I’m sure you’re all just dying to know, right??!;-)
The top twelve trends that I’ve noticed out and about in Tokyo, mostly in the Shibuya and Harajuku areas:
 "Current Tokyo Trends: Summer 2010 TOP 12")
The summer sun is fierce once the rainy season ends in mid-July, and many girls add hats to their ensembles just to ward off its rays. The shape this year? The cute retro-style straw boater, often worn akilter on the head.
 "Current Tokyo Trends: Summer 2010 TOP 12")
Sweet and 70′s-ish, scarves as headgear have made a major comeback. Many scarves are also sold with flexible wire in them so you can stand the ends up like pseudo- rabbit ears, kind of a more ladylike version of that crazy Louis Vuitton-fueled trend that looks unfortunately dubious even on 16-year-olds.
It almost sounds as if those three words strung together will cause a worldwide cataclysm, but yes, tiny flower prints (think of the good ole days of 90210 the ORIGINAL) paired with flowing, full-length jumpsuit shapes are all over the place. There are also flowered dresses and blouses in similar patterns, and jumpsuits in more subdued hues (I have to admit I finally caved in and picked myself up one in black) to be found all over the place – it’s just these particular reincarnation of that 70′s staple seem to be everywhere.
Going along with the neo-hippie-bohemian-flower-child-vibe is the wicker handbag, in all varieties of shapes, sizes, and sporting all sorts of accoutrements, be it silk flowers, cascading streams of pompons and lace, or chic leather and hardware.
This trend has been going strong for about a year, and it definitely lends a childlike innocence to those who wear it. Now that summer’s here apparently the “new NEW” thing to do is create a small side part in the thick bangs.
But softer and more feminine than last year’s tough chic version, in brown and taupe and gray and black, with understated studding, fringe, or ankle-wraps.
Now with acrylic nail sculpture a thing of the past, everybody whose anybody is doing gels. And not just CALgels! I got mine done with a state-of-the-art technique that does not use UV light to harden the gel, but instead uses LED light – and it lasts up to 4 weeks! (I chose not to have my nails lengthened by building up the gel layers, which I was originally planning on doing. If the gels extend beyond your natural nails they only have about a 2-3 week staying power.) Right now lame (lah-meh) glitter powder mixed in with the gel and applied to the tips of the nails, in multiple layers, is really popular, and it looks fabulous even as your nails grow out. The shine, glitter, and gloss of my nails is unending!
 "Current Tokyo Trends: Summer 2010 TOP 12")
 "Current Tokyo Trends: Summer 2010 TOP 12")
 "Current Tokyo Trends: Summer 2010 TOP 12")
I love the head scarves. They're super cute!
I love these trends. I see some similarities in Taiwan as well.
<3 Kelly
How can your gel nails last up to 4weeks? Your nails will still grow and you'll see the nail regrowth that will need to be filled in, right? Unless the LED lamp can keep your natural nails from growing, then I don't see how it will extend the life of your nail enhancements.
Jessie Burkhardt
Director of Marketing & Communications for NSI
LOVE THIS POST! I adore! I have bookmarked it, because you have really hit the nail on the head for the perfect blog post for me! Thank you!
love, love!
Ahh, the Japanese and their neverending (almost weirdly obsessive) love of Disney….I used to work at Walt Disney World so…yeah.
Do you mind me asking, did they file the crap out of/ruin your natural nails to put those gels on? I'm trying to decide what to do about my wedding next month (for my nails, I mean). I'd love to have them painted, but I know the paint won't last on my natural nails
/ But I also don't want to RUIN my natural nails just to put gels or acrylics on once…I can't afford to keep them up after the big day.
@Kelly: No kidding! I think a lot of the fashion trends tend to be very similar across Asia! I'm not sure who is influencing whom, but…yeah!
@Jessie Burkhardt: The gel has a staying power of about 3-4 weeks until it begins separating from your natural nails. Also the cracks and wear and tear that occurs on these nails usually is pretty bad by the 3-4 week mark, so that's when most people opt to fix them. Of course your real nails will continue to grow after application and there will be an area that some people may choose to fill in, especially if the gels are colored or have a design throughout. The gels I got are clear and thus the regrowth (at about 1 mm/week) is barely visible unless you were to really examine my nails up close. The usage of the LED is not to *extend* the life of your nail enhancements, it's to avoid the damage that the UV lights cause (which can include serious burns to the underlayers of your skins, especially since they emit harmful UVB light).
@Connecticut Yankees: Actually the only filing they did was to the tips of my nails, like in a regular manicure, and swiped my nails with polish remover, and an anti-fungal solution to help the gels adhere. I used to play around with acrylic sculpted nails (doing my own and getting them done in salons as well), and they definitely RUIN your nails for sure with all the filing and roughing up the surface of the nail. I chose to try gels this time because there's no damage, they look really absolutely perfect for about a week and a half or so, they allow my real nails to grow strong and hard underneath (I have a problem with incredibly weak nails that won't grow), and once they get to raggedy-looking, I can go to the salon and get them removed inexpensively and without filing down my real nails. I'll have to give you the 411 once I've had the gels removed, but for now I'm really happy with them and I'd totally recommend them for your wedding! Congratulations by the way!:-)
Thank you ladies, for your feedback!
xoxo
Carly
Love it!!! Here in mexico everybody is wearing japanese (and korean) clothes, and it's so cheap! I love the maxidresses, but i'm very short and i look kinda weird :S
I love your blog and your DIY's!!
Greetings from Mexico