2nd Magazine – Volume 217: Cheap Chic Essentials

2nd is a monthly Japanese fashion magazine focused on high-quality preppy, Ivy League, and American casual ("Ametora") styles for men aged 30 and up.

It covers vintage clothing, durable, and traditional, well-crafted clothing, featuring high-quality photography and in-depth thematic features on items like leather shoes, boots, and denim. 

CHEAP CHIC ESSENTIALS
How to Choose Essential Items

The term "cheap chic" is something anyone familiar with fashion has likely heard. This term embodies a variety of philosophies. While literally meaning "inexpensive yet elegant," it's not simply about "the cheaper, the better." It's about freely and proactively choosing good quality items and using them for a long time. We understand it as a philosophy that introduces essential items for achieving this. The term "cheap chic" evokes many good things and styles. This comprehensive feature re-examines the values that are especially important in these chaotic times.

Start with the Basics

At the heart of cheap chic lies the idea of "cherishing basic items." This is a philosophy that *Second* has valued since its inception. In this feature, we've carefully selected classics and new items from five basic item categories: Oxford shirts, chino pants, jeans, sweaters, and loafers. This is a catalog of very basic items—just having these will complete a traditional style.

The Essence of Cheap Chic

The term "cheap chic," often understood as simply "enjoying fashion without spending a lot of money," actually embodies the idea of "cherishing basic items," and beyond that, it encompasses the meaning of "owning a few special pieces and using them for a long time." Based on this philosophy, which could be called the essence of cheap chic, we have carefully selected products (from shirts, pants, and leather shoes to watches) that, while not inexpensive, will serve you well for a lifetime, from a 2nd perspective.

Learning "Guaranteed Purchases" from Experts

Cheap chic is not simply about choosing inexpensive, good quality items; it's also about investing wisely where necessary, and selecting items that offer value beyond their price. Industry professionals who have seen countless items have used their experience and knowledge to find their own "guaranteed items." This project introduces the favorite items of 30 such individuals. From items still available to those already discontinued, their selections strongly reflect the spirit of cheap chic.

Emphasis on simplicity and quality in the details

Based on the philosophy that "everyday items should be simple and high-quality," which underlies the "cheap chic" aesthetic, we introduce items recommended by the 2nd editorial team, focusing on four categories: bags, glasses, belts, and watches. This catalog page serves as a shopping guide to help our readers make their best choices.

Basic Moments: The Moment Ordinary Clothes Shine

Without being swayed by fleeting trends like price or fashion, choose what suits you best. By doing so, clothes will naturally shine. The items coordinated here include classic pieces like Brooks Brothers' Oxford BD shirts, as well as modern basic brands like Scye Basics and This Is a Sweater. This photo spread captures the moments when these items truly shine.

Just one piece of fabric can make dressing up so much more enjoyable.

The renowned book *Cheap Chic*, which inspired this feature, contains a passage primarily aimed at women stating, "Wrapping your body in a single piece of cloth is the simplest yet most refined form of clothing." Starting from this concept of "elegance emanating from a single piece of cloth," we applied it to men's fashion, focusing on "wraps" such as bandanas and scarves. We interviewed industry professionals who skillfully incorporate these into their styles, learning about their approaches to dressing and variations in wrapping techniques.

Let's learn about the world of completely original and most traditional ethnic clothing.

Clothing shaped by environment and lifestyle, and developed alongside social rules such as status and religion, becomes tradition over long periods. Ethnic clothing has been formed out of necessity within daily life, unaffected by external trends. While it may seem far removed from flashy appearances, tracing its origins reveals that it actually aligns with the philosophy of cheap chic. Let's learn together about completely original and most traditional ethnic clothing.

Discover the Current State of "Business Men's" Ultimate Cheap Chic

One of the practices for extending the lifespan of items, as featured in "Cheap Chic," is "repair." In recent years, the concept of "visible mending"—repairing while deliberately displaying the damage—has gained attention, going beyond simple repair. One of its origins is said to be sashiko, a traditional Japanese embroidery technique born from the wisdom of daily life. This feature focuses on the "Sashiko Girls" project by <QUON>, showcasing their efforts to incorporate traditional techniques into modern items, creating new value in objects.

A Discussion of Underwear Obsessions: Focusing on the Unseen Details

While we tend to focus on outerwear, the clothing closest to our bodies are underwear and socks. Because we wear them every day, even small differences significantly impact comfort and wearability. That's why we want to pay attention to the unseen details. Three people who are passionate about underwear—from socks to tank tops, shirts, and pants—engage in a passionate discussion. This page explores hints about what truly constitutes good underwear.

A Guide to Reliable Repair Shops for Long-Lasting Favorite Items

Choosing quality items and using them for a long time is one aspect of the "cheap chic" philosophy. That's why it's essential to have a shop you can trust to handle your favorite garments. This feature introduces reliable repair shops to help you achieve that. From repair shops specializing in vintage clothing and knitwear to a long-established repair shop founded in 1945, and even a sneaker repair shop, we've gathered a diverse range of shops that can beautifully revive your cherished items.

[Table of Contents]
〈First Feature〉
CHEAP CHIC ESSENTIALS
How to Choose Essential Items

These 5 Items Complete a Traditional Style
Oxford Shirt / Chino Pants / Jeans / Sweater / Loafers

The Essence of Cheap Chic
Having a Few Special Pieces

The embodiment of cheap chic
Learning the art of choosing items from Mr. Hayashi of Resolute

Learning "surefire shopping" from a connoisseur

REFINED ACCESSORIES: Focusing on "simple and high-quality" details

basic moments: The moments when ordinary clothes shine

Learning the principles of good taste from the classic book "Cheap Chic"

Learning from a cheap chic lady: What does it mean to "wear rags in a deluxe way"?

Dressing can be so much fun with just one piece of fabric

Let's learn about the world of completely original and most traditional ethnic costumes

Understanding the current state of "business men's" ultimate cheap chic

Discussions on innerwear obsession: Let's focus on what's unseen

A guide to reliable alteration shops for long-lasting enjoyment of your favorite items

〈Series〉
From Editors
Club 2nd Newsletter
Blazer Graffiti: Find the Ivy Leaguers of the city!

THE VISUAL PERFORMER_Vol.208 Sablo Mikawa
Vintage Museum RETURNS Vol.18_ORVIS
Visiting the Old Road
Miura Shuran's Tradman's Date Spot
Stylist Shogo Yoshimura's "The Night Before the Shoot, at the Office"
The Biography: The Giants Who Created American Traditional Style. Part 18_Hiroyuki Someya
U-1 (Under 10,000 Yen) Grand Prix