Uniqlo is one of the best places to shop for fall masc fashion, especially if you’re building a wardrobe around boxy T-shirts, relaxed pants, classic button-downs and easy gender-neutral layers. If I had to choose only one store to build my entire masc lesbian wardrobe, this might be it.
If you didn’t already know, Uniqlo is basically a masc lesbian mecca for wardrobe staples and basics. It’s one of the few stores where I find it incredibly easy, and actually fun, to shop both the men’s and women’s sections. I’m not particularly interested in which section something comes from. I’m looking for the cut, length and overall shape that make me feel good in my clothes.
The women’s section often has shorter, slightly slimmer versions of classic menswear pieces, while the men’s section gives me looser fits, longer lengths and more room through the shoulders. Sometimes I want one. Sometimes I want the other. Being able to move between both sections makes it much easier to find the exact fit I have in my head.
I’m fortunate enough to live near a Uniqlo store because this is one of the few places where I still prefer shopping in person. The website can be a little tough to use, and half the time the thing you want is sold out in at least one color or size. But when you shop across sections, trying things on really matters. I might wear one size in a men’s T-shirt, another in a women’s polo and something completely different in a jacket depending on the silhouette I want.
Uniqlo also offers alterations on many of its pants, which is especially helpful when you’re shopping across gendered sections. If the waist and overall shape work but the length doesn’t, select pants can be hemmed so they fit the way you actually want them to.
I could make this list forever long, but I’m focusing on the best Uniqlo pieces for transitioning from summer into fall. We’ve got short-sleeve shirts, comfortable pants, polished polos and easy layers for the first chilly days of the season. We’ll save the big, chunky knits for another article.
The Best Uniqlo Pants for a Masc Wardrobe
Jersey Barrel Pants
I love, love, love the Jersey Barrel Pants. They are the perfect level of loose and baggy while still having enough structure to look like an intentional outfit.
These come from the women’s section, but the relaxed barrel shape feels incredibly gender-neutral to me. They have volume through the leg without completely swallowing you, and the mid-rise is much easier for me to wear than a very high-waisted trouser. The fabric is also comfortable enough for travel or a full day of walking around while still looking more polished than sweatpants.
Olive green, black and brown are my favorite colors. I would wear them now with a heavyweight T-shirt or short-sleeve sweater polo, then add a waffle shirt, cardigan or denim jacket once it starts getting cooler.
Straight Selvedge Jeans
You also need a genuinely solid pair of jeans, and the Straight Selvedge Jeans are a great place to start. They’re clean, classic and easy to build an outfit around without being boring.
The straight fit works with almost everything else on this list. Wear them with a white T-shirt and sneakers, an Oxford and loafers or a denim jacket for a full Canadian tuxedo. They’re also the kind of jeans that will get better as you wear them and make them your own.
Uniqlo T-Shirts: Start in Both Sections
Uniqlo is a go-to stop for all kinds of T-shirts, and this is one category where I really recommend trying both sections.
I’ve found great T-shirts in the women’s section when I want something a little shorter and boxier. A shorter tee can hit closer to the waistband and create a square shape without necessarily looking cropped. That can be much more flattering than a long shirt bunching around the hips.
When I want something looser and more substantial, I head to the men’s section. The Boxy Heavyweight T-shirts have enough structure to fall away from the body instead of clinging to every curve. A thick white or washed-black tee can make even the simplest outfit look like an actual styling choice.
If you’re starting your masc wardrobe from scratch, I would grab a heavyweight white tee, a washed-black tee and at least one fun color. That gives you a base for almost every jacket, cardigan and pair of pants in this article.
Uniqlo Polos for Masc Style
Polos are one of those categories that can go wrong very quickly. The wrong polo makes me feel like I’m wearing a work uniform. The right one feels sporty, slightly retro and just dressed up enough.
The good thing about Uniqlo is that there isn’t only one polo shape.
Women’s Polo Shirts
The women’s polos tend to be shorter and slightly slimmer. If you like the look of a classic polo but hate how long a traditional men’s polo can be, these are worth trying.
I would probably size up if I wanted a more relaxed fit, but that depends on your body and whether you want the shirt to skim or hide your shape. This is exactly why I like trying things on in the store. The label only tells you so much. This relaxed sweater polo, I’m obsessed with.
Oversized Polos
On the other end, Uniqlo’s oversized polos give you a looser, sportier fit. They work really well with jeans, barrel pants or shorts and feel especially good for those early fall days when it is technically September but still 82 degrees outside.
Short-Sleeve Sweater Polo
The Polo Short Sleeve Sweater is an easy way to make an outfit feel a little more intentional without wearing a full button-down. The knit gives it more structure than a standard polo, but the short sleeves mean you can start wearing it before the weather really changes.
It is designed with a more fitted shape, so I would absolutely play with the sizing. I would likely size up and pair it with looser pants to keep the outfit from feeling too neat or preppy.
Milano Ribbed Skipper Polo Sweater
The Washable Milano Ribbed Skipper Polo Sweater is such a clutch gender-neutral buy. It has a crisp knit and an open collar that feel polished without losing the relaxed shape I want from a sweater polo.
I could see this with barrel pants, straight jeans or pleated trousers for dinner. It’s more elevated than a T-shirt but still easy.
One important note if you wear a binder: the neckline is fairly open. Depending on how high your binder comes up, there is a chance the top or straps might show. Definitely try it on and move around in it before committing.
Waffle Shirts and Henleys Are Weirdly Gender-Affirming
I don’t fully know how to explain it, but waffle shirts are weirdly masculine and gender-affirming for me. Maybe it’s the texture. Maybe it’s the old-school workwear energy. Whatever it is, they work.
