What is BEAMS BOY? What’s the BEAMS BOY’s style?
Menswear follows a variety of rules and conventions, yet we’ve evolved our own unique style.
To enjoy outfitting ourselves without falling for fads (even though we sometimes dare to),
we need to keep many rules in mind just because.
Knowing the rules and then breaking them - this is what BEAMS BOY does.
Clothes printed with numbers (uniforms) were originally for athletic or military use.
The numbers served as just symbols for regulating whether assigned duties were performed.
That is why our attention is focused on how the wearers lived in their uniforms.
These worn-out “symbols” attest to how their owners lived.
Layer a numbered T-shirt over a long-sleeve one. You may want to match the Redwing boots with jeans, but our choice is a Madras patchwork skirt. It’s a 90s American casual look with a twist of BEAMS BOY chic.
Throw on a blazer over a vintage-esque numbered tee for a unique, sophisticated look. A pair of army field pants adds a mannish touch. This style vividly symbolizes how much we love vintage clothes.
Love of IrregularityAs everyone knows, it’s hard to find vintage clothes in mint condition. BEAMS BOY’s numbered T-shirts have that lovely quaint look just like vintage wear that tells its own story from the unique appearance. What we value most is the irregularity of vintage clothes. Worn-out surfaces, failed prints, and different front- and back-print colors are not flaws, but charms. While these may be considered defects in new products, we prefer and enjoy such irregularities for their unique features. Our printed T-shirts with defect-like details are inspired by the flaws on secondhand sweatshirts that we’ve found. The look is simple, but the uniqueness is a genuine BEAMS BOY creation.
Two types of numbered T-shirts made exclusively by WAREHOUSE for us. They employed a production technique used when vintage tees were originally produced and printed unique numbered tees imbued with a touch of BEAMS BOY style. Each tee is unique featuring color and position irregularity, while the narrow neckline is just like a secondhand T-shirt made in the U.S.
1, 2. We dared to intentionally print the number slightly higher than conventional standards dictate. Misaligned printing and other irregularities, outcomes of the mass production process, are valued when found in actual vintage clothes because they are so rare.
2. You may wonder if the designer intended to print with different colors on the front and back. This design is inspired by a secondhand sweatshirt one of our buyer is actually in possession of. Such irregularity stirs our curiosity.
In one of Woody Allen’s masterpieces, Annie Hall,
Diane Keaton sports a mannish look with chinos and a button-down shirt.
That actually is the ideal BEAMS BOY style.
Looking at her look with wistful eyes, we focus our closest attention on Woody Allen,
New York City’s Ivy League-style icon.
That’s because what BEAMS BOY aims not for a boyish look, but a boy’s look.
Chinos do not have selvedge seams, so don’t fold the hems. Half tuck in the lengthy numbered tee to accent the belt. You can wear sandals with socks, but go without when you are in chinos.
Coordinate a 1950s look with an open color block collar shirt and T-shirt featuring printed doodles common on vintage coveralls. We like the high-waist chinos hemmed, leaving no break so the socks peek out slightly.
Stay UnfoldedAnnie Hall showed us how cool chino pants are. We marveled at Diane Keaton’s mannish yet feminine outfit revealing her intelligent and strong-willed character. Director Woody Allen’s look is also unforgettable. His short stature makes his chinos look nice and baggy, portraying a charm different from Diane’s. U.S. Army issue chinos were made simply with stitched seams, a roughness that rather fascinates us. These pants are an Ivy League-style essential and our enduring staple no matter what the trend. The chinos have no selvedge seam, so no cuffs is the rule when you wear them.
First, what is the definition “khaki”? The word is derived from the Hindi word denoting the color of dust and soil. It was also what soldiers called white military uniforms once they had been dyed with a mix of curry powder, coffee powder, and mulberry. Its shade is similar to that of Indian soil. Our chinos are designed based on the M-45 Khaki Trousers made for the U.S. Army in 1945. For us, this is authentic khaki!
Each piece of our jewelry is designed,
forged, hammered, sharpened, and polished by Native Americans.
The look is forceful but not too rugged, blending perfectly with our boyish looks.
Silver jewelry takes on a better appearance with use,
magically fitting into your style no matter what you wear.
Native American jewelry gives even the simplest outfit a more BOY-ish look. These pieces can actually create a look that makes the jewelry the center of attention. As BOY girls, we don’t pair Native American jewelry with a Western shirt, but a button-down one.
