In our previous article , we asked two students who have secured job offers from Mitsukoshi Isetan this spring to have a stylist at Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building , suggest business-style dress codes for different industries. This time, we gathered businessmen in their 20s who are active in various industries and asked them to share their real opinions on how the styling compares to their own company's dress codes. We found that business casual is more widespread than we had imagined, and we received styling advice that will be very helpful for students who will soon be fresh graduates. Let's hear from real businessmen who are breaking down the conventional notions of "This is how fresh graduates should dress!" and "These are the basics of business style!"

• The four people who participated in this roundtable discussion

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  Kentaro Tsuyama

  Tsuyama, 29 years old, works in the marketing department of a major manufacturer. She says she has only worn a suit to work a handful of times since her company entrance ceremony. The company's dress code varies greatly depending on the department; some departments require employees to wear suits, while others allow employees to wear T-shirts, jeans, and sneakers. Tsuyama also usually dresses casually to work. She keeps a jacket at the office so she can handle occasions where "formal attire" is required, such as unexpected visitors.
  
  

  
  

  Reo Sonoda

  Sonoda, 26 years old, joined a startup company in its early stages after working at a consulting firm. He works in the venture's business development and sales departments. Depending on his daily schedule, he sometimes wears a suit and tie for sales calls, and other times a T-shirt and jeans for office work.
  
  

  
  

  Yusuke Sato

  Sato is 26 years old and works at the headquarters of a financial institution in Otemachi. In an industry where dress codes are rapidly changing, the company where Sato works also abolished suits and ties for office staff last year. However, as a salesperson, Sato's clients are conservative companies, so he comes to work in a suit with a tie every day. Apparently, many people in the company are also confused by the sudden shift to casual attire and are coming to work in suits without ties.
  
  
  

  
  

  Soichiro Nakamura

  She is 28 years old and works at an advertising agency. While the company has an image of being creative and free-spirited, the internal business style is based on dressing according to the client you are in charge of; for example, those in charge of financial institutions can wear suits, while those in charge of foreign beverage manufacturers can wear jeans. Ms. Nakamura works in the marketing department and is in charge of foreign companies. She aims for a smart, refined office casual look, such as a jacket and turtleneck.

When choosing a suit for job hunting, prudence is key. Show off your individuality from your fresh graduate days.

--Thank you for joining us today. This is a roundtable discussion on fresh graduate style, and we'd like to hear your opinions in light of your company's dress code. Our models are two students who will be joining Mitsukoshi Isetan this spring. First, please take a look at the outfits they wore to their job offer ceremony.


Nakamura's suit and tie are a safe bet, aren't they?
For a job offer ceremony at Sato , it's probably best to keep a low profile. If it were Recruit, you could try to showcase your individuality.
Nakamura: I wore a slightly lighter navy suit to stand out from the others.

-- What color suit did everyone wear for their job interviews? Was it black, of course?

In Tsuyama, I alternated between wearing navy and charcoal gray.
Sonoda: I also had the navy one, but I also had the black one.
Sato: Mine was dark navy.
Nakamura: I also wore a navy suit, but it had a slight sheen. Black suits were originally worn as semi-formal attire, and personally, I feel like they make me look a bit pale (laughs).

-- I hear that some university career services departments recommend black recruitment suits, and black, navy, and charcoal gray are considered standard choices. It seems this is to avoid making a strong statement about one's individuality through clothing, but wouldn't it be better to have a business style that allows for gradual self-expression once you're hired? So, let's take a look at some styling ideas put together at ISETAN MEN'S .

For new graduates, take note. Dress codes for new employees, categorized by industry.

1. A classic suit style suitable for finance and real estate.

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--So, let's start with the first suit style. This is a classic look that would be acceptable even in a somewhat conservative company.

This is a standard style at Sato Financial Institutions. The color scheme also makes a good impression.
Nakamura : We have people in our sales department who dress like this too. Because their clients are diverse, salespeople who handle financial institutions, real estate companies, government agencies, etc., tend to wear this kind of formal suit style. It looks neat and gives a good impression, and it's an outfit that you can wear anywhere without feeling embarrassed.
If Tsuyama were in our company, people would probably ask, "Are you looking for a new job?" (laughs). My department (marketing) is mainly office-based, so we don't have anyone like that. You might find some in sales, in the more traditional departments.


