Tokyo Is My Second Home, and Everyone in Japan Is Wearing These 5 Breezy Summer Trends

Tokyo has long been known as a fashion hot spot. While it might not be the birthplace of many famous designers in the way Paris, Milan, and New York are, the Japanese people are some of the most creative when it comes to dressing themselves—I would know, because as a half-Japanese woman, I grew up frequently flying back and spending my summers there. I’ve lived in some of the biggest fashion capitals in the world—London, Paris, Tokyo, and New York—and can confidently say that Tokyo fashion is in a league of its own. 

I recently got back from another two-week trip back and I’m inspired. As a somewhat conservative country, there are a few rules to follow style-wise, like covering up shoulders, not showing too much skin, and not wearing anything too form-fitting. While there are several big fashion categories—like the underground culture (think: street style) and the cutesy style (think: Harajuku girls)—I’m focusing on the more widespread everyday fashion that you’ll find on the streets, subways, and restaurants. Keep in mind that this is a culture where it’s considered rude to not look polished when leaving the house (not wearing makeup is an absolute no-no); while I know that could feel exhausting as an individual, it does make it a beautiful scene to grab some inspiration from. Below, I’ve gathered some of the top trends in Tokyo fashion right now. 

Roomy Wide-Leg Pants

The first thing you notice when you step off the plane in Tokyo is that everyone is wearing wide-leg pants. This ties into the culture’s norm not to wear skin-tight clothes (like skinny jeans). People often pair the pants with loose-fitted tops (more on that below), but they manage not to look like they’re being swallowed whole in their clothes thanks to tailored silhouettes. I’m loving this flowy option from Everlane (I actually have a pair myself) because of the easy-breezy feel that’s perfect for summer. Meanwhile, this linen style from Banana Republic has a more fitted middle before flaring out, giving the overall look a little more structure. 

Airy Short Sleeve Blouses

While here in the West it’s more common to style wide-leg pants with fitted tops, in Japan they keep everything rather loose. A blouse, therefore, is the perfect piece to opt for as it adds an element of structure to the look and keeps things from looking overly baggy. I saw a lot of short-sleeved blouses that covered most of the chest and shoulders; materials such as linen and cotton kept things flowy and breathable in the rapidly warming temperatures. I’m specifically adoring the puff sleeves found on the J.Crew option, as it commands attention to the wearer. 

Breezy Dresses

If you’ve ever been to Japan in the summer then you know how hot (and painfully humid) it gets there. Loose silhouette dresses are a saving grace as they invite tons of air to the body and always look tasteful. A shirtdress, like the one from J.Crew, oozes chic summer vibes while the Madewell Flutter Sleeve dress has a more relaxed, Sunday lunch appeal. If the dress has spaghetti straps, you’ll commonly find people layering a fitted white T-shirt underneath. The majority of the dresses are midi to maxi length, and you won’t find a lot of mini skirts floating around.

Comfy Kitten Heels

Wearing sky-high heels is not very common in Japan. Instead, Japanese people opt for the more modest (and easy to walk in) kitten heel. It’s not common for women to wear flat shoes to work, and three-plus-inch heels begin to stand out too much (which, contrary to New York fashion, is not desired). Thus, the kitten heel becomes a happy and extremely chic medium. Absolutely no one is complaining when there are such cute options such as this bowtie slingback from Reformation or ridiculously comfy chunky heel from Vivaia—seriously, I saw at least ten people wearing this exact shoe.  

Practical Basket Bags

Maybe it’s the fact that there is an ocean left and right to the island, or the fact that basket bags are trending right now, but everyone and their moms are carrying these straw bags. Somehow, they miraculously match every outfit—just envision them paired with one of the above dresses and kitten heels. Tote bags can hold an entire day’s essentials sans-problem, which adds to their universal appeal. I saw people carrying them to the beach and to brunch all the same.