Why Tokyo’s streets are the catwalks of tomorrow

Recently a friend of mine wanted to know what I find so very special about Tokyo’s sense of fashion. Despite never having thought much about this topic before, I came up with an answer easily.

Without doubt Tokyo has always been a city of major contrasts. When walking the streets, every now and then you will find some quiet temple or shrine — pieces of ancient Japanese tradition — directly next to vibrant shopping malls and skyscrapers — monuments of modern society and its
architecture. And because there rarely is any exception within this synergy of contrasts, it seems to apply to many citizens’ taste in fashion as well. Just try roaming the backstreets of some hot districts like Harajuku or Shibuya on a Saturday afternoon and you are likely to encounter true myriads of styles and fashion personalities.

Young girls in Victorian dresses and clunky shoes shuffle past a group of fierce-looking women with boyish haircuts, flashing red lipstick and avant garde apparel of nothing but black and white. Not far away rockabilly enthusiasts smoke dozens of Marlboro cigarettes and comb their carefully
done quiffs, right next to five guys who pull off an authentic visual impression of nineties hip-hop. And then there are the thousands and thousands of people scattered in between, who are almost too unique for being described. Those who just wear whatever they feel like wearing. Mixing various styles and inventing a new self every other day.

Interestingly all these various kinds of people coexist peacefully with each other, feeling united by nothing but being different. It is extremely refreshing to see that although Japanese culture knows so many boundaries and rules, young Japanese in particular overcome conservatism in an urgent
desire for self-expression.

While you may be made fun of in other places for wearing color block combinations or simply trying out something new, Tokyo’s youth is much more open-minded and draws merely inspiration from any uncommon chic.
You think a bucket hat does not fit very well with a knee-length dress and high heels? Think again, because if something does not fit, Tokyo’s fashion enthusiasts simply use a bigger hammer. People here seem to have realized that limits in fashion mean nothing but a lack of the right mindset. “Wear what makes you happy” is the name of the game.

This freedom of dressing in whatever you find appealing is what I clearly appreciate most about fashion in Tokyo.

One of the best things about acceptance is that it gives people self-confidence. And thanks to this confidence the people of Tokyo feel free to experiment, turning its streets into some endless pool of creativity, where the trends of tomorrow may be born any second.