Geolette Marie Esguerra

Solenn Heussaff, Gabs Gibbs, and Magui Ford on How Clothing Empowers Them to Do More and Be More

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A modern woman is rarely just one headline. She is a fascinating mosaic of roles, a multitude in motion. This Women’s Month, UNIQLO turns its gaze toward that multiplicity of women who are living the textured grit of the everyday while brilliantly building their own empires. If a woman&#x27;s closet is her personal narrative, then every piece of clothing is a sentence in the story of her day. Forming the feature’s visual vocabulary are the breathability of summer knits, the liberation of culottes, and the effortless grace of a dress. All these pieces are designed to move with the woman and never against her. Because LifeWear, in its truest sense, is the ultimate enabler of a life lived out loud. Centering this digital cover story are three fascinating women who embody what it means to be multifaceted. Solenn Heussaff, Gabs Gibbs, and Magui Ford are quite literally wearing their stories on their sleeves, charting three distinct expressions of modern femininity: where strength can be soft, elegance can be intentional, and creativity can be a bold, daily act of rebellion.<div> </div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1772968961953Metro.Style Uniqlo Group Small.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div> </div><div>Solenn Heussaff in layers of intention</div>Watching her on the grid, we can say Solenn Heussaff is living a life that appears expansive, operating at the intersection of intensity and intimacy. There are taping schedules for the fantasy-drama Encantadia, an upcoming film shot in Sapporo, Japan, with additional projects on the horizon. Alongside these professional pursuits, she trains for HYROX competitions, contemplating mixed doubles and new divisions not for podium finishes, but for the challenge and camaraderie. And threaded through it all is motherhood—the morning rituals, the school drop-offs, the afternoons at the park, the quiet insistence on being present as her children grow.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1772969022551Metro.Style Uniqlo Solenn Heussaff.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div>Solenn’s days are structured but never rigid. It is a life that could easily fracture under its own multiplicity, yet she speaks of it with remarkable calm. For her, the throughline is always showing up. “For me, consistency is key. I think even on days where you don&#x27;t feel like doing things, or if you&#x27;re not excited or motivated, you still have to push yourself and show up, because that&#x27;s usually when you break through,” said the Filipina actress and model. “It&#x27;s easy to say, ‘Oh, I can&#x27;t do this because I&#x27;m not motivated,’ but motivation doesn&#x27;t happen instantly. Motivation never lasts. So for me, it&#x27;s about showing up and being consistent. So that&#x27;s my motto,” Solenn added.That same clarity extends without a hitch into her wardrobe now. Long before partnership formalities, Solenn gravitated toward UNIQLO for its practicality and timelessness. “In general, I&#x27;m really a UNIQLO girl even before I was with UNIQLO. I&#x27;m very practical when it comes to clothing. I want to be comfortable. I want to be able to move around. I like pieces that will grow with me and that are timeless. So I feel like UNIQLO hits all of those,” she explained.For most people, a fashion mood changes with the seasons. But ask Solenn, it’s a constant commitment to the basics. “On the go talaga ako. I don&#x27;t really want to think about what I&#x27;m wearing, but I still want to look good,” she admitted.When it comes to her UNIQLO favorites, one silhouette reigns supreme: the Barrel Pants. “The UNIQLO Barrel pants are a fairly new addition, but they’ve been a staple for me since. I love that it elongates your legs. It&#x27;s high-waist where it needs to be high-waist. It&#x27;s very comfortable.”Well, it’s not just about the denim. In the humid Philippine climate, Solenn relies on the AIRism ecosystem. Between the AIRism tops and the game-changing Bra Tops, she’s found her “best friends.” “If I want to layer or wear it as an undergarment in a dress, I can use it because I don&#x27;t really like to wear bras anymore,” she laughed it off. So, does she ever miss the high-fashion drama? Occasionally, but on her own terms. When she’s feeling creative, Solenn experiments with layering: “Since their styles have a lot of different colors, it&#x27;s also easy to style it up the way you want to, or even mix-match, or even layer from collections years back to collections now. Everything still kind of works together.”But as she navigates her 40s, the priority has shifted from experimentation to breathability. In the context of “the mom grind,” while she used to love the breezy feel of skirts, the practicalities of raising kids changed the game.