Ideal slacks
Hello, this is Kubono from THIRD PLACE.
As already announced on Instagram and Nishiwaki's blog, special slacks in collaboration with ISSUETHINGS are being released this week.
Nishiwaki has shared information about the brand and the process leading to the creation of these slacks. Today, I'd like to talk about what I personally "love" about these slacks.
First of all, I don't usually wear slacks. Or rather, I used to find them a bit difficult.
The reason was that they often looked too formal and I felt they didn't suit my casual style.
These custom-made slacks from ISSUETHINGS have changed that impression for me; they are my ideal pair.
Please allow me to share three points that I personally found excellent.
First, the "rise."
When I usually wear pants, I wear them higher on the waist.
The reason is that I'm not tall.
Especially since I wear short-length tops, waist position is crucial. It also makes my legs look longer (laughs).
A rise of 35cm is too loose, and 25cm is too tight.
The rise of size 2 in these custom slacks is 28cm. This length was perfect for me.
My second favorite thing is not something visible.
It's the lining of the pants.
Having a lining makes them easy to slip on and off, and it prevents the fabric from rubbing together when walking, protecting the outer material. These are the benefits.
The key point about these custom slacks is that they are half-lined, not fully lined.
Simply put, a full lining is too hot.
For me, who wants to live comfortably without accumulating small stresses from feeling hot or cold, a half-lining is preferable to a full lining.
The fabric used this time is neither too thick nor too thin, it's just the right thickness, so it pairs well with the half-lining, allowing them to be worn for a long period.
Lastly, the pocket design.
As Nishiwaki also mentioned, the addition of this detail prevents it from becoming too monotonous, acting as a nice "spice."
It's not always a visible part, but I like the subtle presence that peeks out when wearing short-length tops or when crouching down in daily life.
The craftsman who finished those attractive cut-off details visited our store the other day. At that time, he told me about the pockets.
All the waist, side pockets, and back pockets have a cut-off specification, and these parts are finished by hand.
Separately from the pocket bag, threads are sewn up to the pointed part, and then each thread is unraveled one by one. (The threads can only unravel up to this point.)
Just imagining how much time that takes is daunting.
And apparently, several people do this work.
When I heard that story, I immediately bowed my head and expressed my gratitude.
I realized that the designs we envision are actually made this way.
I strongly felt that what cannot be expressed by machines alone is completed by human hands.
Beyond its presence as a single garment, it's also interesting to see how this clothing will change as the wearer uses it. The process of it slowly changing through a person's daily life is fascinating, and it's a design that will foster even greater attachment.
Although this kind of effort is rarely seen on the surface, I decided to write this blog hoping to convey the passion of the people who make clothes to as many readers as possible.
Now, for the styling!
First, I'm pairing it with paolo, which was my top recommendation among this season's extreme cashmere items.
Since the sleeves are rolled rather than ribbed on this knit, it has a relaxed, flowing feel like a long-sleeved T-shirt, which I love. I recommend incorporating unique items with simple yet creative ideas, like those from Tozaou or Well, into that kind of atmosphere.
While the overall tone is matched, the black leather shoes provide a sharp finish for the footwear.
These beige slacks also suit a casual vibe like this.
MEIAS for THIRD PLACE "SILK CREW NECK PO"
The Ernie Palo shirt I first got this AW. I like it so much that I've been wearing only this lately.
I intentionally sized down when selecting it, and one of the reasons for that is for layering.
Over it is a 100% silk knit that MEIAS made for THIRD PLACE. I've been washing it roughly in a home washing machine in a net for about half a year, and the original sheen has disappeared, replaced by a matte look, making it even more comfortable.
It pairs really well with French blue, so this combination is a staple for me.
Precisely because it's put together in a classic way, dressing down with sneakers for footwear is just right, not too formal.
Beige pants used to have a slightly unrefined or classic impression, matching jackets, but this beige lacks that earthy quality, so I think even those who were hesitant about beige can easily incorporate it.
From the start, I wanted to pair charcoal-like black with warm colors like orange and red.
In particular, ISSUETHINGS turtlenecks have excellent color development and make a great accent.
The distinct formality of a turtleneck is moderately relaxed, allowing it to be worn casually, making it a good match for Well's subtly assertive shirts.
I really like the Paracia leather shoes I bought last year, which feel like sneakers, and they tie the whole outfit together.
ANOTHER ASPECT "POLO SHIRT 2.0" (Available in stores)
This pairing is one I'd recommend to people of my generation.
ANOTHER ASPECT's polo shirts don't have an overly wide body and feature a slightly boxy silhouette, so I think slimmer individuals will particularly appreciate them.
They pair exceptionally well with these medium-thick straight slacks.
For the classic polo shirt and slacks combination, one might expect leather shoes, but I choose something sporty like Mizuno's WAVE RIDER 10.
Also, the detaildesign of the pants personally reminded me of Margiela, so I chose my favorite red Margiela knit cap.
Charcoal-like black is a color that I think suits everyone, but I hope you'll enjoy pairing it with colors, as shown in these two styles.
Precisely because slacks often have a clean impression, my personal rule for all styling is to use headwear or scarves to dress down with accessories, avoiding looking too formal.
I want to propose items that fit the current era, not overly classic, while maintaining a sophisticated atmosphere with mufflers, collared shirts or polo shirts, and mock necks or turtlenecks.
The slacks we made with ISSUETHINGS this time possess classic elements that transcend trends and a versatility that makes them easy to use. They are slacks that can lean both elegant and casual, making them a reliable pair that can be combined in many ways.
These are the slacks I had envisioned.
Through this special collaboration, I hope that those who, like me, felt hesitant about slacks or have a similar style, will try them on and experience them for themselves.
Tomorrow will be Miura from Anchor. Please look forward to it!! (Glad I could pass the baton...)