Ten Best Pieces to Buy from UNIQLO 2024

Undoubtedly one of the best when it comes to affordable wardrobe staples, UNIQLO has been a mainstay in my own closet since I first stepped foot in one of their London stores 15 years ago. Their t-shirts have sat in the top spots when seeking out the best of the bunch. Not to mention the ankle length trousers, which laid the groundwork for some of my favourite workwear outfits over the years.

I popped in store recently and came across so many fab finds, that I thought it would be fun to share the ten best pieces to buy from UNIQLO right now. 

1 | UNIQLO Cotton Relaxed Ankle Pants (AU link)

A bit of a sleeper hit, I haven’t seen anyone talking about these trousers. But they are fantastic. These have an elasticated waistband with concealed drawstring; a small detail, but one that makes these passable for the office with some clever styling. They’re 100% cotton, aka low maintenance, and the $30 price point makes them an easy yes. I’m wearing the khaki here, but they’re available in a few different colours. Love the cropped length too!

2 | UNIQLO PUFFTECH Quilted Vest

If you either live in a cold climate, or are headed on a winter vacation, then you’ve probably thought to check out UNIQLO’s heat tech range. There are so many options, and aside from the base thermal layers (a must if you live somewhere particularly frosty), my top pick would be this quilted vest. In typical UNIQLO fashion it comes in a whole bunch of great colours. But what sets this apart is just how practical it is. You can easily layer this underneath a blazer or jacket for your morning commute or wear it as part of your styling adding in an interesting tactical quality in the process. It is so puffy and light, but adds this lovely layer of warmth. And it packs down incredibly well.

3 | UNIQLO Knitted Short Jacket (AU link)

Tweedy ladylike jackets have been a core trend piece for the past 18 months or so, but generally these cost a pretty penny. So I was excited to see that UNIQLO had designed their own affordable take on this style. The base is cotton, blended with synthetics which helps to bring the price down. But the yarn feels sturdy, robust, and more like cotton than anything else. It has functional pockets at the front (perfect size for a card or lip product), and looks chic both worn fully buttoned or loose. Personally I think this style might be better suited for those with a regular or shorter torso. Comes in a bunch of fun options – I’m wearing the blue here.

4 | UNIQLO Wide-Fit Pleated Pants (AU link)

The trousers that are as good as everyone says they are. Affordable, wash well, and come in a range of textures and colours. I recommend these trousers a lot to my personal styling clients, particularly those who are more petite and are in search of a straight leg trouser that doesn’t swamp them. The “wide” fit is perfectly tailored, not exaggerated and in my opinion, looks good regardless of how you style them. If you want a looser fit at the waist, stick with your usual size, otherwise size down one if you prefer a closer fit.

5 | UNIQLO : C 100% Premium Lambswool Long Sleeve Half-Zip Sweater & UNIQLO : C 100% Premium Lambswool Mini Skirt

The UNIQLO X Clare Waight Keller collection recently launched here, and I was thrilled to finally see it in person. The items that really caught my eye were the knitted styles and I thought that this lambswool set was great value for money (the cashmere vest, also chef’s kiss). It’s a premium lambswool, that’ll soften and wear well with age. I love the fisherman style ribbed knit, and how you have this sports luxe feel to the knit, and more classic elegant feel to the skirt. Perfectly juxtaposed. The knit I think works best if you size up one to get a little more of a slouchy look, whereas the skirt runs a little on the large side. If you want it to fit high on the waist, go down a size. I’m wearing the sweater here in an M and the skirt in an XS.

6 | UNIQLO Wide Straight Jeans (AU link)

I’ve definitely shared these jeans, or a version of them previously. But I wanted to come back to them as they really are just that good. UNIQLO sizing often tends to be on the more generous side, but I’d say with this particular style, the size you choose will be centred around how you want them to fit. For me, I wanted them snug around the hips with that classic straight fit through the legs – not too wide. I’m a 26 jean size, so went down two sizes to a 24. If you’re after a chill relaxed fit, stick with your usual size or go down one size. These are 100% cotton, a nice soft denim to the touch, and the weight isn’t too thick nor does it feel flimsy and thin. Plus if you’re petite, you can always take advantage of their in-house tailoring service (free for most alterations) to get the length taken up.

7 | UNIQLO 100% Extra Fine Merino Ribbed Polo Cardigan

Generally I’ll tend to steer clear of UNIQLO’s extra fine merino range, as the simple classic crews tend to wear poorly (my husband used to buy these yearly, but they wouldn’t last longer than 4-5 months being worn once a week). This polo style cardigan is the exception. The thickness of the yarn feels robust, not sheer or thin at all which makes a huge difference. As does the ribbed yarn, that helps to add some extra heft. The collar isn’t too pointed, which adds some softness, and I think the charcoal pearly buttons add a nice touch. My personal preference is to wear this style slightly unbuttoned to get a V-shaped neckline. For a close fit, I recommend sizing down – I’m wearing the XS here.

8 | UNIQLO AIRism Cotton T-Shirt (AU link)

Basic t-shirts are one of the areas in your wardrobe where I always will recommend you save. Having bought both affordable and high end options, I can say with surety that you’ll get just as much mileage out of a high street version – if not more. These are high rotation pieces that tend to wear out quickly. UNIQLO hands down makes some of the best, and I like that there’s a pretty big variety. My personal favourite are their AIRism tees, which have a slightly slouchy fit, and longer sleeve length. It’s the sleeve detail that really sets them apart, as it feels a bit more styled than a basic cut tee (though the UNIQLO U heavyweight tees are also fab!). Wearing my usual size S here and it’s a nice relaxed fit.

9 | UNIQLO 100% Cashmere Crew Neck Sweater (AU link)

Another item I’ve recommended many times before, but worth highlighting as we head into autumn here in Australia. While they’re not the softest cashmere sweaters (straight off the bat – these soften as you wear and wash them), they are reliable. The cut is classic; timeless even. Colour selection tends to always be interesting, with a good mix of neutrals and brights (generally cool-toned FYI). Depending on the fit you want, you can flit between the women’s and men’s styles – both of which will give you an entirely different look. I’m wearing the women’s size S here. If you have a little more money in your knitwear budget then I’d recommend checking out this style from COS. It’s twice the price, but feels incredibly soft and luxurious to wear.

10 | UNIQLO Ribbed Cropped Sleeveless BRA TOP (AU link)

Final item on my “best of” UNIQLO list is this ribbed cropped bra top. A great basic for layering or wearing with jeans and high waisted skirts, baring a little peek of midriff. This has a built in padded shelf bra which I love – makes it such an easy throw on (plus no visible bra straps!). The ribbed texture adds in a slightly interesting visual element, and the way the neckline and armholes are cut is really nice. It does run large so I recommend sizing down. I’m wearing the XS here.