Cue Dramatic Music:
The year was 2018. Panthers were black, and your suit game got a touch of Japanese inspo. (Cc Chadwick Boseman Asia premier for the iconic Black Panther movie)
Ok for real tho, that suit got me thinking, and it was right then and there that I decided I need one for myself. Dammit, it took 2 years and a tailoring snafu or two, but we got it done. I’m quite pleased with the product.
There’s a bit of discussion in the fashion community around the label for this style. I’ve seen it called a robe suit and/or a Kimono Suit. No matter where you land on the subject, I’ll call it daring and debonair.
In the 17th century, the Japanese designed what is literally translated as a “wearing thing”. The Kimono was birthed out of several centuries of layering, styles, and functions to become what we are most familiar with today. Fast forward and this traditional Eastern stylistic trademark and made its way back into style in a big way.
I think we’ve all seen images of the late Hugh Hefner in his iconic robes strolling casually through the mansion, but think about the layers… it was a robe, slippers, a button-down, etc. To build this look is oddly similar and tbh feels player to the max!
Inspired by the original, I decided to replicate the design. I sourced the fabric, fought back and forth with the tailor, and finally resolved that I would need to have the tailor-made suit tailored yet again once it arrived in hand.
Here are the staples to this design: The shirt, slacks, and blazer are all the exact same fabric and were customized to my measurements. The blazer features an asymmetrical front overlay with no clasps or buttons for closure. I personally opted not to have belt loops on the side of the blazer as that just feels tacky to me, but important to note you have to be willing to keep up with that belt all night if you’re gonna wear this and be seated. Structural components are typical of a normal blazer. If I were to make any additional modifications I’d move the button on the inside over a bit to create a more snug fit, but overall, this was a win.
Location:
We shot this in the SF Japanese Tea Garden and it felt like I was at the Ikuta Shrine in Kobe. The aesthetic was exactly what we wanted for this shoot. If you’re ever in the Bay, take a few hours and go bask in all its glory; I promise it won’t disappoint.
To A Life Worth Living,
The Wkender