Sonoda: When I go on sales calls, I deliberately wear a classic suit, but I sometimes add a little flair, like a patterned suit or a brighter tie. If I'm too formal, the client might think that the company I'm going to is very conservative.

—Adjusting your attire to suit your department within the company or the clients you're dealing with is a fundamental aspect of business attire, isn't it? How do you all handle that?

Sato bags are briefcases, aren't they? I also use a bag like that when I go out on sales calls.
Tsuyama: I always wear a backpack when I commute to work. I even keep it on when I go to see clients.
Sonoda: I also often use a backpack. I always carry my laptop with me.
At Nakamura's office, we have people with both briefcases and backpacks, but tote bags are more common. Of course, I think briefcases look better when you're wearing a proper suit like this, so I think choosing a bag that matches your outfit is important.
Sonoda's backpack is easy to carry, but don't briefs get in the way on the train? It's like someone's going to take just the bag away (laughs).
Wouldn't it be good to carry Nakamura's briefs too? (laughs)


Sato: I go to work empty-handed. Due to company regulations, I can't take any documents or my PC out of the office, so I bring a paperback book with me.
I often carry my laptop with me , so I usually use a backpack, but on days when I don't carry it, I like to go hands-free. I try to keep my belongings to a minimum.
At Nakamura Agency, we handle a lot of paper documents, so a bag is essential. While we're moving towards a paperless environment, the culture still differs from department to department. Some people in the media department go out empty-handed in their suits, but the sales department carries around documents, materials, and samples, so larger bags are necessary.


-- How are your feet?

Sato: Basically, we wear leather shoes. Some of our office staff wear sneakers, but when we go to see clients, we wear leather shoes.
Nakamura : Suede boots are fine for me (lol).
Sonoda: While comfort is important, first impressions are crucial when working, so I try to wear the best shoes I can afford.

2. For consulting firms and foreign companies, a stylish suit style is appropriate.

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-- This is a stylish suit style with a navy suit, brown shoes, and a trendy large-patterned tie.

Nakamura , that's a nice suit. The fabric quality is clearly different.
Sonoda seems very motivated. I used to work in consulting, and I knew people like this. It seems that this style works well depending on the client, whether it's a foreign company, the cosmetics industry, or the apparel industry.
The fact that it's a bag from Tsuyama Felisi makes it seem like it's from a foreign company, doesn't it? (lol)
Nakamura , my company isn't a foreign company, but I do own a Felisi briefcase. It's been redesigned with metal fittings and a shoulder strap. But it's true that Felisi is often associated with foreign companies.
We also have Felisi at Sato Finance. However, this style does stand out a bit within the company. Salespeople probably wouldn't wear such flashy suits, and office staff are more casual, so I don't see anyone else wearing suits like this around me. Only the tie is flashy, but even then, I don't think they'd choose one with a large pattern. In short, the company culture is one that doesn't like to stand out, and people tend to read the atmosphere and try not to stand out in the office.
What about Nakamura Tea Shoes? Financial institutions are usually associated with black shoes, aren't they?


Sato: Both are acceptable. I wear black shoes sometimes and brown shoes sometimes. However, I only wear dark brown shoes. You often see people at manufacturing companies wearing light brown shoes, don't you? You don't see that very often in financial institutions.
I own both the black and brown Tsuyama shoes , but I wear sneakers to work, so I only really wear them to occasions like weddings.
Sonoda: I prefer brown shoes.
Nakamura: I also tend to wear brown shoes most of the time. Black shoes give off a stiff impression, so I only wear them when I'm giving a presentation to a client.

3. Jacket and trousers combinations are now commonplace in the office.

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-- This is a jacket and trousers combination. A navy jacket with gray trousers. He's wearing a tie, but his bag and shoes are brown leather, so you could say it's more of a business casual look.

