The dapper old gents of Tokyo may may want to lock up their closets till the latest fashion wave passes. Their time-worn basics are new again for young women getting into one of this fall's fashion looks: "old-man cute." Boxy beige jackets, baggy trousers with suspenders, tweedy vests and wingtip shoes are all key items. The trend is being called ojikawa, a combination of "uncle" or "old man" and "cute." The women who wear it have predictably been dubbed "ojigaaru (old-man girls)," adding to the growing list of "~girl" tribes.
As you would expect, the Oji Girl focus is on muted colors and comfortable, often oversized pieces. Oji-pan (oji pants) are rolled up at the ankles and often made to be worn with wide waists gathered with a drawstring, while blazers are roomy to the point of looking droopy. Suspenders (or braces, for you there in the back snickering) come with long pants or shorts or are sold separately. The ensemble can all be topped off with a necktie and some fatherly marumegane.
PS, a magazine aimed at women in their late teens and early twenties, is calling the trend "the next big thing" after Mori Girls, though it's yet to be seen if the look will resonate with the masses. The magazine advises adding a "slightly girly touch" to complete the look. They show actress Airi Taira wearing a tweedy outfit that any uncle would be pleased to take his Sunday drive in – except for the long lace shawl layered under the jacket.