Tuesday, May 17, 2016

My New Rabbit Hole: Mori Girl Fashion

I'm about as far as you can get from a fashionista; I hate trying on clothes, so my closet is a museum of ancient Ross and thrift store finds, and most of the time I'm just wearing jeans, a geek tee, and matching chucks. BUT. A big chunk of my heart belongs to ruffly skirts, flowy shirts, lots of layers, and, well, this kind of stuff:

I would wear that post-apocalyptic Lolita thing on the right (made by Stilecht) EVERY DANG DAY.

In fact, I've had that outfit Pinned to my woefully bare "Fashion" board for years, so a few months ago I went back to it and checked out Pinterest's "Related Pins."

That's how the obsession began, you guys.

I quickly discovered something called "Mori Girl" - which I now know is Japanese for "Forest Girl" - and fell in love. It's a fashion sub-culture that's checkin' all my boxes: loose frilly skirts, an A-line silhouette, lots of layers, boots, and NO HEELS. (Can I get an "hallelujah?")

One of my favorite examples of Mori style is Mai Magi up there of Shortcut To The Stars (a Tumblr site that's gone now, sadly):


Mai's rockin' a "Dark Mori" variation here, which has a more goth vibe with lots of blacks and gray.

Loooove this silhouette.

Classic Mori Girls wear lots of white linens and lighter colors, though still with an emphasis on natural fibers and muted colors:



 


 Of course heavy layering is tantamount to heatstroke here in Florida - or most places during Summer - so next I went on a mission for lighter Mori looks.




It's a lot harder to find, but there are a few examples out there.





The skirts are still layered, but they're shorter and lighter, which I can tell you from experience is great for swishing air around and keeping you cooler. Just skip the leggings and/or knee socks.

If you go looking for Mori inspiration like I did, odds are you'll find most of it is being modeled by tiny Japanese beauties who would literally look gorgeous in a potato sack.


In fact, I tried searching for "plus size Mori girl" - just to get a better idea of how a chunky geek girl like myself would look in this style - and I swear I heard Google laughing at me. Let's face it: layers are not always a friend to the fluffy.



I was determined, though, so I did a little experimenting with stuff I already have. Now I *think* I've found some ways to pull off a little Mori style, even for me, even during a Florida summer. So if you like this look, too, here are a few things I've learned to get you started:

- Try layering a dress over a skirt.

 

BOOM. Instant Mori.

- Go for long lines


Even with a short skirt, go with longer loose tops, scarves, and necklaces, which all help draw the eye down towards your flouncy hemline (and away from possible tummy bulges).

- Busty Babes Need Not Despair:

If you're blessed with larger tracts of land, then this look can still work for you! Just look for tops/dresses that are tight/fitted until just below the bra line, then flow out to form an A line, like this:


Larger land owners should probably avoid tops like this next one, which have pleats above the bra line:


A bigger bust with these cuts can =  a bigger looking belly, since the dress will fall straight down from your, er, mountain tops. Not good. That said, there are always exceptions, so wear what you love! (Or try adding a belt.)

Another option: stick with all-over tighter tops: 


via
And of course a darker color will make everything up there look smaller.

(My shoulders are actually broader than my hips, so this visual trick has been a huge self-esteem saver for me. It may seem counter-intuitive to minimize your top assets and pad out your hips, but it's all about proportion!)

- Stock up on tissue-light cardigans, scarves, and/or long vests. I'm talking see-through wispy stuff, so they have minimal bulk/ maximum air flow.



- Think steampunk

You guessed it; this is another reason I love this style. Look for steampunky leather boots, natural and/or vintage jewelry pieces, woven or leather hip bags, and vintage hats/fascinators or hair clips to add a bit of fantasy to your forest fairy look.


Ok, MY TURN.

Even if I don't really manage a true "Mori Girl", I'm having fun incorporating parts of the look into my everyday wear. And yes, I have picture. Bad, blurry cellphone pictures. Still, just to prove a it can be done when you're more like a size 12 than a size 2:


I bought this fake-suede, uber soft trapeze dress at Ross, but then never could figure out how to wear it. (But c'mon. It has POCKETS.) Layering it over my shredded orange skirt from my steampunk outfit gave it some much-needed body at the bottom. Then I topped it off - literally - with a long necklace and my slouchy brown "Grandpa sweater."

 
 It's still too warm for park runs right now, but perfect indoors in the A/C - and soooo comfy.

The same skirt under a different dress, and two different cardigans:

This one looks good with boots or flip-flops.

