The job of a "stylist" and the feelings of facing customers

Sato: I work at Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building 2nd floor, International Creators, where I interact with customers. I try to provide service in a way that allows customers to enjoy the "context" behind the clothes. I believe that behind every piece of clothing there is a "context" of culture, such as music or movies. A stylist is someone who can embody that background and convey it as a story. I want to convey both the softer aspect of "narrative" and the harder aspect of "clothing creation."

Taniguchi: I think of stylists as walking mannequins. I'm on the first floor, in the shirt and tie section, and my ideal scenario is for customers to say, "That suit and tie you're wearing looks great," and then buy it. My senior colleagues wear different styles every day, and they have a lot of interesting things to say about customer service, so I'm learning something new every day.

Kawabata: I hope to be able to act as a consultant in the store. Many customers say, "I want to wear new clothes, but I don't want to take too many risks," so I would like to recommend something close to what they are imagining that day, and in turn encourage them to come back again, so that we can build a relationship of trust.

Taniguchi: Trust is important, isn't it? When I joined Mitsukoshi Isetan, the first suit I bought was the same one that a stylist I admired was wearing, and I bought it that same day.

Sato: To gain people's trust, not only is how I dress important, but so is my conversation skills. I feel I must constantly continue to learn.

[Here's a one-point piece of advice from senior colleague Otsubo]
It's very encouraging to see the younger staff at Isetan Men's, Mr. Otsubo, having this kind of mindset. I hope they'll provide customer service that makes customers of their generation feel excited, thinking, "Shopping at Isetan is fun!" and "I might discover something new if I go to Isetan!"

Things I learned after starting to wear a suit and work as a professional

Sato: Having worked at Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building , and having a discerning eye for fashion, I've come to realize that in the public eye, suits are truly considered work clothes, not fashionable attire. I understand that when you actually wear one, it inevitably becomes conservative, so unless the government and private sector team up to change societal perceptions, like when "Cool Biz" was introduced, it might be difficult for the idea of wearing a suit fashionably to take root.

On my commute, I often see businessmen who haven't taken care of their shoes. It's a shame because if they maintained their shoes, they'd feel more attached to them, and it would really change how their suits look... Japanese businessmen often give off a tired impression, so they should be able to change that a little with their clothes. For me, wearing clothes I like really motivates me.

My father and brother are just ordinary office workers, but ever since I started working at Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building , they've both become more positive about suits, buying me suits at the "Men's Fair." Sato-kun, do you worry about "women's eyes" when you wear a suit?

Sato : Well, I don't really mind... I suppose I might wear a suit depending on the hotel or location.

Taniguchi: I do care about that. There's no harm in being thought of as cool! (laughs). But, with the way the three of us are dressed in suits today, I think the ladies would favor Kawabata-kun.

Kawabata, really? It's a very safe and unremarkable outfit, though...

Taniguchi: For women, the first thing that matters is "cleanliness." When it comes to choosing a tie, women like polka dot ties, and the best compliment they can give is "cute." Polka dots are cuter than the paisley tie I'm wearing now (laughs).

Sato: That's true, Taniguchi's favorite style is one that appeals to older men.

Taniguchi: I like outfits that I think are cool among other guys. They don't really appeal to women (laughs).

Kawabata and Taniguchi are great at classic style, and Sato is amazing at paying attention to every detail. I dress in a way that appeals to everyone and anyone can pull it off, so I don't stand out. These two have qualities that I lack, and they're really cool.

[Here's a one-point piece of advice from senior colleague Otsubo]
Otsubo: I think it's really nice when people compliment each other on how they wear their suits. Everyone likes to be complimented, after all (laughs).
It makes me feel more positive, and if I'm given feedback, I'm more motivated to improve. Plus, it makes me think, "I want to be praised again," so I become more conscious of my outfits. I believe that even small things in everyday life can change one's awareness, so I often tell my juniors, "Your outfit looks great today!"
I hope they continue to learn and improve each other in this way so that they can make accurate recommendations to customers.

Page 4: What is their vision for the future of Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building ?