Fashion 2005-2006 | Archives | Trends in Japan

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Fashion 2005-2006

A Winter's Yarn

(December 18, 2006)
Now that the cold weather has really set in, knitted clothes, warming to look at as well as to wear, can be seen on the streets of Tokyo in large number and great variety.

(December 18, 2006)
Round-toed pumps and boots are the favored footwear among women in their twenties this winter. This marks a big change, given that pointy-toed shoes have more or less ruled since the mid-1990s.

Classy Coats

(December 14, 2006)
Winter, the season when no one leaves home without a coat, will soon be in full swing. In keeping with the current trend for traditional, conservative fashion, coats such as the windbreaker and the down jacket are giving way to more sophisticated styles of outerwear.

Style Below the Knee

(November 9, 2006)
The layered look has been experiencing a revival this year. This past spring and summer, the focal point of this trend was the upper body. Now the focus has shifted to the legs. Particularly notable is a craze for leggings.

Riding the Avant-Garde Wave

(November 7, 2006)
The streets of Tokyo's trendy Harajuku and Daikanyama districts are awash in black, white, and shades of gray this season as young people affect an avant-garde style by combining monotones.

Big Is Beautiful

(November 6, 2006)
Balloon skirts that circle back to a gathered hemline, blouses with puffy leg-of-mutton sleeves, and draping bolero jackets with three-quarter-length sleeves cut and sewn with copious frills are among the items now in favor as big-looking clothes take the spotlight.

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Girls Want Curls

(October 27, 2006)
Curly hair is back in style. Women from their teens through thirties are styling their tresses in big, soft waves an effort to duplicate the cute, feminine hairdos currently featured in the fashion magazines, including on popular model Ebihara Yuri.

Showing Some Skin

(September 13, 2006)
Young Japanese women are walking the streets in highly revealing styles, from bare-back dresses and tube tops to low-rise hot pants and super-mini skirts.

Straw Bags Go Upmarket

(September 12, 2006)
Women all around town can be seen carrying straw bags, whose cool, light appearance is perfect for the summer. Though the bags have been in fashion for a number of years, their popularity this year is unprecedented.

Polos Aplenty

(August 9, 2006)
Polo shirts are a longstanding staple of sporty-casual and everyday wear. But recently this basic style, worn mostly by men, has been given an elegant new twist that has garnered popularity among female office workers and other trend-conscious young women.

Swimsuit Season

(August 3, 2006)
With beach season approaching, summer clothing has taken over the store shelves. The predominant theme of this year's swimwear is bikini separates embellished with touches that reflect current fashion trends.

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Dressed to Impress

(July 12, 2006)
Young women in their early twenties are going ga-ga over pink babydoll dresses, white lace dresses, and other cute, feminine clothes. This cutesy style has become a favorite look for dates and parties alike.

Year of the Yukata

(July 7, 2006)
Unlined cotton kimono called yukata have long been worn by people attending traditional summer events held around Japan. But men and women have also begun dressing up in yukata to attend soccer and baseball matches, club events, and outdoor parties.

Shibuya Men Change Style

(June 16, 2006)
Until recently, trendy young men with brown dyed hair and tanned skin were a prominent fixture on the streets of Shibuya. But now many of these men have graduated to a new style that has been dubbed onii-kei (literally "elder brother style").

Thrilled with Frills

(May 30, 2006)
The fresh breezes of early summer have brought with them a vogue for feminine styles. As part of this trend, clothes embellished with lace have become popular.

Spring Flowers

(April 28, 2006)
This spring, cute, romantic dresses are the favored fashion items among the young women in their teens and twenties who populate the boutique-lined streets of Tokyo's Harajuku and Daikanyama neighborhoods.

Hats Off to Harada

(April 27, 2006)
When it comes to the design of high-fashion hats, few names are better known these days than Misa Harada.

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Maritime Chic

(March 31, 2006)
Nautical fashion is gathering force as a spring and summer fashion trend. At department stores and boutiques, classic navy-blue pea jackets and sailor shirts are displayed beside lineups of roped belts, accessories shaped like anchors and seashells, and other maritime-inspired items.

White is the New Black

(March 31, 2006)
White garments currently abound at boutiques and women's apparel departments. White blouses and dresses with frills and lace, full skirts, and other clothes with a feminine touch are particularly popular.

Chic Yet Casual

(March 6, 2006)
All around town women can be seen sporting a velour jacket with knee-length shorts. The outfit is perfect for the office as well as after-hour and weekend outings.

Return of the Tiger

(March 2, 2006)
Onitsuka Tiger, Japan's first sports shoe brand, has been revived after almost 30 years and is enjoying immense popularity in Europe and elsewhere.