 Of course they have less body when I don't hold the skirt out, but it's still a decent amount of poof:




Here's one of my favorites:


This is another Ross dress, and I'm only five feet tall, guys, so look how short it is. I'm finding a lot of the casual knit dresses I love are inching shorter, so adding a skirt underneath makes them look better *and* be more wearable. (This skirt is a stiff canvas material, so it holds its shape without a petticoat. LOVE.)

Here's a closeup of the accessories:


And finally, a lighter look that's better for the Florida heat:



Not really enough frills to be Mori, but I'm loving this layered skirt thing! I'm also seriously tempted to start sewing extra layers of ruffles onto the bottom of some thrift store skirts - and I am TERRIBLE at sewing, so I guess this must be love.

Hope you guys enjoyed falling down another rabbit hole with me! And be sure to share outfit selfies over on Facebook if you decide to try your own version of Mori, so I can get more ideas!


Photo Credits: Pinterest has not been my friend with sourcing these (grrr), but I've tagged what I could, and then most of the rest are catalog photos I believe from this Japanese store site, which has lots more eye candy. Happy browsing!

129 comments:

  1. Have you ever checked out Zulilly? They often have lovely tunics and layering pieces that look a lot like these.....

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    1. I have found that Zulily clothes are a lot smaller than the size advertised and poorly made.

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    2. I agree about Zulily...even if you go by the measurements they give, items always end up arriving a size or two smaller than expected. Items are also listed strangely...like a bust of 34" being in the "plus size" category, or being a U.S. size 8 and having to order a 6x, which probably reflects Asian sizing. They do have some cute stuff, just be careful.

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    3. I agree Zulily has a lot of shirts that are similar style you are posting.

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    4. Hmm. I've not had that issue with Zulily. I've bought quite a bit from there recently, including some of the tunics and layering pieces. They've all been pretty much to size for me, and decently made for the price point.

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    5. ZULILY, YES. On any given day, I am probably wearing at least one thing from zulily.

      Don't trust the general sizes (if they don't tell you what the exact waist measurement of an XL is, don't trust that it'll fit), but 90% of the time, the detailed measurements have been accurate for me.

      Plus, wide calf boots. I don't think anything else needs saying.

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    6. Likewise, I just discovered mori fashion and have found Zulilly a great source for the look. I think most of the problems with the sizing comes from the fact that their clothes come from a wide variety of suppliers. I agree with Emily, the more detailed the size chart, the more likely the fit will be accurate.

      Also, they often have some nice scarves and other accessories.

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  2. 'Love this look for you, Jen! On me it would probably look appalling -- which is unfortunate, because it is so cute -- but when I look on the Japanese webpage you linked us to, I see plenty of lighter-weight fabrics and silhouettes! You are the hot Floridian Mori Girl!! :D

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  3. Love this look! Maybe I'll go rummage through my closet and see what I can find. Most of my things are already knee length though. So I'm not sure how they would look being even longer..

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  4. You look amazing Jen! I looove this look; it looks fantastic for those chilly fall days!

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  5. I love this! I've been wanting to start sewing my own clothes for a while--plus size + quirky style means that I have a hard time finding pieces I really like. The "dark" variations are really speaking to my inner goth.

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  6. Maybe you could bribe John to sew your ruffles on. Just a tip: if your gathering fabric for ruffles, try couching. Sew a wide zig zag stitch so it goes over fishing line. It gathers like a dream that way. I used to hate gathering until I found out about couching.

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    1. Ooh, I want to try this! Thanks for the tip!

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    2. I'm thinking out loud here, but I wonder if you could sew horsehair braid/crinoline into the seam when you add a bottom ruffle? Its purpose is to stiffen seams - not like Victorian crinoline! - much easier going than that! It might well hold out a ruffle as if there's another layer under the skirt, so a soft, light fabric would hold out more like the canvas. It might give the illusion of layers where there's actually tiers of fabric.

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    3. Amy, what a great gathering tip! I have to sew a lot of tulle to a petticoat for DragonCon, and I'm going to try this method! Also, I second the comment about horsehair braid. I LOVE that stuff for when I want a little more definition, but not stiffness, in my hemlines.

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    4. I've been sewing costumes for 5 years now and this is the first I've heard of couching! Thank you! I am gonna go try this now, it looks amazing!

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  7. Don't call yourself chubby :'-(
    ...I've always admired your figure (in a non-creepy way, I promise).

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    1. Aw, thanks. (heck, I'll take creepy admiration, too!)

