Why the Japanese Dress So EFFIN' Well | WTH

#Harajuku #JapaneseStreetFashion #TheCasual

From trends, styles, to brands the Japanese have been widely regarded as some of the most daring street fashion enthusiasts in the world. How they came about this is actually a combination of study, persistence, and admiration. In this WTH Reggie breaks down why the culture of the Japanese people has translated into phenomenal street fashion.
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[Dani.Torres]

This is very accurate. I live in Japan and all the Japanese men I know study hard the styles they’re into. For example, my boyfriend is very much into 30s Delta Blues music and fashion. He educated himself about that era's history, society and the lifestyle of the musicians. He buys books, documentaries, records, and even searched the fabrics and colors of that era. He is not in the fashion industry, he is a normal salary man with an interest in style. This is not a trend for him, he is adapting what he learned into his own everyday style.

[fungus_amnguz]

I remember the first time I visited Japan (been there twice, all over) and was blown away by their fashion styles, like in some neighborhoods i couldnt believe it, seemed like everybody was killin it, there was just this unique expression of style and although I love the style of some cities like NYC my hometown, Paris, Milan is off the chain with it, , , , theres always wont say rules but some conventions, specially in mens fashion. In Japan there is just this..hmm, fun element, like to give you an example, that first trip I remember this dude in the metro and guy was wearing some Japanese style loose pants, sick kicks, a white long sleeve T with classic suspenders on mfer top hat, like a Mr Planters long top hat. Now you might think that im describing a clown, a costume....ppfft, when i tell you this kid was demolishing it, u better believe it, the confidence and style and fun of it were undeniable. And thats just a tiny example. So many of em in that first trip.

[AONTrappy]

I think that why Japanese dress so well comes down to the appreciation of their own culture and cultures across the globe which is only amplified by the meticulous societal standards of Japan. What you get is a pure form of expression that takes inspiration from just about everything, not just fashion. I always found that Japan takes such pride in everything they do that it becomes a form of 'art', a never ending pursuit for perfection.

[richardtseng]

I'll never forget wandering into a punk rock shop in Harajuku years ago. Unlike a lot of punk shops in the states that will have Green Day next to The Ramones, this place was strictly 70s aesthetic. What was even more jarring was the fact that, instead of being sneered at by the shopkeep who was dressed head to toe in leather and denim like he was in the Sex Pistols, the people who worked there were extremely nice and clearly knew their stuff. It was just so cool to be able to learn about that whole subculture without feeling like you're being judged for not being one of them.

[bysh]

I live in a tropical country and it's so hard to be as adventurous with fashion as I should be because most of the time, the weather makes it super uncomfortable

[arifinrohan]

I'd say the reason behind this is that fashion designers dictate fashion in Japan which is how it should be. Unfortunately, in the West, it's the celebrities who have the most influence on what's considered fashionable.

[thirteen]

I moved to Japan last year and already I can tell my style consciousness has made leaps and bounds. Whether you're in Hamura or Harajuku, every day is a fashion show and every time I walk off the train I feel like I'm hitting a runway. Whether the look is grunge, urban, hipster, prep, country, etc... the Japanese bring the heat. In the states, I would be ok throwing any ole thing on to go grab a bite with a friend-not anymore. I could just be running to the corner 7/11 to grab an egg sandwich and a CC Lemon, I find myself taking the time to make sure my fit is on point. If I didn't know it before, I have definitely learned from the Japanese, dressing well is not just a form of artistic expression-it's good manners. Loved the video and glad I found your page. Hopefully I will run into you in the streets of Tokyo! Till then, be well!

[ashleylala]

I totally agree with you that they are incredible at taking something from another country, refining it and making it better than the original. I especially notice this with French pastries. A lot of Asian countries try to recreate French pastry but the Japanese seem especially great at it. They don’t take shortcuts or shy away from labor intensive work.

[mndsph]

The Japanese do not just consume what's trendy, they study it as well. Know what you wear.

[GentHoChan]

there's a reason why so many hype sneakers in the western world stay on the shelves in Japan at retail prices. they subscribe to style and what works for them as a whole, not western hype over singular things.

