From The Straits Times    |

TOKYO – These days, it seems as if practically everyone is a sneaker head. While sportswear and sports-inspired fashion might seem to be everywhere right now, it seems that Japanese lifestyle brand Uniqlo isn’t just joining the athletic wear bandwagon.

It’s part of what the brand calls its “lifewear” concept. Think comfortable, everyday staples that could easily be worn whether you’re doing a jog around your neighbourhood, travelling or just out on errands.

“We feel we’ve always been making sportswear (as part of) casualwear,” explains John Jay, the President of Global Creative at Fast Retailing at the Uniqlo Fall Winter 2015 press junket in Tokyo. “Yes, there are things that are more athletic. We’re making clothes that can be inspired by sportswear. Those delineations (between sportswear and casualwear), their days are numbered.”

All the better for the savvy shopper, we say. Here, we share a peek at the Singapore weather-friendly buys from Uniqlo’s Fall Winter 2015 collection and its collaborative lines; some styles are already available in stores!

1. THE DENIM
Uniqlo’s new smart shape jeans might just become your go-to lazy day denim. A stretchy fabric is strategically placed across the stomach, to work like shapewear in concealing that post-meal tummy flab; these denim jeans are also made to be stretchier around the torso.

W's Smart Shape Jeans_154143_64_$59.jpg

Smart shape jeans, $59.90 from Uniqlo, available from August 3, 2015.

We think the new skinny-fit denim yoga pants will also be another hot hit. Free of zippers and pockets, these are sleek and stretchy ‘jeggings’ that you’ll love to wear for weekends. These are produced by Japanese denim manufacturer Kaihara, which makes selvedge denim. This type of denim is made with a traditional weaving technique that makes the denim fabric so tightly and densely woven that it becomes ‘self-edged’; its edges will not unravel or fray and can be used as both the inner and outer seams for jeans. Although the verdict is still out on whether you can actually wear these for yoga classes, we bet you’ll still grab a pair to try.

Denim yoga pants, $59.90 available at Uniqlo Singapore online store & Uniqlo ION orchard

2. UNIQLO X INES DE LA FRESSANGE LINE

ines de la fressange fw2015 dress.jpgYou got to give it to French style icon Ines de la Fressange for her savvy picks every season; her fourth collaborative line with Uniqlo is as covetable. For Fall Winter 2015, expect to see vintage-inspired pieces that you’ll love to cosy up in while at your ski vacation or in your really cold office. Top buys include office-friendly shirts with doves and stripes; this Uniqlo Ines de la Fressange line will be available from September 2015.

Uniqlo x Ines de la Fressange flannel check collar dress, $59.90 each

 

More looks from #Uniqlo in #tokyo: Some of the new shirts from #Inesdelafressange x Uniqlo line for #fw2015. – XY #uniqlosg

A photo posted by herworldsingapore (@herworldsingapore) onMay 12, 2015 at 12:21am PDT

3. UNIQLO X CARINE ROITFELD PARIS
Most of us would have thought that we would have to be as tall and lean as this fashionista to wear her clothing but Uniqlo design director Naoki Takizawa disagrees. “Her idea of proportion could work for a lot of women,” said Takizawa, who had worked with Carine Roitfeld on the collaborative line.

According to Takizawa, the fashion maven is said to favour “beautiful, drapey fabrics that show just a peek of the skin” for this collection, which is expected to reach stores towards the end of 2015. He also added that the collection will show how “it’s not necessary to show decolletage” to look sexy read: avoid those Kardashian-esque plunging necklines.

At a video shown at the press junket, Carine described her collection to be made for “people who don’t have time to think about fashion” while being “easy to mix and match”, so these pieces might just end up in your closets soon.

4. UNIQLO X LEMAIRE
Again, details are still scant for this collaborative line with Lemaire design duo Christophe Lemaire (the former Hermes creative director) and Sarah-Linh Tran. To drop in the third quarter of this year, a teaser video at the press event showed staple minimalist jackets and knits, quite reminiscent of the Lemaire Fall Winter 2015 collection, albeit at more affordable prices. For the likely impeccable tailoring, we think it’s a great deal. And yes, the men won’t miss out either; there will be both menswear and womenswear pieces for this Uniqlo designer collaboration.

 

For more style tips: See the flawless day-to-night outfits for every budget and the 4 stylish ways to wear a short dress to work!

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