Japanese Men’s Fashion Remains Essentially Conservative despite the Latest Trends among the Young

You would imagine that in Japan’s conservative society, men would not be as concerned about fashion as women. But the increasing influence of western society has led many young Japanese men to embrace fashion as avidly as their female counterparts. At present, the most commonly seen Japanese mens fashion trends are Bosozoku and Onii-kei.

Japanese Fashion Styles

Bosozoku is a fashion style associated with illegal street racing and motorcycle gangs. The look is pure hoodlum – a leather jacket with kanji slogans worn open with no shirt underneath, the better to flaunt battle scars or tattoos, baggy pants tucked into tall boots to prevent the cuffs from getting caught in a motorcycle’s wheels, and to top it off, a greased-back hair style. Sunglasses, bandannas and chains are typical accessories.

The look of the Onii-kei men, on the other hand, is casual and focuses on tailored jackets, tight leather jeans and pointy leather shoes. Onii-kei men are said to be obsessed with designer brands, and it is not uncommon to see them sporting the latest styles of watches, sunglasses and belts. Hair is also worn slightly longer, and in a shaggy style but meticulously groomed and scented. Onii-kei is intended to evoke a sexy American look.

But the trendsetters in Japanese mens fashion are said to be the salon boys. These are apprentice or professional hair stylists in their teens or early twenties who not only sport the latest hairstyles, they also set fashion trends. In designing their look, they mix designer brands with vintage fashions. Their attention to detail is meticulous – nothing escapes their attention, from their shoes to accessories such as sunglasses and hats. They can mostly be found in the Harajuku district of Tokyo, which is renowned for its street fashion.

The salon boys craze was set off by the success of the 1999 cult television series “Scissors League” about the lives of artistically-gifted hair stylists. The series led to the rise of so-called ‘charisma hairdressers’ who became fashion icons on TV and in magazines, and made hair styling a popular career choice for young men. Their style has also proven to be popular with women, and they are credited with launching unisex trends including long cardigans and fedoras.

The majority of Japanese men in their twenties, however, have adopted a more conservative style known as kireime. The emphasis of this style is on neatness although it is also said to be influenced by the salon boys to some extent. Kireime fashion also covers the so-called conservative-kei, which is more mature in its look. It is also confusingly known as onii-kei, since onii is the Japanese term for older brother.

Japanese Mens Fashion Style

Other Japanese mens fashion styles are mode-kei, which is also referred to as ‘high fashion-kei’ for its emphasis on designer brands; Rock, which favors a hard and tight look with black outfits; and extreme or street, which includes B-kei or hip-hop fashion, outdoor-mix and skater-fashion.

New trends in Japanese mens fashion will undoubtedly continue to emerge in the future as young fashionistas continue to absorb western and other cultural influences and develop them into a style that is uniquely Japanese.

Tokyo, the busiest and costliest city in the world, is home to numerous fashion fads and trends. Japanese women are known to be traditional and conservative, but there are some exceptions, especially those who are young and living in the metropolitan and more fashionable areas of Tokyo. Japanese women’s fashion changed drastically. Japanese young women who live in the famous parts of Tokyo like Harajuku, Shibuya, and Akihabara are known for their wild sense of fashion. If you want to know more, you should read the list about some of the most famous, not to mention wildest, Japanese women’s fashion in this generation.

Lolita. If you see young women who are dressed like cute Victorian dolls in Tokyo, they are the ones who are more popularly known as Lolitas. Just like in Victorian era, Lolitas wear petticoats to increase the volume of their knee-length skirts. Their fashion includes lots of lace, child-like pieces of clothing and accessories like doll shoes, frilly blouses with sailor or Peter Pan collars, cute headdresses with lace, ornately designed and old-fashioned jewelries.

