Thinking through all the possibilities for winter outfits.

Yoyogi Park, near cliché, hosts events throughout the year. The coming season is packed with events to look forward to, including illuminations.

When you’re heading to an event like that, isn’t choosing what to wear surprisingly tricky?

When you’re going out with someone, you might find yourself wondering what to wear. And when it’s a special outing, you may want to enjoy dressing a little differently from usual.

That said, going too all-out doesn’t feel quite right, either. Maybe the sweet spot is to keep what feels like you, while adding just a little something different.

 

Hello. I’m Tomioka from cliché.

I find that when I have plans to go out, whether I’m meeting someone or going alone, I can spend ages thinking through different options before deciding what to wear.

Sometimes an outfit you’d been thinking about since the day before doesn’t quite feel right when you try it on. Or you think you’ve settled on trousers, but once you put on your shoes, something feels off, and you end up starting over.

But I don’t mind that time spent getting ready, either.

Autumn and winter are especially good seasons for enjoying all kinds of combinations by layering. Even with the same outerwear, changing your inner layer or trousers can completely change the impression, and it’s fun to try materials or colors you wouldn’t usually wear together.

Of course, as the weather gets colder in the coming season, warmth and functionality matter, too. It may be comfortable during the day, but the temperature can drop suddenly after sunset. And if you’ll be spending a long time outdoors, what you wear matters all the more.

Still, it’s not as though anything warm will do. If you’re going to wear clothes you love, you want to care about how they look, too.

With outings in the coming season in mind, I put together eight looks in my own way.

Some combinations are ones I’ve always liked, while others brought unexpected discoveries when I tried them together again this time.

I hope you’ll take a look with thoughts of your usual days off or a little outing in mind.

 

Wool Zip Blouson × Proper Tailored Trousers 

CREDIT

cantáte " Wool Zip Blouson 〈NOIR〉"

cantáte " Essential L/S Tee 〈BLACK〉"

cantáte " Proper Tailored Trousers 〈NOIR〉"

 

Customers who visit often tell us, “I’ve been looking for a wool blouson just like this!” The Wool Zip Blouson is one that gets that response time and again.

After hearing these comments, I found myself naturally drawn to wool blousons whenever I visited other shops.

When you actually look for one, it’s surprisingly hard to find. You might like the design, but the fabric’s texture isn’t quite right. The fabric might be great, but something about the silhouette or finer details feels off. Each difference may be small, but it can make a big difference to how it looks when worn.

The Wool Zip Blouson, on the other hand, feels thoughtfully balanced in every detail, from the sheen of the wool and the shine of the front zipper to the width of the ribbed hem.

This time, I kept it simple and paired it with the Proper Tailored Trousers, also in NOIR.

Both pieces are wool, but the fabrics each have a distinct texture, so the black-on-black combination never feels flat. Their sheen and shadows shift with the light, naturally adding depth to this simple look.

With both pieces in black, the differences in their materials and silhouettes really stand out. That’s what I find interesting about this combination.

A T-shirt like the one in the photos works well as an inner layer, and for the coming season, I also recommend pairing it with a turtleneck. When you want to add a little variation, a scarf would be a nice touch.

Personally, I’d pair it with a lightweight cashmere knit and wear the blouson with the zip slightly open. A touch of charcoal gray or brown peeking through the NOIR would strike a nice balance.

A combination for a day walking around the city or dining at a slightly more refined restaurant. It’s simple, but one you’ll want to wear on all kinds of occasions.

 

Wool Zip Blouson × Denim Flare Trousers - CRASH & REPAIR

CREDIT

cantáte " Wool Zip Blouson 〈GRAY〉"

cantáte " Essential L/S Tee 〈GRAY〉"

cantáte " Denim Flare Trousers - CRASH & REPAIR 〈SHADOW INDIGO〉"

 

In an earlier blog post, I mentioned that black pieces work best with Denim Flare Trousers - CRASH & REPAIR.

I still feel the same way. But as I think through different ways to style it, other combinations come to mind—ones that differ from what I initially had in mind.

This time, I paired it with the GRAY Wool Zip Blouson.

To be honest, I didn't set out to pair these colors. I thought black would go best with the slightly faded shade of SHADOW INDIGO.

But when I tried them together, they blended more naturally than I had imagined.

