beware the “made in japan” trap

clothing mistakes in the pursuit of personal style

This isn’t ragebait. But it is a familiar mistake that I’ve made more times than I care to admit.

It’s been about 4 months since my last trip to Japan and I recently did a massive wardrobe audit. When I went through my “not fit for my wardrobe” pile, I noticed something: a surprising number were pickups from Japan.

What happened?

• Did I suddenly have post-Japan clarity?

• Was it the favorable exchange rate?

• The thrill of a rare secondhand piece I’d never find again?

• Or was it just because they were “Made in Japan”?

The real answer is probably that it was a mix of all of them.

Let me walk you through a few examples.

Some “mistakes” I’ve made

1) the reversible jacket

reversible jacket from cabaret poval (found at trefacstyle in kichijoji)

Why I bought it: I loved the reversible feature, the double-pocket action, japanese brand, and I really wanted a light jacket in this color – appropriate for SF weather.

The reality: What I thought was a good cropped length ended up feeling REALLY weird the more times I wore it back home. I was unsure of its identity as a jacket. Too short to be a drapey coat, too long to feel well-proportioned. Fortunately this ended up looking perfect on my wife, so it’s hers now lol.

2) the needles hd track pants

needles hd track pants (purchased at nepenthes tokyo store)

Why I bought it: Needles is a cool Japanese brand! I like the oversized silhouette of the pants, and it was 50% off US retail prices.

The reality: The pants are so big my germophobe-self dreads the idea of using a public restroom in them. They flow so much that they’ll touch a bunch of things. The color is also so light that dirt or smudges are more apparent. These are now a nice pair of indoor pajama pants.

3) a vintage reproduction crewneck sweater

warehouse & co vintage repro (purchased at merci in paris)

Why I bought it: it was on sale (60% off) in Paris, made in japan, a really nice reproduction of vintage clothing.

The reality: the purple undertones don’t work with my skin tone. It makes me look washed out and grey.

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These mistakes don’t just happen just because they’re “made in Japan,”

They happen because we’re looking for reasons to say “yes.” And when you’re passionate about fashion, those reasons start to pile up: it’s rare, a good deal, from a brand I love, it’s got “Japanese craftsmanship.”

And as I’ve nerded out about fashion more, I find myself in the same trap: I’m motivated to add a piece to my wardrobe because of my excitement for a niche brand, and if I make this mistake, it’s now a more expensive one.

A Quick Gut-Check Framework

So here’s a quick framework to ground yourself in purchasing decisions for your wardrobe:

1. Color: Does it flatter your skin tone? Does it go with the rest of your wardrobe? If not, are you willing to intentionally style it at least once a month?

2. Differentiation: Does it fill a gap in your wardrobe? Are you sure you don’t already own something just like it? (Do you really need 5 denim jackets? oops hehe)

3. Feel: Does it make you feel good? Confident? Does the fabric feel good on your skin? Do you like how it moves, how it drapes, how it fits into your idea of a “good outfit”?

Mistakes are inevitable as you continue to pursue your personal style. And personal style is never an end-state: it evolves as you evolve.

Here’s to making fewer mistakes in our style journey and learning from the ones we do make. 🥂