The New Uniqlo Collection Lets The Light In
A fresh, functional and bright take on wardrobe staples
While we may be a while off the true glory that is BBQ-and-beer-garden season, we're now firmly out of the darker months and into the heady optimism of spring. The days are longer, flora, fauna and social lives are creeping out of hibernation, and in meteorological terms we’ve moved from ‘big coat/sweaty commute’ to ‘Russian roulette when going without an umbrella’ weather.
All this requires a careful reappraising of your wardrobe. There’s something cathartic about packing away your puffer jackets and dark, heavy knits, but it would be a fool’s errand to pivot too soon to short sleeves and shorter shorts. Rather, it's about lightening things up through colour, texture and clever layering.
Among the kings of this approach is Uniqlo. Continuing its long-established concept of LifeWear (in plain terms: simple, high-quality, everyday clothing, elevated by thoughtful design), the Japanese brand's Spring/Summer collection focuses on the act of ‘easing into lightness’. That means a soft colour palette full of earthy, natural tones, generous silhouettes focused on movement, and a special focus on fabrication. It’s exactly what we’ve come to expect from Uniqlo – functional, considered and dependable, come rain or shine. Here are some of the highlights.
Developed by Uniqlo with Japanese textile innovators Toray, Airsense is a lightweight, high-performance stretch fabric, with garments weighing in at about half of their woollen equivalents. Wrinkle-resistant, stretchy and quick-drying, it makes for an ideal travelling suit.
The matching Airsense trousers are breezy in all the right ways – ultra-light with a straight and cropped fit and a subtly elasticated waistband. Wear as a suit or with tonal layers.
We’ve done the research, analysed the results, and the conclusion is irrefutable: you won’t find a better T-shirt on the high street than those from the Uniqlo U collection. New earthy and pastel shades of this gently oversized style feel fresh and are worth stocking up on.
Preppy is back, baby! And as the mercury creeps up, a simple cotton shirt makes for an ideal mid-layer. The soft broadcloth fabric is a lighter alternative to Oxford cloth, with the generous cut adding to the airy feel. Wear with a graphic tee, slouchy cardigan and penny loafers.
Boxy, versatile and water-repellent, everybody needs – no, deserves – a jacket like this in their arsenal. The soft red shade is a cheerful way to brighten up rainy days.
A clever update to the traditional fisherman knit: breathable, softly textured and made with an innovative 3D knit fabrication for a more fluid silhouette. Proof that lightness can be achieved even when temperatures are lagging behind.
The type of shirt that earns its keep pretty quickly. Throw it on with pretty much anything – chinos, jeans, tailored trousers – and you can be confident it'll work.
The heavyweight fabric and substantial cut of these generously-pocketed shorts means you don’t have to wait until the height of summer to wear them. Pair with sweatshirts and lightweight knitwear on cooler days.
A linen shirt is the ultimate lightweight layer. The key to pulling one off falls on two things: an exacting fit – loose enough to lounge in without looking baggy – and a distinct lack of wrinkling. Uniqlo has nailed both here, using crisp linen treated to be crease-resistant.
AIRism Cotton Jersey Skipper Collar Polo
AIRism Cotton Jersey Skipper Collar Polo
Another Uniqlo innovation, AIRism combines the moisture-wicking properties of performance fabrics with the classic look and feel of cotton, making this slick polo handy for the warmer months.
When the weather can't make up its mind, a thin padded gilet can be a lifesaver. Uniqlo's is stuffed with ultra-light down, giving you crucial insulation while remaining slender enough to layer underneath a jacket, and it has a water-repellent finish.
Discover the full Uniqlo Spring/Summer collection
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