DAY 3: Drawing Kiana For 100 Days

Been seeing this fit a lot on Pinterest, so decided to draw the silly guy in it xixi

12. dark mori kei

dark mori kei is a substyle of mori kei that merges the forest inspired aesthetic of traditional mori kei with a darker, more mysterious edge. often called dark forest girl, this style retains mori keis connection to nature but emphasizes its mythical, shadowy side -- akin to walking through an enchanted forest at twilight, here's a breakdown of dark mori kei

origins and development

evolution from mori kei: dark mori kei emerged as an offshoot of mori kei around the early 2010s, developed by individuals who appreciated the cire aesthetic of more kei but wanted to introduce a "gothic", darker element. It offers a way to explore the darker side of nature, moving away from bright, pastel colors to show off the shadowy side.

influence of folklore and fantasy: the style draws from mythology, fairytales, and myths often portraying a darker character that could represent a witch, forest spirit, or some sort of dark fairy. its aesthetic plays on the mysterious qualities of deep woods, misty paths, and magical creatures

key motifs

Dark color palettes: Unlike traditional Mori Kei's earthy, light tones, dark Mori Kei uses a palette of deep, muted colors like black, charcoal gray, forest green, burgundy, deep plum, and midnight blue. shades of brown, rust, and dark cream may also appear to keep the natural theme but in a more somber way.

Layered shapes: Layering is essential in dark mori kei. The look often involves flowing, asymmetrical layers of dresses, shawls, and oversized sweaters to create a slightly ragged shape. Loose cardigans, cloaks, capes, and lace details add to the forest effect.

nature and mystical textures: materials like lace, velvet, wool, and cotton add a textured, vintage feel to dark mori kei. worn in or distressed fabrics are common, as they give off the impression of a forest wanderer. dark lace, crochet details, and feather or fur trimmings add an extra touch to the outfits.

occult and nature theme accessories: accessories in dark MRI kei often include items inspired by nature and witches---think of dry flowers, feathers, crystals, charms, and bones (fake or real). silver jewelry, layered necklaces, rings with dark stones, and talismans are popular, giving off a forest witch vibe.

dark makeup and hair: makeup in dark mori kei is more pronounced than in mori kei. dark eyeshadows, smudged eyeliner, and berry or plum-colored lip tints enhance the makeup in this style. hair is often left loose and wild, styled in braids, or decorated with hairpieces like flower crowns, vines, or feathers. darker hair colors or tones of auburn, deep green, and black complete the look.

music

dark mori kei is often associated with atmospheric, ethereal music that has a haunting, folk-inspired sound. neofolk, dark folk, and ambient genres resonate well with this aesthetic. artists like Wardruna, Chelsea Wolfe, and Florence + the Machine capture the spirit of the style. Medieval-inspired or witchy folk songs set the right mood for dark more kei as well. here are some artist suggestions

lamp

ichiko aoba

800 cherries

tico moon

HUS

astrud gilberto

joao gilberto

kaede

kali uchis

serani poji

movies

films that embody the magical and mysterious parts of nature fit dark more kei perfectly. Pan Labyrinth by Guillermo del Toro is one amazing example. other fitting films include The Witch, Sleepy Hollow, and The Secret of Roan Insih. here are a few other movies I suggest!

the ancient magus' bride

anohana

fruits basket

honey and clover

is the order a rabbit?

Mary and the Witch's flower

Mushi shi

snow white with the red hair

the dark crystal

mirrormask

books and other media

folktales and dark fantasy: dark mori kei is often linked to literature that explores enchanted forests, ancient magic, and gothic themes. works like The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Garden, Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, and classic fairytales with darker themes resonate with this aesthetic.

witchcraft and nature journals: witchcraft and nature-themed journals are popular in the dark more kei community. many enjoy documenting plant knowledge, seasonal cycles, and forest photography, often with an emphasis on the darker, hidden beauty of nature.

visual art and photography: dark mori kei is also influenced by art and photography that captures shadowy forests, mystical creatures, and haunting but beautiful landscapes. artists like Brian Froud, known for his dark fantasy illustrations, are popular in the community.

