A must-read for new graduates: How to choose and wear suits by industry.

1. A dressy suit style that is acceptable even in industries with strict dress codes.

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This is the most dressy business style for industries where trustworthiness is paramount, such as banking, life insurance, and real estate. It adheres strictly to the basics, featuring a navy suit, plain white shirt, and a tie in a subdued color for a chic and understated look. The matching black leather shoes and bag are also important details. While young businessmen often choose brown for shoes and leather accessories, black enhances the formal impression. The amount of shirt sleeve showing from the jacket sleeve and the trouser hem length that conceals the socks are also noteworthy.

• Items worn
  
  Norm Tailored Suit ¥75,900 ■ Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building 5th Floor = Men's Tailored Clothing
  
  ISETAN MEN'S Dress Shirt ¥9,790, Fairfax Tie ¥9,900 ■ Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building 1F = Dress Shirts & Ties
  
  REGAL dress shoes ¥30,800 ■ Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building B1F = Men's Shoes
  
  FUJITAKA Briefcase ¥58,300 ■ Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building B1F = Bags

Using a tie in the same color as your suit will give your V-zone a more refined look.

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"The V-zone is an important area not only for coordinating colors and patterns, but also for checking the fit. The jacket lapels shouldn't float away from the chest. If the shirt doesn't fit properly, it will create unnecessary wrinkles in the V-zone, making you look sloppy. For the tie, if it matches the suit and uses navy in the pattern or base color, it won't look out of place at the chest. By combining navy with gray, I tried to create the image of a sophisticated businessman with sincerity and composure." (Sekikawa)

The most formal style is considered to be a black, closed-laced straight-tip shoe.

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"These black leather, oxford-style straight-tip shoes are versatile enough for business, as well as formal occasions like weddings and funerals. Many students and new graduates don't know their exact shoe size, so choosing the right shoes is crucial. Starting this spring, ISETAN MEN'S will be introducing a service called YourFIT365 (*), which uses 3D measurement to find shoes that perfectly fit the wearer's feet. We encourage everyone to take advantage of it," says Sekikawa.


Choose high-quality leather goods that you can use for a long time, starting from a young age.

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"The basic business bag is a briefcase. Shoulder straps that allow you to carry it diagonally can damage your suit, so I recommend removing them. Just like shoes, leather goods such as bags and belts can last for more than 10 years if properly cared for, so if you're thinking of using them for a long time as a businessman, it's best to choose items of the best possible quality." (Sekikawa)

• I thought any leather shoes would do (lol) (Yamamoto)

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• "I always thought suits were like this, but apparently there are industries where this is considered too formal. I was surprised to learn that even within the same company, the dress code can differ depending on the department. As for shoes, I'd never really thought about it before, thinking any simple leather shoes would do, but I learned that you need to carefully choose the color, shape, and size. If I were working in finance, I'd definitely want to dress in this kind of suit style."

2. An Italian suit style that exudes elegance and sophistication.

In industries such as consulting and foreign-owned companies, where trustworthiness and reliability are important, along with a sense of style and flexibility, a suit style that isn't too rigid makes a good impression. You can see that even with the same navy suit, the impression is different from the straight-cut, rigid navy suit mentioned earlier.

This suit has a rounded, Neapolitan-style silhouette and is actually soft and lightweight to wear. You can see that it gives a different impression from the previous navy suit, which was more linear and structured. The fabric is VITALE BARBERIS CANONICO, and depending on the light, a high-quality sheen emerges, making it a suit you'd want to wear if you're feeling a little extravagant. This styling is a stylish Italian business style combining navy and brown. The color combination known as "Azzurro e Marrone" (navy and brown) is a basic color scheme in men's fashion that you should remember.

• Items worn
  
  RING JACKET suit ¥93,500 ■ Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building 5th Floor = Men's Tailored Clothing
  
  ISETAN MEN'S Dress Shirt ¥9,790
  ROBERT FRASER necktie ¥12,100 ■ Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building 1F = Dress shirts and ties
  
  Revros dress shoes ¥41,800 ■ Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building B1F = Men's Shoes
  
  Felisi Briefcase ¥64,900 ■ Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building B1F = Bags

For a more flexible suit style, add flair with a shirt and tie.

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"Many fresh graduates wear striped ties, so it's a good idea to stand out by choosing a tie with a small pattern. It's best to avoid overly flashy colors and patterns, and opt for business colors like black, navy, white, brown, and gray, which is appropriate for a fresh graduate. Matching stripes to your suit, shirt, and tie requires some skill, such as varying the width of the stripes, so it's more for advanced users," says Sekikawa.

Choosing brown shoes will give you an Italian-style business look.

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"Shoes with perforations on the toe area are called 'punched cap toe' shoes. Compared to black oxfords, they are not too stiff and have a slightly more elegant look, making them a versatile design for various business occasions. Light brown shoes can look a bit casual, so it's better to choose darker tones," says Sekikawa.

I coordinate my leather accessories by using the same color scheme.

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" Felisi 's flap brief, which combines nylon and leather, is a classic bag popular among businessmen. This is a new model that can be fitted with a shoulder strap, and the side gussets have been changed from leather to nylon, making it even lighter. Matching the color of your bag and shoes is also a basic principle of business style. Remember to unify the color of the leather," (Sekikawa)

• If I were working for a foreign company, would I have worn a suit like this? (Tsumajima)

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• "The combination of navy and brown looks quite stylish. It gives off this kind of image, like someone who works for a foreign company. I hadn't considered leather shoes with this kind of perforation before because I thought they looked too mature, but if it's just the toe design, I think I could wear them without worrying. Darker brown definitely looks more sophisticated."