“I used to love wearing skirts because s’yempre mahangin. But since with the kids, I&#x27;m always bending down to help them, or lifting them. [They even] pull on my clothes all the time!” she said. “I’m always in clothes where I can sit down on the floor and just play around with them and be free with movement. I’ve experimented so much back in the days. Now, I just want to prioritize being comfortable and being in pieces that let my skin breathe.”<div> </div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1772969063474Metro.Style Uniqlo Gabs Gibbs.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div> </div><div>Gabs Gibbs dresses on her own terms</div>Gabs Gibbs is in a season of redefinition—musically, creatively, and personally. From opening the high-octane club Apotheka in Poblacion to managing her own studio, agency, and cafe, she definitely knows how to walk the art of the hustle from behind the scenes.Sitting down with the creative mogul, Gabs is currently practicing to go slower in life after years of all-nighters in the nightlife industry. But don’t mistake “slower” for “quiet” as she is in her reintroduction phase.“I was super quiet behind the scenes with photography. Now, I’m slowly getting back into being in front of the camera. With my music career coming up, it&#x27;s going to be like that. I&#x27;ll be forced to show up more in front of the camera,” stated Gabs, who eyes more collaborations and taking the main stage. When asked what keeps her going through the hustle and long hours in the studio, Gabs points to a simple, powerful realization: “You can’t beat a person who is having fun.”Working in the creative industry, Gabs views self-expression through fashion as non-negotiable. It’s a bold, daily act of rebellion against the mundane. “I think it&#x27;s super important to me. It&#x27;s like a different feeling in the day. You&#x27;ll see it through my outfits because I dress according to my mood. Be it a sweater, shorts, or baggy jeans. And if I&#x27;m more dressed up, I&#x27;ll really be in a suit or a dress,” she remarked.As a self-proclaimed “UNIQLO girl” and a religious believer in basics, Gabs’ fascination lies in the longevity of a piece. She views basics not as boring but as statement pieces that allow for endless restyling. “I&#x27;m an outfit repeater. I love restyling clothes as time goes by. I don&#x27;t know, I feel like they&#x27;re super statement pieces, but at the same time, since they&#x27;re basic, I can mix and match them with anything. Whether I dress it up or dress it down, everything&#x27;s perfect for Manila. It&#x27;s not that thick. Kahit ’yung sweaters, I still feel comfortable,” stated Gabs.“Actually, timeless kasi ’di ba? Hindi ka ma-stre-stress. Ako ’pag may inaasikaso, parang ma-stre-stress ako,” she smiled, adding how the outfits that she’s wearing on the shoot are a good balance and comfy.Gabs’ style fashion mindset has shifted from the stress of “more” to the clarity of a “uniform.” Her daily mantra is a blend of late 90s nostalgia and quiet luxury pieces: “Now that I&#x27;m older, feeling ko, I prioritize having a uniform. Parang, on my day-to-day, I don&#x27;t need to think about it so much. I&#x27;m always in a crop sweatshirt or sweater or trousers.” On her busiest days, she sticks to her uniform of a crewneck sweater, jeans, and loafers. But when the creative urge strikes, she moves to the far ends of the spectrum. “If I&#x27;m dressing up, I&#x27;m dressing up like I love a good trench or a big jacket with a baby tee. No in-between ’yan! [It’s either] jeans, trousers, or a mini-skirt,” she noted.When asked to narrow down her UNIQLO favorites, Gabs answered, &quot;I have 5 billion pairs of barrel pants at home. I have it in denim, in a tailored one. And kakauwi ko lang ng dalawang bago kahapon. I&#x27;m a sucker for them,&quot; she laughed.However, a new silhouette is making its way into her mosaic: the culottes. In her words: “I’m getting into culottes, which is great! It’s usually my sister’s thing; she loves them. Since nanakaw ko na from her, and kumuha na ako from Uniqlo, I&#x27;m getting into it.”<div> </div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1772969148091Metro.Style Uniqlo Magui Ford.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div> </div><div>Magui Ford loves elegance with ease</div>As she steps into 2026, Magui Ford is all about alignment over anything, stating, “I came into the new year wanting alignment more than achievement, like how I used to think in the past. I’ve realized that when things feel aligned—your work, relationships, health—everything just flows better and you feel more fulfilled. The 24-year-old model sets her mind more to choosing carefully and less about chasing. This choice manifests in every aspect of her life, from the long-form creative projects she’s developing to her commitment to discipline that supports.