      I'll stand by my "chunky" descriptor, but fwiw, I am, and I'm ok with that. I'm not ashamed to admit I'm overweight, and ideally I'd love it if that was seen more as an encouragement to folks than any kind of judgement - because believe me, no judgement here!

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  8. I'm only 4'11" and I haven't found a skirt or dress that didn't go to my shins in the longest time. Of course, I haven't tried real hard, either, since I'm more like a size 16 than a size 6 and feel more comfortable in jeans.

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    1. Katie: you can ruche a longer skirt to give it "ruffles" and shorten the length. https://www.pinterest.com/amaezin/rusched-or-ruched/

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  9. You are not in anyway chunky. You are perfectly Jen sized. I hate seeing perfectly normal sized people feel bad about their bodies.

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    1. Hey hey, never said I felt bad about my body! I'm definitely normal-sized, and I know it. I'm also overweight, as my doc likes to remind me. ;) S'all good - and I do appreciate what you're saying. I'm just also OK with admitting here that I'm chunky, because in these photos I don't really look it.

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  10. Looks amazing! (Also, plus sized? No.)

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  11. Mori is the fashion style of my heart...but I'm far too potato-shaped to ever look good in it. Makes me sad. :(

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    1. I thought so for me, too - which is why you should try it anyway! I honestly think elements of this style will look fab on any size.

      Do not resist the call of the ruffles, Tiassa. ANSWER THE RUFFLY CALL.

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  12. It looks like you have some great base options in your closet and can add the frills. They all look great. Just a few interchangeable frill garments and you're set!!

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  13. too cute!! love those outfits on you! (and chunky!?!? not you!!)

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  14. I love this! It's a less lecherous version of Japanese lolita outfits. And you look super cute!

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  15. Whelp, I know how I'll be dressing for the summer :D I actually just started on a DIY project that involves transforming some boxy, extra large tees into me-sized (aka, short) tunics/dresses. Now I'm wondering how they'd look with some of my skirts under them...

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  16. I am obsessed with Mori Girl style but I am both tallish and fluffy and incapable of growing out my hair. I have had some luck with Holy Clothing's stuff for layering, they go up to 4X! I also like eShakti, which has a HUGE size range (0-36W) AND allows you to custom size for a reasonable fee. You can also modify the design to an extent if you need a longer or shorter skirt, or longer or shorter sleeves. So that's fun. Then, like you, I just cruise Ross or TJ Maxx and hope I get something that fits the Mori Girl picture in my mind...

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    1. I used to worry about not being able to grow my hair out ruining the mori look, turns out if you crop it super-short and pair it with lots of lace, even strangers will tell you you look like a wood elf unprompted ^o^

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    2. Haha, so awesome! I've got the a-line cut going now, which seems to work with the right hat. But I think I need moar lace!!!!

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    3. Well, I have very short hair and I really love this look, but I really can see anyone mistaking me for a wood elf. (unless wood elves are somewhat bigger, walk with a limp, and use a cane with blue peacocks on it!)

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    4. LOL. I was going to mention Holy Clothing (holyclothing.com), too. I love layering, too, but it's too hot and humid in Georgia during summer. Winter is my friend. Seriously, Jen, look into this site. It's my fashion rabbit hole and I'm a long time customer. They use a very breathable natural rayon, the clothes are ethically made in India, and they're very sturdy and long lasting. I've had some pieces for 6+ years and they look fairly new. <3

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    5. I just looked at the Holy Clothing website. Wow. I think I know wher my next clothing purchases will be coming from.

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    6. Holy Clothing is so great. It's comfy and perfect for dressing up or down, and works with so many styles. They are also pretty specific about showing you actual sizes for things so you can make sure you're getting the right size.

      I've shopped at eShakti (www.eshakti.com) for years, from when they only sold Indian clothing. I enjoy their style and the fact that you can customize. They make every piece to order so they automatically customize it for your height. With fitted tops, I love them because my tracts of land are modest but my size is plus, so I can make sure all things are well in proportion. My only caveat is if you need something for a specific date or event, order WAY in advance. I've had stuff come in two weeks, and stuff take a month or more to get to me. Generally things are well-made, and they include nice little features like real pockets in skirts and dresses, and quality lining. They aren't super inexpensive, but most of the things I've gotten from them have lasted a long time for me.

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    7. My 3rd (yes, 3rd) wedding, we all wore Holy Clothing. I LOVE their stuff!!!

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    8. Doris Sudduth - If you think there's anything natural about rayon take a look at how it's made!

