Summer Dresses At Uniqlo and Old Navy

Uniqlo

I buy all my summer dresses at Uniqlo or Old Navy. One of the two retailers always comes through for me with color and cuteness. I prefer cotton or linen, and with a tad of spandex is ok. Each merchant's dress collection can always be dressed up or down and can be machine-washed and dried, although I tend to hang-dry my dresses.  

Let’s do a quick round-up to see what they’ve launched this year.

First Up is Uniqlo:

Followed by Old Navy:

I’m featuring what I like. There are a few other styles at both retailers. Each of the dresses comes in several more colors and/or patterns, and between the 2 retailers, why shop anywhere else? Mini, midi, or maxi, sleeves or sleeveless, every summer, they’ve got us covered! No pun intended, hardy, har, har.😉😎

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Uniqlo's Wireless Airism Bras

Uniqlo's bras rock! Our acquaintance began with Uniqlo's "AIRism" bra tops which I'm a big fan of ... then I noticed its everyday bras were briefer forms of its bra tops, so I started buying them.

The styles get discontinued, but the non-removable padded cups remain the same. They're an easy fit!

The left image has just been discontinued. Its replacement on the right is a tweaked version at the straps of the former. You can't get any more of the left online, but they're still in the stores marked down to $19.90. It's a steal, but frankly, the price is what I think bras ought to cost! {I mean, let's take a look at the price of jockstraps, shall we?} 

The fabric is soft, smooth, and seamless. It supports yet is ultra comfortable. The bra is durable too. Grab a couple of last season's edition before they're gone! You'll be happy to score such lovely basics at a fantastic price.

Uniqlo's: Spring 2023 Collections

Uniqlo is launching more than one Spring/Summer collection and each one is super functional and spectacular. Let's consider 3 of its winning offerings.

1) Premium Linen Shirts - Out of all of Uniqlo's products, the label premium has only been used for one product - premium linen shirts. Made from high-quality European Flax Linen and Hemp, linen was once a pricey fabric to buy, but Uniqlo set out to find ways to make it affordable. The retailer's premium linen shirts are breathable, moisture-wicking, and machine-washable. Available in 10 dazzling colors. According to Uniqlo, "Every wash deepens the character of the linen, creating patterns in the fabric."

2) Cutting Edge Activewear - Includes Uniqlo's signature airism technology cut and stitched into UV protection tops and pocketed soft leggings. The cloth is ultra stretchy and quick drying, as well as, super stylish and machine washable. All-weather parkas protect the wearer from the sun and rain. Comes in neutrals and several colors. Why pay competitors more?

3) Dry Crew Neck Short Sleeve Color T-Shirts - The fabric is 66% cotton and 34% polyester which gives the t-shirts a smooth, silky, and moisture-wicking absorbency. You know the quality, wear, and style are top-notch, not to mention, soft if I like the t-shirts since I have a natural bias for 100% cotton material. These drape stylishly on the body as oversized t-shirts and keep you dry, unlike pure cotton t-shirts. For everyday wear, the dry crew neck t-shirts come in 11 colors.

Uniqlo continues to impress with another season of innovative, affordable LifeWear! The price of fast fashion, only the pieces are better made, classic, and durable!

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5 Uniqlo LifeWear Gifts To Blow Your Mind

Regular readers know that Uniqlo, the Japanese innovator of LifeWear sustainable clothing, is my absolute favorite retailer for basics. I don't know why Uniqlo doesn't just hire me as their spokeswoman already! I wear their outerwear and clothing, plus blog about their quality and great price points frequently. I mean, I'm a true believer in Uniqlo LifeWear! 

Here are 5 of my favorite articles that make awesome holiday gifts and demonstrate how budget-friendly doesn't have to mean a lack of quality, style, or durability! 

I own each of the following pieces and continue to love wearing them again and again, and so with authority I highly recommend every single piece as a perfect, not to mention, ultra-useful holiday gift:

1) Blocktech Coat -  (see top image👆) Lightweight as a cotton shirt, yet serves as a raincoat, as well as, looks stylish as a 3-season (spring, fall, and early winter) all-weather coat when paired with a sweater as temperatures drop. It has pockets, snaps, a zipper, and a hood. When it's pouring rain outdoors, the Blocktech coat keeps me completely dry ... and surprisingly warm. I bought the coat in black for versatility and love the other colors also.

