IT MAY BE BASIC BUT IT ISN’T BORING. UNIQLO’s LIFEWEAR REFORMS THE BASIC WITH PANACHE

人生はベーシックを着たって、けっしてクリエイティブにいけないことはない、でしょ？それを謳うユニクロのLIFEWEARコーラス

“A ‘basic bitch’ likes those normal brands and wears them all the time because that’s some basic shit.” That’s girlie rapper Kreayshawn wisely warning us on the trepidations of being basically boring.

 

But hey, can basics also be cool and creative? Honestly, unless you’re God or Grace Jones, “basic” is usually pretty boring. Or is it? Stepping into Uniqlo’s “Lifewear” exhibition held in Tokyo yesterday, I was confronted with an army of wildly styled mannequins asking me that question over and over again as I passed by each one. “Lifewear” is not a new collection per se, just a new moniker for the mainstay everyday pieces that are the pillar of the brand, and a hint that Uniqlo is stepping into the shoes of their customers. 

 

 

“I am in a plain white shirt, but does that alone make me boring?” Obviously not, if you’re wearing a bouquet of flowers on your head. These headpieces were created by legendary hair artist Katsuya Kamo (who also does Comme des Garcons and Anrealage among many others) and it was hard to take ones eyes off of them and onto the clothes. I suppose that’s the point. When wearing Uniqlo, the point is not to have the clothes give you a personality, but rather you lend most of the personality to the clothing. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Items were grouped together in mini gangs like denim, shirts, flannel, cashmere, down jackets and prints. I highly appreciated getting the food for thought, as my Uniqlo usually is meant to be hidden underneath other stuff but not seen. What do you think? Do the clothes you wear influence your personality?