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rayon#Production_method

      Also:
      "Many kinds of marine creatures eat rayon fibres and it ends up in their bloodstream which can be fatal."


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  17. I fell in love with Mori Girl style a while ago, also thanks to Pinterest! I thought I would need to buy things from China to achieve the looks though, so THANK YOU for taking things from your own closet! You look absolutely lovely and you have inspired me to now go through my closet and try to be more Mori. As always, you're amazing Jen!

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  18. you should look for some skirt extenders. They are slips with lace on the bottom that is meant to stick out under your skirts that are just a bit too short. I just bought two :D

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  19. OMG!! I, like you, am far from fashion-conscious so understandably never heard of this trend. Now you've shown me and I wonder where it's been all my life! It's everything I never realized I wanted in my closet. Love it, and love you for introducing me.

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  20. Ok, I think I could do this look -- so fun & natural & just awesome!

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  21. I love the look and you look adorable in it!

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  22. Mai's tumblr still exists, she's just renamed it - shortcuttothestars became mai-magi.tumblr.com

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  23. I am so not a fashionista, but I would love to try to pull this off. I need to do something with a look.... Anything! I'm soooo bored with being boring!

    And I totally love you for "layers are not always a friend to the fluffy."

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  24. I absolutely LOVE your last outfit!!

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  25. This style is so pretty, the Japanese have such great fashion trends! I wish I could wear it well. I have a really long torso (compared to the rest of my body) which makes it hard to find clothes long enough to pull off the long silhouette. I seriously can wear a lot of short dresses as shirts! :P Your selfies look great!

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  26. Jen you can also search "Lagenlook" to get the same thing with a slightly more Nordic bent! I've been pinning it like crazy lately

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  27. http://www.kaliyana.com/eng/ those looks remind me of a frillier version of this Canadian fashion designer

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  28. This couldn't have popped up at a better time. I was getting dressed for an event this weekend and have this long tunic/short dress thing. I wear it over leggings, but I found myself wondering if I could wear a short-ish skirt under it, or if that was even a thing. Thanks to you, I know it's a thing! My top had long sleeves, so I paired it with a flowy vest thing...that totally would go with the skirt, too. Yay! Looking forward to trying a new look that makes me pretty happy!

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  29. Awesome. :) I am dressed similar to one of the darker versions right now. Had no idea it was a thing lol. I just wanted to be comfortable and able to wear my combat boots to work while still fitting in my dress code. It's rainy and cool today here so they were a necessity. They have ribbons for laces so look super cute and feminine. Paired with what is supposed to be a sundress with a light flowy sweater and leggings and you've got my outfit. I may look into finding more similar pieces. Thanks for the ideas, Jen! Lol the older I get the more I prefer comfort over style.

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  30. Jen, I forget if you sew? Tina Givens has the lovely couture line but also patterns! http://www.sewtinagivens.com/

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  31. Your first and last outfits were my favourites - so pretty! I really love the colours you put together on your first outfit, I was actually kind of in awe - perhaps I've never considered those colours together or something but I love it!

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  32. Beautiful! This has been my favorite fashion style since I was a kid...long, flowy, ruffled layers, lightweight natural fibers, and muted colors. I've always thought of it as a bohemian look (minus the bright colors and patterns). I didn't ever realize there was a different name. I've worn mostly black since I was a teen, so I guess I'm a Dark Mori, heh. Sadly, I hate clothes shopping, don't have the budget for it, and this style also does my figure absolutely no favors since I'm short and stout, too.

    I've mainly stuck to jeans and lightweight button-ups or long-sleeved tees for so many years now that my son and husband have almost never seen me in anything feminine and cute. They just think of me as one of the guys. When I do attempt to wear a skirt every once in awhile, I inevitably get strange looks from hubby and son, and son will almost always say, "What are you wearning?!" with his lip curled up in disgust! Hahaha! Not exactly confidence-building!

    Anyway, I think the outfits you created from pieces you already had on hand are really great. You have absolutely perfect legs, so you are very lucky in that way. You don't have to wear long skirts or leggings under your short skirts. In this FL heat, that must be soooo nice!

    The only sad part of your latest obsession is that it is absolutely NOT going to work with sparkly glitter rainbow shoes. D'oh! ;-)

    I have a few skirts that fit the Mori style very well, and I never wear them, so this post has inspired me to try them on again and see if I can make them work. If not, I might end up sending them to you. They're all black though, and I definitely don't see you as a Dark Mori. If only there was a "Sparkle Mori"...like maybe like a misty forest girl covered with shimmering dew droplets? Hahaha! Yes, you would be that!

