Dreaming of Tokyo

Style Inspiration, J.Press, and What’s Next for My Wardrobe

Happy New Year, kind of.

As I write this, it’s the past—it’s not Christmas, but it’s not New Year either. It’s a strange waiting room of not doing very much, yet being completely comatose from leftover turkey, and an endless supply of Christmas chocolates—not to mention the beer.

I’ve talked about many different looks I’ve worn over the past year, but I’m always on the lookout for new ones.

During this time of paralysis, I do what I do best: obsessively search for inspiration on new brands, old brands, how to dress, and where to get dressed. Like most people, I find this on YouTube, Pinterest, and Instagram.

Later this year, I’m finally visiting Japan. I’ve got a long list of places I want to visit (mainly stores!) when I go there, and, being a J.Press nut, the J.Press & Sons store in Aoyama is right at the top.

I’ve already been to J.Press in New York, but the store in Aoyama appears to have a completely different look and feel, and I can’t wait to experience it for myself. It looks very much like a part of contemporary Ivy style—it’s not stuck in one particular look; it’s moving things forward, very much in line with the ethos of Ametora.

I found a couple of videos on YouTube of the store, and whilst I don’t speak Japanese, I still found them incredibly inspiring. One video in particular, of a group of men visiting the store, stood out to me.

The way they were dressed, how they styled baggy-fit shirts, and how they incorporated jewellery into their looks directly inspired the outfit below.

I love the relaxed feel of this look; it blends the idea of the Japanese city boy with the principles of Ivy. I’m wearing a simple St Christopher necklace, but you could wear just about any pendant you’d like, and it should work. I’ve seen lots of people wear all kinds of different ones; my favourite is my friend’s miniature chilli.

If you watch through the video, you’ll notice there’s a part where someone in the shop adjusts the gentleman’s shirt sleeves by rolling them in a way that keeps them loose and wide, almost as if they were short sleeves, making them perfect for hotter climates like the Japanese summertime. I tried this out in the look you can see me wearing above, and it’s one I’ll be adopting into my own wardrobe.

To add to the casual city boy look, I completed the outfit with a pair of fatigues, New Balance sneakers, and my All Blues Co. Deep Pile Fleece.

Believe me when I say I’ve got a massive list underway, with a Google map littered with markers across Tokyo and the surrounding areas of places I want to visit—both vintage and new. I’d love to hear from you though: if you’ve been before, what did you buy? And if you’ve got any recommendations, I’m all ears!