If you are what every glamour girl claims to be IRL — a jeans-and-T-shirt kind of girl — you’d know what I mean when I say it’s not easy to find the ideal pair. It’s like finding a soul mate for your butt, your calves, your ankles, your notably un-toned inner thighs. It’s an emotional rollercoaster of errors. If you search in a hurry, you will most likely end up with the wrong one and it will never quite hug you and make you feel special the way you want it to. They may even make you feel fat, silently shaming you try to slip them on, for that one donut you decided to indulge in the other day.
The worst pair was one I had in college. It was supposed to be durable and made the way jeans are supposed to be made. The denim was so tough that it cut off my circulation at the waist and behind the knees. You’d have to sit straight if you didn’t want your guts to spill over. They make you look slim, but only because they’re almost as tight as Spanx but not nearly as stretchy. And if you happen to have bladder control issues, they do a pretty good job at making you think you don’t need to pee. Ever.
The guys over at Uniqlo recently launched a new Uniqlo Lifewear line of jeans called Re-Jean that includes four new jean reinventions — including one that’s a total opposite of my university-years nightmare pants. “Uniqlo continues to innovate and develop high-quality products that are focused on our consumers’ everyday needs,” said Katsumi Kubota, Uniqlo’s chief operating officer, at the Re-Jean launch. My everyday need? My heart’s desire? Jeans that I can breathe in, move in, and not have to aggressively writhe out of.
Enter the Uniqlo Ultra Stretch Jeans. A lot of people say skinny jeans are the worst style to have ever been invented, because most of them only flatter people who are actually skinny. Skinny is not a promise — it is a requirement. Uniqlo’s Ultra Stretch Jeans are much more forgiving. The super skinny-fit denim is made of material with a 50-percent stretch rate, it has oversized rear pockets that create the illusion of a skinny-jeans-worthy rear, and a wider bottom opening so you get your cankles through. They also come in a simple design that doesn’t scream, “I’m wearing skinny jeans!” “That happens to have a surprise embroidered butterfly on the rear pocket!”
If you’re #bodygoal is Candice Swanepoel, there’s a shortcut for that. Uniqlo’s Smart Shape Jeans is an advanced version of the regular fit straight jeans made with a fabric that beautifies and shapes the mid-section for a slim waistline. They also used special materials for the pockets and zipper that aim to make the belly flat, so no weird bulges when you sit down
For those who like jeans but don’t like the texture and weight (and don’t quite get the point of jeggings), Uniqlo created the Miracle Air Skinny Fit Jeans, which are soft and 20-percent lighter than regular jeans. Uniqlo uses a special yarn developed by Toray and Kaihara’s advanced technology. It has a two-way stretch functionality, so you can pose for your IG any which way you like. It comes in various hues and a more subtle texture, and an ultra-slim silhouette.
For men, there’s the Traditional Selvedge. Not a lot of men can pull off skinny jeans —you’d have to have a body type of the Ryan Gosling variety to make it look good. Still, you have the right to wear skinny jeans, even if you’re more of a Steve Carell. The Traditional Selvedge looks like a pair of jeans with stitching, rivets and a button that matches its color, so it looks classy all the way. They’re grown-up skinny jeans for grown-up men who don’t have chains attached to their wallets and Enlightened Bros who know enough not to ever wear plaid shirts with dragons stenciled on them. The jeans are made of high-quality Kaihara denim that gives them a tight and slim fit. Men can still sit in that way that takes up a ridiculous amount of space (maybe not on public transportation), even when wearing them. They can still drink beer, eat steaks, and get into bar fights without feeling the least bit prissy because they chose jeans that don’t make them look fat. It’s a win-win situation for all body parts, over all.
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Uniqlo’s new collection of jeans is available at Uniqlo outlets nationwide. Uniqlo also offers other denim styles such as Women’s Denim Slouch Jeans, Men’s Heattech Slim Fit Jeans, and Loose Fit Tapered Jeans, that are only available at Uniqlo SM Megamall, SM North Edsa, SM Mall of Asia, and SM Aura. For information, visit Uniqlo Philippines on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter or www.uniqlo.com/ph.