī, “fairy”) (itself from English fairy) + 系 (kei, “style”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˌfɛəɹi ˈkeɪ/
Noun
- (aesthetic) A Japanese fashion style influenced by pop culture of the 1980s, characterized by pastel colours and whimsical, childlike elements such as toys, candy, or unicorns.
- 2012, Timothy Hornyak, Lonely Planet: Tokyo[1], page 123:
- Followers of fairy-kei — a light and fluffy '80s throwback look — stock up on candy-coloured accessories at 6% Doki Doki […]
- 2015 November 19, Isa Giallorenzo, quoting Jimmy Hassett, “Kawaii as a button”, in Chicago Reader[2], volume 10, number 44, page 4:
- “I'm into the fairy kei/decora vibe, which is kawaii [Japanese for “cute”] and very pastel,” he says.
- 2021, Holly Swinyard, A Guide to Film and TV Cosplay[3]:
- Most fairy-kei has a colour scheme of pastel colours adding to the childlike wonder of the style, as well as including chunky jewelry, oversized t-shirts and long socks, paired to large light-up trainers or similar.
- For more quotations using this term, see Citations:fairy kei.