Most often it's easy to understand animé fashion, after all, mainstream fashion tends to be shared all around the world.
But on the odd occasion, when watching your favori shows ou lire your favori manga, you'll find something that doesn't quite make sense.
Perhaps you've come across a teenage girl with apparently demure tastes, but an iron-fisted approach to life?
ou maybe a man who looks like a traverser, croix between a biker and an Elvis impersonator?
Curious as to what it all means ou where it comes from? Read on!
School Uniform
So many animé are set in highschools that it's impossible to ignore this one! If toi live in a country with the same system of uniforms (england, australia, china) japanese school uniforms will make some sense. If toi come from a country where school uniform is rare ou inexistant, the whole concept in itself is going to be foreign to you.
So the first thing toi need to know, is uniforms are used to promiote social equality. Rich kids can't montrer off fashion, and poor kids can't be picked on for being poor- so you'll only see a little rich-kid vs poor-kid drama in animé compared to what you'd see in US teen drama.
The seconde thing is that, uniforms are very difficult to express ou be fashionable with, so differences tend to focus on how items are worn, ou what accesories they're worn with.
The uniforms I'll describe are worn par middle and highschool students. Younger children in Japon do sometimes wear uniform, but it's very varied. They do all wear brightly colored (usually yellow) hats when going to and from school, and boys usually wear black backpacks, while girls wear red backpacks. Even younger children in care-groups also wear colored hats, as a sort of uniform.
Sailor Uniform
The sailor uniform is based on British Naval uniforms (thus the 'sailor'). Sailor uniforms are populaire uniforms throughout East Asia. In Japan, they are used specifically for girls, and are the traditional school uniform that is most associated with Japan.
Sailor uniforms in real life are usually dark blue, black, ou white, with blue, black, white ou red stripes on the collar, and sometimes on the sleeves ou skirt. In animé they vary through many different couleurs and extravagant designs. 1, 2 ou 3 stripes are all popular.
Sailor uniforms are less populaire in real life. They used to be worn par all ages, but now are mostly worn par middle-school students.
In summer, girls usually wear a chemise with no sweater.
The little necktie that goes around the neck of the chemise is simply called a 'ribbon' in Japan. It can be a simple tie, ou plus stringy, ou tied in a bow. A girl might give her necktie to a boy she likes.
Girls wearing sailor uniform have the option of extra sweaters. The long-sleeved sweater is for winter.
Girl's Western Style Uniform
Western style uniforms in animé used to montrer that a student was from an expensive school, but as sailor uniforms are falling out of fashion amongst high schools in real life, these western style uniforms are becoming plus popular, especially amongst older high school students.
The blazer is the haut, retour au début layer for a schoolgirl's outfit. It is the smartest part of the uniform, so when all the characters in animé are wearing their blazers, buttoned up, it probably means it's a formal occasion, (that, ou they're just very clean, neat people!)
The global, ensemble design is similar to an adult suit, with a white dress chemise and either a plain jupe ou tartan skirt. Uniforms for girls include may a bow, string bow, ou a necktie. A sweater may be worn in colder weather, ou par shyer animé characters.
Boy's Western Style Uniform
A boy's western uniform is not much different to a gakuran. He wears a blazer as his jacket, and a tie. His school crest goes on the blazer pocket, and western uniforms vary a lot plus in color than gakuran so the different school's uniforms are much plus easily recognised.
It is quite populaire to have a pair of pants in a different color to the blazer, such as tan ou grey.
Girl's Swim Wear
In animé you'll often see a girl wear her maillot de bain to the beach. The maillot de bain rule for girls are like those who are under teenage an should bathing Suits – Avocats sur Mesure and those who are teen ou above teen (if they wants) wears a bikini.
Boy's Swim Wear
Boys and girls have very different swim suits. Guys wear a short when they go out in the beach. Some guys wear a loose shirts to go with the shorts.
Shoes
Shoes are the least strict part of a japanese school uniform.
