The newest installment in the 100 Years of Beauty series shows off some of Japan’s most famous fashions of the last century.
Cut’s 100 Years of… video series is not only incredibly popular, it’s also downright fascinating. Even if you’re not a huge history buff, it’s amazing to see how fashion has changed over the years — and to try to imagine all the social, cultural, and economic influences behind each variation. Their women’s fashion videos have spanned the globe, and it’s finally Japan’s turn to step in front of the camera!
▼ Check it out below!
If you can’t watch the video right now, worry not! We’ve got screen shots of model Mei Kurahashi in the fashion of each of the decades from 1910 to 2010. Mei is an artist and actor currently living in Seattle but was born and raised in Japan, making her an excellent candidate to demonstrate some of Japan’s most popular looks of the last century!
Towards the end, the video offers multiple fashions for each decade, including the look of the ganguro and other alternative styles popular during their time. Keep an eye out for the pink backgrounds that indicate those less mainstream (but still popular) styles!
Cut also released a research video with information about all the fashion, makeup, and hairstyles above, providing some helpful historical context. Not every look was necessarily commonly worn by women of each decade, but there’s little down that each style had a big impact culturally.
So, which decade was your favorite? Are there any older styles you wish would come back? Let us know in the comments section! And if you haven’t seen them yet, be sure to check out the other videos in the 100 Years of Beauty series, like this one for China.
Sources: YouTube/WatchCut Video via Gigazine
Featured image/images: YouTube/WatchCut Video
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