Japan took to western fashion only in the middle 19th century. By the 21st century it became what is now known as ‘Street Fashion’. Street fashion is when the wearer tries to make their clothes individual by mixing traditional clothes with current trends. These are usually made at home with only the material being store bought. Styles in Japan today are very varied with a mixture of not only local designs but foreign labels too. The styles are usually avante garde and wild too which is just like the haute couture that is seen on ramps in Europe. The change in trends has been noted by Schoici Aoki right from 1997in FRUiTS, a popular street fashion magazine in Japan. Today though the hip-hop culture which has always been present in the underground club scene has now merged into mainstream fashion. Because of the popularity of hip hop, the youth in Tokyo have got into the habit of tanning and wearing oversized clothes to resemble their icon. They also consider it freedom of expression where they want to be known as anything but Japanese.
Modern Japanese fashion
Street Fashion has apparently become one of the most popular styles all over Japan today. Outlandish clothes rule in urban fashion areas like Ginza, Shibuya, Odaiba, Shinjuku and Harajuku.
Lolita Fashion
Lolita Styles have very many sub styles such as Gothic Lolita, Sweet Lolita, and Punk Lolita etc and are usually commonly referred to as SweetLoli, GothLoli, and PunkLoli.
GothLoli focuses basically on dark shades and Edwardian pieces. Umbrella, Bonnets and big brooches are some of the popular accessories. The Alice in Wonderland style is very big in Japan right now where bags, skirts, tops and accessories all have playing cards printed on them.
PunkLoli features a lot of plaid. Wristbands, pearls, big bows, chain are popular. A PunkLoli icon is Nana Kitade who happens to be an extremely popular singer.
SweetLoli is inspired by baby doll clothes.
Kogal
Kogal is a subculture where young women who have a large disposable income usually spend it all on music, fashion and other social pursuits. They are usually high school or college going students who are extremely flashy.
Ganguro
Ganguro reached its heights of popularity in 2000. Bleached hair, platform shoes, a very pale tan and bright make up and clothes is how this is usually identified. Followers of this culture wear lots of necklaces, bracelets, rings, platform boots and mini skirts.
Bosozoku
This is portrayed and caricatured a lot in the Japanese media. The depiction of a Bosozoku follower is usually a jumpsuit or tokko-fuku which is like a military overcoat with lots of slogans, no shirt inside, baggy pants which are tucked inside really tall boots and bandaged abdomens. Leather suits with gang logos, dark glasses, headbands and a rocker hairstyle completes this look.
Gothic Aristocrat
Same clothing for both the sexes based on androgyny is the main style of the gothic aristocrat. Clothes are white, black and dark shades but do include light pinks and blues too. The clothing is simple and elegant with heavy and dark makeup.
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