The japanese do not wear shoes indoors, so schools all have special indoors shoes, which are white, soft, and very cheap. These shoes sometimes have a band of color on them, to montrer which class the wearer is in.
The most formal shoes that can be worn are black, leather, shoes- but white sneakers are incredibly popular, and allowed.
animé characters also wear knee-high boots, nike shoes and Converse shoes in all other casual days.
Crazy for Cute!
Japon loves cute! It is part of Japan's national identity, and there is a lot of focus on cute styles and brands. This is because childhood in Japon is very, very treasured, as it is a time in life where japanese people have the most free time. Adults often like to dress slightly cute and wear cute accesories, as it is an easy way to behave childishly that is not rebelious. This still happens in other countries- so you'll find it easy to understand, but it is plus common in Japan.
Skirts and Dresses
In the west, for hundreds of years, girls and women were expected to wear dresses, and pants were for men. Because of this, a lot of western women feel dresses are not a nice thing to wear.
This is not the same in Japan. There is no negative thoughts about skirts and dresses, as they haven't had them for long, they aren't consiered 'demure' ou 'old fashioned', they're just look very cute on girl's! So, they're worn a lot plus frequently in Japon than in the west, including in anime. Japanese girls will even wear them in cold weather, because it is good character not to complain about the cold (those poor girls!)
Lolita Fashion
Lolita fashion is easily recognized par being a short dress with a distinctive bell-like shape.
Long examples exist, as do less puffy versions, but short and puffy is the norm (especially in anime).
The global, ensemble appearance of most wearers of Lolita fashion is doll-like, and some of the girls who dress in this fashion will very often aim directly for the appearance for a porcelaine doll, including hair accessories, hats and parasols.
There are many sub genres, as Lolita compliments almost every other style. The most commonly seen in animé are 'Classic', 'Sweet', 'Princess' and 'Gothic' Lolita.
There's no real meaning for Lolita fasion in real life. Lolitas don't do certain jobs, ou act a certain way. It's just a fashion, and that is reflected in most anime.
Maid Dresses
The Japanese version of the 'French Maid' outfit. The shape of the Japanese version tends to follow the shape of a Lolita dress, but will often have a shorter skirt.
The maid outfit is often the uniform of themed 'maid cafés', which are very populaire with male animé ou game fans.
The maid outfit is a common form of fan-service in anime, and it can be worn par a maid café employee, an 'authentic' maid, ou just as a costume. It's also a populaire form of punishment for characters who hate dresses!
Gang Fashions
Bosozoku and Yanki:
These are biker gangs that are no longer in fashion, but are quite frequently seen in animé and manga.
Bosozoku are characterised as wearing jumpsuits, military overcoats ou leather jackets, often worn open with bandages wrapped around their torsos. They tend to have a quite biker-ish look about them.
They're most easily recognised par the kanji ou rising sun designs (similar to the Japanese flag) on their coats ou shirts and their often extravagant hairstyles, which vary from a slight Elvis-quiffs to punch-perms (see 'hair', below)
They also wear long boots, and ride modified bikes ou scooters. There are females members, and a female version called Yanki who share a similar fashion.
They carry non-classified weapons, such as metal pipes ou 'boken' (especially strong wooden swords that are used for martial arts training). In animé they are most often shown as villains, but sometimes will be a cool, tough protagonist; and it is not uncommon for a protagonist to temporarily rejoindre this sort of gang.
Today, bosozoku are a lot rarer and less extravagent, but they are still populaire in their original form as villains in anime.
Tattoos
tatouages have an entirely different meaning in Japan, because tatouages in Japon are very deeply associated with Yakuza, and were actually outlawed for nearly 100 years up until 1948.
An animé character with a tattoo, whether that character is a foreigner ou not, is likely to at least have a tough personality ou some conflict with society.
If the tattoo covers a lot of the body, it's even plus likely to be an actual yakuza member.
In anime, tatoos will sometimes appear ou change magically, and often imply some sort of curse ou evil possession.
