If you’re shopping for Issey Miyake in Tokyo, PLEATS PLEASE may be the obvious place to start.
But here’s what I’d tell a friend visiting Tokyo: don’t skip HOMME PLISSÉ just because it’s technically menswear.
I’m a woman, and I actually wear HOMME PLISSÉ much more often than PLEATS PLEASE.
Living in Aoyama, I pass the Issey Miyake stores all the time, and HOMME PLISSÉ is the one I keep coming back to. The shapes are relaxed, slightly oversized and incredibly easy to wear — and on a woman, they can look completely different from how you might imagine them on the hanger.
Why I Wear HOMME PLISSÉ Instead of PLEATS PLEASE
PLEATS PLEASE may be the more obvious choice for women, but personally, it’s never really been my style.
I tend to prefer the more relaxed, straight silhouettes of HOMME PLISSÉ. They feel less feminine, a little more oversized, and much easier to mix with the clothes I already own.
Despite the name, I don’t really think of HOMME PLISSÉ as “menswear” when I wear it. A pair of pleated trousers or an oversized top simply feels like clothes I like.
And, of course, the pleating makes everything ridiculously practical for travel.
It’s lightweight, takes up very little room in a suitcase, and you don’t have to worry about ironing it after unpacking.
So if you’re a woman shopping Issey Miyake in Tokyo, don’t automatically head for PLEATS PLEASE.
Try HOMME PLISSÉ too. You might find it’s much more your style.
Visit HOMME PLISSÉ in Aoyama
Aoyama is where I’d shop for HOMME PLISSÉ in Tokyo.
The store is spacious and sleek, with plenty of room to actually look through the collection. It’s one of those stores where I genuinely enjoy spending time and shopping, rather than just stopping by to see what’s new.
The space was designed by Tokujin Yoshioka, and there’s even a pleating machine inside the store — a nice detail that connects the space itself to the way HOMME PLISSÉ is made.
It’s also tucked into the quieter streets of Minami-Aoyama, just away from the busier Omotesando area.
And before you leave, there’s one more place nearby I’d definitely stop by.
Just Nearby: me ISSEY MIYAKE
Just a short walk from HOMME PLISSÉ is me ISSEY MIYAKE.
And there’s one thing in particular I’d look for here: the TRUNK PLEATS BAG.
I actually own an older plaid version that’s no longer available, and I still use it all the time. It’s incredibly lightweight and genuinely easy to use — one of those bags you end up reaching for without thinking.
It comes in a great range of colors, which is part of the fun, but I also think the simple black version is especially good. It goes with almost everything, and I’m already thinking black might be the next one I buy.
With versions starting at around ¥11,000, it’s also a relatively accessible way to take a little piece of Issey Miyake home from Tokyo.
If You Only Have an Hour
If you’re already shopping around Omotesando and Aoyama, you really don’t need to turn this into a major Issey Miyake expedition.
Start at HOMME PLISSÉ, try things on even if you normally shop womenswear, then walk over to me ISSEY MIYAKE and have a look at the bags.
That’s probably exactly what I’d tell a friend to do.
Store Information
HOMME PLISSÉ ISSEY MIYAKE / AOYAMA
3-18-14 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Hours: 11:00–20:00
Nearest station: Omotesando Station
Tel: +81 3-5411-5007
me ISSEY MIYAKE / AOYAMA
4-21-24 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Hours: 11:00–20:00
Nearest station: Omotesando Station
Tel: +81 3-3479-3133