In the first half, we talked about the history of how suits were created, but there is a definition of a suit as "a set of clothing consisting of a top, vest, and bottom, made from different fabrics and interconnected with each other." We tend to think of a suit as something where the top and bottom are made of the same color and pattern, but the combination of a "director's suit," which is semi-formal daytime attire, is also a suit, and the word "suit" has the same meaning as "suite," which means "a set of clothes, a set of rooms."

Those of you who regularly wear suits understand that every part of a man's garment has historical significance, and that cherishing these details is a way of showing respect for the suit. In the second half, let's start by discussing the "pockets" and "vents" of a jacket.

Nobent is Japanese English.

Do you pay attention to the pockets on your jackets? Jacket pockets are divided into two types: "flap pockets," which have a flap over the opening, and "patch pockets," which are attached to the top. Furthermore, there are "jetted pockets" with welt stitching and "hacking pockets" with a diagonally cut flap.

The flap on a pocket is designed to prevent rainwater from getting in, and is a feature of jackets worn outdoors; jetted pockets are more appropriate for formal occasions. Some pretentious men will even tuck the flap pockets inside their jackets when entering a building.

Similarly, jackets with vents are not suitable for formal occasions. Both "center vents" (a slit in the middle) and "double vents/side vents" (with vents on both sides) are designed for ease of wear when riding a horse, but formal suits such as tuxedos are fundamentally "ventless." No vent is a Japanese English term.

The reason why you wear a black suit with a white or black tie to weddings, funerals, and other formal occasions.

Why did the style of wearing a black suit and white tie to a wedding come about? This style originated in Japan and is not accepted anywhere else in the world. It was a style advocated by Kindware , which is also sold at Isetan Men's, during the post-war reconstruction period, and it has remained as a custom because it was convenient to wear a black semi-formal suit with a black tie for funerals and a white tie for weddings.

Why suit collars are still tight even after more than 350 years since their creation

Have you ever looked at portraits of Western aristocrats and wondered why they wear such restrictive collars? Those collars are a symbol of men of high social standing. Kings and nobles, those in positions of authority, believed that a wobbly neck would diminish their dignity when giving orders to their subjects.

Furthermore, the cuffs that tightened around the wrists were meant to highlight the white linen, which was a luxury item at the time. The luxurious fabric peeking out from the cuffs of a jacket was a symbol of the privileged class, and cuffs are a remnant of that. Shirts were originally a luxury item, and even today, showing 1.5 cm of the shirt from the cuff has that same meaning.

Finally, while "dandy" is a compliment in Japan, it's not a compliment in English-speaking countries. In English, "dandy" has a somewhat eccentric and narcissistic image, so be careful when using it as a compliment overseas.

For inquiries, please contact Isetan Salone Men's, 1st Floor, Shin-Tokyo Building, 3-3-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo.
03-6206-3190 (direct)