How to dress to impress?

Several countries have certain rules concerning dress code, what not to wear and what to wear. Below you can find some tips about dress code in Japan.

Japan is a largely conservative country, and because of that the country has some different standards than Western countries, if you look at the dress code.

In this blog post, there are 3 different occasions discussed and how you should dress.

The business attire

It is key to blend in with others, because of the communal culture. You should stick to black or navy colours when dressing for a business occasion. It is important to be tidy head to toe; the man's hair should be short and nicely styled, women shouldn't wear too much make-up or a lot of perfume and the shoes must be clean and ideally easy to take off.

Just because Japan is a rather conservative country does not mean that a nice suit will not be noticed. A quality suit will be spotted. A neat black suit is a code for respect.

A wedding occasion

As well as in professional life, you should also dress more conservatively here. Your attire also depends on the type of wedding you are invited to. In Japan, you have a traditional wedding, a Christian ceremony and a more modern wedding.

At a traditional Japanese wedding, the bride wears a white outfit called a shiromuku. The man's costume is a hakama shirt and a jacket with the family crest.

While on Christian ceremonies the bride wears a modern white wedding dress and the groom's attire is a tuxedo or a morning suit.

At more modern wedding's men are wearing a dark suit, a white tie, in a formal occasion, and when the wedding is more informal the tie can also be colourful. Just make sure you don't wear a black tie. The woman's costume can be a dress or a skirt, preferably knee-height. You should avoid showing your shoulders and the colour white. If you want to dress appropriate, don't wear anything too flamboyant because it can be seen as inappropriate.

At a funeral

Guest must wear black, modest clothes; it is a sign of respect for the deceased and the family.

As a man, you should wear a black suit, a white shirt underneath, a black tie and try to avoid anything shiny or patterned.

The woman's must cover their shoulders and wear a dress or skirt where the knees are covered, including while seated. The dress or shirt must be one with a high neckline. When you have long hair then remember to tied it up neatly.

Other contemporary traditional Japanese clothing

The Kimono is widely known as a typical Japanese outfit.

The Yukata, is a more casual version of the Kimono. This is made out of cotton. It is mostly worn on festivals occasions, and it may also be given to you when you're visiting a resort.

The Hakama is a more formal attire. There are 2 versions of the Hakama, it can be a pleated skirt but it can also be full-cut trousers. It is mostly worn when martial arts are exercised.

At least, you have the Tabi socks. They separate the big toe, and is made out of white cotton.

Bibliography

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Written by Tine Verbrugghe