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Uniqlo x Lemaire collab this Friday

September 30, 2015

Uniqlo is doing a collaboration with Lemaire, a French label that I'm vaguely aware of. The collaboration is full of gorgeous, simple wool and cashmere items. Really classy looking.
http://www.uniqlo.com/uniqloandlemaire/us/

It comes out online, plus a few items in stores, on Friday. I'm really excited -- but also a bit wary. I'm so tempted to snap up everything online, but I never know if I'm an XS or S and that makes for a lot of buy-and-return. And the weather here in SF is rarely cold enough for me to wear lots of cozy wool. Sleeveless wool tops are fine for me, or light wool cardigans, but merino leggings or chunky turtlenecks might never get worn. I'm particularly worried that the lambswool sweaters will be too hot.

Here are the items I'm most seriously considering -- though I'll be buying them in black only, and I don't know which actually come in black. (Some of the color swatches might be a dark navy?)

Should I get the asymmetric cape? I do like capes, and the asymmetry is excellent, but I might prefer a more tailored cape.

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Posted in the Shopping category
This post is also published in the youlookfab forum. You can read and reply to it in either place. All replies will appear in both places.

28 Comments

  • Jenn replied 8 years ago

    Have you bought from Uniqlo before? We don't have a local store (although one is scheduled to open in Denver next summer), but I'm seeing some great things online. How's the quality?

    ETA: I like the cape and could totally see it on you.

  • Greyscale replied 8 years ago

    I have a large handful of Uniqlo things, mostly from their collaborations. The Ines de la Fressange collections and the old +J line (Jil Sander collab) were both really good quality - silk shirts that rivaled really expensive ones, for instance, and very fine merino. I wish I'd known of the +J collection when it was still being made - so many excellent basics from one of my favorite designers. The collaborations are generally more expensive and the quality is also higher.

    I haven't bought much of their main line of clothes but I have a few of their merino sweaters and I've been reasonably impressed. And I have a pile of identical tees from a few years back that have held up really well after wearing them weekly (I line-dry them).

    The quality of their normal stuff is better than some stores -- probably equivalent to the Gap (especially before the Gap started trying to keep up with fast fashion stores). Lots of basic materials, pure cotton or wool. Nothing super trendy, nothing flimsy. Overall rather boring but with useful clothes and sometimes some pleasant surprises. Oh, and I haven't been very impressed by their jeans.

    Their main line doesn't fit me really well - the shirts are too short in the torso. The collabs each seem to have their own sizing.

  • Laura (rhubarbgirl) replied 8 years ago

    Oh, lovely stuff - and it feels genuinely innovative, not just a pale imitation. You should totally get the cape.

    I loved everything from the first season of the IdlF collab, but for some reason they limited their sizes and didn't make any XLs, which sized me out. I hope they don't do the same with this one.

  • Greyscale replied 8 years ago

    I hope so too, Laura. It's so cruddy that they do that. And the IdlF pants sizes ran small, on top of that, so it cut out a lot of people.

  • Meredith replied 8 years ago

    Nice! I've been thinking of ordering one of their sweatshirts for lounging, but some of your finds might also wander into my cart. And yes, I think you need the cape!

  • Elle replied 8 years ago

    I like your choices  (especially #2, and #4) and think they would work well for SF's climate.  The cape is particularly fun. I've had good luck with Uniqlo quality in the past, although their return policy is more strict than some.

    Can you get to the downtown SF Uniqlo?  They usually have the collections in stock.

  • rachylou replied 8 years ago

    Very nice, clean lines (!)

  • Greyscale replied 8 years ago

    Elle, for some reason they only have the full collection in two NYC stores. :( There are a few items that are carried in all stores. I'm sad that they're doing it that way -- the main SF store does usually have all the collaborations.

  • Jenn replied 8 years ago

    Thanks for the detailed response, Greyscale. Their merino sweaters were what I had my eye on, and the price can't be beat, so I think I might give them a try.

  • Jaime replied 8 years ago

    I have been ogling that lookbook for weeks. I love the look of the cape and most of the other pieces, but it is so hard to tell online about quality and fit of new products.

  • UmmLila (Lisa) replied 8 years ago

    http://www.racked.com/2015/9/3.....collection

    In case you're interested in what others like.

    I find Uniqlo's designer collaborations to be better than the usual ultra cheap and tacky execution.

  • Elle replied 8 years ago

    Thanks for the info.  I live in SF and was going to brave the chaos of the Powell St Uniqlo but if they are only in NYC in real life, I'll order online too.

  • Carole replied 8 years ago

    I have no clue about Uniqlo, just that there are often pieces I would love to try, including all of your choices here. My body is so hard to fit, I need to try stuff on and there is no brick and mortar around here:( love it all, cape included!

  • Greyscale replied 8 years ago

    Elle, there will be a handful of items at the SF store, if you want to see any in person. A few of them are marked "all store item":
    http://www.uniqlo.com/uniqloan.....eup/women/

    But it might not be worth the hassle!

