In this series, " #IsetanMensFavoriteItems, " Isetan Mens staff, who are always on the lookout for new trends and possess a keen aesthetic sense, introduce their favorite personal belongings and desired items. This time, with the theme of "Summer Must-Have Items," 28-year-old Tatsuro Saito, who is in his sixth year at the company, picks out his top 3!

My Top 3 "Summer Must-Have Items" for an Active and Positive Mindset

Saito says that skateboarding, which he has been doing since the sixth grade of elementary school, is an "irreplaceable place" where he can immerse himself in refining one trick over time and share the feeling of satisfaction when he successfully lands a difficult trick with his friends. He also says that the fact that it is a sport where there is no uniform and you can wear whatever you like is one of the reasons he came to love fashion.
Furthermore, she actively visits art museums, a hobby she started during her student days, because it allows her to gain a keen awareness of fashion, culture, and social issues through the artworks, and also provides inspiration for her work by showing her exhibition methods and the way the venues are designed. Above all, she values it as a place to learn a common language with the designers and artists she often works with.

Here are Saito's top 3 "must-have summer items," chosen by someone who is seriously involved in fashion and art while also leading an active lifestyle.

athletia 's UV gel and mist are products you'll want to reapply willingly for sun protection.

"I always spend 4 or 5 hours skating at the skate park on my days off, so I get really tanned when the sun is strong. Every year I buy sunscreen at the drugstore, but I sweat a lot while skating, and I wipe the sweat off with a towel, so it washes off easily, and by the time summer is in full swing I've given up on sun protection altogether (laughs)."
When I went to Toyama at the end of April, I was skiing from morning till night and became worried about getting sunburned, so I rushed to the men's cosmetics shop on the first floor of ISETAN MEN'S to reconsider my cosmetics. Among the many brands, I was drawn to athletia 's natural scent and good packaging design, so I immediately bought these two products.

The mist has a refreshing herbal scent reminiscent of a forest bath, and I love that it can be used on both my face and body. The UV gel has my favorite citrus scent, so I'm happy to reapply it throughout the day without feeling bothered. Reapplying it during breaks while skiing also refreshes my mood, so it's a win-win situation. I recommend this to anyone who finds sun protection a hassle and is reluctant to do it! The cosmetics shop on the 1st floor Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building also sells many other types of sunscreen, so please be sure to find your favorite.

BLANC sunglasses that are easy to wear.

"These are the only sunglasses I own, which I bought around 2019 at a BLANC pop-up store on the 2nd floor of Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building . I used to think, 'It would be nice to have sunglasses' when going out in the summer or driving, but I avoided them because I thought they looked too pretentious and wouldn't suit me."

BLANC is a brand that focuses not only on eyewear itself, but also on ease of styling. The glasses have just the right amount of fashion appeal and are easy to incorporate into your wardrobe. While darker lenses can sometimes give off a slightly over-the-top impression, these lenses are easy to wear even outside of the peak of summer. The shape also suits me perfectly; I really love them.
BLANC currently has a permanent store on the 6th floor Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building , so please come and check it out.

Mitsukoshi Isetan Online Store
View BLANC product list

I want to skateboard in a style that is true to myself and has a strong sense of self!

"I visit art museums and galleries about two or three times a month, and my favorite part after seeing an exhibition is the museum shop. Each museum and exhibition has its own unique merchandise, from posters and tote bags to magnets and even Kintaro candy shaped like paintings, but I always end up checking out the T-shirts!"
I'd been searching for a unique T-shirt that I could wash frequently without worrying about getting it dirty or sweaty while skateboarding, and this art T-shirt was perfect for me. I usually like and wear designer brands, but they're a bit pricey, so I hesitate to wear them in active situations. This is a real lifesaver.

The beige T-shirt is printed with Kazuo Shiraga's work "Waves," which I bought at the Pola Museum of Art in Hakone. I love the design because it captures the powerful and energetic atmosphere of the artwork. The black T-shirt was also purchased at the Pola Museum of Art. It features a work by Wolfgang Tillmans, a photographer who has been getting a lot of attention lately, and I bought it instantly just because I saw the cover. When I'm skateboarding in T-shirts that I've carefully chosen, I get into the mood and forget about the passage of time.
I plan to continue expanding my art T-shirt collection.