For most Filipinos, dressing for fall and winter is less about bracing for freezing temperatures and more about figuring out how to layer without melting.
That makes UNIQLO’s Fall/Winter 2026 collection an interesting proposition for the Manila wardrobe.
Built around the theme “Modern City Living,” the latest LifeWear collection takes familiar everyday pieces and gives them a more contemporary spin — think relaxed denim, lightweight jackets, soft knits, fleece, and versatile separates designed to move easily between work, weekends, travel, and everything in between.
The collection was recently unveiled at an exclusive press event in Manila, where the emphasis was less on dressing for a particular occasion and more on creating a wardrobe that can keep pace with everyday city life.
City dressing made easy
IMAGE CREDIT: UNIQLO
The collection’s bottoms make a strong case for relaxed silhouettes this season.
The Baggy Barrel Leg Jeans offer a loose, rounded silhouette that feels decidedly contemporary, while the EZY Wide Straight Jeans take the familiar denim look and pair it with a softer, more comfortable feel.
For those looking beyond traditional trousers, the Culottes offer a genderless option that can be styled across different wardrobes.
It’s a lineup that speaks to how people are dressing today: less rigid, more relaxed, and increasingly interested in pieces that can work in multiple settings.
Then come the layers.
For Manila, where heavy winter coats are more likely to leave you sweating than stylish, lightweight outerwear makes considerably more sense. The Harrington Jacket, Denim Trucker Jacket, and Coverall bring structure to everyday outfits without adding unnecessary bulk.
They also happen to be the kind of pieces that can easily make the trip from a city commute to a weekend getaway.
For cooler days and colder destinations
IMAGE CREDIT: UNIQLO
Of course, no UNIQLO fall/winter collection would be complete without fleece.
The brand’s Fleece lineup returns in a range of colors and styles for both men and women, offering lightweight warmth that can be particularly useful for Filipinos heading somewhere considerably colder.
That same idea of versatility runs through Sport Utility Wear (SUW), which brings together functional pieces designed for movement. The collection is made for everything from running errands and light activities to more active pursuits, without requiring a complete change of wardrobe.
There is also a softer side to the season.
The Souffle Yarn Knits, made from 100% extra fine merino wool, bring warmth and a cozy texture to the collection. Meanwhile, Smooth Cotton Knits offer an easier, everyday alternative that can dress up an outfit without making it feel overly formal.
And for those days when staying in is the plan, Loungewear and Innerwear bring the comfort of home into pieces that can still work outside the house.
That versatility is perhaps the most appealing part of the collection.
LifeWear has always been about clothes designed around real life rather than the other way around. For a city like Manila, where one day can involve a morning meeting, an afternoon mall run, dinner with friends and a late-night commute, that philosophy feels particularly relevant.
Anne Curtis joins the UNIQLO family
Anne Curtis, UNIQLO’s newest local brand ambassador
The collection launch also came with a major addition to the UNIQLO Philippines family: Anne Curtis, who was introduced as the brand’s newest local ambassador.
Known for moving easily between acting, hosting and fashion, Curtis brings a playful and distinctly personal take to the brand’s idea of modern city dressing.
At the launch, she showcased two looks from the collection.
Her first paired the Zip Up Short Jacket with the JW Anderson Boxy Oxford Long Sleeve Shirt and Ribbed Henley Neck Long Sleeve T-Shirt, finished with the Baggy Barrel Leg Jeans.
The result was relaxed without looking too casual — a combination that works particularly well for the kind of everyday dressing the collection is built around.
For her second look, Curtis leaned into texture and warmth, wearing the Fluffy Yarn Fleece Full-Zip Jacket over the UNIQLO : C Milano Ribbed Full-Zip Cardigan, again paired with the Baggy Barrel Leg Jeans.
“What I’m wearing is the Fluffy Yarn Fleece Full-Zip Jacket and underneath is the UNIQLO : C Milano Ribbed Full-Zip Cardigan, and then I have my Baggy Barrel Jeans,” Curtis said at the event.
“It’s pretty chill, relaxed, and for someone like me who gets cold easily, even in Manila, it’s perfect for me.”
Curtis joins UNIQLO Philippines’ roster of local celebrity partners, several of whom were also at the collection launch, including Alexa Ilacad, Anthony Constantino, Emilio Daez, Kianna Dy, Matteo Guidicelli, and Solenn Heussaff.
Each brought a different interpretation of LifeWear to the event, reinforcing one of the collection’s central ideas: there isn’t one way to dress for modern city life.
A wardrobe built around real life
UNIQLO Philippines’ celebrity partners Anthony Constantino, Emilio Daez, Matteo Guidicelli, Anne Curtis, Kianna Dy, Alexa Ilacad, and Solenn Heussaff with Marketing Director Jan Jizelle Ang (4th from left) and COO Geraldine Sia (6th from left).
Perhaps the most interesting thing about UNIQLO’s Fall/Winter 2026 collection is that it doesn’t ask Filipinos to dress like they’re living through a European winter.
Instead, it takes the idea of seasonal dressing and makes it work for a tropical, highly mobile lifestyle.
A lightweight jacket for an overly air-conditioned office. Fleece for a trip to Japan. Denim that works for brunch and dinner. A soft knit for a rainy afternoon. Loungewear that is comfortable enough for home but polished enough for a quick coffee run.
These are clothes designed to move with the wearer.
And that, ultimately, is what “Modern City Living” looks like: a wardrobe that doesn’t demand too much thought, works across different parts of the day, and lets you get on with whatever comes next.
The UNIQLO Fall/Winter 2026 collection is available through UNIQLO Philippines’ stores and online at uniqlo.com/ph/en.
