Girls Just Want To Have Fun!

TELL ME BIG BOSS

Tell me how to spend our youth！

Photo_ Saeka Shimada　
Model_ mei (Gunn’s)

JAPANESE ENGLISH

“BABA”, a clothing store located in Sendagaya, Tokyo.
The shop is established by Keisuke Baba,
a Japanese top stylist who has a long, various career on fashion scene for decades.
As a well-known devotee of the British culture,
he advises us on fashion comprehensively at his store
where the U.K. vintages and antiques hit the shelves.
Today, we will disclose the current circumstances of the young generation
compared to his generation with Mr. Baba, our special instructor.
Mei, who is regarded as "it girl" from GIRL HOUYHNHNM generation asked his story.

Play, play, and just play hard during youth.

Keisuke Baba, one of the most influential stylist in Japanese fashion scene, went over to the Great Britain in 1986 and then started his career as a stylist right after he came back to Japan. Today’s interviewees include Mei(model), a photographer, and an editor who are all 23-year-old ladies. Today, we got a chance to hold an interview with Mr. Baba to discuss about his experiences during youth, his view towards the current young generation, and his specific advices for those youth.

What did you work for before living in the U.K. when you were 26 year old or younger?: Firstly, I came to Tokyo as I was going to attend a college there, yet I quit the school within 2 years and went back to my home town, Kumamoto, when I was 20. I didn’t go much classes, so I was removed from the school register unfortunately, haha. Thereafter, I worked at a clothing store and a bar.
Did you often visit the U.K. before you started living there?: Not much, but I have long been desired to live somewhere in Europe, so I visited Paris and London once each. Then, I decided to live in the U.K. just by my intuition. I was based in London, yet I visited many other cities as well, and I loved Manchester. There was a famous nightclub called “Hacienda” where The Smiths, a popular British band in 1980’s, was often hardly played. They are so memorable as I liked them a lot then.
That sounds an amazing environment for a U.K. rock nut. What do you like about the U.K.?: Of course the U.K. fashion and music. Well, I also like the British dishes such as fish-and-chips. It’s freakin tasty when putting as much as vinegar as I’d even be choked, haha. I kind of also like “the British” bad weather as well.I suddenly started living in the U.K., but I didn’t struggle much. I often went out to parties, so I could quickly make native friends. I think the characters of Japanese and the British are quite similar. Thus, I do recommend young Japanese to live in the U.K. Unfortunately, living expenses today have been multiplied since the time I was living there.

How did the street fashion today in Tokyo and London transform compared to your twenties?: Styles and preferences in the two cities used to be immensely different, but they aren’t much disparate today. The British conventional culture on fashion is started to fade out recently where the British teenagers began to wear in prevalent fashion. Tokyo and London are both way too Americanized that fashion is well-globalized compared to 32 years ago, yet simultaneously I sometimes feel it unfortunate.

What would you recommend for ladies in their twenties to do now?: Play so much hard and then meet influential people. I encountered various kinds of people when I was in my twenties, and I still keep in touch with some of them. If you hang out for several times with a person, you’d know if he/she suits you, right? If the person doesn’t match you well, that is the end of its rapport. As social media developed, the youth started feel satisfied with a relation once they become “a friend or a follower” online. Honestly, that sucks. Youth’d be better meeting face-to-face and learn about each other. In addition, I’d recommend connecting to wealthy elders who can take you out to many stimulative places! It’s so much fun to encounter the adult, unknown world.

Thank you for the great advices! Next question is particularly about fashion―what is the method that people can improve their fashionable sense?: Firstly, it’s significant to know what items suit you well, not what you personally prefer. In my case, I can recognize the overall sizing and coloring, and how an item fits me just by looking at it without actually trying it on. Well, so you should try various styles during youth, then you will gradually know what’s the best fit for you.
When you see a lady for the first time, what is the specific part you check in her fashion?: Firstly, face, haha. I look at her face first and take a look at her shoes then looking up in order. I am also strictly attentive for her accessories such as a ring, a bag, and shoes. Glancing at accessories is an effective approach to distinguish a lady with a good or a bad sense. I don’t strongly recommend a lady to wear every single item with fast fashion brands, but I’d say a price of clothing usually is not too meaningful.

Devote youth to fashion, yet never overreach your budget.

On the way to Harajuku from Mr.Baba’s store, they arrived the store “GARDEN” where the model Mei often hits. The store with edgy domestic brands is popular among the current young generation where Mr. Baba also seems to be intrigued by unique items.

Who do you think is a fashionable person in your eyes?: Well, I do believe myself as the most fashionable guy;) Nevertheless, I think Takahiro Miyashita, the designer of TAKAHIRO MIYASHITA THE SOLOIST, is a really fashionable man. Basically, I like a person who is stable with his/her unchangeable style without following whatever the trend.
I’m sick of a “trend” person who is pursuing what everyone wears as it can be pricy as well.
Recently, female domestic brands are on fire in Japan, is there any brand that you are intrigued?: Not really.
Then, is there any vintage item that you are interested in？: When I was in the U.K., my primary job was to ship antique and vintage items to Japan, so I woke up at 4:00 a.m. five days a week to visit flea market as my past routine work. Because of my preference shifts over decades, I rarely find invaluable items on markets nowadays.

Our generation neglects to carry our own feet to the actual store to purchase goods compared to the older generation. What do you think about the trend?: Absolutely, the development of technology makes all the difference. Everyone can shop items online through net-retailers and auctions where even vintages are purchasable. Unbelievably, there are even items which are only available on the internet.
I am not a heavy SNS user, but I definitely understand, for example, the convenience of Instagram where extensive information are reachable,

Mr.Baba：Needles, Peacoat ￥69,000+TAX（GARDEN HARAJUKU）
mei：Elephant Blanc, X-PAC Blouson ￥58,000+TAX（GARDEN HARAJUKU）

We, young girls, mostly choose what to wear by moods at that time, not how well the items suit us. What do you see the girl’s fashion among the young generation?: As the major premise, girls should definitely be sensitive to fashion. Recently, oversized clothing is thriving among young generation, but some of the girls wear just “too big” items which seem baggy and unsophisticated. The oversized fashion is actually the worst fit for Japanese figures, yet no one notices that. Nevertheless, girls of the current generation have longer legs than the elders, so every teenager seems to be attentive to the fashion trend than in the past. In other words, the numbers of fashionistas are decreasing among the youth which makes me heartbroken.
What is the difference between fashionable and unique?: People who have a distinctive style obtain a firm confidence of their tastes which won’t be subject to a certain trend. Additionally, buying items within one’s budget is decisive. Young girls should not only procure high, boutique brands, but they should also purchase affordable items which suit them well. As the girls experience numerous styles, they will spontaneously recognize their own best fashion as they age.