I really don’t like the phrase “trying too hard” when it comes to describing someone’s style or an outfit they are wearing. Even when people are using it to describe themselves, I find it unfair and not at all constructive. 

That said, it is definitely a real thing. It is the exact opposite of what I would describe as effortless style. When you are “trying too hard” you are sporting a look that takes you out of your comfort zone and makes you feel self-conscious. The confidence, such an important ingredient of a successful outfit, is missing. 

Confidence is important, but evolving your style might be just as important. Experimenting with different silhouettes, fabrications, colours, shoe shapes, accessories, tones of make-up and hairstyles will keep your style fresh, fashionable, and interesting. Perhaps most important, it is fun to experiment.

The thing is, you’re probably going to feel more self-conscious and less confident when you move out of your comfort zone. You might look like you are “trying too hard”. 

That’s completely ok.

If you can, forget about what others might think and focus on evolving your style. Or take smaller steps outside your comfort zone and evolve your style in little increments. Over time, the experiments will pay off and you will find a new, evolved style that makes you feel confident and therefore looks effortless to others. After all, practice makes perfect.

Also, the more experimentation you do, the less self-conscious you will feel when you experiment. Looking at the street style in Harajuku it struck me that here are people who might not even have a comfort zone based on certain items, silhouettes, or styles. Their comfort zone is trying new things, and they are confident in their experiments.

You might read this post and think that I am contradicting my pillars of effortless style, but I’m not. I do still believe in those pillars today. Here’s the important point: some days you are going to decide to look effortless and dress within your current comfort zone. That’s when the pillars apply. On other days you are going to step outside your comfort zone and consciously sacrifice effortless style in order to evolve. 

Perhaps we can find a more supportive and constructive way of describing those moments of style transition when we are experimenting and finding our way. I’m open to suggestions.

Greg and I derive as much enjoyment from eating great dishes and appreciating their presentation as we do from observing fashion and style. Japanese food happens to be one of our favourites, so each carefully chosen meal in Japan was a joyous ritual, provoking much conversation. And picture taking. 

There are five unique Japanese food and beverage experiences that stole our hearts and we thought we’d go completely off topic and share them with you today.

Specialized Restaurants

These typically small eateries, some seating no more than four people, specialize in only one type of food. For example, a yakitori-ya specializes in chicken on a stick that’s grilled on coals right in front of you when you’re seated at the bar. An unagi-ya specializes in grilled unagi (eel). And sushi restaurants serve little but sushi and sashimi. This is very different to most Japanese restaurants we’ve experienced outside of Japan, where you typically find yakitori, unagi and sushi all on the same menu.

Sushi is my favourite food and eating it in Japan was sublime. We ordered our favourites like hand rolls and tuna sashimi, and also tried a few new things under the supervision of our dear friends Tomoko and Brian.

Izakayas

These types of restaurants serve seasonal Japanese food on small and medium plates. What a tapas bar is to Spain, or a pub is to Britain, the Izakaya is to Japan. It is a place where you can grab a tasty snack while having a drink or two with friends or colleagues. The food types and price points at izakayas vary a great deal and we recognized very few items on the menus. But with Tomoko’s guidance we ate extremely well and had lots of utterly scrumptious food.

Our best Izakaya experience was a place alongside the canal in Kyoto, where we took Brian for his birthday dinner.

Department Store Food Halls

I grew up in Hong Kong, where Japanese department stores like Takashimaya, Diamaru, Sogo and Seibu, were very popular. So visiting them always brings back fond memories. I LOVE Japanese department stores, and one of the reasons is the large variety of the most exquisitely prepared gourmet “to go” food that they serve from counters as neat as a pin in their basement levels. People buy the delights to eat at lunch time, or take them home to have for supper. Tomoko told us that the food is discounted at 5pm each day, by which time most of it has already been sold.

We didn’t eat at a food hall on this trip, but we did go to Takashimaya and take photos of the wonderful dishes until one of the serving ladies starting scolding Greg.

Standing Bars

There are so many small, interesting bars in Japan. Some of them have the odd seat, but for the most part people stand at high counters and drink. They might order a small snack with their drink, but will stand while eating. The interiors are small, decorative and cozy, mixing up the modern with the traditional (a theme that runs throughout Japan). You’ll often see them full of men in suits straight after work. The interiors are festive and the alcohol itself becomes part of the decor. We found the huge bottles of schochu (a Japanese distilled spirit) particularly attractive. And the bartenders are pretty cool too.

Some of the guests moved to a particularly cosy bar after Brian and Tomoko’s wedding reception. This bar was also called a “one coin bar” because most of the drinks could be purchased with a single 500 Yen coin (about $6, which is very reasonable in Tokyo).

Vending Machines

Japan’s virtually vandalism-free society allows for a serious vending machine culture. They are all over the streets of Japan, like three or four around every street corner, and create a very colourful scene. They dispense both hot and cold drinks, snacks and cigarettes. The vending machine products are extremely affordable and come in very handy.

And despite taking every opportunity to consume large quantities of Japanese delights, both Greg and I returned from Japan having lost weight. It really does seem to be a healthy, balanced cuisine, as long as you eat the carbohydrates in the same proportion that the Japanese do. I think we have a tendency to overdo the rice when we eat Japanese here in the USA.

We’re almost done with the coverage of our trip to Japan, but we’ve left the best to last — the wedding itself — which we will cover early next week.

Rae says that getwear is an easy to follow, user-friendly and budget-friendly custom-made-jeans site, and is eager to roadtest their jeans. 

MaryK suggests browsing through the Mad Men scene commentaries on Tom and Lorenzo. Lorenzo’s analysis and commentary of each episode is amazing and the clothes are even better. 

Mac was inspired by this article on Passage des Perles about the legendary Jane Birkin, who in her 60′s is as stylish as ever. 

Annagybe, who has been passionate about mint green wardrobe items this Spring, was delighted to find this slideshow with 13 seafoam-green finds. 

Inge was fascinated by The Coveteur’s inside glimpse into the closets of designers and people in the fashion industry. She loves the photography and how each picture has a short personal story about the items shown. 

Anne found an interesting article in The American Interest: “Jobs of the Future: Style for Hire.“

Lisa thinks that the style on popstylecle is daring. 

Laurinda recommends reading through the discussion on Already Pretty about body hair issues, and how these issues are linked to gender norms and body image. 

Ironkurtin loves the blog Stop It Right Now for its interesting perspective on shopping habits. 

Coincidentally, Garance Dore was also in Japan last week and here is her take on all things Tokyo.

Our dear friend Tomoko, who grew up in Chiba near Tokyo, told us that Harajuku was the place to see Tokyo teens and young adults go to great lengths to showcase their creative style. So with camera in hand we headed out to Harajuku’s Takeshita-dori to check out the action. 

It did not disappoint! The street, lined with small shops and boutiques, is filled with young lasses and gents expressing their unique and wonderfully over-the-top styles. Greg’s photos speak louder than my words, so without further ado, check out these youngsters having fun with fashion, Harajuku style.

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