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The clothes I’ll wear tomorrow

I get up at 5 in the morning.

I open the curtains, straighten up the sheets and the bed.
My head still in a haze.

When I see the bed all straightened out, I get this feeling that I want to lie back down again but I can always resist the urge, thank goodness.

I get out of my pajamas, take a hot shower, and shave. Brush my teeth and carefully study my face in the mirror. I think the face tells your condition very well. So this is my daily health check.

When I put my clothes on, I feel like a switch gets turned on inside and my day begins. I open the window and take in the brisk morning air. Stretch high towards the sky. And I rev myself up to start the day.

I grew up being told by my mom to “Get your things ready for the next day before you go to bed,” which would be the clothes I would wear tomorrow.

So this has become my routine. I would put out the shirt, the trousers, and the knitted tops I would wear, neatly folded, next to my pillow.

If I do as my mom said, it takes out the hassle of having to contemplate what to wear so I can get changed quickly in the rush of the morning. It lets me have a smooth start to the day. Surprisingly, when I have my clothes set near the pillow, it gave me a sense of relief and I slept better.

This habit lives with me, even to this day. I know exactly what I would wear the next day which are neatly folded, not by the pillow but in the closet.

The clothes I’ll wear tomorrow image

I have this bad habit that if I have this killer outfit, I would wear it every day. Actually, if I really like the set, I would buy multiple pieces so that I can wear that exact combination day in and day out.

In fact, if I come across a favorite piece of clothing and everything to match, I would take the whole thing like a uniform and I can keep on wearing this and this makes me happy.

It makes life so much easier if I have this uniform because it takes out the trouble and the hassle of trying to decide what to wear the next day.

This is the combination I like now which I’m wearing every day.

Blue-striped extra fine cotton shirt. Navy extra fine merino crew neck sweater. Selvedge jeans. All UNIQLO.

This set is prepared every day in my closet as the outfit I would wear the next day.

One of the ways to enjoy fashion is to mix and match the various pieces, but there’s also this joy in wearing your favorite outfit day in and day out. I’ve become a strong believer of this.

Out of the many many pieces of clothing to date, I’m thinking why I’m drawn to this outfit now.

So here goes.

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Navy and blue stripes
—my favorite

I simply love the combination of this navy and blue stripes. The key is how the shirt collar stands up from the round neck and how the shirt sleeves peek out from the sweater sleeves. I just love how you get this glimpse of a bright blue stripe under a dark navy. This is my all-year-round favorite color combination.

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Navy and blue stripes
—my favorite

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I simply love the combination of this navy and blue stripes. The key is how the shirt collar stands up from the round neck and how the shirt sleeves peek out from the sweater sleeves. I just love how you get this glimpse of a bright blue stripe under a dark navy. This is my all-year-round favorite color combination.

Five shirts

I have five of the same shirts so I can wear my favorite button-downed shirt every day. It is my favorite routine to iron the shirts for next week every Sunday afternoon. Folded neatly and all stacked up—this is truly a bliss.

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Five shirts

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I have five of the same shirts so I can wear my favorite button-downed shirt every day. It is my favorite routine to iron the shirts for next week every Sunday afternoon. Folded neatly and all stacked up—this is truly a bliss.

My jeans
philosophy

I like a pair of jeans a size larger to keep that bit of room. Of course, I wear a regular-size belt. Never saggy pants. I choose to roll up the cuffs to add some casual style to my neat denim look.

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My jeans
philosophy

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I like a pair of jeans a size larger to keep that bit of room. Of course, I wear a regular-size belt. Never saggy pants. I choose to roll up the cuffs to add some casual style to my neat denim look.

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What is LifeWear?

Every Sunday, I iron all my shirts for the week.

I have this theory that you can tell how a good a shirt is by how easy to iron it is. You can tell a lot about the shirt by seeing how it finishes after ironing.

When you iron, not only can you feel the texture of the fabric but also the various details of the shirt, such as the way the crease stretches or the fine cut of the fabric.. You can’t help but notice these things.

Extra Fine Cotton Shirts are a fun bunch to iron. You glide the iron across it once and you’re amazed to see this clean, sharp surface. The glistening shine of the thread, the pristine stitching, the carefully thought-out specs… the more you iron, the more amazing discoveries you encounter.

One highlight of this shirt is how the buttons have been placed. While many button holes tend to have loose threads after some wear, not this one. I just love such commitment to details.

You can tell that this is a shirt made by people who love shirts. There’s so much love and care in the details. That’s why you want to wear this every day.

What is LifeWear? image

White shirts are good, but my regular is the Blue-striped button-down Shirt. The width of the stripe is just right. It has class.

I put on Extra Fine Merino Crew Neck Sweater in Navy on top of the shirt. I just love matching blue stripes and navy. Never gets old for me.

I choose a crew neck for the Extra Fine Merino Sweater. I don’t think I need to write about the great story behind Merino Wool but after a month of wearing it, I was amazed at the exquisite texture it takes on. And I was already happily satisfied with the quality of the past Merino Wool. This one goes even higher.

I choose denim jeans for trousers. Slim-fit, dark selvedge jeans, rolled up at the cuff.