[Nanachan]

I think because most parts of their lives are uniformed - school and business attire, people use their free time to express themselves through clothing. I like that some people are willing to experiment with clothes and have their unique styles, especially men, compared to men in my country (T-shirts, jeans and sweatpants are the peak of fashion, god forbid accessories). At the same time, by speaking with many Japanese people - most of them buy basic things in shops like Uniqlo ...so it might depend on the city or area (I imagine most fashionable people on the streets of Tokyo)

[j.w.matney]

I'm in my 60's, grew up with first generation Japanese and went to Japan when I was 19 and in the Navy. The magazines have always impressed me. Way back in the early 1980's I was in the San Francisco Kinokuniya store and bought the band Hiroshima's first album and have been a fan since then. Around the same time, there was a large magazine that was for young men starting their first office job. The book had photos of all kinds of stuff that were considered "must haves" for this audience with a little box to be checked off. It had the right kind of briefcase, the right kind of suit, shoes, ties, wallet, business card holder, just a who bunch of stuff. I asked the woman working there if they sold a lot of this magazine, she said they sold out each month and had to double the order. And this was in the US, imagine what the sales were in Japan.

[achevres]

I’ve been to Japan several times, and love it. One other thought: they give each other a lot of privacy and personal space, even in a crowded subway, for example, and, to me, this extends to giving the space to wear different styles. There is no actual physical space, but there is psychological space. Hard to put into words. This, together with the drive to do a good job and to benefit the group makes it such a special place, Great video, thanks!

[signebl]

This thing with the magazines is so true, when I went to Japan I bought *splurged* on a Japanese fashion magazine, and it is the absolute best “souvenir” I’ve ever bought. Despite of the language barrier, the quality of content in these fashion magazines is incredibly good. I still pull it out to admire and look at five years later, and the clothes and outfits are still very stylish despite the trend cycle. I love Japanese fashion, I still have so many memories of how stylish the everyday people were. ❤️

[DigitalZeitgeist]

PLEASE do more of these videos. I always wondered why the Japanese are so great at effortlessly pulling looks. Please could you share more practical tips on how us Westerners can learn from them. Ex brands, designers or magazines to explore. I find it difficult to get started especially if you don’t speak Japanese. Thank you!

[jasonjackson]

Great vid! I picked up most of my fashion sensibility from the 3 years that I lived in Japan. Now, back in the states I’ve had multiple people tell me that they didn’t think I was American because of the way I dress! I go back to Japan every other year and I always bring a large empty suitcase and completely reset my wardrobe based on what’s in style there. Fingers crossed that I can make it there in September!

[ashleylala]

I live in Orange County, CA where the fashion is sloppy and abysmal but I’ve sadly gotten used to it. My partner and I went to Japan a few yrs ago and we stayed at a nice hotel. We had arrived late at night. For our first day, we put on some casual clothes and headed down from our room. When we saw how EVERYONE was dressed, we quickly realized we needed to go back up to our room and put on nicer clothes. Even the woman cleaning the park was dressed better than we were originally. 😂
And I gotta say, a lot of the men are SO well groomed! They kind of put American men to shame in that department. That was a couple yrs before the pandemic though, not sure how things are now.

[Jenesis]

I was born and raised in a capital city of a small island country where most ppl took public transit or walked. Which means we see ppl as soon as we are outside. Dressing is a way to be polite, recognized, categorized (dress your profession), or to express individuality among a sea of ppl. Now I get in a car and never walk on streets when I am out. I can wear my PJs to grocery shop because there’s no sea of ppl in the store. Back in the days when I loved going to the malls on weekends, I dressed much more mindfully because malls were crowded with loads of ppl.

[witchingbrew]

I have Gothic Lolita Bible and frUits which is a series of snapshots of different fashion in Japan throughout the past 30 years. Really neat stuff. It was so experimental in the 90s. They mixed so many prints.

[dodailovegackt]

The way i felt so poorly dressed every time i walked through Tokyo streets, but especially when i entered to malls or clothes stores. I remember the first time i went to Shibuya 109, i was SHOCKED by how incredibly stylish women shopping there were, they actually looked out of a fashion magazine.