2021.05.18 update

RING JACKET : Isetan buyer's guide to enjoying dress clothing more freely.


RING JACKET has continuously researched the Japanese physique and, with the motto "ready-to-wear clothing that feels like bespoke tailoring," has developed collections under its own name that have been highly acclaimed worldwide at Pitti UOMO, held annually in Florence, Italy. This time, Inaba, the men's tailored clothing supervisor Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building who continues to be an influencer on social media, styles RING JACKET items and introduces a new way of wearing tailored clothing.

View RING JACKET product list at the Mitsukoshi Isetan online store.



The appeal and capabilities of Ring Jacket, which goes beyond being just a factory brand.


Left: Naoki Iwata
RING JACKET Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building Store Manager
Impressed by the comfort and craftsmanship of Ring Jacket, I joined the company in 2010. After gaining experience at the flagship Aoyama store, I became the shop manager at Isetan Shinjuku in 2018. I always recommend suggestions that help customers dress stylishly.
Instagram: @ringjacket_shinjuku

Right: Tomohiro Inaba
Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building Men's Tailored Clothing Supervisor
Since joining the company in 2010, I have spent 10 years working in sales, as a sales floor manager, and as a buyer on the dress clothing floor of ISETAN MEN'S . I am in charge of purchasing various brands, mainly from Italy, and I pursue my own unique style that is relaxed and based on classics.



"You can tell the difference the moment you put it on!"

The person who started this conversation was Tomohiro Inaba, who is in charge of directing men's tailored clothing. Inaba, who visits factories both in Japan and abroad and knows the thoughts of the makers better than anyone, gives RING JACKET his seal of approval. As if in response to those words, Naoki Iwata, the manager of RING JACKET Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building says he has complete confidence in Inaba's buying sense and selection eye.

"I think the styling that Inaba-san posts on Instagram embodies a new era of classic style. It's a look we would never have thought of. And when RING JACKET item is casually included in it, it leads to a new discovery: 'Wow, our clothes can be paired with brands like this too!'" (Iwata)


This time, Inaba himself styled RING JACKET 's new suits and jackets. He had Iwata try on Inaba's unique, Inaba-style coordination, which is a little different from usual. But before that, let's take a look at a conversation between the two of them before we get to the styling.

Inaba SV and Iwata Store Manager talk about what makes Ring Jacket so amazing!

Inaba: What kind of proposals are you offering with RING JACKET this season?

Iwata: I think the use of linen-blend materials and the color coordination are new. Ocean blue reminiscent of the Mediterranean Sea, and sunset orange as the sun sets. Not only as accent colors, but the blue x orange color combination is also a color combination that Neapolitans are good at.

Inaba: That's typical of RING JACKET who love Italy.

Iwata: I especially like the clothes from Southern Italy, particularly Naples; they have a certain charm to them.


Inaba:
Suit sets are in fashion right now, but Ring Jacket doesn't use synthetic materials, right?

Iwata: Yes, we certainly do focus on using natural materials.

Inaba: I think that's amazing. Even when it comes to stretchable materials, balloon wool has been a staple for about 10 years now.

Iwata: The Balloon suit is of a quality that will satisfy not only those new to dress clothing, but also those accustomed to wearing suits. The development of a stretchy 100% wool fabric is typical of RING JACKET unwavering commitment to clothing.


Inaba: Today, I'd like to imagine the entire Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building as a select shop for tailored clothing, and try to put together the outfit I want to wear most this season, centered around a ring jacket.

Iwata: That's more than just kind, I'm extremely grateful. I always see Inaba-san's styling on social media, and you skillfully mix modern sensibilities with classic styles.


Inaba: I think our generation is able to mix brands and choose items without being bound by old rules. Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building has a wide range of items from classic to contemporary, so I think you can enjoy coordinating outfits freely.

Iwata: Absolutely! Please style it in a way that we RING JACKET wouldn't even notice!



"A new way to wear Ring Jacket" - only possible at Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building


I. On- and off-duty styles to pair with RING JACKET 's navy jacket "269"

Selected items (center of image):
Ring Jacket "269" ¥93,500 View product
▢Isetan Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building 5th Floor, Men's Tailored Clothing / Mitsukoshi Isetan Online Store

Coordinated items (from left to right in the image):

AVGN Denim Pants ¥30,800 View Product
▢Isetan Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building 5th Floor, Men's Tailored Clothing / Mitsukoshi Isetan Online Store

John Smedley polo shirt ¥29,700 Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building 1F Sweaters & Casual Shirts

Leyucca shoes ¥154,000 View product
▢Isetan Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building 5th Floor, Men's Tailored Clothing / Mitsukoshi Isetan Online Store

Drake's Shirt ¥27,500 View Product
Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building 1F: Sweaters & Casual Shirts / Mitsukoshi Isetan Online Store

Tangent Pants ¥28,600 View Product
▢Isetan Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building 5th Floor, Men's Tailored Clothing / Mitsukoshi Isetan Online Store


The navy jacket model is "269". It's an authentic dark navy. The deep tone makes it easy to highlight innerwear, making it suitable for color-coordinated outfits. The material is, of course, Ring Jacket's standard material, balloon wool.

Inaba paired this jacket with a knit polo shirt and jeans, and a button-down shirt and white pants. He chose basic items, but each one has a unique touch that's on-trend this year. The knit polo shirt is in ocean blue, a trendy color. It's a dress polo with a longer placket, and the jeans are a deliberately masculine, unwashed type. The button-down shirt is also a deliberately traditional type, and the white pants have a modern wide-tapered silhouette. We actually had Iwata try it on.

