Monocle’s menswear picks from Tokyo
From neutral tones to breezy blues, these subtle looks – displayed against the rising sun in the Japanese capital – offer a fresh start this spring.
Italian icon
At Zegna, creative director Alessandro Sartori aims for a quintessentially Italian look: relaxed silhouettes, dropped shoulders and artisanal quality, mastered at the company’s historic Piedmont factory.
left: Suit and shirt by Zegna, glasses by Mykita.
right: Jumper by Beams Plus, shirt and t-shirt by Graphpaper, shorts by Herno, sandals by JM Weston, glasses by Mykita
Free and breezy
Kyoto-based Graphpaper, is best known for its boxy supima cotton shirts, selvedge denim and relaxed tapered trousers. The latter look best when rolled up and paired with leather sandals on sunny days.
left: Shirt by Visvim, t-shirt by Eton, trousers by Graphpaper, sandals by JM Weston, glasses by Mykita
right: Jacket by Moncler, shorts by Loro Piana, glasses by Mykita
Science conviction
Polyploid is a Berlin-based label, founded by Isolde Auguste Richly, a designer known for the scientific precision with which he cuts patterns and sources fabric. The result is meticulously crafted wardrobe essentials, including shirts manufactured between Germany and Japan.
left: Hoodie by Visvim, shirt and shorts by Bodhi, t-shirt by Comoli, glasses by Mykita, SBGW301 watch by Grand Seiko
right: Shirt by Polyploid, trousers by Emporio Armani, sandals by JM Weston, belt by Hermès, glasses by Mykita
Classics reimagined
Sans Limite is the brainchild of Comme des Garçons veteran Yusuke Monden. He started with a sharp edit of six shirts and has since continued to perfect his concept: wardrobe classics made well.
left: Jacket and shorts by Prada, shirt by Sans Limite, espadrilles by Polo Ralph Lauren, glasses by Mykita
right: Jacket by Loro Piana, shirt by Graphpaper, jumper by Zanone, t-shirt by Eton, trousers by Beams Plus, sandals by JM Weston, glasses by Mykita
Come rain, come shine
Herno is an authority in outerwear, having been created in 1948 in Lesa, Italy, to fulfil a growing demand for raincoats in the region. Today the family-owned business remains our go-to for waterproof essentials made with durable, innovative materials.
left: Coat, shirt and trousers by Brioni, sandals by JM Weston, glasses by Mykita
right: Coat by Herno, shirt by Polo Ralph Lauren, jumper by Beams Plus, thermalshirt by Polyploid, trousers by Blurhms, sandals by JM Weston, glasses by Mykita
Sight to behold
The appetite for refinement in fashion has returned – and with it, accessories such as hats, gloves and optical glasses are rising in popularity. Mykita remains our go-to for sleek, metal frames, made at the label’s high-end manufacturing facility in Berlin.
left: Jacket by Comoli, shirt by Glanshirt, trousers by Emporio Armani, boots by JM Weston, glasses by Mykita
right: Jacket by Stone Island, thermal shirt by Polyploid, trousers by Aton, sandals by Hender Scheme, glasses by Mykita
left: Coat by Hevò, jacket by Porter Classic, t-shirt by Comoli, trousers by Devorè Incipit, sandals by Hender Scheme, glasses by Mykita
right: Jacket by Visvim, jumper by Comoli, polo shirt and trousers by Polo Ralph Lauren, BVLGARI BVLGARI watch by Bvlgari, glasses by Mykita
Styling: Akio Hasegawa
Grooming: Kenichi Yaguchi
Producer: Shigeru Nakagawa
Model: Ikken Yamamoto
