CASE 02 Kikuno / PURPLE THINGS Designer
PROFILE
Studied photography and design in London and San Francisco. After returning to Japan, he launched his own brand, Purple Things, in 2015 and has been working as a designer. Last year, he started a YouTube channel and is also focusing on video production.
Kikuno-san, I have the image that you usually wear sneakers a lot, but what about boots?
Kikuno:Sneakers mostly. I like them because they are easy, simple, and fit my style. I also sometimes wear loafers. I used to wear boots a long time ago, when I was about 20 years old and studying abroad in London. I was studying abroad in London, and I loved wearing side gore boots.
What kind of clothes did you wear with boots back then?
Kikuno:It's not so different from now: T-shirts, denim, and boots. I used to wear them with denim shorts.
Have you ever worn Red Wing boots before?
Kikuno:I have received a men's item number that fits my size as a gift and have worn it a few times. When I compare them to my own style, I feel that the brand is completely comfortable, or rather, I feel that I fit in with the brand. The model I am wearing today is a women's model, but it looks very slim compared to the men's model. I think these are easy to wear for women as well.
What kind of image do you have of Red Wing?
Kikuno:Last year, a collaborative model with "Fragment" was released, and I have the impression that Hiroshi Fujiwara wears them. So I have the impression that this is a brand that dominated the times. However, I don't have an image of girls wearing them, so I feel it is a little fresh.
Kikuno-san's outfit today also has a 90's flavor.
Kikuno:The only combination that came to mind was MA-1 and denim. That was the image I had in my mind. That's how I usually like to dress, so I was able to wear them without any discomfort at all. I had no hesitation in coordinating them.
The Black Boundary color looks very solid.
Kikuno:I chose this color because it is the simplest coloring and I felt it was a classic. I chose this color because it is the simplest coloring and I felt it would be a classic. I also thought the moc toe was symbolic. The white sole also has a casual feel to it. It is a design that I would like to wear on a daily basis, rather than wearing them with a lot of enthusiasm.
How do you feel about the comfort of the shoes?
Kikuno:They may look very heavy, but when you actually put them on, they are very light and, above all, easy to walk in. They are more comfortable than I expected.
Kikuno-san, are you sometimes attracted to such items?
Kikuno:I basically like things that can be used for a long time or worn for a long time, and that is one of my criteria when choosing things. I also find it very attractive when denim becomes comfortable in my skin. That kind of thing is comfortable, and you get attached to it. I like the feeling that as you wear them in, they will fit your feet and become more and more comfortable.
I myself don't like to wear the same pair of shoes as others, so I am happy to wear them in such a way that I can develop them into my own style and create something original that others cannot imitate.
Kikuno-san, do you feel the wave of such a trend?
Kikuno:So the American casual boom is here. But, if you ask me, that may be true. Until now, most of the clothes were worn in a street style, but I often see young people in their 20s walking around Harajuku in American casual style. I think that many of the older generation have gone through the American casual style in the past, so perhaps the younger generation is interested in this type of dressing.
Kikuno-san, do you yourself have an American casual style in mind?
Kikuno:I wear what I like without much consciousness. However, I think American casual is basically a boy's culture, so I may be influenced by that. I myself like men's culture. I don't know which genre of fashion to apply my style to, but I understand that boys like American casual, and I think I am getting hints from them little by little. I think today's coordination has elements of that, but I think it has a bit of a cosplay feel to it. I think there is a bit of a cosplay feel to today's coordination, and I think it allows me to become the character. I like that a lot.
When men coordinate straight American casual wear, it inevitably gives a stiff impression, but when women do it, it looks less stiff and very well-balanced.
Kikuno:That may be so, but I pay attention to the size of my clothes. I choose MA-1s that fit me rather than men's sizes, and I also choose denim that looks good on my hips. I think that way, I can wear these boots in a healthy way.
What other coordinates can you think of besides MA-1 and denim?
Kikuno:I wore this today without any trouble at all, so I wonder what it is. I think it might be cute with a knit or something. I'd like to wear it simply with a compact gray knit or something like a sweatshirt. I almost only wear denim or sweatpants as bottoms, so it's either that or something else. Red Wing and sweatpants seem to go well together. I like to relax and enjoy fashion, so a classic combination would be good for me. Rather than putting in a lot of effort and saying, "I wore these," I like to wear boots in a more relaxed manner. I think that's how I can be myself.
6″ CLASSIC MOC #3373 ¥39,900+TAX This is a pair from "Heritage Woman," Red Wing's women's line. The traditional Irish setter moc-toe has been reconstructed for women. The size "B" is narrower, yet still lightweight and comfortable. However, the quality is the same as the men's item, with durable leather and a traction tread sole.
- 1
- 2