Kogal. These are the Japanese school girl. Japan is known for their cute uniforms for girls, and this became their inspiration for a new fashion fad. They are known for their love of shopping and anything branded. It has been said that they get their money from older men who pay them huge amounts of money in exchange for these young girls’ sexual services. In short, they resort to a new kind of prostitution to support their love for luxurious things. They are often seen wearing short school girl’s skirt, loose knee-length socks, and branded bags or scarves, while at the same time sporting dyed blonde hair and deep tan.

Ganguro. Another famous Japanese women’s fashion is Ganguro or the surfer girl look. This is most popular in Ikebukuro and Shibuya. They have bleached blond hair and deep artificial tan. They love to wear bright and colourful clothes, platform sandals or boots, and black and white eyeliners and fake eyelashes. Other typical accessories of Ganguro girls are tie dyed sarongs and hibiscus themed hair accessories.

Yamanba. This is a cousin of the Ganguro fashion. The name is after a Japanese mountain witch called Yama-uba. If you are asking why people would want to adopt a witch’s fashion sense, the answer is that is just how Japanese women’s fashion is. Wild and unpredictable. The Yamanba girls have very deep tan and white blonde hair. They wear white makeup—white eyeliner and white lipstick. They also love to wear colourful contacts and stuffed animals for their accessories. Their clothes are made of plastic and most of their accessories do not match what they are wearing.

Maid. The term maid usually has a derogatory meaning, but not wit Japanese women’s fashion. In the district of Akihabara in Tokyo, there are many cosplay restaurants, specifically maid cafes. You can usually see the maids wearing cute French maid or Lolita costumes in these cafes. They do not serve the food to the customers like typical restaurant staff or waitresses. They treat their customers just like how servants treat their house masters, sometimes kneeling on the floor or using elaborate languages.

A Look at Styles of Japanese Street Fashion

Japanese street fashion refers to outfits that are personally customized by the wearer using a mix of old and new styles. Hip-hop music, which has always been popular in Japan’s underground clubs, is a particular influence on street fashion as the youth imitate the style of dress of their favorite hip-hop stars.

Despite street fashion’s home-made aesthetic, a number of distinct looks and styles have emerged, which young adults can be seen sporting in major urban fashion districts such as Ginza, Harajuku and Shibuya. One interesting observation about Japanese street fashion is that particular styles seem linked to particular districts in Tokyo.

Lolita fashion has emerged as one of the more recognizable styles in Japanese street fashion, and is now generating a large amount of interest abroad. Although the name Lolita is a reference to the precociously sexual adolescent of the Nabokov novel (and its subsequent film adaptations), Lolita fashions are not overtly sensual but rather strive to evoke more child-like qualities such as cuteness. Sub-categories within this style include Gothic, Sweet and Classic; Gothic Lolita has, however, emerged as the predominant look.

The Gothic Lolita look is intended to evoke that of a Victorian-era porcelain doll, with black and white outfits decorated with ribbons and lace, knee-length skirts with a crinoline to add volume, and shoes or boots with high heels. Accessories may include tiny top hats, parasols, lace gloves and Alice in Wonderland-like aprons. This look has become well-established and is available in various boutiques and some big department stores.

Sweet Lolita, in contrast, emphasizes pastel colors and a very childish look with lots of lace and ribbons. Popular accessories include tiny purses, stuffed animals and large headbows. Classic Lolita, meanwhile, highlights a more traditional, mature look using light colors such as blue, green and red.

Ganguro literally means “black-face” and is a look characterized by the wearer sporting a dark tan, bleached hair and black and white eyeliner. Ganguro outfits are typically brightly-colored, mini-skirts or tie-dyed sarongs. At their most extreme, Ganguro followers sported white lipstick, bleached platinum blonde hair, pastel eye shadow and glitter on the bottom rim of their eyes. Its popularity peaked from the late-90s up to the early-00s.

Kogal refers to a subculture of girls in urban Japan who conspicuously flaunt their disposable income through their unique tastes in fashion. The Kogal look evokes that of the California Valley girl, with tans, platform boots, miniskirts and a lot of makeup. Kogals also wear outfits derived from high school uniforms, but with shorter skirts and loose socks. Although similar, Kogals are not to be confused with Ganguros.

