We are pleased to announce a talk show on Saturday, June 4th at Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building 1st Floor, Dress Shirts & Ties, featuring Michihiko Kei, President and CEO of Fairfax Collective and a leading figure in Japan's necktie industry. The talk show's theme is "How to Dress Stylishly as a Man." Using the styles of men from his favorite 1960s movies as examples, Mr. Kei will explain the "how-to" of men's style. Please join us!


The talk show was easy to understand with simple language.

--This talk show is part of "USA Week," and you were specifically requested as the expert for "America!" We hear you'll be talking about men's fashion how-tos.

Yes, that's right. On Saturday, June 4th, I'd like to talk about "How to Style Men as Seen in 1960s Movies," covering topics such as the currently popular "Cool Biz attire," the appeal of pocket squares, the appeal of white shirts, the appeal of hats, and even the medium fit which is related to comfort.

—What is it about 1960s movies that attracts you, Kei-san?

The 60s and 70s were my youth, and I watched movies avidly during that time. It was also the dawn of men's fashion in Japan. Recently, there's been a resurgence of American traditional style, particularly Ivy League, and I think 60s movies offer great examples of how to dress. On the day of the event, I won't be discussing anything complicated; I'll explain things in simple terms that are easy to understand.

—Why is 1960s style relevant today?

Over the past two or three years, I've been rewatching movies from that era, and I've come to realize that taking the men's fashion of the 1960s as a base and adding a modern twist is key to smart, stylish dressing for men today.


"The Apartment Key" is a must-see!

—If you had to choose just one film from that era, which would it be?

That's a difficult question, but I'd say "The Apartment," released in 1960. It features the perfect traditional look in the sense of gentlemanly style.

—What constitutes a perfect traditional look?

The film is a masterpiece that won the Academy Award for Best Picture, among other awards, and stars Jack Lemmon as a dull, ordinary employee at a New York insurance company. He looks great in ready-made Ivy League style clothing, but his boss, the department head, wears bespoke suits, and the contrast is interesting. At the time, Ivy League style was becoming a trend, and ready-made clothing was becoming fashionable, something I didn't understand when I was younger, but looking at it again now, I'm making new discoveries.


Let's learn what makes something cool from movie scenes.

--In your blog, you wrote that "defining Cool Biz is difficult." If you were to define it, how would you express it?

From an American perspective, gentlemanly style can be described as "the style that makes you feel most comfortable, considering your position and the situation." In Japan, it often boils down to whether or not to wear a tie, but that's not the point. It's about whether it looks good.

—So that means there are as many different ways to dress for business casual as there are people.

What matters is your position, the work environment, and how others perceive you. If those are acceptable, then any attire is fine. I'll be discussing these points as well.


American style looks cool in black.

--Could you explain what Kei-san is wearing today?

Today I'm wearing a black tie, a black belt, and black-rimmed glasses. Since last year, I've found that "dressing in black" is the style I feel most comfortable in.


—Why black?

In black and white films of the 1950s and 60s, men wore black to create a stylish look, and even in the color films of '007,' James Bond wore a white shirt with a black knit tie. In the 1980s, during the DC (designer character) brand boom in Japan, slim black ties became popular, and black and white was a standard combination; black is especially cool in American style.


Fashion is also an age of abundance these days.

--Congratulations to Fairfax Collective on their 40th anniversary. What are your thoughts on men's fashion these days, Mr. Kei?

I think we're living in an age of fashion overload, where we have money, goods, and information, and end up buying and wearing things that don't even suit us. We can't narrow down what other people think looks cool. It's precisely because we live in this era that it's a waste not to find your own style.


—When did you discover a style that suits you, Kei-san?

I'm over 50 now. Until I was 50, I considered American Ivy League style to be fashion = trends, so I tried all sorts of outfits. But after turning 50, I stopped caring about trends and was able to go my own way.

—What do you mean by "my own way"?

Fashion became a style, I suppose. After turning 50, dressing became easier, and I started to think about it more deeply. After turning 60, my technique improved again, and my style became narrower and I delved deeper into it.


In this era, the more you strip away the unnecessary and refined elements, the more appealing you become.

—But there was a time when Kei-san also followed trends, right?

Of course. For those in their 30s and 40s, it's important to follow trends, and it's also important to embrace youthful exuberance. And then there's the spirit of the times. There are so many things out there these days, but I think it's cool to strip things down. The same goes for women; seeing someone dressed to the brim with trends can be overwhelming. We're now in an era where people are seeking higher quality styles, and both their possessions and their mindset are elevating. The more you strip things down and make them chic, the more attractive you become.

—I understand what you're saying, but reaching that state of mind is quite difficult.

I can say this because I've made plenty of mistakes myself. Fairfax's theme is "TOKYO HIGH STANDARD," which means "We always want to be ordinary, but we also want to add some variation." Right now, it's cool to subtract and refine your style.

Keiichi Michihiko Talk Show: "How to Dress Stylishly as a Man"
□ Saturday, June 4th, from 3:00 PM (approximately 45 minutes)
□ Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building 1st Floor = Dress Shirts & Ties


Keiichi Michihiko
CEO of FAIRFAX . In 1976, he founded the necktie brand FAIRFAX in Aoyama. Starting with a "bold traditional" approach originating in Tokyo, the company now also produces dress shirts. The company name FAIRFAX was inspired by the Fairfax Hotel that was located in Washington at the time. While aiming to be a brand that is small but conveys intelligence, dignity, and history, the company has now expanded its product range to include casual shirts and suits.

inquiry
Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building 1st Floor = Dress Shirts & Ties
03-3352-1111 (main representative)