    KW

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    1. Nope nope the shoes will be fine. Glitter Mori needs to exist. Jen, you wear your shoes with a Mori outfit and David Bowie will smile upon you from the Hereafter, and we your minions will sparkle in your wake. Glitter comes in black too.

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  33. This style is my JAM. I think you've introduced me to a fashion that I can actually get onboard with! And you look absolutely *fabulous*!

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  34. You look great in all your new looks, but my fave is the last one, because turquoise and seahorse!

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  35. I love this look! I first saw it through your Pinterest boards and fell in love. I also felt it has a steampunk feel to it. And can I just say I feel a little stalkerish at how much I adore you? I feel like we have so much in common.

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  36. Love this SO SO much!! Thanks for sharing! Excuse me, I've got a closet to dive into...

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  37. I can't see pulling this off in Phoenix in the middle of the summer (the 120s are coming, the 120s are coming), but come cooler weather, and I'm going to be all over this :)

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  38. I just adore this look, even if Google does laugh at fluffy me and my huge tracts of land. I'm going to spend a good chunk of the Texas summer building a wardrobe for the cool weather (below 80 degrees).

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  39. Howling with laughter about the "larger land owner" comment. Layering in South Florida - land of never-ending humidity - can be tricky but thank goodness for lightweight fabrics! You go girl!

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  40. I've seen this look before but didn't know what it was called. That is a great look for yourself. You'll have to modify it (like you said) for Florida, but there are lots of options.
    And Jen -- "chunky"?? Seriously???!! Girl YOU are not chunky. Me, I'm chunky. You may think you are overweight and your doctor may say so, but I can tell you from seeing many pictures of you over the past few years that I would not call you chunky. Like, EVER.
    Anyway -- there is always someone taller or shorter or fatter or skinnier, no matter what size you are. The important thing is to keep working on being healthy (diet, exercise, etc.) Which I know you do! (And I do, too)
    Keep us up to date on how the Florida-modified Mori style progresses.
    Maureen S

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  41. I think you would like what this girl is doing:
    https://tinyowlknits.wordpress.com/

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  42. I am short, dump, & have absolutely no torso. Wonder if I'd be able to pull this off?

    Just a note, I think the tan cardigan looks better over the flowery dress than the black. It really shows off every piece.

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  43. Jen, I love this look on you! Very cute. And I totally think you can pull off adding ruffles, that's a great idea to get the look you're going for!

    On a separate but related note, your general craftiness has inspired me to tackle a project of my own. I snagged a belt on eBay yesterday because I LOVE the buckle, but the color is all wrong. So when it arrives I'm going to to make a new one. Maybe even several, if I can figure out how to swap the buckle around. Hopefully it works out!

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  44. Fun (pointless?) fact: I pinned this post, and it was my 1600th pin! https://pinterest.com/pin/238268636513810582/ :)

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  45. Mori ist great. And I think especially your first outfit (in this post) qualifies beautifully!

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  46. This is SO cute, and I'm thrilled to have a word that encapsulates my favorite outfits! One of my go-tos is a grey jersey maxi skirt that I pin up with a brooch to show off cute leggings/legwarmers/boots underneath, and a fitted green double breasted jacket that's a little Victorian and a little flowy. It's a bit easier to wear fashion like this where it's cold, but now that summer's rolling around, I'm super excited to see warmer-weather twists on this look! :D

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  47. I've never heard of Mori before. I will have to ponder.

    Wanted to say that your photo of your accessories owl pic? Is GORGEOUS! It is beautiful!!! Seriously, well done on the photos!

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  48. I love this look and you rock it. the grey/green combo looks really cute on you without looking too little girly. nice job!

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  49. Being from Georgia, some of these layers make me sweat just looking at them... BUT... I want to give it a shot. I'm almost 50... do you think I'd be an "old" lady trying to look young? I really don't give a hoot about that, but... but... meh. May try anyway. To heck with the naysayers!!!

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    1. Marni I was wondering the same thing. But I Googled lagenlook (referenced above) and many of the images show older women and they look great! We're not going to look like young pixies, but we're going to have style!

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    2. Love it! I'll give it a look-see!

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    3. Anything this comfortable is going to have plenty of grown up women wearing it. Mic drop.

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  50. Ok seriously, you look WAY BETTER than those stick thin models! Love this look on you!! Thank you for sharing this post.

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  51. This is adorable and you are adorable.