The "jacket and trousers style," where the jacket and trousers are coordinated separately, has become established as a business style due to the spread of office casual attire. It is a popular style in industries that are lenient about dress codes, such as sales positions at manufacturers and advertising agencies, media, apparel, and cosmetics companies. The basic combination is a navy jacket with patch pockets and gray slacks. Even with a blazer type with metal buttons, choosing a model made of hopsack fabric will give a more mature impression that avoids a student-like feel. It's also worth noting that a lighter shade of gray for the trousers will make you look younger.

• Items worn
  
  TAGLIATORE jacket ¥97,900
  INCOTEX Pants ¥39,600 ■ Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building 5th Floor = Men's Tailored Clothing
  
  Kamichaio Oggi Dress Shirt ¥14,300
  ROBERT FRASER necktie ¥12,100 ■ Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building 1F = Dress shirts and ties

  JALAN SRIWIJAYA shoes ¥37,400 ■ Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building B1F = Men's Shoes

  
  Aniari bag ¥53,900 ■ Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building B1F = Bags

The V-zone, featuring similar colors, reveals an adult's fashion sense.

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"When coordinating a V-zone with a navy jacket and a light blue shirt, the key is how to match the tones of brightness. Here, the navy of the jacket is on the lighter side, and the light blue of the shirt is on the darker side. When choosing a tie, if young people incorporate regimental stripes in red, green, or yellow, it can easily look like a student uniform. By using brown and navy to match the shoes, bag, and jacket, the overall tone is coordinated to create a calm and sophisticated impression." (Sekikawa)

Be particular about your choice and select loafers that fit your feet.

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"While lace-up shoes are the standard for suits, loafers are also an option when wearing a jacket and trousers. Here, I've chosen tassel loafers with a rich, expressive look. Young people these days tend to have smaller heels. If the size isn't right, the heels are likely to slip out, so choose carefully. At ISETAN MEN'S we're offering a wide selection of shoes with millennial lasts (*), which are shoe lasts designed to fit the feet of younger generations, starting this spring." (Sekikawa)

A tote bag made of leather is more suitable for work than one made of canvas.

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"For a jacket and trousers style, a tote bag is fine. However, a canvas tote would be too casual, so choose a leather tote. Here, I chose a brown bag to match the color of the shoes. It's best to unify the leather colors of your shoes, tie, bag, belt, and even watch strap in shades of brown," (Sekikawa).

• I think a jacket and trousers combination would be easier for me to incorporate into my wardrobe than a suit! (Yamamoto)

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• "I knew that a jacket and trousers combination was acceptable for work attire, but the basic color scheme of a navy jacket and gray slacks is very helpful. A suit is a must for a while after starting a job, but after that, I think this kind of style will be easier for me to wear. The jacket and trousers style seems to broaden the range of outfits I can coordinate, so shopping will be more fun."

In industries like IT and startups, where suits aren't strictly required, casual attire is now commonplace. However, overly casual styles like jeans and t-shirts are often considered unacceptable, and wearing a jacket is sometimes necessary. Therefore, a jacket made from a wrinkle-resistant, functional material is a good choice.

You can leave it at the office as a spare jacket, or take advantage of its packable design and carry it around in the pouch-like pocket inside. For pants, choose wool material. It has a relaxed silhouette without creases, but many offices allow casual pants other than denim. Leaving your shirt untucked can sometimes look sloppy, but if you wear a shirt that was designed to be worn untucked from the start and do so neatly, your boss shouldn't frown upon it.

• Items worn
  
  TEATORA jacket: 70,400 yen
  Graphpaper shirt ¥25,300, Seeall pants ¥41,800 ■ Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building 6th floor = Men's Contemporary
  
  Foot the Coacher shoes ¥48,400 Izaricee bag ¥46,200 ■ Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building 2nd floor = Men's Creators

Wear a shirt that's more than a T-shirt but less than a dress shirt for a no-tie business casual look.

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"While a no-tie business style is being encouraged, simply removing the tie and unbuttoning a dress shirt can look sloppy, with the collar points spreading to the sides, the chest area being too open, or the undershirt peeking out. So I deliberately chose a band-collar shirt that doesn't require a tie. If you button it up properly, it looks neat even without a tie." (Sekikawa)

Comfortable casual leather shoes that look elegant.

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"Even in offices that have abolished dress codes, there's a lot of variety in shoe choices. Some places allow sneakers, while others don't. Especially recently, shoes that you can walk in even if public transportation stops during an emergency are being recommended. Some companies may restrict flashy high-tech sneakers or work boots, but these leather casual shoes are a casual business look that works everywhere," says Sekikawa.

A reliable bag proves you are a working adult.

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"Many people are now wearing backpacks for business. Especially for fresh graduates with a casual business attire, depending on how you combine it, wearing a backpack can make you look like a college student, so you need to be careful," (Sekikawa)

• Business styles are surprisingly diverse! (Tsumajima)

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• "It probably depends on the industry, but something like this can be worn casually and comfortably. I was surprised to learn that wearing a jacket, carrying a proper bag, and using high-quality materials and well-made accessories is enough to be considered business attire. I was glad to discover that business attire has more detailed manners than I had imagined, but at the same time, it's surprisingly broad."