Brooks Brothers, founded in 1818, will celebrate its 200th anniversary next year. Fashion director and stylist Hiroshi Morioka says the reason the brand has lasted 200 years is "its philosophy of clothing making and its seriousness." He continues, "The fact that men have continued to wear it for 200 years is because it has expressed both the core philosophy of the brand and the trends of fashion without fail. Brooks Brothers has all the basics of men's attire for all generations."

CEO of Globe Co., Ltd. / Fashion Director & Stylist

A rare brand that combines the reassuring feeling of a long history with the joy of being able to wear it today.

I was genuinely amazed to hear that Brooks Brothers will be celebrating its 200th anniversary next year. Fashion is not only a style, but also a reflection of the times. 1818 was during the Edo period in Japan, under the 11th shogun, Tokugawa Ienari. In the West, men who shaped their eras wore Brooks Brothers as they fought against various challenges.

When I was working at the editorial department of Men's Club magazine, men's fashion was all about rules and regulations, with certain "musts" taking precedence. But now, the fun of fashion lies in navigating the "gray areas" of those rules and regulations; that's what makes it trendy, individual, and unique.

For example, in the past, wearing a button-down shirt without a tie was considered inappropriate for formal occasions, but nowadays, if you wear a button-down shirt with a tie and skillfully express your fashion sense, that kind of attention to detail becomes "that person's style and mannerisms."

Men's fashion involves fewer items, and especially during the upcoming summer months when cool biz attire means lighter clothing. Therefore, the shortcut to creating a stylish look is to understand the rules of classic men's brands like Brooks Brothers , then add a playful touch or try something interesting. "Enjoying brands with a solid foundation in your own way" is key.

The gray area is like the Kabuki concept of "knowing the form, yet breaking it." Now that "TPO" (Time, Place, Occasion) is being re-evaluated in men's fashion, savor the sense of security that Brooks Brothers offers and the joy of being able to wear a brand you've always admired in this era, and enjoy fashion.

Make a seersucker suit with a clean, modern silhouette a summer staple.

Last year, Brooks Brothers ' "Regent model" underwent a redesign, resulting in a sleeker, more modern silhouette overall. Now, a seersucker suit perfect for summer is also available in the Regent model.

The Regent model jacket features a high gorge line, narrow lapels and collar that emphasize a slim silhouette, a shorter length, longer sleeves, and matching trousers that taper from the knee down for a flattering leg-lengthening effect.

Seersucker suit: ¥69,120

Cool Biz is in its 13th year this year, but the original idea behind Cool Biz wasn't to "become casual," but rather to "dress a little more comfortably, but still maintain the feeling of work attire." So, it started not simply as a way to take off your jacket, but as an attempt to create a "summer style."

For businessmen, how they are perceived by others is just as important as their business skills, and their attire is part of their presentation tools. Therefore, in Cool Biz, the impression they give to others is just as important as their ability to look cool and refreshing. A seersucker suit, with its clean silhouette and sharp appearance, is an essential two-piece suit for businessmen.

The key point is that you can wear the suit with a polo shirt, button-down shirt, or tie, but you can also wear the top and bottom separately. For example, if you put together a sophisticated gray-toned outfit, it's a simple look, but it's sure to make the other person think, "That's quite the style."

A seersucker suit, which can be updated to suit the times by changing the innerwear and combinations, is a summer item that anyone with a keen sense of fashion should own.

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