Host Kei

**Host Kei**(ホスト系 *Host Style*) is a male style that is common among club hosts, focused on looking charming and professional. It is similar to Onii Kei .

## The Name

The name refers to host club hosts, who often wear this style. In host clubs, male staff members attend to female customers.

## History

The first host club opened in 1966 in Tokyo, although host clubs only became more mainstream in the early 2000s. Up until the early 2010s when the peak of the popularity of hosts was over, suits were the most common outfit for a host. Beyond that, more hosts began to wear casual styles, including Mode Kei, Onii Kei, and Visual Kei. This was because the traditional host costume (such as unbuttoned shirts and jewelry) were not as popular with women due to it coming off as narcisisstic. Despite this switch in image, hosts (and thus Host Kei) are still mainly associated with glamorous suits.

## Style Basics

The goal of a host's style is to appeal to women by looking charming, showing off one's sex appeal. Host Kei is similar to mid-2000s Onii Kei, Visual Kei  or Gyaruo, although it is more 'adult' and professional. Hosts or those trying to mimic the style often wear suits. These suits are sometimes from luxury brands that have a slender and fashionable frame. As the job is more casual, being based around socialization, the wearer may wear their suit more casually too. This could include:

* Unbuttoning more of the top buttons, revealing their chest
* Popping their shirt's collar for a more 'wild' look
* Untucking their shirt from their belt
* Wearing more unconventional, less professional belts and ties
* More dramatically patterned shirts and suits
* Glossy, satin (or satin-like) shirts
* Expensive (or expensive-looking) accessories such as necklaces or brooches

In addition to the clothing, the hair is also important. One of the most recognizable Host Kei hairstyles is layered, long, and dyed hair, similar to the wolf style common in Onii Kei. Although this hairstyle trend has also died down after the peak of hosts, other similar, more casual hairstyles are recommended.

## Brands

### Magazines

Many Host Kei magazines overlap with Onii Kei magazines.

* MEN'S KNUCKLE
* YPLUS
* SWAN
* SENSE
* men's egg
* LOADED
* Men's SPIDER
* HOST KNUCKLE
* men's egg HAIRS

## External Links

1. ↑ Akiko Takeyama. "Commodified Romance in A Tokyo Host Club" University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20120317062536/http://bangkok2005.anu.edu.au/papers/Takeyama.pdf
2. ↑ "【保存版】ホストの服装=スーツはもう古い！人気ブランドやおしゃれになるコツを紹介！" Osaka Host Navi. Retrieved December 3, 2020 from https://osaka-host.net/host-clothes/
3. ↑ "「ホスト系ファッション」ってどんなファッション？ (What sort of Fashion is Host Style Fashion?)" MEN'S FASHION PLUS. January 15, 2018. Retrieved December 3, 2020 from https://mensfashion.cc/tips/system/47422/
4. ↑ "お兄系ホスト系の髪型は女性受け悪い？女性からモテるヘアスタイルを紹介！" MOTEGAMIADVISOR. May 20, 2018. Retrieved 3 December, 2020 from https://coolmenshair22.com/menshair-269-3316
5. ↑ "【2020年最新】モテるホストの髪型はこれ！今風ホストの髪型セット法大公開！" Osaka Host Navi. Retrieved December 3, 2020 from https://osaka-host.net/host-hairstyle/
6. ↑ "お兄系・ホスト系ファッション雑誌ガイド (Onii Kei/Host Kei Fashion Magazine Guide)" ファッション雑誌ガイド. Retrieved December 3, 2020 from https://www.magazine-data.com/menu/onikei.html