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  52. For me being over 6 foot tall, these long layers I'd lose any form to my frame, but I may steal the dress/skirt combo thing. I mean you think dresses are short? Try having a 36" inseam.

    And this style looks great on you!!

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  53. I have a "knee problem" (don't ask) so I've been extending my skirts to just below my knees for years. I have a ton of what I call "slip extenders" in various fabrics and colors.
    You can buy them finished, a slip with awesome lace or trimming at the bottom.
    Sometimes I'll go to goodwill or a yard sale and buy up a bunch of those fancy-schmancy mini skirts and just sew them to the bottom of a cheap slip I thrifted or made.
    Other times I just layer my skirts.

    Sometimes my look ends up more like Mori Girl, but other times it's a bodycon dress with a ruffle at the bottom. It is definitely part of my signature style. :)

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  54. I don't know if you have heard of hama girl fashion. The hama girl is the beachy alternative to the the forest girl of the mori look. Being a Florida girl, I thought you might find it interesting. Here is a link to another blog that talks about it.
    http://serendipitychild.blogspot.com/2012/11/hama-girl_17.html

    BTW, I love all your looks especially the green, and the tropical take on the look. :)

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  55. off to make a lace bottomed cami!

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  56. I absolutely love this look on you! I love the look of a-line shirts and skirts, but my issue has always been the tendency of people to ask if I'm pregnant when I'm in an a-line shirt or dress, so I usually stick with skirts. I may have to look into the belted look, though. Also, I'm in Miami, so I agree the classic look would end up with everything sweaty and icky. I love flouncy skirts in the summer months, though.

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  57. You look amazing! Very cute. Not sure I could pull it off, but I love the look.

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  58. I absolutely love this look on you! I love the look of a-line shirts and skirts, but my issue has always been the tendency of people to ask if I'm pregnant when I'm in an a-line shirt or dress, so I usually stick with skirts. I may have to look into the belted look, though. Also, I'm in Miami, so I agree the classic look would end up with everything sweaty and icky. I love flouncy skirts in the summer months, though.

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  59. I'll be 55 soon. I'm a little teapot, short and stout. Think I could pull this off? It might help that I'm an extroverted introvert with somewhat crazy artistic thoughts. :0D

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    1. My mother is 5'2" and 220lbs - short and stout looks fine in this style, in fact it is somewhat like a stylish mumu so it hides all the lumps and people just focus on your face. My mother has a round face which would look chubby no matter what, but if you have a longer face you might even be asked if you've lost weight with this style.

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  60. Horrified that a size 12 is 'plus' size. i'd kill to be a 12. love the upcycling, keep it coming!

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  61. Hi Jen,

    I love your style and I love your taste, but I have to say that I hate the way you always put yourself down. STOP IT! You are gorgeous! You have a great figure that is round and healthy like a real woman is supposed to be. Models are stick figures only because most fashion these days looks better on a wire. You have "mountains" I envy, beautiful chestnut hair that is thick and luxurious, an adorable nose, beautiful cheekbones, dainty hands, solid legs that look great in boots (many women like me can't get a pair of boots that doesn't give them horrid cankles or won't fit over huge calves), and your skin looks flawless in all your pictures.

    As a woman who has gone from a 6 to a 20 and back a few times I understand that the slightest bit of flab is a death knell to a woman's self-image, but round and firm is healthy and natural. Women are the rounded yin to Men's angular yang. Celebrate your shape and find a way to enjoy it, you are Gaea, you are womanly, you are the very image of what we should all be.

    Size 12 doesn't even put you into the "Big Girl" store category (that starts at 14). You look great in every picture you've posted. Young, vibrant and gorgeous.

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    1. OK, rant over. For myself I love this look although it is probably the worst for someone like me. I wear a lot of flouncy skirts even though I am quite hippy to begin with.In fact my waist is only 70% the size of my hips so the jut out sharply. I have almost no chest to speak of without help from a thick bra. I tend to go with more clingy on top to bring attention to the girls to offset my hips. I do love the layered possibilities of this style though because I am one of those odd-balls that is most comfortable at the really high temperatures. I often wear a jacket or sweater on the hottest days here (25-30 degrees C) because a slight breeze has me shivering. This is a look that can take that summer wardrobe I love well into the cold winter with only a couple of modifications. I have been undergoing a lot of therapy lately and am starting to feel good enough about myself to try this out and not worry about how hippy or bottom heavy it makes me. I'll just avoid green so I'm not mistaken as a Christmas tree. :)

