to shop / uniqlo +j 2021 fall winter collection (and others)

The Uniqlo +j 2021 Fall/Winter collection dropped recently. Jil Sander was quoted saying it was the end of a chapter. Does this mean her she is stopping, for now? I totally forgot about the collection, so many styles have already sold out. I will wait for restocks (if they happen) or popbacks. As with the past collections, sizing can be all over the place.

Image: Uniqlo

WOMEN +J DOUBLE FACE PEACOAT – I love this. It comes in navy or olive, which are both beautiful. It is slightly oversized, so I only sized down one size. The sleeves are a little long so I folded them up and the pockets are very deep.

WOMEN +J DOWN SHORT OVERSIZED COAT – I did not like this. It runs very oversized and the diagonal pockets are very unflattering in placement. It is warm and the big hood is detachable.

(Updated) WOMEN +J DOWN VOLUME VEST – This popped back and was delivered the following day. I got the navy and sized 2 sizes down and am looking for 1 size larger to pop back. It fits and I like the style but I want to see how it would look if slightly bigger. The US reviews aren’t great, you can see styling photos on the JP site.

I haven’t seen these yet:

WOMEN +J DOWN LONG COAT – Is the brown more of an olive brown? I’m still loving the version from last year. The reviews on this are split and unless it’s on super sale, I don’t plan to check it out.

WOMEN +J CASHMERE BLEND COLLARLESS COAT – I wish they had it in navy. I got last year’s version in black.

WOMEN +J DOWN JACKET – Last year’s down blazer jacket was more flattering, based on the pictures.

WOMEN +J DRY SWEAT FULL-ZIP LONG-SLEEVE HOODIE – This year’s version has a tie-string bottom hem. I can’t tell if the material is the same as last year’s. I’m keeping an eye out for the gray.

WOMEN +J DOWN VOLUME VEST – Also keeping an eye for this. The reviews aren’t great, you can see styling photos on the JP site.

WOMEN +J DOUBLE FACE COLLARLESS JACKET – I have a few of these from last year. This year’s has more colors and buttons.

2021 Fall/Winter Ines de la Fressange

WOMEN SINGLE BREASTED COAT (INES DE LA FRESSANGE) – this runs big. Size down at least 2 sizes. The quality is pretty good and comes with a removable liner. It’s long, so keep in mind if you’re on the shorter side.

WOMEN CORDUROY JACKET (INES DE LA FRESSANGE) – the blue shade is nice, but it’s a bit boxy. I’m not sure if sizing down helps.

2021 Spring/Summer Mame Kurogouchi

I had no idea who this designer was but stumbled upon her collection and regret not seeing it before it launched. The Fall/Winter collection is launching on Nov 26th in more neutral shades.

WOMEN AIRism COTTON RELAXED WIRELESS BRA – this is so comfortable. I grabbed a bunch, they are wireless, and they also wash really well. I found it to be TTS. They were out of my ideal size in some colors so I ended up with 2 sizes and they were both good enough under loungewear.

WOMEN AIRism PLUNGING BRA SLIP – this didn’t work on me, at all. The new collection is in cotton, which might work better.

WOMEN AIRism ULTRA SEAMLESS BIKINI – ran too small. I don’t see it in the new collection’s lookbook.

Tip: Don’t be bothered by having to return online orders via mail. Pay with PayPal and use the PayPal return shipping refund program. The annual limit is quite generous since many places I shop from have free returns.

to shop / uniqlo x ines de la fressange, spring/summer 2019 review

The new Uniqlo x IDLF collection dropped today for women and girls. It is inspired by the relaxed wardrobe of Saint Tropez. The lookbook didn’t excite me too much but I couldn’t resist the tuck shirtdresses. It comes in linen cotton or cotton lawn prints. No surprise that these are selling the fastest.

to shop / uniqlo x ines de la fressange, fall/winter 2017 review

I love Ines, but the Uniqlo x IDLF fall/winter collections have been getting a bit boring. It’s not totally my style or if it’s a repeat style, I already have it and mine is in great condition. Not to say I didn’t get anything, but most of what I bought in person is going back — those dressing room lines in Soho are crazy. There are items that are in-stores but were launched days later online. There are also items that are not launching until October. Some styles are selling out.

Overall, the quality of Uniqlo collabs is better than their normal collection and some “basics” are worth getting. I like the quality of the flannel shirts/dresses. I like the style of this ultralight down jacket. But for something like a velvet blazer, I’d go to J.Crew. You can’t compare the velvet blazers between the two. This season is also the first men’s IDLF collection.

