THE SAVVY SHOPPER: jacket

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Saturday, November 12, 2022

Retailers Are Selling Fleece Jackets

Uniqlo specializes in innovative outerwear.

All of us have a personal everyday style of how we see ourselves and sometimes what makes us feel like a million bucks wearing it. I'll tell you mine, and you can tell me yours. One day as I exited my Manhattan apartment building, a kind neighbor in his 70s said, "You're always dressed up and look so nice!" I was surprised and flattered by his compliment. The truth is I wear a t-shirt in some form; slacks or leggings; and a cardigan nearly every day from the fall to the early spring. In the summer I wear lots of casual dresses (some a fit and flare t-shirt style) that can be machine washed and dried, paired with flats or nice sneakers. Nothing fancy, yet coordinated basics.

Photos: Uniqlo, one of my favorite retailers for quality basics

So now we're entering the fall and winter seasons and what I see retailers (such as Macy's, Kohl's, Uniqlo, and Old Navy) selling are warm fleece jackets. Uniqlo designs them to be windproof and toasty warm. I'd never judge another person who favors fleece outerwear -- different strokes for different folks -- but you'll never see me wearing it. Fleece looks too casual for my liking. My personal style tends to be what gets called casual smart. Whatever I put on in the morning, I like for it to carry me through the entire day to avoid the hassle of changing attire (other than for a gala event), so I buy clothing like slacks, dresses, and jackets that can be dressed up or down with a simple change of shoes and/or perhaps by adding a scarf or piece of jewelry.

The end photos are from Unqlo and the middle photo is from Kohls.

Although there's nothing wrong with fleece, per se ... it's too casual and too limited for my personal style. I don't feel dressed up enough (or casual smart) in fleece, and I'd also have to buy another jacket for a night out on the town. I'd rather invest in a multi-purpose wardrobe including outerwear. It means one jacket I never get tired of wearing that makes me feel like a million bucks every time I put it on, plus it carries me through an entire day into the evening.