A steady current towards "minimalistic" looks. From "wear" to "be".

Looking back at the last half of 2011, Japan's fashion seems to have turned a page. Where different styles were once freely combined, street styles seemed to be headed towards "minimalistic" looks. "Minimalistic" fashion is about keeping things down to the basics, not going over the top with accessories, colors, or patterns, and instead focusing on the essentials; the quality of the material, cut, and fit.

Referencing what we saw on the streets this year, summer fashion was all about effortlessness. Soft materials, summer knits, plain shirts, and short pants were incorporated to create a loose and airy look.

Come autumn and winter, we saw more single-breasted soutien collar coats, and mode coats, than double-breasted and embellished coats.

Perhaps the most outstanding trend of this year was "nude colors". Some bright colors had their brief time in the sun---for example, blue in summer, and bordeaux in winter-- but nude colors, like beige and caramel, were the hands-down favorites throughout the whole year. Easy to mix and match, and close to skin tones, the popularity of the color signaled a move towards minimalism.

Instead of the "wear whatever you like" look of past seasons, fashion seems to be becoming more about making the clothes an extension of yourself.