Adding lots of Native American jewelry pieces gives a casual outfit a unique and fascinating look. Try a concho belt as a necklace. Keep your mindset flexible! Little by little, collect pieces you will cherish for a long time.
The Only Jewelry Is
Native American Silver JewelryThe long heritage of Native American’s spiritual teachings makes the jewelry they craft even more captivating. Each tribe and artist has his own techniques and motifs. There are also so many different types of turquoise stones. Just looking at a piece, you can tell the tribe or artist who crafted it as well as precious spiritual meaning they put into their work. When you put it on, it protects you and lets you rediscover your identity. That may sound a bit much, but, for us, that is what Native American jewelry is like. Moreover, each piece is hand-crafted, giving it a truly unique look. That’s the BEAMS BOY ideal as we don’t like to wear what others do.
For BEAMS BOY, there are absolutely no limits on how Native American jewelry may be worn. It might be nice to sport pieces made by the same tribe or artist, but don’t focus all your efforts on that. American women enjoy mixing and matching pieces from different tribes or artists as well as combining them with other kinds of jewelry. Taking a page from their book, we recommend you wear it freely however you like. Native American jewelry is crafted so that it will last for generations, so get a piece or pieces that you really like, regardless of the price, and love them for years to come. This is jewelry that you need to cherish for years and it will become more valuable over time until you feel as though it is a natural part of you.
T-shirts first gained popularity as U.S. Navy underwear during the Second World War.
As the style later caught on, they turned into everyday clothes.
We love an ‘authentic’ white tee that creates the silhouette and mood of James Dean in the 1950s, as well as the narrow neckline.
Worn separate or layered, a plain white T-shirt is a bare essential for BEAMS BOY.
Width of the neckline is one of the most important features when choosing the right T-shirt. This item is made exclusively for us by CAMBER, a manufacturer known for heavyweight T-shirts and with a neckline that flawlessly meets our requirements. It also looks perfect also with cuffed sleeves.
BOY girls should not show bare necklines. So, we always layer a deep-neckline T-shirt with something. A well-considered layered outfit looks amazingly sophisticated. Your loved one is the only person allowed to see your neckline.
Can’t Help But Collect MoreThey are all plain white tees, we know, but we want to have them in pure white, off-white, ecru, and other different shades of white. We wear white T-shirts daily, so we want the right color for the situation. We also pay attention to the thickness of the fabric, neck ribs, and cut because such details differ from brand to brand. That is why we can never have enough white tees. To nicely sport a precious white T-shirt, keep in mind how the neckline shows. We sometimes layer two white tees to achieve the perfect look. Even a cheap packed T-shirt can make your outfit look stylish if you let the underlayer neckline peek out. And, we learned how to pal around with white tees from the movie Stand by Me. One of our elders told us the movie is full of good old American stuff. It shows the way boys from ordinary families really dressed, bringing us closer to the American culture after watching it. Definitely one of our all-time best movies!
We BOY girls tend to collect the same things, and white T-shirts are one of these. Sometimes we buy secondhand tees, not counting new ones. All the T-shirts below are pre-owned and are part of the BEAMS BOY director’s personal collection. Most are American brands, but fabric texture and sewing method differ according to the manufacturer and the era they were made. And we find this so fascinating. We’d be grateful if our white tees made exclusively by Hanes and CAMBER become a part of someone else’s personal collection in the future.
A backpack can carry lots of things,
free up both hands for you. It goes anywhere (well, almost). A handbag cannot do that.
Though originally made for mountaineering and outdoor use,
backpacks are fun to incorporate, considering how functional they are, into everyday life.
The left photo shows the correct position for wearing a backpack. BEAMS BOY doesn’t recommend a sloppy hang like in the right photo. Only when carried correctly can you enjoy a backpack’s true functionality.
Carry Your Backpack CorrectlyDon’t wear a backpack sloppily, but keep it in the correct position. Although few people fasten the front buckle BEAMS BOY finds value in wearing clothes in a different way from others. A lovely shoulder bag or a cute basket is not an option for us. A tough backpack is our bag. GREGORY, one of the most prestigious backpack manufacturers, made a special vintage fabric backpack exclusively for BEAMS BOY. Aged nylon usually has a foul odor, but not this one. The design might seem ordinary at first glance, but it’s totally unique and absolutely comfortable to carry.