  • Greyscale replied 8 years ago

    I just realized I can see the whole collection - including accurate color names - if I pretend I'm in Australia, where it's already Friday:
    http://www.uniqlo.com/au/store.....maire.html

    Some of my favorites are actually navy blue, not black. :(

    Edit: the Japanese site has more of the items

    http://www.uniqlo.com/jp/store.....nailSelect

  • Jaime replied 8 years ago

    I just ordered a frightening amount from this collection and if you are interested you should look quickly because some things are selling out already. 

  • Greyscale replied 8 years ago

    I completely forgot that it would start at midnight Eastern time, not my time, and I missed all of it! I'm so angry at myself.

    I think the only one I'm really sad to miss is the long merino jacket. I wonder if any will show up in returns.

    I did order the cotton rain coat though I'm not sure I got the right size - it was the one thing I'd considered that was still available and I was too upset to think straight even though I don't really expect to keep it.

  • Laura (rhubarbgirl) replied 8 years ago

    According to the ladies at FFA on Reddit, stuff was selling out amazingly fast, like within minutes, but items may be restocked in a few days.

    (I have to admit, all these tiny-stock launches make me tired. Why don't they make a few more? Is it really just about creating buzz with a sell-out rather than actually predicting demand?)

  • LaPed replied 8 years ago

    I think the mini-stockings are a strategy for mainstream retailers to try and position themselves as more "high end" -- an effort to imply exclusivity, but I just find it annoying. I refuse to stalk anything; my time is worth more to me. 

    My wardrobe is already over-saturated with gorgeous wool knits that don't get much wear in a SW climate. Makes me sad just browsing Fall lookbooks; it will be another month or two before I can break out my sweaters!

  • Greyscale replied 8 years ago

    La Pedestrienne, same here with being over-saturated with wool knits. I stopped by the store to check on the few items they stocked, and while the sweaters were gorgeous, they're just too warm for me to ever wear here. Wool cardigans are good, but a thick wool pullover is just not going to get worn.

    Laura, the website does now say something about restocking! My local Uniqlo store (main SF location) had plenty left of the limited selection they carried, so I bet the online ones were bought by a combination of super-fans (like me, I suppose, people counting down for the launch) and ebay resellers.

    I'm always curious how they decide how much to stock. The H&M Margiela collab was amazing but very edgy, and I think they produced a lot more items than they sold. The more normal the item, the faster it sold, of course. This collection is so wearable, by contrast.

  • Greyscale replied 8 years ago

    In case anyone else cares as much as I apparently do - Uniqlo restocked things today, again in very small quantities. I managed to buy all four items I'd wanted. So, I'm very happy! I'll model them once they arrive; many will go back, I suspect.

    Edit:

    Shevia - what did you buy? I got the merino rib long-sleeve jacket, the gaucho pants, the merino skirt, and the draped merino cape/poncho.

  • Laura (rhubarbgirl) replied 8 years ago

    Congrats - I hope some of them end up working for you.

  • Jaime replied 8 years ago

    Oh good! I just checked and I see that a lot of stuff is still there. Which makes me happy because I hate the pressure of these limited collections. This is the first collaboration I have ever stalked or bought from, but I have been a fan of Lemaire since the s/s 2015 collection last year and absolutely loved the look of the catalog for this.

    Anyway, I over-ordered knowing I will be able to return what I don't like (although I am currently culling a huge selection for the RealReal to pay for it if I love it all). The things I am most excited about in theory are the cape and long jacket (both in navy). I also ordered a sample of most everything else, but nothing with a tie waist (no good on me), no turtlenecks (ditto), no floppy sleeves and mostly only if it came in navy (favorite neutral). Gauchos but no other pants. Can't wait to see it when I get to NY! Please model asap!

  • viva replied 8 years ago

    FWIW, I rather like Uniqlo. I love to browse through the midtown Fifth Ave store whenever I am in NY. I have a pair of jeans that are fantastic - great fitting, terrific quality, and about $40. I also have a piece from the Ines collab that I like as well. So excited you got the pieces you wanted and I can't wait to see you model them!

  • approprio replied 8 years ago

    Arg! Too busy and on a shopping fast at the moment, which is too bad, because I love Lemaire and I love Uniqlo. I have quite a lot of the +J collection, and I agree, it is excellent. 

    Thanks for letting me shop this vicariously. Looking forward to seeing what you buy. 

  • dakotacheryl replied 8 years ago

    Aaaack....nothing I wanted is in stock...do you know if they traditionally reorder, or is it now too late?

    Congrats to those who were faster than I !!!

  • Greyscale replied 8 years ago

    Dakotacheryl, they restocked a few things Saturday morning. You might check back over the next few days to see if any more come in. Plus, I'm sure lots of returns will come back in in a few weeks.

  • Elle replied 8 years ago

    So happy that you were able to finally order.  When you get the order, I'd love to see pics. 

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