Let me be blunt: If you haven’t looked at Vogue’s Tokyo street style photographs, you’re not living. And let’s face it, the supersize ensembles are definitely a jolt compared with the minimalist, vintage-jeans-and-blazer stylings of the four major fashion capitals (New York, London, Milan, and Paris). In truth, the people photographed by Kira have some of the most authentic, imaginative, inspiring outfits we’ve seen all year. Sure, fashion’s It items manage to work their way in, but rest assured, these are outfits motivated by self-expression, not the rules of style.
Here, an observer’s guide to some actionable styling tricks one can adopt from Tokyo’s most fashion-obsessed citizens.
Thou Shalt Not Worship Another God Above Rei.
This is really the cardinal rule at play in Tokyo street style. Rei Kawakubo’s designs for Comme des Garçons appear in a vast majority of our images, from her sneaker collaborations with Nike to her ready-to-wear runway collections. These two gents show off their Rei affection in Comme des Garçons Homme Plus blazers…which brings us to our second point.
If Thou Must Twin, Do It in Comme des Garçons.
This one is a no-brainer. Tokyo’s coolest duos reject the traditional idea of twinning, choosing instead to honor the patron saint of Japanese fashion, Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garçons. Simple enough.
Thou Shalt Honor Thy Fam.
As with other fashion weeks, the cool kids of Tokyo tend to roll in cliques. This season’s most memorable duos, trios, and groups wore complementary looks around a single color scheme or motif. It’s a simple way to establish yourselves as a squad without getting all matchy-matchy.
Thou Shalt Hydrate.
Important.
Thou Shalt Think Big.
Don’t let the confines of traditional fashion restrict your ideas about what makes a garment. Just look at this daring showgoer who turned balloons into a statement-making ensemble.
Platform Shoes Shall Be Thy Salvation.
One way to get a leg up on the street style competition is to to sport the clunkiest, highest platforms around. Be it a Dr. Martens boot or a Vetements disco bootie, the silhouette has become the de facto must-have in Tokyo.
Thy Fit Shalt Multitask.
Why carry a purse when your outfit could do the heavy lifting? This denim number doubles as a carryall. For the less adventurous, try a Sacai blazer that doubles as a bustier.
Thou Shalt Stay Dry.
Or at least try to. Unlike in other fashion capitals where guests will weather the rain sans umbrella or carry a hefty black one, Tokyo’s stylish set have pledged allegiance to the clear plastic umbrella. All the better to see your outfit.
Thou Shall Not Covet Thy Neighbor’s Grails.
Very important lesson here, friends. Let’s say one friend has a Raf Simons x Robert Mapplethorpe shirt, another has a Comme des Garçons tote, and another is setting the trends by using a Loewe shopping bag as a purse. Don’t be jealous. Instead, snap a squad picture.
And Most Importantly, Thou Must Express Thyself.
In the end, the thing that sets apart Tokyo’s fashionable citizens is that they don’t look to outside forces to dictate trends—even their friends. Take these two women as an example, who are clearly both into the furry accessory look, but interpret it two ways, one as earrings, the other as scrunchies.