We asked GREGORY to make a “truly well-worn” backpack, because we always found ourselves in a predicament when a well-aged nylon backpack gives off a strange odor as the inner parts deteriorate and it can no longer be worn. Now the problem is solved. The beautifully suntanned fabric of a vintage backpack is recreated with printing. Black nylon tape is replaced with charcoal gray for a weather-beaten look. At first glance, it seems ordinary, but it’s not. It is actually totally unusual. Made to our geeky demands, this item is so special that you won’t find it anywhere else.
HOW TOAmerican soldiers who served in Vietnam made souvenir jackets out of their sleeping bags and parachutes,
adorning them with Vietnam-inspired embroidery commemorating the war.
They somehow conjure up the image of blue-collar working class teenagers,
while a button-down shirt reminds us of white-collar youth.
Both are American style items and equally essential for the BEAMS BOY.
This Vietnam jacket comes in a children’s size with close attention to each measurement. When pairing it with other clothes, make sure all your garments achieve a good balance. A lengthy top is superb as the jacket is rather short. Cropped pants will show your ankles for better balance.
Balance MattersBEAMS BOY was originally launched to help women who frequent BEAMS’s male clothing stores and vintage shops and are a little cynical towards mainstream women’s fashion trends. So, when looking for clothes in the right size, we often procure vintage clothes in children’s sizes. This exclusive Vietnam jacket in children’s size embodies that thought process, one that is innate to us. Manufactured by Tailor Toyo, known for their satin jackets and the originator of the Ska-jan jacket, this jacket is not as small and tight as ordinary vintage children’s jackets and it provides more room, especially around the shoulders. The petite sizing softens the design’s toughness, while the not-too-tight fit allows for freedom of movement.
Inspiration for the design was a rare vintage children’s jacket displayed next to a register at a vintage clothing shop. After the MA-1 jacket and satin jacket in our 2019 Fall/Winter collection, we designed this Vietnam jacket in a collaboration with Tailor Toyo along with a coverall jacket. The Vietnam jacket is roomy in the shoulders and relaxing long sleeves for a comfortable fit, while the collar, neckline, body length and embroideries are to children’s size.
1. A tiger, symbol of happiness in Vietnam, is embroidered on the left chest and the Chinese character for happiness is on the right. The Chinese character is derived from Fukurokuju of the Seven Lucky Gods.
2. Each sleeve is embroidered with a dragon. Sleeve length is designed to be longer for a more comfortable fit, while all the embroidery matches children’s size small.
A tiger, symbol of happiness in Vietnam, is embroidered on the left chest and the Chinese character for happiness is on the right. The Chinese character is derived from Fukurokuju of the Seven Lucky Gods.
Each sleeve is embroidered with a dragon. Sleeve length is designed to be longer for a more comfortable fit, while all the embroidery matches children’s size small.
Everyone owns at least one pair of denim pants.
After they were first tailored for workers in the U.S.,
the garment has been adored and is one of the most wearable pieces of everyday clothing.
Find the right size for you and wear them for a long time,
so that the denim fades beautifully and the fit customizes to your body.
Smeared with sweat and stained with tears as well as dirt here and there from places you’ve been,
denim pants take on a unique look special to their owner.
Adjust the rise of high-waist denim pants by matching them with a short vest. Pair these with a tight-fitting T-shirt and tuck it in the waist. We recommend matching tasseled slip-ons or other low instep shoes with these denim pants.
Cropped denim pants provide a good balance to a lengthy top. The pants shouldn’t break on the work boots and allow the socks to peek out a little. Layer T-shirts underneath to hide the neckline.
You might want to match a tight-fitting top with wide-leg pants, but it’s even more fun to pair them with a lengthy or bulky top to add extra volume to the look. Our exclusive sandal-like Paraboot shoes add loose-fitting laid-back feeling for the feet.
As we are girls who often wear menswear, we tend towards a buggy top paired with slim denim pants. But, how about compacting this for a fresher American boy look? Cuff them just once to show off the faded color around the chain stitches.
Find Your Perfect FitYou should own denim pants - at least five pairs - that fit you perfectly. That is the BEAMS BOY denim pants rule. Whenever you’re considering a new pair, don’t pay too much attention to the brand or when they’re made, but whether they fit right. Be sure to remember how denim pants should properly fit you, including around the hips and the top of the button fly. Once you get a pair that fit you right, you can improve on them as you like. Despite their versatility, however, it is not enough to own just one pair. We always need to pay attention to their length and shape, so get some more. How about some cropped denim pants to match high-top sneakers and a baggy pair to create a unique silhouette with an oversized top? No denim pants should be worn with anything but a single-roll cuff, because the color fading must be exposed.
