MARITIME CHIC
The Nautical Look Is in This Spring (March 31, 2006)
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| A striped shirt (Color & Design Research Room of Kyoritsu Women's Junior College) |
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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. Adding a feminine touch with lace or frills is the key to this year's look. The nautical look is also in among men, and the style is expected to grow even more popular as men and women of all ages discover the fun of going out in casually coordinated outfits. Nautical fashion is not just for spring, however. Outfits topped with a pea jacket or light knit cardigan can be worn on the colder days leading up to spring.
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| A navy coat (Color & Design Research Room of Kyoritsu Women's Junior College) |
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A Feminine Touch
The nautical style, with its ocean-based themes, is turning into a major spring and summer fashion theme. The look came into vogue in the 1980s and 1990s, with white/navy or white/blue combinations the unifying theme. Until now most ensembles have had a "manly" look, drawing their inspiration from sailors' uniforms. This year's nautical wear, however, has a feminine touch. Striped sailor shirts have necklines embellished with lace or ribbons and sleeves with frills. Navy-blue pea jackets, meanwhile, are being worn with billowy chiffon white skirts. The jackets sell for about ¥30,000 ($254 at ¥118 to the dollar), and the shirts retail for about ¥10,000 ($85).
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| Horizontal stripes are all the rage. (Color & Design Research Room of Kyoritsu Women's Junior College) |
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Accessories on a nautical theme provide a perfect accent. Necklaces and bracelets decorated with an anchor, yacht, or seashell are a great complement to casual as well as dressy outfits. A corsage adds a feminine touch to a sailor shirt. And belts made out of rope like that used on ships or striped blue and white belts are finding favor because they can be worn at the office.
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| A striped skirt (Color & Design Research Room of Kyoritsu Women's Junior College) |
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Perfect Match
Nautical wear is also popular among men. Navy blue blazers with brushed metal rather than brass buttons are a popular choice among men who want to wear nautically inspired outfits to work. And striped shirts over white cotton pants, rather than jeans, make a sharp outfit for weekends.
Nautical wear is fine for cold days if it is topped with a pea jacket for warmth. Polo Ralph Lauren, whose traditional American jackets are popular among men and women, offers a line of nautical wear that is selling well among couples that want to coordinate their clothes. A line of nautical clothes for kids is also available, and families in matching outfits can sometimes be seen around town.
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Copyright (c) 2006 Web Japan. Edited by Japan Echo Inc. based on domestic Japanese news sources. Articles presented here are offered for reference purposes and do not necessarily represent the policy or views of the Japanese Government.
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