Uniqlo Sneakers are Coming

The day has finally arrived. Uniqlo, the Japanese fast fashion institution finally comes out with sneakers. Sure, they've dropped a few before, but none on the massive scale at which the brand operates nowadays. The styles themselves aren't anything truly groundbreaking - just riffs on classic canvas slip-on and plimsoll shapes in a number of colors. But in the middle of a Philippine summer, the last thing you need on your feet is more heat. Hopefully these styles make their way soon to a Uniqlo near you.

A Simple Guide to Stepping your Sock Game Up.

Sometimes, a killer pair of socks can make a bigger statement than a fancy pair of shoes. And most of the time, they're way cheaper too. Me and my girlfriend Dylan love socks, and we've amassed quite a collection between the two of us. In fact, we love them so much that we've decided to collect our thoughts and condense them into this little guide for anyone who wants to step their sock game up.

If you're still iffy about getting some attention-grabbing socks, start out with getting solid-colored pairs that aren't black or white. Get some pastels, some bright colors, and don't worry about them not matching with the rest of your clothes. After all, they're socks.

Once you're good with plain colors, try working pairs with stripes or simple patterns into the mix. I'll admit, I'm not too big on the idea of mixing patterns, so I leave it to patterned socks to provide a subtle, welcome break on the days where I'm in understated gear, and vice-versa. That's just my personal preference though.

Once you're past the plains and patterns, run wild! Mix and match, or get some even crazier patterns! Burger socks, snakeskin patterns, again, they're socks. There's absolutely nothing wrong with looking like you put on the first pair you managed to grab out of your drawer.

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Topman, Uniqlo, Stance, and Huf are the first brands I can recall that consistently put out some awesome socks. However, keep a good eye out when looking around the local department stores. You're almost always bound to luck out with some hidden gems at cheap prices. Happy hunting!

Uniqlo x Michael Bastian - My Picks.

Sometime about 2 months ago, Uniqlo released a collection done in collaboration with American menswear designer Michael Bastian. I tend to look forward to designer collaborations with big retail brands because I can get products of a certain vision at a more affordable price point - pretty much a nicer way to say those are the only "designer" items I can afford. Haha!

Though collaborations of this nature can be pretty hit-or-miss, I really took to this one because it centered on a classic menswear staple - the polo shirt.

The collection in itself is pretty diverse, with shirts ranging from plains, stripes, and prints that explore the American-Japanese connection the very collection is founded on. In the photo below are the shirts I got for myself during a trip to Hong Kong 2 months ago. Nothing too quirky, just simple color-blocked shirts that are wearable throughout the only 2 seasons we have in the Philippines - hot and rainy. The shirts' fabric is pretty breathable, the sleeve length isn't too long nor too short, and the fit is relaxed without looking too loose. I did mention the affordable price point, right?

In this country, each polo shirt costs P990, certainly more affordable than most things from either Michael Bastian's label or his collections for Gant. They're available in Uniqlo stores, so pick some up if you haven't already!

If you want to check out the entire Uniqlo x Michael Bastian collection, click HERE.

Got any favorites from the collection? Which ones did you pick up? Any other upcoming collabs to get excited about? Let me know! :)