I went to Japan with my daughter for the new year. It was holiday season there, and we spent a lot of time just walking around both historic and new places in Tokyo, Kamakura, Kyoto and Nara. I loved Japan and highly recommend it as a vacation destination.

When I travel I am always interested in what other women wear.

Tokyo was less trendy than I had expected, except for Harajuku, which has a fashion life of its own that ranges from Lolita, Kawaii (cute) looks to what I could best describe as Miss Marple. (I purchased a cream wool cardigan that fit the trend well.)

In Japan, I was definitely off-norm in style (see, e.g., metallic blue puffer in finds). My daughter is the queen of neutrals and non formfitting clothes and she was extremely pleased with a large fleece she purchased on the trip. (She also loves Japanese sweets, but that's another matter entirely.)

While there were many tourists, most were Chinese or Korean and not Western. Because it was the end of the year, holiday season, there were many Japanese people out at the temples and historic sites we were visiting, which was a plus. I don't speak Japanese, other than about 10 words I learned on the trip, but I petted or admired a lot of nice Japanese dogs.

My observations overall, for a winter where it was sunny most of the time, with temperatures typically high 30s to high 40s fahrenheit: most women were wearing skirts. Full midi skirts, mostly black, but also grey plaid or herringbone. Usually with heavy tights or even leggings underneath. Lace up black boots, or other black boots were prevalent. Hardly anyone wears form-fitting clothing, and skinny jeans were a rarity. In Tokyo, Doc Martens were definitely a thing. In fact, it was rare to see shoe colors other than black. There were a lot of black puffers, and otherwise long wool coats in black, grey, camel or pale pink. And that was pretty much it. Neutrals were quite prevalent, and I hardly ever saw any unusual patterns or bright colors. There were many people out in kimonos (women colorful, men not) -- both Japanese and tourists who rented them from shops.

Upon returning home, I was inspired to order a camel coat (find is black), long black skirt and lace-up boots. (I deeply regret a black skirt I failed to purchase in Shibuya.) If I am successful in my Japanese adaptation, I shall post further.