Off-duty style: Ocean blue color gives a fresh look to blue-toned outfits.

Ring Jacket "269" jacket: 93,500 yen

View Products


▢ Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building 5th Floor, Men's Tailored Clothing / Mitsukoshi Isetan Online Store

The jacket is a dark navy, and the denim is raw indigo blue. Both are classic colors for a blue-based outfit, but until now, it would have been more common to add a blue gradient with a light blue Oxford shirt or a blue chambray casual shirt. Now, the trendy ocean blue, while being the same shade of blue, looks fresh. Tucking in the hem of the polo shirt is also a modern way to wear it.


"Jacket and denim is a combination that Ring Jacket excels at. This knit polo shirt resonates with the ocean blue that Ring Jacket is proposing this season, and I think it looks surprisingly fresh. Is this denim from a French brand? It has a smart feel that's a little different from American or Italian denim." (Iwata)


OnStyle: Break away from authenticity with bottom silhouettes.



The button-down shirt is a sporty style with a placket and chest pocket. Light yellow is a color that is recognized in the office as a business shirt alternative to blue. The key to the styling is the silhouette of the bottoms. The creased white pants have a wide silhouette based on military pants. The ankle-length cut and black shoes create a balanced look that also complements the dark navy jacket.


"If you're going for a casual look without a tie, this shirt is better than a dress shirt with no placket or pockets. These pants are apparently military pants, but the wide silhouette with two pleats and creases gives them a dressy look, yet they also look a bit casual. It's a new way to choose white pants." (Iwata)

II. On- and Off-Duty Style Items to Pair with the Seersucker Suit "296"

Selected items (center of image):
Ring Jacket Suit Set: ¥132,000 (View Product)
▢Isetan Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building 5th Floor, Men's Tailored Clothing / Mitsukoshi Isetan Online Store

Coordinated items (from top left in the image):

Lotus Root Cardigan ¥46,200 View Product
Lotus Root Knit 35,200 yen View product
Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building 1F: Sweaters & Casual Shirts / Mitsukoshi Isetan Online Store

Baudoin & Lange shoes ¥80,300 Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building 5th Floor, Men's Tailored Clothing

Emmanuel Berg shirt ¥17,600 View product
Nikki knit tie ¥17,600 View product
Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building 1F: Sweaters & Casual Shirts / Mitsukoshi Isetan Online Store


Next, I chose a seersucker suit set. Its smooth, dry feel makes it perfect for wearing a suit even in spring and summer. The ribs aren't too thick, so it looks dressy, and the muted beige and gray color scheme gives it a sophisticated look. The trousers are beltless and can be adjusted with side adjusters.

Here, Inaba has prepared a short-sleeved knit top, a cardigan in the same color, an off-white shirt, and a black knit tie. By deliberately avoiding vivid colors and opting for nuanced colors, he has shown respect for seersucker, a classic of traditional style, while also achieving a sophisticated summer suit casual look with its exquisite color scheme. Now, let's have Iwata try it on.

Off-duty style: Layered style utilizing casual work at home.


Ring Jacket suit set: 132,000 yen

View Products


▢Isetan Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building 5th Floor, Men's Tailored Clothing / Mitsukoshi Isetan Online Store

He layered a crew-neck short-sleeved knit with a cardigan in the same color underneath. This is what's known as an ensemble knit. This style, which was common in women's styling, is not only elegant and comfortable for men, but is also attracting attention as a business style for the teleworking era. For the jacket to layer over this, a light seersucker jacket would be more comfortable and breezy to wear than a bulky summer wool jacket.


"Both pieces in the ensemble are made of silk, so it feels really comfortable to wear. Before trying it on, I thought it might be a little too feminine, but once I put it on, the cardigan felt more like a jacket. At first, I thought it might be difficult to find an outer layer to wear over it, but I found that a seersucker jacket loosely draped over it was just right." (Iwata)


OnStyle: Just changing the color of your shirt can give your tie-up look a fresh new feel.



A knit tie is the perfect choice when pairing a seersucker suit with a tie. While this is a classic American traditional look, pay attention to the shirt color here. The off-white color with a hint of yellow and the dry texture of the cotton-linen blend are a selection that could be described as Italian. The subtle beige and gray seersucker fabric allows this tone-on-tone styling to blend in seamlessly.


"This is a coordinated look that can only be achieved by knowing the rules of traditional style. I think the choice of Belgian shoes is also a key point in making the seersucker suit look modern." (Iwata)

"It's not like you're limited to just one brand of Ring Jacket; being able to freely create your own outfits like this is something unique to ISETAN MEN'S . Here, you can enjoy even tailored clothing freely, not just in the booths but across the entire floor." (Iwata)

View RING JACKET product list at the Mitsukoshi Isetan online store.



Text: Yasuyuki Ikeda
Photo: Tatsuya Ozawa

*All prices include tax.
*The information in this article is current as of the time of publication. Product information may be revised or changed without notice.
*Regarding the information displayed, due to store closures in response to the state of emergency or other circumstances, products that are normally only available in stores will now be available for purchase through Mitsukoshi Isetan Remote Shopping. Click here for purchase instructions.

inquiry
Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building 5th Floor, Men's Tailored Clothing
03-3352-1111 (main representative)