“I honestly want to focus more on discipline, not in a really restrictive way, but in a way that supports the life that I want to build. Discipline with my time, with my energy, with what I allow into my space, or where I put my energy. And yeah, more disciplined with strengthening my relationship with God and getting to know myself more spiritually,” Magui put it, wanting to build things that last.When asked what helps her get through the day, Magui leans into a philosophy of small wins: “I always remind myself that everything compounds. The small habits, the way you treat people, the energy you bring into a room. The things that you absorb around you.”Parallel to Solenn’s way of thinking, Magui also values the weight of being consistent and showing up. “Even on just ordinary days, I focus on making sure that I show up and I display in a way that inspires and motivates people around me. And just to be consistent with that, because I think consistency is underrated.”Carrying the same philosophy into her clothing, she found a natural synergy with the UNIQLO S/S ’26 catalog. “What I love about this is how effortless everything feels. The pieces that were given to us, [and] I&#x27;ve worn are clean, elevated, but still very wearable.”Fashion is a silent partner in Magui’s journey, something to express herself without going overboard. “They&#x27;re the kind of clothes that make you feel put-together without trying too hard, which I really resonate with because I don&#x27;t really dress so loudly or so eccentrically. The clothes that we had in the shoot really just allowed me to express myself without trying so much, which is nice,” described Magui.Her go-to outfit is a study in polished pragmatism. When she needs to be ready in five minutes, she reaches for a one that bridges the gap between casual and corporate: tailored trousers or high-quality jeans paired with a fitted tee or a flowy blouse for summer, and a structured jacket for cold days.“I like it polished but also comfortable. I never feel overdressed or underdressed in it, so I think it’s my go-to,” she said. When life reaches too much of a pulse, and the schedule gets heavy, Magui turns to a specific aesthetic strategy to maintain her calm: the monochromatic neutral. “When I&#x27;m busy, I crave that ease and calm. Usually, something monochromatic would work for me. Something with muted tones. Maybe all neutrals. I don&#x27;t wear all black so much, but an all-white would work for me or a black and white with clean lines.”“It removes the session fatigue for anything when I&#x27;m already having a busy day, and it still feels chic, and I still feel put-together,” added Magui.As for her UNIQLO staples for these high-pressure days, it’s still the tailored trousers, button-down knitwear, and linen polos, noting, “I think they&#x27;re just staples, but they don&#x27;t really feel basic, but you need to have them in your closet somewhere. The quality just fits really well, and it just makes everything look more elevated, in my opinion.”<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1772970075045Metro.Style Uniqlo Group Indoor Solenn Magui Gabs Watermark.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/> </div>Together, Solenn, Gabs, and Magui reflect the truth that modern womanhood is not a single storyline but a mosaic of choices made daily. Because a modern woman is not one thing, and she has no desire to be. She is layered and evolving. This Women’s Month, UNIQLO honors that very multiplicity. Photography by Andrea BelduaEditor-in-Chief: Geolette EsguerraCreative Directors: Randz Manucom and Maureen ManuelSittings Editors: Grace Libero and Rick FormalejoStylist: Eds Cabral, assisted by Bullet ReyesHair and makeup: Mike Bawa, Char Granada, Marvin Laurent, and Nelly SeboyProduction Design: Hiyas Lacaba and Mithi Lacaba of Tipping Point CreativesCover story by Leigh Sofia LazoCover Layout by Alfred Amado Coordinator: Mika YusayShoot assistant: Arci ClaveriaVideography: Andrew Apuya of ALIVVEVideo producer: Tricia MatiasSpecial thanks to Kale Kapati and Cabii Bondoc (UNIQLO); Lex Fresnido, Arj Alberto, April Brian, and Cameron Tolosa (CREO); Uma Nota and Sabai<div> </div><div> </div>

Solenn Heussaff, Gabs Gibbs, and Magui Ford through versatile clothes that let them establish their womanhood in style—minimum effort, maximum effect.

Solenn Heussaff, Gabs Gibbs, and Magui Ford through versatile clothes that let them establish their womanhood in style—minimum effort, maximum effect.

Solenn Heussaff, Gabs Gibbs, and Magui Ford on How Clothing Empowers Them to Do More and Be More

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Solenn Heussaff, Gabs Gibbs, and Magui Ford on How Clothing Empowers Them to Do More and Be More

UNIQLO

Published Mar 08, 2026 08:15 PM PHT

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Updated Mar 08, 2026 10:35 PM PHT

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Gabs Gibbs

Magui Ford

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Barrel Pants

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