The GRAY blouson has a softer feel than black, which makes a stronger impression. SHADOW INDIGO, meanwhile, has a subdued, worn-in look unlike the deep navy of typical denim.

Pairing two slightly faded colors lets them blend naturally rather than letting either one stand out. This combination of muted tones worked better than I expected.

Keep it clean with a white or gray cut-and-sew top. If you'd like to add a little color, a pale blue shirt peeking out would also work well.

For footwear, I'd go with a substantial pair of leather shoes. Flared pants can look quite different depending on the shoes, and I feel a slightly weightier pair makes the flare at the hem look even better.

You might start wanting to pair gray with the denim you once thought looked best in black.

I think part of the fun of styling is finding new options for yourself along the way.

 

Furry Pile Zip Blouson × Teraway Wool Trousers

CREDIT

cantáte " Furry Pile Zip Blouson 〈FAWN〉"

cantáte " Teraway Wool Trousers 〈GRAY〉"

 

"I'm looking for fleece that doesn't look like it's from an outdoor brand."

We sometimes hear comments like this in the store:

It's true that fleece tends to bring outdoor wear to mind. It's functional and easy to wear, but sometimes it can feel as though that limits the designs and the pieces you can pair it with.

I used to pair fleece with denim or sweatpants most of the time, and rarely considered other combinations.

Among them, the Furry Pile Zip Blouson is a piece that I think offers a slightly different way to enjoy fleece.

At first glance, it's a simple fleece, but details such as the look of the front zipper and the adjustable hem show how carefully it has been considered.

It retains fleece's characteristic softness while offering more than just the feel of conventional outdoor wear. That's what makes it appealing.

This time, instead of denim or sweatpants, I chose the GRAY Teraway Wool Trousers.

The soft impression of the BEIGE fleece is balanced by the composed look of the wool trousers, keeping the outfit from feeling too casual.

Just because it's fleece doesn't mean you have to wear it in an outdoorsy way.

A simple cut-and-sew top works well as an inner layer, but personally, I'd like to try it with a shirt. I like the balance of the shirt collar peeking out just a little against the soft texture of the fleece.

Pair it with leather shoes, and the look takes on a slightly dressier feel.

On a day when you might normally reach for a jacket, try wearing fleece instead. I think making a slightly unexpected choice like that is part of the fun of getting dressed.

 

WWⅡ T-Back Jacket × Teraway Wool Trousers

CREDIT

cantáte " WWⅡ T-Back Jacket 〈WAXED INDIGO〉"

cantáte " Teraway Wool Trousers 〈FAUVE〉"

 

The WWⅡ T-Back Jacket is a customer favorite season after season.

I’ve shared styling ideas on the blog several times before, but this time I paired the treated INDIGO denim jacket with FAUVE’s Teraway Wool Trousers.

When you think of a denim jacket, denim or chinos may be the first things that come to mind. Those classic combinations look great, of course, and I like them myself.

Still, after wearing it many times, you sometimes want to pair it with something a little different.

This time, I wanted to soften the ruggedness of the denim a little.

The WWⅡ T-Back Jacket has the presence of vintage workwear. You can enjoy that character as it is, but introducing a different material or color gives it a fresh look.

The FAUVE I chose this time pairs well with INDIGO, complementing the denim’s color while giving the whole look a soft, understated feel.

I like the balance of keeping the ruggedness of denim while giving it a slightly refined look with wool trousers.

An ecru knit or sweatshirt would also work well underneath. For a little variation, a brown shirt could be an interesting choice.

I prefer not to make the footwear look too polished. Suede shoes or slightly chunky boots keep the look casual, even with wool trousers.

Because denim jackets are so familiar, it’s easy to end up pairing them with the same things every time.

But simply changing the pants can still open up plenty of new ways to wear it.

I’d especially recommend this styling to anyone who already owns the WWⅡ T-Back Jacket.

 

Double Cloth Directors Jacket × Warm Corduroy Trousers

CREDIT

cantáte " Double Cloth Directors Jacket 〈NOIR〉"

cantáte " Essential L/S Tee 〈BLACK〉"

cantáte " Warm Corduroy Trousers 〈NOIR〉"

 

Do you have to wear a jacket like a jacket?

I don’t think that’s necessarily the case.

Of course, pairing it with a shirt, neat trousers, and leather shoes brings out the jacket’s classic appeal.

But I also feel it would be a shame to stop there.

That’s the impression this Double Cloth Directors Jacket gives.

