Super Kawaii (Or Trends from Tokyo)

Much like those who read the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today, etc., with their morning coffee, every day I peruse my favorite fashion blogs and websites whilst sipping on the dregs of the office coffee pot (see Reading Material to your right). The other day I was excited to see new street style pics from Tokyo at WWD. When I truly want to be inspired, I love looking at photos of the avant-garde fashion of the Japanese style set. I never fail to see many an ensemble that is overthetop.com, but you can find something wearable and unique in even the most outlandish of getups. Here are some styling tricks I will soon be incorporating (or have already incorporated) into my repertoire. Note: many of these looks include more than one trend. 

Headgear


Photo by Giovanni Gianonni, Onnie Koski via WWD



Giovanni Gianonni, Onnie Koski & Yukie Miyazaki
 WWD

These simple little headwraps are handy on a bad hair day and add a clever touch to an otherwise ordinary oufit (though the outfits on the ladies above are anything but).

Brightly colored tights


Giovanni Gianonni, Onnie Koski & Yukie Miyazaki
 WWD

Onnie Koski & Yukie Miyazaki 
WWD

It's almost too late for me to break out my colored tights considering the weather today is in the 80s. You ladies still battling the winter doldrums can leave the ubiquitous black opaque tights in the drawer and pair your winter coat with a pop of colored tights.

Effortless Layering


Giovanni Gianonni, Onnie Koski & Yukie Miyazaki
 WWD



Onnie Koski & Yukie Miyazaki
WWD

Anyone can just throw on a bunch of clothes and call it layering, but to pull it off in a way that is chic and flattering takes effort. It takes effort to look effortless people. You heard it here first. By the way, the pattern mixing that my red-headed friend is doing up there gives me life.

Flats/Oxfords/Sneakers


Giovanni Gianonni & Onnie Koski
WWD



 Giovanni Gianonni, Onnie Koski & Yukie Miyazaki
 WWD

Giovanni Gianonni, Onnie Koski & Yukie Miyazaki
 WWD

Anytime I'm looking at street style photos taken in the vicinity of some city's fashion week, I fully expect to see every woman wearing fabulous, but foot-murdering heels. It was refreshing to see a great majority of the women outside Tokyo Fashion Week in a flat shoe of some sort, especially stylish sneakers or polished oxfords. On a somewhat related note: is it racist that the adorable girl in the beret and cat sweater reminds me of the Asian barbie I never had growing up? Probably...nevermind.