UNIQLO｜LifeWear Story 100 directed by Yataro Matsuura

Nico, our six-year old girl, is a very shy one, not good at making friends. But once she lets you in, she is a really funny girl who would freely talk about anything and everything.

One day, we were sitting down on a bench in Central Park, worn out from a full-on play session.

“This is what I think. I think mommy and daddy are very much alike. You could’ve been brothers and sisters, right?,” said Nico.

Sometimes Nico would blurt out something that is so profound, completely out of the blue.

“Why do you think that? Which parts are we alike?”

“Well, because both you and mommy have this far gaze sometimes. It’s very similar.”

“We look far?”

“Yes, you were just doing that now.”

I’ve always thought that kids have this uncanny skill to observe a situation, but I was still taken aback that Nico was looking at Asha and I in this way.

Husbands and wives sometimes become similar which is considered to be a sign of a good relationship. I can see why she would think that the way Asha and I look afar is similar.

Whenever I was with Asha, I was drawn to the beauty of her profile or that expression when she is idly looking afar.

At such moments, I do get the urge to ask what’s going on inside her head but the right thing to ask is what memory are you recalling. But in a sense, I can’t and don’t want to interfere in a person’s private moment when they are transcending time and space to reflect on something. Because I know that those are the only moments when I get that deep sense of contentment.

I spotted Asha as she was coming back from getting a snack from a store. She was wearing a blue stripe shirt dress.

I thought how simply wonderful and beautiful she looked and the fact that we both like blue stripes is another thing we have in common.

I remembered that this was the one-piece dress that she had on when we met once again in NY.

Asha waved at Nico and I as she walked towards us.

That’s right. On that day, she walked towards me from a distance as she waved at me, too.

This is the extra fine cotton a-line one-piece dress, oversized so you can enjoy today’s trendy looks. This 100% cotton material has the nice premium thickness with amazing texture. The fabric has been processed for anti-crease quality.

Our aim was to make a dress perfect for people of all heights and bodylines. The balance with the a-line and the top has been carefully calculated with slightly longer length for a wide range of audience to enjoy.

It was a bright morning as the warm spring sun gloriously gazed down on us. Asha and I decided to meet up at the entrance of our favorite spot, MOMA.

Asha looked slightly embarrassed as she rushed towards me, waving her, and said, “long time no see!” and gave me a big hug.

“Oh my gosh, it looks like we planned this. We have matching outfits,” she said.

She had on a blue-stripe shirt dress and I was in a cotton button-down shirt of the same design.

“Well, this is embarrassing. Why don’t I buy a shirt somewhere and change?”

“No this is fine, we haven’t seen each other in a long time. Five years! The fact that we are both wearing these blue stripes is a miracle. Amazing! Nothing to be ashamed of. That’s what you taught me,” she said and pulled my hand as we started walking.

“Ooh, what a lovely couple, can I take a picture of you two?,” said a madame-looking woman who looked like she was on holiday as she approached us.

“Certainly. Yes, get a nice photo of us, please!”

Asha put her arm around my shoulder and struck a pose.

“You two look so lovely in those matching clothes. It’s like you are brothers and sisters,” she continued as she took the photos.

“It’s been a while, so I really want to go see Pollock. Come on.”

We would always go up to the fourth floor of MOMA to see the work of a master action painter, Jackson Pollock. MOMA had the largest collection of Pollock’s work so MOMA was like a dream place for us.

Yet, there was some time until the museum opened at 1030.

“Why don’t we wait ‘there’ with donuts and coffee?”

“Yeah, sure, ‘there,’”

For us, ‘there’ meant the 24-hour coffee stand near MOMA where we used to go frequently. I just loved that we had our own favorite shops, a bit of happiness that I had forgotten for a while.

We walked over to the coffee stand and as usual, split the sweet chocolate donuts and enjoyed our hot mugs of coffee.

I glanced over to Asha sitting next to me. She had this hazy gaze, looking relaxed, and quietly said, ‘I’m home…”

The fly-front, the size and openness of the collar, the width of the shoulders have all been carefully designed so that it can go with any scene and situation. The slightly snug shoulders fit beautifully to the bodyline for a truly feminine look.

Put on a pair of sneakers to go casual or chic with ballet flats. Even on a busy morning, this one-piece will quickly set you on your way with skinny trousers or leggings. Airy and elegant, this is the LifeWear you will want standing by in your wardrobe.

Put on my regular clothes
to meet the one I love.
Oh, how happy this makes me.

WOMENEXTRA FINE COTTON
A-LINE STRIPED
3/4 SLEEVE DRESS$39.90

Choose this clothes

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

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.”