His Go-To Pair for Live Painting

Live painting, often featured in contemporary and street art, is the domain of our subject, Takeshi Sato. However, he eschews traditional paintbrushes, creating delicate yet bold works using only rollers. He has established a unique method of completing dynamic pieces on a blank canvas without sketches, using rollers with remarkable speed. His work extends to numerous corporate advertisements and charity initiatives.

Live painting, where performance is a key element, reveals a distinct aesthetic and philosophy in its execution. At age 20, Sato moved to LA, where he was profoundly impacted by the massive graphics created with rollers on buildings and walls. Recognizing the potential, Sato honed his technique to develop his own method: inviting an audience to the creation site and completing the work solely with rollers within a set timeframe.

This performance-oriented approach first garnered significant acclaim within the United States. Subsequently, he became widely recognized as an artist who continuously receives offers from numerous major corporations and brands. Sato, who is currently generating considerable buzz, has also been a devoted DIESEL fan for a long time.

"I've truly loved DIESEL since way back! So, I was really looking forward to this shoot for OPENERS, and I'm honored to have this opportunity. Since middle school, my aspiration was America, encompassing fashion and movies. That's why I'm a huge jeans enthusiast, and I used to frequent shops famous for American vintage clothing in my hometown, browsing extensively.

It was then that I encountered DIESEL as European vintage. Back then, it was expensive, and the stores were limited, making it difficult to obtain... It wasn't until I was around 24 or 25 that I finally managed to get my hands on DIESEL."

Sato's Way of Styling Jogg Jeans

DIESEL remains a special, premium denim brand for many, both past and present. We asked Sato about his image of DIESEL and his impressions.

"First and foremost, it's the modern fit. Since it's still not a cheap purchase, I always ask the store staff many questions and carefully choose while trying them on. When I wear DIESEL jeans that I've meticulously selected for size, it makes me happy when people around me say, 'Hey, those are DIESEL!' (laughs).

My long-standing image of DIESEL jeans was that they had a low rise and were stylish. Of course, they look cool on young people, but when a man of a certain age wears them, it makes him look even cooler. Especially, people who know their own size and fit well are often wearing DIESEL."

We then asked for his thoughts and styling impressions of DIESEL's new "Jogg Jeans" series, which he is wearing today.

"I wear jeans in my studio and for performances, so I wear jeans about 90% of the year. I generally aim for extremely simple pairings when wearing jeans, often choosing a white Oxford shirt or a sweatshirt. The shirt I'm wearing today is a pullover shirt from Digawel.

As a painter, I tend to get clothes dirty, but I try to avoid getting them dirty during performances. During live painting, the audience is watching, and I want to wear clothes I truly love, not just clothes that are expected to get dirty.

Initially, I was hesitant about the sweatshirt material, but once I put them on, they felt incredibly good. They are very light and easy to move in, making them perfect for painting. I've had sweatpants with denim-like transfer prints before, but these have the indigo texture essential to real jeans, and the fading that comes with wear is also enjoyable.

While I naturally leverage their ease of movement for my style, I sometimes need to wear a jacket for events like parties. In those cases, I might pair jeans with a jacket featuring tuxedo details, custom-tailored by GIANO. I'm not a big fan of overly formal attire, and many places accept jeans for artists. That's a perk of the job (laughs).

This jacket, like the shirt, has stretch, so I can even paint in them. Sometimes, new ideas come to me during a live performance, and I feel there's still so much potential in live painting. I imagine I'll be wearing these Jogg Jeans during those moments of discovery."




Jogg Jeans


DIESEL JAPAN
0120-55-1978
#JOGGJEANS
http://www.diesel.co.jp/collection/joggjeans/

Online Shop
http://www.store.diesel.co.jp

Jazz Singer Karen Aoki on "Jogg Jeans"

Comfortable and True to Herself, On and Off Stage

Karen Aoki, a jazz singer who also writes for our blog, is a popular artist known for her numerous regular appearances on TV and radio, as well as her busy schedule of live performances and recordings. While rooted in jazz, she garners significant attention for her unique interpretations of various songs, including pop. Her fans also admire her ability to style clothes, leveraging her well-proportioned figure. We asked her about her relationship with jeans.

"I wear jeans very often, about six days a week. I mostly choose dresses for the stage, and when I have performances half the month, I tend to wear more formal attire with full makeup. Perhaps as a reaction to that, when I'm off stage, I prefer casual, comfortable clothing. So, on my days off, I always opt for jeans."

"I think I've always worn slim-fit jeans. While the silhouettes I choose have evolved since my teens, I still strongly prefer skinny fits. There was a time I liked bootcut, but fundamentally, I prefer a straight, vertical silhouette. Since I'm not particularly tall, I rarely wore boyfriend jeans or wide silhouettes.

Reflecting on my denim experience, I might have liked chemical wash jeans when I lived in America as a child. I used to cuff the hems tightly and wear them with sneakers. That was right around the peak of New Kids on the Block (laughs)."