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    2. So...Jen was replying to a few comments about "putting herself down." In no way did she ever put herself down! I know I'm replying directly to your comment Joelle, but the rest of my rant is not directed at you specifically. Nothing but love do I have for Jen and my fellow Epbotians. I think it is a sad state of affairs that if someone simply describes themselves, societal definitions assume they're can't possibly be happy with their appearance. Jen called herself chunky. Society says "chunky" is bad, so Jen must be saying she looks bad. NOOO! My husband is quite overweight, it's unhealthy, it's something he's working on, but when I describe him as "that big guy over there" I am blown away by the reactions I get. People are horrified that I would dare call him fat! I'm not saying it in a mean, condescending, judge him or me kind of way. Simply, he's the big guy. Just like, he's the brunette, or the one in the blue shirt.

      Anyway, I am not sure I made my point, but I have another. I, on the other hand, am rail-thin, and am told DAILY to put on weight. I'm told how lucky I am and how could I possibly have issues with my appearance, and would I just eat a hamburger already? ...And I'm supposed to be okay with it. ALL sizes and shapes have issues of their own and should not be considered good or bad. Health matters, and my inability to gain weight despite medically-guided extreme efforts, is my own personal problem and I'd kindly thank anyone who doesn't mention how easy I have it. It's not like I could walk into work and tell the morbidly obese woman to put DOWN her hamburger (or 3rd) and milkshake. That would make me cruel and insensitive. I find it frustrating that that particular street does not go both ways.

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  62. I'm pretty sure you took that last outfit directly from my closet (minus the super cute seahorse necklace)!! I would wear that style all the time if I could get away with being THAT casual at work, and if I felt more comfortable in dresses/skirts.

    --Piper P from Washington State

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  63. Cute. I think my fave is the one with the flowered dress, such a cute color combo!

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  64. Oh man, I remember following Mori Girl blogs back in the Live Journal days. I had to randomly stumble upon someone linking it to even know about it. We have it so easy these days with how connected everything is!

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  65. I read this post earlier today and loved it, then tonight I popped on an episode of Firefly and realized - this is very much the style that River wears, right down to the combat boots! I just finished (re-re-re-re-)watching "Safe" and her outfit is pretty much bang-on. Hooray for fashionable geekery!

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  66. OMG, I REALLY love this style! This is a great way to use those skirts I can never quite figure out how to wear and the cute dresses that are just a little too short for me to be comfortable in. I adore your last combination. Thanks for the ideas!

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  67. Are you *required* to stand pigeon-toed when wearing a Mori Girl outfit?
    :)


    But super cute. I'll have to see if it works with my mountainous tracts of land and matching derriere!

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  68. Ahhh..cruel Epbot. Why didn't you introduce us to Mori girl fashion before I was too old to wear it? (Mutton dressed as lamb)

    Yes, I know you would've threatened the causality of the space – time continuum. Get courtYARDS and go!

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    1. Gah. Evil autocorrect hates TARDISes. "Courtyards" pthuii. I ask you--?

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  69. I love these looks! So pretty! Your seahorse necklace in the last picture is absolutely beautiful! Where did you find that? I totally need one now! ha ha!

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  70. I didn't have time to read thru all the comments so apologies if someone has already shared this, but you might like some of the 'extender' tops from Grace and Lace (www.graceandlace.com). They are meant to be worn under other tops/dresses/whatever to give you some lacy/frilly flair. I thought in particular you'd like their mesh skirt extender (http://www.graceandlace.com/all/mesh-skirt-extender/), chiffon high/low extender (http://www.graceandlace.com/all/restocked-chiffon-high-low-extender/), and the chiffon extender in floral (http://www.graceandlace.com/all/new-item-chiffon-high-low-extender-in-floral/). Especially with you being on the petite side, these should ride even a little lower and be the perfect layering length -- as a 5'6" person who normally wears around a size 16/size L/XL, I've ordered these (and the other extender tops) in a large and been very pleased with the fit. The chiffon extender hits about mid-thigh in the front and closer to knee-length in the back for me.

    Come to think of it, you'd probably also love several of their other items -- their two-way cardigans are very lightweight and comfy (but definitely size down on those!) and all their socks and boot cuffs and stuff are just too cute! Enjoy!

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  71. Holy crap you're adorable. The first outfit is my fave I think, I always see those loose flowy tops/dresses and then think "yeah... but where can I wear it?" NEVER thought to put it over a flouffy skirt.

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  72. free People makes a lot of things I think you'd love and though they're expensive, they're often at places like Ross, TJ Maxx and Nordstroms rack.

