Why I bought: The beige Uniqlo pants

Are they a placeholder item?

I started the year “allowing” myself to buy five new items of clothing or shoes, in pledge to the

Rule of Five

.

I have bought three already: A black wool Filippa K suit, a black wool ribbed dress, and lastly, a beige pair of wide-leg pants.

This is in tune with what I wrote in late December:

I am confident in my wants (like a black wool suit, a pair of baggy-ish but structured beige pants, a loose-fitting black cotton shirt and an all-year pair of barefoot shoes).

My year-long No Buy is over

Said beige pants are now in my possession in the form of the Uniqlo Wide Chino Pants.

I´m not that familiar with the fit and quality of Uniqlo, as we don´t have any stores here in Norway.

I also regard it as fast fashion, as does this article by Forbes:

Whilst Uniqlo may be categorised as a fast fashion brand due to its global reach and affordability, the company’s ethos goes beyond the quick turnarounds that define the industry. Its focus on fabric technology and high-quality materials has led to a loyal customer base that values both durability and comfort. In a world where fast fashion often means fast disposal, Uniqlo has found a way to keep customers coming back, by offering clothes that last.

Uniqlo pushes high volumes of clothing around the globe, and even though they might offer “clothes that last”, I don´t consider them a sustainable brand, at all.

So, if I am trying to avoid fast fashion, why did I buy these?

I could afford them and they were available.

I have read good things about Uniqlo pants in general, and I did some research at the University of YouTube, one creator naming these as a, uhm, “corporate girlie essential”.

They cost around 40-50 euro, and they were available for me to try on, when I visited Berlin and located a Uniqlo store, where I looked specifically for these pants.

I also wanted them now.

And right now, I have to prioritize my money: For a summer holiday to celebrate my 40th birthday, for fixing my (old) car, and for fixing my (even older) cat´s teeth.

Even though I wanted them now, it was not a spontaneous purchase. I have had a beige pair of wide leg pants on my list of future buys for more than I year, since I started my No Buy-year in 2024.

I was confident that I would have good use of a pair of pants like these, and that they would “fill a gap” in my wardrobe.

So the pricepoint, availability and intentionality behind the purchase made me say “yes” to these pants.

But was this Uniqlo option a “full-body yes”? Or is this maybe a placeholder item?

Let´s investigate.

The yes´es:

• The fit is great for me and my body, as the waist fits snugly while allowing my (ever-growing) ass and thighs enough room. I love the width of the legs.

• The length is also great (I am 168 cm tall, for reference).

• The color is perfect, in a cool-toned beige.

• The fabric is structured and seems to be of a nice quality, even though it´s made of a sizeable portion of synthetic materials (66% Cotton, 23% Polyester, 9% Rayon, 2% Spandex). This makes them fit really nice, though.

The drawbacks:

• I would have preferred a more crisp fabric, maybe a lighter cotton fabric, maybe a tech-y fabric blend even, that would give it a more modern feel.

• The buttoning is not of great quality, and I fear it will come loose with further use. I already have some clothing that I need to get mended, so I think I will ask the tailor to replace this button with a hook fastening.

• I actually would have preferred a waistband with elastic, or part elastic, for comfort. It fits so snug that it doesn´t allow for much bloating and/or weight or body composition fluctuations. The next size up didn´t fit as nice as this one.

• The fact that Uniqlo is a fast fashion brand, is also a drawback. I didn´t feel 100% “happy” spending my money here.

For me, this is not a “full-body yes”, but it is yes enough to make it a fairly good buy, but also probably a placeholder item.

I will make good use of these pants, but maybe I´ll find an even better pair in the future. Or maybe I´ll find a pre-loved alternative (which is not that easy with pants!).

I´ve already worn them several times, since buying them a month ago, and I´ve received compliments for them around the office (I have really nice colleagues).

They brighten up my everyday outfits, and for now it is the lighter neutral colored bottom that I felt was missing from my wardrobe.

This was how I wore them the other day, as I happened to make use of mirrored elevator at the office (I try to use the stairs, you know).

Currently trying to get more use out of more “retro” items in my wardrobe, in a way that still feels modern and not to fuzzy. These pants did a good job: Alongside the slim buttery-soft leather jacket (which makes me feel like a 70´s heist-movie villain), they balanced out the proportions. The color even echoes the contrast stitching on my loafers, which are the iconic Aurlandskoen from Norway, in a patent leather version.

So, how do you feel about Uniqlo? Do they deliver in the claim to make durable clothing?

I hope so.