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5 SA women living abroad tell us about the look that defines their city’s style

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Andel is an artist living in Cyprus, Greece.

Tourists are SUCH FUN. #konnosbeach

A post shared by Andel Olivier (@andel_olivier) on

"I've noticed a step away from nude and neutral colour palettes, with more bright and bold prints as well as feminine line drawings. I've also noticed less skin tight and form fitting clothes, as people opt for looser, more comfortable shirts, jeans and dresses. Lipsticks are brighter too and my favourite Cypriot trend is wearing statement bright gold earrings and neck pieces.'

Posing next to colourful shutters has become somewhat of a hobby. #shutterisland

A post shared by Andel Olivier (@andel_olivier) on

Araffa-Isabellah is a cook living in Tokyo, Japan.

"I just googled the word 'trend', and I wouldn't exactly go with that word to describe Tokyo-style (note: the rest of Japan is very different). They've got a very jigsaw style, a rare but astonishingly good juxtaposition of everything you think wouldn’t work. It kind of shouts, "NOBODY BELONGS HERE MORE THAN YOU".

It celebrates being reverent, quirky, even to the simplest structures (insert: COS) with little to no acknowledgement. No one really cares or digests your look but you, it's very self-empowering.

READ MORE: Semi-formal attire: casual wear's misunderstood cousin? 

But if we speak about what people are actually wearing on the streets:

overly dramatic smock frocks with delicate socks and sneakers or 9-inch knee high white heels

pant suits with eccentric nail art and hair
psychedelic skirts or loose fitting pants with a Breton, Peter Pan or Bishop collar shirt 

A lot of what people wear will move them from day activities to nighttime events without changing anything."

Megan is an English teacher living in Tokyo, Japan. 

Tanabata

A post shared by Megan Holt (@megananjelicaholt) on

"I think Japanese fashion is synonymous with Harajuku City in Tokyo, Harajuku is home to some of Tokyo's most eclectic and outlandish fashion. A walk through the streets in Harajuku is like a rainbow drilling through your brain in the most pleasant way.

"Everyone from high school kids to grandpas use Harajuku as an opportunity to showcase their wildest ideas and fantasies. When strolling down the street you will see a feast of subcultures, from cosplay to Comme Des Garcons to a 6-year-old named Coco Pink Princess who is an Instagram sartorial sensation. It's truly difficult to pin down Harajuku to one aesthetic because it's more of a home for expression."

?????? . #monclergenius

A post shared by COCO (@coco_pinkprincess) on

Donna is an art director living in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

"Turbans and head wraps in all styles, modest fashion is so elegant and stylish."

READ MORE: 5 women who’ve lived in both Cape Town and Jozi talk fashion survival in each city 

Ceili McGeever is a social media assistant and content creator living in London, England.

"Although not a new trend, it wasn’t something that I actually saw realised on the streets of Cape Town, but rather something I read about online. Here many high street stores have fully embraced the monochromatic dressing trend with clothing rails dedicated to a single hue while angling their newsletters’ style message to a specific primary colour, and fashion-curious shoppers are into it. 

"Clothed head-to-toe in a single primary colour feels like you’re back on the school playground - it has a mood altering effect really."  

Images: Getty

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