ISETAN MEN'S "The Art of the V-Zone" - How Ties and Shirts Can Change Your Impression
2019.11.27 update

GUEST V-STYLE | 3 V-zone styles suggested by James Webb, bespoke craftsman at TURNBULL & ASSER

"The Art of the V-Zone" is a series that proposes V-zone coordination techniques incorporating the latest themes each time. Starting this time, as an irregular series, we will introduce the outfits of guests from various brands who visit the men's department store, as well as V-zone coordination techniques.

This episode's guest
Turnbull & Asser
Bespoke craftsman James Webb

TURNBULL & ASSER , a long-established bespoke shirt brand founded in London, England in 1885, had its bespoke craftsman, James Webb, visit the men's department in late October to offer personalized styling suggestions to each customer.
■ Click here to see past guest outfits for "GUEST V-STYLE"


  1. TODAY'S GUEST STYLE
  2. GUEST RECOMMEND V-STYLE
    1. A striped shirt and tie that expresses warmth through color and pattern.
    2. A great example of enjoying the contrast between sax blue and purple.
    3. A sophisticated V-zone created with a sax blue striped tie and a pink-based small pattern tie.


TODAY'S GUEST STYLE



"It looks flashy at first glance, but the colors of the stripes are picked up to give the whole piece a cohesive look," explained bespoke craftsman James Webb, highlighting the key point.


A striped dress shirt made from Thomas Mason's iconic fabric is paired with a navy tie and a red pocket square. To highlight the impact of this shirt, the look is kept simple with a navy suit.
Regarding how to best combine striped shirts and suits, it's recommended to use a cleric-style shirt with a high, well-defined collar, as this makes it easier to pair with a suit. Unlike the Italian style, this creates a very noble impression.

The "Thomas Mason" fabric used in the shirts he wears was founded in England in 1796. Known as a supplier to the British Royal Family, it is a famous fabric manufacturer with many users all over the world. He says that the ICON fabric collection, in particular, is a reproduction of fabrics that pay homage to the "Thomas Mason" archives, and is characterized by its bright and vibrant colors reminiscent of the 70s and 80s.
I was also discussing its merits with Watanabe, the buyer in charge of dress shirts and ties.

When asked about his daily outfit choices, he said he often starts by choosing a shirt. He has many simple suits and jackets in his closet, and he uses shirts to create different looks. After deciding on a shirt, he enjoys coordinating the colors of the tie and pocket square to complete the outfit.


GUEST RECOMMEND V-STYLE



BARBA shirt: 31,900 yen; Altea tie: 12,100 yen


A striped shirt and tie that expresses warmth through color and pattern.


This combination evokes the feeling of autumn and winter, with brown and navy creating a warm image. The tie's stripes are unified in brown, picking up the color of the shirt.


A recommended outfit is to combine casual navy pants with a dark brown jacket, keeping the color palette to just two colors. Furthermore, a soft, relaxed-fit casual jacket that matches the texture of the tie is said to be a good match.



TURNBULL＆ASSER shirt ¥39,600, tie ¥20,900, pocket square ¥11,000

A great example of enjoying the contrast between sax blue and purple.


This elegant, distinctly British outfit features a contrast between a light blue shirt and a deep purple tie. A vibrant purple tie is easier to wear if it has a subtle houndstooth pattern rather than being a solid color.
Furthermore, picking up on that purple color, she subtly adds a touch of elegance with a floral pattern on the pocket square. Here again, the key is to limit and consolidate the colors rather than using too many.
I want to wear it with a navy suit to create a noble image.



TURNBULL＆ASSER shirt: ¥39,600, tie: ¥20,900
MUNGAI Chief: 14,300 yen


A sophisticated V-zone created with a sax blue striped tie and a pink-based small pattern tie.


One combination I'd like to suggest for a gray suit, which might seem difficult at first glance, is a light blue pinstripe tie paired with a pink small-patterned tie.

What I'd like you to pay attention to here is the blue used in the small pattern of the tie. The base color of the tie is pink, but blue is used as an accent, creating a sense of unity with the light blue of the shirt.
While this color combination might be difficult for Japanese people to pull off, it's apparently a common combination in Europe, resulting in a refreshing and elegant impression.

To complement a gray suit, choose a pocket square trimmed with gray lace, creating a sophisticated and elegant look without using too many colors—a truly advanced style.


Finally, when asked for tips on enjoying coordinating outfits, he told me to choose my clothes while thinking about "who I want to spend time with and what kind of time it will be." This seems like the kind of fashion befitting a British gentleman, built on consideration for others.




*All items featured can be purchased on the 1st floor of the Men's Building at the Dress Shirts & Ties section.
*All prices include tax.


For inquiries, please visit the Men's Building, 1st Floor: Dress Shirts & Ties
03-3352-1111 (main representative)
For inquiries via email, please click here.

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