So I’m AFAB but agender and prefer to dress in a mix of fem and masc clothes. I’ve been shopping for work clothes for Japan but I’m not sure how strict they would be on a JETs adherence to the black-white suit. Does anyone on the programme currently have any advice on what to get and what to avoid? I’m not sure if reddit allows picture replies but sending examples would be awesome!
Thank you in advance!
9 comments
Sorry, just saw a thread someone opened already! Mods are free to delete this one, but my question still kinda stans for female clothing!
No idea but in the same boat there or thereabouts. I imagine it will depend on placements? Okinawa lifestyle is all about the Trusty Hawaiian Shirt. Elementary and kindergarten are going to be less strict than a High School. A Tokyo private school might be more strict and stiff than an inaka junior high with 15 students total.
No suits in my schools except on days with major events! I almost always wear a button-down shirt with slacks and a cardigan. In the winter months sometimes a comfy but professional sweater. Every so often I throw on a skirt or dress, but that’s pretty rare because I usually bike at least part of my commute lol. Just keep an eye out when you get to your placement to see how formal the other teachers are!
Join the group JET Ladies+ on Facebook. There’s a whole album of “what I wear to work” photos.
I wear black pants and a blouse/sweater/solid colored t-shirt and cardigan. Very business casual. While some schools do require suits everyday, it’s relatively rare, and even then they don’t require the super formal black/white suits
Key differences between Japanese business casual and US business casual: no sleeveless. Short sleeves are ok in the summer, but you need some sort of sleeve. Necklines should be at about your collarbone or higher. Capris are a iffy (depends on your school). Any skirts above the knee should be worn with tights (not relevant to you, but maybe for someone reading). Wear socks or tights with everything. Be cautious about tighter fitting tops
Highly depends on your placement!
Prefecture and then elementary/JHS/HS
Elementary tends to relax the rule after your self into week: casual wear
JHS: depends on the school.
HS: “usually” business casual.
Your predecessor should be able to tell you what the situation is so you can prepare yourself better.
I can wear anything I want as long as it covers my shoulders and knees. Sometimes they’ll call lace sleeves “sexy” though, which is hella weird.
I don’t wear tights under my dresses. It’s too hot and no one has ever mentioned it. My dresses all come to mid shin.
Your personal style choice really shouldn’t be a problem and no school expects their ALT in a suit/business wear on a daily basis. You will be required to wear formal attire for any official orientation or conferences that are mandatory (but if they are during summer months, you can usually wear short sleeves and no jacket). Be respectful of the fact you’re working in a school, with young people, and a team of professional educators, and think about what that means. If you thought “no short skirts, no wife beaters, no low lying denim, no denim at all” you’re a winner. Piercings and tats are a different matter and I think will depend on the school, but i’ve never heard of someone having to cover up moderate things. I shaved my head in my first year, then gave myself a mohawk after getting drunk and bored during a typhoon in my second and all I heard was “did you join the yakuza?”
I work at a public SHS and most of my coworkers wear a blouse/button-down shirt, slacks (sometimes dark jeans? I don’t wear them because I’m not sure if it’s actually appropriate for me to) or skirts that reach at least the knee and gym shoes/trainers/Birkenstocks/Crocs/heels. Add in a sweater or cardigan and that covers the wardrobe most of the year – during ceremonies everyone has a suit with a blazer and skirt or slacks. The blouses are usually solid color or some inoffensive print, no text or anything.
I wear anything that is as if I were “dressing up”. Long flowy pants during summer are really nice. They are colorful, comfortable, and are good for work. Feminine clothes definitely have more variety in the work place as most of my male colleagues wear either business casual, a track suit, or a full on suit. Elementary has more track suit people. Also they will sometimes sell polo shirts or t-shirts with your school symbol on it and those are so great for casual whatever clothing days.
The only thing I’m careful on is what is considered ‘sexy’ to them. Which is a lot different to me because some of my clothing is considered sexy in Japan only because I have a bust. Not that the bust is really showing just that I have one at all. So I will wear an undershirt with my clothing but sometimes just having boobs is too much for them but I hate high necklines on me. It’s a thin line I do my best on. Nobody so far has yelled at me for my pencil skirts. I also make sure nothing I wear goes too much above the knee.