Photo: Hisui

TOKYO—Although Japan Fashion Week, scheduled to run at the end of March, was officially canceled due to the earthquake and ensuing disaster, it didn’t stop many featured designers from sharing their fall ’11 collections. Over the past month, many labels have either rescheduled their runway shows, shown at a scaled down presentation, or quickly shot and released lookbook images. It’s not exactly business as usual in Tokyo, but it’s clear that designers are determined to keep going, despite the heartbreaking circumstances. And if they’re still working, it means that the trends that infiltrate fashion in Japan will still influence what people around the world will be wearing six months, a year, or even two years from now.

So in a nod to Japan’s hard-working designers, here’s a round-up of the five big trends spotted in the fall ’11 collections. Let’s hope that the country’s recovery comes just as quickly as the imminent influx of overalls and blanket coats.

PLAID
Yet another sign that the ‘90s are back to haunt us: Everything from tartan to buffalo check made it into the fall ’11 collections. Mint Designs had it big and bright on winter coats, while Hisui put its own very colorful spin on the classic Chanel plaid. Then there were Fur Fur and G.V.G.V., who not only had plaid, but had plaid layered upon plaid in a patchwork pattern.

OVERALLS
Although overalls were featured in a handful of collections, it’s not the same style you remember from your childhood. The Dress & Co. Hideaki Sakaguchi made theirs khaki, while G.V.G.V. streamlined the sillhoutte with suspenders.

Photo: G.V.G.V.

DOUBLE BREASTED
From jackets to dresses to vests, the classic style is back, and for good reason: it looks good on just about everyone. Keita Manyama has it in leather, Akira Naka has a double-breasted skirt, and Toga doubles its buttons on its silk blazer. If two isn’t enough, there’s Hisui, which has a triple-breasted jacket for fall ’11.

BLANKET COATS
Designers were all wrapped up with the blanket coat for fall ’11, with options that range from the sleek (Yasutoshi Ezumi) to the boho (Everlasting Sprout) to the jaw-dropping (MintDesigns).

COLOR BLOCK
Besides cobalt and mustard yellow, which both made multiple appearances in fall ’11 collections, color blocking proved to be a striking way to dress up designs. G.V.G.V. kept it low-key with shades of black, gray, and brown placed side-by-side on a mini-skirt, while Hisui kicked things up a notch with its Rainbow Brite-esque poncho.