The annual spring event at Isetan Shinjuku, the popular JM Weston pop-up store, is coming again this year!

In this article , we interviewed three fashion experts who are currently interested in JM WESTON , in conjunction with the upcoming event.
Our second guest is designer Yuhi Ozaki, who boasts an extensive JM WESTON collection. It can be said that this collection represents the trajectory of his exploration of shoes and fashion. We spoke with Mr. Ozaki, whose passion for shoes remains undiminished, about the models featured in this article, and about JM WESTON and his own style.

►Event information starting April 30th (Wed) Click here for details

"Russian calf" is a familiar material.

Yuhi Ozaki is known for his extensive shoe collection, ranging from ready-made shoes to bespoke shoes, including brands like JM WESTON .

"I recently had the opportunity to take a step back and look at all the leather shoes I own, and at the time I felt like I had enough, but actually, I've continued to buy more since then."

With a wry smile, Ozaki said this. On the day of the interview, he was wearing the "#180 Signature Loafers" made of cognac-colored cordovan, which he had acquired at a pop-up store at Isetan Shinjuku in 2022.


"These cordovan '#180 Signature Loafers' feel very comfortable to wear. The upper has a soft, supple texture, and the way the creases form is large and gentle. Even those who find the regular calfskin 'Signature Loafers' a bit stiff might find these to be a different experience."

Furthermore, they seem interested in the tan-brown cordovan leather that will be featured at this year's pop-up store. However, Mr. Kagami, the men's shoe buyer at Isetan Shinjuku, says that cordovan isn't the only thing that's attracting attention this time.


"We're bringing back the 'Russian Finish Calf' leather from JM WESTON . Actually, this Russian Finish Calf leather was very popular with customers last year, especially with the 'Weston Vintage' collection."
Russian-finished calf leather is rich in oil and was used in outdoor-oriented models such as the '#677 Hunt Derby,' '#641 Golf,' and '#690 Yacht.' However, it had stopped being used in the 'Golf' and 'Yacht' models in recent years. So we approached JM WESTON headquarters directly, and although they were initially hesitant, we discovered that there had been many similar inquiries at the Champs-Élysées store, which led to the decision to bring it back.


"At this pop-up, we will be selling the '#690 Yacht' and '#641 Golf' models, as well as the '#180 Signature Loafer,' all made with Russian-finished calfskin in black and tan brown. This is the first time we're offering the 'Signature Loafer' in Russian-finished calfskin."

Ms. Ozaki listened calmly to the explanation from the mirror buyer.

"I acquired both colors of the 'Yacht' over 20 years ago, and those are made of Russian calfskin. So, it's a material I'm quite familiar with, and I might not fully appreciate the value of this reissue."

Furthermore, regarding the "Golf" model, for example, Mr. Ozaki says he likes the feel of the current box calf leather. However, he adds the following:

"The 'Signature Loafers' in Russian Finish Calfskin are very appealing. I'm interested in them because they're something I haven't seen before."


And when asked what she would like to choose from this pop-up shop, Ozaki mentioned the "Signature Loafers" made with tan brown Russian-finished calfskin.

Add a touch of elegance to your outfit with "tan brown."

This time, Mr. Ozaki was drawn to the tan brown color in both Russian calfskin and cordovan. It's one of his favorite colors among JM WESTON shoes, and he already owns several pairs in that color.

"My third purchase was the 'Yacht,' and my other shoes like the 'Hunt Derby' and '#705 Side Gore Boots' are all in tan brown. It's a unique color, isn't it? Among brown leathers, I think it's easy to bring out a sense of elegance. It looks good with denim, and I think it also goes well with military colors like khaki and olive green. For me, pairing military-style pants with JM WESTON boots instead of work boots gives a casual feel, and I think that balance is good when meeting someone."



We asked Ms. Ozaki, who spoke these words, how she has been styling her JM WESTON shoes recently.

"Actually, I've been wearing suits and jackets a lot lately. It's partly because of my age, and partly because my work as a designer involves handling suits and other tailored wear more often, so I'm still learning, or rather, I'm trying to create clothes based on my own experience of wearing them. And when I pair those tailored clothes with JM WESTON shoes, I always feel the need to put some vintage clothing in between. It could be a shirt or a knit, but when I'm wearing a jacket, I often choose vintage casual pants. For example, five-pocket pants like the ones I'm wearing today, or military Gurkha pants. I feel comfortable with that kind of combination."


On this particular day, Ms. Ozaki was dressed in a stylish, tie-and-match style, yet there was a relaxed vibe about her. She says that in more casual settings, the balance is the opposite.

"I like to wear something casual on top, but pair it with tailored slacks and JM WESTON shoes on the bottom. So, I thought about coordinating an outfit around this tan brown 'Yacht' shoe. On top, I'm wearing a vintage Patagonia mountain parka, paired with a vintage American-style checked shirt, and for the pants, I chose cotton trousers that I had custom-made by Belvest. It has a bit of a classic yachtsman vibe."


While explaining the styling in this way, Ms. Ozaki picked up her Russian-finish calfskin "Yacht" bag, saying that it was getting quite old and she might want to replace it. It seems her JM WESTON collection will continue to grow.

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