Aesthetically Me Challenge - Visual Kei

For this challenge, I chose visual kei. Why, you may ask? For many reasons. First of all, though,

What is visual kei?

Visual kei is a fashion style originating in Japan. It's characterized by somewhat androgynous looks with extreme and sometimes flamboyant hair, makeup, and clothing. Visual kei (vk for short) often uses black clothing to contrast with vibrant color accents. It's a little hard to explain, so here are some examples:

The way I was introduced to visual kei fashion was through music. I've been a big fan of Jrock (Japanese rock) music for quite some time now. This was mostly due to a strong interest in anime. Little did I know, some of my favorite songs were done by visual kei bands. This means that they exemplify the fashion in their music videos and on stage. It's not just for performances though. Many people, band or not, consider vk to be a lifestyle, and personally, I agree.

Visual kei is about expressing yourself, regardless of what other people think. As a trans guy, this has been something I've struggled with for quite some time. There was a time when I was obsessed with ing as male. I would constantly be worrying about it, and, looking back, I wasn't very happy. Around the same time, I experienced a bought of depression, though I can't say for certain if it was related. Through my interest in Jrock music and vk bands, however, I was able to start expressing myself more, both in music and fashion. I've accepted that I'm not going to much at this stage in life, but I'm okay with that. In fact, not worrying about ing is quite liberating. I don't worry about whether a shirt makes me look feminine. Visual kei has allowed me to reexplore both my feminine and masculine sides, and that is a wonderful feeling.

That is why I chose visual kei to represent me. Not only do I enjoy the fashion and music, but it's also a lifestyle and mindset that I strongly resonate with. It's given me freedom, both mentally and physically.

#AestheticallyMeChall