Futago is the Japanese art of "twinning" or wearing matching, or coordinating, outfits.
The Name[]
Futago (双子) means "twins" in Japanese, and describes the act of having matching, or "twin" outfits. [1][2]
History[]
The practice of futago first started in 1958 due to the debut of the Japanese singer duo The Peanuts. They were identical twins not only in their appearance but also in their outfits. Their name was chosen in order to reflect that twinning, a peanut containing two nuts in a single shell. The only way to distinguish between Emi Ito and Yumi Ito was that Emi had a mole that Yumi had not.
However, it wasn't until the mid-1990s that futago became a major trend. Around the same time, twin outfits began to be featured in fashion magazines, and NHK airing of the american soap "Full House" further increased the boom with the Olsen sisters (Mary-Kate & Ashley). This lead to a sudden twin boom on TV, such as ManaKana (Mana Mikura and Kana Mikura) and Osugi and Pico. [3]
Style Basics[]
Futago fashion has no particular rules. Instead, you can create a futago coordinate featuring any style or fashion type you'd like. The matching element is the most important part here!
The most common pairs to match are friends, but sisters, mothers and daughters, and other pairs have also been seen creating futago outfits together. [1][2][4]
There are a few different types of futago that are distinct from each other.
Identical[]
In this type of futago, outfits are purposefully kept completely the same. From head to toe, brands and clothing items alike will be identical, with only varying accessories. This type of futago is less common. [5]
Complimentary[]
This type of futago features closely matching items, but often in different color schemes that complement one another. Accessories and clothing type may also vary, such as different complimenting blouses from different brands, but each outfit will also fit with the other person's despite their differences.
Brands & Shops[]
No brands are associated with futago, as it can be done with any style.
Gallery[]
External Links[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Casey Baseel. "Futago koude: The hot new fashion trend of Japanese women dressing like twins." Sora News 24. October 16, 2014. Retrieved August 26, 2020 from https://soranews24.com/2014/10/16/futago-koude-the-hot-new-fashion-trend-of-japanese-women-dressing-like-twins/
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Popular Fashion of Twinning Often Seen in Shibuya or Harajuku." Goin' Japanesque!. June 1, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2020 from http://goinjapanesque.com/11789/
- ↑ "The Twin Look Phenomenon, Analyzed." Moshi Moshi Nippon. July 31, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2020 from https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/16841
- ↑ "TOKYO STREET FASHION and CULTURE: 1980-2017." Google Arts & Culture. (n.d.) Retrieved August 26, 2020 from https://artsandculture.google.com/exhibit/ogKCPmGdPtB7Iw
- ↑ Information determined from lack of images