Cosplay is short for costume play and is popular in places like the Harajuku district. Cosplay wears dress up in elaborate and typically home-made costumes inspired by their favorite manga, anime, video game, pop band or movie character.

Other styles of Japanese street fashion include Bosozoku (which is named after a Japanese subculture centered on motorcycle gangs) and Visual Kei. A typical Bosozoku style consists of a uniform consisting of a jumpsuit or a tokko-fuku military overcoat worn open with no shirt underneath, and matching baggy pants tucked into heavy boots.  Visual kei is characterized by flamboyant makeup, costumes and hair styling. Visual kei styles may often, but not always, sport an androgynous look.

Nowadays, Korean women’s fashion is becoming more internationally known, thanks to the country’s great and famous fashion designers like Andre Kim and Doo-Ri Chung. Now, the country boasts of its now international clothing company, the Bean Pole, which features Wentworth Miller and Gwyneth Paltrow as their products’ endorsers. Although Korean fashion is always compared to New York, they also have their own distinct and original fashion style.

Korean women are the epitome of fashion forward women. They are not afraid to try new things related top fashion while keeping a part of their country’s unique style. Korean fashion designers are smart enough to keep up with the latest styles in the world of international fashion while creating masterpieces that are distinctly Korean at the same time.

Because of this continuous innovation and improvement in fashion, Korean women’s fashion styles and trends have evolved for the better as well. Here are some of the current Korean women’s fashion trends that you will most likely see in Seoul and in other South Korean cities.

Korean girls and women love to wear big tops that sometimes make them look even smaller than their actual body size. But they are able to pull this off nicely by pairing the oversized shirt with a pair of black leggings and super tight jeans. The shirts usually have printed words or phrases on them—in English, or some Westerners say Engrish because of the incorrect grammar and the seemingly nonsensical meaning. For Koreans, however, the only purpose of these printed words is for design, not to impress foreigners with their English skills.

Another distinct feature of Korean women’s fashion is being conservative. You will not see Korean girls wearing micro miniskirts, plunging necklines, and other overly sexy clothes that you will usually see among Americans or even Japanese who live in big urban cities. The length of their skirts is usually medium length. Plunging neck line is a no-no. This only shows that Korean women are still not as expressive of their sexualities compared to women in other countries.

Fashion Trend in Korea

Layering is another fashion trend in Korea, not juts for women but also for men. Black inner shirts are usually topped with much shorter or smaller shirts in different colors. This is not only fashionable but also very functional in a cool country like Korea. Layering adds interest to boring t-shirts. Korean fashion relies on mixing and matching different fashion items, and layering is one way to do that.

Korean girls also love to wear clothes made of very light and airy materials that look as if they are supposed to be worn at the beach. The colors are also very beach-y such as shades of blue and green, nude and neutral colors, white, and other fresh colors.

Korean Hair Styles

Women in Korea also love different hair styles. Some have very straight hair while others have wavy or curly hair. But no matter what kind of hairdo Korean women wear, they still look cute and attractive.

In Korea, men are just as fashionable as women, unlike in Western countries where anything goes when it comes to what men wear. It is very rare to find Korean men wearing plain t-shirts and old ratty jeans. They take time thinking of what they will wear, especially university students. They are especially mindful of their hairstyles, probably because they have to cut it military style once they have to attend Korea’s compulsory military school. Korean men’s fashion is very similar to women’s fashion. They said that in Korea, they have a custom or a tradition in which the wife chooses clothes for her husband, which explains Korean men’s fashion sense and style. But whatever their reason is, Korean men have their own unique style that you cannot find in western or other Asian countries. Below is a list of some of the more distinct Korean men’s fashion styles.

Although Korean men are generally more laidback than their female counterparts when it comes to fashion, they are nonetheless very brand conscious. In Korea, men and women love to wear or use anything bearing the name of expensive fashion brands. Men are stereotyped as careless about fashion but not Korean men. They are not afraid to be as fashionable as Korean women, which is sometimes negatively viewed by some men trying to act all macho.

