MANILA, Philippines - We’ll admit it: the gloomy weather has us feeling restless and dreaming of out-of-town excursions. But if you can’t get out of the city, explore it alone and make your own adventure. And hey, since you’re taking a breather, might as well wear equally comfortable clothing to boot. Our choice threads? Uniqlo’s latest collaboration with French fashion house Lemaire. From super-soft belted lambswool cardigans and relaxed elastic-waist trousers to water-repellant cotton coats with detachable hoods, design duo Sarah-Linh Tran and Christophe Lemaire (a former creative director of Hermès) offer a refined line for the Japanese label that’s a minimalist’s dream come true.
But don’t let the somber skies totally get to you; offset your neutral-hued ensembles with bright beauty looks for a cheery pop of color. Go for luminous lids with a super-sparkly golden shadow (inspired by British makeup artist Pat McGrath’s surprise Tuileries takeover last week, where she introduced her first-ever beauty product — a pot of richly pigmented gold dust dubbed “Gold 001” — by giving models and passersby free golden makeovers at the public Parisian garden) or take your cues from the rosy-cheeked spring girls at Vivienne Tam, Narciso Rodriguez and Alexander McQueen by playing up your blush.