Riding the Avant-Garde Wave | Fashion | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
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.

Style Below the Knee | Fashion | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
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.

Classy Coats | Fashion | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
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.

Goodbye To Pointy Toes | Fashion | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
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.

A Winter's Yarn | Fashion | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
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.

Goodbye Black, Hello Gray | Fashion | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Until recently, black and white have reigned supreme as the base fashion colors. But now the popularity of gray is on the rise, and the list of fashion essentials is topped by feminine items, such as long knit cardigans and traditional pleated skirts.

From Functional To Fashionable | Fashion | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
With winter in full swing, down jackets have taken over the streets. This season, however, they have taken on a more chic air and are showing up in an array of designs to suit all fashion tastes.

Hooray For Hosiery | Fashion | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Hidden underneath long boots until recently, tights and stockings are regaining popularity as fashion items. The favorites among young fashion aficionados are delicate lace tights in black and gray, which they often wear with tight or tiered miniskirts for a feminine finish.

Year of the Yukata | Fashion | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
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.

Dressed to Impress | Fashion | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
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.

Swimsuit Season | Fashion | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
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.

Polos Aplenty | Fashion | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
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.

Straw Bags Go Upmarket | Fashion | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
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.

Showing Some Skin | Fashion | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
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.

Monotones for Fall | Fashion | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
As fall deepens, young women's fashions are turning black and white. The key is a touch of chic: for instance, a white shirt coordinated with a black vest, a black pleated skirt, and black and white half boots.

The Feline Look | Fashion | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
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.

Knee-Length Cardigans | Fashion | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
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.

Black is Back | Fashion | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
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.

Return of the Tiger | Fashion | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Onitsuka Tiger, Japan's first sports shoe brand, has been revived after almost 30 years and is enjoying immense popularity in Europe and elsewhere.

Chic Yet Casual | Fashion | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
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.