Category: Fashion, Style, Shopping vol.1

A Practiced Introduction

It snowed this past week in Tokyo. That is a very strange notion at this time of the year. The idea is pretty startling. Imagine: Snow mixed with cherry blossoms.

But despite the wonky weather, spring is here. And with the days getting longer and the teeny-bopper skirts becoming (as if they weren't already) shorter...it's natural for all of us to think about changes. Most people start exercise programs and refer back to their resolutions from the new year holiday. It's also in vogue to plan a trip or at least choose a destination to work towards.

My new year's promise? To wear more interesting tights.

Mundane, I know. At least the music scene is looking good. A lot of my old trendsetting bands are back in the studio or coming out with new tracks. Please check out Groove Armada if you have a chance. They haven't set a date yet for Japan of course...but I'm holding out for it because they are worth it. Kobukuro are a refreshingly good duo as well...granted most of their songs are border-line depression inducers. Something about their sound hints at a fundamental, soulful part of life here. At least for yours truly.

But I digress, back to the issue at hand. Fashion. This is a fashion website, right?

Wrestling your way through the jungles that are ichi-maru-kyu and other fine contemporary Japanese department store establishments, you'll find that this year the androgynous styles that are prevalent in Harajuku line the walls and entrances. We see the button-ups, angled cuts with lacy flair, quirky flats and mules. However, these places are hardly the pulse nor the bottom line when it comes to Japanese fashion. They are just an extra pair of eyes. They are the "looking glass". What's on the other side of that glass? Sometimes it's hard to see. Most are too reluctant to look.

For me (ignore the 'tights' thing from earlier--that was just an ice-breaker) a not-so-drastic change from the smart "Euro-whimsy" style from last season will do just fine. Not too give too much of the cow's milk away, I have been drooling over Kate Sakai's "tadpole" necklace in light purple. I can't wait for the special event later on this month. Funny. I'm not one for pastels, but the design has the right feel to it. It says "girl", without too much "grr" in either direction. A good accessory for those of you who want to walk that line without falling into the drab; or looking like you just rolled around Jennifer Lopez's closet.

Well. Here I am about to conclude this entry and you don't even know who I am. I guess I could tell you who I am, where I'm from originally, how I came to Japan and more importantly how did I end up with Japan-Fashion.com. That, I'll give you over time. What I'm going to tell you is what is truly important about me.

It is my belief that fashion...true fashion at its core...is not clothes or colors or material at all. Fashion is a silhouette. A shape or contour that we are all striving to achieve. Not to match the size and figure of the latest "it" girl. But rather, to satisfy ourselves. To walk into a room and take the air out with you when you leave. For people to see you coming and not be able to look away. And that will never change.

Until next time, fellow Alices.

-Kimber

Writer/Editor