Fashion Youtuber Recs
Youtube is a great source to find clothing inspiration as they are “closer” to real life than staged pictures on Instagram. However, it’s been hard for me to find inspiration in the last few years. Many of the Youtubers are either still early in the game or trying too hard to be cool(ex, those US all-black avant-garde Rick Owen loving emo teens). Thankfully I found a few GEMS lately and I can’t wait to share with you all! I hope you can also get inspired not only by their clothes but also their style, passion, and attitude towards life.
シトウレイ チャンネル NEW !!!
Japan has long been recognized as one of the most fashion-forward countries in the world, known for its strong and unique taste that is typically three to five years ahead of global trends. Heck, it wasn’t until recently that I began to appreciate the beauty of the 2010 Ura-Harajuku craze. I attribute Japan’s refined sense of style to their believe in dedication and craftsmanship. Take Japanese Americana, for example. The Japanese studied American jeans and workwear so extensively that they mastered them better than any American, eventually developing Japanese Americana, which is now considered better to the traditional American style.
However, understanding the Japanese taste can be challenging due to its exclusivity. This is where Rei Shito’s Youtube channel comes in. Rei Shito is a fashion insider and on her channel she takes us through the daily lives of Japanese fashion workers, allowing us to truly understand how they appreciate and cherish their items. In the video above, Rei interviews UNITED ARROWS co-founder Hirofumi Kurino, one of Japan’s most influential fashion figures and a regular at fashion weeks. They discuss the five pieces Mr. Kurino loves most, some of which are over 40 years old, showcasing his deep passion for clothing.
I learned so much from their conversation and was impressed by Rei and her circle. They genuinely love clothes and fashion, not to appear cool but because they see the beauty in it. Lastly, don’t worry about the language barrier. Thanks to advanced AI technology and high-quality pre-transcribed subtitles, the English translation on this channel is excellent. Check it out—I’m sure it will inspire you too.
OURS
OURS is another Japanese YouTube channel run by three Tokyo boys: Kouta, Rose, and Claude. Kouta works as a model and clothing store staff, while Rose and Claude are both models. They epitomize the city boy lifestyle, effortlessly cool as they explore Tokyo, seeking out anything that triggers their aesthetic sensibilities.
Their videos feature clothing hauls, fashion brand introductions, weekly OOTDs, and vlogs. Their style is a blend of archive fashion, streetwear, and high fashion, making their outfits more accessible for daily wear. Like all fashion heads in Japan, they value the details such as the silhouette and the nuance color combination. They can usually come up with original and niche combination that I have never thought of. They look at clothes in different perspective which I appreciate. Among them, Kouta stands out with his fashion-forward taste and deep passion for fashion. You can see his enthusiasm whenever he talks about clothes; his eyes light up as he pours his extensive fashion knowledge into the audience.
One of my favorite series is where they interview their model friends about what they're wearing. Some, for example, Gendai, are world-famous models. It provides a glimpse into what young trendsetters are wearing and why. This series always offers fresh surprises and inspiration.
Lastly, their friendship is enviable. The boys are often seen hanging out and joking around in viby cafes or some niche archive fashion stores, embodying the dream of every kid who wants to live a cool city life.
Drew Joiner
Last but not least, we have American YouTuber Drew Joiner. His videos, which include shopping vlogs, clothing hauls, and fashion analyses, are of exceptional quality. Combined with his deep voice, they draw you into his colorful fashion world. He is not your ordinary kid wearing designer brands because “allegedly“ that will make them look cool. He buys his clothes because of the culture and the craftsmanship behind them. His genuine personality comes through the screen, often bringing a smile to your face.
While his style, Japanese Americana, is not my personal style, I admire his dedication and his observation on the fashion scene. He would often go deep into the research and history and pour all those knowledge and his personal take to his viewers in an organized and logical way. I would especially recommend him to anyone new to fashion, as he provides a warm and insightful introduction to the fashion world. He and his personality make fashion a light and fun activity.
