During my trip to Japan, I found myself unexpectedly captivated by the Japanese Street Fashion scene. From the bustling streets of Osaka to the serene corners of Kyoto and the electric atmosphere of Tokyo, the personal style on display was not just visually striking, but also deeply thought-provoking. It prompted me to consider the cultural and societal influences shaping these unique sartorial choices.
While we often discuss individual style as a personal journey of discovery and expression, observing japanese street fashion offered a broader lens. It became clear that the captivating outfits were intertwined with the rich tapestry of Japanese culture and society. What were the underlying forces at play in shaping personal style in this fascinating country?
It’s important to note that these snapshots are casual street style moments, captured spontaneously as I encountered interesting individuals.
The Enduring Legacy of Japanese Design Icons
The influence of pioneering Japanese designers like Issey Miyake, Yohji Yamamoto, and Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garçons, is unmistakable in japanese street fashion. Since the 1980s, these visionaries have redefined the global fashion landscape, and their impact permeates the streets of Japan today. Whether people are wearing actual pieces from their collections or interpretations inspired by their groundbreaking aesthetics, their design philosophies are clearly visible.
These designers are renowned for challenging conventional Western silhouettes, often favoring avant-garde and deconstructed forms. Miyake is celebrated for his innovative pleating techniques and conceptual garments, Yamamoto for his mastery of draping and monochromatic palettes, and Kawakubo for her rebellious spirit and conceptual designs that question traditional notions of beauty and form. This legacy of innovation and challenging norms is clearly echoed in the japanese street fashion I observed.
A Comme des Garçons sales associate in a striking black and white ensemble, showcasing the brand's avant-garde aesthetic.
The sales associates in Comme des Garçons boutiques perfectly embodied this spirit. Their outfits were truly remarkable, showcasing the brand’s signature avant-garde and conceptual designs.
A street style shot capturing layered and voluminous black outfits, reminiscent of Comme des Garçons' deconstructed style.
A person in Kyoto wearing an oversized black jacket and wide-leg pants, reflecting the influence of Japanese designers on silhouette.
Street fashion in Osaka featuring a woman in a long black dress and platform shoes, highlighting the dramatic silhouettes often seen in Japan.
Embracing Volume: A Departure from Western Norms
Reflecting these design philosophies, a significant trend in japanese street fashion is the prevalence of exaggerated silhouettes that often obscure the body’s natural form. This is a notable contrast to traditional Western fashion ideals, which often emphasize symmetrical, body-conscious garments designed to accentuate the figure. In Japan, I observed many women embracing voluminous dresses, generous blouses paired with equally spacious trousers and skirts, creating a distinctive and comfortable style.
A woman in Tokyo wearing a flowing white dress and layered outerwear, showcasing the oversized and draped style popular in Japanese fashion.
Street style photograph of a person wearing a large, textured coat and wide pants, demonstrating the Japanese preference for voluminous shapes.
A woman in Osaka sporting a long, oversized shirt dress and sneakers, exemplifying the comfortable and stylish oversized trend in Japan.
Japanese street fashion image featuring a person in a billowing skirt and top, highlighting the trend of loose and flowing garments.
Street fashion photograph showcasing a person in layered, oversized clothing in neutral tones, typical of Japanese street style.
Interestingly, my vintage shopping expeditions revealed that the most common shoe size was 35, hinting at a petite average physique.
A close-up street style shot of stylish platform shoes, reflecting popular footwear choices in Japanese street fashion.
Street style image of a person in an oversized blazer and skirt ensemble, emphasizing the trend of mixing formal and casual wear in Japan.
A person in Tokyo wearing an oversized shirt and wide trousers, demonstrating a relaxed yet fashionable Japanese street style look.
Oversized shirts paired with trousers were a recurring and inspiring theme.
Street style photograph featuring a woman in a long shirt dress and leggings, showcasing a modest and layered Japanese fashion style.
Street fashion image capturing a person in a large, striped shirt and dark pants, highlighting the use of stripes and patterns in Japanese clothing.
Osaka street style featuring a person in a long coat and scarf, illustrating the layered and accessorized approach to Japanese fashion.