Its refined look as a jacket is appealing, but what I especially like is how it looks with the collar turned up. It makes a different impression from when the collar is laid flat, giving it an almost outerwear-like feel.

This time, I turned up the collar and paired it with the Warm Corduroy Trousers in the same NOIR color.

Both pieces are black, but their fabrics have very different characters. The jacket has a subdued feel, while the corduroy’s ridges create distinctive shadows.

What’s particularly interesting about black corduroy is how its shades seem to shift depending on the light.

Limiting the number of colors makes the differences in texture and silhouette stand out more.

Rather than thinking of it strictly as a jacket, wear it the way you would a blouson. That alone can greatly expand your styling options.

As the weather gets colder, wrapping a scarf around your neck would also work well.

Personally, I’d pair it with a slightly thick checked scarf. Adding just a little color and pattern to an all-black outfit creates a different mood.

Keep the overall look clean with a lightweight knit or turtleneck underneath.

Just because it’s a jacket doesn’t mean you can only wear it on special occasions.

I hope you’ll enjoy a piece like this in your everyday wardrobe, without feeling you need to save it for a special occasion.

 

Horsehide Down Insulator Vest × Furry Pile Zip Blouson × Warm Corduroy Trousers

CREDIT

cantáte " Horsehide Down Insulator Vest 〈NOIR〉"

cantáte " Furry Pile Zip Blouson 〈BEAR〉"

cantáte " Warm Corduroy Trousers 〈BOTTLE GREEN〉"

 

This year’s Horsehide leather jacket series has received an overwhelmingly positive response from our customers.

Leather has a distinctive presence, and its appearance changes with wear. I think those qualities are hard to find in other materials.

Of these, the Horsehide Down Insulator Vest is the piece I find especially interesting.

Leather jackets and blousons often become the centerpiece of an outfit on their own, but because a vest has no sleeves, you have more freedom to experiment with what you wear underneath.

This time, I paired a leather down vest with a Furry Pile Zip Blouson and Warm Corduroy Trousers.

Leather, fleece, corduroy.

Laid out side by side, these materials might seem like they wouldn’t work together. But when you actually put them together, their differences work in your favor.

The leather has a lustrous, distinctive presence, while the fleece has a soft look. The ridges of the corduroy add further dimension, bringing the different materials together in a way that feels natural.

I especially like the combination of BEIGE and BOTTLE GREEN.

Both are subdued in tone, but adding leather gives the look a little more definition.

Each material has its own character, so I think you can create an interesting outfit without using too many colors.

Other good options include a sweatshirt hoodie or a heavyweight flannel shirt.

I’d wear it with a slightly oversized sweatshirt hoodie underneath, letting the hood hang outside the vest. I like the combination of leather and sweatshirt fabric, and I think it creates a relaxed feel.

When the weather turns cold, it’s easy to reach for nothing but heavy outerwear, but wearing a vest and thoughtfully layering underneath is another great option.

You can enjoy the presence of leather while also appreciating the fun of layering. I think this is a piece that offers both.

 

Furry Cashmere Cardigan × Washed Linen Denim Chore Blouson × Washed Linen Denim Tuck Trousers

CREDIT

cantáte " Furry Cashmere Cardigan 〈BEAR〉"

cantáte " Washed Linen Denim Chore Blouson 〈NOIR〉"

cantáte " Washed Linen Denim Tuck Trousers 〈NOIR〉"

 

I think everyone has their own habits when it comes to getting dressed.

You might find yourself always choosing similar colors or, before you know it, wearing pants with the same kind of silhouette.

For me, I suppose it’s the urge to add yet another layer over a haori.

Even when I’m wearing a jacket, I want to throw a cardigan over it. Even when one layer is enough, I want to add another.

I think I simply like layering.

Of course, layering anything and everything doesn’t always work. Depending on the material and silhouette, an outfit can end up looking a little cramped.

This Furry Cashmere Cardigan is a piece that makes it easy to enjoy wearing it this way.

The soft texture unique to cashmere and the relaxed silhouette give this cardigan plenty of character on its own, but layering it over a jacket reveals another side to it.

This time, I layered the NOIR cardigan over a Washed Linen Denim Chore Blouson and Washed Linen Denim Tuck Trousers set.

The entire outfit, including the inner layers, is unified in black.