inspo

dark mori kei is a style that celebrates the mysterious, darker side of nature through a forest-inspired aesthetic. with its deep colors, layered fabrics, and mythical accessories, it channels the spirit of a dark forest fairy or a forest spirit. dark mori kei is for those who find beauty in the shadows, embracing a balance of nature and magic that feels otherworldly and grounded in the forest. this style offers a sense of hidden magic, embodying the darker, mythical says of the mori kei aesthetic.

make sure to follow, comment, and reblog for more style breakdowns like this!!!!! use my questions box in my profile to suggest any styles you want to see!!!!!!!!!!!

videostar logging off..............................................................................................................................................................................................

buy that transgender woman a large cut of high quality fresh farm-grown salmon from the store

Ough, thinking about how p5 somewhat unintentionally dips into queer/neurodiverse themes.

Like, you take the “outcasts” and like… most of the time, they’re only like that because they’re different.

(I would argue there isn’t a single phantom thief that doesn’t fall into the neurodiverse/queer club (and quite commonly both))

Like, yeah, head canons and all, and “these characters were never confirmed to be *blank*” well, yeah. But if I can look at Ryugi and feel better about my own adhd because he’s doing his best despite of it? Characters don’t have to actually have or be whatever to see yourself through them. I’ve been so frustrated with schoolwork and him being able to still somewhat try and do his own boring schoolwork, it’s helping me do my own. The staying up way too late doing something I enjoy rather than what I dislike. I can just feel the adhd coming from him.

Ryugi being quick to anger and frustration mirrors my own feelings. That urge to just… hit something when things go wrong, but you can’t because you don’t want to hurt anyone. The pure frustration when you can’t do anything. That strong desire to protect who we care about. I can just see so much of myself in him, and it makes me feel better, because he was able to be better.

(Can you tell I have a favourite phantom thief?/lh)

(Take some of these next ones with a grain of salt, because I do throw a fair bit of head canon in there)

Yusuke and Futaba dip into autism (or also adhd) representation. I can’t personally speak for this one, but I know it’s a very common hc. They help show that you can do different things with good supports.

Ann… well, let’s be real she is at LEAST bi if not lesbian.

Futaba shows cptsd symptoms and also shows that it can get better with the right supports!

And there’s so much more that my tired brain can’t think of right this moment. Feel free to add your own, dear reader.

While I can’t personally connect as deeply with every phantom thief, the fact that *someone* can is why representation matters to me. They feel like my friends because can I see so much of myself. I’m an artist like Yusuke, I’m a gamer like Futaba, I love taking care of plants like Haru, I have a strong sense of justice like Makoto, I see myself in Ann because I’m sapphic because I get judged by my appearance and it isn’t who I really am, I am proud like Morgana, and I am loyal and brave like Ryugi is.

Intentional or not, representation comes in all different shapes and sizes, and if we can see ourselves in those characters, it can help in so many different ways.

(And a side track, I know this isn’t the main point, about the queer or neurodiverse thing, but Haru and how she feels about her father’s passing is helping me deal with the divorce (I know it isn’t the same) (dad was kicked out, it was good, and I’m a whole adult so it’s not *that* bad) but the lens of “was he ever like I though he was? Or was he always this way” that I can shine my own experiences through has been helping me

Same with Ryugi really, my dad wasn’t physically abusive, but I cut contact for a reason)

Other media has this unintentional representation, but I mainly wanted to talk about p5 because I have free will and no one can stop me.

@the-identifier

friends asked me to draw a bee with a binky here you guys can have it too

mydei probably puts phainons food in a dog bowl on the floor and phainon hates him for it but sits down and eats it anyway

HES SO CUTE 👹👹👹👹👹👹👹

they're such domestic kitties...

Genius Society 🤓🤓

Just the dudes by themselves below bc why not lol

(🎀🎨 > ☕️🥞) this was supposed to be for april fools now its a little too real

gay