Menswear essentials, one plain piece at a time
What goes in a set of Japanese menswear essentials
A set of Japanese menswear essentials is short: a light jacket for the in-between months, a warmer one for cold days and a coat for when it matters. Every jacket here comes in plain colours, black, navy, grey, khaki and brown, so each one wears with the rest of the wardrobe.
For how to build the rest of the wardrobe around them, read how to build a minimalist wardrobe.
Light jackets
The coaches jacket, the drizzler and the stretch travel jacket are light polyester shells with a polyester lining. They layer over a T-shirt or a shirt without bulk. The travel jacket has the widest size range, XXS to XXL.
Bombers and faux leather
The crop bomber sits short on the hip, in off white or black. The faux suede bomber comes in black or tobacco brown, and the vegan leather zip jacket in black or brown.
For cold weather
The double-faced wool jacket is 100% wool with a zip front and a grey collar. The single-breasted topcoat is the longest piece here, in black or brown. The rest of the range is in men's jackets.
Small things to go with them
The set does not stop at clothes. The Japanese wallet is a compact folding wallet in plain leather. The Japanese canvas bag is a soft tote with short handles and a clip-on shoulder strap. The Japanese scarf is a thick wool-blend knit with a diamond stitch, and the Japanese slippers are striped cotton and linen house slippers for indoors.
Choosing a size
Sizes run XXS to XXL depending on the piece. Every product page carries a size chart in centimetres, so compare the chest and length with a jacket you already own before you order.
Wear them with
Plain T-shirts, shirts and hoodies go under any of them.
Measurements come from each garment's own flat size table, converted to centimetres and mapped onto one size ladder. Available for 10 of the 15 garments here, last checked 2026-11-13. How we measure.
Read the guide: Building a Minimalist Wardrobe That Actually Gets Worn
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Frequently asked questions
What are menswear essentials?
The few plain pieces a wardrobe is built on, in colours that all work together. This collection covers the outer layer: light jackets, bombers, a wool jacket and a topcoat.
What colours do the essentials come in?
Black, navy, grey, khaki, off white and brown. Each product page lists its own colours.
How do the sizes run?
Between XXS and XXL depending on the piece. Every product page has a size chart in centimetres from the maker.
How do I care for them?
Wash the polyester jackets cold on a gentle cycle and hang them to dry. The wool jacket is dry clean only.