Spring is the season when suits, shirts, and ties take center stage. When formal attire is required for occasions such as entering school, graduating, advancing to the next grade, promotion, or transfer to a new position, the shirt is a basic and classic element of such attire.

One year after its remodel, we conducted a survey at the dress shirt/custom shirt section on the first floor Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building to help customers choose the shirt that suits them best.
The guide for this session will be stylist Tomohiko Hanano, who has extensive knowledge and experience and is known as "the man to talk about shirts" at Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building .

Could you tell me what brands and product selection are available in the shirt section of Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building ?

• First, the shirt section at Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building is quite large and divided into ready-made shirts and custom-made shirts .
  We offer both domestic and imported ready-made shirts. Our domestic selection includes approximately 10 brands, including our house brand, ISETAN MEN'S . Our imported selection features around 10-15 brands, such as CHARVET TURNBULL＆ASSER and LUIGI BORRELLI .
  Additionally, there is a space on the same floor where you can order custom-made shirts.

Prices for ready-made shirts range from 9,790 yen for domestically produced wrinkle-resistant shirts to under 20,000 yen. Imported shirts, mainly from Naples, Italy, but also including British and French brands, are diverse, ranging from 17,600 yen to 110,000 yen.
This is one of the leading stores in Japan, offering not only a wide range of ready-made shirt sizes, but also custom-made shirts, and even full custom orders for MINAMI SHIRTS .



In recent years, a common request from our customers is, "Can I wear this for Cool Biz?" This has become a major point in our selection process. There is a growing trend for shirts that look neat around the neck even when the tie is removed, so our main selection consists of shirts with semi-wide or wide collars.

Actually, it's great value for money?! You can now order custom-made shirts on the same floor.

• We offer custom-made shirts in three price ranges: ¥16,500, ¥22,000, and ¥33,000 .
  The number of fabrics available varies depending on the price: the ¥16,500 and ¥22,000 options offer approximately 300-400 varieties, while the ¥33,000 option offers around 200 varieties.
  Over 90% of our custom shirt orders are for the "Isetan Original," a basic model that offers a high degree of customization. You can choose from over 20 collar styles, and customize the original design down to the millimeter. We also offer "easy-care" fabrics that are wrinkle-resistant.

Following the 2019 remodel, the store was moved to the first floor, allowing more people in their 20s and 30s to become interested in custom-made shirts. While ready-made shirts are the norm, more and more people are trying custom-made shirts to discover their own preferences, or saying things like, "Instead of buying a ready-made shirt for 16,500 yen, I'd rather have one made for the same price, even though it takes a month."

Also, since semi-wide and wide collar styles are the mainstream for ready-made shirts, we recommend ordering a custom shirt for those who are particular about their style and want a tab collar, round collar, or regular collar. Many people who decide to order a custom shirt because they can't find the design they want in ready-made shirts end up discovering the depth and enjoyment of customization, and many become repeat customers.


Popular fabrics include plain white and micro-twill, with fabric manufacturers such as THOMAS MASON and CANCLINI Monti being well-received.

Please note that with custom-made shirts, we will also provide you with the leftover fabric when you receive your finished product. If the collar or cuffs become worn or dirty, you can bring the shirt and the leftover fabric back, and we can replace the collar for 3,300 yen and the cuffs for 2,750 yen, so we recommend keeping it.
Furthermore, we can make a pocket square using the same fabric as your order for an additional 1,100 yen, so please consider this option as well.

■Related Articles: [Feature] Why "Select Order Shirt Tailoring Vouchers" are Suitable as Gifts

Things to prepare before going shirt shopping

• Whether you're buying ready-made or custom-made, if you can clarify in your mind what colors and materials of suits and ties you'd like to pair with the shirt you're purchasing, as well as the occasions you'll be wearing them for and the style you want to achieve , it will be easier for us to make suggestions.

We often receive questions like, "What collar style is best?"
If you're wearing a tie, we recommend semi-wide or wide collars; if you're not wearing a tie, we suggest horizontal or button-down collars.
Furthermore, when asked "What kind of shirt should I wear to a ceremony such as a wedding or celebration?" , we suggest prioritizing dress code over fashion.

Also, if you're ordering a custom-made shirt, we recommend that you wear your favorite shirt when you visit our store.
If you use that shirt as a reference when making your request, it will be easier for you to visualize the finished product, and the difference between that image and the finished shirt will be minimal.

How long do shirts last? When is the right time to replace them?

• One of the questions we frequently receive from our customers is about the "lifespan of a shirt."
  As a general guideline, if you wear it once a week, it's time to replace it after about 50 wears. We recommend replacing it when the cuffs and collar show signs of wear, or when the inside becomes noticeably dirty.

With custom-made shirts, you can change the collar and cuffs, so some people wear them for a long time, perhaps by changing them into a cleric shirt. Many people also continue to wear their shirts for a long time by changing the collar and cuffs, as long as the body of the shirt remains in good condition, because "the size is perfect for me."
Give your long-loved custom-made shirt a new lease on life with a "cleric" style!

Finally, some shirt selection advice from a stylist.

In short, the appeal of shirts lies in their ability to "boost work motivation" and "serve as a benchmark when buying new clothes."
For example, wearing something special like a custom-made shirt can clearly boost your work motivation. Furthermore, paying attention to your shirts can create new values within yourself, which then become your benchmark when buying new clothes.

Because they are basic items, I believe you can discover things by paying attention to the size, fabric, and design, and by taking care of your shirts, the rest of your wardrobe will start to fall into place as well.
"How can I combine a suit, shirt, and tie to make a better impression?" "I want to solve this shirt problem." Our stylists will answer all your questions and address all your requests. Please come visit us.

Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building 1st Floor = Recommended articles on dress shirts and ties can be found here.

Photo: SUZUKI SHIMPEI, ISETAN MEN'S net
Text: ISETAN MEN'S net

*All prices include tax.

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