+J – Classic Essentials
On October 1st, as the Chinese celebrated 60 years of achievements with tanks, jets, and missile-toting trucks, friends and I celebrated the day by lining up at the corner of Broadway and Spring anticipating +J – the collaboration between Uniqlo and Jil Sander.
The +J collection was highly anticipated, with help from heavy media coverage within the past month. What really sets this collaboration apart from those introduced by H&M and Target is the quality and simplicity of each piece. Jil Sander’s clothes have been long known for their timeless style, high quality fabric and precise cut. Combine those factors with Uniqlo’s ability to produce good quality clothes at very reasonable prices, and you have yourself a winning combination in today’s economy. Biased Cut believes in this philosophy precisely – that an item is only a good buy if the value per dollar spent is justified.
After two hours of waiting in line with a cup of coffee from Dean and Deluca, we entered the Uniqlo store. It was calmer than expected, and at 11am, still well-stocked. Friendly sales associates and runners helped to find sizes, and there were actually less customers waiting in line at the fitting rooms and cashiers than at a usual Saturday afternoon at Uniqlo.
Uniqlo set up a white tent in the middle of the floor, with Women’s collection in the front and Men’s collection in the back. There was limited variety in style and color – true to the Jil Sander aesthetic. A monotone palette of black, white and grey dominated, and the highlight on outerwear. Overall, an impressive collection. These might not be high fashion items, but stylish and classic items that would last you for seasons.
At price tags between $30 to $200, the practicality and quality definitely justifies the value per dollar. If you can get your hand on some of the essential items, do it fast! According to some sales associates, there will be no re-stocking.
+J cashmere v-neck sweater ($129) featuring Biased Cut Denim Mini-Checkered tailored shirt ($85)
+J wool light grey pants ($49.50)
