How Japanese style is influencing men’s fashion
Ametora, or American traditional, is the Ivy League look. It is classic chic and combines the straight lines and smartness of the Japanese man with the sweatshirts and denim preferred by their American cousins. It is Americana worn the Japanese way, with the two cultures working really well together when they are blended correctly.
Where and when did this look begin?
The style can be traced back to the 1950s when the ‘American look’ was fashionable all over the world and everyone wanted to wear it. The Japanese took this look and made it their own by adding straighter lines than the baggier American look. In short, they repackaged it for the American market and then offered it back to them in a form smarter and better than ever before. Today, it would come as no surprise to see something as all-American as a polo shirt with a Japanese label attached.
How Japan saved American style
David Marx is considered to be the authority on all things Ametora. In his book How Japan Saved American Style, he says that Japan has preserved these styles even when they were out of fashion in their native lands. Today, Ametora is considered to blend classic American prep with a modern and oh-so Japanese twist. This look combines old-fashioned expertise with high-tech innovation to create properly made, well-fitting clothes and clean, neat lines that look great for both sport and leisure activities.
Farah shirts
A great example of this is the Farah shirt from a stockist such as https://www.ejmenswear.com/men/farah/. These shirts can be worn either long- or short-sleeved depending on the weather and the time of year. Polo-necked shirts are available for that classic all-American prep style; alternatively, try a T-shirt for a more casual approach to fashion. Team these with that all-American wardrobe staple, the denim jeans – Japanese style, of course.
There is no doubt that the Ametora look is here to stay. This is a style that says traditional American with a twist. It is well-cut, well-fitting, and simply oozes style and security. The man who prefers this style has a traditional flair and is solid and dependable, with the casual effect suggesting an enjoyment of leisure and the ability not to take life too seriously unless this is absolutely necessary.