Images: Uniqlo

to shop / uniqlo x ines de la fressange, spring/summer 2017 review

The Spring/Summer Uniqlo x Ines de la Fressange collaboration dropped yesterday. It’s inspired by the Southern port city of Marseille and is breezy and casual. Read cotton, sun dried, ruffled, less polish and ironing.

Flagship NYC Fifth Avenue store. The striped sweater is a linen blend and pilling on the rack (warning).

Women IDLF Rayon Printed Wrap Front Dress

The sad thing is that the pictured straw tote is not sold at Uniqlo.

As usual, the US Uniqlo site isn’t that great for lookbooks. For reviews/lookbook/styling info:

• Midlifechic got a preview and has detailed reviews
• The Uniqlo JP site has a very unsaturated lookbook
• Instagram hashtag #UniqloxInes

I stopped by the NYC flagship store yesterday (launch date) for a quick browse. The racks were surprisingly well stocked and there was no crowd. I had already placed an order online (and hope they don’t majorly mess up my order like the last IDLF drop). Some items I saw online had no appeal to me but had the opposite effect in person. In general, sizing looks similar to prior IDLF collections (true to size), but there are some items that are cut more generously whether it’s due to the fabric or fit due to the Marseilles concept.

The shirt jacket is unlined and lightweight, the stadium jacket is thicker (but not my style). Both come in various colors.

Women IDLF Twill Rayon Windowpane Shirt Jacket, Women IDLF Satin Stadium Jacket

The polo sweater quickly sold out and is one of the few items I would put in the ‘fits small’ category. It comes in 4 colors and 3 of them have a light colored collar. I have an aversion to light colored collars. Hand wash only.

Women IDLF Polo Short-Sleeve Sweater

This tee is a thicker knit with a clingier fit. It is very stretchy. I wish the neck was a crewneck.

Women IDLF Ribbed Striped Crewneck Short-Sleeve T-Shirt

This collection has a ton of shirtdresses. Some of them are called tunics, but they’re long enough to wear as a dress. The one on the left was a quick seller and has a microdot print on a thicker indigo fabric. The pintuck makes it look abnormally long, but it looks normal in person. A belt might work with it. In general, these have a generous fit around the bust and are hip friendly. However, unless you have skinny arms, the sleeves may be too tight to comfortably size down.

Women IDLF Indigo Printed Pullover Long-Sleeve Tunic, Women IDLF Cotton Poplin Long-Sleeve Tunic

Close-up of the microdot print. It also comes in a shirt.

Women IDLF Indigo Printed Pullover Long-Sleeve Shirt

Aside from stripes, the collection has a lot of dots. On the left is the wrap dress in the promotional pictures. It comes in black or brown. Brown polka dot dresses always remind me of the horse race dress Julia Roberts wore in Pretty Woman  In general, I found the other rayon dotted items (shirts, skirts) to be boring. The dots on the dress on the right are less boring.

Women IDLF Rayon Printed Wrap Front Dress, Women IDLF Cotton Lawn Printed Pin Tuck Long-Sleeve Tunic

There is always a navy blazer in every collection. This one has wider lapels and single button closure. The linen jacket is unlined hence lightweight and comes off casual despite being in a more serious plaid print.

Women IDLF Blazer, Women IDLF Linen Jacket

More un-boring dots on silk neck scarves. Uniqlo recently had some other dot neck scarves that had a more interesting print, although it was in a thin silk-like polyester and hence half the price.

Women IDLF Silk Printed Scarf

These straw-looking totes were larger than expected. They looked pretty durable for being woven paper and are fully lined in cotton. I’m not sure how popular woven paper is in general, but the woven paper panama hat I got in Provence is still going strong after 2 summers!

Women IDLF Paper Bag

Images: Uniqlo

to shop / uniqlo lately (nov 2016)

I love Uniqlo — it’s such a great value, good quality, and practical. Here is what I’ve seen or bought lately:

Extra Fine Cotton Oversized Shirts
Comes in stand collar, solid collared, and striped collared. I initially saw this on someone on IG and loved it. I wouldn’t have given it a second look otherwise. I ended up keeping 3 of these (all of the collared shirts were on sale for $9.90). The prices were raised and the smaller sizes are pretty sold out. It looks great with legging pants, sleeves rolled up and is light enough for yearround wear. This is an oversized fit, it runs big. Size down!