How Two Weeks in Tokyo Helped Me Rediscover My Personal Style
Back in April, I landed in Japan at 3 a.m. after a long flight from New York—and awoke three hours later to begin my first (jetlagged) day in Tokyo. Thankfully, more than any other destination, Tokyo has always had the remarkable ability to reinvigorate me—and just as importantly, how I get dressed. It’s a city of contradictions, with subway supermalls only a few steps away from serene neighborhood shrines, or charming streets with local ramen and third-floor monjayaki spots located across from a seven-floor TGI Fridays. Which instead of confusing me, makes complete sense—contradictions and contrasts have always been the bedrock of my approach to style.
Recontextualizing Style: A Journey Begins
Recontextualizing an item in an unexpected way was how I originally found my place within the fashion industry. A pair of track pants with a ruffled feminine top, an anorak with a soft chiffon skirt, pastels with a hint of neon. It’s a delicate balancing act that I felt I’d lost over the past few years in New York City. I had started to question if I was overcomplicating the items in my closet—even pieces I loved—after spending too much time on social media.
So, I started planning this trip. There are some vacations that are meant for relaxing (by the beach, cocktail in hand) and other vacations that are meant for challenging yourself. Historically, Tokyo has pushed me out of my comfort zone—but I’ve always come home feeling reinvigorated creatively.
The Transformative Power of Observation
This would be my third trip to Japan. The last time I visited was in 2019: I was a fashion assistant at a magazine, my hair was pink, and in all honesty, I still didn’t have my personal style quite figured out. I packed my usual everyday items: a puffer coat, some easy comfortable pants, a few sweatshirts, and a pair of Skechers. But after returning home, I felt a sartorial shift after observing how authentically everyone dressed for themselves in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka.
People dressed in outfits that felt truly lived in. Thoughtfully tailored to be worn for a lifetime. Making a convincing case for putting care into the clothing you already own. I remember clearly thinking: This is how you translate those fashion editorials into your real, everyday life.
Packing with Purpose
So it was that spirit I tried to reconnect with when I began packing my suitcase for two weeks in Tokyo. It forced me to get creative with how I built my outfits, and to see the clothing I own in a new context.
- When in Tokyo, my “boring” everyday denim and leather jackets looked shiny and new.
- My two pairs of shoes seemed to be the only shoes I would ever need!
I packed some wild-card-last-minute-decision items, like a pair of green lace-up leather pants and a striped Kiko Kostadinov dress. These pieces—that see the light of day only a few times every year in New York City—somehow became staple items in Tokyo. I started brainstorming outfits around the daunting pieces in my closet at home that I loved but had neglected.
Adapting to Tokyo’s Overstimulation
In Tokyo, where overstimulation is only a subway ride away (if that), instead of feeling panicked when I got out of Shibuya station, I felt a sense of calm and curiosity. I could process it all on my own time.
I was staying at K5 Hotel in Kabutocho, formerly the financial district and home to the Tokyo Stock Exchange, and housed in a bank building that dates back to 1923. My everyday routine was simple: I woke up and read a few chapters of “My Year of Magical Thinking” by Joan Didion (I try to read a book every vacation so that I can associate the book with the trip), then headed out for the day to find breakfast (a surprisingly difficult task because a lot of places in Tokyo don’t open until 11 a.m.), then took my time popping into shops in various neighborhoods. By 8 p.m., I was exhausted and ready to go to the local sento—or neighborhood communal bathhouse—and give myself time to fully process everything I saw that day.
Reflection Through Style
Instead of “decompressing” by scrolling mindlessly on TikTok and Instagram, I would reflect on the outfits I saw that day. I especially loved seeing the unique styles of the salarymen on their way to work, with the subtlest winks to their own personal style.
- Like the guy I sat across from on the train with a Comme des Garcons multi-pocket briefcase reading manga on his way to work,
- or the elderly man I spotted in one of the city’s smoking sections wearing a leather Bottega Veneta tie.
Beautiful pieces of clothing brought to life by the authenticity of how they were worn. The kind of thing you can only appreciate when you see it in real life.
Cultivating a Newfound Confidence
On my final days in Tokyo, I began to find myself mentally removing items that I had previously put in the box of “things I would never wear.” (V-neck sweaters, collared shirts, bomber jackets, anything yellow—the list goes on.)
I asked myself why I felt so inspired and excited to dress up every day in Tokyo, but couldn’t bring that same energy to my day-to-day life in New York City? For some reason, after two weeks here, getting dressed here felt like an opportunity, not an obligation.
The Homecoming: A Closet Overhaul
Now that I’m back home, I’ve been inspired to undergo a massive closet overhaul. But instead of waving items of clothing goodbye, I’ve been trying everything on, thinking about the fit, and finding new places for it in my wardrobe.
It’s challenging to find ways to grow with your clothing (trust me and my green leather lace-up pants) but as I’ve learned from my trip to Tokyo, it’s worth it. Sometimes all it takes is getting dressed in a new city to get you excited again about the clothes you already own.