Wanting to Wear Denim on Stage Too

"I started paying attention to DIESEL a while after returning to Japan. I used to visit their store on Meiji Dori in Harajuku frequently. My impression of DIESEL back then was 'jeans worn by playful, stylish adult women.' As I browsed the store, I saw items ranging from affordable to very expensive, but I was particularly drawn to the elaborately crafted, one-of-a-kind pieces. Although they were expensive and hard to afford, I aspired to become an adult woman who could skillfully style such unique DIESEL jeans. That's what I thought back then.

I was surprised by the incredibly comfortable fit of the 'Jogg Jeans' (Grupee 606 skinny fit model) I wore for this shoot – it was unlike anything I'd experienced before. And despite the great fit, they're easy to move in. I also liked how they make my slightly bow-legged legs look straighter. The fading creates a sense of depth, making them appear even slimmer.

Wearing skinny jeans for extended periods can feel constricting, making me want to take them off as soon as I get home. But with these, I can comfortably wear them around the house! That's why they're especially useful on days off. I've owned many stretch skinny jeans before, but these 'Jogg Jeans' offer a new level of comfort that feels both novel and familiar."

We also asked about her current outfit.

"The black top is something I bought at Printemps in Ginza. I always consult with the lovely sales assistants when I shop (laughs). For shoes, I choose heels to make my legs look beautiful. The white knitwear I've coordinated for my off-duty style is also from the same brand. Along with earrings, I've added a neon-colored belt. For shoes, I selected ones that look stylish without being too casual and are comfortable to wear. Until now, I've mostly worn dresses and formal attire, but next time, I want to try a denim style on stage too."



Jogg Jeans


DIESEL JAPAN
0120-55-1978
#JOGGJEANS
http://www.diesel.co.jp/collection/joggjeans/

Online Shop
http://www.store.diesel.co.jp

Stylist Atsushi Hashimoto on "Jogg Jeans"

A New Level of Comfort That Inspires a Talented Stylist

Atsushi Hashimoto, who aspired to be a stylist from a young age, has been at the forefront of men's fashion for many years, styling a wide range of individuals from actors and musicians to athletes, and is active in men's fashion magazines. His meticulous approach to visual creation embodies a blend of rugged masculinity and cleanliness, much like the man himself.

He excels not only in street-style casual wear but also in styling suits and jackets for the discerning man, with attention to detail down to the millimeter. His sincere and uncompromising work ethic has earned him high praise from numerous fashion brands. Hashimoto, who has had a close relationship with DIESEL since its official launch in Japan, shared his first impressions of wearing Jogg Jeans and his usual denim style.

"First, when I put them on, I was surprised by how incredibly comfortable they felt. Since they're made of sweatshirt material, they're naturally soft, but the denim weave gives them just the right amount of fit without being too loose, which I really liked. I'm naturally drawn to pants, so I choose them based on the occasion.

As for jeans, I'd say about twice a week. Among the many types of pants available, I wear full-length jeans and slacks. However, I've recently been opting for slacks that are about nine-tenths length, so jeans are my go-to for full-length. Jeans are simply easier to style, allowing for a wide range of shoe choices, from boots to sneakers. Personally, I like a length that's cuffed about 1.5 centimeters, showing a bit of the selvedge.

Since I'm not particularly tall, I focus on creating contrast by emphasizing my footwear. For the black Jogg Jeans I chose today, I deliberately used a different color for my shoes. I paired them with light brown loafers that matched the stitching color of the Jogg Jeans, or with camouflage sneakers, using the white soles as an accent to create a harmonious yet striking impression.

Attention to Length, Adjusted Down to the Millimeter

Hashimoto, who deeply understands DIESEL's appeal, chose the THAVAR skinny model for this feature. He showcased urban styling by pairing the minimally processed black jeans with both a DIESEL military blouson and a sporty blouson.

"The military blouson is a key item this season. While the khaki and black colors might seem heavy, I added a light-colored, high-gauge knit underneath to create a sense of lightness suitable for spring. Striped knits like this are particularly useful for adding a relaxed feel. For footwear, I picked camouflage slip-ons, echoing the color of the blouson.

The other styling is sporty and based on a monochrome palette. This time, I opted for loafers to avoid emphasizing the casual nature of the Jogg Jeans, but personally, I'd prefer to go with sneakers (especially running-style ones) to create a sporty look entirely in black and white.

When I get a new pair of pants, I adjust the length slightly to match the shoes I own. Honestly, I wish I had a little more time to fine-tune the perfect length for these Jogg Jeans (laughs).

I once had to have the hems redone three times at a tailor because I wasn't satisfied, much to the amusement of the staff (laughs). That's because I believe the pant hem should be adjusted based on the shoes you wear. With the Thavar, like many jeans I like recently, the silhouette is straight from the knee down, so I recommend a hem length that creates between one and a half breaks."




Jogg Jeans


DIESEL JAPAN
0120-55-1978
#JOGGJEANS
http://www.diesel.co.jp/collection/joggjeans/

Online Shop
http://www.store.diesel.co.jp