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Aptly dubbed Japan’s answer to the Gap, UNIQLO has become a favorite with everyone from prep-school students to finicky fashion editors, who come in search of bargain-priced Mongolian cashmere, Japanese denim, soft cotton button-downs, khakis, and tweed pencil skirts that won’t leave you broke. Like H&M and Target, the brand prides itself on big name collaborations at reasonable prices (Lutz & Patmos sweaters, Phillip Lim womenswear, and an edgy T-shirt line designed by top-notch artists in Japan). Unlike its runway-inspired competitors, the mens- womens- and childrenswear calls J. Crew to mind more readily than Jean Paul Gaultier. The variety lies in the color and materials for each style. The biggest challenge? Finding an item that surpasses the $100 mark—and thankfully, not having to dig through messy piles to find the right size. — Caroline Callahan

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