Another feature of Korean men’s fashion is their tousled hairstyle. They love to wear teased ‘do. They usually have medium length hair that falls just below their ears and frames their faces nicely. The tousled ‘do make Korean men look sexy and fun.

Men in Korea also love to wear ties. You might say that all men wear ties when they go to their respective offices. What is so special and unique about that? The answer is this: Korean men do not only wear ties when they go to work, they also wear tie when they go to a shopping mall or a park, when they visit their friend’s house, when they drink out with their friends at night, and when they go out on a casual date—all the time while wearing a t-shirt. You might think they look ridiculous or like Avril Lavigne male wannabes. But no, they look very sophisticated and they can pull it off nicely.

Korean Fashion Accessory

Another popular fashion accessory for Korean men is their messenger bag. Some people think it is too childish but even adult Korean men use messenger bags. This greatly complements their outfits but is also very functional and convenient. Living in Seoul or other major South Korean cities force you to choose fashion accessories that are not only trendy but practical and convenient as well.

Korean men also love black jackets. This is probably the reason why Korean fashion is always associated with New York fashion. As you know, New Yorkers’ fashion staple is anything black because it is very versatile and can be worn in various styles and outfits.

Korean men have come a long way some 20 years ago, when the country was still very traditional and old-fashioned in terms of fashion. They are now are paving the way for other Asian men to show to the whole world that even Asian men have their own sense of style.

Many people say that these days, Korean street fashion is becoming more and more at par with other major cities’ fashion like New York and Tokyo. Some fashion critics say that Korean street fashion looks like a carbon copy of New York’s street fashion, and a lighter and milder version of Tokyo fashion, but others applaud Koreans for their fashion sense. If you will go to Korea, you will see distinct characteristics of their street fashion. You can see them too in other countries, but they added a Korean twist that makes them unique, if not original.

For instance, one distinct feature of Korean street fashion is layering. Some people say they got it from New Yorkers. But no matter where they got it from, layering is an important feature of Korean fashion not just because it looks good but also because Korea is a temperate country. They need to layer their clothes to keep their body warm, just like other people in temperate regions.

Another distinct characteristic of Korean street fashion is their oversized t-shirts with English words or phrases. Some people, especially visitors from Western countries, cannot make sense of what is written on the t-shirts but Koreans do not care. After all, they do not wear the t-shirts to communicate with foreigners. They wear them to look good. The printed word or phrases in front of Korean tees only act as designs, not as something that states to the whole world what the wearer believe sin.

Korean women usually pair these oversized tees with a pair of skin tight leggings or skinny jeans. It is very comfortable and it also looks good. They usually wear sneakers or sandals with this outfit.

Mini skirts and knee high boots are some of the most popular Korean street fashion styles. Mini skirts will not make their legs warm but when paired with the boots, it will work in a cold place. And the outfit also looks sexy.

Koreans are also not afraid of colors. They bravely mix and match bright colors that other people will not dare try. This makes the cities of Korea very colourful and happy because of the rainbow of colors. You will see combinations of pink and green, yellow and red, orange and blue, and so on. And for some reason, Koreans can pull it off. They look fashionable and of course, cute, just like most Asian fashions.

You will also see branded clothes and accessories in Korean fashion (surprise, surprise). This is probably typical in almost all city fashions. But it is more obvious in Koreans. Maybe it is the status or satisfaction that makes branded fashion items popular in Korea. Do not be surprised if a woman who is very simply dressed is carrying a branded bag worth hundreds of dollars.

Lady Gaga is taking the world by storm! If you have not heard the song Poker Face or Bad Romance you may just want to check that you are not living under a rock. As much as the world loves her music, it is her, let’s say, ‘unique’ fashion sense that gets her the most media attention. To the untrained eye at first look she seems . . . well Gaga but as a lot of media are now picking up that her outrageous trends are catching on and to me a lot of her outfits and personal style seems to be Asian inspired. Have a look at the four pictures below and see what you can come up with in the way of similarities.

