Rei Shito: The Scoop – Summer Style

Summer is in full swing, which means new fabrics, cuts, silhouettes and, yes, trends. In pursuit of warm-weather style inspiration, we highlight two of Rei Shito’s latest vlog entries and get her tips for staying on top of your fashion game, as well as keeping – and looking – cool when the mercury rises.

Summer Styling By Occasion

Rei says: “Several of these looks aren’t necessarily something I would wear on a regular basis, but I think my summer style is most like #5 in this video: relaxed, laid-back and carefree. With a fringe-cut Pucci top, a versatile and stretchy ATLEIN skirt, and stylish platform sandals by Chloe, I felt most comfortable wearing this look.

“In terms of must-have summer items, I’d say everyone needs a hat to protect from the sun, as well as sunglasses (I’ve already bought four pairs this year!), some breezy sandals and a good sweat-wicking bra. 

“Summer is also the season for playful fashion, and I think everyone should have at least one funny T-shirt that makes you laugh a little. I actually have a bit of a collection, check it out here.” 

“When it comes to materials and cuts, I recommend light, puffy dresses made of hemp or cotton. Especially since Japan is hot and very humid, designs that follow the silhouette of the body are too sticky and uncomfortable. If you plan to visit Japan in the summertime, I hope you can use this as a reference!

“This year specifically, I’m into styles that show some skin. I especially like tops that reveal the shoulders and perhaps a bit of décolleté.”

A Week Of Outfits

Rei says: “Some people like to figure out what they will wear on the fly, but I’m rather weak in the morning anyway, so if I have early plans, I select my outfit the day before. If I don’t have any particular plans, I’ll wake up in the morning and decide what I want to wear while lying in bed.

“I’m the type to constantly be mixing, matching and creating new outfits, rather than having set combinations of specific garments that I always wear together. I believe that if you are constantly doing the same styling over and over, you will never be able to improve your fashion sense.

“I know it’s not easy for everyone to make new combinations and put together new outfits, so my advice is to just keep doing it – trial and error. If you stick to styling in a safe way, saying ‘this and that look good together, so why try anything else?’, then you will forever be a person who is not good at putting together outfits. One day, when you have time, pull out various pieces from your closet, and try styling a variety of ensembles. You may find something that fits well and looks good, something that doesn’t, something that is somewhat subtle. Inevitably, you’ll come up with a variety of new outfits in the process.

“I recommend keeping an eye towards subtlety; sometimes small changes make a big difference. Add a belt here, tuck in a shirt there, roll up the sleeves, throw in some accessories. Try to arrange the clothes in various ways to make them harmonise together. It could be a sense of balance, a silhouette, the way you wear it, or perhaps just altering a few details. 

“There will come a time when ‘a little subtlety’ becomes ‘a nice touch’. Until then, take your time! Haste makes waste. This proverb is one of the truths behind being fashionable.”

About Rei Shito

Each month, Rei Shito identifies one defining look that she’s spotted on the street, whether at home in Japan or abroad on her latest trip to the world’s fashion hotspots, providing readers with a fresh, thought-provoking perspective on current trends. Rei is acclaimed as one of the planet’s most original and influential street style photographers and fashion bloggers, publishing her work on her blog Style from Tokyo, as well as several magazines in Japan and overseas, such as vogue.com. For more street style inspiration, follow Rei on Instagram and check out her videos on YouTube.
[Portrait Rei: Jun Tamura]