Trends in Japanese Fashion

The Japanese people have seen varied changes in their fashion trends from the olden days till date. Today, with the mix of various cultures, even the basic kimono has seen a marked difference in the way it is worn. The Japanese people are also heavily influenced by their idols. Today, the streets of Japan showcase a wide variety and mixture of traditional and ultra modern fashions.

Let us look at some of the hottest and popular styles that are donned and flaunted by most Japanese people today.

Kimono:
Although most Japanese women may not wear the kimono on an everyday basis, it still remains to be one of the most popular fashion items. The Kimono is a form of traditional Japanese clothing and was worn on an everyday basis till the middle of the 19th century.
One can see many styles being developed from its basic form. Today, the Kimono is worn for different festivals and occasions. The kimonos range from the furisode (formal wear for unmarried ladies), the Irotomesode (worn by married ladies), the Homongi (worn at formal parties) to the Susohiki (worn by the stage performers). The patterns may wary in terms of print, texture and fabric.

Shirt Dresses:
The fashion of shirt dresses although in vogue a few years back, is still very much rampant on the runways and streets of Japan. This one-piece dress is popular due to the versatility it offers. They look fabulous when paired with leggings for an evening out, or can be worn with trousers for a formal look at work. Shirt dresses are generally made of chiffon fabrics with plain or striped patterns. Some of them are little on the wilder side with polka dots, checks, flowers and even materials made of lace. A shirt dress also works as a great outerwear and can be thrown onto a short shirt.

Dresses:
Feminine dresses are still a rage in the Japanese fashion. The designs are available in a mind-boggling range and can be casual or formal as per one’s personal taste. Flower patterns and cleaner silhouettes are catching on amongst the Japanese women. The hottest fashions include body hugging dresses, wrap dresses, A-line dresses and sporty dresses. Because the versatility and comfort factor rates high, one can find a lot of stores that stock these varieties. These dresses are primarily popular because they basically highlight the feminity of a woman. From conservative to wild, the choice rests solely on the buyer.

Leggings and Layered Tops:
The bare leg trend has given way to leggings and layered tops. The craze for the leggings has passed on from the trendy Japanese teenagers to the fashion conscious Japanese workingwomen as well. Apart from vivid colors, the leggings are also available in funky patterns. These are knee length or ankle length. Long layered tops with clean lines are also being seen in the hippest eat-outs of Japan. Girls are also known to combine camisoles, tank tops and sleeveless garments to get a layered look.

Balloon Skirts:
Balloon skirts are back in the spotlight. With major brands joining the bandwagon, the balloon skirts also offer flexibility as it can be teamed with high-necked collar knits or even a puffy sleeved blouse. Now, voluminous clothes being back in vogue, the balloon skirt is here to stay.

Empire Babydoll Dress:
The empire babydoll dress has also gained status amongst the Japanese women because the designs and the fabrics are ultra feminine. Very popular with women in their early twenties and even the teenagers, popular fabrics for the empire baby doll dress include lightweight, soft chiffons, rayons with lots of ribbons and lace.

Japanese Platform Shoes:
The Geta sandals or the clogs were very popular before the 1970’s and were worn with the Kimono’s. The reasons were for practical reasons rather than purely for fashion. Geta consist of one-piece solid wood and are generally very difficult to walk in.