Heads up: Peep Clare Waight Keller’s collab with Uniqlo
Attention fashionistas, this is not a drill: celebrated British fashion designer Clare Waight Keller is making her fashion comeback with a special collection for Uniqlo.
Known best for designing Meghan Markle’s 2018 Givenchy wedding dress, Waight Keller has enjoyed an illustrious career at the helm of fashion’s biggest houses. After a six-year stint as the creative director for Chloe, she became the first woman to be appointed as Givenchy’s artistic director for haute couture and ready-to-wear in 2017.
Waight Keller’s designs are rooted in a soft and streamlined aesthetic that manages to be modern yet still unabashedly feminine. Her work appeals to chic discerning women who want to lean into their femininity minus the fuss and frippery.
Thankfully, we have the opportunity to partake of the Waight Keller look with her upcoming Uniqlo collab. Entitled Uniqlo : C, the 31-piece womenswear collection features the designer’s trademark soft and fluid design ethos. Ahead, check out the top trends to expect when the collection drops worldwide on September 15.
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Matching sets
Every fashion girl knows that the easiest way to appear put together on the laziest of days is to throw on a pair of chic co-ords. We love this matching lambswool half-zip pullover and skirt set rendered in a punchy orange for brightening up the dreariest of days. And if you want to put on your old-money Park Avenue cosplay, put on this classic cashmere cardigan and sweater vest twinset with your sharpest pair of slacks and your most delicate jewelry.
Ladylike basics
You heard it here first: Old-school femininity is back in. Waight Keller is a master at churning out soft, ladylike basics from a distinctly British point-of-view: think a garden-party-worthy day dress with puffed sleeves that will make Anne of Green Gables go crazy, or a lovely yellow chiffon frock worthy of Kate Middleton. Working girls will love the wrap dresses in an assortment of prints—very vintage Diane von Furstenberg, no?
Delicate prints
A classic print is a great way to add some spice to your OOTD, but maybe rethink your typical loud attention-grabbing prints. This season, the word in mind is subtle—think miniscule flora-and-fauna patterns reminiscent of those found on English tea towels. The garden prints look lovely on a soft blouse or midi-skirt, but we’re obsessed with the cute little printed cotton-silk scarves you can wear in a variety of ways.
Oversized tailoring
Waight Keller knows that a soft feminine ensemble looks best when juxtaposed with sharp relaxed tailoring. We’re big fans of this corduroy pantsuit that gives off major 70s vibes, especially when rendered in bright, punchy color. For chilly trips abroad, you can’t go wrong with a classic gabardine trench coat that Audrey Hepburn would approve of, or an oversized plaid jacket that would look killer paired with a delicate day dress underneath.
Chic accessories
Facts only: Accessories are probably the most important part of any look. They turn clothes into full-on outfits, after all. We love the chic take on the cult-favorite Uniqlo dumpling bags, now rendered in faux leather. And maybe it’s time to rediscover the power of the chapeau—the wool caps add street cred to an otherwise prim look, while the shearling bucket hats are just fun and frivolous in the best way possible.
Uniqlo: C by Clare Waight Keller will be available online and at select Uniqlo branches starting September 15. View the whole collection online.
Words Jer Capacillo
Art Macky Arquilla
