Cult party kei is a relatively new style, and can be somewhat difficult to define. It's aesthetics come from the Koenji shop Cult Party (now called Virgin Mary), whose brand concept is "eternal girl that creates the world". It can best be described as girly, pale, and whimsical. Like similar styles mori kei and dolly kei, cult party kei has an overloaded silhouette achieved with lots of layering. However, instead of an old-fashioned/antique look, cult party kei is much more cutesy.
Soft pastels paired with lots of white is the most prevalent color scheme. Very rarely is only one color featured; pastel pinks, blues, yellows, and purples can all be used together! However, all the pastels aren't allowed to take over the outfit. The white helps balance all the color.
Sleepwear, especially nightgowns/peignoirs, are one of the biggest cult party trends. They're easy to find, easy to customize, and add a dreamy touch. Usually they're sheer or embroidered.
Religious motifs are extremely rampant in cult party kei. Cross necklaces, specifically red cross necklaces, are one of the most popular accessories. Inspiration from religion is right in the name, after all!
In addition to religious motifs, cult party kei has a lot of cute motifs! Stuffed animals, anime merchandise, and character purses make up the adorable side of the fashion. Outfits heavy with cute motifs usually show obvious fairy kei influence.
Most cult party kei appears to have a crafty, homemade element. Sometimes this can cause the outfits to look a little off, which is absolutely perfect for this style! Think items like pompoms, anything knitted, quilts, customized tote bags, etc.
Cult party kei hair has all sorts of different flavors. The most common colors are blonde, light brown, and dusty pink/lavender. Almost everyone wears bangs, and while there are unlimited hairstyle options, the most common ones are double buns, loose curls, and braids. The hime cut (see the girl on the left) is also very popular. Note that a lot of cult party hair is left very messy; almost as if they'd just gotten out of bed!
Patchwork is also very popular. It adds texture, color, and general interest to an outfit. It's almost always colorful!
Dark cult party kei is a small substyle. The main difference between it and normal cult party is that it has darker colors instead of the usual dusty pastels. However, it isn't just all black! As seen above, dark cult party is still varied, cute, and mystical.
Flower crowns have immense popularity in all sorts of alternative fashions, and cult party is no exception. However, if flower crowns are worn, the flowers are small and in several different pale colors. They're almost never loud and large (as a lot of flower crowns nowadays tend to be).
Cult party kei isn't just for girls! Boys can rock the fashion, whether they opt to wear the usual skirts and tights or go for a slightly more masculine twist.
It leaves a lot of room for experimentation! Unlike fashions like lolita that have a distinct set of rules, cult party kei is a more general aesthetic that allows you to express yourself in a large variety of different ways. Seen above is a sort of marching band inspired outfit, and then a traditional/oriental look. Other variations include military (with military jackets and hats mixed in with bundles of cute accessories) and a lolita-cult party hybrid.
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