Latest Street Fashion in Japan

WA
Internet becomes so popular today that it is easy to learn about styles and fashion from other cultures. In this technology era, young Japanese people are not just following overseas fashion trends; they are also looking with renewed interest upon traditional Japanese motifs and techniques. This is when “WA” street fashion emerges, a fusion style of Western and Japanese elements.

The style – Attention to use Japanese motifs and traditional techniques. Incorporating traditional elements like Japanese materials, decorations, or fabrication techniques into modern styles. Specific examples are cherry-blossom patterns on jeans and t-shirts dyed by Kyo yuzen dying technique; kimono-inspired wrap cardigans, and stickers for decorating cell phones.

WA Street Fashion on High Runway
A growing number of overseas designers are taking an interest in elements of WA as well. Famous designer like Alexander McQueen introduced dresses inspired by construction of kimono. French designer Marie Bouvero sets her eyes on furoshiki, a renewed traditional square cloth that used to wrap objects into modern and edgy bags.

Salon Boys
Salon Boys represents the style enjoyed by hairdressers and students of beauty colleges located around the Uraharajuku area. The fashion defines itself as refined yet casual. Based on one's fashion sense, a Salon Boy mixes freely of sport, casual, second hand and high end clothes together. The immense popularity of Salon Boy trend have huge influences to the mass fashion especially in teenage fashion. This styles is featured on women’s fashion magazines as the hottest and most fashionable guys today.

The style - Metrosexual trends symbolized by fedora hats, narrow ties, and long cardigans.

Salon Boy on High Runway

Famous fashion brands such as Comme Des Garcons and Cerruti incorporated Salon boy's signature elements, the fedora hat and long cardigan into their spring/summer collection. Comparing to Cerruti clean and preppy image, I like Comme Des Garcons' funky and stylish image.

8 Popular Street Trends and the connection with High Fashion Runway

1)Zoot Suits
Zoot suits were popular in 1930 in the jazz music or dance scene. The style of high waisted baggy pants and long coat considered a fashion statement in dance clubs particularly.
The style - high-waisted, wide-legged trousers, a long coat with wide lapels and wide padded shoulders. The signature zoot suiters wore a felt hat with a long feather and a pair of pointy. It was a style for dance and party.

Zoot Suits on High Runway-

John Galliano

John Galliano creatively imposed snakeskin and denim into zoot suit. I like he transformed the snakeskin into checkered pattern top with a felt hat, reflecting the spirit of a funky and flashy zoot suiter presented in a dance scene.

2) Teddy Boys
Young people had increasing disposable income during the post-war years. They began to accept the Teddy Boys style that encouraged them to show off their look. they care and maintained a presentable dress all the time.
The style : long drape jackets in dark shades; high-waisted "drainpipe" trousers and bright color socks.