I love a High Street Designer collab – for me, it totally fits my ethos of mixing high low fashion. I remember dashing on the bus to High Street Kensington on my lunchbreak with my colleagues (we had to be quick as Matches (Notting Hill) would only allow us a 30 minute lunchbreak) to nab some the of the Stella McCartney x H&M range – I picked up some black trousers and wore them as my Matches work uniform and customers instore trying on the real thing would ask which style Stella trousers mine were. Proud fashion moment.
However, I am much more restrained with Designer collabs than I used to be. I try to think objectively and don’t let myself be ruled by the hype. What is missing from my wardrobe? Would I buy these if they didn’t have the label on? With this in mind, I viewed a sneak peek of the Marni x Uniqlo collab – I touched pieces, tried a couple on and have made a quick edit on what I believe are good investments.
The collections felt good quality – lots of natural fabric used and the cuts were immaculate. It really felt the real designer item as opposed to a collab – but this also means that it feels like Marni which is, I find, often quite hard to pull off. The check balloon skirt? Looks cool but I think would date (and as my pal Erica Davies said as she held it – “it’s not my happy length” – a more midi length would’ve felt better).
The menswear was good: more useful items like swimming trunks, stripes tees and cotton twill overshirt which suits most. And by most, I also mean it’s unisex (and a lot of the collection is).
As much as I love a stripe, I wasn’t 100% enamoured by the stripe tops, too boatneck for me (and if you’re after a plain, oversized stripe breton, I passed these ones on my way out which would last better). But I thought the outerwear was superb. I am still reeling over the fact I never invested in the Uniqlo x JW Anderson puffa, so I tried on the the hooded waterproof jacket (I am always on the hunt for a chic one). £129 (I know, I’m always drawn to the more expensive pieces) and it comes oversized (I tried a S and it was still oversized – but the right amount). As much as I love navy, I preferred the olive and blue colourway as I thought it might be less matchy with all the navy currently in my wardrobe!
I thought the pocketable parkas (essentially a pac-a-mac) were super cool and a nicer pricepoint at £49.90 – but weirdly, they’re only listed in the men’s section. The stripe tees came in nice colourways but the shapes a little boxy for me, reminded me of a tee I wore when I was 12 (very straight with a very high round-neck) and I’m not sure I want to revisit that point of my life style-wise. The pyjama trousers were more wearable than first thought, I tried the yellow check version – with the elasticated back they were in fact both comfy and flattering – but I would wear with a t-shirt tucked in and some jewelled flat sandals (if I had!). I can’t find these online now so think they’re already sold out.
After a little Marni hit without spending loads? Then definitely go for the stripey socks – a great gift and they can Marni-fy any outfit without the splurge. Decent value at £12.90 for two pairs but, of course, they’re selling fast!
I went to the preview of the collection and was gifted a few pieces from the collection with no expectation to post. This article is editorial and all my own thoughts and is not a collaboration with the brand.
