In which G.M. Norton makes the acquaintance of a real-life dandy.
After debating the idea for a while, largely over tea and
cake, I recently joined the social networking site, Instagram. It was through
this medium that I was lucky enough to cross paths with a real-life dandy, Mr.Yoshio Suyama.
Admiring Yoshio’s array of pictorials, I was smitten with
his style. With a respectful nod to a bygone age, Yoshio is sartorially savvy
and a true inspiration to me as I continue on my journey to Gentleman. It
occurred to me that it would be jolly nice to introduce my readers to this
preening peacock and to join in the admiration.
As Yoshio currently resides in Toronto (although he was in
London for a time), I conducted an interview with him through the power of
electronic messages. It’s frightfully good what you can do these days with this
new fangled technology!
So without further waffling, please enjoy this little chinwag.
Name: Yoshio
Suyama
Occupation: Barber
Place of birth:
Oshino-mura, Japan
Current location:
Toronto, Canada
1. What
does a dandy mean to you?
Being like my Grandpa, who knows everything. He dresses
well, has a great moustache and hair. He is my hero.
2. How
would you describe your style?
I would say early 1900s with a little bit splice of Japanese
culture.
3. If
you could choose one era in time, what would it be and why?
I'm always inspired by old photographs and advertisements
from 1920s and 1930s. I want to see the people who actually lived in that
period.
4. What’s
your favourite item of clothing and why?
I always wear a hat when I am outdoors. I love hats,
especially boater hats. The straw boater is a classic look and I like the
shape. You are only allowed to wear them during the summer. That makes me feel
like "I gotta wear a boater hats as much as possible during summer I will
be unable to wear it when summer's gone!"
I can't wait to put it on with a navy blazer and white
trousers or a white suit.
5. How
long have you been dressing like you do?
It has been 3 years. I used to be very different before I
started dressing up like this but you know, I was too young to be ‘Dandy’
anyway.
6. Do you ever dress down?
I always try to be perfect looking but I do dress down
sometimes. When I go to the park for walk or going to grocery store I wouldn't
wear tie. It just depends on what I'm gonna do or where I going to. You don't
wear whole suits on the beach do you? But I’m never without a hat or cap when
I'm outdoors.
7. How do you put together an outfit? Do you
spend a long time planning it or do you just pull it together?
I choose what I wear for the next day before going to
bed. I’m just so lazy in the morning. I guess it doesn't take much time. Normally
it takes 5 minutes to 10 minutes. Just pick them up with my feeling.
I have spent a whole day to choose outfit though. Stood
in front of my wardrobe for like 5 hours. I ruined my plan that day. It happens
once or twice in every 3 months. Actually it's nice to spend time with my
wardrobe, having tea on my day off. Sometimes a new idea comes up. Then I
won't be late for work the next day!
8. Where
do you get your clothes from?
Mostly I wear vintage. I like the story behind them (where
did it come from, who was it made for...). It's not easy to find what exactly I
want because I am 5ft 3 tall and my shoe size is 7.
Anyway, I just keep looking
for them and I enjoy doing it’s like being a treasure hunter. I go to vintage
stores and antique markets. My grandfather gave me some accessories like cuff-links and tie-pin. I still keep them.
You can get anything online these days but I never buy
any clothes online. I want to see with my eyes and touch them.
9. You must attract a lot of attention
from people because of the way you present yourself. What kinds of things do
people say to you?
Well...I don't know. I don't hear them. Actually I try to
not hear them. It's kind of scary. Because we live in 2014, right? I know some
people understand but some people don't.
10. What
people or things inspire you?
Inspiration comes from everything from my closest friends
and people who I've seen in Japan, London and Toronto to music like jazz and blues.
Also I grew up watching old films, especially musicals. I'm huge fan of Gene
Kelly and Fred Astaire. I wish I could dance like them.
11. There are lots of sartorial rules, it
seems. ‘Never wear brown in town’ and ‘don’t wear a matching tie and pocket
square’. Do you follow any rules?
I follow basic ones such as ‘belt or braces, never belt
and braces’ and that your tie knot should have a dimple). There are a lot so
I'm still learning it.
12. You have a number of tattoos. Please can
you share what they are and where? Are there any stories behind them?
I have American traditional tattoos on my whole sleeve, my
chest and neck. I've had all of them done in London.
The story began long time ago. I'd been to Hawaii with my
parents and my older sister when I was kid. Probably when I was 6 or 7 years
old. Then I put some tattoo stickers on my arms. I remember I really liked it. I
didn't even know what they were but I knew I would do it again. I thought, “I
want some colourful paintings on my body”.
I used to be shy and chubby when I was kid. I was disgusted
for myself. I always wanted to be cool and stronger.
As I got more tattoos, I felt I was getting stronger. I
could have confidence in myself so I'm happy with it.
13. Are there any particular accessories you like to wear?
I don't think I wear some sort of special accessories. I
just wear the accessories which a gentleman ought to wear (pocket watch, tie
pin, collar bars, sock garters, shoe spats, hats).
I do hope you enjoyed this new feature. If you consider yourself to be an impeccably-dressed peacock and would like to be the next 'real-life dandy', please do send me a missive.
G.M. Norton
Protagonist of 'Norton of Morton'
Protagonist of 'Norton of Morton'
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