Black is Back

(January 30, 2006)
For nearly a decade now, trendy Japanese women (and a considerable number of men, too) have been coloring their hair various shades of brown or blonde. But this winter, black hair is back in style.

Knee-Length Cardigans

(January 25, 2006)
This winter, many fashionable women have been sporting knee-length cardigans. The long button-front sweaters are finding favor among a wide range of ages, from teenagers to women in their forties.

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The Feline Look

(December 26, 2005)
More and more Japanese women are sporting a makeup look popularly known as nekome (cat's eyes). Sultry, feline-looking eyes complement the Victorian fashions and the fur and other luxurious materials that define this winter's fashion.

Global Success? It's In The Bag

(December 22, 2005)
The designer label Samantha Thavasa sounds American or European, but it was actually born in Japan, where young women who cannot resist the brand's handbags have carried it to success.

Wild Yet Refined

(December 22, 2005)
Until last year, long boots with simple designs that gave the legs a sleek silhouette were all the rage, but this year lavishly ornamented or Wild West-inspired boots are flying off the shelves. The new must-have footwear is being adopted in different ways by women in different age groups.

Fur Vests Complete The Winter Look

(December 6, 2005)
Fur vests are an ideal way to complete the layered look that is currently in vogue. The vests can complement a range of styles from dressy to casual, and this versatility has made them so popular that stores are having trouble keeping them in stock.

Monkey Business

(November 16, 2005)
A Bathing Ape in Lukewater must be one of the world's most unusual brand names. The street-fashion label created by Japanese designer Nigo has earned a fanatical following among celebrities and young people both inside and outside Japan.

Harking Back to Victorian Times

(November 9, 2005)
Victorian-inspired fashions trimmed with lace and frills are all the rage this fall and winter as Japanese women look to achieve a classic, feminine look.eted, and women are showing them off as fashion items in their own right.

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Foot Covers Uncovered

(October 27, 2005)
Foot covers and half socks made their debut as accessories designed to alleviate such problems, and they were an immediate hit because they were so effective. This year an assortment of covers in different colors and patterns have been marketed, and women are showing them off as fashion items in their own right.

Jeans from Japan

(October 19, 2005)
A high-end Japanese jeans brand with a vintage sensibility is building a fan base among discriminating denim wearers all over the world. Evisu Jeans are readily identified by the stylized seagull logo painted on the back pocket.

Bright Young Things

(September 1, 2005)
A family of brands known for their cute, trendy children's clothes has captured the hearts of many Japanese girls. The brands are the products of Narumiya International and are not limited to clothes, but include stationery, accessories, and cosmetics designed for youngsters. This wide range of products has attracted the attention of legions of girls.

Empire Babydolls

(August 2, 2005)
Just in time for the hottest days of summer, a new style of skin-baring camisole known as the empire babydoll has caught the imagination of Japanese women.

Sun-Blocking Chic

(July 14, 2005)
For Japanese women, this is the season of worrying about ultraviolet rays. This year the standard arsenal of protective gear that includes parasols, hats, and gloves has been joined by an array of new accessories like "ray sleeves" and arm stoles.

Weathering the Rain in Style

(July 11, 2005)
The colorful rain boots and uniquely shaped umbrellas that have hit the stores recently are enough to make a person look forward to rainy days. Now fashion-conscious Japanese are finding that they can actually enjoy the rainy season.

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Bad Girls on the Block

(June 8, 2005)
They're cute, they're sexy, and they toy with men's hearts. They're koakuma ("little devils") and they represent a female archetype that has been around for as long as there have been men's hearts to toy with.

A Summer of Juicy Colors

(June 6, 2005)
From the orange hues of mango and apricot to the yellow-green of kiwi fruit, this year the watchword dominating summer fashion and consumer items is "juicy."

A Ribbon Runs Through It

(June 1, 2005)
Fashions of the past few seasons have been marked by a natural look with an emphasis on femininity and cuteness, and high-quality ribbon made in Japan has been at the heart of this trend.

Stepping Out in Wedge-Soled Shoes

(May 31, 2005)
The wedge-soled shoes that were popular among Japanese women in the early 1980s are making a comeback in the summer of 2005.

Inspired by African and Asian Folk Costume

(March 28, 2005)
African and Asian folk costume is one of the key motifs for spring and summer fashion in 2005 and featured heavily in the fashion shows of Tokyo and other couture capitals last fall.

Split-Toe Socks

(March 18, 2005)
People interested in traditional Japanese dress might be familiar with tabi, the split-toe socks that are worn with kimono. Now these uniquely shaped socks are capturing the attention of young Japanese designers and even the fashion world outside of Japan.

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