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Brian Sacawa is the Founder of He Spoke Style and one of the original men’s style influencers.
MoreWhat you can learn from the BEAMS fashion director
Even if you didn’t know his name before reading this post, if you’re a fan of exceptional men’s style and have an Instagram account, you’ve likely seen Shuhei Nishigushi, fashion director at the Japanese brand BEAMS, pop up in your feed.
Shuhei’s style is classic but contemporary, refined but expertly disheveled and a perfect mix of high, low, modern and vintage. If that sounds pretty close to perfect, it’s because we think it is – at least if you’re going by the HSS playbook.
Scrolling through Shuhei’s Instagram feed, you’re likely to ask yourself, “How on earth does he kill it so consistently day in and day out?” And we wouldn’t blame you.
Here are some great takeaways from Shuhei’s style.
Rule No. 1:
High/low. Shuhei is extremely adept at mixing dressy and casual elements. It’s a way to distinguish yourself from the crowd and not simply be “off the rack”.
Rule No. 2:
Double-breasted jackets are often seen as being on the dressier end of the style spectrum. At HSS, we think differently. It’s another form of high/low that Shuhei constantly gives us a masterclass on. A cotton DB with a denim shirt only reinforces how perfectly casually dapper it can look.
Rule No. 3:
While blue and grey will always be your quintessential menswear colors, earth tones – particularly brown – look even more sophisticated, elegant and rich.
Rule No. 4:
Casually tailored. Enough said. Notice the aptly-placed ascot.
Rule No. 5:
One of Shuhei’s signature style moves is the off-center tie on belted outerwear. Remember, there is more than one way to belt a trench. This is a great example of how taking a risk and trying something outside the box can result in an affectation that becomes your own.
Rule No. 6:
The layered denim jacket. Casual is often confused with overly simple. Here, Shuhei demonstrates how to take casual to the next level with one of our favorite layering pieces.
Rule No. 7:
One of the most underestimated parts of a suit, a waistcoat makes a great layering piece and adds a great deal of depth and texture to any outfit.
Rule No. 8:
A great example of someone showing you he knows “the rules” even though he breaks them all the damn time.
Rule No. 9:
Power monochromatic. Always a great way to make a statement without being loud. Notice the infusion of pattern in Shuhei’s coat and the detailing in his trousers.
Rule No. 10:
Elevated off-duty. A great way to spruce up a casual weekend look. Just add a knit cardigan and 3/4 length coat.
Rule No. 11:
The Canadian tuxedo is often the subject of mockery, but here, Shuhei shows us how to change the conversation. Dark toned denim in place of the regular blue and accent with cream offers a fresh take. It seems so simple yet it takes someone with immense creativity to make it a reality you couldn’t imagine didn’t exist before.
Thanks for reading.
Stylishly Yours,
Brian Sacawa
He Spoke Style
Brian Sacawa
Brian Sacawa is the Founder of He Spoke Style and one of the original men’s style influencers. Since 2013, his goal has remained the same: to provide men the advice and inspiration they need to dress well, develop their personal style, and gain more confidence. Brian’s interest and passion for men’s style and luxury watches has led to his writing for The Robb Report, The Rake, and Sotheby’s and he has been quoted on menswear in publications such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Today.com, Brides Magazine, and the Huffington Post. He lives in the woods north of Baltimore with his wife, Robin, kitties Nick and Nora, and German Shepherd/Collie mix Charlie.