Details from the silhouette to leg twists and color fading, these denim pants made by WAREHOUSE are designed to recreate prestigious brand vintage jeans of the 1960s when washing machines and dryers first became widespread. They have all the features and faded colors of authentic vintage jeans, but the length is adjusted for Japanese wearers. This item is the ideal for those who find themselves unable to wear out denim to this extent. Although new, they have the appearance of vintage denim pants. Try these for starters to learn the detailing of genuine vintage jeans.
This item features a button fly. It requires more effort but feel more like authentic American workwear.
Some features, such as the leather patch and tag, are placed to recreate the design of a famous denim brand.
Rivets have also been added to the reverse side of the back pockets. This detail is part of the original jeans from the 1960s. We pay attention every detail, not just those that are visible.
Don’t double roll the cuff on denim pants so that the color fading shows as well as the chain stitches left by Union Special’s sewing machine.
High heels are the symbol of femininity. Well, not for us.
Our focus is on shoes that middle-aged American men wear.
Though we do like NIKE and VANS from the West Coast, our favorite footwear brand is New Balance from Boston,
a city along the East Coast and birthplace of the Ivy League style.
The 900 series is our staple not just because of the fit but also of their compatibility with other Ivy League wear.
Matching the colors of your kicks and socks is a typical BEAMS BOY style.
This season, we recommend the 990. It looks just what American middle-aged men wear, don’t you think?
Kicks Not HeelsNew Balance shoes are known for numbering their models. The renowned 1300 and 1500 are amazing, while the 2000 series also has a fabulous look even though they don’t come in small sizes. Nevertheless, we love the 900 series most because, for better or worse, its tacky look. The models favored by middle-aged men in the U.S. have a chunky silhouette and small Ns. Typical of the brand’s U.S.-made footwear, the 900 series tickles our taste as we prefer stuff that is a little tacky rather than super cool.
Many of our BEAMS BOY staff wear New Balance’s 900 series. Naturally, these are a staple for us. Of course, each model in the series goes well with other BEAMS BOY clothes! We don’t like wearing what others do, but, with New Balance, we’ll make an exception.
The coverall was never intended to be a stylish piece,
but workwear with the necessary functional features for the job.
For our modern society, the design is somewhat inconvenient,
but every stitch and pocket of the jacket has a purpose and these details tell us a lot
about that age when this type of wear initially appeared.
We want to enjoy all these features and details.
Chinstraps are a particular feature of coverall jackets made before the 1940s. Button the chinstrap only to show off this detail. Just casually throwing it on like a denim jacket instantly broadens the range of styles available to you.
It might be a little bit of a stretch, but modern business outfits, in a broad sense, can be described as workwear. BEAMS BOY thinks it’s totally okay to pair a coverall with a blazer co-ord set. Be sure to match the colors of your sneakers and socks.
Love Functions Developed to WorkThe coverall jacket was created for work, not fashion. Ordinary girls may not be interested in such workwear, but BEAMS BOY dares to show our interest in such things. For us, coverall jackets are essential to our style. We invariably add special meaning to the clothes we wear, one of which is how a garment “offers a feel of roughness.” The “feel of roughness” emanates the American craftsmanship. Though it sometimes might be uncomfortable, such details never get old and will be a favorite for years.
Coverall jackets made of denim or duck canvas go well with the American casual style because the fabric improves as it fades or shows wear from good use. This jacket is manufactured by HEAD LIGHT based on the World War model designed in 1942. Just like the original World War model, all details are simply designed including the double (normally triple) stitching and intentionally-distorted seams.
The chinstrap is integrated into a collar, a feature often seen on vintage pieces made before the 1940s. This design reduces flapping of the collar.
The modified pocket on the left chest was originally designed to store a pocket watch. Coverall jackets featuring the pockets are popular in markets trading exclusively in vintage clothing . The square-shaped pockets are also characteristic of jackets made up until that time. Later products have round pockets.
The railroader cuff is reinforced with bartucks. Just like the original World War model, the number of buttons on the cuff is reduced from two to one. Such irregularity fascinates us.
Change buttons are a unique feature of overall jackets before the 1940s. Though the World War model jackets normally come with laurel buttons, this one is designed with rarely-seen change buttons.
A watch’s cool presence and design can every so often adorn your wrist better than jewelry.
For this reason, the military watch is our choice.
