I believe this was in November 2007. When the BARKER BLACK brothers came to Japan from New York, I went out for a meal with Motohiro Kogi of Liquer Woman & Tears and some staff from United Arrows. I can’t quite recall the name of the restaurant in Roppongi… it was a delicious Japanese place.

Well, after a few drinks, we were all pleasantly tipsy and decided to take a commemorative photo. The two BARKER BLACK brothers had a perfect rapport, just as siblings would. The jackets worn by myself and Kogi-kun were special orders from VAN by Liquer Woman & Tears. I particularly like this stripe pattern. It came with an emblem, but I removed it because I wanted a more understated look.

The black jeans are from Wesc. The cardigan and button-down shirt are by Thom Browne, and the tie is Dior Homme. It was amusing how the color scheme of this super-narrow tie and the jacket’s stripes happened to match. I’d bought this tie about three years prior, but it had remained unworn in my dresser. Buying this jacket in the fall finally prompted me to take it out. I’d even forgotten that this tie was Dior Homme. But as soon as Kogi-kun saw it, he praised it highly, and I thought, ‘Ah, it was good I kept this.’ Since then, it’s been on heavy rotation. Though not visible in the photo, I’m wearing BARKER BLACK two-tone wingtips.

The BARKER BLACK brothers embody American traditional style effortlessly; they have a genuine East Coast vibe. Their father, originally from London, was a fashion photographer. Apparently, when they were children, their father was a dandy who would travel from New York to Savile Row in London to have suits made, and they would accompany him on these fittings.
There’s a certain London-based, deeply ingrained mood to their style that I find incredibly appealing. It must be in their blood. It feels like ‘home’ to them. Which means, I’m the outsider. Seeing this kind of classic, quintessential style makes me feel a sense of admiration.