Uniqlo's Sister Brand Just Arrived in NYC From Japan—18 Items I Tried On and Loved

New in town! Uniqlo's trendier, more affordable sister brand Gu just arrived in the U.S. from Japan. If you don't know about it yet (it's been big in Asia since its inception in 2006), it's one you're definitely going to want to keep on your radar, especially if you're already a fan of Uniqlo's great design and value. I stopped by the brand-new SoHo flagship store before it opened to the public to peruse the offering and style some of my favorite pieces into outfits.

What I love about the brand is that it taps into just a few key trends each season, so instead of an overwhelming shopping experience where you're scrolling for hours, shopping the site or in the store as I did couldn't be easier or more straight-forward. Gu's philosophy? Focus on a few things, and do them really well. Right now, that means getting behind the viral barrel-leg-jeans trend with several denim washes and a corduroy iteration. Elegant cardigans, pretty ballet and Mary Jane flats, and a really good canvas barn jacket I found in the men's section are all the highlights of my shopping excursion and what you can expect to see in the slides ahead.

Did I mention everything is affordable? As in, under-$100 affordable. Yeah, it's that good. Shop my edit of must-have pieces and see for yourself.

Washed Cotton Work Jacket

There are hundreds of barn jackets on the market right now, but this one is really good. It's also a good reminder not to gloss over the men's section, which is where I found this hidden gem in three perfect colors: beige, olive, and charcoal. It's all about that boxy fit and the corduroy collar. I threw a beige one atop the outfit I was already wearing—a striped shirt and pleated miniskirt—and quickly realized it worked well with all kinds of style vibes, from that preppy look to jeans and a tee. I can already see myself throwing it on with leggings and sneakers too. Since the store had yet to open when I swung by, I've been itching to head back and buy it all week. It will be the very first thing I order.

Back Button Striped Shirt + Pleated Skort + Biker Boots

I found a trove of cool basics at the store, including a full rack of shirting. I pulled an armful of options, from shrunken to oversize, and quickly found a favorite in this blue striped style that features a panel of buttons down the back for creative styling options. I went up a size for an oversize look and styled it with the Pleated Skort (yes, built-in shorts for the win) and knee-high Biker Boots.

Double Pocket Knitted Jacket + Barrel-Leg Jeans

I've made it no secret that I'm a big fan of barrel-leg jeans, and I've tried about half a dozen styles from different brands at this point after covering the trend for the past year. When I say that Gu's pair impressed me, I mean it. It's a slightly baggier fit, which makes the shape less dramatic and gives it an overall relaxed look and feel. IMO, this is the best way to wear the barrel silhouette. I was immediately drawn to this deep indigo wash that looked and felt so elevated. I paired it with the Double Pocket Knitted Jacket, a very chic jacket-style cardigan complete with pretty gold buttons and a thick, weighty texture.

Strap Ballet Shoes

I tried on a few different pairs of shoes in the store—moto boots, platform oxfords, and these ballet flats—and was blown away by how comfortable they all were. I have no choice but to assume that each pair involves some sort of built-in cushioned sole because the only was I could describe it was cloud-like. As for these flats, well, all I'll say is that they're as charming in person as they look online.

Denim Zip-Up Jacket + Barrel-Leg Jeans

Next up is the same pair of barrel jeans in a muddy blue-brown wash that's very of-the-moment. I styled it with the matching denim jacket, a zip-up style that feels so fresh and forward compared to a standard trucker jacket.

Dry Cropped T-Shirt + Skirt and Pants Set + Pocket Shoulder Bag

When I first walked in the store, there were a few pieces that I immediately grabbed off the rack to put in my dressing room, and these layered trousers were one of them. It's a convertible pair of pants that comes with a wrap skirt you can either wear together or separately, so it's like getting three pieces in one. I like that this piece pushed me a little farther out of my style comfort zone than I'm used to. I paired the pants with a cropped white tee and black shoulder bag to let them have their full moment.

Faux Leather Jacket + Corduroy Barrel Leg Pants

In case you haven't been able to tell by now, outerwear is one of Gu's strongest categories, and this Faux Leather Bomber Jacket is just another bit of evidence to prove it. It comes in black and brown and is priced shockingly well for how premium it looked and felt IRL. Surprise! Here's yet another barrel-leg moment—this time in a wide corduroy iteration I couldn't help but try on.

Oxford Short Shirt + Pleated Midi Skirt + Narrow Tie

Preppy style is one aesthetic Gu is currently leaning into. Many of the pieces I tried on tapped into the academic look, although none of the outfits I put together went quite as far as this one. I married the longer midi-skirt version of the pleated mini you saw earlier in a cool gray tone with a cropped button-down shirt and finished it off with a cheeky faux tie with a sneaky clip.

Lace Up Shoes

The shoe section didn't have a zillion styles—just the right ones. Between the moto boots, ballet flats, and these oxfords I tried on, it's almost like Gu's merchandising is a lesson in building a capsule wardrobe. Invest in the right trends, and you'll realize they're actually more versatile than you think. That's exactly what happened when I styled these platforms that reminded me of a Prada pair from a few years back. I was pleasantly surprised to find that they went with more outfits than I would have originally thought.

More finds I want to try next: