As Amazon Fashion Week Tokyo S/S 2019 came to a close on October 23, we look back at a few of our favorite trends spotted on the runways. Mainly held in Shibuya Hikarie and Omotesando Hills, the event’s overwhelming themes were flowy and layered fabrics as well as mix-and-match textures with a chic twist, and a palette of sky and dark blues, shades of white, taupe, muted greens, and occasional pops of vibrant color. Tokyo Fashion Week’s distinctly muted hues seem to reflect the country’s annual rainy season, usually observed in late spring to early summer. In preparation for next year’s wardrobe, we introduce five key trends that stood out on the runway – watch the video above for catwalk clips.
Trend #1: Floaty Fabrics
Long, floaty fabrics dominated the runway in the women’s collections, creating an ethereal aura. This was especially prevalent in the Aoi Wanaka show, where the star of the runway was a muted blue knit top splitting down the chest and midriff with flouncy mini-sleeves, paired with matching knit shorts under a long sheer top which gave volume and movement to the look. The same trend was seen in Middla’s collection, where light floaty fabrics complemented checkered patterns. Both brands presented delicate, elegant pieces, all of which would translate well into everyday wear.
Trend #2: Layers and Flounces
Layering has been a long-time staple in Japanese fashion, and it continues to prevail for next year’s spring/summer looks. Designer Viviano Sue took the trend to the extreme with pink and beige tulle ruffled and stitched onto flounce-shaped layers all over a sequin-encrusted off-white dress, creating a voluminous and oversized form where the arms and body shape were no longer distinguishable. But there were also more subtle examples of layering: in one piece, long rectangular cuts of fabric fell from the shoulders, covering the sleeves and dangling over the ensemble, even grazing the floor, to create an overall A-line shape.
Trend #3: Oversized Streetwear
In street fashion, oversized equals edgy. This look was spotted on both men and women, especially in Acuod by Chanu. In one look, shoulder seams, distinguished by a sudden switch in color from a blue-and-white pattern to a solid black, draped over the arm just below the bicep, while the top’s length extended well below the hips. The oversized silk top engulfed the model and erased their shape, highlighting the boxy formless look as a street-style trend.
Trend #4: The Deconstructed Look
Acuod by Chanu embodied the deconstructed look, from split sleeves to certain pieces barely held together by a zipper. In general, zippers were a prevalent accessory, precariously holding garments together, creating an edgy street look. Even the headpieces screamed deconstruction, with lego-like structures dangling from or covering one part of the head – as if the headpiece was incomplete, the missing segments nowhere to be found. In Viviano Sue’s collection, several raincoats featured missing sections: sleeves hung from under the arm and flared out, leaving the shoulder bare, while squares of fabric were cut out from the front of the jackets, revealing the pockets on the inside of the garment.
Trend #5: Tsuyu Palette
Last but not least, tsuyu, or the East Asian rainy season, was a ubiquitous theme spreading throughout Aoi Wanaka, Middla and Viviano Sue’s collections. Somber and light blues were the key shades, alongside overall muted tones such as taupes, muddy greens, grays and cloudy whites. Viviano Sue was especially entrenched in the theme, as models on the runway all had wet, glossy makeup with strands of damp hair covering parts of their faces. The soundtrack featured a decadent tune overlaid with the static sound of falling rain, adding to the underlying horror film ambience as models slowly paced the runway amongst long strips of foil reflecting different shades of colored lights.
More information at amazonfashionweektokyo.com/en/
