Second Time's the Charm - Oct 10th - Uniqlo x Engineered Garments AW 2019

It was hard not to get excited last year when Uniqlo first announced they were releasing a collaboration in partnership with Engineered Garments for Spring/Summer 2019. Would we be getting a version of a classic piece like the Bedford jacket? Patchwork pants perhaps? Some interesting vests and a bucket hat maybe?

Nope. It was polos. POLOS. I mean, come on. To be fair, that was Uniqlo's idea and not Daiki Suzuki's, but if the entire catalog of menswear was a collective anatomic body, polos would be the cankles of it (...if not the grundle). If you can't tell, I'm not really a fan of polo shirts in general, though I will admit there are some really nice one-piece collar polos out there. And I actually liked the plainer Uniqlo x EG versions enough to buy them when they were on clearance at $9.99, but there certainly were tons of them left on the shelves.

Well, Uniqlo and EG are partnering up again for AW2019, and this time it's so much better. The capsule is a good selection of rugged fleece zip-ups and pullovers, a military-inspired liner coat, and a classic EG-style fleece shawl collar jacket. My personal picks are the fleece pullover and combination fleece jacket. The shawl and liner coat I'll have to see closer in person to really judge, but if you've been looking for a good liner jacket, vintage is always a good option as well (though pay attention to sleeve sizes - vintage is often short in the arms).

If you're a fan of Engineered Garments or you are a furry, be sure to take a look. The Uniqlo x EG collection releases this Thursday, Oct 10th online and in select stores. However, if you're not sold on the styling, Uniqlo - and every other retailer right now, for that matter - are in full fleece mode in general, with Uniqlo U (make sure to try this in person for sizing based on reviews ) and Uniqlo mainline already out (Uniqlo x J.W. Anderson is also releasing Oct 17th). In other fleecy news, 18 East's sherpa line is out for drop 7, and J. Crew has brought back the Wallace and Barnes sherpa jacket from last year as a mainline item (it's a little thin in person, but awfully nice looking).

Gotta admit, I'm just pleased as punch to be talking about cold weather clothing again.