Sato: I think this would be acceptable even in financial institutions. It's elegant, not offensive to customers, and leaves a good impression. The dress code only changed significantly last year, so there aren't that many people wearing it yet, but I think it will increase from now on. Of course, you have to be mindful of the atmosphere (laughs).
I once worked in Singapore and Vietnam due to a transfer, and this was my style at the time. When I had business meetings there, I often wore a jacket and trousers rather than a suit. I think it depends on the region, but I've heard that a senior colleague who worked in London deliberately wore a suit the whole time. Overseas, it's basic to match the attire of the other party. Even domestically, I think it's basic business attire to match the dress code of the client.
Looks like something you'd see at Nakamura Agency (lol). There are a lot of people like that. A lot of them are wearing tassel loafers too.


—Even on site, people were saying it felt like an agency (laughs). Doesn't it also have a venture or startup feel to it?

Sonoda: On the contrary, there aren't many people like this. I think most people either wear very formal suits or very casual; it's two extremes. And you mentioned business casual earlier, but it has a dressy feel to it, and if you just look at the bag, it looks casual too. It seems a little difficult to coordinate, but I think it's a well-balanced style.


Nakamura's navy jacket and gray pants go well together; I'd say it's a perfect example of a jacket-and-pants style.
When you have a lot of luggage in Tsuyama , a leather tote bag is a good choice.
Sonoda: For me, a bag that can fit a laptop is a must. But when I'm carrying it around, a backpack is more convenient than carrying it by hand, so a 2-way bag would be ideal.
Sato: I've never seen anyone carrying this type of casual bag.

4. A new standard style that works for everything from weekends to business casual.

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—With the increase in jobs and industries where suits and ties are not required, the number of workplaces that allow casual attire has also increased. That being said, it's probably best to avoid overly casual attire, and this level of refined casualness seems to be the current standard.

In Tsuyama , it's common to see people wearing T-shirts with jackets. We also see a lot of people wearing trendy matching suits.
I think just wearing the Sonoda jacket is enough.


I get the feeling that a lot of people in the IT and startup industries like this style. Here, they're wearing leather shoes, but they'd probably be wearing sneakers, a designer tote bag, and an Apple Watch (laughs).
Sonoda: It's true that there might be a lot of people who like clothes in venture companies, startups, and IT companies.
Sato : I might not have a role this time (laughs). No, of course, I think there are people in internal or digital departments who dress like this. Financial institutions also have departments that are pioneering new fields such as venture capital and fintech development, and I think those people would like this style.

—So, if I mess it up this much, will I get in trouble?

Sato probably won't get in trouble. Even if his clothes, or rather his tie, are a bit flashy, I don't think his superiors would say anything. People around him will respect him if he's competent at his job, so those kinds of people won't get criticized for their clothing. In fact, I think that people who stand out in their clothing at financial institutions are those who are confident in their abilities.
At Sato Bank, the attire isn't particularly flashy, but at securities companies, you might see some people with more flamboyant attire. However, I think the tie patterns are usually stripes or small patterns. You don't see many printed patterns or paisley. On the other hand, or perhaps as a trade-off, their suits are properly custom-made.


Nakamura: I tend to wear a lot of brands that are sold on the 5th floor of ISETAN MEN'S . And also patterned clothes. I wear a lot of navy, but I also wear glen check and things like that.
For some reason, Sato Financial Institution has a high percentage of charcoal gray-themed items.
Sonoda: I tend to choose navy over gray because it's easier to match with other clothes. I don't really care about brands. I'm fine with ready-made suits and casual clothes.
Tsuyama : Oh, I love a certain fast fashion brand too. I wear their clothes for everyday wear, and even to work.
I don't see that brand very often in Otemachi .
Sonoda Yotsuya 3-chome is also fine (lol).


-- Business styles vary not so much based on company regulations, but rather on how they are adapted to customers and the company culture. However, the uniform business style of the past is no longer effective. It should be changed not only by industry and department, but also by the day's schedule and the people you are meeting, and this may be a form of work style reform. We would like to use this as a reference when recommending fresh graduate styles at ISETAN MEN'S .

■Related Articles: ・How to Choose a New Suit for New Employees: The Latest Business Styles You Should Know Before Starting Your Job