Beyond Mix-and-Match: Yusuke Tomoki's Signature Personal Style

—Congratulations on the publication. The book features a valuable archive of your collections and is quite substantial. What inspired this project?

It all began this spring when Asako Hidaka (General Manager, Shueisha's 7th Editorial Department) approached me with the idea of creating a book about men's stylists.

—There are many books that introduce lifestyles and mix-and-match styling. How does your unique approach stand out?

It seems that books focusing on the personality of female stylists or meticulously showcasing mix-and-match wardrobes are popular. I pondered how I would structure such a book, and decided to present 183 days of outfits from October 1st to March 31st, covering the autumn and winter seasons, in a diary format. However, my personal styling philosophy has always leaned towards decisive choices rather than mix-and-match, so I had my doubts. First, I brought all my clothes from my home wardrobe and storage unit to the studio. Even then, it was only about a fifth of my entire collection. I was astonished at the sheer volume, thinking, 'How much do I actually own?' (laughs). But seeing so many clothes, including past pieces, laid out before me was truly overwhelming. I then created 183 outfits over approximately three days. The actual shooting took place a few days later, which involved taking the clothes back home and then bringing them back again, making the process quite demanding. Yet, as I worked, it became increasingly enjoyable.



—That sounds like an incredibly time-consuming process. What aspects did you find particularly enjoyable?

I envisioned a layout with four outfits per spread, so focusing on visual appeal and ease of viewing naturally led to a cohesive mix-and-match effect. That was genuinely fascinating. While a typical mix-and-match approach might involve styling five items of clothing, my focus was on how much I could arrange a single suit with different inner layers and accessories. That was the fun part. Also, this book is structured around outfits planned from October 1st as a future projection. I try to wear the outfits as planned each day. Of course, since I don't have my entire schedule memorized, there are days when I have to wear something different. I'm curious to see how long I can keep it up. I'm secretly enjoying it myself. Today is October 8th, so it's this one. I'm dressed a bit casually for the talk show today, but that's unavoidable. I plan to wear this outfit.

—So, these outfits are all curated with the intention of wearing them this autumn and winter?

This autumn and winter, I'm particularly drawn to genderless styles from brands like Gucci and Loewe. I'd love to wear such pieces with a sharp, stylish flair. Of course, I need to lose a bit more weight first. I'm also enjoying the mix of styles from younger generation designers like Alexander Wang and J.W. Anderson of Loewe, as well as the combination of American clothing from brands like Engineered Garments, Porter Classic, and Michael Tauberg.

—Approximately how many clothes do you have stored in your trunk room?

This time, I brought out about 20 racks, but I have about five times that amount. While it serves as seasonal storage, it's primarily for archival purposes. I might have a garage sale, but I almost never throw clothes away. I previously featured my archives in a project for "Fashion News Men," a magazine I edited, and it reinforced my belief that it's important to document them. Some of those special collection pieces from the past can fetch quite a price now; they're practically art pieces.



—Finally, do you have a message for our readers?

This book offers many concrete examples, but they aren't meant to be followed literally. I hope readers will find inspiration in it as a representation of one man's wardrobe. Hidaka initially said, 'It would be great if this book became something a wife would buy for her husband.' I kept that in mind while creating it, and recently, I read an Amazon review from a woman who wrote exactly that. She added, 'While some parts aren't useful at all, about 60 to 70 percent are.' I found that comment quite amusing (laughs). Incidentally, the most popular section seems to be the 'life hacks' column, which includes tips on keeping sneaker soles pristine white. I encourage you to read it and try it out. Also, a spring/summer edition featuring outfits from April to August is planned as a follow-up, so I hope you'll look forward to that as well.

Commemorative Talk Show & Signing Events