SINGAPORE — Synthetic leather pencil skirts, silk shirts, leopard print double-breasted coats, cashmere sweaters, camisole slip dresses ... that’s what’s on UNIQLO’s shelves these days.

Yes, you read right. While the brand is more popularly known for its casual wear and minimalist apparel, its latest collaboration with fashion icon and former editor-in-chief of Vogue Paris Carine Roitfeld is refreshingly different, showcasing sophisticated ensembles that are elegant and wearable, and yet super sexy.

They exude a French chic aura – which is classic Roitfeld – and exactly what the glamourous fashion editor was going for in her design with the debut Japanese clothing retail brand. Roitfeld, who founded the CR Fashion Book, had said in previous interviews that she got inspiration from what she would normally don. “I started from the idea of clothes that I would want to wear myself, and developed this into clothes that anyone would want to wear, a woman’s ideal of clothes that make her feel transformed when she wears them,” she said.

The collection aims to accentuate feminine beauty and individuality, and its lineup includes items suitable for various settings at an affordable price, said UNIQLO Singapore's PR Manager Cheok Wei Ling. 

With Roitfeld having tremendous influence in the fashion industry and being at the forefront of style, UNIQLO believes that "by assimilating her accumulated experience and wisdom", the brand can offer women around the world a new type of clothing that incorporates the sort of current fashion trends that are not regularly reflected by UNIQLO, she added. 

Best of all? This womenswear collection, which Roitfeld created together with UNIQLO design director Naoki Takizawa, is not going to break your bank. The 50-piece collection is under the brand’s LifeWear concept – which aims to have outfits that are of high quality, have great design, and yet are reasonably-priced. We say “reasonably”, because a cashmere sweater will still set you back by S$169.90.

The Faux Fur Coat and Enamel Coat costs S$249.90, while the Wool Blended Chester Coat, the most pricey of the collection, costs S$299.90. The Silk Camisole Printed Dresses are S$129.90 while the tights, some of which have designs which are va-va-voom, cost S$14.90.

The collection will be available on Friday (Oct 30) at UNIQLO’s ION Orchard store. Selected pieces will also be available at its online store (www.uniqlo.com/sg). We got a peek at some of the items this afternoon and here are three pieces that we are just dying to get our hands on:

1. FLOCKY PRINTED BLOUSE (S$59.90). This sheer long sleeved polka dotted top adds a dash of sauciness into your typical work wear. The light material makes it perfect for our humid weather too. Pair it with a tight pencil skirt and we guarantee heads will turn.

2. WOOL BLENDED VEST (S$99.90). We absolutely love this well-tailored vest, especially when it comes in this shade of grey. It’s strong but feminine, elegant but sexy. When worn with its counterpart, the Wool Blended Tight Fit Skirt ($59.90), you’d look sleek but edgy. We approve!

3. FAUX FUR COAT (S$249.90). Okay, we admit, this is definitely not Singapore-weather-friendly. But who can resist leopard prints? This thick long coat can jazz up any boring outfit and make you look Kardashian-esque. If you want to look like a million bucks while travelling in a foreign land during the winter season, there’s no better item than this.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article misspelled Carine Roitfeld’s name in the headline. We are sorry for the error.