JM WESTON 's annual pop-up event will be held again this year from April 29th (Wednesday, public holiday) at Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building, 1st Floor, The Stage . The event will feature made-to-order sales of models made with "Russian Finish Calf," which were very popular last year. In particular, the ever-popular "Weston Vintage" will have approximately 500 pairs in the lineup this year, with a wide selection of standard models as well as rare pieces not available in current models. The appeal lies in enjoying a once-in-a-lifetime encounter, including the time it takes to break them in.

In this article, we interview Toshihiro Yasutake, who was once a prominent press representative for BEAMS and now works in PR for fashion and lifestyle brands. We ask him about everything from his first encounter with JM WESTON to how to enjoy vintage pieces and how to wear them in today's style.

JM WESTON from April 29th (Wed/Holiday) to May 12th (Tue)
Event information and admission details can be found here.

My first Weston was a struggle because of the fit.

He says he bought his first pair of JM WESTON shoes 14 years ago. The "#180 Signature Loafers" he acquired on a trip to Paris were the starting point. The color was olive green. Following the "lessons" he learned back then, he chose a narrow width, and that's how his relationship with the shoes began, involving several years of breaking them in.

"I bought my first pair when I was 27, on a trip to Paris. I picked out the '#180 Signature Loafers' in olive green at a shop there. I was still working as a shop staff member at Beams at the time, and my seniors told me, 'Westons should be C width,' so I bought them with the width practically specified. They look sleek, but wearing them was quite an ordeal. For the first two or three years, they were really tight, and by the afternoon they would hurt so much that I would take them off during breaks or wear different shoes on the way home."
After getting a proper fitting, I found that going down half a size and increasing the width was more comfortable. Now I think it's better to just follow the staff's advice from the beginning (laughs) (Yasutake)

It is precisely because of these experiences that Mr. Yasutake finds "Weston Vintage" so appealing. He shared his insights into the unique qualities of vintage shoes, gained through the struggles he went through breaking in his first pair of Westons.

What is "Weston Vintage"? Another entry point with less "break-in burden"

"Weston Vintage" is a project that takes in JM WESTON shoes that have reached the end of their service life, repairs them at the factory in Limoges, France, the birthplace of the brand, and then sells them. Skilled craftsmen replace the soles using the Goodyear welt method and polish the uppers, giving the shoes a new lease on life. A unique feature of these shoes is that they are soft to the touch right from the start, precisely because they have been worn by a previous owner.


"What's great about Weston Vintage is that it requires minimal break-in time. The upper is already broken in, so it's soft and comfortable right from the start. And yet, the details are polished and beautiful."

However, some items are quite loose, and even the usual size may feel large. It's truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so I really want you to try them on and choose carefully," (Yasutake).


"Plus, it's fun to come across 'hidden rare pieces' that aren't available in current models. There are some with unusual specifications that make you think someone must have ordered them," says Yasutake.

As he said this, Mr. Yasutake picked up a rare model that is not currently available in stores. Next, he taught us how to incorporate "Weston Vintage" into our outfits.

"Add a pop of color to your shoes to create an artistic look."

First, Ms. Yasutake chose the pink suede "#281 Le Moc" that she had picked up earlier. At first glance, it might seem difficult to incorporate into an outfit, but she treated the shoes as a "pop of color" and wore them as an accent to her outfit.


"I've always liked colorful shoes, but I thought I'd take this opportunity to try something a little different. If you think of it as making your feet the focal point and adding a pop of color, it's surprisingly not that difficult to coordinate. Lately, I've been in the mood to coordinate with other tones, so I limit the number of colors in my clothes to create some negative space. By using color only on my feet, even vivid colored shoes can be an effective accent," says Yasutake.


"I've paired a high-neck shirt with loose-fitting chinos . I've kept the number of colors to a minimum, but subtly added variation through the silhouette and details. The high-neck collar gives it a relaxed, designer-like feel, too. I've added round-shaped glasses to create a somewhat artistic vibe," says Yasutake.

"I want to pair bulky shoes with heavy materials."

The third pair she tried on was the tan-colored "#641 Golf," with the welt also finished in the same color. She also styled it with the collaborative socks between SHAPERS PREMIUM, a pioneering compression sock brand by Japanese sock manufacturer Fukusuke, and JM WESTON , which are being showcased at this event.

"I've always wanted the tan '#641 Golf,' so I tried styling it. With voluminous shoes like the '#641 Golf,' it's best to pair them with materials that have a certain weight to them, so I went with corduroy baker pants. On top, I'm wearing a knit in a similar color and a vintage Hermes outer layer," says Yasutake.


"In contrast to the previous outfit, this time I've tried to keep the color contrast at the feet from being too strong. I chose mustard socks, which are a similar color to the tan of my shoes. I have small feet, but these compression socks don't sag easily, which is great. They're very comfortable to wear," says Yasutake.


"The styling is minimal, using tone-on-tone. I've added an accent with a scarf around the neck, but the overall look is put together with elegant materials and a limited number of colors to create an outfit that doesn't look like I'm trying too hard."

"I often coordinate my styling to match the tones, cover my neck with a scarf or turtleneck, and wear a watch cap on my head. I also frequently pair it with side-gore boots. Personally, I think this kind of balance, where everything from my feet to my head feels connected, is the golden ratio," says Yasutake.

In recent years, Mr. Yasutake says he's been drawn to a more relaxed style that subtly reveals his personal touches, rather than a forced, overly "cool" look. That's why he's drawn to French style, and why JM WESTON shoes fit so well into that vibe.