Street style photograph of a woman in a black dress and white cardigan, showing a classic and understated Japanese fashion look.
Modesty and Practicality: Covering Up in the Heat
Recalling my previous trip to Japan in 2010 and reinforced by my packing primer research, I was aware that revealing shoulders, backs, and chests was uncommon. However, I was particularly struck by how consistently legs were also covered, even in the intense summer heat and humidity. Initially, I attributed this to cultural modesty norms, but I began to wonder if sun protection and avoiding tanned skin also played a significant role.
Street style image of a person wearing long sleeves and pants in summer, raising questions about modesty and sun protection in Japanese fashion.
The prevalence of UV-protection arm sleeves further supported this idea. It was surprising to see these accessories in such humid weather, but it underscored the commitment to sun safety.
Close-up street style shot of UV protection arm sleeves, highlighting a practical accessory in Japanese summer fashion for sun protection.
Observing women wearing leggings under skirts also became a common sight. Was this another layer of modesty, sun protection, or perhaps a cooling technique unknown to me?
While covered legs, shoulders, and backs seemed to be the norm for women, I did notice a small segment, primarily in Tokyo, pushing these boundaries and embracing more revealing styles. Tourists and expats were also more likely to be seen wearing shorts.
Tokyo street style photograph of a woman in a stylish long skirt and top, showcasing a balance between modesty and fashion-forward style.
Street style image from Tokyo capturing a person in a fashionable long dress and sandals, demonstrating a more relaxed approach to modesty in the city.
Echoes of Subcultures: Gyaru and Beyond
Occasionally, I encountered women dressed in styles reminiscent of the gyaru subcultures, such as lolita, kawaii, and kei, which were prominent from the 1990s to 2010s. These subcultures are characterized by mini skirts and short shorts, a stark contrast to the more prevalent modest styles.
Harajuku street style image of a woman in a colorful kawaii-inspired outfit, representing Japanese youth subcultures in fashion.
Street fashion photograph of a person in a lolita-style dress, showcasing the enduring influence of Japanese alternative fashion subcultures.
Tokyo street style image featuring a woman in a platform boots and mini skirt, reminiscent of gyaru fashion trends.
Street style photograph of a person in a vibrant and youthful kei-style outfit, illustrating the diversity of Japanese street fashion.
(Exploring Tokyo street fashion photos from 1980-2017 reveals periods where shorter hemlines were indeed popular, highlighting the dynamic and evolving nature of japanese street fashion. A deeper dive into this visual history offers a fascinating primer on the various fashion movements over the past four decades and provides incredible street style inspiration.)
Traditional Grace: Yukata in Everyday Life
On the other end of the spectrum, I observed a considerable number of women wearing yukatas, a casual, cotton version of the kimono typically worn in summer. While some were clearly tourists embracing the Japanese cultural experience, especially near kimono rental shops in Kyoto, others appeared to be locals going about their day in this traditional attire.
Kyoto street style image of a woman wearing a beautiful yukata, showcasing traditional Japanese clothing in modern street fashion.
Street style photograph of a group of women in yukatas, likely tourists enjoying the cultural experience of wearing traditional Japanese garments.
Osaka street fashion featuring a woman in a yukata on a city street, demonstrating the integration of traditional wear into contemporary Japanese life.
Osoroi: Dressing in Sync
I also enjoyed witnessing the osoroi phenomenon – coordinated family dressing, where family members, and even friends and couples, intentionally dress alike. This concept, also present in Korea, adds a playful and unified element to japanese street fashion.
Street style image of a family in matching outfits, showcasing the Japanese cultural trend of osoroi or coordinated family dressing.
This family’s coordinated style radiated a sense of fun and togetherness!
Street style photograph of a mother and daughter shopping in Osaka, both wearing similar styles, exemplifying osoroi in everyday Japanese life.
Street fashion image of a mother and daughter in Osaka with coordinated outfits, further illustrating the osoroi trend among family members.
The osoroi code extends beyond families to friends and couples, creating visually harmonious pairings.