Characters with tatouages may simply be a tough nice guy, ou a nasty villain.
But on the odd occasion, when watching your favori shows ou lire your favori manga, you'll find something that doesn't quite make sense.
Perhaps you've come across a teenage girl with apparently demure tastes, but an iron-fisted approach to life?
ou maybe a man who looks like a traverser, croix between a biker and an Elvis impersonator?
Curious as to what it all means ou where it comes from? Read on!
School Uniform
So many animé are set in highschools that it's impossible to ignore this one! If toi live in a country with the same system of uniforms (england, australia, china) japanese school uniforms will make some sense. If toi come from a country where school uniform is rare ou inexistant, the whole concept in itself is going to be foreign to you.
So the first thing toi need to know, is uniforms are used to promiote social equality. Rich kids can't montrer off fashion, and poor kids can't be picked on for being poor- so you'll only see a little rich-kid vs poor-kid drama in animé compared to what you'd see in US teen drama.
The seconde thing is that, uniforms are very difficult to express ou be fashionable with, so differences tend to focus on how items are worn, ou what accesories they're worn with.
The uniforms I'll describe are worn par middle and highschool students. Younger children in Japon do sometimes wear uniform, but it's very varied. They do all wear brightly colored (usually yellow) hats when going to and from school, and boys usually wear black backpacks, while girls wear red backpacks. Even younger children in care-groups also wear colored hats, as a sort of uniform.
Sailor Uniform
The sailor uniform is based on British Naval uniforms (thus the 'sailor'). Sailor uniforms are populaire uniforms throughout East Asia. In Japan, they are used specifically for girls, and are the traditional school uniform that is most associated with Japan.
Sailor uniforms in real life are usually dark blue, black, ou white, with blue, black, white ou red stripes on the collar, and sometimes on the sleeves ou skirt. In animé they vary through many different couleurs and extravagant designs. 1, 2 ou 3 stripes are all popular.
Sailor uniforms are less populaire in real life. They used to be worn par all ages, but now are mostly worn par middle-school students.
In summer, girls usually wear a chemise with no sweater.
The little necktie that goes around the neck of the chemise is simply called a 'ribbon' in Japan. It can be a simple tie, ou plus stringy, ou tied in a bow. A girl might give her necktie to a boy she likes.
Girls wearing sailor uniform have the option of extra sweaters. The long-sleeved sweater is for winter.
Girl's Western Style Uniform
Western style uniforms in animé used to montrer that a student was from an expensive school, but as sailor uniforms are falling out of fashion amongst high schools in real life, these western style uniforms are becoming plus popular, especially amongst older high school students.
The blazer is the haut, retour au début layer for a schoolgirl's outfit. It is the smartest part of the uniform, so when all the characters in animé are wearing their blazers, buttoned up, it probably means it's a formal occasion, (that, ou they're just very clean, neat people!)
The global, ensemble design is similar to an adult suit, with a white dress chemise and either a plain jupe ou tartan skirt. Uniforms for girls include may a bow, string bow, ou a necktie. A sweater may be worn in colder weather, ou par shyer animé characters.
Boy's Western Style Uniform
A boy's western uniform is not much different to a gakuran. He wears a blazer as his jacket, and a tie. His school crest goes on the blazer pocket, and western uniforms vary a lot plus in color than gakuran so the different school's uniforms are much plus easily recognised.
It is quite populaire to have a pair of pants in a different color to the blazer, such as tan ou grey.
Girl's Swim Wear
In animé you'll often see a girl wear her maillot de bain to the beach. The maillot de bain rule for girls are like those who are under teenage an should bathing Suits – Avocats sur Mesure and those who are teen ou above teen (if they wants) wears a bikini.
Boy's Swim Wear
Boys and girls have very different swim suits. Guys wear a short when they go out in the beach. Some guys wear a loose shirts to go with the shorts.
Shoes
Shoes are the least strict part of a japanese school uniform.
