The Beauty of Evolving While Honoring Tradition

“The more I look at and wear Margaret Howell’s menswear, the more I feel its unwavering appeal. Regardless of changing times, Margaret’s strong spirit, her ability to capture the essence of the era and reflect it in her clothing is truly remarkable. It must be difficult to honor the traditions of menswear while evolving it without compromising its integrity.”

Margaret's Fashion Philosophy Felt Through Her Clothes

“The look I liked this time features a fresh color combination of black and brown. Above all, the Mackintosh car coat (PROOFED COTTON –MACKINTOSH) is superb, and I tried it on myself. Also, while the tone is a bit subdued for a Margaret Howell jacket style, I appreciate the styling that skillfully incorporates a beret and stripes, creating a modern, almost uniform-like look. It’s a versatile outfit centered around a Harris Tweed jacket that many people can adapt to their own style with subtle changes.”





“Margaret Howell’s clothes aren’t designed for immediate impact, so much of their appeal might be hard to grasp visually. That’s part of their charm. You have to visit the store, see the actual garments, and try them on to truly understand. It’s not about overwhelming, obvious richness, but rather a richness imbued with her philosophy that you can feel from the clothes.”

“Fox Brothers, John Smedley, Mackintosh, Inverallan… I suppose my fondness for traditional styles draws me to these. While I love traditional clothing myself, I often struggle to style it in a contemporary way without appearing dated. Margaret’s designs offer many lessons in this regard.”

From White Soles to Black Soles!

“I was in New York for nearly three weeks from late August, working on styling and casting for the bi-annual collections, as well as magazine shoots. As soon as I arrive in New York, I head out for model street hunts. In Chelsea, an art district undergoing rapid development, small galleries that couldn't afford to open in the area have collectively opened about 40 shops along Orchard Street on the Lower East Side. Also, a huge skate park was built under the Manhattan Bridge about two years ago. As a result, skate shops have been popping up, and although it was only my first time back in New York in six months, I felt a sense of change.”





“Fashion-wise, the typical 'American Traditional' or the Brooklyn 'beard + authentic' look has significantly decreased. Instead, I noticed many people wearing slim-fitting black pants—not too tight—paired with Western shirts, T-shirts, caps, and Vans sneakers, reflecting skate and music culture. What particularly caught my attention was the change in sneaker soles: last year, white soles were prevalent, but this year, black soles were much more common. For women, clogs are popular, and the rubber-soled 'SANITA,' exclusively for women at MHL., were frequently seen.”

“I also went to NYU (New York University) for model hunting. Instead of conservative styles, I saw many students with a rebellious flair, skillfully wearing vintage and traditional clothing, always with Vans sneakers. While West Coast skaters have Caucasian roots, East Coast skaters often have roots in New York's Black community. Therefore, black soles seem to better suit a hip, cool fashion with an underground feel, rather than a too-clean aesthetic.”

“Margaret Howell” had a striped knit with brown and black accents from John Smedley, which felt very modern. That kind of color palette was exactly what I was feeling in New York at the time.”





Tsuyoshi Nimura
Born in Aichi Prefecture in 1970. Graduated from Kanagawa University in 1992. Began his career as a stylist, primarily in editorial work, while still in university. Has been involved in collections for Tokyo Collection, N.HOOLYWOOD (Tokyo and New York Collections), and LAD MUSICIAN (Tokyo Collection). Affiliated with littlefriends management (http://www.littlefriends-management.com/).