2) Heattech Crew Neck Long-Sleeve T-Shirts - A great layering t-shirt that functions exactly like silk fabric to keep you warm and insulated without overheating. The knit fabric is thin, soft, stretchy, moisture-wicking, and machine washable. I own the t-shirt in two colors.

3) Heattech Beanie and 4) Heattech gloves - You can buy a cashmere beanie and gloves from Uniqlo if you wish, but these are soft and warm like cashmere. Although I must have cashmere scarves against my neck, I have both cashmere hats and a Heattech hat and no longer buy cashmere gloves because the fingers of all knitted gloves wear out quickly. The Heatteck gloves are as warm and nearly as soft as cashmere (i.e., you have to work to tell the difference). I can machine wash the Heatteck gloves and they are also 50% cheaper than cashmere, so I buy a pair to keep in every coat and jacket pocket I own. So affordable I never have to remember to transfer gloves from a coat to a jacket!

5) Uniqlo line of sweaters - Styles and fabrics galore are for the choosing - I bought merino wool cardigans I've worn for nearly a decade as they are well-made and lasting. But there are many other styles, fabrics, patterns, and colors offered, so you're on your own to click the link to take a browse. Turtlenecks, cable, bright, neutrals, cashmere, wool, cotton, you name it!

I write about Uniqlo to the point readers might think the blogs are sponsored, but they are not. I'm only a customer.🙂 A trip to Uniqlo will blow your mind, and you too will become an enthusiast, a true believer of the self-proclaimed LifeWear merchant!

If Patricia of the Red Cardinal reads this post, Tish, please tell us if Uniqlo in Brisbane sells the same items? 

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Best Leggings Updated

Photo: LL Bean

My Best Leggings Roundup is my 6th most popular blog of all time, so for sure leggings are a staple in many wardrobes. The list I comprised then is still relevant. I continue to get my leggings from Old Navy and Express, but today I'm adding 3 new retailers to my original list. Old Navy and Express have the fantastic deals, often selling decent quality leggings for as low as $5 - $15 each. You can't beat either company's promotions, and you get at least 2 years of wear out of the leggings so if you need to replace them more often you still come out ahead in savings. At $15 or less per pair, you'll get your money's worth for a good length of wear.

The 3 new leggings I'm adding today to my original list cost more and are a tad more durable ... a financial wash to a Savvy Shopper. If you buy and wear new leggings without paying more money, the money you spend is a wash:

1) Uniqlo leggings - Since I comprised my Best Leggings List, the innovative Japanese retailer has stepped up its leggings game now offering a variety of legging styles designed for different climates and purposes. Moreover, the exciting development is the company's sizes now fit tall women over 5'5"! (The retailer's petite sizing kept it off my original roundup.) Best price point for lasting leggings bar none!

The next two are more expensive retailers. Recently each of them has expanded its legging styles + offers better sales:

2) LL Bean leggings - (top image👆) - The merchant has launched what it calls perfect fit leggings for every type of body, and there are styles galore this season. My favorite fabric is jersey smooth cotton with a touch of spandex, but you can also get fleece-lined leggings if you live in an arctic climate. There are 4 fits (or cuts): 1) original (relaxed); 2) straight-leg; 3) slim; and 4) legging. They won't cling, fade or stretch out.

3) Landsend Starfish leggings - The link leads to all of Landsends' styles of leggings for women, but the only one I'm familiar with is its Starfish leggings which are soft jersey cotton with lycra. Excellent quality leggings, but usually more expensive than I think consumers need to pay. However, when you catch them at their rock bottom sale price of $22, grab them as they are then a fantastic value!🎉

LL Bean's and Landsends' apparel is comparable. From season to season, one retailer will have a better selection, so before buying, I always look at both. 

Uniqlo is usually the better-priced retailer for good (or good enough) and unfailingly innovative clothing -- including its pants and leggings. Toss Old Navy and Express into the mix and one of the 5 retailers will offer you a perfect pair of leggings at a steal of a price!🎯

You are set for the fall, winter, and early spring!

