A straw boater. (C) Waganse

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Boots are worn with a variety of styles, even in summer. (C) Color & Design Research Room of Kyoritsu Women's Junior College

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Summer 2010 is seeing the spread of simpler styles with a natural feel in place of the body-hugging, punk, and other bold 1980s styles that made a major comeback in Japan in the 2000s. This season, Japanese women are opting to keep their clothing simple and add flair with accessory items. Meanwhile, the miniskirt boom that has prevailed for several years has culminated in mini-culottes that look like miniskirts.

Scarves and Hats for an Extra TouchScarves and bandannas are gaining popularity as accents to simple outfits. A print scarf wrapped around the neck, a cotton bandanna worn around the head, and a scarf or bandanna tied like a ribbon to the handle of a wicker bag are some of the eye-catching ways in which these items are being used.

Open-toe boots for spring and summer. (C) Reflect

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Summer sees increased demand for straw hats, and the 2010 favorite is the boater, a brimmed hat with a flat crown. This versatile hat suits a variety of styles: with a floral print dress it brings to mind an idyllic resort, while with a dress shirt it lends a preppy look. Another reason for the boater's popularity is that it can be propped on the head as casually as a hair band or ribbon. Boaters first came into widespread use in Japan many decades ago: As Western clothing spread in the Meiji (1868-1912) and Taisho (1912-1926) eras, boaters came to be worn with linen suits and similar attire for formal occasions in the summer. Perhaps the boater's current popularity reflects a subconscious desire to add a formal touch to modern summer attire, which is generally casual.

Boots in SummerAnother trend this year is the number of women braving the scorching summer in boots. Some are even wearing wintry boots made of suede or sheepskin, which seems extraordinary given the heat and humidity of summer in Japan. Yet the women claim that, when worn over bare feet, easy-fitting half-length boots are actually much more airy and comfortable than you might expect. Moreover, boots look fine with summer garments like short pants or miniskirts.

A mock skirt. (C) 5talent.com

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The year-round popularity of boots has led manufacturers to come out with styles designed specifically for summer. Some of these give the feet breathing room by their design, such as open-toe and punched leather boots, while others are made of hemp or other breezy materials. Now that fashion trends are increasingly independent of the seasons - with women wearing short pants and miniskirts in winter, for example - perhaps the appearance of boots in summer is not all that surprising.

Over five years since mini-length dresses and miniskirts came into vogue, virtually every design, length, and combination with different legwear has been tried. The latest variation is the mock skirt: mini culottes that look deceptively like skirts on the outside but in fact have two separate legs. The same idea is also used in mock dresses, which have a two-legged petticoat attached under the skirt. Both allow the wearer to enjoy the mini length without having to worry about a sudden gust of wind.

It's fun to observe the ways in which women around town are using fashion accessories to add something extra to their outfits. (August 2010)