A long-sleeve waffle shirt can be worn alone with jeans or barrel pants while the weather is still mild. Once it gets colder, it becomes a really useful base layer under a denim jacket, chore coat, hoodie or heavier sweater.
Henleys have a similar feeling but can look just slightly more elevated. The buttons give them a little more structure and visual interest than a basic thermal. I especially like the looser men’s versions because they feel relaxed without looking like pajamas.
These aren’t necessarily the pieces that scream “fashion,” but you will wear them constantly. They’re comfortable, easy to layer and give a basic outfit more texture.
Uniqlo Button-Down Shirts With the Right Shape
Uniqlo makes some of my favorite affordable button-downs because there are so many different cuts to play with.
The basic broadcloth shirts are wardrobe workhorses. I particularly like the white one for layering. Wear it open over a heavyweight tee, button it under a sweater or pair it with pleated trousers when you need to look more put together.
Again, check both sections. A men’s broadcloth shirt will usually give you more length and room, while a women’s version may give you the shorter, cleaner proportions you want without feeling overtly feminine.
JW Anderson Oxford Boxy Cropped Shirt
I dream about Uniqlo’s boxy, cropped JW Anderson button-downs. I have a long torso, so they are unfortunately too short on me. I know this because I have tried them on multiple times just to make sure.
But if the length works for you, the Oxford Boxy Cropped Shirt is kind of perfect. It has an oversized, boxy silhouette and, most importantly, a straight hem. I love a straight hem.
It gives you the classic Oxford look without the long shirttail that can bunch around your hips or make the whole outfit feel too formal. With high enough jeans or trousers, the cropped length could hit exactly where you want a masc button-down to end.
JW Anderson Flannel Boxy Shirt
The Flannel Boxy Shirt gives you the same general boxy shape in a soft brushed flannel. It has a short length, straight hem and a more open collar, so it feels less like a traditional lumberjack flannel and more like an actual outfit.
I would wear it open over a heavyweight tee while it’s still warm, then button it up and add a jacket later in the season. The natural and olive colorways are both really good.
The Best Uniqlo Jackets for Early Fall
Zip-Up Short Jacket
I am obsessed with the pattern on the Zip-Up Short Jacket. The tiny brown check, corduroy accents and vintage-looking finish make it much more interesting than a plain chore coat.
The oversized shape is still easy to layer, but the shorter length keeps it from looking bulky. I would throw it over a white tee, waffle shirt or henley and wear it with loose jeans or solid trousers.
If the pattern isn’t for you, Uniqlo also makes plain chore and barn-style jackets that give you the same general workwear feeling.
A Boxy Denim Jacket
A denim jacket is one of the easiest masc layers, especially when the shape is slightly cropped and boxy.
I’d wear it over a hoodie, henley or Oxford depending on the weather and where I was going. Pair it with jeans in a similar wash for a full denim-on-denim look, or wear it with pleated dress pants for a slightly high-low moment. I love the contrast of a casual, slightly rugged jacket with a more polished trouser.
I would probably size down in the Uniqlo denim jacket, but I’d try it both ways. You want it roomy enough to fit a layer underneath while still keeping that clean, boxy shape.
Uniqlo Hoodies, Half-Zips and Comfortable Layers
We all need some comfort. Not every piece in your wardrobe needs to be an exciting fashion discovery.
The quality for the price on Uniqlo’s basic hoodies is pretty solid. I like the oversized full-zip styles with dropped shoulders and a boxier cut. They look good under a denim or chore jacket and don’t have the long, narrow shape that makes some hoodies feel awkward.
Sweat Half-Zip Pullover
The Sweat Half-Zip Pullover is one of my favorite sporty pieces on the list. It has a relaxed, oversized shape and a stand collar that gives it a little more personality than a regular crewneck sweatshirt.
All the colors are good, but the sport gray is awesome. It has a slightly retro athletic feel that I would wear with loose jeans, black pants or the olive barrel pants. It’s comfortable, but it still looks like you thought about what you put on.
Fleece Button Pullover
A fleece button pullover is another easy cold-weather layer. It gives a little outdoorsy, retro energy and works with jeans, casual pants or shorts during that confusing part of fall when the temperature changes every four hours.
A Cardigan That Works in a Masc Wardrobe
The Souffle Yarn Relaxed Cardigan is soft, oversized and easy to wear without feeling overly delicate.
I would wear it over a heavyweight T-shirt with barrel pants for a simple, comfortable outfit. You could also layer it over a button-down when you want to look a little more put together without wearing a blazer or structured jacket.
The dark gray is probably the easiest choice, but the brown and wine colors are also really good for fall. The relaxed shape does most of the work here. You don’t need to over-style it.
How to Shop Uniqlo for Masc Fashion
The reason Uniqlo works so well for masc fashion is not that every piece is designed with masc lesbians in mind. It’s that the store gives us enough versions of the same wardrobe staples to find the proportions that feel right.
Your favorite T-shirt might come from the women’s section because it has the perfect boxy length. Your best waffle shirt might come from the men’s section because you want it loose and long enough to layer. The pants that make you feel most like yourself may not be hanging under the sign you expected.
Ignore the section labels as much as you can and shop for the silhouette.
Try multiple sizes. Look at where the shoulder seams fall, where the shirt ends and whether the fabric skims your body or clings to it. If you bind, check the neckline and armholes from more than one angle. If the pants fit everywhere except the length, see whether they’re eligible for alterations.
Uniqlo isn’t perfect. The website can be annoying, stock disappears quickly and not every cropped JW Anderson shirt is made for those of us with long torsos. But if I could shop at only one store to build a masc wardrobe, this might still be the one I’d choose.