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6 Best Fabrics To Wear In Summer

Photo: Stitch Fix Style

I must overcome my bias for natural fabrics to give you more shopping choices for summer clothes. In fact, if the price is right at Uniqlo or Old Navy on cute summer dresses in a manmade material, I make an exception; and in the past, it has worked out. So let's begin ...

 6 Best Fabrics To Keep Us Cool On the Hottest Summer Days:

Photo: Cotton Citzen

1) Cotton - A natural fabric that starts as a plant, cotton keeps you cool because it breathes and absorbs sweat. Cheap and plentiful; soft and comfortable; can be machine washed and dried; and I find it to be most durable -- lasting over many summers of wear. Includes: Denim, a sturdy cotton twill fabric. Most of the world's cotton is grown in the USA, Uzbekistan, China and India. Other leading cotton-growing countries are Brazil, Pakistan and Turkey. Cotton is a personal favorite, as well as, the most popular and versatile fabric in the world.

2) Linen - Cloth woven from flax that is light and airy. A tad stiffer and more sophisticated than cotton, yet still soft, casual and cool. Moderately priced and affordable. Very durable. Winkles are accepted in linen clothing. Nowadays linen is often treated so it can be washed and line dried. The garment label will say if it's machine washable. Includes: Chambray - a cotton or linen-finished gingham cloth with a mottled appearance. (Photo of shorts: H&M)

Photo: Old Navy

3) Rayon - A manmade fabric from regenerated cellulose (viscose). Honestly I don't 100% like rayon, yet I appreciate it enough to own several Old Navy summer rayon swing-style dresses. Cheap and flattering, machine wash, gentle dry, but not as durable as cotton or linen and doesn't hold up as well. Rayon is wrinkle-resistant, and the price super budget-friendly, so perhaps that's the trade off. The dresses stretch longer after a summer of washings, but they don't cost a lot to replace. So literally, the pros and cons of rayon are a wash!😊 Includes: Cupro - discussed in #6.

4) Modal - A semi-synthetic fabric consisting mainly of beechwood pulp, it is shrink-resistant and unlikely to fade. Frankly I'm not completely in love with modal either as it too stretches and I find it warmer than cotton ... yet every source I consult says it keeps us cool. I do have a modal sweater (and of course, it's cooler than wool). Modal is popular nowadays with retailers, so if the price is right, you might consider buying one stylish garment (or two).

5) Silk - Fine, strong, lustrous fiber spun by silkworms in making cocoons. The silk fiber is turned into fabric. Previously expensive, but demand and modern industry have lowered the cost. Super light and cool ... another favorite fabric of mine. Still I tend to save my silk dresses and shirts for work or attending events, not running Saturday errands. Not as cheap as cotton, and I don't as mindlessly wash it. I suppose it's why I don't mindlessly wear it, yet I do love it.😍👗 Silk includes: Chiffon, taffeta, and crepe de cine. (Photo: Silk dress: Halston) 

Photo of BraTop: Uniqlo

6) Nylon with moisture wicking technology - Uniqlo and a few innovative retailers combine Nylon with cupro (Cupro is made of regenerated cellulose fibers from recycled cotton linter. A type of rayon, made using copper and ammonium, it is "breathable and regulates temperature like cotton, drapes elegantly," and feels soft like silk) and spandex to manufacture its pieces of clothing with a cool touch and moisture wicking technology. Sold as Airism tops and dresses, they are also anti-bacterial with odor control. I love Uniqlo for its affordable, inventive and stylish clothing! Wear its bra tops with shorts or under dresses to absorbed sweat. That way you can wash the bra top and save the dress!

Sometimes an apparel maker uses fabric blends, for example 95% cotton with a touch of 5% spandex, to give a dress or blouse a benefit like wrinkle resistance, or strength or shape which I don't mind in a dress despite a tad less softness in the blend. (However, for bed sheets pure 100% cotton is a must.) 

With the knowledge of what fabrics will keep you cool on soaring hot days, have fun shopping for your summer wardrobe!

