Why Aren't There Shoes Like This for Women?

MatsudaJohn Lobb is a well-recognized brand for men, but there are virtually no women who can talk about John Lobb (laughs). As far as I know, you're the only one, Ms. Takahashi.

TakahashiIndeed, when I bought them in 1991, people said it was very unusual. I was working at Barneys then, and that's where I first saw the men's collection. Then, as I looked at them every day, I started to think, 'These are beautiful shoes.' I wondered why there weren't any women's versions. So, I asked the buyer to get me some women's styles. At the time, the buyer also expressed concerns, saying they might be too stiff and heavy for women.

MatsudaAnd those were the navy loafers, weren't they?

TakahashiThat's right. They were indeed stiff and heavy at first, but they gradually molded to my feet. I found that weight very comfortable. There aren't any women's shoes that I feel such affection for. Since then, my collection has grown to four pairs.

MatsudaI've never met anyone who owns four pairs of women's John Lobb shoes before (laughs).

TakahashiSince they weren't available in stores, I had them all specially ordered. Honestly, I wasn't even sure if they were part of the collection available in Japan, or even if they were truly women's models. I saw the men's products in Japan and requested my size in that style. So, I ordered them that way.

MatsudaI suspect that among your four pairs, there might be some models not officially sold in Japan.

TakahashiIs that so? In any case, I waited quite a while to get them. Normally, I can't stand waiting to buy things. I want to buy them right away, wear them tomorrow. Men can have clothes made to order, but I think very few women can. Especially me. John Lobb shoes might be the only item I've ever waited to purchase (laughs).

Presenting Yourself Through Clothing

MatsudaIs the inability to wait for purchases perhaps because women's fashion sense is faster than men's?

TakahashiThat's part of it. Also, women are multifaceted. They can be one person today, another tomorrow; sharp and professional during the day, and in a long dress for a party at night. To put it extremely, they can become different people within a single day, and they want to. They are all themselves, but they change dramatically depending on the clothes they wear. Therefore, they want to have a variety of items and want them immediately. They don't have the stubbornness of men who say, 'I like this.'

MatsudaSo, your mood changes significantly with your clothing?

TakahashiCompletely. Even the way I walk changes. However, before I worked at Barneys, I was someone who quickly adopted and wore things I liked or that were trendy, among women. But that changed when I started making frequent business trips to New York for Barneys.
On my first trip, the president of the head office asked me every day, 'Midori, what are you wearing today?' and 'Why are you wearing that?' Each time, I would spend a week talking only about my clothes, saying things like, 'I'm wearing these jeans today because I'm going to a photoshoot,' or 'I'm wearing a suit today for a VOGUE lunch meeting.'
Then, on the day I was leaving, the president called me in and said, 'I've decided to hire you. I believe we can work well together.' I was surprised, as we hadn't worked together at all, and asked why. He replied, 'I've observed your clothing choices for a week, and you have the ability to present yourself.'

He explained that he believes 'a person with good taste is a capable person.' That week, my perspective on clothing changed. I realized how important clothes are, and how crucial it is to present oneself effectively. From then on, every morning, I began to consider who I would meet, where, what we would discuss, who would be there, and what my role would be that day, before choosing my clothes and shoes.

Editorial DepartmentIn Japan, we've traditionally had sayings like, 'Even if you wear rags...'

TakahashiThat would be unthinkable in the West. They'd just say, 'You're wearing rags' (laughs).

Profile
President and CEO
Midori Takahashi
In 1990, coinciding with Barneys New York's launch in Japan, she was appointed General Manager of the PR Department at Barneys Japan. Subsequently, after serving as Head of the Public Relations Department at Giorgio Armani Japan, she opened Estnation, a large-scale specialty store with a strong focus on the business scene, in 2001. In June 2005, she established Oens. Leveraging her accumulated experience and knowledge, she handles everything from branding and PR for various brands to shop production. She has also garnered attention for her image consulting and styling services for individuals and corporations, services that were virtually non-existent in Japan until then.

Oens Website
http://oens.net/