Naoko Tsuji on “The Joy of Sharing Time with Someone” | MARGARET HOWELL idea watch

MARGARET HOWELL idea watch

Stylist Naoko Tsuji Chooses the 20th Anniversary Model with Diamonds at 12 O'Clock

The Joy of Sharing Time with Someone

Naoko Tsuji, a popular stylist who has worked with high-class fashion magazines such as "BAILA," "Marisol," and "VERY," and has styled numerous actresses and celebrities, chose a wristwatch from "MARGARET HOWELL idea watch." It is the 20th anniversary model released on January 1st. She describes the limited edition model, with its minimal dial design and elegant Arabic numerals, as "a design that brings to mind the face of the designer, Margaret."

Photographs by jamanadfixHair&Make by SATO Eiko (ilumini)Text by KAJII Makoto

Minimal Yet Warm Design

I like watches. When I feel like I want a watch, I buy the one I've always wanted. I let that feeling simmer until it's just right. It's not for any particular anniversary; the desire for a watch just sparks. I cherish those feelings and encounters with objects.

This Margaret Howell idea watch 20th anniversary model is feminine, but it's different from the impression of delicate and feminine watches I've had before.

The size and thickness of the face, the width of the leather strap, the delicate stitching – these elements resonate with the brand's worldview that I feel through Margaret Howell's clothing: "masculine yet feminine, minimal yet warm." I believe it's a design that brings Margaret's face to mind.

It also pairs well with the jewelry I always wear, and it even enhances my red nails today. The slight contrast with the watch's design creates a new image of a woman.

I'm Drawn to Brands That Possess Qualities I Lack

I love the conservative, minimal, and slightly melancholic nature of Britain and its people. The image of a woman that Margaret Howell creates has aspects that I don't possess, which is why I'm so drawn to it. Margaret Howell embodies a timeless, masculine, and dignified image of a woman beyond mere styling.

For the upcoming spring and summer season, the "masculine and handsome" aesthetic is expressed in a way that's outside my usual style. That's precisely why I want it. I've paired my favorite oversized-collar short-sleeved shirt with high-waisted, pleated pants in a nostalgic, menswear-inspired design to create a set-up look. I've incorporated Margaret Howell's shirts, which I always reach for, with fresh bottoms and the watch, bringing in new tastes that are not typically mine to express a new image of a woman.

My Imagination From a Single Piece of Clothing Hasn't Changed Since Childhood

I've loved clothes since I was a child, and the joy and pleasure of wearing clothes I like haven't changed at all. Styling for work is the same; it's most enjoyable when my hands move naturally, driven by "I want to do this," rather than by rules like "I have to do this."

When I encounter a beautiful piece of clothing, it's happiness to have a vivid connection to wanting to go somewhere wearing it, or wanting to meet someone. Looking good is important, but the imagination sparked by a single garment – "What will I become if I wear this?" – is my driving force. I believe that the impulse to move makes a woman beautiful.

Private Time That Fills Me Up

What I cherish most in my day is going to a cafe, even for just five minutes or an hour. It's very ordinary and not special at all, but the time spent there neutralizes me. And what's important in my private life is sharing a meal with someone dear. My parents always placed great importance on meal times, so I've felt the significance of eating together since I was young. It wasn't about what we ate, but who we ate with – I learned the importance of that from others.

Communication Born from a Wristwatch

A wristwatch, like jewelry or accessories, expresses one's personality through being "worn." I find it an interesting item because it connects to self-expression by harmonizing with my facial features, hairstyle, clothing style, and overall presence.

When I meet someone, face to face, and we're talking, I might glance at their watch and think, "Ah, perhaps this person is like this?"

I feel that this 20th anniversary model, too, is a design that allows for various interpretations of a woman's image, depending on how it expresses one's character or balances with clothing and jewelry.

Naoko Tsuji
A stylist who garners immense support from working women in their 30s and is active in numerous women's fashion magazines. She handles a wide range of work, from styling actresses and celebrities to directing fashion brands. Her styling, characterized by "elegance and femininity" from her unique perspective, has earned the trust of sophisticated adult women.