The hair

Originally she was known for long, straight, white blond hair with pretty massive bangs, but since the release of her first album she has been spotted with some do’s that really do seem Geisha inspired. Ok it’s not an exact match but there are certainly similarities. Like the traditional Geisha style she has the big large cleanly finished ‘petals’ piled on the top of the head. Gaga’s is usually in the shape of a bow and she often wears her trademark long locks out underneath the bow but the effect still embodies the ancient Japanese’s performers. Like most traditional styles that get ‘reinvented’ the star is putting her own spin on the general concept not copying it outright.

The make up

The picture of lady Gaga on the above right is from her film clip for the song Paparazzi, like in most of her photos what ‘pops’ in her pictures is her flawless white skin, very similar to, you guessed it, the traditional Geisha makeup which consisted of a face painted completely white. Lady has accentuated her eyes and lips with the colour black just as the Geisha on the right has done using red. Lady’s eye makeup is more dramatic but the general essence is the same.

Although neither facet is an exact copy is would seem that the pop star is getting a bit of inspiration from some of the worlds longest standing traditional entertainers and mixing it with modern styles to get a look that really has set her apart from her competitors.

Just a quick post to let you know YesStyle are having a huge sale with savings of up to 50% – best to take a look yourself to see what great fashion is on sale!

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There are hundreds if not thousands of presents that you can get a girl for Christmas, if you are close to this girl you are probably fine and have it all worked out already however if you need a present for your new mother in law or brothers girlfriend it can be quite daunting thinking of a gift.

Here are some simple ideas that might make the Christmas shopping trip a bit less stressful.

Its winter and by Christmas the weather should be suitably cold that most people wont contemplate leaving the house with a hat and scarf. If its someone you don’t know too well you cant go too far wrong with a basic knit scarf, if you can find out what colours the person likes and if not you will generally be safe with grey, blue or green. Big baggy beanies are also in fashion at the moment so why not do a hat and scarf combo.

If it’s a younger girl (12-25) you can be pretty sure she uses a hand bag, again research colours if you can if not safe colours for bags are black, brown and grey. Big bags are here to stay so go big if you can find something that suits.

If the gift receiver is a bit older (30 – 50) you could consider buying them a brooch, brooches make nice additions to most outfits but are not something a lot of people think to buy. You can be as daring or as safe as you like.

And last but certainly not least there are mobile phone accessories. Most people have a mobile phone so if you are after something small and funky you could get a mobile phone cover, a ribbon or leather strap for decoration and a charm, for a much young person you could throw in a pack of phone sticker for decorating. A good stocking filler.

The most important thing when you are buying a girl clothes, especially if you are her boyfriend, is to get the size right. The best way to make sure you get this right is to check, sneak a few peaks at various pieces of clothing tags when you can, remembering that most girls wear different size tops to bottoms and shoes are another sizing system all together.

Buying fitted clothing can be hard unless you are 100% certain you have your girls sizing right. Something easy to consider is a skirt. If you have never seen her is a skirt obviously don’t go there, but if she is a skirt wearer you have a few options. Easy enough is a simple denim skirt, something most girls always have on hand. If you know she already has one consider getting another in a different shade. Otherwise prints are in this Christmas and are available in enough styles and colours you should be able to find something you think she will like.

Also important is to remember is outfits you have seen her in that you know she likes and that you like too. Don’t pick something because you think it will look good think about her style and fashion sense and try to get something you can see her in.

Have you thought about hosiery? High socks and tights are easy to find and it is always nice to get a wardrobe staple like tights.

And of course don’t forget tops. As mentioned earlier avoid things that are tight fitting, something like the plaid shirt above is a nice simple present, you would have to be really off to get a size that does not fit her at all, the plaid top is a style that seems nice and cemented in the current fashion world.

And the golden rule ‘put thought into it’, don’t just grab the first thing on the shelf have a shop around and try to find something you will both like.