Straight Out of A Picture Book

You're never too old to be a fashion lover. The lovely costumes worn by illustrator Setsuko Tamura, 75, |make her look as if she stepped straight out of the world of picture books. Her most recently published book highlights collections of her own fashion designs.

Since the 1960s Tamura’s illustrations have graced the covers of countless girls manga magazines. In the 1970s stationery products based on her designs were a big hit. She has also written columns accompanied by illustrations she’s done for the monthly newspaper Ichigo Shimbun since its inception.

Tamura has been referred to as being “at the frontier of kawaii”. In her drawings, girls always look so happy and excited that you can practically hear them laughing and giggling.

Tamura herself is cheerful, sparkly and optimistic. “Girls today are very fashionable. Look, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu has good taste in fashion!” she says.

Tamura’s overall style can be described as otome (girlish). One of her looks, which she likes to call “fantasy obaasan”, meaning “fantasy grandma”, has pastoral undertones. The long, pleated plaid skirt, which she says she bought 30 years ago, is a reflection of her personality. 

Over it she wears a white organza apron and coordinating yellow blouse. Both are presents from fans.

Her beret comes with fake bangs and pigtails attached. “I look younger when I wear it. It’s amazing,” she says. She uses accessories to jazz up her outfits.

Another outfit features a blouse with puffy sleeves. “I get really psyched up whenever I wear this blouse. Whenever I have to work hard I put on something with puffy sleeves.” The rest of her outfit – from vest and skirt to the |ribbon around her neck – is |all black. “Over the years I came to realise my personal style, so I don’t follow trends,” she says.

With her new book, “Suteki na Obaasan no Style Book”, Tamura wanted to encourage other women.