Inside Uniqlo's Massive Fifth Avenue Global Flagship

Uniqlo's new Fifth Avenue global flagship—which opens up on Friday, finally!—is a mammoth of a store. Consider these numbers: It has three floors, it's 89,000 square feet big, it has 100 fitting rooms, and 50 registers. And since we're throwing numbers around, here's another one: To celebrate the opening, the store is stocked with a special edition skinny fit jean that's priced at only $9.90. They're only available while supplies last, of course, and Uniqlo U.S. CEO Shin Odake says they know they're not going to make a profit off them—he considers them "a gift to our customers."

To further reiterate how big it is, the first floor is only cashmere. Yes, it's that gargantuan that they can fill an entire floor with cashmere and still have plenty of space left for the rest. The second floor is dedicated to the +J collection, and the third floor is a mix of everything, from womenswear to menswear to Heattech galore. Seriously, there's a Heattech tunnel (but we'll get to that in another post.)

The first thing you see upon entering is a seemingly endless escalator that will take you straight to the third floor. If you want to make a pit stop at the second, however, you can either take the stairs or hop in one of the elevators at the front of the store, which will soon be outfitted with LED screens that you'll be able to see from outside.

But before you do all that, don't forget about all that cashmere on the ground floor. To celebrate the opening, women's v-neck cashmere sweaters that are regularly priced at $89.90 will be priced at a promotional $49.90. Similarly, the men's cashmere v-necks that are normally $99.90 will be $59.90. Just like the Soho store, the shelves reach the tippy-top, each filled to the brim with the colorful sweaters.

The cashmere overflows to the second floor, but it soon gives way to the entire +J collection. Since this is the last one, though, we're curious to see what will fill all that space once it sells through—Odake said that at the moment, they hadn't figured that out yet. Giant lookbook images sit behind the +J modeled mannequins, so dressing like Arizona Muse in the fall becomes a little easier with all that visual inspiration.

But really, the third floor is where it's at. Men's and women's are split on opposite sides, so we're already imagining tons of couples getting entirely lost from each other. Then there's areas designated to merino wool, an entire room full of all the promo items, columns filled with those $9.90 jeans, a special area for T-shirts similar to the Soho store, and another cornered-off space for the Uniqlo Innovation Project. Speaking of which, one of the items in that collection is a jacket that zips up like normal but doesn't need to be unzipped to take it off—you just tear at it like the Hulk, which Odake personally demonstrated.

There's also not one but two Heattech areas: Like we said, we'll get to the first of them later, but the second is a gigantic area filled with Uniqlo's warmth-trapping tees and leggings. These, too, have their own opening promotion: While supplies last, men's and women's Heattech longsleeve T-shirts are only $12.90. If you're looking to stay extra cozy this winter, Uniqlo is also knocking off 20 bucks on the men's and women's premium down ultra light jackets—they'll be priced at $59.90, and come with a little bag you can fold them up into.

So in case we haven't driven the point home enough, the store is huge. So huge that we got lost when we walked around by ourselves. And there's a few vantage points where it actually looks like the clothes do go on forever. If that hasn't got you excited enough, don't forget that the 34th Street store is opening on October 21st.

Myles to the Rescue

It takes a whole village to raise a child and Robert Lee Myles Jr PERIOD is doing just that. I have a very dear friend that has been in my corner since I was in high school and serves as a mentor for an entire community that is expanding everyday. Robert is a role model who has created an organization that trains boys to men and prepares them for the world. Robert is the core founder of an organization that is contributing in making men of color a positive statistic instead of a negative one I could brag for days about what Robert and his organization is up to or I could just allow you to see what he has to say about Myles Boys Recovery and how we as a community can reach out to America’s youth.

1. So who is Robert Myles?
Robert Myles is 36yr old young African American male that puts everything into helping others.

2. What is Myles Boys Recovery?
Myles Boys Recovery is a non profit organization that is out to help young males dealing with pure pressure, home issues, is a part of me. I help with getting them on the right track to keep them as productive parts of society by teaching them life management skills such as working on vehicles, house hold training, money management, and how to become strong men with dignity.

3. What made you start Myles Boys Recovery?
Living life and seeing the ruff road I had to go down with little to no help. I wanted to make at least this part of a young mans life to be a little bit easier.

4. Where is Myles Boys Recovery based out of?
Although this began in my home town of Dumas Arkansas in 1988 we have established homebase in Little Rock, Arkansas.


5. Will the organization be branching outside of this area? When?
Yes. The goal is to open a branch in 48 states. As soon as funding is available federal and/or private. We believe that there should be no barriers to help young men become everything they need to be, including state lines.

6. Who has been your largest influence in wanting to give back to your community?
My father. By his absence in my life I needed to work harder to become the man that I needed to be. His absence affected me in such a way that I wanted to do whatever I could to keep other young men from going through the emotions and motions that I had to. With the necessary life tools we provide I believe we can prevent unnecessary struggle; the roads in life are already difficult enough.

7. What are some of the things you are teaching your mentees through you organization?
I teach them how to come out of being a teenager to become a productive, educated man. Educating on life and give them an alternative route to life. They are taught to respect self and others and that hard work is the key to most things in life.

8. Who is your specific target?
Young men ages 13 to 25 that are in or have been in a broken home environment, such as the ones with parents on drugs and/or with alcohol addiction.

9. What is your goal with the organization?
The goal will be to achieve national services and even a branch in South Africa. The goal of South Africa is providing an education on how to become that strong man in a school setting.

10. How can the community assist you in making this vision excel?
By donating funding of types but more so supporting and educating the youth in their community.

Get more information on Myles Boys Recovery and contribute by visiting http://www.mylesboysrecovery.org/

"Maybe It's Made for... MEN!"

written by Deshawn Moody

The Future Media Partner Boys and Clothes Magazine

Riddle me this, Riddle me that, who said that women were the only ones to contour? Ask Mens Style Editor, Deshawn Moody of Boys and Clothes Magazine.

Are girls the only ones taught how to apply makeup and how to look flawless? What if little boys were taught during puberty how to properly cover up those blemishes? There probably would be a lot of men purchasing make-up along with their razors. I know that some of you guys out there would say that’s not your thing, but let’s bring the ball in your court. To all you Facebook, MySpace and Twitter models out there….to be a signed model and be ready for your close up Mr. Deville, you will need make-up. Many high paid actors, celebrities, basketball players and moguls wear make-up before stepping out on set or that next red carpet event. It’s no shame in making themselves looks flawless along with the ladies.

Since the dawning of the equal rights movement we were all considered as one. So why would a daily regimen for some be only of the female gender? Some may add as little as a few strokes of lash blast that’s sure to get everyone’s attention. Others may even have their daily regimen of full on powder to contour those cheeks. If you wear make-up would is that gay?

“Why is something so simplistic a big issue in society and of the male and female persuasion”? , asks Keon Nickie, professional dancer (Deeply Rooted Productions) and a fan of make-up for men. “Who says that women are the only ones who can hide their imperfections everyday”? Is make-up something that many may perceive that only gay guys indulge in? Some may not know but a few of the top rated make-up distributors for women carry product for men as well.

From Clinique to even Jean Paul Gaultier, have had the masses jumping aboard the contour train. Would you date a man that wears make-up? What if on some dates he was a little late because he spent too much time in the mirror applying his matte powder? Is there a rule that says they can’t make the light hit them in all the right spots? I don’t think that people would stop and say, maybe it’s Maybeline.

Make-up for men, would you rock it or chile stop it? Is make-up for men a stereotypical drag?

Make-Up For Men:
How To Use Make-Up For Men