I was already a bit Japanese when it came to dressing before I read the book Chōwa (Kitsune Books), by Akemi Tanaka. But after learning a little more about this millenary philosophy whose essence is the the search for balance in the little things in life, I’m a little more so. And I’m not just saying that because I like Uniqlo’s basics, simple dresses, or monochrome looks—but also because I’m learning to put some pillars of this philosophy into practice in the field of clothing; to feel better, eliminate blockages, and reduce stress that caused me to want to follow trends or wear clothes I didn’t look good in… and, in short, to make my life easier.
Tanaka is a Japanese cultural communicator based in London who, in this book, devotes an extensive chapter to how to find our own style by practicing this philosophy, which represents harmony and helps us find ways to solve mundane problems—not so much by focusing on the end result, but rather on the need to find balance. Although clothing may seem to be a concept far removed from this, it is not at all. After all, it is a decision that needs to be made on a daily basis and can be made easier if certain things are kept in mind.
1. Dress The Way You Like (Trends Aside)
For a long time, I insisted on following trends—wearing clothes simply because they were fashionable or because my friends wore them—with subsequent regret as soon as I left the house because I didn’t look good or feel comfortable. Some time ago, I decided to prioritise my own preferences over trends (or virality), and this is precisely what the Japanese expert insists on when talking about this philosophy. “Dressing according to chōwa is about asking ourselves what clothes we feel best in,” she shares. “It doesn’t matter what you wear; chōwa teaches us to think about how to be true to what we value, to have enough self-confidence to share our ideas with others, and to take pride in our identity.” So in this quest for stress-free harmony,…