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Who Wears Short Shorts?

Photo: Uniqlo High-Rise Denim Shorts

As much as I love summer, I haven't worn shorts in several years! Perhaps because I reside in Manhattan (as opposed to a suburb), I live in Old Navy casual-smart dresses. They slide over your arms and head and voilà you are entirely dressed for the day. A change of shoes with some jewelry will take you from home or an afternoon in Central Park to a night out on the town (before COVID). I love multi-tasking things of every kind including clothes! Unlike Victorians and Edwardians, who dressed in the morning and again for dinner, the right casual-smart outfit in the 21st century is suitable for all the events of a single day!

Many people like having some shorts in their summer wardrobe.

Old Navy styles

At Old Navy the styles of shorts are numerous, continuous and ever changing during warmer months ... not surprising as the merchant specializes in sports and activewear. 

Uniqlo 3/4 length shorts

What's more, Uniqlo holds its own in the activewear and shorts department. Its collection is versatile, upscale and budget-friendly too. Some of Uniqlo's pieces are garden party, casual-smart. Old Navy matches Uniqlo's garden party vibe primarily with its summer dresses.

Uniqlo styles

Between the 2 retailers, there's no need to look elsewhere. Both have an unparalleled winning short selection in many styles including chinos and biker shorts, as well as, in different lengths, colors and styles. I've posted a tiny sampling offered at unbeatable prices even before applied promotions - which Uniqlo and Old Navy are always running. Why pay more?

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After Christmas Goodies: SLGs, Silicone Bags And Bras

James is showing you the SLGs (Small Leather Goods).

Before Christmas, it's fun to shop for others. After Christmas, it's fun to buy for ourselves! Not by design, yet I bought "holders" of all sorts yesterday and today:😁😉

Here's what I got after Christmas:

1) Stone Mountain Wallet - see above↑) Made of bonded leather. Mine is all black, compact, and the strap when attached, lets me use it as a wristlet. It has the following features:

 

In a few colors/textures

Small zip around wallet with flap closure

Pebble leather w/man made trim

Silver-tone hardware

Detachable wristlet strap

Rear exterior slash pocket w/ ID window

Interior - Polyester

8 credit card slots

Picture ID windows

4 large slash pockets

Cash pocket

Interior zippered coin purse

Price: $9.99 at T.J. Maxx. Also sold at Boscov's.

2) Stone Mountain Card Holder - Made of bonded leather. As regular readers know, I think T.J. Maxx is the place to find  SLGs even if you buy luxury handbags. You'd be surprised at the quality which ends up there. A bag is a better splurge. Often SLGs are 1/3 to 1/2 of the price of a handbag and they wear out faster. My new leather cardholder is:

Ultra slim 

Napa, as opposed to, the pebble leather (on the left) w/man made trim. [I prefer a sturdier pebble leather if I have a choice.]

Gold-tone hardware

Interior - Polyester

5 credit card slots

Picture ID window

1 large slash pocket

1 zipped pocket

Price: $4.99 at T.J. Maxx. Also sold on eBay.

3) Uniqlo Women's Beauty Soft Wireless Bras - I've been

wearing these comfortable and supportive bras since the store 1st opened in NYC. They were discontinued briefly before Uniqlo came to its senses by bringing them back. Very soft and stretchy straps that never hurt your shoulders. Available in several neutral colors and special edition fun colors. Boring as it is, I always stick with neutral or subdued colors so I can wear undergarments with every outfit. Having to match them to a light-colored top is too much work for me every morning. None better than what Uniqlo offers at any color or price point! Usually $24.90. Price: On sale for $19.99 - so I bought 2.

4) Old Navy Silicone Reusable Sacks/Bags - Eco-friendly and sturdy enough to carry snacks, cosmetics, or anything you need to place in your purse, the pantry, or a drawer. I bought a few at $2.99 each. Then they were reduced again to $1, so a few more came home with me. It's rare for me to buy items I'm unsure of exactly how I'll use them, but I know they will keep my purses, pantry and drawers clean and organized. Price: now $1.

Nice practical things. When the price is right, you get a lot for the money. Value finds are always fun. They make you sooo happy!

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