SHOP.CASE — a.PRESSE

Fashion

The shop of a.PRESSE, the Japanese brand that is currently making a lot of noise amongst menswear enthusiasts, is located in a nondescript concrete building in upper Jingumae, in Tokyo, a ten minute walk from the hubbub of the winding streets above Omotesando, which have been taken over by mainstream streetwear brands.

But walk into the semi-basement space and that is where all the anonymity ends. The walls and columns are clad in a compound made of soil, straw, sand, and cement, giving them a texture somewhere between concrete and Venetian plaster. The furniture is a mix of mid-century Brazilian and Danish, and the speakers are vintage JBL. The brass clothes racks and even the oak wood hangers, are custom made for a.PRESSE. Such minute attention to detail adds warmth and makes the sparseness of the space an asset in itself.

The StyleZeitgeist Tokyo Guide: 2025 Edition

Culture, Travel

For the aesthetically inclined and designed conscious there is probably no better place on earth than Tokyo. And for science fiction fans it’s probably the closest thing to encountering another humanoid civilization – things are similar enough and foreign enough in Tokyo to make it all the more exciting, even though in the last couple of years the intractable march of globalization of culture has left an indelible stamp on the city. I’ve been to Tokyo three times and by now feel confident enough to write a guide of sorts. Because there is so much to do and see here, I decided that the best approach is to break it down by neighborhood rather than the list of places, because there are too many of them. Tokyo is vast – don’t even think about spending less than a week here. I’ll list the neighborhoods more or less in order of preference or proximity to each other. Aside from these recommendations, the best advice I can give you is to get lost in the wonderful maze of Tokyo’s streets – because the best spots are often in the back alleys off the main thoroughfares. You’ll need your GPS.

SHOP.CASE – LEMAIRE EBISU

Fashion, Retail

There are stores that make you want to shop there just because. If you had to break down that aura, it would probably come down to a great location, a beautiful exterior and interior, great merchandising and great service. The Lemaire boutique, which opened in November of this year in Tokyo’s Ebisu neighborhood is such a store. This 2,000 sq foot store is housed in a beautiful private two-story home built in the 1960s. Walking through the front gate and through the front door is a bit like going through a portal from the city to the countryside. The space is as tranquil as its small backyard garden, and it is one of the most inviting shops we have been to. Shopping here feels like you are simply borrowing from the closet of your incredibly stylish, design-conscious friend.

SHOP.CASE — Jil Sander Ginza

Fashion, Retail

The newly opened Jil Sander flagship in Tokyo’s Ginza district, designed by the architecture firm Casper, Mueller, Kneer, is a testament to the power of materials. CMK came to prominence designing stores for Celine under Phoebe Philo, including its Ginza flagship, whose arresting façade is still one of the premier shopping neighborhood’s attractions. With the Jil Sander store, CMK continues its tradition of letting the materials do the talking. The shop is refreshingly devoid of ornamentation, yet it feels warm and inviting. With their intricate, rich textures, marble, travertine, and concrete become ornaments in themselves. Details like a Dieter Rams classic Braun sound system provide subtle nods to the history of minimalist German design, not unrelated to Jil Sander’s origin. Last but not least, the layout of the shop provides a ton of open space, proving once again that today space is the ultimate luxury.