MARGARET HOWELL | GIFTS FOR CHRISTMAS | An Interview with Actress Sayaka Yamaguchi

MARGARET HOWELL｜MARGARET HOWELL

An Interview with Actress Sayaka Yamaguchi

Gifts: Unexpected, and Those That Make You Feel Indulged

Actress Sayaka Yamaguchi is a fan of Margaret Howell. We spoke with Yamaguchi, who gradually adds new items each season, about the brand's appeal and her tips for choosing gifts.

Photographs by JAMANDFIXStyling by MIYOSHI Mariko (corazon)Hair & Makeup by OKANO Tamae (STORM)Text by KOYANAGI Mika

From "Admiration" to Wearing It Well

I first encountered Margaret Howell when I was 16. I admired a woman who wore a white shirt beautifully and tried to emulate her, but it didn't suit me at all as a child... so I gave up (laughs). I spent my twenties in unrequited admiration, and then at 30, I decided to try again. I've been gradually adding pieces each season. The first item I bought was, of course, a white shirt. When I wear it, I feel a sense of poise. Margaret Howell's clothes are simple and of high quality. They blend seamlessly with the skin, are comfortable, and have a wonderful presence. They are clothes that embody an adult's intelligence, so you must stand firmly on your own two feet to wear them. Because they are simple, I think they quietly encourage you to be aware of your own way of being. They are clothes that do just that.

In my teens and twenties, I experimented with various styles. I tried things recommended to me, high-end brands, and more. But Margaret Howell's clothes have a solid foundation; they exude elegance just by sitting still. Because there's a sense of adult ease, it requires a certain fullness of mind and body to wear them, and I've come to realize the importance of aligning my body with the clothes. Actually, my shoulders have always been narrow, so I've avoided trench coats like the one I'm wearing today. But after working out and shaping my body, I can finally wear them. It was after I started wearing Margaret Howell that I realized it's not about what you wear, but how you wear it.

Expanding Possibilities with Small Gifts

If I were to receive a gift... as a white shirt collector, I would naturally be delighted by awhite shirt. While simple, it has a sophisticated impression, and I'd like to wear it casually by pairing it with sweatpants. If I were to give a gift, I think people have their own rules about clothing, so I tend to choose accessories. Something unexpected, a little different from their usual taste. With accessories, you can never have too many, and an unexpected design can be fun because it encourages you to find other items that match it, broadening your horizons.mittensorsilk scarveswould also be nice. And then there aretravel slippers! The comfort is divine. They're something I wouldn't easily buy for myself, and they make me feel wonderfully indulged. For friends with children, perhapswooden blockswould be well-received. They look charming, and it's lovely to be able to play together.

Along with gifts, I try to include a letter or card when expressing small tokens of gratitude. In the past, I would often draft and redraft, only to never send it. But recently, I've come to think, "It's enough if my feelings are conveyed." It was after I started wearing Margaret Howell that I began to feel that being myself is okay. I've come to accept and enjoy the daily changes, and I can remain neutral. I'm reminded that clothing has a profound impact on oneself. Margaret Howell's clothes, precisely because they are simple, are timeless; the more you wear them, the more character they gain, and the more beloved they become. After waiting more than ten years since I was sixteen, I'm truly enjoying it now.

Sayaka Yamaguchi
Born in 1980. Actress. Currently appearing in the Sunday drama "Android ~A.I. knows LOVE?~" (TBS, airing every Sunday at 9:00 PM). In 2014, the Franco-Japanese co-production film "Flare" is scheduled for release. Her mother is also a fan of Margaret Howell.

Aglobal
Tel. 03-5467-7874 (MENS)
Tel. 03-5467-7864 (WOMENS/HOUSEHOLD GOODS)
http://www.margarethowell.jp