Wednesday, July 09, 2008

Japan Fashion Trend

I’ve been meaning to post this for a while, but hadn’t gotten around to cropping the photos before now.

When Liz and I showed up in costume last summer at RWA, the biggest cause for alarm was the fact we were wearing thigh highs. One person even went so far as to say we’d be arrested as prostitutes walking around like that in her home town.

Well, that may be so in some small towns in America. But certainly not in Tokyo, Japan! EVERY girl wears thigh highs and knee socks there. Not just Gothic Lolitas and not just those in costume. Thigh highs and knee socks are normal, everyday attire for these girls. I find it so interesting how fashion can differ from country to country. (I suppose Japanese girls are more likely to have the legs to look good in them…)

But while most of the girls (as you can see below) looked really cute in their outfits, one thing we found a bit disturbing fashion-wise was the thigh highs with jean shorts and high heels look. Ugh! Hopefully THAT trend will never catch on in the US!!!


Japan Last Day 016

Japan Last Day 017

Japan Last Day 014

Japan Last Day 001

Japanese thigh highs

Japan Last Day 015

7 comments:

Stevi said...

I have seen pics of you ladies in your costumes from that infamous event, and I thought you looked cute! Of course...this is coming from me and look at what I wear and what we sell! ;) Heh, heh...

I think the thigh high socks with the chunky shoes or boots looks good, not sure about heels tho...like stilettos? Ugh...

Mari Mancusi said...

Yeah, stilettos with thigh highs and short jean shorts. Yikes!

Anonymous said...

You go girl, tell it like it is. So are you going to the RWA conference this year, socks and all..

Mari Mancusi said...

I wish! Unfortunately the Japan trip and RT ate up most of my vacation time so I can't make it this year. (Also, I'm totally broke.) Sucks. :(

Elliot Spencer said...

OMG, what a great combination Goth and Japanese ;)

Kiki said...

Hahaha, the over-the-knee trend is actually to *hide* the girls' knees!
So it has very different connotations in Japan than in the US.
Asia's skinny culture means a lot of girls try to maintain their stick-thin legs, which means their knees often look thick and knobly in comparison. With thigh-highs, the legs look longer and sleeker, so they've been an evergreen accessory.

The short-heels-socks combo came from the UK(?) and from Western TV shows. It's such an awfully trashy look, I hope it passes soon. >_<

Mari Mancusi said...

Ahhh... Kiki thanks for commenting. Liz and I were trying to figure that out the whole trip. :) That makes total sense though!