    Alos, for some amazing dark draped outerwear, check out Skin Graft Designs. This is my favorite, but (other than the price) I can't wear it cause it's woll:
    http://www.skingraftdesigns.com/collections/womens-outerwear/products/hooded-wool-coat

    I did use my birthday money to treat myself to this though!:
    http://www.skingraftdesigns.com/collections/womens-outerwear/products/hooded-wool-coat

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  73. They are awesome! I've been trying really hard to break away from my own jeans-and-slogan-tee uniform (I'm forty two and feel the need for a change) and hadn't seen this Mori Girls thing. Your adaptations are fantastic - you totally rock the look.

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  74. They are awesome! I've been trying really hard to break away from my own jeans-and-slogan-tee uniform (I'm forty two and feel the need for a change) and hadn't seen this Mori Girls thing. Your adaptations are fantastic - you totally rock the look.

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  75. Oh, I LOVE that green outfit! I have a green dress very similar that I bought without noticing how alarmingly short it was. I'm exited to try this now! Also, I love your summer mori girl plan because I loath shorts and feel too "dressy" in sundresses and skirts, so this sounds like a more comfortable, casual summer style.

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  76. Jen you look fabulous! ...being of proportions that make me wary of swimming in case of encounters with whaling ships, with added ruffles, i look like an over-ornate bell-tent! but THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH for the link to lagenlook!!!

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  77. I LOVE this style!! I'm terrible at developing a personal style, but it's slowly been forming that last few years or so, though I have no idea what it is other than "stuff I like".

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  78. Now try it overlayed with your corset! ;)

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  79. reminds me of Helena Bonham Carter's style - though she's a bit "messier" I guess. I always liked her layering style and her "don't give a F" attitude. I'm going to start a plus size mori girl inspiration clothing board... where to buy, etc.! It's not necessarily my style, but I could see layering some fluffy skirts with leggings!

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  80. Oh heavens!! This style is amazing!! I love, love the layers and femininity to it. I'm not sure if it's a good thing or not that you've introduced this to me, but thank you nonetheless!

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  81. This is such a cute style! And THANK YOU for posting the pictures! I always feel like I'm too fat for styles like these (I'm a size 6, but I have terrible body image issues and feel too fat at any size, really), so whenever I can see someone above a size 0 rockin' it, I feel like maybe I don't have to spend the rest of my life in gigantic hoodies and sweatpants after all. I may give some of your layering tricks a shot! :D

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  82. You inspired me, Jen! Today I went to the thrift shop with the idea that I was going to try on lots of *different* things, whether I thought they would suit my "tracts of land" or not. I was surprised at how good the layered look looked! I also got a couple of lovely dresses. I ended up buying enough stuff for several outfits!

    Thank you.

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  83. Cracker Barrell has a line of clothing that is something similar. Lots of layers, long flowing fabric, shark tail something or another style... It's all I buy now. Those flowing tops can be worn with long shorts, long skirts or leggins. It is very versatile. I love their colors and being able to mix and match. I highly recommend it!

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  84. What could you cosplay with this, because I fear I'm too old for it. :( Also, I think, like you, it's too hot where I live to dress in many layers. ;)

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  85. Maybe you aren't ready to branch into sewing just yet, but I found that Vogue patterns has some older out of print items that might just fit your mori girl obsession. Maybe you could check out issey miyake patterns. Google and go!

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  86. While endlessly stumbling through Amazon looking for a dress to wear at a wedding, I saw a brand called idea2lifestyle which sells long drapey, layered tops and skirts. Looks like something people interested in mori girl might want to check out.

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  87. I can't believe I'm just now seeing this! I wish you had already posted it when I went through my clothing identity crisis last winter. : ) I love the looks--just wondering if the effect would be too youthful for a middle-aged woman. . . oh, yes, that's a thing we have to deal with.

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  88. I love the mori look, but I want the patterns to make my own. Anyone know where I can find them?

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  89. kawaii!~~ thank you for writing/ sharing !

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  90. I love it. We are the same size and it looks amazing on you.

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  91. you look amazing and rock the cloths your wearing...thank you for giving me some winter inspriration

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  92. You are not chunky, you are gorgeous.
    Don’t try to be anyone else you are perfect.
    God created you and he doesn’t make mistakes.
    You are wonderful.

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  93. I don't know if you'll see this since it's years after you posted but I'm so glad you made this post! I've been looking up cottagecore and that led me to mori and your post and the comments are great inspiration. I met you once when your cake wreck tour came to Utah, been a big fan for years but missed seeing this post until now.

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