Uniqlo's Hits and Misses: A Comprehensive Guide
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I've been wearing and reviewing Uniqlo pieces for years, and I've identified what truly delivers on quality versus what leans more fast fashion. Here's what deserves your attention – and what to skip.
The Winners: What to Buy
Shirts
Pure magic. By blending 60% cotton with 40% rayon, they've created a button up with elegant drape while maintaining structure where it matters – the collar and placket. The stitching and proportions are spot-on, making it a worthy rival to shirts at triple the price point. The collar is more sculptural than pieces costing five times as much. I couldn't tell the difference between the S and XS, so I went with S.
$40
These deserve mention for their high-quality long-fiber cotton construction – notice that sheen? That's premium cotton made from long fibers. The precise details like gussets and substantial collars elevate these beyond their price point. The fabric beats a bunch of $300 shirts I've reviewed.
Tees
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The Uniqlo U collection, designed by Christophe Lemaire, delivers impressive quality at $15 (top row, on the very left). The heavyweight cotton has a smooth texture that's very close to Cos in finish. The pronounced flat collar sits close to the neck for that modern look, and this is the second most opaque white tee I tested.
The catch: this appears to be a unisex cut with tight shoulders and a boxy bodice that hugs the hips. It seems designed for taller proportions with narrower hips. Size up for a better fit.
Merino Knitwear
Dense, soft, and impeccably knit, these sweaters often outperform $400 cashmere options in terms of polish and durability. The polo, with its languid fit and button placket, is elevated yet effortless – at once meets the moment and looks like something you just had in your closet. All of their merino pieces are breathable and smooth, and this year, the color selection matches includes timely hues like burgundy, gray, and teak brown – sounds simple, but Uniqlo's shade range has been lackluster before.
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Lambswool Pieces
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Uniqlo's lambswool is smooth, and the collars have that extra length and presence for a fashion-forward look. These echo Miu Miu's proportions at a fraction of the cost. The herringbone version ($60) appears to be a double-faced knit, which holds its structure beautifully, though the cut might be bulky for some.
Cashmere
