Alexander's

Being in Tokyo among all the other fancy and well dressed people I have no problem going to some extremes when I choose my wardrobe. Sure some people find my style strange and would rather dress inauspicious than stand out at least a little bit, but I work 12+ hours a day in the lab and want all the fun and entertainment I can get in my sparse free time. And sometimes fun means to be able to go sopping to Shibuya[^1] and in the process turn a few japanese heads with my dashing good looks.[^2]

But honestly to stand out enough that someone warrants you a second look in Shibuya is not that easy. I've seen people with hair colors in all shades of red, green, blue and very cool looking silver.[^3] Garments in every color and shape are present and some people wear shoes that are worth more than my entire wardrobe.[^4] So when I say dress up to get some attention I really mean dress up. By now I've had my picture stealthily taken by foreigners as well as Japanese.

This is a lot of fun in a city like Tokyo where the fashion is crazy and no matter what I do, there probably is someone even fancier dressed just around the next corner. The problem gets bigger in the smaller cities. When stepping out of a Shinkansen in the middle of nowhere and probably being one of the five foreigners in the whole city -- still being dressed like going out for a fun night in Shibuya.

So visiting a wedding in Izumi -- a town half way across Japan -- and deciding that dress chic but not too colorful ment a navy blue combination of shirt and matching waistcoat, a long black overcoat and my artistically bent cylinder hat with a few silver accessories to complement the whole look -- that maybe was a slight miscalculation on my part. I'm tall the shoes and the hat make me even taller, the long coat is a rarity and the silver--black--blue contrast is nice and eye catching in a for Tokyo subtle way.

The people in Izumi where dressed in desaturated earthen colors. Simple cuts, no hats and no fancy hair color. Even the skirts here have a -- by European standarts -- normal length.

When I finally arrived in the hotel the receptionist greeted me -- after my slightly helpless smile -- with a friendly Alexanderさんですか。[^5] I'm looking forward too some very interesting two days in Izumi. Well I guess I'll at least be forever remembered as the strange foreigner with the superb fashion taste and the camera.[^6]

[^1]: a district in Tokyo for trendy and fashionable young people [^2]: Yes even Japan has not yet managed to rid me of my humble ways [^3]: If my hair was still a bit longer, I would color it silver at once [^4]: Btw I finally traded my converse for japanese style shoes. They fit me, look cool, were cheaper than Converse and have around 3cm high heels and 3-4 cm of extra space after my feet end. The first time I tried to walk in them was an adventure. I have a whole new appreciation for the women wearing 8+ cm high heels here [^5]: Are you Alexander -- which goes to show just how many non asian people come to this place. Yup I definitely was the new Gaijin in town.

Failing to bring anything but the aforementioned garmentsalways travel light! [^6]: If nothing else then at least the strange part is true