With this many layers, you might expect the outfit to feel a little heavy, but linen denim and cashmere have such different textures that everything came together more naturally than I expected.

Usually, you wear a jacket over a cardigan, but this time we’ve reversed the order. This slightly unusual way of layering is fun to try in person.

It would also look good layered over a tailored jacket or leather blouson, not just a workwear-inspired jacket like the one we’ve styled here.

I’d also like to try wearing it over a slightly oversized shirt, with the hem peeking out.

It’s great on its own, but it also makes you want to layer it over all kinds of pieces.

I think part of this cardigan’s appeal is how much room it gives you to create a new balance by adding one more layer to your usual outfit.

 

Furry Cashmere Cardigan × Linen Washi Shirt Blouson × Linen Washi M51 Cargo Pants

CREDIT

cantáte " Furry Cashmere Cardigan 〈TEDDY〉"

cantáte " Linen Washi Shirt Blouson 〈TAN〉"

cantáte  " Linen Washi M51 Cargo Pants 〈TAN〉"

 

Lastly, here’s another color of the Furry Cashmere Cardigan we introduced earlier.

This look uses the same items, but this time I chose BROWN instead of NOIR.

Just changing the color can make a big difference to both the clothes you want to pair with it and the overall impression.

I like wearing the NOIR cardigan with black pieces, so I can enjoy the contrast in materials. With BROWN, I find myself wanting to experiment a little more with color combinations.

This time, I paired the TAN Linen Washi Shirt Blouson with the Linen Washi M51 Cargo Pants.

The fabric has a distinctive texture thanks to its blend of linen and Japanese paper. The set has plenty of character on its own, but I layered a BROWN cashmere cardigan over it.

TAN and BROWN are close in hue, but their different depths of color naturally create a sense of light and shade.

I especially like the TAN shade. It’s not too light, but not too dark either. Layering BROWN over it gives the whole look a slightly more subdued feel.

It doesn’t have the bold strength of black, but I like how it feels softer and somehow warmer in its place.

When layering similar colors, I think differences in texture really matter. Even without changing the colors much, the distinct textures create a natural sense of depth.

For the inner layer, beige or ecru would work well; for a little accent, it could be fun to add a color like mustard.

If I were to think of another way to style it, I’d probably go with denim again.

Personally, I’d like to pair faded INDIGO denim with a white shirt, then throw this BROWN cardigan over it.

I like combinations of materials with different textures, like the slightly worn-in look of denim paired with the softness of cashmere.

Unlike the NOIR from earlier, BROWN is a piece that makes you want to enjoy the colors you pair with it.

Even with the same cardigan, simply changing the color makes such a difference to what you want to wear with it. It really struck me again.

After trying out different combinations again for this feature, I was reminded that there’s a lot you can’t know until you try things on.

Something you thought wouldn’t work can look surprisingly good when you try it on. And sometimes a combination you were sure would work just doesn’t feel quite right in front of the mirror.

This kind of thing happens often, even when you spend a lot of time around clothes.

That’s what makes clothes so interesting.

 

The looks featured here aren’t the only right way to wear these pieces. Even with the same blouson, simply changing the pants, inner layer, or shoes can create a completely different look.

Try choosing a color you don’t usually wear. Pair items you wouldn’t normally layer together. I think even small changes like these can open up new ways to enjoy getting dressed.

 

As I wrote this blog, I also found myself thinking again about what to wear for an outing, as I mentioned at the beginning.

Choosing an outfit for a meal with someone. Thinking of something a little warmer for an event at Yoyogi Park. Or, on a day off with no particular plans, putting on clothes you simply like and heading out into town.

No matter the day, wearing clothes you love can lift your mood a little.

 

We’re nearing the end of this season’s arrivals.

In addition to the items featured here, we have plenty more clothing in store that we’d love for you to wear this season. There are also items we haven’t been able to feature on our blog or Instagram.

If anything catches your eye, please try it on in person at the shop. It may look different from how it appeared in photos, and you might discover an unexpected combination.

 

It’s going to get even colder, but winter has its own pleasures when it comes to clothing.

Wear a warm knit, throw on a favorite outer layer, or try adding a few more layers than usual.

Rather than dressing warmly out of necessity,it’s nice to enjoy outfits that are made for the cold season, while we can.

When you're visiting Yoyogi Park, please stop by cliché as well.

We look forward to welcoming you!

 

cliché Tomioka