Brightest Young Things

Disclaimer: This is not a style-guide. This is not about fashion. This is not even judgmental. This column is about people on DC’s streets. People, who seem as if they put a thought or two into their outfits before leaving the house. People, whose look is working – for them, in their own opinion.
Every day we follow passersbys at their heels for five minutes to find out where and how they shopped and have them answer five quick questions about their look.
No particular scheme. No particular price range. No particular beauty standards. Just an outfit that for any reason caught our eye.

Why him? First time I met Tatsuya he was wearing high-heels - and that with such grace that I was sure he did that on a regular basis. Unfortunately, back then I lost him in Halloween turbulence before getting the chance to ask. Seems that the fate gave me another try - this time with boots and tie.

Coat: $150, outlet mall in Virginia

Sweater: 5000 yen, vintage

Shirt: $30, Macy's
Tie: gift

Boots: 1200 yen,  from a vintage shoe store in Kyoto

What do you prefer:  boots or  heels?
Definitely the boots, I really respect you girls for doing that every day.

How come you were so good at walking in them?

I guess I'm a natural talent. I only bought the heels Friday before Halloween and practiced for an afternoon. It was enough to survive the evening without breaking my legs.

How are clothes here different from Tokyo?

People here are more afraid to experiment. Back home people dress to stand out, here I have the feeling here they dress to blend in, to be part of something.

What about you?

I'm certainly not the craziest dresser. If you look for insane outfits you have to go to Tokyo's boroughs Shibuya and Harajuku. People go there to see and be seen, some of them wear animal costumes, spend hours and hours on painting themselves or put on countless layers of clothes, like an onion.

And you usually avoid these boroughs?

Don't get me wrong: I'm certainly not fashion timid. The Tatsuya you see now is the business-casual me.