It says a lot that on a regular Friday afternoon, Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach breezed into the Uniqlo Philippine flagship store in Glorietta 5, family in tow, ostensibly to shop for them — or try to, at least — what with admirers around every corner stalking her or asking for selfies.
Wurtzbach also dropped by the launch of Uniqlo’s spring-summer 2019 LifeWear collection that was being held on the second floor of the store, showing the assembled press that if Uniqlo is stylish enough for the former Miss U, then it’s more than stylish enough for everybody.
Uniqlo ambassador Pia Wurtzbach with (from left) Uniqlo Philippines PR Camille Pacis, marketing director Georgette Jalasco, co-COO Geraldine Sia and COO Masayoshi Nakamura Photo by Geremy Pintolo
That’s what LifeWear is all about, in fact, as the people at Uniqlo are eager to tell you: “We want to create clothes that make life better,” says Masayoshi Nakamura, chief operating officer of Uniqlo Philippines. “We pay attention to detail in everything, from design and functionality to fabric, fit and color, and make it easy for the customer to mix and match properly for any situation.”
Case in point: 10 new collections designed for every aspect of daily life.
Need a closet staple for smart dressing? Try Uniqlo’s EZY Ankle Pants, gently tapered pants with added stretch and an elastic belt for a more comfortable fit. They’re polished enough for the office but casual enough for weekends, and available in solid colors so they’re easy to mix and match.
Beyond tennis: Uniqlo brand ambassador Roger Federer spends his time off the courts in Uniqlo jeans.
Pair them with the new collection of brightly colored crewnecks for men and women, in particular the Men’s Super Non-Iron Shirt, a wrinkle-resistant corporate button-down so advanced it’s engineered with a thread count of 80 and 100-percent cotton to give the pinpoint Oxford material enough elegance for formal occasions.
Uniqlo x JW Anderson x Ines de la Fressange
Fans of Uniqlo’s designer collabs will cheer for the latest collections from JW Anderson and Ines De La Fressange.
“JW Anderson is a favorite, so it’s much-awaited,” says Camille Pacis, PR for Uniqlo PH.
Star (designer) and stripes: JW Anderson’s third outing with Uniqlo features nautical stripes and paisley.
Anderson’s third season for Uniqlo features fashion items done in his signature British style; read: a killer trench coat, hip color blocking and nautical stripes on lightweight hoodies, knitwear and unisex basics. Nobody does stripes like JW Anderson, IMHO.
Ines De La Fressange’s 11th outing for Uniqlo, meanwhile, was “inspired by St. Tropez because that’s where she grew up,” notes Pacis. Her smartly tailored chambray tops and resort-inspired dresses are sophisticated yet practical, with the style icon’s usual dash of French esprit. There’s also a line for kids, so you can coordinate with your little girl or boy.
What lies beneath
What you wear underneath your clothes is just as important to Uniqlo as your OOTD. The new AIRism innerwear has been designed to wick away moisture and keep you cool no matter how hot it is outside, which will make it a godsend for summer.
Since men and women sweat differently, the collections have been designed to match each gender’s skin properties. For men, it incorporates a micro-polyester fiber that quickly dries on men’s skin; for women, whose skin feels sticky and gets chilled quicker, a fabric named Cupra rapidly absorbs and releases moisture. There’s also a broader spectrum of color in the men’s boxer-briefs and new items for women, like long-sleeved tops with UV protection.
Summer staple: New AIRism innerwear is designed to wick away moisture and keep you cool no matter how hot it is outside.
Another female-centric innovation is the new and improved Wireless Beauty Light Bra, which not only provides a beautiful, womanly silhouette but also has radial cups and body-molding technology that adjust as you move for a comfortable fit all day. That means no more fidgeting with ill-fitting bra straps.
Jean Genie
Tennis legend Roger Federer provides a compelling testimonial for Uniqlo jeans: “Tennis is just the beginning of my story,” brand ambassador R. Fed says. “I’m just getting started. My life; my jeans — authentic jeans with all-day comfort.”
Easy fit: Uniqlo’s EZY ankle pants have added stretch for more comfort.
As a longtime fan and buyer of Uniqlo jeans, I didn’t really need Roger’s endorsement, but he does carry their jeans extremely well. Every season the brand updates, fabric, fit, design and finishing to keep pace with the trends. For SS19, the highlights are the EZY jeans for men and high-rise, wide-legged jeans for women.
They’re so easy to pair with the graphic tees from the UT (Uniqlo T-shirt) line, which celebrates pop culture from around the world. This season watch out for cute Minions, art from SPRZ NY, and the Magic for All collaboration with Disney.
No need for ironing: Uniqlo’s Men’s Super Non-Iron Shirt is elegant enough for formal occasions.
Lastly, for your gym workouts and athleisure lifestyle there’s Dry-Ex, workout clothes in high-performance fabrics that are so stylish they straddle the line between sportswear and casualwear. Dry-Ex features moisture-wicking and odor-control properties, as well as an AIRism UV cut mesh hoodie and soft leggings.
Truly, every season LifeWear makes it easy to live in Uniqlo 24/7.
Gym bunny: Dry-Ex are workout clothes in high-performance fabrics that straddle the line between sportswear and casualwear.
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Uniqlo’s spring-summer 2019 LifeWear collection is available at all Uniqlo stores nationwide.
Follow me on Instagram @theresejamoragarceau.