Uniqlo Press Day

A week ago I had the opportunity to attend the Uniqlo press day. Although Uniqlo has a great designer collaboration with Jil Sander and offers well made cashmere pieces at affordable price points I have never got particularly excited about the brand. Nevertheless, I welcomed the chance to see the new season collections ahead of time and was pleasantly surprised by the garments on offer.

The pieces from the main collection were very well styled in two rows of mannequins displaying both men and womenswear. I think that the reason I have never been drawn into the store is due to the stark simplicity of the pieces. When you enter a shop to see rail after rail and shelf after shelf of identical, singularly coloured garments it becomes very hard to get excited about the product and imagine potential styling options. I have obviously just never accepted and embraced Uniqlo for what it is- simple but relatively well made separates at affordable prices.

From seeing the following mannequins I am feeling more inclined to give the store a chance.

Although all of the following looks are quite conservative and preppy they all echo the masculine tailoring look which has become so characteristic of the hip Brit youth.

Trousers are evidently still very much the motif of the modern woman's chic daily wardrobe. From wide legged flares to cropped cigarette pants, this is the most straightforward way to step into 2011.

The ubiquitous trench. Still very much a staple, even in this, its most basic and unadorned form. Always a classic. Equally, the trend for matching varying shades of biscuit, brown, caramel and toffee is still a fuss-free approach to Spring dressing.

Socks and sandals will forever remain a trend which I shall not take heed of.

Shorts in the city. A fresh approach to urban living?

The denim on denim look as seen at Chloe and Ralph Lauren last season. Despite the fact that I do not have the toned, young Britney style, tummy to pull this look off I still think it's a winning combo for casual day dressing.

A noted change in direction from the casual austerity of the mainline collection is the designer collaborations-most notably that with....BARBIE.

Uniqlo will soon have on sale this capsule collection of Barbie themed t-shirts. Kitsch. Cute. Perhaps ever so slightly too sweet, but still charming and fun. I think the grey cupcake style may be a comical addition to my weekend wardrobe.