The design is ultimately simple with only the bare minimums such as an easily readable index and solid dial sans frills.
The looks is plain but conveys a sense of roughness at the same time.
American-Designed Wrist WatchesOur all-time favorite military watch is the Original Camper made by TIMEX, the brand that used to supply disposal watches to U.S. forces. This watch is too good to be used only by military personnel. The design isn’t snobby like watches from high-end brands, but cheapie in a good sense. It expresses a mood similar to products from Hanes, Dickies and Fruit of the Loom. TIMEX has long been offering practical yet durable watches worn by ordinary Americans. We admire the history and always want to wear one of these timeless masterpieces. They have a casual look, but superb presence and a fascinating history.
TIMEX watches fascinate us more than any other luxury wrist watch. In addition to the original models, BEAMS BOY has designed many exclusive TIMEX watches. Our barber clock model is a collaboration with ENGINEERED GARMENTS. We asked TIMEX to make our exclusive Original Camper with a transparent dial for this season’s collection. The beautiful functionality hid inside is the highlight of this item.
As menswear lovers, we enjoy wearing each piece, knowing its history and dress rules.
It’s impossible to dress down or add playfulness without knowing the rules.
Otherwise, we can’t create our own one-of-a-kind style by breaking the rules.
So, what are the rules for menswear? Let’s start with blazer basics.
Throw on a blazer to transform a sporty presence with a hoodie and relaxing pants into an Ivy League look. We also love this N.Y. Yankees cap because East Coast culture is our favorite. The cap color matches the blazer, doesn’t it?
This blazer and slacks are made of the same fabric and can be a co-ord set. Pair it with a navy T-shirt, and the outfit is nicely put together, looking rather elegant despite the casual items. To enhance the BOY girl mood, add a bandana and concho belt.
This look is a mix of Ivy League and other American styles like country and workwear. It’s very much like us in that sense. Creating ombre with navy or blue colors is important to unify all the pieces. Lessen the sweetness with rugged boots.
A Hawaiian shirt instantly gives your blazer look a summery feel. Matching chinos, socks and suede boots in similar colors gives the whole outfit a not-too-casual look. Get a boater to boost the summery mood.
For an Ivy League look, combine a button-down shirt with a blazer and madras pants. Still, BEAMS BOY loves curveball styles, too. So, a Western shirt also does it for us. And that is why we choose neither kicks nor loafers, but sandals.
Blazer: Our Wardrobe EssentialThe blazer is a versatile Ivy League style item and a basic jacket. Even since Brooks Brothers invented a ready-made natural shoulder jacket and turned it into the brand’s No.1 sack suit, the item has been popular among young people because of the less formal design. We also find blazers fascinating because they have so many rules, such as the three-roll-two button design and fastening only the middle button or creating a hook vent. Learn the traditional details and how to wear it first, then you make your own changes. Don’t just wear a comfortable piece of clothing as-is, but alter it to suit your style. Wearing a blazer is not very easy, but it teaches you the enjoyment of adding to your look.
BEAMS BOY believes blazers are full of American traditional style elements, so we offer a new blazer every season regardless of the trend. Our mannish blazers are never made with a trendy fit or fashionable details, nor are they designed for business people or students, but for women who enjoy wearing them everyday.
A three-roll-two is typical in an Ivy League look with the lapel folded to cover the top button. Unlike ordinary three-button jackets, this jacket is worn with only the middle button fastened. You can also replace the change buttons with others for a fresh look.
BEAMS BOY’s blazer features regimental stripe lining. Needless to say, it is the indispensable Ivy League tie pattern.
Blazers normally feature a hook vent, a detail originally invented to reinforce the fabric. This classical feature is often seen on formal morning coats.
Origin of the button-down shirt dates back 120 years.
From the shirts worn by men playing polo, a field sport for upper-class Englishmen,
the first B.D. shirt was designed by a renowned brand loved by Ivy League students and alumni, Brooks Brothers.
After stylishly worn by famous Ivy Leaguers such as John F. Kennedy and Anthony Perkins,
the item instantly became a must-have fashion piece.
We like that the shirt is normally made of thick durable Oxford fabric that improves with use.
Many Ivy League students look up to the University of Oxford in England. This shirt is definitely a BEAMS BOY essential.
A mannish look with a pale blue B.D. shirt and gray slacks. If you’d like to make it even more BOY-ish, just add a touch of middle-aged man feel by pairing the patterned socks with gum shoes or knotting the tie with a long blade.
