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, Yamamoto launched his ready-to-wear company, Y's, in 1972, and he continues to create 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.
Find vintage Y’s by Yohji Yamamoto jackets, shirts and other clothing and accessories on 1stDibs.
Y's By Yohji Yamamoto Black Double Breasted Wool Coat With Round Hem 2005
By Yohji Yamamoto, Yohji Yamamoto Y's
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Resurrection is thrilled to offer a vintage Y's by Yohji Yamamoto black double-breasted wool coat with a round hem, featuring an oversized fit, double-breasted front closure, wrap st...
Y's By Yohji Yamamoto Duster Coat With Contrast Stitching And Open Vent
By Yohji Yamamoto, Yohji Yamamoto Y's
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Resurrection Vintage is thrilled to present a vintage Y's by Yohji Yamamoto black duster coat with contrast stitching and an open vent, featuring long sleeves, a front pocket, front ...
Yohji Yamamoto Y's Red Camo Blazer Jacket 2004-05
By Yohji Yamamoto, Yohji Yamamoto Y's
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Resurrection Vintage is excited to present a vintage Yohji Yamamoto Y's red camo blazer jacket, featuring a a deep neckline, single-button closure, flap pockets, and a long tailcoat....
Y'S YOHJI YAMAMOTO asymmetric zip up multi pockets military jacket JP3 L
By Yohji Yamamoto Y's
Located in Hong Kong, NT
Y'S YOHJI YAMAMOTO khaki green cotton asymmetric zip up multi pockets military jacket JP3 L Reference: WMTO/A00016 Brand: Y's Yohji Yamamoto Material: Cotton Color: Green Pattern: So...
Yohji Yamamoto Y's Black Belted Raincoat
By Yohji Yamamoto Y's
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Black cotton belted button-down raincoat from vintage Y's is lined with a 100% wool detachable lining and offers hook and eye fasteners at collar to keep you cozy when the weather wo...
Tara Jamon Red and White Coat with Wonderful Lining
Located in London, GB
A fun coat by Tara Jamon. The coat is in a red and white fabric with wonderful lining. It has a four button front opening, round collar and half belt and the ...
Invertec Olive Wool Coat with Cape Detail
Located in London, GB
A lovely coat by Invertec. In a wonderful green , the coat has no sleaves but does have cape detail. It is in great heavy wool with a vent at the back and a pocket either side at the...
Louis Vuitton Supreme X Leather Bomber Varsity Jacket Monogram Ltd Ed 50 New
By Louis Vuitton, Louis Vuitton Supreme
Located in Miami, FL
Guaranteed authentic highly coveted and sought after Louis Vuitton Supreme X Very Limited Edition LV Monogram leather bomber jacket. Red fabric around ...
1920's Sequined Flapper Capelet
Located in Geneva, CH
Rare and hard-to-find garment, this fantastic mid 20’s Art-Deco evening cape will go with just about everything ! Made of black tulle and thousands of hand-sewn sparkling silver sequ...
Junya Watanabe Comme des Garçons Fall 1999 Metal Ring Embellished Blouse, Runway
By Junya Watanabe Comme des Garçons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Highly collectible runway piece from the Junya Watanabe Comme des Garçons Fall 1999 collection. This collection known as the "Couture Casual" collection famously explored themes...
Loro Piana. Cashmere Jacket. Size 44 (EU) / IT
By Loro Piana
Located in Алматинский Почтамт, KZ
A premium brand Loro Piana jacket is for sale. An exquisite piece with a perfect cut. Contains cashmere, making it very soft, warm, and lightweight. Condition: Excellent (9/10). Car...
Vintage Saga Mink Silver Grey Sapphire Fur Jacket
By Saga mink
Located in Amsterdam, NL
This fur jacket is made of very soft top quality silver grey/ sapphire mink made by saga mink (Saga furs, superior fur products) We offer more exclusive fur ...
Yves Saint Laurent Runway Oversized Fox Fur Wool & Cashmere Coat Fr. 44
By Yves Saint Laurent
Located in Montgomery, TX
Exquisite Yves Saint Laurent luxury coat featuring plush fox fur panels combined with a rich, structured wool and cashmere body. This rare piece showcases an oversized silhouette wit...
F/W 1988 Claude Montana Runway Deep Red Oversized Collar Flare Fur Coat
By Claude Montana
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This Claude Montana fur coat from the Fall/Winter 1988 collection is designed in oversized proportions with a dramatic flared silhouette. Likely crafted of sheared mink, the coat fea...
Christian Lacroix Paris Red Wool Buttons Jacket
By Christian Lacroix
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Special vintage Christian Lacroix blazer with buttons around We offer more exclusive vintage items, view our frontstore Details: Wit...
Grey Mink Fur Stole Cape with Silk Lining and Pocket
Located in Amsterdam, NL
This beautiful vintage stole/ cape is made of grey color mink fur Rare to find We offer more exclusive vintage items, view out frontstore Details: One closing hook at front or yo...
Vintage Sapphire Mink & Leather Coat
Located in Amsterdam, NL
This unique model is made of alternating panels of grey mink fur and matching soft leather. We offer more exclusive fur, view our frontstore Details: It has 1 hook eye and 3 fur clips, 2 outside pockets an a nice paisley lining. Furrier house, Pelz Atelier Harald Gattermann, Germany Can be worn by man or women. Sapphire Mink...
Sold
Size: 3 (JP) but fit L
Men Double-lays coat made of one in cotton and one in wool Y's Yohji Yamamoto
By Yohji Yamamoto Y's
Located in Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine, FR
Double-lays coat made of one in cotton and one in wool. Fabric composition of the top coat : 76% cotton, 24% paper. Second coat: 90% wool, 10% nylon The cotton coat is close with mo...
YOHJI YAMAMOTO Y'S grey wool toggle asymmetric pocket duffle coat jacket JP1 S
By Yohji Yamamoto, Yohji Yamamoto Y's
Located in Hong Kong, NT
YOHJI YAMAMOTO Y'S grey wool toggle asymmetric pocket duffle coat jacket JP1 S Reference: TGAS/C01760 Brand: Y's Yohji Yamamoto Designer: Yohji Yamamoto Collection: Y'S Material: Woo...
Vintage 1990’s Y’s by Yohji Yamamoto long unstructured coat with buckle detail
By Yohji Yamamoto Y's
Located in COLLINGWOOD, AU
Vintage 1990’s Y’s by Yohji Yamamoto long line unstructured jacket/coat with buckle tie detail closure, also press studded closing to lower section Sophisticated style in a truly ti...
Y's YOHJI YAMAMOTO grey wool tweed overstitch draped cardigan coat JP2 M
By Yohji Yamamoto Y's
Located in Hong Kong, NT
Y's YOHJI YAMAMOTO grey wool tweed overstitch draped cardigan coat JP2 M Reference: WEYN/A00358 Brand: Y's Designer: Yohji Yamamoto Material: Wool Color: Grey Pattern: Solid Ex...
1990s Y's Yamamoto Coat
By Yohji Yamamoto Y's
Located in Austin, TX
1990s Y's Yohji Yamamoto blk wool coat with white cotton interior. Made in Japan Size 3 / L