“Love is my favorite color”

Me, too!

You saw it here first: Sweatshirt jumpsuit shorts

This fashion crime was spotted on expensive Omotesando street, epicenter of Luis Vuitton, Prada, and Ralph Lauren. I predict this look will be super popular this year. The zipper in front is the finishing touch on this inexcusable male fashion innovation.

 

What kind of national pride is this?

It’s Golden Week in Japan, and you see the flag displayed on the streets more than usual. Yesterday was Constitution Memorial Day, commemorating the adoption of the constitution imposed by the US occupation after World War II. Mostly I think Japanese aren’t thinking anything about the meaning of the holiday or of national identity.

Except for this senior citizen on Omotesando, the Sunday of the Rainbow Parade last week. Maybe a reader knows which national sports uniform he’s wearing? The giraffe like flag pole and the hard hat make his national pride compete with any teenage look. For the record, I don’t think he had any idea that it was Rainbow Parade day.

Lastly, I wonder what the school children think when they see senior citizens walking by in outrageous costume? Does it secretly give them hope that one day they, too, will allow their self-expression to blossom?

 

Late season shorts in Omotesando

The streets are much sadder when it’s too cold for shorts. The husband disagrees on this with me. He believes no men should ever wear shorts. I agree to disagree.

Skanky outfit made me take this photograph

Dressed for after-the-apocalypse roadside rough trade, this outfit and pose gave me a double take. Even in the heart of Harajuku and Omotesando, the audacity of leather shorts, too much waxing and tanning, and a studied nonchalance draws attention.

Chanel is for barnyards

Of course, you already knew that. The reason to buy Chanel outfits is so that you can visit barnyards. This new hayseed window display on Omotesando cracked me up.

It seems there’s a rash of foreign luxury brands romancing wealthy shoppers with the fantasy of living the farm and blue collar lifestyles. Up the street is Dolce & Gabanna’s campaign featuring a huge poster of Madonna (the Madonna) washing dishes in a bustier. She wears a facial expression that shows how mystified she is by her actions.

Count me as indifferent to Dolce & Gabanna leaving Japan (as reported by Bryan Boy). I prefer the chance to take bigger style risks shopping at ultra-cheap fast fashion places like Forever 21, H&M, and Muji.

Horrid pants

These pants were so horrid I couldn’t help but snap repeated photos as we walked uphill on Omotesando. A plastic rubber material, with creases everywhere, clinged to and reshaped its owner’s legs in the worst way possible. Notice the enormous manpurse. Ah, Tokyo. At least you are always trying!

Saint Grace Cathedral

Walking in the back streets of posh Omotesando, I stumbled upon this simulacra of a Gothic cathedral, named Saint Grace. Apparently it is famous in Tokyo. Apart from the bunches of electric wires on the street out front, and the partial miniaturization, it is the splitting image of historic France.

Of course, this being Japan, there are no religious services at Saint Grace. Its function is purely theatrical: Weddings, Receptions, Party and Events.

I love Japan’s entirely surface approach to religion and use of foreign styles as backdrops. None of the unpleasant dogmas of Catholic religion, and with all the fun and exoticism of foreign forms.