Tokyo, the pioneer of celebrating street style. Innocent yet outlandish, colourful, playful, and at times a little freaky. Tokyo street style is completely unique, and because of that, compelling.
Whilst flicking through the images that have surfaced from Tokyo Fashion Week, I couldn’t help but wonder why Japanese citizens are so playful with getting dressed in the mornings. That moment we all know very well, standing in front of our wardrobe, with our much needed coffee in hand, pondering, what will I wear today?
It all seems so natural to them, to bend the rules, and trial new and imaginative ways to wear clothes. Ways in which we have never thought of before. And the fascinating thing is, they pull it off! I’m not sure about you, but if I left the house and jumped on my morning tram wearing a polka-dot button up shirt, underneath a bright red pinafore that barely hit my bottom cheeks, with a plaid detailed denim jacket, topped off with a backpack, bow-tie, and bright neon Nikes, I would have a whole four seats to myself, (that might be something to consider).
Or is it simply that outgoing Japanese dressers are just our typical Australian hipsters? Lets think about this for a moment. Those hipsters you see sitting at that hip café, cigarette in one hand, a retro bike helmet sitting poised on the seat next to them, dressed against the seasonal trend guideline. Although there are certain trends within their hipster community – such as a rustic Tennessee inspired beard for the fellas – they dress how they want, without a care. Isn’t that what street style is all about these days? It’s not necessarily about the trends, it’s more about the notion of having fun with fashion, not dressing to impress but to feel good, and to satisfy one person, yourself.
In that, I applaud all playful self-confessed stylists. Whatever it is that draws us in to the international and national street style scope, whether you believe it began with Bill Cunningham, or within Japanese culture, it’s definitely growing bigger every day.
We may not know exactly what it is that influences the Japanese fashion scene to be a little more unconventional than ours. Whether it’s Japan’s fondness of anime, or their desensitisation of the norm through their love of popular culture, or simply their history of the geisha. We’d like to thank you for opening out eyes to a playful facet of fashion.
Images: Style.com
10 Comments
love it!!!!!! xx
quirk-ay!
Amazing how fashion around the world can be so different!
though i may be biased (i’m from tokyo), i’ve had the opportunity to live/visit some of the world’s most prominent fashion capitals and tokyo, by far, is my favorite place for fashion. though the curious, peculiar and outlandish ensembles tend to get more media attention, in reality, this is actually a small group of people. fashion in tokyo runs the gamut from anime inspired to avant garde, conservative to feminine. more than anything, fashionistas are fearless to try new things and experiment and i love. it just makes it so much more interesting.
cray!
Horrible and unflattering
Japan…love their fashion sense.
Dressing for yourself and not to impress others .. agree with that. Love the black and white skirt, the different coloured shoes and love, love, love the kimonos!!!
Good stuff 😀
What amazing colours, unsure if too bright for me though