Osaka is known as a paradise for food lovers and beauty enthusiasts, but the shopping experience for fashion in the Umeda area is a can't-miss. This vibrant district is home to several connected shopping malls, packed with a wide variety of Japanese fashion brands that cater to every style. With excellent transportation access and a wealth of shopping options, you can easily make the most your time with a shopping spree in Umeda.

This central Osaka area is the perfect place for enjoying fashion and enriching your lifestyle. Here, we're going to take a look at two fashion styles popular with Japanese women: the "soft elegant" look and the "polished basic" look—and Japanese clothing brands that offer this look.

Be sure to visit these shops in the Umeda area and try on some of the diverse styles for yourself! With so many options, it's easy to find the perfect look for any occasion.

Elegance and charm with the "Soft Elegant" look

When it comes to Japanese women's fashion, we've got to start with a style that brings out the feminine charm: the "soft elegant" look.

This style uses light fabrics, soft colors, and designs carefully crafted down to details like the sleeves, to create an impression of softness and calmness. This kind of look not only creates an approachability, but is also perfect for bringing out your individual taste and elegance. You can put together a "soft elegant" look for a business environment, a special event, a party, or any other occasion that calls for a beautiful but practical outfit that shows off a feminine elegance and soft confidence.

EPOCA THE SHOP

EPOCA THE SHOP offers the ideal fashion for grown urban women through its unique brand philosophy and elegant, glamorous designs. The store at HERBIS PLAZA ENT in Umeda, Osaka not only displays the EPOCA brand's main collections, but also offers a selection of fashion items from around the world, offering practical but elegant styling.

The items in store embody a passion for contemporary design and exquisite craftsmanship. With beautifully cut lines, high-quality materials, color coordination that accentuates a woman's charm, and designs with attention to detail, the store is committed to providing clothing that balances aesthetics with the functionality urban women need. You're sure to find the right outfit for any occasion.

EPOCA's designs are not just stylish in appearance, but also focus on comfort and functionality, allowing women to express their individuality while enjoying freedom and comfort in their clothing. EPOCA is not just a place to shop, but a place where you can discover your own individuality and charm through fashion.

YECCA VECCA

YECCA VECCA was founded in 2010 and belongs to the same fashion group as the brand Earth Music & Ecology. YECCA VECCA's core brand concept is to create "happy, flattering clothes for adults": real clothes for women who are positive about living each day their own way.

Their designs incorporate the keywords "playful, feminine, fashionable clothing," but not without "comfort." The lineup features playful clothing that's comfortable to wear and lifts your mood, with an emphasis on an urban, feminine look. YECCA VECCA's styles are meant for adults who want to make the most of their everyday by wearing clothes that excite them.

This season's new fall/winter collection features an attractive off-shoulder knit sweater that shows off your beautiful collarbone line in a feminine look. Pair it with a checked tweed skirt for a seasonal outfit that's elegant and charming.

This matching color knit jacket and skirt set has a soft yet firm texture that creates a beautiful, flowing silhouette for a look with some noble elegance.

This jacket with YECCA VECCA's checked pattern is accented with classic metal buttons, and when paired with a lavishly embroided flared skirt, it's creates the perfect autumn vibe. It can be easily combined with a variety of fashion items for an elegant and attractive look for any occasion, from business to weekend gatherings.

Clean simplicity with the "Polished Basic" look

Next, let's take a look at the "Polished Basic" look that's popular with working ladies in Japan. This style is characterized by high-quality materials, subdued colors, and flowing lines, making it perfect for women who want to make a sharp impression in the workplace. It brings fashion together with your individuality.

In Japan, this classic style of clothing is usually worn in neutral colors like black, white, and gray to create a professional look. The detailed cut of the clothing highlights the wearer's figure and grace, and the fitted suit jackets and straight trousers you'll see with this style are office staples. A good shirt of course enhances the overall professional image, allowing the wearer to stay on top of their work and their professional attitude without losing their sense of fashion.

The simple, elegant designs of this look are perfect for the workplace, business events, or afterhours get-togethers. It's a style you can wear with confidence no matter the occasion.

United Arrows Green Label Relaxing

Green Label Relaxing is a sub-brand of the famous Japanese select shop United Arrows. United Arrows is a leader in Japan's trend culture, with over 300 stores across the country. Every item is exquisite, fashionable and unique, so it's a must-visit shop when you travel to Japan.

With its "be happy" philosophy, United Arrows' Green Label Relaxing offers relaxed and comfortable looks for everyday. The designs are simple and sophisticated, perfect for your daily business commute. Made of high-quality materials, they are comfortable to the touch, lightweight, wrinkle-resistant, and moderately stretchable, so you can stay comfortable and keep up your professional appearance even through busy work hours. In particular, you should check out their suits, pants, and shirts, with a fitted cut that cinches the waist for a clever and elegant look.

Green Label Relaxing also offers casual items and beautifully designed accessories, so you can easily transition from work to your private life. For fall/winter 2024, Green Label Relaxing is launching a new collection with "REFINE" as the core design philosophy. The exciting new season release will offer urban women new autumn shades and styles. The theme of “Spangle UP” kicks off the fall season, with new materials such as metallics, jacquard, velour, and fur to express the joy of fashion, creating a sophisticated and simple style line with items that are easy to wear on a day-to-day basis.

PLST

As a member of the Fast Retailing Group (Uniqlo's parent company), the brand PLST offers daily wear with a focus on everyday styling. As PLST puts it, "Everyday clothes for when you want to look good." Its simple yet sophisticated designs meet the diverse needs of women in the workplace. PLST's clothes emphasize the perfect balance between practicality and beauty, using high-quality materials that are easy to care for and three-dimensional cutting, so you can easily keep up an elegant, professional image.

PLST focuses on items that combine fashion and practicality. In particular, the PLUS STYLE denim series, which is popular with Japanese women, has a slimming effect on the legs and gives the wearer an elegant look. They come in a variety of colors and sizes to provide the perfect fit and comfort.

For the fall/winter season, try this reversible feather yarn knit cardigan. Feather yarn, which has been popular in recent years, is combined with shiny materials to create a look that's beautiful yet soft. It comes in a wide variety of colors, including gray, pink, ivory, earth tone, and navy blue, and can be combined with a variety of items to create gorgeous and refined looks.

Travel is an opportunity not only to get a taste of an exotic land, but to find new inspiration, and maybe even get to know yourself a little better. Here, we've taken a look at the vibrant fashion center of Osaka in Umeda, where Japan's diverse styles and cutting edge trends gather together. It's a place to find all kinds of looks, whether you're looking for confidence and poise in the workplace, or a soft, feminine elegance. You might just find the starting point for a new style of your own shopping here in Umeda!

For more details on how to get to Umeda, see here.

For more information on Umeda, check out some of our Trip Ideas.

*Information in this article is accurate as of the date of posting. There is a possibility that details regarding these products and services have changed, or that some shops have since closed.