The japanese do not wear shoes indoors, so schools all have special indoors shoes, which are white, soft, and very cheap. These shoes sometimes have a band of color on them, to montrer which class the wearer is in.
The most formal shoes that can be worn are black, leather, shoes- but white sneakers are incredibly popular, and allowed.
animé characters also wear knee-high boots, nike shoes and Converse shoes in all other casual days.
Crazy for Cute!
Japon loves cute! It is part of Japan's national identity, and there is a lot of focus on cute styles and brands. This is because childhood in Japon is very, very treasured, as it is a time in life where japanese people have the most free time. Adults often like to dress slightly cute and wear cute accesories, as it is an easy way to behave childishly that is not rebelious. This still happens in other countries- so you'll find it easy to understand, but it is plus common in Japan.
Skirts and Dresses
In the west, for hundreds of years, girls and women were expected to wear dresses, and pants were for men. Because of this, a lot of western women feel dresses are not a nice thing to wear.
This is not the same in Japan. There is no negative thoughts about skirts and dresses, as they haven't had them for long, they aren't consiered 'demure' ou 'old fashioned', they're just look very cute on girl's! So, they're worn a lot plus frequently in Japon than in the west, including in anime. Japanese girls will even wear them in cold weather, because it is good character not to complain about the cold (those poor girls!)
Lolita Fashion
Lolita fashion is easily recognized par being a short dress with a distinctive bell-like shape.
Long examples exist, as do less puffy versions, but short and puffy is the norm (especially in anime).
The global, ensemble appearance of most wearers of Lolita fashion is doll-like, and some of the girls who dress in this fashion will very often aim directly for the appearance for a porcelaine doll, including hair accessories, hats and parasols.
There are many sub genres, as Lolita compliments almost every other style. The most commonly seen in animé are 'Classic', 'Sweet', 'Princess' and 'Gothic' Lolita.
There's no real meaning for Lolita fasion in real life. Lolitas don't do certain jobs, ou act a certain way. It's just a fashion, and that is reflected in most anime.
Maid Dresses
The Japanese version of the 'French Maid' outfit. The shape of the Japanese version tends to follow the shape of a Lolita dress, but will often have a shorter skirt.
The maid outfit is often the uniform of themed 'maid cafés', which are very populaire with male animé ou game fans.
The maid outfit is a common form of fan-service in anime, and it can be worn par a maid café employee, an 'authentic' maid, ou just as a costume. It's also a populaire form of punishment for characters who hate dresses!
Gang Fashions
Bosozoku and Yanki:
These are biker gangs that are no longer in fashion, but are quite frequently seen in animé and manga.
Bosozoku are characterised as wearing jumpsuits, military overcoats ou leather jackets, often worn open with bandages wrapped around their torsos. They tend to have a quite biker-ish look about them.
They're most easily recognised par the kanji ou rising sun designs (similar to the Japanese flag) on their coats ou shirts and their often extravagant hairstyles, which vary from a slight Elvis-quiffs to punch-perms (see 'hair', below)
They also wear long boots, and ride modified bikes ou scooters. There are females members, and a female version called Yanki who share a similar fashion.
They carry non-classified weapons, such as metal pipes ou 'boken' (especially strong wooden swords that are used for martial arts training). In animé they are most often shown as villains, but sometimes will be a cool, tough protagonist; and it is not uncommon for a protagonist to temporarily rejoindre this sort of gang.
Today, bosozoku are a lot rarer and less extravagent, but they are still populaire in their original form as villains in anime.
Tattoos
tatouages have an entirely different meaning in Japan, because tatouages in Japon are very deeply associated with Yakuza, and were actually outlawed for nearly 100 years up until 1948.
An animé character with a tattoo, whether that character is a foreigner ou not, is likely to at least have a tough personality ou some conflict with society.
If the tattoo covers a lot of the body, it's even plus likely to be an actual yakuza member.
In anime, tatoos will sometimes appear ou change magically, and often imply some sort of curse ou evil possession.
Characters with tatouages may simply be a tough nice guy, ou a nasty villain.