This knitted vest goes well with a B.D. shirt dress for an enjoyable difference in the lengths. A BOY girl normally buttons her shirt up to the top, except when wearing a bandana around her neck. Be sure to hide your neckline, though.
Always Button Up To The TopThere are so many types of shirts out there, and each can be worn in a variety of ways. However, BEAMS BOY pays respect to the correct way sported by Ivy Leaguers - they buttoned their shirts up to the top when attending an entrance ceremony and mass (and probably when dating, too). We feel the B.D. shirt embodies American culture. We always button our shirts all the way up even with a washed shirt or a casual outfit. That’s our rule.
At a glance, this Oxford button-down shirt appears simple, but it is chock full of details. The collar size is smaller than usual to make it easier for women to wear, so it doesn’t look too formal even when buttoned up to the top. The buttons are placed on the right and the button holes on the left just like a men’s shirt. We also use exclusive buttons with the BEAMS BOY logo and put a BB embroidery on the hem. The shirt doesn’t curve in at the waist, giving it a more boyish look.
The placket on the sleeve reinforces the fabric and makes it easy to cuff. The gauntlet button placed at the center of the placket symbolizes a carefully-made shirt.
The loop on the back is a design feature so Ivy Leaguers could hang it in their lockers. The box pleats under the yoke are placed to provide extra movability around the shoulders and back.
A gusset is set where the front hem is sewn together with the back to reinforce the seam. This prevents frays during washing as well as scratches from pants when the shirt is tucked in.
The bandana is a piece of cloth that “ties” together every piece of American culture and fashion.
We are too shy to bring a crisp white handkerchief every day.
Because each bandana comes in a unique color and pattern, it’s fun to think of how to incorporate it into our look of the day.
Tie it around the neck? Put it in a pocket? Show it off from a bag?
If you know how to use a bandana, your style will be even more vibrant.
The bandana is our everyday partner.
Wear it around the wrist like a bracelet. Patti Smith did this at the Fuji Rock Festival years ago.
Let it peek out from the back pocket. If you make a habit of doing this, you’ll be able to quickly pull it out anytime.
Carry a Bandana Every DayNo matter whether it’s visible or not, always match the color of your bandana with your look of the day. Selecting one to match your day’s look, just like makeup or nail color, is fun if you regard a bandana not as a handkerchief, but as a piece of jewelry. Actually, BEAMS BOY clothes go better with bold accessories like bandanas or Native American silver pieces than shiny, delicate jewelry.
The piles of bandanas at right belong to the director of BEAMS BOY. These are actually (just?) part of her collection. You don’t have to own this many, but if you do have a few, you can enjoy playing with them as a kind of accessory. Though it’s cool to look for one at vintage stores, BEAMS BOY stores also carry our own bandanas. We love our original pattern with our brand logo and the BB design.
HOW TOWear a bandana around your neck like a scarf. All the ways shown here look similar, but are slightly different. Paying attention to such trivial differences is typical for BEAMS BOY.
Loop the ends through a ring. Make sure the ring is not too small or too big cause it might slip off.
Knot it like a tie for a mannish feel. Keep the tails from spreading out for a clean look.
Forget about techniques, just make a simple tie. This could go well with any looks, don’t you think?
Tie the bandana and twist the ends. Recommended for those who prefer styles with a twist.
Sweatshirts are made of cotton jersey fabric with brushed lining.
Because this fabric was often used for athletic clothes due to its excellent sweat-absorbing properties, the item took on the name sweatshirt.
It’s a BEAMS BOY staple. Some details are irreplaceable for our sweatshirts: V-shaped gussets, broad ribs, freedom sleeves, and the heather gray color.
Those details were created when sweatshirts launched, and there’s no reason for us not to love them or enjoy this garment in one of the most timeless colors.
Double V-gussets and heather gray color are our all-time favorite features. So, we just pair it with a white shirt and pants to enhance the color. Add a Hawaiian shirt and let your bandana peek out a little for some BOY-ish playfulness.
Crazy About Heather GrayWe just cannot help but recall the story behind the heather gray color. It derives from the inefficiency of using heather colored yarn made of two different yarns and the effectiveness in making dirt less visible. There are so many shades of heather gray. If we had to choose, we would pick a color made using traditional techniques that were eliminated as times changed and costs cut. There is a series of details we pay extra attention to, such as double V-gussets typically seen on vintage sweatshirts, a seamless and comfortable tubular knitted body, and freedom sleeves constructed with S-shaped shoulder seams running to the underarms and no seams around the underarms. Attention to such details is a BEAMS BOY value for our staples.
