The avant-garde Japanese fashion designer Yohji Yamamoto has said, “dirty is good.” These three words capture the eccentric designer’s love of a dark and disheveled — yet dapper — look. A master tailor with a distinctive style, he creates everything from coats and jackets to day dresses and evening gowns.
Yamamoto was born to a World War II widow in 1943. By the time he was 26, he had a law degree from Keio University and a fashion degree from Bunka Fashion College. In 1969, he won two Japanese fashion awards — the Endo Award and the Soen Award — which included a round-trip ticket to Paris.
It was in the French capital that Yamamoto realized the fashion world was changing. A casual aesthetic was replacing formal and classical sensibilities. He soon set up his first label — Y’s — and embarked upon designing heavy-duty sportswear.
Yamamoto launched women’s collections in 1977 in Tokyo, in 1981 in Paris and in 1982 in New York. Their pieces loosened the traditional female clothing silhouette in favor of shapes more typical of menswear: simple cuts, minimal details and generous proportions. In 1983, the New York Times wrote, “Yohji Yamamoto may stand barely five feet tall, but his effect on world fashion in the last two years has been enormous.”
In 1984, he made his first foray into men’s fashion under the Yohji Yamamoto label. In 1994, he was awarded the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Minister of Culture and, in 2002, he became the creative director of Adidas’s Y-3.
Yamamoto’s fashion has been the subject of exhibitions around the world, including “May I help you” in 2002 at the Maison Européenne de la Photographie in Paris, “Correspondences” in 2005 at the Gallery of Modern Art in Florence, Italy, and “Painting and Weaving Opportunity” in 2017 at Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery. In 2017, he received the DFA Lifetime Achievement Award.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Yohji Yamamoto clothing, accessories, handbags and more.
$11,046
Size: IT 42 - FR 38 - UK 10
Martin Margiela black goatskin reversible 'flat collection' coat, fw 1998
By Maison Martin Margiela
Located in London, GB
▪ A rare Martin Margiela black leather reversible 'flat collection' coat ▪ Distressed black goatskin ▪ Displaced armholes ▪ No collar ▪ Front hook fastenings ▪ 2 side pockets ▪ I...
Vintage Yohji Yamamoto black wool coat dress with cape
By Yohji Yamamoto
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Vintage 1990s Yohji Yamomoto black wool coat with attached leather cape with 2 large pockets. Coat can be belted and worn as mini coat dress . Vintage Gucci Belt...
Rick Owens Black Leather Padded Jacket With Wool Tufts 2003
By Rick Owens
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Resurrection Vintage is excited to offer a vintage Rick Owens black leather jacket with wool tufts from the 2003 Trucker collection featuring an oversized collar, padded effect, and ...
Junya Watanabe black leather and wool corseted jacket cape, fw 2011
By Comme des Garçons, Junya Watanabe
Located in London, GB
Junya Watanabe Comme des Garcons black leather corseted button-up jacket with two front zip pockets and attached wool cape. Fall-Winter 2011
Junya Watanabe Black Leather Deconstructed Jacket With Zippers 2006
By Junya Watanabe
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Resurrection Vintage is excited to offer a vintage Junya Watanabe for Comme des Garcons black leather deconstructed jacket from the 2006 collection featuring a stand collar, an upsid...
Black Tom Ford Leather Hooded Down Puffer Jacket Size IT 40
By Tom Ford
Located in New York, NY
Black leather hooded down puffer jacket by Tom Ford. Stand collar. Five pockets. Front zip and button closures. 36" bust, 15" shoulder width, 25" sleeve length, 25" length.
Tom Ford Black Nylon Puffer Coat 2011
By Tom Ford
Located in London, GB
Tom Ford - Black nylon Puffer coat and fur trim with belt - Dramatic buckle detailing on the sleeves and waist - Real fur and real leather cuffs and belt - Fall 2011 collection ...
Yohji Yamamoto Black Jacket With Wide Lapel With Contrasting Woven Fabric 1995
By Yohji Yamamoto
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Resurrection Vintage is excited to present a vintage Yohji Yamamoto black jacket with wide lapels with contrasting woven fabric, featuring a single button closure, flap pockets, and ...
Maison Martin Margiela AW 2008 Black Leather Jacket
By Maison Martin Margiela
Located in CAPELLE AAN DEN IJSSEL, ZH
This Maison Martin Margiela Autumn Winter 2008 black leather jacket is a striking exploration of silhouette and construction, instantly recognisable as one of the house’s most memora...
Jean Claude Jitrois Vintage 1980s 80s Black Leather Batwing or Cocoon Coat
By Jean-Claude Jitrois
Located in Sparks, NV
Stunning avant garde batwing coat by Jean Claude Jitrois featuring sued and leather fabric blocking, huge dolman sleeves and an elegant and unique silhouette. Soft buttery leather an...
YOHJI YAMAMOTO Vintage black armhole cutout padded kimono overcoat S
By Yohji Yamamoto
Located in Hong Kong, NT
YOHJI YAMAMOTO Vintage black armhole cutout padded kimono overcoat S Reference: PYCN/A00094 Brand: Yohji Yamamoto Material: Nylon Color: Black Pattern: Solid Lining: Black Fabric Ext...
MARNI black lamb leather gathered collar zip up oversized jacket IT42 M
By Marni
Located in Hong Kong, NT
MARNI black lamb leather gathered collar zip up oversized jacket IT42 M Reference: MECG/A00370 Brand: Marni Material: Lambskin Leather Color: Black Pattern: Solid Closure: Zip Extra ...
PRADA 2011 Vintage black 100% lambskin crinkled hooded jacket IT36 XXS
By Miuccia Prada, Prada
Located in Hong Kong, NT
PRADA 2011 Vintage black 100% lambskin crinkled hooded jacket IT36 XXS Reference: TGAS/F00322 Brand: Prada Designer: Miuccia Prada Collection: 2011 Material: Leather Color: Black Pat...
rare ALEXANDRE VAUTHIER COUTURE 2023 Runway black faux fur oversized cocoon coat
By Alexandre Vauthier
Located in Hong Kong, NT
rare ALEXANDRE VAUTHIER COUTURE SS2023 Runway black faux fur oversized cocoon coat Reference: TGAS/F00699 Brand: Alexandre Vauthier Designer: Alexandre Vauthier Collection: Spring Su...
LOUIS VUITTON black fox fur leather belt heart lined cape shawl FR34 XS
By Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs
Located in Hong Kong, NT
LOUIS VUITTON black fox fur leather belt heart lined cape shawl FR34 XS Reference: NKLL/A00428 Brand: Louis Vuitton Designer: Marc Jacobs Material: Fur Color: Black Pattern: Solid Cl...
YOHJI YAMAMOTO black wool cotton linen hooded long coat JP1 S
By Yohji Yamamoto
Located in Hong Kong, NT
YOHJI YAMAMOTO black wool cotton linen hooded long coat JP1 S Reference: TGAS/F00178 Brand: Yohji Yamamoto Material: Wool, Cotton, Linen Color: Black Pattern: Solid Closure: Snap But...