I had a period of going deep into the world of vintage denim. I still like them, but I can confidently say that these UNIQLO jeans are great. I can imagine how the color would gradually fade over time. Something to look forward to.

So, it’s with the button-down cotton shirt, the merino sweater, and the jeans which I love and wear every day. Yet, I still come across a new discovery or two.

It could be the comfort the clothes take on as they begin to be an extension of my body, or the love and care the makers have infused in their details… it’s a discovery of the new relationship with clothes (a story) that I have never experienced before.

I could be the only one thinking like this. But this is why LifeWear is essential and is what I want to deliver and express through “LifeWear Story 100.”

So today, I have on my blue striped shirt, the navy fine merino sweater, and jeans, happy and content.

And it’s so great that I have an outfit ready for tomorrow, too. It gives me that extra boost of energy.

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Combination of
different fits

I prefer to wear a right-size merino sweater, which goes perfectly with the relaxed-fit jeans. This is the most comfortable combination.

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Combination of
different fits

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I prefer to wear a right-size merino sweater, which goes perfectly with the relaxed-fit jeans. This is the most comfortable combination.

Clothing that doesn’t
limit your moves

Because I love the feel of Extra Fine Cotton Shirt, I usually don’t wear innerwear underneath. You just need to put the Merino sweater on, and it fits perfectly on your body. It makes you look clean and polished, but it’s easy to move in.

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Clothing that
doesn’t limit
your moves

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Because I love the feel of Extra Fine Cotton Shirt, I usually don’t wear innerwear underneath. You just need to put the Merino sweater on, and it fits perfectly on your body. It makes you look clean and polished, but it’s easy to move in.

Perfect-length
sleeves

The most important thing for me, when choosing my outfit, is to find the right-size clothes. I appreciate the perfect length of a shirt-sleeve, which is an important thing for people who work with their hands.

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Perfect-length
sleeves

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The most important thing for me, when choosing my outfit, is to find the right-size clothes. I appreciate the perfect length of a shirt-sleeve, which is an important thing for people who work with their hands.

White socks
for jeans

Adjust the length of your jeans and play with various lengths. When I buy a new pair, I choose to keep the length just right to do a double-roll up the cuffs. I tend to roll them up to a slightly short length to bring the focus on my shoes. When wearing heavy wing-tip shoes, I love to pair them with white sport socks.

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White socks
for jeans

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Adjust the length of your jeans and play with various lengths. When I buy a new pair, I choose to keep the length just right to do a double-roll up the cuffs. I tend to roll them up to a slightly short length to bring the focus on my shoes. When wearing heavy wing-tip shoes, I love to pair them with white sport socks.

Why do you always
wear the same clothes?
Go on, ask me.

Yataro Matsuura
020
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Clockwise from top
MEN EXTRA FINE COTTON BROADCLOTH LONG-SLEEVE SHIRT
$29.90
MEN EXTRA FINE MERINO CREWNECK SWEATER
$39.90
MEN SLIM FIT JEANS
$49.90
MEN ITALIAN SADDLE LEATHER BELT
$29.90
MEN PILE LINE SOCKS
Coming soon
Send this story
19th Dec, 2017
LifeWear Story 100
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UNIQLO

COPYRIGHT (C) UNIQLO CO., LTD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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What is “LifeWear story 100?”

At UNIQLO,
there exist these lines of clothes
which has remained for many years,
trend-neutral
yet never dated.
Out of the line-ups,
they are the unsung presence,
sitting quietly behind in TV ads.

Yet, they are the culmination
of the years of passion and devotion,
where UNIQLO sought to pursue
more comfort,
more durability, and
more quality.

They give shape and gravitas
to what and who UNIQLO is,
and what UNIQLO continues
to nurture with great care.

To go beyond yesterday,
to reach higher tomorrow.

When you take it in your hands,
when you try it on,
it softly speaks to you,
almost like a friend.

What is a rich quality
lifestyle?
How is such a quality day spent?
What does happiness mean to you…

And you will find yourself
surprised to discover that such
piece of clothing has existed.

What is the UNIQLO principle?
Why do we call clothing LifeWear?
What kind of clothes constitute
LifeWear?

Here, we go deep into
the root of LifeWear,
to know
and to tell.
And I hope to write
stories that revolve
around LifeWear and myself.

LifeWear story 100 will be
a story about a journey with me and LifeWear.

Yataro Matsuura

Yataro Matsuura
Yataro Matsuura

Essayist, editor. Born 1965 in Tokyo.
For nine years from 2005, under the leadership of the founder, Shizuko Ohashi, he was the chief editor for the magazine, “Kurashi no Techo.” Since, he launched an online media site, “Kurashi no Kihon.” Currently, sits as a director for Oishii Kenko Ltd. Recognized for his eye for style and experience in presenting ideas for quality lifestyle. Regularly writes in his columns in newspapers and magazines. Has penned numerous best-sellers including “Kyo mo Teinei ni” and “Shigoto no Kihon Kurashi no Kihon 100.” Hosts a radio program on NHK Radio 1, “Karen Style.”

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