A double V-gusset features gussets on both the front and back necklines. This characteristic feature of vintage sweatshirts was originally created to prevent shrinkage and absorb sweat, but fewer and fewer sweatshirts featured this detail beginning in the 1960s to save money and use more advanced technologies.
To recreate a vintage look, we use slightly different shades of gray on the ribs and body of our sweatshirt, combined with some intended color blurring. Although sweatshirts made in the U.S. have brushed lining, BEAMS BOY adopted French terry lining for year-round use.
Some sweatshirts with adorable details including double V-gussets and a hood added later are all from our director’s private collection. We realize the color variations are slight, but we cannot help want to get them all!
The body is carefully woven using slow-speed tubular knitting. The absence of seams on the sides makes it more comfortable to wear.
A sleeve with S-shaped shoulder seams running to the underarms is known as a freedom sleeve. As the name suggests, the invention provides greater freedom for the arms. This type of sleeve construction was manufactured only in the 1940s and 1950s because it requires a time-consuming knitting process.
Designed for the battlefield to protect the wearer, military wear is the ultimate in functional clothing.
It incorporates the bare minimum functions with no excess frills.
BEAMS BOY admires the ruggedness and we cannot help but loving this garment.
Although the design appears to be so simple,
we are fascinated by some of the changes made to small features and details to improve its use over time.
We love the way middle-aged men in the U.S. dress. Here is a look featuring a fatigue jacket, a vintage-inspired Henley shirt with piping, pressed pants, and New Balance 990 shoes. That’s BEAMS BOY style!
Romantic Appeal of Military OutfitsWe’ve seen fatigues jackets in movies and photo books. G.I.s wore them on the battlefield, while hippies incorporated them into their look for fashion. And we never forget that fatigue jackets as well as olive drab military jackets and pants in general feature lots of pockets, stitches, and buttons. The pockets and flaps are set on an angle to allow the wearer to slide their hands in easily, and the many stitches effectively reinforce the fabric. Clothes that have been continually improved to achieve better utility have a functional beauty all their own. BEAMS BOY pays much more attention to such things than following whatever the latest trend is.
For each seasonal collection, BEAMS BOY designs clothes based on selected vintage military garments. We don’t drastically alter the original design, but make a few changes to the fit and fabric. This item here is designed from a jungle fatigue jacket used by U.S. forces during the Vietnam War in the 1960s. Our version has a super lightweight nylon fabric to enhance the puckering and stitches, making them more visible.
A fly-front is a characteristic feature of fatigue jackets made around that time.
For better functionality, the angled pockets are set to give the wearer easy access to what’s in the pockets. The exposed button is also a detail seen on the original jacket.
Adjuster buttons on the cuff and waist are also a common feature of fatigue jackets.
Most of our favorite kicks come in men’s sizes.
Partly because it’s difficult to find a proper-fitting pair at vintage clothing stores,we dare to wear them in a bigger size.
Well, better too big than too small. Actually, big sneakers can balance out the entire look.
But, don’t forget to notch up some parts!
We love to wear mannish items and pre-owned clothes,
so it is important to pay attention to the details and add a bit of cleanliness to the look.
Tie Sneakers TightlyNever leave your sneaker laces loose, even if that makes it easy to slip them on and off. Loosely-tied shoes end up with you slacking off. So, we tie our shoelaces tight every day. It’s a reflection of our belief that we pay attention to every detail of our look, including toe nails and shoelaces. However, there’s more to say about shoelaces. Just as shoe styles and types vary, there are also many variations in the way you can tie shoelaces. Although there is no mandatory way, we want our own style. Some go for over under lacing while others like to make them straight. When getting new shoes, we always undo the laces completely and lace them up in our own style. It’s a kind of a ritual in which we show our love for shoes, just like polishing them.
These Converse All Star shoes are laced with over under lacing on both the right and left foot. We like our sneakers to have a snug fit, but it’s more important to have your own way. There’s no one absolute required way. Though it’s a tiny little detail in a look, we believe such small things add up to make your everyday fashion life even more enjoyable.




















































































