Sexy is back
Forget Kawaii…Sexy is back in the Japanese fashion scene.
I breathe a sigh of relief at this welcoming news because I, too, find Japanese fashion and all that kawaii-ness to be over the top, ridiculous at times. But thank god, “cute” is now sexy because all that baby doll dresses and cutesy pink tutus are cringe worthy.
It was really hot this past summer and we’re not just talking about the temperatures. Shukan Post spotted some hot-looking women in the skimpiest of fashions, some of which looked little more than underwear. Nonfiction writer Yuzu Yamashita reports on the trend.
“I can’t help staring at girls wearing short skirts and low-cut tops, whenever I am on a crowded train,” admits a businessman in his 50s. “But when I do, they soon glare at me in anger. I think it’s unfair for them to react that way as long as they expose themselves that much.”
Asking these “sexy girls” in places like Shibuya and Shinjuku who they dress for, most answer: “Nobody,” “For myself,” “I wear such clothes just because I like that brand” and “I’ve never thought I’m wearing clothes for someone else.” The most typical answer is: “I dress this way because it makes me feel good.”
One girl in her 20s says, “I chose this look because it’s cute. I don’t even pay attention to whether anyone is staring at me or not,” while a 26-year-old woman says, “I like to show off both my fashion and body line. I take care of myself and make sure I don’t get fat. What I would tell younger girls is that you can express yourself through fashions like this.”
Of course, many girls are aware of being ogled at by men. A teenage girl says, “Middle-aged guys often look at me. Some of them turn around toward me for a long look, which is irritating. But I have learned to basically ignore those guys.”
Maybe some people worry that these girls might become victims of sex crimes, or get groped on trains. In fact, they say they rarely encounter such cases. One girl says, “Gropers hesitate to approach girls who dress this sexy because it’s too aggressive for them. They tend to target more conservatively dressed girls.”
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