Fashion

Or should that be feline fashion? Maybe even foxy?

In the north of England where I grew up, the flat cap was (and presumably still is) a form of hat favoured by old fellas. Plus, as well as performing a practical head warming purpose, it’s also a popular image associated with the region and its working class roots.

However, in Japan, the garment clearly has no such connections or connotations. Quite the opposite in fact, as this year it would appear to be the fall’s must-have fashion accessory for both little fellas.

And little fashionistas.

With the customer being very much king in Japan, the service in shops is certainly polite – often excessively so at times. But the trouble is, as it’s mostly a much-practiced mantra that’s robotically repeated to every punter, the whole process can be a very sterile one, with little opportunity for a bit of banter or a brief conversation.

So, with this in mind, seeing this superbly eccentric fella flogging footwear was a rare treat indeed. One so intriguing in fact that the weird urge to try on a terrible pair of tan-coloured loafers was almost overwhelming.

When it comes to Japanese TV dramas, it’s always easy to spot the rebellious teen boy type, as he’ll invariably be the one moodily sporting an elaborately coloured and carefully coiffured mane. And the badder he is, the bigger and bolder said bouffant will be.

Now whether this is art imitating life or vice versa is hard to say, but for the sake of this young man’s mother, it’s to be hoped that he spends as much time on the likes of maths as he does in front of the mirror.