The new +J Jill Saunders low-priced fashion line debuted today at the Uniqlo stores in New York, London, Paris, Hong Kong, Japan and a few other places around the globe. I’ve alway admired the style and tailoring of Jil Saunders’ garments. Her clothese usually retail at high-end retailers like Saks, Nordstrom and Neimans. Occasionally I’ll find a Jil Saunders garment at Loehmann’s or a consignment store. So, it’s really disappointing that Jil Saunders did a discount/bridge clothing range but it was not accessible to all. I knew that we had no Uniqlos in the US except in New York, but I never expected to see the lines stretching around the Uniqlo store out onto the street in Soho on Twitterpic. My friends could not even get close to the stuff. I understand it was sold out in London, Paris and New York within one hour of the store opening. Shoppers reported that the +J line was not only affordable, but well made and good looking. The Moment Blog at The New York Times reports, “All in all, the collection lived up to Sander’s intention to bring quality basics to the masses — not always the result when high-end designers create lines for mass chains.”
A few of the items are already turning up on eBay at inflated prices. However, there are not that many listings on eBay for +J. It’s not like the hundreds of listing for the Anna Sui Target collection. So far the people who bought this stuff are keeping it.
How ironic that the ads for the Jil Saunders +J line at Uniqlo stated that the clothing line offered, “Quality for the people” yet accessibility was never mentioned. I’m still waiting for the day when the budget lines are available and stocked in the stores for a season. It seems absurd that the lines like +J at Uniqlo, Matthew Williamson for H&M and others are sold out in a matter of minutes or even an hour. The budget designer lines are being produced in low quantities to create the same kind of scarcity/shortage of goods that the Hermes Birkin bag once provoked. Its the same phenomenon of fearing that you must get in line, or on the wait list, in order to get that precious item or poof it will be gone.
The democratization of fashion has begun, but clearly there is still a long way to go.
If you’re reading and you saw or bought a Jil Saunder item today at Uniqlo, leave a comment and let us all know what you thought. Was your wait in a long line worth it?
Since 2008, Mary Hall has been the author of 
7 Comments
I would have loved to have a shot at buying these clothes at great prices. If accessibility is one of the objectives, Jill and Uniqlo miserably failed.
I understand stores not wanting to overstock. But it's 2009! Stores should at least offer items online and stock enough to last…I don't know…at least a week!
I bought a black pea coat at the Paris Uniqlo opening. Surprisingly enough not all of the +J items were gone even when I left the store some 2 hours after the doors opened, most Parisiennes went for the other Uniqlo things as it's the first Uniqlo store in France. I think the +J collection was well worth the wait, for the price you pay, you are getting amazingly cut clothes at great quality, my coat will definitely see years of wear ahead.
London's Oxford Street store at 6pm today was busy, but not crazy. Plenty of stock available in both mens and womens, but perhaps the most collectable pieces had already gone.
Bought the cashmere/wool navy coat. Tried on a suit and the styling looked good, but the construction (on me anyway) of the jacket meant the top of the shoulders sat badly when it was on (creases and ridges where it had been made). Fabric was good, but you can tell it's all been made on a (limited) budget.
So for those of you pining, don't panic. It was good, but not stunning.
How discouraging! I fear that the Jimmy Choo line at H&M (debuting in Nov.) will suffer the same fate and sellout immediately.
I live in a small town in the midwest and sent my Manhattan-dwelling brother to Uniqlo to get the +J 2-button blazer. He didn't get there till Sunday, but says he found one in my size. I'm hoping it's not a fluke and he actually did get the right one. He's mailing it to me and I'll post a followup when it gets here! Yes, so much for the democratization of fashion. Meanwhile, places like Old Navy are going down the tubes because they didn't put enough into the design.
I really hope this company does well in the US! I doubt that we'll ever see a store here in NC, but hopefully they'll be available online to the US in the near future! I have my fingers crossed!
Thanks to all for writing in.
I'm hearing that Uniqlos will restock the +J line, so I hope its true.
And I too wish they had more stores! In the US, NYC is the only one.