Street style photograph of a couple in matching denim jackets, demonstrating osoroi as a fashion trend among Japanese couples.
Street fashion image of a couple with coordinated color palettes in their outfits, showcasing a subtle approach to osoroi in Japan.
Street style photograph of friends with similar fashion aesthetics walking together, highlighting osoroi among friend groups in Japan.
Street fashion image of a group of friends in coordinated casual wear, demonstrating the popularity of osoroi among young people in Japan.
Street style photograph of a couple both wearing black and white, illustrating a classic color coordination in Japanese osoroi fashion.
Street fashion image of a couple in similar casual outfits, showcasing the everyday application of osoroi for Japanese couples.
Street style photograph of a group of friends in coordinated pastel outfits, highlighting the use of color palettes in osoroi Japanese fashion.
Street fashion image of a couple in matching sporty outfits, demonstrating the versatility of osoroi across different Japanese fashion styles.
Street style photograph of a couple with coordinated black and white outfits and hats, showcasing a stylish and cohesive osoroi look.
Street fashion image of a couple in subtly coordinated earth-tone outfits, illustrating a more understated approach to osoroi in Japan.
Street style photograph of a couple in matching blue outfits, highlighting the use of color to achieve osoroi in Japanese fashion.
This particular couple stood out. Both had visible tattoos, and the man was holding sunglasses. Traditional Japanese tattoos have historically been associated with the yakuza, leading to a lingering stigma, although it is gradually lessening. Many businesses still restrict entry to tattooed customers, and some employers prohibit them. Similarly, the scarcity of sunglasses in Japan surprised me. Research suggests that wearing sunglasses is also sometimes linked to yakuza associations or perceived as overly flashy, contradicting the cultural emphasis on discretion and modesty.
More Street Style Moments
Here are more captivating japanese street fashion moments that caught my eye during my exploration.
Street style image of a person in a uniquely styled denim jacket and pants, showcasing individual expression in Japanese fashion.
Street fashion photograph of a person in a vibrant patterned dress and hat, illustrating the use of bold prints in Japanese street style.
Tokyo street style image featuring a person in a bright yellow skirt and black top, demonstrating the use of color blocking in Japanese fashion.
Street style photograph of a person in a layered outfit with a beret, showcasing accessorizing in Japanese street fashion.
Street fashion image of a person in a stylish jumpsuit and sneakers, highlighting the blend of comfort and fashion in Japan.
Street style photograph of a man in traditional wooden sandals (geta) with a modern outfit, blending traditional and contemporary styles in Japan.
Notice his worn wooden sandals – a unique footwear choice!
Street style image of a person in a casual yet fashionable denim-on-denim outfit, demonstrating the timeless appeal of denim in Japanese street fashion.
Street fashion photograph indicating tourists in shorts and leggings amidst locals with more covered styles in Japan. Woman in leggings and man in yellow shorts are tourists, contrasting with the local style.
Street style image of a person in a neutral-toned, minimalist outfit, reflecting the understated elegance often seen in Japanese fashion.
Street fashion photograph of a person in a stylish and practical backpack, highlighting the importance of accessories in Japanese street fashion.
Tokyo street style image featuring a person in a long coat and scarf, showcasing winter layering in Japanese street fashion.
Street style photograph of a person in a sporty yet fashionable outfit, demonstrating the athleisure trend in Japanese street fashion.
Street fashion image of a person in a sophisticated and elegant black dress, showcasing classic Japanese fashion sensibilities.
Street style photograph of a person in a colorful and playful outfit, illustrating the diverse range of styles within Japanese street fashion.
I hope you enjoyed this glimpse into the captivating world of japanese street fashion as much as I did!
Stay tuned for more from In Moda Veritas:
- My Tokyo shopping guide, featuring recommended shops and the city’s extensive vintage and consignment scene (for paid subscribers).
- An exploration of notable Japanese brands, from globally recognized names to local gems (for paid subscribers).
- My personal style diary: Japan edition.
With love and gratitude,
Irene
Next Post: 047/ 50 Japanese Brands To Broaden Your Fashion Lexicon
