An L.L.Bean sweater I wore when I was little.
—Do you own any items from *L.L.Bean*, Ms. Kagami?
Ken: I’ve got one—a “Boat & Tote.” I hear they’ve been getting popular in the vintage clothing scene lately. I sometimes see people carrying “Boat & Tote” bags with the canvas all worn out and frayed, and I think it looks really cool when they’re that well-worn. The one I have isn’t that old, though. I take it with me when I go camping.
Tan: Are we going camping (lol)?
Ken: I’ve been found out (lol). But I’ve been wearing these “Bean Boots” for a long time. I usually stick to sneakers even when it rains, but they come in really handy when it’s pouring or snowing. They keep my feet dry, they’re slip-resistant, and even though I bought them quite a while ago, they haven’t worn out at all.
—That looks like it would suit you.
Ken: It looks really cool when you wear “Bean Boots” in a stylish way. I know someone who works as a sign painter, and he paired his “Bean Boots” with white painter’s pants. It was impressive to see someone you wouldn’t expect to wear them pull it off so stylishly.
—What kind of image do you have of “L.L.Bean,” Mr. Tan?
Tan: It gives the impression of a classic American brand.
Ken: Do you remember when Tan was little and used to wear an “L.L.Bean” sweater? The one with the animal print. And her pink backpack was from “L.L.Bean” too—it had her name embroidered on it.
Tan: I remember that pink backpack. I used to carry it when I went to daycare. It was my favorite.
—Is your preference for a boyish style influenced by your dad?
Tan: I've always liked pantsuits. Maybe it's partly because the “Heisei” era is trendy right now, and I've been watching old TV dramas. I really like shows like *Love Generation*.
—The outfit where Ms. Kagami wore a jacket with lapels really had that “Love Generation” vibe, didn’t it?
Ken: It's totally different, isn't it? (lol).
Tan: That's intense (lol).
Ken: People say "gross" a lot these days, don't they? I get it when they say something like "this food has a gross taste," though (lol).
