Relay Column: Fashion Researcher Struggles with Job Hunting Attire (Sen Isozumi)

As a fashion researcher, I believe that you have been concerned with the phenomenon of job hunting. Standardized clothing, hairstyles, and hair colors have been recommended not only for women but also for men in recent years, along with the catchy phrase "cleanliness." Moreover, behaviors such as how to sit, bow, or even the extremely polite language, which could be considered overly formal, are also included. In particular, recent topics such as excessive high-heel wearing and lookism in selection processes cannot be overlooked from the perspective of fashion research（1）.  

In the media, opinions about job hunting are frequently exchanged from the perspective of attire and behavior in some form. Regarding the relationship between job hunting and fashion, the norms surrounding suits have prompted me to reflect deeply on various issues.

Suits are extremely important subjects of study in fashion history and research. This is because the history of suits is not just about the transition of clothing forms but is also a history surrounding the various identities attributed to suits along with the process of modernization（2）.